The Tour

In this episode, we're gonna take a break from breaking down the film itself and look at the film's music specifically. Theres a lot to cover, from the songs by known pop artists like Post Malone and Ty Dolla $ign to Daniel Pemberton's score. We'll also talk about motifs (again) and do a character deep dive on Prowler.

In this episode, we'll go over the goals, achievements and techniques of the animation team behind Spider-Verse (3:26), then dive back into the story as Miles deals with his emotions (13:55), gets dropped from the group, then has a one-sided heart-to-heart with his father (20:05) which spurs him into finding what he needs to inside himself (23:10).

In this episode, we'll follow Miles as he attempts to follow the template for becoming Spider-Man (2:30), but fails and goes to Peter Parker's grave where he meets a different Peter Parker (6:53).  The other Peter is reluctant to help Miles but is trying to get home, so Miles is able to tag along with him on a mission and the two encounter Doctor Octopus, with a twist (28:46).  They also meet up with another spider person along the way (38:11).  And we do character deep dives on Doctor Octopus (29:31) and Gwen Stacy (38:43).  

In this episode, we follow Miles as he retraces his steps in order to figure out if he was bitten by a normal spider or not (2:04), and as he witnesses a battle between Spider-Man and some of his arch-enemies (4:12).  We do a character deep-dive on Wilson Fisk aka "Kingpin" (10:54), and we see him use a supercollider that causes some interesting physical anomalies (20:36).  We stay with Miles as he witnesses Kingpin murder a weakened Spider-Man and is subsequently chased by his crony, Prowler (24:18), and then deals with the aftermath of Spider-Man's death (29:28).  Its a good one!!!!

In this episode, we detail the comics printing process and talk about Ben Day dots and halftone dots (2:12), we also talk about pop artists Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol; and how their art used the aesthetic of comic books and photograph reproduction and these Ben Day and halftone dots as specific techniques in their art and how that's reflected in "Spider-Verse" (9:20).  And we also follow Miles and his Uncle Aaron as they travel underground to throw up some graffiti and Miles suffers the inevitable arachnid encounter (13:27) before finally detailing Miles first day with the effects of this spider bite (23:07).  

In our newest episode, we dive right into the film (4:29).  We talk about the various styles of art we see from the jump, get into the "Comics Code Authority" and what that means (6:26), and meet our protagonist, Miles Morales (12:40).  

Welcome back for Season 2 of The Tour!!!!  In Season 2, we'll be diving deep into the 2018 Oscar-winning animated feature, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse".  This masterwork is one of the best superhero movies of all time as well as being an ode to comic books and an innovator for representation in media.  In Episode 1 of Season 2, we'll get into the backstory of Marvel Comics and Stan Lee, (7:20) talk about the inception and origin of the character of Spider-Man, (10:57) do a profile on the character of Miles Morales (26:23) and a bunch of other stuff along the way!!

In the final episode of Season 1, we get into the history of the events leading up to the duel and hear the issuing of the challenge in Your Obedient Servant (3:06), we see the final interaction of Hamilton and his wife before he'd head off to his death in Best of Wives and Best of Women (9:00), then we'll witness the fateful duel between our main characters in The World Was Wide Enough (12:51), and hear the epilogue of our story in Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? (29:04), then 'll give my final thoughts and summation of what makes Hamilton great, the valid criticisms it deserves and discuss a couple of the main themes of the story (39:42).

In the penultimate episode of Season 1 of The Tour, we're going to tackle the hardest section of Hamilton. First, we'll meet an older and bolder Philip Hamilton and follow him into his first duel in Blow Us All Away (3:16), then we'll listen as the Hamiltons deal with the repercussions of said duel in "Stay Alive (Reprise)" (14:50) and then sob uncontrollably through "Its Quiet Uptown" (20:16) before getting a much needed mood change in "The Election of 1800" (32:28).

In this episode, we'll begin breaking down the final stanza of Hamilton, jumping right into The Adams Administration (1:59), We Know (8:56), Hurricane (16:07), The Reynolds Pamphlet (22:33), and Burn (27:19).

In this episode, we'll unpack and dig into Washington On Your Side (3:09), send off one of the best characters and performers in the tale in One Last Time (13:18), and hear what an old "friend" has to say about it in I Know Him (31:34)

In our newest episode, we get further into Act II. First, Hamilton gets himself into some trouble in Say No to This (2:23), then Burr has an epiphany in The Room Where It Happens (14:31) which leads to him making a big move in Schuyler Defeated (27:31), and then Hamilton and Jefferson go head to head again in Cabinet Battle #2 (29:58) which leaves Jefferson nonplussed and feeling like he needs to change course.

In this episode we'll talk briefly about modes before diving into the second act of Hamilton and breaking down What'd I Miss?, Cabinet Battle #1 and Take a Break

In todays episode, we'll break down the songs Dear Theodosia (1:54), Tomorrow There'll Be More of Us (9:26), and Non-Stop (15:18), as well as get into some of the history of the characters involved (including a possible love affair between Hamilton and Laurens) and do a recap of what we've learned in Act I.

In this Episode of The Tour, we'll talk a bit about different rapping styles, specifically: speed rapping or "chopping" (2:16). Then we'll jump right into a breakdown of "Guns and Ships" and Lafayettes speed rhyming (5:30). We'll examine "History Has Its Eyes On You" and what makes it great (12:53), and then take a tour through Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down), discussing the actual history the song is based on and some of the musical aspects of the track, even its relationship to metal music (20:24). And lastly, we'll hear how King George feels about losing part of his empire in "What Comes Next?" (37:09).

In this episode we're gonna talk a bit about time signatures, then about some of the history of this point in the Revolutionary War. We'll hear a "deleted scene", so to speak, and then dive into our breakdowns of "Stay Alive", "The Ten Duel Commandments", "Meet Me Inside" and "That Would Be Enough".

This episode is Jam-Packed!! We talk a bit about intervals and arpeggios to get started (:56), then dive into A Winter's Ball (6:51)(featuring a rap by me)(11:00), Helpless (13:44), Satisfied (26:04), The Story of Tonight (Reprise)(43:49) and, finally, Wait For It (47:55)

In this episode we discuss how we should approach Hamilton amid some valid criticisms of it (2:13); how I approach the podcast and how I hope it's enjoyed (20:45); we discuss some of the actual history this song is based on (22:46), and we break down the track "Right Hand Man"--the appearance of a major character in the story (28:43).  Check out Howard Ho's YouTube videos on How Hamilton Works Musically here.  Check out the Strong Songs podcast here. 

In this episode, we're going to meet the ladies of Hamilton and learn what songs inspired "The Schuyler Sisters" (2:30), we'll also get a quick lesson on rhythmic notation and counting a beat (12:57), we'll learn about some of the history behind "Farmer Refuted" and what makes that song interesting and fun (20:32), and we'll meet an ancillary antagonist all the way across the pond and learn what songs inspired "You'll Be Back" (30:12)Email me at yourtourguide10@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @thetourpodFollow us on Twitter @yourtourguide3All of our links are at our website here

On this leg of The Tour through Hamilton, we'll meet a bunch of our main characters, get a TON of hip-hop and theater references and talk about chord progressions, how they're signified and why they matter in Hamilton.  Nerd stuff!!!!Email me at yourtourguide10@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @thetourpodFollow us on Twitter @yourtourguide3All of our links are at our website here

In the first stop on The Tour, we'll begin an exploration of Hamilton, the 2015 smash hit Broadway musical available to stream July 3.  We'll talk about the inception of the idea for the musical, some backstory on the life of Alexander Hamilton, and take a really close look at the things that make this work of art really special.  Then we're gonna dive right into the opening track and analyze everything going on.  

Nils Lofgren brings to light the power of his music, from learning the accordion at 5 to becoming possessed by Jimi Hendrix as a teen, collaborating with the likes of Neil Young and Lou Reed, finding his sweet voice as a solo artist and then joining Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Host Ted Canova talks with Naseem Khuri of Kingsley Flood about the inner battles he faces as a musician and a Palestinian-American, the feeling on stage when Kingsley Flood songs reach absolute chaos, the promise of being the next great American band. And how, even with their success, Khuri still deals with imposter syndrome.

Host Ted Canova talks with Lisa Bastoni who reclaims her musical identify after a decade away, a path repeatedly influenced by Bob Dylan, busking on subway platforms, recording an exceptional breakout album, balancing motherhood, and the mysteries of her late-grandmother’s half written songs.

Host Ted Canova talks with David Bromberg who shares his musical history from jamming with Jerry Garcia in a tent at Woodstock to calming 600,000 angry concert goers at the Isle of Wight, of recording with three Beatles and turning down John Lennon twice, plus a recent phone call from Bob Dylan.

Host Ted Canova talks with Lucy Wainwright Roche about her unique path growing up in a famous musical family, how she's developing the discipline to write and why the road brings out the heartache in her songs, plus a quirky connection she had with a radio psychologist.

Host Ted Canova talks with Chris Wood who shares his musical journey from avant-garde jazz to The Wood Brothers, building an audience, confronting expectations of success, and reaching critical acclaim, plus his philosophy on songwriting leaving us hanging with unanswered questions.

Host Ted Canova talks with Marc Cohn who relives his career-changing trip to Memphis and the days writing his breathtaking debut album, candidly reflects on the long breaks in his music, and as a shooting victim, considers his unique voice in the wake of the Florida school shootings.

Host Ted Canova talks with John Lodge who pulls back the curtain on musical history, from a boy fascinated with Buddy Holly to playing bass for the legendary Moody Blues to his latest solo work. Plus his advice to all musicians and the long-awaited call from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Host Ted Canova talks with Craig Finn who shares how music opened his world, going from nerd to “cool kid” to pioneering two bands with urgent lyrics and driving guitars. Plus the strategy of releasing 4 albums in 5 years, feeling scared when he went solo, and the future for The Hold Steady.

Host Ted Canova talks with Alejandro Escovedo who opens up about heartache, death & elusive love, racism in music, and the mystery of songwriting. Plus an amazing “last supper” alongside the immortals Townes Van Zandt and Rick Danko and a come-to-Jesus with his own therapist. (Some language may offend some listeners)

Host Ted Canova meets up with Jerry Douglas in NYC's Washington Square Park where Jerry reveals going from being a 5 year old with a squeaky voice to winning 14 Grammys mastering the dobro. And along the way, becoming one of the most recorded musicians ever.

Host Ted Canova visits Amy Helm inside Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY where she lets us in on some terrifying musical lessons, the struggle to grieve privately for her Dad while the public was holding tributes, and the challenges and rewards of covering hit songs by her parents, Levon Helm and Libby Titus.