Citywide Blackout

Catching up on old times and new with Three at Home

Curtis and I have been friends with the Boston-based Three at Home for many years, and shared many a show together. In this episode, we take some time to catch up with the rock/pop trio to see where they’ve been and what’s in their future.

Band members Dann Russo, Mary Casiello and Kari Paisley-Flango talk about some recent shows in Boston and the Steam Kettle Festival at Hale Reservation in Westwood. Kari joined the band in 2022, and talk about how they met with Dann and Mary and their experience being part of Three at Home.

Boston has been a big part of all our lives and we take some time to go into the changes we’ve seen in the city, its role as a place for the arts, and the challenges and opportunities that it’s created for the artistic community in recent years. 

Opening this episode is an excerpt from "Mama Werewolf" a Brandi Carlie cover and which the band performed at the Steam Kettle Festival, featuring Kari on lead vocals. Closing the episode is "Just Like This" an original by the band and recorded before Kari joined the band.

Author’s new book paints a nightmare dreamscape

We’ve all had some pretty intense nightmares, but hey, they’re all dreams, right…..right? Our next guest shares a world where dreams can indeed kill you.

Author Deirdre Swinden joins us to talk about, “Somnium” to through Crystal Lake Entertainment. Here’s a look at what’s in store:

Immerse yourself in a terrifying blend of psychological horror and high-tech science fiction in this riveting novel where dreams can kill. Gillian Hardie experiences nightmares so intense they threaten her very existence, thanks to a glitch in Somnium Corporation’s groundbreaking dream advertising technology. Every night, her sleep unleashes monsters that her body reacts to as if they were real, pushing her to the edge of despair. 

Armed with her lucid dreaming skills, Gillian battles these horrors, but when an accident traps her in a perpetual dream state, she must rely on Nathan Keller, a nightmare warrior, and Dex Cooper, an Operator, to navigate this nightmarish reality. With her darkest fears manifesting like never before, Gillian faces a race against time to survive a threat that could unleash unimaginable horrors from the depths of her mind.

Deirdre goes into the creation of her nightmare world, and the terrors that stalk Gillian. We learn about how she blended sci-fi and horror, and how she researched the dream technology that’s used. She talks about the writing process for her debut book and how she came to be working with Crystal Lake Entertainment.

Citywide Bytes—Cold time in the city with new anthology

Let’s face it, cities are just awesome. Whether it’s Boston, Paris, London, they have a life all their own, and sometimes, they wind up as characters in a story.

That’s the premise for our latest Citywide Bytes interview with R.B. Wood, Mike Allen and Xan van Rooyen to talk about “Winter in the City,” a collection of 18 different stories from new and veteran writers from around the world. As the book’s editor, R.B. goes into the book’s origins and how he found the many writers, while Mike and Xan talk about their stories and why they chose their particular cities.

The book’s going to be related on Dec. 10 through R.B.’s Ruadán Books and he shares what it means for this to be the company’s debut release.

Lisa Diane Kastner’s protagonist finds a new family in the sequel to “Cure”’

Let’s face it, family can be a challenge. But when that family is a group of supernatural shapeshifters? Well, that’s a horse—or a wolf—of a different color.

In our newest Citywide Bytes interview, I talk with author Lisa Diane Kastner for her recently-released book, “Family Pack,” the sequel to her 2022 release, “Cure.” The book continues the story of Luna Auber, whom after her brother dies suddenly learns that she is both a shapeshifting lycanthrope and the descendent of a legendary female Viking warrior.

In “Family Pack,” Luna’s epic journey continues amidst a conflict between The Lycanthrope Society, which believe that humans and lycanthropes should exist in harmony, and The Righteous Group, which believe that lycanthropes are intended to rule over all other species.

Lisa talks about the series got its start on a dare from fellow author and New York Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry, and full disclosure, I nerd out quite a bit here. When one of the greats of the writing world dares you to do something, you just gotta!

We also go into how Luna’s progressed on her journey in this new life and the conflict that she’s about to be a part of. Lisa talks about Luna’s powers and how she adapts to this new world as well as how the character and author parallel one another.

And if anyone out there wants to make my dream of Citywide Blackout cookies happen, I’m here for it!

Citywide Bytes-Imaginarium shows us a unique musical playground

When I first heard the music of Imaginarium, my thought was “Damn, this is good,” followed quickly by “We gotta get this band on the show!” And here we are.

Band founder Anton de Bruin talks about how the group came to be as well as the musical backgrounds of the different members. We look at the eclectic sound, a blend of funk, jazz, and reggae and how it all comes together through the different members. The band is based in the Netherlands, and Anton shares some of the shows they’ve done and where they’d like to play next.

Opening the episode is an excerpt from “Gabobo” and wrapping things up is “Kaleidoscope.”

Todd Hearon returns to music with a sonic trilogy

Music has always been a part of Todd Hearon’s life and following a brief break for other creative pursuits, he’s returned with a three-part album release and in this interview, we dive right into what this is all about.

The Texas-born songwriter goes into the story behind his most recent release, “Impossible Man” and how it follows his 2021 and 2023 albums, “Border Radio” and “Yodelady.” We also talk about his musical hiatus to go to grad school in Boston and co-found The Bridge Theater Company, an independent troupe in Boston’s Theater District.

Todd shares how his poetry and other writings blend with his music, and gives us the story behind Myrtle, his 1950 Gibson J-50.

Opening the interview is an excerpt from “Guillotine” and closing things out is the song “Looking Glass,” both of which are from the new album. 

Citywide Bytes—In her new book, Donna Levin explores a romanticized past

In author Donna Levin’s new book, “The Talking Stick,” we meet Hunter, who has lost…..well, just about everything. Her husband has left her for her former friend, now best enemy Angelica. She has no job, no prospects, and is unsure of what comes next.

That “next” happens while exploring a San Francisco flea market. Here, she’s sent on a journey with three other women who join her journey to reexamine pasts, explore grief, addictions, parenting, and marriages, and discover that some of their most-cherished memories are romanticized versions of the truth.

In this interview, we look at what inspired this book and introduced to Hunter and Angelica. Donna talks about the element of a Talking Stick and why it was included in the book. She shares a look at the journey Hunter’s on and the people she’ll be sharing it with and just where it’s all going.

Tyler Herwig hopes to spread a musical message of hope

Singer-songwriter Tyler Herwig believes that if he can help even one person through his music, then that is a job well done. In this episode, he talks with us about how his wife inspired him to pursue music as a full-time career and some of his experiences along the way.

In fact, Tyler’s most recent release is “All Yours,” a message of thanks to his wife for her many years of support as he’s made his art his new career.

In fact, he performs around 280 shows a year and talks about how he maintains such a rigorous schedule and his goals in the future. He shares a few show memories and what he views are his highlights as an artist. Tyler also shares some news of his upcoming music.

Opening the show is an excerpt from “Enough” and closing the episode is “All Yours.”

Dany Horovitz recaps on a truly memorable year

Singer-songwriter Dany Horovitz is back for what has become a yearly check-in and man, there is a lot to talk about. Over the last 12 months, he’s released tons of music and we go into the songs and the stories behind them. Dany also talks about how he puts himself into his songs. We also give some previews of what he has planned for the rest of this year and into the next.

The last year has also seen a lot of memorable appearances, such as at the recent North by Northeast Festival and as a judge for the Juno Awards. Dany, Max and Curtis talk about what that was like and Dany’s experience getting to choose his picks for the Adult Contemporary Category.

Dany also shares some of the many artists he’s collaborated with and the amazing results of these musical partnerships. We talk a little business as Curtis asks about the stunning social media presence that Dany’s built since he started this journey just a couple of years ago.

Opening this interview is an excerpt from “Until the Seas Run Dry,” Dany’s newest single and bringing things to a close is “Roads and Roses,” one of our personal favorites.

Citywide Bytes—Justin Lee breaks new ground in fourth book

After hearing this interview, I hope you’ll all be a little more careful when you open that random email. Because you never know.

Author Justin Lee is back with a new book, “The Reluctant Reckoner” (Oct. 8) and in this episode, we talk all about protagonist Mark Righters, an ordinary man caught in a world he is wholly unprepared for. Here’s a look at what’s in store:

An honest accountant who likes to keep it simple, he's been at the same company for 23 years and prefers things the way they are: steady, with little excitement, and even less change. His health, 8-year-old daughter, and small suburban home are all he needs. But after that e-mail, everything is at risk. 

Somehow framed for a financial discrepancy that could send him to jail, at first, he's just bewildered. But when the crime mysteriously disappears just as quickly as it emerged, it's clear just how outmatched Mark really is. 

Then he's kidnapped, blindfolded, and given a timeline to steal confidential information. He doesn't know who the perpetrators are, what they need it for, or why they asked him. But he does know they know things about him. Personal things. Things they can't possibly know. 

Justin and I talk about the kind of person Mark is and how he navigates this plot. He goes into his growth as a writer and the new territory he got to explore in this, his fourth book. We also look at how, after four books and several awards, Justin feels that he has “arrived” as a writer.