American band
POPULARITY
Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 4 Shenanigans: Fun times at House Belsus. Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Let's review the list of characters: David Belsus – 46, physics & astronomy professor at Eastfield college, a community college in the Dallas area. Prepper, survivalist, has a greenhouse in his backyard and lives in an outer ring suburb. Six foot, fit, short cropped hair. Lupie Ramos – 32, former financial advisor, Dave's neighbor, got caught out of state when the lockdowns started. She spent two frantic weeks trying to get back to her daughter. Lupie has been in love with Dave for over a year. Long, dark brown hair, medium build, and a lovely smile. Esme – 9, daughter of Lupie, prone to the occasional snarky comment. Adores Dave. Becca; 18, Lupie's babysitter, was watching Esme when lockdowns occurred. Her refusal to abandon Esme, as her mother insisted, likely saved Becca's life, since her extended family ignored precautions and died of Duo. Esme, Lupie, and Dave are all Becca has left in the world. Short, medium build, small tits, with short blond hair and a smile that is shy with strangers and beams with family and friends. Janice Wheeler; 33, Dave's first partner to arrive, a librarian at Cedar Valley, another community college member of DCCCD. Slender build and medium height, Janice is 3/4 Korean, her paternal grandfather is Anglo. Medium length black hair often pulled back in a bun for work or ponytail at home. Shawna Cooper; 36, senior meteorologist at WFAA, Master's degree in meteorology from O U, worked at NSSL and spent time as a storm chaser. Whole hog sci-fi nut, beginning with Start Trek TNG. 5' 10", large tits, medium brown skin, dark brown eyes, shoulder length black hair styled like a frizzy weeping willow. Olivia Tyler (Liv); 21, senior studying horticulture at Tarleton State University, near Dallas. Daughter of Carter and Janelle, Dave's best friends since college. Had a well-known crush on Dave throughout her teen years. Since her dad was former SF and a survivalist, Liv is skilled with several firearms as well as bladed weapons. Never failed to take a deer any season she's hunted. 5'10" long, dark brown hair, large tits, lightly tanned, brown eyes, and a wide smile. Melanie Ustanich; 22, graduate student in IT at Tarleton, Liv's roommate, recently found a passion for cooking. Spent most of her life in foster homes, Liv's parents accepted her like family the first time she went with Liv on Thanksgiving Break. 5'8" medium length auburn hair, green eyes, small mouth with a ready, mischievous smile. During the interlude, Dave took some time to look over Melanie. He knew less about her than the others, but more than he'd known about Jan or Shawna when they'd shown up on his doorstep. He knew from a glance that she dressed more stylishly than Olivia, though he'd be hard pressed to describe why. He thought both looked great, even if he could tell a difference instinctively. He was always a fan of variety. Silver studs in her ears support three short silver chains each, drawing the eye tantalizingly into the chasm of her russet mane. The verdant green of Mel's satiny top provided the perfect counterpoint to the auburn tones of her hair. The cinched belt securing the crossing panels of her blouse held it together well, yet giving tantalizing views of her medium sized tits. The black slacks clung closely to her well-shaped thighs and calves without the 'painted on' look. "Dave, could you make me one of your 'ginger ales' please?" "Sure, Liv. Anyone else want something?" "Can you make me one of those drinks you made that first time?" Becca asked. "Yeah, that's what Livy is asking for. Seven-Up and Captain Morgan mixed to look like ginger ale." "Oh, okay, then one of those please." "You got it." Dave got to mixing drinks. Jan asked if anyone else wanted wine. All the others voiced their interest, Jan pulled two bottles of blush from the pantry and brought them to the living room. Lupie grabbed wine glasses for each of them and handed them out as Jan poured. Dave watched Becca's first sip carefully. He'd mixed this one normal strength, not the light pour he'd given her last time. Eyes flared, she took a smaller sip than usual, but nodded before setting it on the side table. "Olivia, dear," Lupie asked softly, "I hesitate to ask, but can you tell us about your parents? Should we contact them that you are here, or, are they; ?" "Dad died six weeks ago. Mom passed a week later." Olivia took another sip. Melanie hugged her loosely. Olivia's voice took on a husky note. "She called me, near the end. She told me Dad had died. That she was very ill and wasn't; wasn't, ah,; She knew she wouldn't make it." One hot tear dallied along the top curve of her cheek before coursing downward. Dave took her hand. "She said I should pursue my dreams. All of them." Livy looked Dave dead in the eyes. "She said she'd known for a long time it was more than a crush, that she was sorry she'd belittled it by calling it that. And then ;” Olivia sucked in a breath. Mel hugged Olivia again. "We're all here for you. Let it out at your own pace." Lupie encouraged softly. "She said 'Love him. Love him like I never did. Love him like he deserves.' And then she closed the call." A hard sob shook through Olivia as more tears fell. Dave and Mel hugged her, one from each side. Dave did so while looking at the ceiling with a distant gaze. After several minutes of silence, Jan got up for a second plate. Dave stood to join her. "My mind still doesn't want to eat, but my stomach got a taste of that bruschetta and wants more. Of that, and everything else." Jan smiled and gave him a quick kiss, which he returned. "Can you tell us something about Eddie?" Shawna asked after Dave sat back down. Dave thought for a minute. Slowly, a proud smile spread across his face. "His Eagle project." Olivia smiled and nodded. "Eddie was an Eagle Scout?" Jan asked. "Yes, he was. Got his Arrow of Light as a Webelo too." Livy provided. "Eddie and I were just beginning to reconnect when he began working on his Eagle rank. For his project, he decided to build a foot bridge across the stream in the park." "Armadillo park? The bridge on the south end?" Becca asked. Dave smiled broadly. "That's the one. Before that bridge, anyone walking the path and crossing the bridge at the north end would have to turn around when they hit the ends of the u-shaped path. For some folks, that was more walking than they could handle, so they wound up getting less exercise, or taking their walks in the few areas with sidewalks or walk along the side of the road. Either way they got very little 'green time'. He found a bridge design appropriate for the location, one that would last with little maintenance and convinced a local construction company to donate materials. He met with the city manager and then spoke before the city council to arrange an agreement for maintenance." "The foreman of the construction company and his best concrete specialist offered their services to supervise the volunteer workers and ensure the quality of the work. I think Eddie had a hand in that." Dave's pride in his son couldn't have been any louder on his face. "The kicker was, he vetted the design to make sure the angle of the curve was suitable for someone in a wheelchair. So at the ribbon cutting, the young lady that cut the ribbon, and the first to cross was in Eddie's class. I think she wound up the class Salutatorian. Anyway, she was paraplegic, lost the use of her legs in an accident during her eighth grade year." Dave paused. "I think she and Eddie started dating not long after." Olivia snorted. "They were already dating. I think that night was the first time she gave him the goods though." "Go Eddie." Shawna said huskily. "Seriously?" Dave asked Olivia. "Pretty sure. Not 100%. I mean, I know they did it. Like a lot. Once they opened up that part of the relationship they were like bunnies. I'm not absolutely sure that night was the first night though." "Hell, I was nineteen before my first time. He was always better with people than I ever was." Dave's looked wistfully into the distance, like he was seeing through the walls at something beyond. Then he swallowed hard. He took a steadying breath and blew it out slowly. Becca rubbed his shoulder lightly before giving it a soft kiss. Dave smiled at her, then leaned in to deliver a light peck on her cheek. He looked outward again, scanning across the room. "Thank you all for putting up with this. I'm sorry for acting like such a p--" Becca pressed a finger firmly to Dave's lips. "If that word crosses your lips, you'd better be talking about our body parts. The man that I've watched, relied on, and come to trust implicitly sure as hell isn't one of those. And he deserves better than that." The fire in her red-rimmed eyes put the punctuation to her statement. Dave just nodded in concession to his young lover's demand. With an impish grin she added, "And for the record, anytime we're getting frisky, or flirting, I'm perfectly happy with you calling it: or me: a pussy." She grabbed his hand and shoved it between her shorts-clad legs for emphasis. Becca's addendum broke the somber mood of the room. Everyone got a good laugh. A brief quiet descended as everyone ate a few bites or stared into their drink. Dave looked up to see Jan and Lupie gazing at him, concern and sympathy clearly written across both of their faces. "Well, Becca, since you have some history with our man, tell me something to catch me up with all of you." Shawna requested. "Oh, tell her about the cupcake exchange." Jan suggested. "Dave told me about it while the two of you were getting vaxxed." "Oh that one she told me already. Good story." "Okay, so something new." Becca paused, then blushed. She bit her lip and looked sideways at Dave and cringed. Then she flicked her eyes to Lupie. Lupie caught the look and rolled her eyes. "Go ahead." She said with a sigh. Then she turned her face away. "So, um, you know how Dave runs a couple times a week, and works out with his staff in the backyard about as often?" Shawna nodded at Becca's narrative, then turned to give Dave an appreciative leer. "Ahem, well, it's cooler now, so he does he work outs in a t-shirt and shorts." Shawna nodded again, then stared at Dave's torso like she was imaging him bare chested and sweating. Well, she'd seen him shirtless often enough. Melanie's breathing became slightly deeper and slower as she sized him up as well. "Well, remember we used to live next door. And Lupie's second story windows are high enough to see over Dave's fence." Mel, Shawna, and Jan all looked at each other. "Oh." They said in unison. "You lucky bitches." Jan added. Dave's mind was working at a slower pace and caught up a moment later. He closed his eyes and shook his head. With a small grin. "Well, that's not all of it. See, I made no pretense about watching him work out. I mean, mid-August, heat pounding down? Ten minutes into his work out his whole torso is covered in sweat, with rivulets running down his front and back." Shawna looked transfixed. Jan had her eyes closed. Mel tightly gripped her thighs, staring intently. "Usually I watched from one of the back windows, and just put up with the oblique angle. One day, a few months back, I realize it's very quiet in the house, and I seem to be the only one on the second floor. I decided to move over to Lupie's room, which is at the back corner, with two windows looking out over the backyard, one on each side of the corner." Lupie blushed hard and brought her hands up to cover her face. "So, there was a small space between the curtain panels and I was staring at Dave through the gap as I walked up. I walked as quietly as I could so Lupie and Esme wouldn't hear my footsteps from downstairs. I pulled back the curtain to get a better view. Lupie was hiding in the curtains, eyes fixed on Dave. We both screamed, and Lupie's hand flapped backwards hitting the window frame." "That's how you bruised your hand?!" Dave exclaimed, trying to suppress his laughter. "You flap your hands around when you're surprised?" "No. Just, um, I, uh ;” Lupie's muffled response trailed off. "She took care to wash her hands thoroughly before she let me bind it." Becca interjected. "Initially we thought she'd hurt her wrist, so I stabilized it. But, I recognized later what I had smelled while we were leaving the room." Lupie peeked between her fingers at Becca, pleading. "Okay, never mind." Becca conceded. "I've said too much already." The others looked confused at the abrupt ending until Melanie burst out laughing. When they looked at her questioningly, she said, "I know what I would be doing standing there watching him work out shirtless." And flopped back into the couch giggling furiously. The others started cackling and Jan, chortling, reached over to pull Lupie into her for a hug. "Not like we all don't do it." Dave sat there open mouthed, shocked, and feeling like he'd won something undefinable. He moved to kneel in front of Lupie. He took her hands in his own, pulling them away from her face. He pulled her into a hug. Into her ear he whispered, "I love you." Her hug on him tightened. "And if I hadn't been so dense I would have been in that room to take care of you properly. Or at least, lick your fingers clean." He punctuated his comment with a light nibble of her earlobe. Lupie swatted him on the back as she released him. Her face was still flushed to the tips of her ears. The tight, prim smile and her laughing eyes testified to her approval of the idea, and her mortification it was said out loud. Even at a whisper. Dave got up and refreshed his drink, and Olivia's as well. Becca sipped hers more slowly, and still had more than half a glass. Jan topped off her wine glass, along with Mel's and Shawna's. Lupie got up and made a fresh plate, then headed for the stairs. "I'm going to take a plate to Esme, just in case she didn't get enough earlier. Besides, if I tell her Dave likes the bruschetta, she might try it." Lupie said with a knowing mom smile. Shawna came to Dave once he was seated. She gave him a soft kiss and held him to her. She spoke no words, but conveyed clearly her heart ache for him, and her availability should he need something. When Lupie returned, she took her seat and looked to Olivia asking "Can you tell me something about your father?" Livy squirmed for a moment, then nodded. She took a breath. "He was a security consultant. Worked for a firm that advised companies on the weak points in their physical and cybersecurity. Dad was on the physical side. He'd been a Green Beret before going to college, where he met Mom and Dave." "Oh, wow. So your dad was a badass?" Becca asked. "Carter was so badass he was chill," Dave interjected. "He had that confidence of the guy that knows he'll win if things get physical. Smart too, though." "Yeah, Dad made supervisor pretty fast. He and his team would walk the grounds of a company and show them where a person could slip in or out without detection. Then the cyber guys would do the same for the company's networks. Sometimes, Dad would have to prove the point. He loved that. He and a couple of his team would don tactical gear and break in. Dad always left a fake tarantula with the company logo on its back on the boss' desk, or somewhere critical." Olivia chuckled. "One time, this one CEO was particularly resistant. Dad had to go in a second time. The first time he left a tarantula on the main server station, and one in the research lab; that by law was required to be restricted access. To drive his point home, Dad went to the CEO's office and installed this box on the ceiling, where most don't look. It had some kind of trigger because once the guy sat down, this tarantula drops on a thread from the box, right on the guy's paperwork." Several smiles broke out. Dave laughed soundlessly, his mouth closed so it didn't become a cry. The tears in his eyes were tattle-tale enough. He absently played with Olivia's dark locks. Olivia turned to look at him, eyes soft and happy. She leaned against his hand. Dave realized what he was doing, got self-conscious and pulled back. With downcast eyes, Liv turned back to the room and took in the other faces. A couple of looks exchanged suggested that most had caught what had just passed. Dave tried to process what just happened by staring off through a blank spot on the wall. It wasn't terribly helpful, once he recalled the picture that hung there just a few weeks before. Then Lupie cleared her throat. Dave fixed his eyes on her. He was never particularly perceptive of the looks on people's faces, but this time it seemed pretty clear. She stared at him with a stern look, then shifted her eyes to Liv and back to him. He looked to Jan, who just nodded. "Maybe someone else can share a family background story." Dave temporized. A few pensive looks passed. A tight smile grew on Jan's face. "My aunt Carolyn." She paused for a second. "My dad's sister. They were half-Korean, half European. Aunt Carolyn took more after the European side of the heritage, especially in the kitchen. She made an awesome meatloaf." She chuckled and looked over at Dave and Becca. "She would have loved that meatloaf cupcake." Her eyes watered at the bottom edge. "Visiting her was a way to encounter the white half of my ancestry. She had prints from famous artists. Classic books. If I was there on a Saturday night, she'd serve cheese and crackers, sometimes with a little sausage. As I got older, she'd let me have a small glass of wine as well." Jan took a light breath. "She played some classical music, but mostly it was Michael Bolton and Kenny G. Maybe some Cranberries and Matchbox Twenty when she felt wild. I haven't heard from her in over a month. And she has asthma." Jan trailed off into silence and the room observed it with her. Lupie reached out a hand to Jan's shoulder. She in turn, put her own hand on top of Lupie's. She turned her head and smiled. With a small nod, she turned away again, staring at the floor. Both hands dropped away. After a reasonable silence, Becca spoke. "When I was thirteen, my cousin Kimberly, who was sixteen, offered to pierce my ears for me." Half the women groaned. Dave sat silently, suspecting this wouldn't end well. "She got a large sewing needle, a bottle of rum, a small bowl, and a pair of my mom's stud earrings." "Rum?" Jan asked. Becca rolled her eyes. "Yeah," she said with a sigh, "she said she had to soak the needle in alcohol before using it." A variety of gasps, groans and sighs walked around the room. Dave's sympathetic grimace did less than his hand patting her knee to communicate his support. "Oh, but it gets worse. Wrong kind of alcohol at too low concentration, plus lots of sugar are only enablers. She cleaned my earlobes thoroughly with antimicrobial soap, so maybe that was the one thing she did almost right. But she didn't clean her own hands. And when she stuck the needle through; which hurt like hell; she stabbed her finger." Multiple hands struck foreheads or mouths. "Oh yeah. So we're both bleeding like stuck pigs, and crying. She's freaking out because 'the blood is mixing'. I never figured out what that meant. We bandage each other up the best we could, hide all the stuff from our parents and then hide ourselves. Three days later I have a raging infection in one earlobe and have to go to the doctor AND admit to my mom what happened." Becca paused, shaking her head. "Chewed my ass out. The doctor said because of the infection, I had to wait at least six months to get piercings. Mom added another six as punishment. She did take me to get professional piercings one year to the day after the doctor's visit though." Becca's eyes watered. Dave leaned over and kissed her cheek as a single tear slid down her face. Dave noticed Melanie getting increasingly fidgety. He thought he first noticed something during Becca's tale about his workouts. Maybe when the stories ran out, he'd have his head right. It wasn't fair to her to make her wait too long for imprinting. Or Liv. God, he really needed to get his head around this. He loved Olivia, he truly did. He was just so used to it being a non-sexual, non-romantic relationship. He'd looked on her as nearly a daughter for, well, for her whole life. But she wasn't his daughter. And she loved him. That was so clear in her eyes, every time she looked at him. Not just today, but thinking back over the years. It's crazy to think he could hurt this person he cared so deeply for, by not having sex with her. Fuck, it was Kim Dawson all over again. Shawna sat placidly, attentive as others told their stories. As the room lay silent again for a time, she took her turn. "I once caught my brother coming out of the shower with his girlfriend." Grins and giggles passed around the room. "Mind you, this is after my mother had chewed me out for getting frisky with, um, my best friend in my room." "Oh" several said in unison. "We were experimenting," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "It was my first Thanksgiving Break home from college. We were just friends, with nothing going on physical, since sixth grade. We were both single at the time, but we'd each had boyfriends, and each had sex before. We just thought we'd try out the other flavor. Who better to try that with than your ride or die?" She grinned. "Mom walked in when we had our shirts loose and hands inside each other's bras. Mom got all pissy about it and made some comment along the lines of 'Darian would never disrespect me by having sex under my roof.' Yeah sure Mom." Shawna rolled her eyes. "The bathroom smelled of" she looked straight at Becca, "pussy, so they'd been going at it in there. Mom wasn't home, so the obvious sounds of continuing humping came from his room almost immediately." "Hell of it is, she was this tiny little thing. Barely five foot tall and a nothing waist. And since I'd seen Darian stumbling around out of the bathroom when we both had midnight potty urges, well, he wasn't great at covering up when he's drowsy, and in his case, the stereotype is true. I don't know how he'd didn't break her in half." "After she left, I confronted him with Mom's comment. Now Darian ain't scared of shit; not a machismo thing, he uses his brain; but Momma. She's a foot shorter and at least a hundred pounds less muscle but that boy will cringe and genuflect if Momma is mad. He starts bargaining with me. Of course, he can't offer money since he's just getting his feet under him. He had plans, and he did eventually move out, but he was scrimping and saving so paying me money to shut up would have crippled him." We all hung there, waiting. "Well, Darian had been incredibly protective of me growing up. He over did it, by a lot. So my price for silence was for him to set me up with a friend of his that I had always wanted to date, but Darian kept getting in the way." She paused for a minute. "You know how you really want something, and imagine what it would be like to get it? And then you do, and ugh. Darian meant to protect me against a guy getting handsy. In this case he was protecting me from getting bored. The guy was about as much fun as a wet paper towel. I gave him a handshake at my door when he dropped me off." All the ladies shook their heads in commiseration. Dave closed his eyes and kept his mouth shut. Becca however, didn't. "Dave, how many of your dates ended in handshakes?" "None, from now on," he said flatly. "You got that right." Shawna said. Jan just shrugged and nodded. Becca and Liv hugged him tightly. Mel rubbed a hand against his back. Lupie sat still with an enigmatic grin. Dave knew there were thoughts churning behind those dark chocolate eyes. While he wondered what those thoughts were, he had a thought of his own. Maybe it was what she was thinking, maybe not. Here he was, sleeping with four women, two more about to be added to their ranks, and he hadn't taken a single one of them on so much as one date. That couldn't stand. Granted, movies and restaurant dinners were out. But they had two backyards to have a picnic meal in. The parks were open too. Maybe the Botanical gardens? He'd need to talk with each one, find out what they wanted, and find a way to make it happen. "Well Becca already told a story for me," Lupie said, breaking the silence. Becca blushed and chuckled. "So Melanie, what can you share with the family?" "I was orphaned so early, I don't really remember my parents. Just a few fuzzy images. I bounced from one foster home to another. One time I got to stay in the same place for two years. Usually it was more like eight to ten months. The social workers tried to at least let me stay in one school for a full year. Some of them anyway." "I don't have any horror stories about it. Other kids I fostered with told me about other homes they've been in, and some of those were bad. So I don't want to suggest it doesn't happen, it just never happened to me. The worst for me was not being connected to anyone for long. Honestly, living with Olivia is the longest I've shared a place with anyone. And she brought me home on holidays." Her face darkened. "Carter and Janelle were nice to me." Then she laughed. "I think Carter suspected I was Liv's lesbian lover though." "Oh my god." Liv rolled her eyes and brought a hand to her forehead, covering her eyes. Only Dave noticed Jan wincing at the hated phrase. Then Mel's face went blank, trying to hold back the intense emotions. "You're the closest I've ever had to a sister." The two college girls hugged. After a brief pause, Dave chimed in. "Now that is a tough life, having Olivia as your sister." Melanie laughed. Olivia turned and punched him in the shoulder, with a tight smile on her face. Laughing and rolling with the punch, Dave couldn't help but notice the way her large tits jiggled with the turn and the force of her punch. When she leaned against him, he found himself wishing her neckline was cut lower. The thought was surprising, and conducive to future events, but still slightly disconcerting. Before he could get too lost in his head, Jan spoke up. "So, how about a story about young Olivia?" she asked. Liv groaned. Dave grinned. "Okay, so we've mentioned before she hunts, hikes, does all kinds of outdoors She-Ra stuff." Liv glared up at him. She adjusted her head so the backs of her round silver stud earrings wouldn't poke her head. Mel rubbed Liv's back reassuringly. "You may have noticed that fishing was not mentioned in that list." "Oh God, no." Liv covered her face with her hands. The grins on every face in the room showed realization dawning in each of the other minds present. "So, Carter and I took Eddie and Liv fishing. Carter preferred drift catfishing, so we'd get out on the lake very early, usually by three am, four if we were running late. We had a small casting net we'd use in the shallows to catch bait fish. Then Carter would take the boat to a point up current from where he suspected the cats would be, and we'd drift across with our hooks in the water. Well, the bait fish had to be cut into two or three pieces to be useful. Olivia objected. But not to cutting the fish. To holding them. She squealed every time we put one in her hands. She loved casting the net and hauling it in. she liked fighting the fish on the rod, put touch one with her hands? Oh, no, not happening." Olivia buried her head in his chest and glared upward. "Oh, did I mention her fishing rod and tackle box were Barbie themed?" A series of giggles followed that assertion. "Don't talk about that!" "But you were cute!" "Shit like that is why you keep seeing me as a little girl for you to protect and raise instead of a woman you could sleep with." Olivia humphed. "Beginning to think the only way to change your mind is to sit here topless. I wait like that long enough and your cock might start taking charge." She accented her words by puffing out her generous chest and turning partially towards Dave. "You go girl," Shawna laughed. "How about some big titty solidarity?" She unbuttoned two buttons on her blouse. Jan joined in the laughter while Lupie shook her head, smiling. Becca stared a chant of 'Do it!' quickly joined by Mel. They both shook their chests in time with the chant. "No." Dave said, staring at Liv with no hint of a smile. He swatted Becca on the knee. "Hmm, what do I need to do to get a spanking Daddy?" Melanie purred. "Do not start that shit." Dave tried to be stern this time but didn't quite manage it. "Speaking of getting something started, I'm getting kinda itchy here. I don't know if either of you are in the mood yet, but this serum is starting to eat at me." Liv and Mel exchanged looks. "I don't want to jump the line on banging your dream guy, but please girl, let's get this started. If you don't go, I will." "Sexier words were never spoken," Dave noted dryly. That got Liv laughing. Dave stood. "Do you two want to do this one at a time, or side-by-side?" "One at a time," Mel stated emphatically. "After walking in on you masturbating once, I don't need to see that pussy again." Liv groaned and turned her head to the ceiling. Then Mel turned to Lupie "hashtag justiceforLupie." She grinned. Lupie just rolled her eyes while Becca laughed. Jan laughed, but reached out a hand to Lupie's shoulder. Dave took Olivia's hand and turned to the stairs. She interlocked her fingers with his and walked beside him with her head against his shoulder. They stayed like that until they reached the bed. Dave turned to face Olivia, placing his hands on her shoulders. She looked into his eyes, hungry, pleading. Dave took a deep, shuddering breath and pushed aside the thoughts of the little girl that kissed him on the check at bedtime as he tucked her into bed. He stared into Olivia's eyes, focusing on the woman in front of him, as she is now, wanting to be with him. She loved him. had for a long time. She had been dedicated to the idea of being with him for life, for longer than, well, any woman in his past or present. The reality of that finally washed over him. His love for her did not need to end or change, merely grow. He had always been hers. Dave pulled Olivia into him and kissed her with passion. Olivia moaned into the kiss. Dave felt her hot tears as their cheeks brushed. He pulled back, their faces parted but close. "I love you Olivia Barnes, always and forever." A heart-rending sob burst from her as her dearest dream manifested. She jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, and kissing him fiercely, their tongues dancing. Dave slowly walked them to the edge of the bed and sat her down. Mostly. Olivia was not letting go. Dave tugged at the bottom of her blouse and lifted. Olivia broke the kiss and raised her arms, her legs still clutching him tightly. Dave paused removing her shirt when her lips were exposed, but her eyes still covered. He moved in for a kiss. He felt her grin as their lips moved in unison. Olivia then grabbed Dave's shirt as he finished removing hers. Dave moved to her jeans and quickly removed those as She reached for his waist band. Olivia grasped his pants and boxers as one and removed them. Dave, standing, naked and half-erect. Olivia, seated on the edge of the bed, in a lacy white bra and matching panties. They drank each other in. She looked up at him. "Well, part of you is getting interested," she smirked. "You get all of me, Olivia, just as you always have. I'll show you my love every day. It will just manifest in a few new ways from now on." Olivia scooted up the bed as Dave crawled up, aligning himself over her, kissing as they moved. Dave's hands wandered along her thighs and sides. Olivia's fingers coursed lazily along his back. "Just one request." She gave him an impish look. "When you go get Mel to bring her up here, leave my legs spread so the first thing she sees when she walks in is my pussy." "You're rotten ya know that? I have to live with her too ya know." "She'll laugh. It's just roommate hijinks." Dave returned to kissing Olivia. He moved his lips lower, down her neck, to her collarbone, and then the slopes of her tits. He slipped his hands underneath her, unclasping her bra. Gingerly, he removed it. Olivia's large tits, no longer supported by a bra, formed two delicious lumps on her chest, that looked like they were about to slide off her chest. Olivia's eyes glistened, radiating joy as Dave took her tits in his hands and began kissing them. She moaned as he ministered to her bosom with his mouth. When he took one nipple in his mouth and suckled, she gasped. "Oh, David, Yes!" Pleasure and unbridled joy left her breathing ragged, her mind awash in bliss. His hands remained at her tit, massaging gently, easing her higher with delicate caresses. His mouth proceed lower, kissing her ribs. Her abdomen. Kissing and licking her belly button. She giggled and twisted her torso. Dave brought his hands down to Olivia's hips. He grasped her panties and pulled them down to her ankles, raising himself and her legs up. He tossed them aside and brought his face to kiss the crease of her pelvis and her hip. She shuddered. Her arousal scented the room. Her lovely light brown vulva filled his vision as he breathed softly across her bare essence. The hairs of the small landing strip on her mons tousled in the artificial breeze. She lifted her head to look at him. "David;” she pleaded. He grinned. He locked eyes with her and closed his mouth around her lower lips and began to suckle. Her body arched and she sucked in a breath. His tongue played across her sopping wet slit. He tasted her juices. He nibbled her flowering inner lips. He slipped his tongue into her entrance. "Oh God David Yes! Oh please put it in me." Olivia whimpered. "Darling, you've wanted this night for a long time. I intend to make it worthwhile." "You are enough David, that's al; Ah" she cried out as he took her clitoris in his mouth and suckled. He slid one finger gently inside, massaging her tunnel. Every stroke drew her natural lubricant in greater volume than the last. He inserted as second finger and she moaned, writhing, hips bucking. He released her button and withdrew his fingers. She eased her motions. Dave crawled up her body, a victorious and hungry grin on his face. She beamed, breathing heavily. He caressed and kissed her tits briefly as he moved up. Finally hovering over her, face to face, bodies aligned, his erection resting between them, Dave kissed her once again. She clutched him and returned the kiss. Dave maneuvered his member with his hips, aligning with her fully relaxed and open entrance. He pushed in gently, a small distance just to lodge the tip of his helmet in her. The precum coating his cockhead set off a body-rocking orgasm that stole her breath. When her eyes re-opened, Dave drove himself into her, full length, in one smooth stroke. Her eyes glowed with joy. He began moving himself in and out of her. Slowly at first. Always firmly, gently. Staring into her eyes as he worked them both to ecstasy. He picked up his pace. She began rocking her hips with his. Soon they were pounding into each other, breathing raggedly, eyes still locked, her hands braced behind his shoulders until their passion pushed him over the brink, firing rope after rope of hot cum into her waiting vagina. The effect on Olivia was immediate. A primal scream of pleasure burst from her lips as her body convulsed like a marionette in the hands of an angry child. And then she fell to the bed, limp. "Imprinting,; imprinting,; imprinting, ;” Dave kissed her forehead and extracted himself from her body. He crawled off the bed and left to clean himself in the bathroom. He returned with a damp washcloth to clean her. After dressing in loose shorts and a shirt, he arranged her as she'd requested and left the room shaking his head. Melanie met him at the bottom of the stairs with a passionate kiss and a tight hug. "You need a minute or two?" "Yeah, let me get a drink and I should be fine." He returned the kiss, then slipped from her arms to search out some juice from the fridge. "Oh, I thought you meant you needed a little something to steel yourself for doing me." "Please." Dave guzzled half the glass. "One, you are hot. Two," he blushed a bit, "I have a thing for redheads." Melanie smiled. "Oh yeah?" "Hell, if you had freckles, I'd kiss each one of them." That made her blush. After Dave finished off a second glass of juice, he and Melanie headed upstairs, pursued by catcalls and wolf whistles. Esme, who'd been invited into the living room after Dave and Olivia had gone upstairs, just laughed at the shenanigans. Opening the door, Melanie exclaimed, "Oh my god, you left; " she pursed her lips. "No, she put you up to this didn't she?" Dave chuckled and grabbed a light blanket. "No," Melanie said, "save that to cover us both when you finish with me." She cupped her hand under one of Liv's shapely thighs and brought the leg over the other, giving her friend a bit of modesty she hadn't asked for. Dave noticed that her hand seemed to linger just a bit on Liv's thigh. It certainly looked like Mel gave her rump a light squeeze. Maybe he just imagined it. She turned to face him. "Reading between the lines, from everything Liv's told me, you don't think you deserve any of us, do you?" Dave swallowed hard, trying not to react. "I'm going to tell you something harsh and reassuring. You don't. And you know something else? We don't deserve your love either. I learned bouncing around those homes that love isn't earned. It's too valuable to be earned. No one is ever worthy of someone else's love. Body, heart, or mind. Love is a gift. We each give our love to you, by our choice. And you give us your love by your choice. I barely know you and I'm more comfortable being here with you than I've ever been with any man." She paused to let that sink in. "David, just accept that you are a damn good man, and we are all happy to be here with you. Enjoy what we give you. Let us enjoy what you give in return." Dave felt like this beautiful young woman that barely knew him was staring straight into his heart, laying it bare and spearing it with the cruelest weapon; hope. He stretched out his hand tentatively, reaching for the sash holding her blouse closed. She looked down briefly, seeing his hand. She immediately looked into his eyes and gave the smallest nod, and a smile. Dave pulled slowly on the loose tail of the cinch and dropped it. The belt ends fell to her sides and the halves of her blouse hung loosely, exposing the center of her chest and abdomen. Melanie had a belly button piercing. A small chain with two small clear crystals near the top and at the bottom, a butterfly done mostly in silver metal clasping tiny crystals, except for a soft pink pearl serving as the body of the faux insect. "You like? Your profile said you weren't a fan of body modification, but I was hoping you would be ok with this." "It's cute and sexy and innocent and naughty all at once." Dave smiled. He stepped up to her, sliding his hands into her blouse and around her back. He pulled her into a soft, slow kiss. They explored each other that way for a few minutes. Dave brought his hands up to her tits, cupping them and kneading them through her black satin bra. Melanie sucked in a breath and hummed. She broke the kiss and drew his attention with her eyes. "The others told me how you like to take your time, maximize a woman's pleasure. I am super fucking horny right know. You can take me to the heights later, we have forever for that. Right now I just need to pound your stake into me and lay claim to my body." "What about your heart?" She grinned "Just like they said you would. It's getting there, just takes a bit more time." She shrugged her blouse off and shucked her pants. The panties were also black and satiny. "Come on Davey, fuck my brains out and make me yours." She tossed her bra and panties aside quickly and crawled up the bed, turn over on her back once she was alongside her friend. Dave stripped of his shirt and shorts rapidly and joined her on the bed, pressing his body lightly against hers. His erection sandwiched between their torsos, her medium sized tit and their pointy nipples pressed against his chest. He kissed her again and she hummed. She worked her hips against his and together that got him lodged in her. A few strokes inside her passage caused him to leak out the first drips of precum and she exploded in a howling convulsion, her eyes rolling back, one hand flailing and bashing the insensate Olivia. "Fuck that was good. Give it to me David, give your woman what she needs. Seal your claim." She kissed him fiercely and they both rocked their hips savagely. No sensuality, just raw primal fucking of two hungry bodies. Despite his recent bout with Liv, this carnal frenzy brought Dave to the pinnacle faster than he anticipated and he crashed through, erupting a geyser of cum inside her depths. As the hot load filled her cavity, Melanie wailed in ecstasy, her mind shattered by the biochemical overload. Then she flopped to the bed, repeating the new world's chant of family harmony and togetherness. Chapter 6 – Shenanigans. October 4, 2020. David Belsus awoke to three beautiful young ladies lying beside him, all nude. As yet, none of his partners had elected to sleep in another room. Last night they all emphatically wanted to be near him. No one piled over anyone else. Lupie came to bed in a rich blue camisole with matching high cut panties. Shawna clad herself in a soft pink camisole and pink boy shorts. Jan wore one of Dave's sweatshirts as a baggy night gown, no panties underneath. He'd checked by way slipping his hands under the hem of the shirt to dance along her skin. Finding paradise exposed, he impishly fingered her to heaven as she begged for his cock. She beamed when he finished. She kissed him deeply after he sucked all her juices off his digits. None of the three were in bed at the moment. Shawna was likely on her way to work already. Which meant Jan and Lupie had gotten up with her to talk and share breakfast, or at least coffee. They had developed a morning routine rather quickly. That left Liv and Melanie nude, side by side on his left, and Becca, nude, curled tightly under his right arm, his hand resting just above her hip. She slumbered peacefully, unperturbed by the small motions he made as he took in the morning tableau. Becca's insecurities stemming from the near-abduction at the vax center had faded quickly with the reassurance of imprinting on Dave. What followed in its wake was the desire to be close to the person she'd just started sleeping with, magnified by this being the only person she'd ever slept with, further multiplied by the vaccine-clad certainty this was her person for life. Becca wasn't pushy about it. She knew enough to leave some space for the others to get their 'Dave time' too. In and out of bed. And the others, having experienced a similar phase in life, and happy that, for her, it really would be for a lifetime, accommodated her wherever possible. And then Dave's mind recalled a text conversation. "; Oh god, I just had this thrill run through me at the idea of waking up with you already in me, on top of me." Dave stroked her hip softly, slowly easing his fingers toward the crease where her leg met her pelvis. After several minutes of this, he brought his left hand up to cup her tit, massaging lightly, avoiding the nipple. He wanted to slowly raise her towards wakefulness, and ignite her libido, but he didn't want her awake until after he'd penetrated her. Just as she'd asked. Dave carefully eased himself out of her arms, rotating himself until he was kneeling on the bed, behind her knees and 'under' her butt as Becca lay curled on her left side. Dave leaned in and began kissing along Becca's outer thigh of her top leg while gently stroking the inner thigh of her bottom leg with his right hand. His left hand stroked softly along her side. A quick brush of her lower lips indicated her unconscious arousal, or the serum effects. Either way, Dave rubbed his half-hard cock between her thighs, rubbing against her labia, to get them both ready. He kept kissing her hand and arm while softly playing with her tit. "David?!" Came the scandalized whisper. Lupie and Jan stood, frozen, in the doorway, not believing what they were seeing. "She expressly asked for this, you can even check my text messages." Both ladies looked concerned, but said no more. A few more minutes of play time had Dave fully hard, regaining what he briefly lost with the interruption. Becca was ready as well. Dave seated himself at her entrance and pushed slowly, steadily forward. He was half inside her, leaning over her when Becca's eyes flew open. Wide-eyed, mouth agape, she turned her head and moaned. She writhed against David and clutched his upright arms. When her breath returned, she kissed him hard. She pulled away, winking as she deliberately flexed the muscles of her inner passage. Dave took that as a signal to continue. He steadily worked himself in her. Becca grinned madly, moaning and encouraging him. In a few minutes, both were racing to a peak they reached in tandem. Becca fell limp against the mattress, gasping. Dave steadied himself by resting his ass on his heels. Both dismounted the bed and began searching for clothes. Lupie gave Dave a quick kiss on the cheek and hugged Becca before heading downstairs. Jan stayed to change clothes. Jan viewed Becca with a grin. "Get your jollies little freak?" Becca beamed and blushed. "Umm hmm." "Just razzing you, ya know." "I know. I'm still learning what I like, and that is one of them. You know, the way you get off when a guy has a big; book collection." Her eyes twinkled. She squealed and caught the pillow Jan threw as she joined the laughter. "Oh my god, a naked pillow fight. I knew they were real!" Dave laughed and ducked as both partners chucked pillows at him. Dark brown irises set in almond eyes gazed at Dave from Becca's laptop resting on the folding table Becca had set up in one of the unused bedrooms. Raven black hair framed an oval face of chocolate brown before cascading over shoulders set with remembered power, but a hint of sag. The plain white scoop necked t-shirt stretched into small ripples between her tits. The shirt was mostly opaque, yielding evidence of a white bra of exactly the same tone as the shirt, but nonetheless unable to disguise two ripe, thick nipples making their presence known. As the call began, her small, tight mouth had appeared balanced between the promise of lighting up the room with a smile, or unleashing a verbal tirade that would leave all within earshot cringing. Dave's skeptical, reserved approach was pushing her more towards desperation. "Yes, I have been; unkind to people through all of high school. I thought I was better than a lot of people. I had a group that I hung out with, and we deemed ourselves 'the betters' of everyone else. Becca knows some of what I did, more from hearing about it or seeing it than experiencing it directed at her. I; held back since she helped me study." Reena swallowed before continuing. "I've had all these months to think about life and people and a lot of stuff okay? I'm not proud of my behavior. I was a bitch." Her eyes began to water at the lower edge. "Being isolated, knowing people are dying, finding out from a few friends they only have another day or hour left; " her voice caught. A few tears coursed down her apple cheeks, but she batted them aside quickly. "Do you know what it's like to stop hearing from someone that you thought you'd invite to your wedding, or have your kids play together?" Becca inhaled, about to speak, but Dave stayed her with a gentle touch. It wouldn't do to interrupt when Reena was clearly pouring her heart out. The words she spoke over the next several minutes could be the ones he really needed to hear to make a good decision. "The kids in grades below us stopped answering a long time ago. There's an internet rumor that this thing takes more men than women, and everyone under eighteen, but even the ones over eighteen are hard to find someone that answers, boy or girl." Reena's 'queen of the school' composure was cracking. While that allowed a glimpse at the person behind the mask, it wouldn't do to let her fall apart. Time to say something reassuring, but realistic. "Reena, just tell me about why you want to be here." "Honestly, Becca may be the only friend I have left I the world. And I was never a very good friend to her before. I; I want to do better. I've been thinking a lot about what I should change. Specific things I should stop saying or doing. Remembering to say 'please' when I ask for something instead of expecting compliance because of 'who I am.' Or saying 'thank you' when someone else does something for me. Doing something for someone else just because they need it, even if they never asked." Shaking, Reena paused to collect herself. "Becca has told me about you. I'm not smart like you and her, but I would like to study something past high school. Please, please choose me. I'll; I'll do anything you want." Her voice lowered and her eyes dropped at the last sentence. "There's a lot I still don't know about sex, but I'll learn. I'll be your little; " "Hold up. Kareena, I'm not out to push you to be some kind of play toy. If we are compatible in other ways, we'll figure out the sex part. Why don't you tell me about your hobbies, things you do just because they're fun? May be things you did even if your friends weren't into them." "Well, I do like to read; even though I joined in with the others when we made fun of 'bookworms'." Her eyes were downcast for the end of that sentence but came back up. "Becca mentioned you're a big book lover. But; I don't read; like nonfiction, or high class stuff. I mean, I have red Lord of the Rings, but that took forever. I could only get through like the first three pages of Moby Dick and Tale of Two Cities before passing out though." She still looked scared, so Dave gave her some reassurance. "Yeah, I think I maxed out after the first chapter of each of those. Some people love that style, but for me, it was a snooze fest too. The last two I mean. I love Lord of the Rings. So tell me, what do you like to read?" "Well, there's this series about this guy that keeps monsters in check in the San Francisco area." "Monsters?" Dave tried not to sound dubious. "Well, magical creatures. Fairies, unicorns, vampires, stuff like that. Oh, the author's name is Blake Conrad. It's a lot of fun if you like magic stuff. I have the full collection. Everything that's out so far. The next book was due out already, but the pandemic hit and who knows when they'll publish it now. For all I know, the one that's waiting is the last one. Chances are the author caught this thing and died months ago." Her face darkened again. "Well, if this does work out," Dave said, "You're welcome to bring your complete; Blake Conrad collection with you, and we'll look for similar books, similar titles. I know Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman and Ursula K. Le Guin use a lot of magic themes in their works. Sounds like they might be right up your alley." Hearing Dave endorse her reading interest perked Reena up. "You know, I could help the other girls too. I like doing nails. I'm pretty good at it too. I can free hand designs and stuff." "I could see where that could come in handy. So to speak." Dave grimaced at his unintended pun. Becca laughed. Reena just shook her head. "Anyway, I'm sure some of the ladies would appreciate that. I'll stick with natural myself," Dave said with a wink. That got a chuckle out of her. "Look, I'm not expecting you to have everything planned out. You're eighteen. There's still a lot to decide. And speaking of decisions, I'd like you to meet virtually with the other ladies of the house and we'll talk as a family after." "Also, take some time yourself to think this through completely. I know you want to be here so you can be close to someone familiar, but bear in mind, that means being sexually bonded to me, a forty-six year old man, more than twice your age. By the time you were born, I'd finished grad school, got married, had a kid, and divorced." Reena looked pensive but nodded. Dave left her to talk with Becca more. He caught Jan in the library with a notepad, apparently noting possible additions. On his suggestion, she left to join Becca. In the dining room, he found Olivia munching a bowl of cereal. Lupie sat with her. The two were sharing an easy conversation which halted when Dave walked in. He'd seen Lupie's bible on an end table in the living room when he passed through. Liv must have come down to get breakfast while Lupie was conducting a bible study on her own. Not like it was safe yet to go to a church. Especially when so many church goers around here seemed to buy into the 'just a hoax' nonsense. Dave shook his head. Christian Nationalism seem purpose built to destroy conservatism and faith in one fell swoop. Sure had a good shot at it with this damn plague. Dave shook out thoughts of things he couldn't control. Here, now, was one woman that had been interested in him for a few years as she lived next door, and another that had pined for him for; a decade? And both were happy to be bound to him by this weird vaccine, even though it meant sharing him with other women. This world was wonderful and terrifying in the same breath. "Morning, Hermosa," Dave said before kissing Lupie on the lips. She hummed into the brief contact. "Morning, love bug," he said as he greeted Olivia in the same manner. As he pulled away, she slugged his shoulder, smiling scowl pulling her lips tight. Lupie shook her head. "David, I'm with Olivia on this one. Terms of endearment you used when she was a child are not conducive to her feeling she's being accepted as a woman." "I meant it as continuity. She has a lot of love to give. Always has. And I appreciate that." Olivia's scowl relaxed but did not become a smile. Well, not immediately. Lupie raised an eyebrow at him with a gentle smile. Dave realized what he needed was a change of subject. "Becca is upstairs Zooming with a friend of hers from high school. She; would like to join us here." Both ladies smirked. Dave sighed and rolled his eyes. He brought a hand up to his face and rubbed his eyes before leaning into the hand, the elbow of the same arm resting on the table. "Look, it's not like I'm seeking women out. I'm not out pursuing young girls." Olivia shifted in her seat. "I mean; " "I get it Dave. Don't apologize." Her voice was soft, with a hint of iron. "I talked with her for a while. She's apparently been talking with Becca since before the two of you got vaxxed in the first place." He said, looking at Lupie. "And it seems Becca has been telling Reena all about us, especially about vaxxed life with me." "Kareena Agrawal? The one Becca calls 'the Indian Karen'?" Olivia barely managed to contain the mouthful of cereal and milk at Lupie's interjection. Dave held back a laugh. "She seems genuinely heartbroken and lost, Lupie. And she has taken time in isolation to examine her past behavior." Dave paused, looking each of them in the eye. "I'm reserving judgement for now. I think it would be a good idea if each of you took time to talk with her, probably with Becca as host. I ran into Jan already, she's probably up there with her now. All I'm asking is that you get with Becca sometime today to find a time you can Zoom with her and form your own opinion. I may be 'the man of the house'; " Dave bowed his arms out from his sides, leaning side to side with a faux stern look on his face; "but this is too big not to get ya'lls take on it as well." Both women giggled at the display. "Okay, okay, I'll seek Becca out in a few minutes. I'll give Reena a fair hearing, just understand, I've heard enough of her exploits to be a bit wary." "Wouldn't have it any other way, cielo." The warmth of the smile Lupie gave him was enough to power an entire town. It was a few hours past noon when Dave heard voices in the bedroom. He left his office to see if that meant Melanie was up. She'd been out for eighteen hours. Opening the door, he found Becca and Liv sitting on the bed, talking. Mel was nowhere to be seen. "Mel up I take it?" "Yup, been awake for a few minutes. She needed to use the bathroom," Becca informed him. "She'll probably be in there a while." Liv chimed in, just as Mel emerged. She had a huge smile on her face. "Wow, usually a night like last night would leave you crying on the toilet for an hour. And I needed a hazmat suit to go in there afterwards." Mel smirked. She strode over to Dave and gave him a big hug. He recognized the t-shirt she wore, black with a white line drawing of Einstein sticking out his tongue. Recognized, because it was probably the one from his closet. "Looks like I unlocked the special bonus. They did say sometimes a healing process happens during imprinting. How long was I out anyway?" "About eighteen hours," said Liv. "Longest of any of my partners. What's the healing you're talking about?" "I have; had; I B S. I tend to be careful about what I eat, or go ahead and indulge once in a while, knowing I'm going to pay the price in the morning." She turned to face Liv, with her hands on her hips. "And for your information missy, I was somewhat careful last night. The wine was dry, and I only ate a little bit of cheese. And I didn't have any deviled eggs." She grumbled that last sentence. Liv looked at Dave. "She loves deviled eggs, especially made with dill relish instead of sweet, which I've told her was the way you do it. Not that you made last night's, but that does mean the only relish in the house is dill. Problem is, the protein in the whites plus the fat in the yolk and mayo is an issue for her. If it weren't for that, she'd gobble deviled eggs like she's trying to set a world record." Dave chuckled. "As a deviled egg lover, I can testify that that much deviled egg will cause intestinal issues that oughta be against the Geneva Convention, without any medical conditions." The trio giggled. Becca sat bolt upright for a minute. "Hey, weren't there deviled eggs leftover in the fridge?" Mel was already up and moving. "Clear square sandwich container with the see through blue lid!" Mel's happy cackle faded as she sprinted down the stairs. To be continued in part 5, Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts, for Literotica.
This week on RITY... The Featured Five Theme is Does Your Conscience Bother You? Songs that mention a troubled conscience... Plus, a song written for a film that had to be retitled after an accidental death during filming... Which Tom Petty song was inspired by The Psychic Capital Of The World?... What Lou Reed tune was inspired by the viciousness of Andy Warhol?... A song title inspired by random phrases in the Sports section of a paper... Brand new solo music from Rob Thomas - lead singer of Matchbox Twenty... Deep cuts from B.B. King, Al Green, The Police, Vaughan Brothers, The Cars, Doors, Record Company, Gear Daddies, and more! For more info on the show, visit reelinwithryan.com
Today on The Social, Timothée Chalamet’s fans have mixed reactions over his “top-level” self-praise in a new interview! And, Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas reveals he 'blew' his chance with Alyssa Milano. Then, women are reading more spicy romance novels than ever. Plus, Connie Francis’ hit single Pretty Little Baby is TikTok’s top global song of the year. And, does it bother you when friends ignore your social media posts? Featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden
Come along the journey as Sam and Max discover more and more about Canada in one episode. Then they cover an underrated Aussie metal band, debate between Nickelback and Matchbox Twenty, and golf-clap the ARIA Awards winners of 2025.Follow along with the songs we discuss with this week's Spotify Playlist.Discover more new music and hear your favourite artists with 78 Amped on Instagram and TikTok.
A mix of songs about falling back to Standard Time. Artists include Boston, Aerosmith, The Beatles, Matchbox Twenty, Huey Lewis and the News, .38 Special, Jefferson Starship and more!
Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas has a new solo album out, titled All Night Days. It's his first since 2019 and was made amidst a move out of Thomas's longtime record label, as well as a separate Matchbox Twenty release. He joins us for a Listening Party.
Jenny V, co-host of The Mix New Music Club, and Nikki from The Morning Mix caught up with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty to talk all things new music, with his upcoming solo album "All Night Days" set for release on Sept. 5, 2025. Hear more about the inspiration behind the album on this episode of The Mix New Music Club Podcast!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Scrump and Drew talk; Matchbox Twenty, Destiny's Child, Captain Jack, Pink Floyd, Young Dolph, Run-DMC, The Bouncing Souls, Poppy and more! Bent-Matchbox Twenty Jumpin', Jumpin'-Destiny's Child Captain Jack (Short Mix)-Captain Jack Time-Pink Floyd It's Tricky-Run-DMC Hopeless Romantic-The Bouncing Souls New Way Out-Poppy Patreon Merchandise Social Media: Twitter Instagram
**DJ Ricky K Show Replay on www.traxfm.org. Ricky Featured 80's, 90's, 2000's & Dance Classics tracks From Ultra Nate, Eric Carmen, Texas, September, Eddie Murphy, Kevin Cronin, Lisa Stansfield, Matchbox Twenty, John Mayer, Donavon Frankenreiter, Soul II Soul, Lucaspro1, Belinda Carlisle, Del Amitri & More. #originalpirates #80music #90smusic #2000s #danceclassics #popmusic Catch Ricky K Every Sunday From 11AM UK Time/9PM Australia Time Listen Live Here Via The Trax FM Player: chat.traxfm.org/player/index.html Mixcloud LIVE :mixcloud.com/live/traxfm Free Trax FM Android App: play.google.com/store/apps/det...mradio.ba.a6bcb The Trax FM Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092342916738 Trax FM Live On Hear This: hearthis.at/k8bdngt4/live Tunerr: tunerr.co/radio/Trax-FM Radio Garden: Trax FM Link: http://radio.garden/listen/trax-fm/IEnsCj55 OnLine Radio Box: onlineradiobox.com/uk/trax/?cs...cs=uk.traxRadio Radio Deck: radiodeck.com/radio/5a09e2de87...7e3370db06d44dc Radio.Net: traxfmlondon.radio.net Stream Radio : streema.com/radios/Trax_FM..The_Originals Live Online Radio: liveonlineradio.net/english/tr...ax-fm-103-3.htm**
Want to request a song? Tell us your rating? Send us a Text Message right now! Matchbox Twenty – "Unwell" Atlantic; 2003 3.2By: Dax Mumberson, Pitchfork ContributorThere are songs that define an era, and then there's “Unwell” by Matchbox Twenty—a song that limply gestured at defining something before retreating back into a GAP sweater of its own design. Released in 2003, but spiritually 1998, “Unwell” is a murky broth of acoustic sincerity, radio-safe angst, and the sonic equivalent of a lukewarm Sprite left on the counter at your divorced dad's condo.Frontman Rob Thomas—America's reigning monarch of bland competence—delivers a performance that screams, “I'm sad, but like, in a relatable, post-TRL way.” His voice trembles with a vague vulnerability that makes you think, “This man has probably stared out a rainy window, but only during a sponsored VH1 special.” The lyrics read like therapy Mad Libs: “I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell” is the kind of line that makes your aunt nod solemnly and say, “That's deep,” while clipping coupons for gluten-free Oreos.Musically, the track is as adventurous as a mayonnaise sandwich. A plodding acoustic guitar trudges along next to a drumbeat that sounds like it was generated by a coffee machine having an existential crisis. The whole thing feels like it was designed by a focus group of 36-year-olds who just discovered feelings and are very tired.It's not that “Unwell” is bad in the way that, say, an active crime scene is bad—it's more that it's aggressively beige. It is the sonic equivalent of that one IKEA lamp you forget you own until it catches fire. It's a musical shrug. A warm sigh in cargo shorts. A song that says, “Hey, we might not be okay, but at least we're doing it in khaki.”And yet, somehow, this song slaps. But only if you're in a dentist's chair, high on nitrous, pondering every life choice that brought you to this point.TL;DR: If adult contemporary were a medical condition, “Unwell” would be the symptom, the diagnosis, and the follow-up email confirming your next appointment.DUBBY DUBBY is declaring WAR on big Energy! Use the promo code "1001songs" at checkout for 10% off! Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREEBlessington Support the podcast when you buy a Blessington watch! Use the promo code “1001songs” at checkout. DUBBYDUBBY is declaring WAR on big Energy! Use the promo code "1001songs" at checkout for 10% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1001songsthatmakeyouwanttodie/Follow us on TikTok: @the1001crew
In this episode, I am joined by the podcast Producer, Josh Gilbert, for our second tutorial edition. This time, we tackle some heavy stuff - Josh opens up about his modern existential crisis of living untethered from traditional institutions, which gets us into William James' "Will to Believe" and the whole mess of making momentous decisions in a culture that's allergic to commitment. Then I get nerdy about Andreas Reckwitz's fascinating analysis of late modernity - how we've split into two warring tribes: the hyper-culture individualists seeking singular authenticity and the cultural essentialists clinging to collective identity. It's a compelling framework for understanding why we're all at each other's throats politically while the middle class gets squeezed into an hourglass shape. We also geek out over Byung-Chul Han's concept of positive violence, reminisce about U2 concerts with my son Elgin, and somehow end up discussing Rob Bell's uncanny resemblance to the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty. Oh, and we're planning a cigar expo "research retreat" in September because apparently that counts as legitimate podcast planning. Standard Tuesday afternoon philosophy with your friendly neighborhood theology nerds. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube To get the entire conversation, all podcast episodes ad-free, and support our work, consider joining the Process This on SubStack or get access to our entire catalog of classes & all the rest by joining up at Theology Class. Theology Beer Camp is a unique three-day conference that brings together of theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. This event features a lineup of well-known podcasters, scholars, and theology enthusiasts who come together to "nerd out" on theological topics while enjoying loads of fun activities. Guests this year include John Dominic Crossan, Kelly Brown Douglas, Philip Clayton, Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Jeffery Pugh, Juan Floyd-Thomas, Andy Root, Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Noreen Herzfeld, Reggie Williams, Casper ter Kuile, and more! Get info and tickets here. _____________________ This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A mix of Top 40 hits from June 2003! Artists include Train, Coldplay, Josh Kelley, Wayne Wonder, Sean Paul, Matchbox Twenty, Uncle Kracker and more! (R)
The Slamfest Podcast brings the premier rock concert pregaming experience from the parking lot to the podcasting airwaves. Episode 260 - Brad saw two huge 90's bands for the first and only time - he saw Matchbox Twenty & Goo Goo Dolls at the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI on 7/6/13. For the Band on the Bill Spotlight, he matches up songs from Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox Twenty's first three major label releases and chooses his favorite. After a Slamfest Tip of the Week, he is faced with a variation of the "Which Side are you On?" segment - side 1 from the Goo Goo Dolls' tenth studio album, Magnetic, from 2013 or Side 1 from Matchbox Twenty's 4th studio album, North, from 2012.Music in this episode by:Goo Goo DollsMatchbox TwentyCaptain & TennilleBon JoviMotorheadBlack SabbathKissOzzyVisit the Slamfest Podcast online at: https://slamfest-podcast.simplecast.comRequest to join the Slamfest Podcast private Facebook page here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/slamfestpodcast
In this week's Mixtape Rewind, we revisit our new music mix from May of 2023. Durand Jones immediately transports listeners to the golden era of soul with vocals that would sound right at home on classic Stax Records. Meanwhile, Foo Fighters return from tragedy with "Rescued," a song that not only references the loss of Taylor Hawkins but features Dave Grohl returning to the drums in a powerful musical statement. Ww discover Kesha's transformation from pop princess to vocal powerhouse on the haunting "Eat the Acid" and celebrate Florence + the Machine's darkly hypnotic "Mermaids." Even established artists like Matchbox Twenty make a welcome return after a decade-long hiatus, proving their songwriting relevance hasn't diminished.Greta Van Fleet continues their masterful 1970s rock recreation, while The Linda Lindas bring Gen Z energy to punk traditions. Megan Maroney incorporates Instagram references into country music that would otherwise feel timeless, creating a perfect snapshot of music's ongoing evolution.The mix concludes with Joy Aladokun and Noah Cahan's deceptively upbeat "We're All Gonna Die," a song that uses mortality as a lens for gaining perspective—much like how this entire collection uses musical history as a foundation for creating something entirely new. Whether you're nostalgic for classic soul, 90s alternative, 70s rock, or early 2000s pop, this mix offers something familiar yet fresh that will become part of your regular rotation.https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/new-music-may-2023/pl.u-76oNlEbCvLa5bzJhttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ZUHQtGPVUPqTWfsaa9a7Q?si=edb2105b7ef047c31. Lord Have Mercy - Durand Jones2. Rescued - Foo Fighters3. Common Ground - Jack Harlow4. Meeting The Master - Greta Van Fleet5. Don't Get Me Wrong - Matchbox Twenty6. Mermaids - Florence + The Machine7. Trees Grow HIgh - Teleman8. Eat The Acid - Kesha9. I'm Not Pretty - Megan Moroney10. Too Many Things - The Linda Lindas11. The Dumb Song - AJR12. We're All Gonna Die - Joy Oladokun & Noah Kahan Support the showVisit us at https://www.superawesomemix.com to learn more about our app, our merchandise, our cards, and more!
Matchbox Twenty lead singer Rob Thomas sat down with Mick In The Morning's Rosie Walton after announcing his next Australia tour this October! Celebrating his upcoming sixth solo album ‘The All Night Days’ and 20 years of ‘Something to Be.’
Guest Host Steve Reading fills in for me and presents the 48th edition of Variety Hits! Artists include Fleetwood Mac, ABC, The Beatles, Matchbox Twenty, The Allman Brothers Band, The Guess Who, Van Morrison, Jimmy Eat World, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder and more! Steve - a big thank you for coming back and lending your voice to the show again!You can hear Steve fill in for me on previous editions of the show. Scroll down and listen to Variety Hits 36 and Variety Hits 42 for Steve's two other appearances substituting for me. Steve is a presenter on Rock Island Radio UK, which can be found here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/rockislandradioYou can also hear Rock Island Radio UK on any platform where you listen to this show!
On this week's episode of The Chazz Palminteri Show, I sit down with Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and Matchbox Twenty frontman, Rob Thomas. We dive deep into Rob's incredible journey — from his early life growing up in the South and running away from home at 15, to becoming one of the biggest names in rock and pop music. Rob opens up about life on the road, starting Matchbox Twenty, balancing a solo career, and the real stories behind hits like "3AM" and "Smooth" with Carlos Santana. We also explore the realities of the music business, the art of songwriting, and why staying authentic matters more than ever. In this episode: Rob's early struggles and how they shaped his music The rise of Matchbox Twenty Collaborations with legends like Carlos Santana The truth about songwriting, publishing, and the business side of music Why authenticity beats chasing trends Lessons on resilience, family, and personal growth If you love music, storytelling, and real conversations about life and creativity, this one's for you. Make sure to follow, rate, and share the show — and stay tuned for new inspiring conversations every week. Connect with me: Instagram: @chazzpalminteri X (Twitter): @chazzpalminteri TikTok: @chazzpalminteri Special thanks to our producer John (@NYVideoGuy). Visit NYVideoGuy.com for top-tier video and production services.
Matt Beck joins us for a Yesshift interview! He's been playing guitar with Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks on the current leg of touring. Other credits include Matchbox Twenty, Miley Cyrus, Gwen Stefani, Rosanne Cash, and even Broadway shows of Bono and The Edge (Spider Man), Sting (The Last Ship) and Carole King (Beautiful). Also, check out this live stream of The Band Geeks chat that took place right after this was broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov8dT-jxoGo&pp=ygURcmljaGllIGNhc3RlbGxhbm8%3D
Josh, aka “isitjosh”, is an independent artist blending pop-punk, alternative rock, and pop, drawing inspiration from the music that surrounded him growing up. Originally born in New Hampshire, raised in Omaha, and now based in Philadelphia, he started out playing drums long before he was singing in bands like Take Me To Vegas and Hurricane Like Me. Now, “isitjosh” is a self-made solo artist who simply refuses to give up. Josh has built his new audience from the ground floor, with over 1 million streams and landing on 10,000+ user playlists through grassroots support and social media alone. His sound is nostalgic but modern and genre bending - pulling from the 2000s emo umbrella, alt rock staples like Third Eye Blind and Matchbox Twenty, and pop influences like The Weeknd and Justin Bieber. At its heart, Josh's music is about real experiences and honest storytelling. Without a label or major backing, he continues to connect with listeners through an authentic songwriting approach and a dedicated fanbase who supports him every step of the way.
Shane talks the pros and cons of Matchbox Twenty and Counting Crows in Season 11, Plus Episode 5.MATCHBOX 20 ALBUM REVIEW:More Than You Think You Are (2002)COUNTING CROWS ALBUM REVIEW:Recovering the Satellites (1996)See Shane's full ratings by visiting patreon.com/RatedRadio
Big Fat Five: A Podcast Financially Supported by Big Fat Snare Drum
Episode 12 of The Drum Panel Welcome to The Drum Panel—a show where a rotating group of professional drummers engages in roundtable discussions pertaining to all things DRUM. Today, we've got two fantastic guests joining the conversation: First up is Eric Leiderman. Eric is a producer at Late Night with Seth Meyers, where for years he oversaw the rotating drummer chair—regularly bringing in incredible drummers to fill in with the 8G Band when bandleader Fred Armisen couldn't be there. Eric's done a ton to elevate the drumming community, and we're stoked to have him on. We're also joined by Neal Daniels, an amazing drummer who's worked with artists like Liz Phair, LP, and Matchbox Twenty. Neal always brings thoughtful perspectives to the panel, and we're excited to have him back. Today we discuss: How can drummers authentically promote themselves online without feeling fake? How do we maintain our artistic voice while making a living playing pop gigs? Is recording yourself the key to growth? Should every drummer learn double pedal? How can drummers practice self-compassion? Which historic recording session would you have loved to witness? --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!
On this episode of CD Burners, the guys are deep diving into No Really, I'm Fine by The Spill Canvas with special guest, frontman, Nick Thomas. Released in October 2007, this first major label release from the band solidified their place in the emo scene despite not necessarily being an emo band. With their sound being "somewhere between The All American Rejects and Matchbox Twenty", this album proves that sometimes emo is a spectrum and more about a scene than a sound.
W/C 27th January 2025You may well have heard of Rob Thomas, and if so it is entirely possible this is down to the Santana tune Smooth. Not only did he sing on that track, he also rewrote the lyrics and melody.My Rob Thomas story starts in Durham, on a Sunday afternoon and the purchase of the first Matchbox Twenty album from a little independent CD shop just this side of the bridge.It is a cracking album called Yourself or Somebody Like You, and it was followed up by the equally sublime Mad Season. Fast forward a bit and Rob releases his first solo album - Something To Be - which I end up getting slightly obsessed with for a while. I finally got to see him/them in Manchester in 2008. They were touring their first hits compilation Exile on Mainstream. You will be pleased to know they didn't disappoint.Stay safe.This is how a heart breaks - Rob ThomasWhen the heartache ends - Rob ThomasTherapy For Me (or TFM as I now refer to it) is a bit of an audio curiosity. It started out as a mechanism for me to clear my head, with the hope that by saying stuff out loud it would act as a little bit of self-help. It's remains loose in style, fluid in terms of content and raw - it's a one take, press record and see what happens, affair.If you want to keep in touch with TFM and the other stuff I do then please follow me on Facebook, Insta, Twitter or Patreon. Thanks for getting this far.
Miss Heard celebrates Season 6, Episode 282 with Matchbox Twenty's “3 am.” You will learn the inspiration for this song and why Rob Thomas' solo career gets a power boost from Santana and the Latin Explosion in the late 1990s. You can listen to all our episodes at our website at: https://pod.co/miss-heard-song-lyrics Or iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and many more platforms under Podcast name “Miss Heard Song Lyrics” Don't forget to subscribe/rate/review to help our Podcast in the ratings. Please consider supporting our little podcast via Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/MissHeardSongLyrics or via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/MissHeardSongLyrics #missheardsonglyrics #missheardsongs #missheardlyrics #misheardsonglyrics #podcastinavan #vanpodcast #3AM #3am #MatchboxTwenty #Matchbox20 #YourselforSomeoneLikeYou #RobThomas #TabithasSecret #Santana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Naa1HXeDQ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3AM_(Matchbox_Twenty_song) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchbox_Twenty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Thomas_(musician)
Happy New Year, folks! We're kicking 2025 off with the very funny Jay Jurden! Jay and Caleb talk everything from church being cool again, being from red states, Matchbox Twenty, the Buckle challenge, a magical encounter at a BBQ restaurant in KC, and much more! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for full video episodes! Join our Patreon for an exclusive extended interview with Jay and other bonus content! Follow Jay! @jayjurden Follow the show! @sooootruepod Follow Caleb! @calebsaysthings Produced by Chance Nichols @chanceisloud There's nothing dry about Athletic Brewing Co. non-alcoholic brews. Give it a try and head to Athleticbrewing.com/SOTRUE to find it near you! Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to rocketmoney.com/SOTRUE today.Go to https://www.Zocdoc.com/SOTRUE to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com. » SUBSCRIBE to Headgum: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadGum?sub_confirmation=1 » FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/headgum » FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/headgum/ » FOLLOW us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headgum So True is a Headgum podcast, created and hosted by Caleb Hearon. The show is produced by Chance Nichols with Associate Producer Allie Kahan and Executive Producer Emma Foley. So True is engineered by Casey Donahue and engineered and edited by Nicole Lyons. Kaiti Moos is our VP of Content at Headgum. Thanks to Luke Rogers for our show art and Virginia Muller our social media manager.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Guest: Kendra Wright, owner of Rebel Media Agency, a marketing company specializing in financial professionals. In her prior life, Kendra worked in rock ‘n roll marketing for some of the biggest names in music (Willie Nelson, Motley Crue, Matchbox Twenty, and more). In a Nutshell: Great copy means you'll never experience a failure to communicate. Great copy is simple. Great copy is found and it comes from the mouths of your clients and prospects. Your job is to transfer what you find to your website and client communication. As important as social media, podcasting, YouTube, and email have become, your marketing plan is incomplete if you don't have a professional homepage that tells prospects who you are, who you serve, and what outcomes people can achieve by working with you. And let's not forget, people come to you because they have a problem, a question, and they want help. How clearly does your website show that you know their questions, you know their pain, and you know how to solve their problems? On today's show, Kendra Wright and I do a deep dive on finding and communicating great copy and we put several financial advisor websites under the microscope and discuss what they did well and where they could improve. This one is best watched on the YouTube video.
This week, Bernie and Lisa talk with Ace Bergman, a world-class guitar tech with more than 20 years of experience in the live music industry. Ace shares his journey from hosting a death metal TV show in Los Angeles to working alongside legends like Slash, Whitesnake, and Matchbox Twenty. He recounts life on the road, the discipline he gained from his Marine Corps training, and the challenges of touring. Ace also highlights his passion for gear, including custom guitars from Sully Guitars, and offers invaluable advice for aspiring techs. With fascinating stories and behind-the-scenes insights, this episode is as entertaining as it is inspiring. https://www.instagram.com/aceguitartech ****************************************** Hungry for more? Check us out at https://isbreakfast.com ******************************************
There's a little bit of something Rob Thomas in everything in you.. We're entering a Mad Season with the sophomore album from the new millennium's hottest pop-rock band, Matchbox Twenty! We'll learn the true stories that inspired songs like Rest Stop and Last Beautiful Girl, and ponder the softball jersey that gave the band their name. The Mixtaperoo will teach us how to Tour The Rainbow and give us a quote for a standard barber shop expansion. We'll get Angry, get defensive, and sleep in this Bed Of Lies... but one thing we'll NEVER do is talk about Santana's Smooth (or the shrine to it that Rob Thomas may or may not have in his spare bedroom).Keep Spinning at www.SpinItPod.com!Thanks for listening!0:00 Intro4:19 About Matchbox Twenty7:43 About Mad Season10:48 Awards & Accolades11:20 Fact Or Spin12:50 Rob Thomas Has Cowritten With A Famous Artist18:20 Rob Thomas Has An Entire Room Dedicated To Smooth21:49 Matchbox Twenty Funded A Barbershop Expansion28:49 MB20 Was Sponsored By A Popular Candy Brand38:49 Album Art40:13 Angry42:54 Black & White People44:38 Crutch46:53 Last Beautiful Girl49:01 If You're Gone53:31 Mad Season56:49 Rest Stop59:22 The Burn1:00:56 Bent1:03:59 Bed Of Lies1:05:25 Leave1:06:21 Stop1:07:52 You Won't Be Mine1:09:15 Final Spin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Grammy winner Rob Thomas, who performs live with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. this Friday night. They preview the epic concert, as well as reflect on his biggest hits from Matchbox Twenty to his solo career. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
WTOP's Jason Fraley interviews Grammy winner Rob Thomas, who performs live with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. this Friday night. They preview the epic concert, as well as reflect on his biggest hits from Matchbox Twenty to his solo career. (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hey everybody, and welcome back to another exciting episode of Eggs! Today's special guest is award-winning audio engineer and Senior Specialist for Live Sound Products at AVID, Robert Scovill. Robert is a modern-day renaissance man with interests and activities spanning the wide breadth of professional audio. He is a 40-year veteran of the professional concert sound and recording industry and has mixed over 4000 events in his career. His engineering and production talents have been enlisted by a veritable ‘Who's Who' of marquee music acts, including Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Matchbox Twenty, Jackson Browne, Rush, Def Leppard, Prince, and many others. And his body of live sound and recording work has resulted in numerous industry accolades and awards including 6 TEC Awards for technical and creative achievement in sound reinforcement and two PLSN Parnelli Awards for live sound engineer of the year. Outside of his work in live music, Robert has consulted on and driven significant advancement in hardware, software, and workflow design for AVID's “VENUE” line of live sound products. He is commonly regarded as the pioneer of the “virtual sound check” and creator of multi-track archiving workflows for live sound, reshaping the live sound landscape forever. Joining us for a conversation spanning his wild, wonderful years in audio engineering and his experience in driving future audio technology, please join us in welcoming to the show, Robert Scovill. Our Guest:Robert Scovillhttps://www.robertscovill.com/ ----Credits:Hosted by Ryan Roghaar and Michael SmithTheme music: "Perfect Day" by OPM The Carton:https://medium.com/the-carton-by-eggsThe Eggs Podcast Spotify playlist:bit.ly/eggstunes The Plugs:The Showeggscast.com@eggshow on twitter and instagram On iTunes: itun.es/i6dX3pCOn Stitcher: bit.ly/eggs_on_stitcherAlso available on Google Play Music! Mike "DJ Ontic" shows and infodjontic.com@djontic on twitter Ryan Roghaarhttp://rogha.ar ----Credits:Hosted by Michael Smith and Ryan RoghaarProduced by Ryan RoghaarTheme music: "Perfect Day" by OPM The Carton:https://medium.com/the-carton-by-eggsFeature with Zack Chmeis of Straight Method up now! https://medium.com/the-carton-by-eggs/zack-chmeis-35dae817ac28 The Eggs Podcast Spotify playlist:bit.ly/eggstunes The Plugs:The Showeggscast.com@eggshow on twitter and instagram On iTunes: itun.es/i6dX3pCOn Stitcher: bit.ly/eggs_on_stitcherAlso available on Google Play Music! Mike "DJ Ontic" shows and infodjontic.com@djontic on twitter Ryan Roghaarhttp://rogha.ar
We fixed everything in the real world so all women are happy and powerful. Just kidding... but we ARE talking about The Barbie Movie! We're so excited to be joined by Arwen Myers, executive director of the podcast, musicals aficionado – and the person Barbie was made for – to talk about Greta Gerwig's blockbuster 2023 summer hit. Is it a musical? We think it is. We talk about: "Pink" – An almost Broadway-level opening number that establishes the all-pink world of Barbieland before everything goes haywire. "Push" – A very specific in-joke for a very specific generation of kids, and a cathartic moment for anybody who's ever experienced mansplaining. "The Monologue" – America Ferrera's iconic speech about the impossible contradictions inherent in being a woman in the 21st century. It's the film's articulation of Gospel. How is this monologue good news? "I'm Just Ken" – The film's most obvious musical moment – and one of the greatest production numbers of the 21st century. How do we feel about the fact that Ryan Gosling steals every scene he's in? "What Was I Made For?" – Billie Eilish's Oscar-winning ballad, Barbie's eleven o'clock number, and perhaps the most pregnant question the film asks. Is Barbie a prophet? A savior? You'll hear Lizzo, Matchbox Twenty, America Ferrera, Ryan Gosling and Billy Eilish from the film's 2023 soundtrack. Continue the conversation with us on Instagram @gospelofmt!
Play along at home with the lyrics: [Verse 1] We're no strangers to love You know the rules and so do I (Do I) A full commitment's what I'm thinking of You wouldn't get this from any other guy [Pre-Chorus] I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand [Chorus] Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you [Verse 2] We've known each other for so long Your heart's been aching, but you're too shy to say it (To say it) Inside, we both know what's been going on (Going on) We know the game, and we're gonna play it [Pre-Chorus] And if you ask me how I'm feeling Don't tell me you're too blind to see [Chorus repeat x2] [Post-Chorus] Ooh (Give you up) Ooh-ooh (Give you up) Ooh-ooh Never gonna give, never gonna give (Give you up) Ooh-ooh Never gonna give, never gonna give (Give you up [Bridge] We've known each other for so long Your heart's been aching, but you're too shy to say it (To say it) Inside, we both know what's been going on (Going on) We know the game, and we're gonna play it [Pre-Chorus] I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand [Chorus repeat x3] Jump to section: (00:12) Very short introduction with bad accent and a bit of waffling but nowhere near the amount you get on some podcasts. You know the ones. (00:49) Interruption (01:14) Song title, writers' details, horribly bad long-winded joke with pay-off that wasn't worth the wait (04:00) The fashion, the hair, the judging of a book by its cover. Every mother's dream. To the lyrics! (04:39) The rules, plain speaking, settling for less and for control (13:33) Is it about political spin and media ethics? (17:53) Is it a boy's own spy adventure? (25:14) Slapstick lyrics? (26:30) The low budget music video and the feature-length movie version (36:31) Other theories from the internet (42:13) Notable trivia (46:30) Shocking twist: Santana breaks back in (49:03) tribute from Lano & Woodley (50:05) Misheard lyrics (55:12) Farewells and give us money Would you like to appear (well, vocally) on the show? Do you have a pop song or ear-worm from the SMOOTH FM genre that's infested your mind and needs to be investigated? Visit this page https://speakpipe.com/lyrics to record us your own voicemail hot-take on your specific smooth song of suckiness. You could be on a future episode! (you can always email sound files or text your thoughts to poidadavis@gmail.com if that's easier). Cheers! Find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc @LyricsPodast ... and we're on all your favourite podcasting platforms. Sound clips are included for educational reference, criticism, satire and parody in fair use. Clips remain the property of the respective rights holder and no endorsement is implied. All information and opinion is performed and expressed in-character and does not reflect reality or genuine commentary on any persons (living or dead), bands or other organisations, or their works, and is not recommended listening for anyone, anywhere.
Insights In Sound - Robert Scovill, Live Sound Pro - S15, E7 He's fingered the faders for artists as diverse as Rush, Tom Petty, Kenny Chesney, Prince, Toto, Jackson Browne, Alice Cooper, Matchbox Twenty, and the Go Gos, consulted on technologies from Avid, EAW, and more, written articles and blog posts, and inspired a generation of up and coming audio experts. We finally managed to schedule a date to catch up with Robert Scovill in his home office before he hit the road again with Kenny Chesney's band.
Damon gets to talk to Neal about his upbringing, moving, pastrami, music business, getting gigs, and more. There are segments like music news and others as well.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Forest Blakk over Zoom video!Acclaimed singer/songwriter Forest Blakk has released his new EP Undone (Love & Loss), available now via Atlantic Records. The 7-track collection arrives alongside a music video companion for the title track, “Undone”.Previewed by the touching new track “You Were Mine,” the EP also includes “Love Somebody Again” – both of which recently joined much of Blakk's discography as featured music on Netflix's Love Is Blind. Blakk's catalog has become somewhat of a sonic-staple, with him having been named the “patron saint” of the show by creators with the Los Angeles Times pointing out “(Blakk's) earnest mid-tempo love songs turn up on ‘Love is Blind' nearly as often as hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey.”Blakk has spent his career soundtracking love stories of all kinds, most recently including his own with “Love Somebody Again” and “I Choose You” – the latter having arrived just days after his Nashville wedding to Tooley Jones in a beautiful ceremony covered exclusively by PEOPLE Magazine. Both songs followed 2022's intimate and relatable Every Little Detail EP, having featured his breakout Platinum-certified smash single “If You Love Her,” which alone has amassed over 470 million total global streams, earned Blakk his official US chart debut on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart, his national US TV debut on ABC's Live with Kelly & Ryan, top 30 placement on the Hot AC radio chart & saw the singer/songwriter collaborate with Meghan Trainor on a stunning duet version. Meanwhile, Blakk's follow-up single “Fall Into Me” (co-written alongside Matchbox Twenty front man Rob Thomas and Gregg Wattenberg) reached top 30 on the Hot AC radio chart and Gold-certification status in his native Canada, in addition to being featured in a perfectly fitting ad campaign for Kay Jewelers. Highlighted as one of PEOPLE Magazine's “talented emerging artists making their mark on the musical landscape” and deemed an “artist on the rise” by Billboard, Blakk made his debut with his 2018 EP Minutes and follow-up 2020 sophomore EP Sideways – the latter of which saw Blakk collaborate with the likes of Will IDAP (Train, Florida Georgia Line), Nick Long (King Princess), Carl Ryden (Ricky Martin, David Guetta), Ollie Green (Freya Ridings, Gavin James) & more to tell a love story through an incredibly realistic and candid lens. The 6-track collection featured singles “I Wish I Knew” (deemed an “introspective look at love and love lost” by American Songwriter) and uplifting anthem of resilience “Put Your Hands Up,” which debuted on an episode of ABC's Grey's Anatomy. A compelling live performer, Blakk has toured extensively supporting NEEDTOBREATHE, Gavin James, Dean Lewis & earlier this year embarked on a sold out 17-date North American headline tour.We want to hear from you! Please email Hello@BringinitBackwards.comwww.BringinitBackwards.com#podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #ForestBlakk #IfYouLoveHer #NewMusic #ZoomListen & Subscribe to BiBhttps://www.bringinitbackwards.com/followFollow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod
Listeners plugged away at questions for the one and only Adam Carter, what is his guiding light , what are some of his preferences for barbequed ribs, and why Matchbox Twenty is the best 90's band ever!
KARE 11's Lou Raguse gives us the latest in the Nicolae Miu case and we get your reactions on the seventh day of these court proceedings. Also, Adam Carter gives us his BBQ faves and why he thinks Matchbox Twenty is the best 90s band ever!
On the heels of Matchbox Twenty being announced for the Minnesota State Fair, we asked you the listeners who you would want to see at the Grandstand at the Minnesota State Fair and Jason talks Target Field, birthday parties and much more!
In this episode of The Gutters, my audio journal (recorded March 10, 2024), I catch up on all the stage productions, concerts, and podcasts that I've watched or listened too, as well as few other things. I talk about Chicago, Matchbox Twenty with Matt Nathanson, Aladdin, the Seattle Mariners, Ed Sheeran, Jonas Brothers, Disney on Ice, Les Miz, A Celtic Christmas with Everdream, Aaron Sorkin's To Kill a Mockingbird, Six, Stomp, Mean Girls, Sherlock & Co, Iron Age of Comics, A World on Fire, 52 Pickup, Felicia Day's Third Eye, In the Dream House, and Tom Brevoort's newsletter. Feedback! Email = longboxreview@gmail.com Text/voicemail = 208-953-1841 Web = longboxreview.com Thanks for listening! Listen to other The Gutters episodes.
On Episode #34 of @themvppodcast we talk with Pittsburgh musician Mark Ferrari. Check out his music here: https://markferrarimusic.com/Check out his YouTube here: @CallingAllCars99 Mark Ferrari is a singer/songwriter from Pittsburgh, PA. Mark grew up in Hays, a small urban community located on the outskirts of the city. He has opened up for many national acts including country royalty George Jones, Van Zant, Uncle Kracker, Edwin McCain, Natasha Bedingfield, CeeLo Green, Blue Oyster Cult, Kip Winger, Red Wanting Blue, Dennis Quaid, Kevin Bacon, The Bacon Brothers, John Waite, Corey Feldman, Adam Ezra and more. He has performed VIP Preshow Parties at the Post Gazette Pavilion for One Republic, The Script, Daughtry, Nickelback, Dead and Company, Steve Miller, Peter Frampton, Live, Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, Dan and Shay, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson, Goo Goo Dolls, Train, Counting Crows, Kid Rock, Foreigner, Zack Brown, and Matchbox Twenty. He has appeared on CMT's Music City Madness, Froggy Radio, WDVE, BobFM, The Rock Station, KDKA, and more. He currently is writing and producing his 4th album. You can also find him performing the National Anthem at PNC Park for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mark performs all over the eastern region and is a hometown favorite in Pittsburgh, PA.
Durch den erfolgreichen „Barbie“-Film wurde „Push“ von Matchbox Twenty 2023 erneut zum Hit. Bei der urspünglichen Veröffentlichung in den 90er-Jahren sorgte der Song zuerst für Missverständnisse: Geht es in dem Text um häusliche Gewalt oder sogar Missbrauch?
Jarrad Seng is a renowned Australian photographer and filmmaker, celebrated for his diverse ventures in music, travel, and volunteering. Known for his collaborations with artists like Passenger and Matchbox Twenty, Seng's artistic pursuits have led him on tours across the globe, resulted in multiple solo exhibitions, and earned him recognition in the international media, including a memorable stint on Australian Survivor. In this episode, Jai Long and Jarrad Seng talk deeply about finding opportunities from everywhere. Even in the most unlikely places. Got a question for Jai? Submit a question here and we will play the question on the show in 2024: https://forms.gle/1fjCFZm9LJQ8Vjrj6 Find Jarrad Seng on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarradseng/?hl=en ----- All Jai Long's Details: Jai Long's Website: https://jailong.co/ Join the Six-Figure Business Map: https://sixfigurebusinessmap.com/ Say hi To Jai Long on Instagram: @Jailong.co Leave a review on the Apple podcast app with the link below: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/creative-business-make-your-break-podcast/id1479145264 Wedding Photography Summit - https://weddingphotographysummit.com/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5nLrLzaJWItTgoNhe-y1sw Episode Sponsor: Pepperstorm (copywriting and SEO) : https://jailong.co/pepperstorm
This week, Tommy is joined by the legendary Rob Thomas, who rose to fame as the co-founder and lead singer of Matchbox Twenty. The band burst onto the scene in the mid 90's and has remained as one of the most beloved multi-generational bands in the world. Rob continues to toggle between being a frontman for the rock band and a Grammy-nominated solo star. Rob opens up about what he's most proud of when he looks back at his incredible career, the importance of writing original music, where his inspiration comes from, how his song “Push” ended up in Barbie, releasing a Christmas album when the world so badly needed a bit of joy, how he prefers that people know his songs more than they know him, and the number one artist he hopes to someday sing a duet with. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, Tommy is joined by the legendary Rob Thomas, who rose to fame as the co-founder and lead singer of Matchbox Twenty. The band burst onto the scene in the mid 90's and has remained as one of the most beloved multi-generational bands in the world. Rob continues to toggle between being a frontman for the rock band and a Grammy-nominated solo star. Rob opens up about what he's most proud of when he looks back at his incredible career, the importance of writing original music, where his inspiration comes from, how his song “Push” ended up in Barbie, releasing a Christmas album when the world so badly needed a bit of joy, how he prefers that people know his songs more than they know him, and the number one artist he hopes to someday sing a duet with. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rob Thomas is best known as the frontman and songwriter for rock band Matchbox Twenty. He initially dropped out of high school and considered joining the army before forming Matchbox Twenty with some friends in Orlando, Florida. They quickly were offered a record deal, but the very day they released their debut album, the label went bust and they only sold 600 copies. In this episode, Rob talks with Guy about the marketing tactic that made them global superstars, writing Matchbox Twenty's hit song "3AM", and joining forces with Carlos Santana on the smash hit "Smooth."Links from the show:Push by Matchbox Twenty3AM by Matchbox Twenty3AM original recording by Tabitha's SecretAmerica by Simon and GarfunkelSmooth by Santana (feat. Rob Thomas)Rob and his wife MarisolWhere the Light Goes full albumSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When PUSH comes to shove, Rob Thomas reveals he wrote love songs when he was young, not for the fame but to pick up on girls! Of course, he did go on to find much success as the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, the multi-platinum, chart-topping band with over 40 million records sold worldwide! He talks to Lance about the struggles of 'making it,' including being homeless at one point, life on the road then versus now, and his band releasing a new album in over a decade! Plus, what he thinks of his son following in his footsteps and his thoughts on Ryan Gosling's cover of "Push" in the "Barbie'' movie. Is it Kenough?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jared has re-entered the honeymoon phase with his new bromance! His idol Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty joins the Newlyweds to share some incredible advice from his 25 year marriage! Jared reveals the words of wisdom Rob gave him after he and Ashley got married, and we find out how that tip completely changed their relationship. Plus, we learn what Rob REALLY thinks of The Bachelor!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jon Lovett on Las Cultch?! Likely story! And also literal story. Because it's true... Lovett (the host of the Lovett or Leave It, and Pod Save America podcasts and co-founder of Crooked Media) is finally here on LC - live from Vanessa Hudgens' former home! - to chat with Matt & Bowen about all things CULTURE under the sun. Topics include Succession, Brian Cox's sense of humor or lack thereof, edutainment, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Barney as "hustle culture", gaymer culture and a referendum on the N64 controller, Tony Hawk, Matchbox 20 and Rob Thomas as a voice for women, and "not knowing about music". All this, an insight into Jeremy Strong's process, our smart and dumb areas, whether we should be challenging ourselves to use more expressive and complicated words than "smart" and "dumb", and the usefulness and validity of book blurbs by famous people. Get tickets to Lovett or Leave It's upcoming "The Errors Tour" at crooked.com/events!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.