HTS Recordings

Thanks Bill!

2005-08-23T19:31:00.000-05:00

CORRECTION BUSH
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Bill Moyer, 73, wears a "Bullshit Protector" flap over his ear while President George W. Bush, on screen at rear, addresses the Veterans of Foreign Wars at their 106th convention Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, in Salt Lake City. Moyer served in Korea and Vietnam, and in the post- WWII occupation of Germany. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

God Bless Bill Moyer and the VFW

2005-08-23T19:24:00.000-05:00

What's that smell?

Crazy Russians

2005-07-07T19:12:00.000-05:00

This is a shockwave/flash deal that's a little out there.

On the other hand....

2005-06-29T22:56:00.000-05:00

Hive logo
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

The Hive :: Art Music

2005-06-29T22:44:00.000-05:00

The Hive :: Art Music has been open in NLR for a while, but I haven't been over there. I'm encouraged by The Hive's stated approach, which is very much in line with what Paul talked about and tried in his way to accomplish.

Black People Love Us!

2005-06-29T22:30:00.000-05:00

Yo, check it out: Black People Love Us!

Run Rod Run! Raise Rod Raise!

2005-06-03T18:40:00.000-05:00

june2
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Jim Jives for Rod's Run

2005-06-03T18:39:00.000-05:00

HTS alum and friend Rod Bryan (ho-hum) is running for Governor of the State of Arkansas, and we wish him all the best. Check the link for more information about Rod's independent run at the entrenched establishment.

Rod had a campaign kickoff fundraiser last night at Juanita's, and a great crowd came out. The Easys and Tel Aviv followed the legendary Jim Dickinson, who produced the Magic Cropdusters' Goshen for HTS. Jim's vocals, keyboards and guitar were all in top form, as were his storytelling and wisecracking skills. Jim opined that "Dark End of the Street" was not about cheating, but about politics!

Pics in a second....

Rod introduces Jim to the crowd....

2005-06-03T18:38:00.000-05:00

Dscf0079
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Hi Lennie!

2005-06-03T18:37:00.000-05:00

Dscf0086
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

The Governor (to-be) explains one of the finer points of Mississippi redneck r&b to the First Lady (to-be)....

JD rocks the house....

2005-06-03T18:36:00.000-05:00

Dscf0090
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Hi Mom!

2005-06-03T18:35:00.000-05:00

Dscf0093
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Chris and Jimmy (and the guy on fiddle, sorry) did a fine job.

Although Jim did quip, upon hearing calls for an encore, "We don't know any more songs. Hell, we didn't know those."

Thanks Jim!

2005-06-03T18:34:00.000-05:00

DSCF0094a
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

The candidate expresses his appreciation, and lusts after the unobtainable North Mississippi vote....

Also, thanks to Mike and the other great folks at the Marriott Courtyard in the River Market for helping HTS host Jim's stay. A fine new hotel for LR.

A note on post dates

2004-12-01T14:28:00.000-06:00

The current news posts in this blog are mostly dated when they were posted.

Historical posts about Paul and HTS are either dated when the event occurred or on some other past date in those instances where blogger.com won't let me go all the way back to the actual appropriate date (blogger doesn't currently allow posts earlier than 1/1/99). I'm trying to keep those latter posts in chronological order even though the dating itself can be ignored. In those cases, I've tried to identify the appropriate date in the subject line.

If you've read this far, thank you and/or get a life.

M.

The 'liberal media' is at it again

2004-12-01T11:29:00.000-06:00

NBC and CBS are refusing to run an ad put together by those wild and crazy radicals at the United Church of Christ. Seems the ad makes a little too clear the Church's welcome of gay people and other 'controversial' types.

CBS said: "Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations, and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the [CBS andUPN] networks." Goes without saying, really.

Have a happy World AIDS Day. M.

Kyle's back on stage....

2004-11-28T20:55:00.000-06:00

Alice cast hops into the rabbit hole with talent, Tennyson, a bit of 'silly'

BY ERIC E. HARRISON
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Writer-director Alan Keith Smith is astounded by the level of talent that showed up to audition for the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre production of Alice in Wonderland.

"I'm just overwhelmed," he says. "Of course, you can't use everybody, but boy did I want to."

Smith says the talent starts at the top with young Sarah Clagett, who will make her Children's Theatre debut in the title role when the show, which Smith is directing, opens Thursday at the Arts Center in Little Rock's MacArthur Park. The show runs through Dec. 19.

And knowing what he had to work with helped color his script, he adds.

"It's an adaptation of an adaptation that we last did, right around 10 years ago," Smith explains. To Lewis Carroll's classic children's tale he has also added characters and elements from Carroll's companion volume, Alice Through the Looking Glass.

"But it draws from more than that," he says. "A lot of the songs and poems that Carroll used were adaptations or parodies of existing works, including, in Alice Through the Looking Glass, [Alfred, Lord] Tennyson's poem 'Come Into the Garden.' We actually use some of Tennyson's words" for a scene, from Looking Glass, in the Garden of Live Flowers.

Smith cast Melissa Riggins as Tiger Lily, Cari Hunter as Red Rose and Sarah Richardson as White Rose - as flower guides for Alice on her journey through a fantasy land. "We also have lots of Daisies," the director adds, played by Margaret Mc-Murray, Lyndal Steiner, Taryn Thompson and Mary Margaret Donovan.

Alice also meets the usual Wonderland and Looking Glass characters, including Jackson Stewart as the White Rabbit, Thomas Hankins as the Caterpillar, Kyle Lovett as the Cook, Randee as the Duchess, John Isner as the White Knight, Jeremiah Smith as the March Hare, Josh Rice as the Mad Hatter, A.J. Spiridigliozzi as Tweedledee, Gabey Smoller as Tweedledum, Don Rush as the Queen of Hearts; Samantha Davis as the King of Hearts and Justen Balay as the Knave of Hearts.

Smith says the "nontraditional" casting of the Hearts royal family, and also the creation of characters like the 11 of Spades (Stewart Fullerton; Indigo Anderson-Moore Faith Hurtado-Vasquez and Briana Ailene Hill help fill out the deck of cards) is all in the spirit of fun.

"The whole story, the whole play, is about having fun and being silly," he says. "It's full of humor, slapstick and otherwise."

THEATER
Alice in Wonderland
7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
through Dec. 19
Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre
Arkansas Arts Center
MacArthur Park, 10th and Commerce Streets, Little Rock

Sponsors:
Blake, Seth and Anna Grace Middleton; Target Stores

Web site:
www.arkarts.com

Tickets: $14, $12 senior citizens; Arts Center members receive a discount
(501) 372-4000; (800) 264-2787

This story was published Sunday, November 28, 2004

Another guitar alien....

2004-11-21T10:56:00.000-06:00

Kaki King is an acoustic guitar explorer whose style recalls our good friend Richard Johnson's. And what a delightful young woman Kaki is.

Life is good....

2004-11-21T01:16:00.000-06:00

OMAR2
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Here's acupunk, holding on for dear life, and some friends including Omar the Pieman. [That's a good Thanksgiving link, with a recipe for Omar's sweet potato pie as well as a little of his story.]

Life is indeed good. I was with great friends and great art at Gallery 26 for the holiday show opening tonight; wish it were online too. Then on to Cajun's Wharf for Norte de Havana; these guys will absolutely move you around. Rob G plays a mean tres. Ah, the life of a bigtime label exec....

PUSH

2004-11-20T01:17:00.000-06:00

What's wrong with health care for every child?

_______

Welcome acupunk.

Told you so....

2004-11-19T16:46:00.000-06:00

bono
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

They say Bono (and his edge-wise compadre) belted it out very well at the Clinton Library dedication. Gotta admire a guy who won't be slowed down by the rain.

Many thanks to Gael S. for the picture.

M.

My life's goal, for now

2004-11-19T14:41:00.000-06:00

Since I returned to this fair state two years ago, I noticed that we have a new higher class of people, namely those who get their pictures in Soiree or Inviting Arkansas. Used to be that if you were someone of note, your pinnacle of the See-or-Be-Seen was the society pages of the state rag. Now, with these two very important and informative monthlies, we can see who is really important. (One even has an end of the year wrap up of how many times each person has been pictured.) I guess that when I first saw Soiree, I must have been on some good pharmaceuticals because I decided that my life's goal was to bee seen in Soiree. Shortly after that, I noticed that Kevin Kresse was in every issue and sometimes even on the cover. Damn him! Who is he anyway but just someone who plays with crayons and mud. Each time he appears, it takes up space that I could be gracing. Now, he is even listed as an "A-list celebrity" is some fancy bloog. Whenever I saw him at some fancy party, eating the last of the Shrimp Pompador or Meatball Blintzes, I sidle up behind him in the hopes of getting in the background or maybe even bumping him out of the way. However, I have made my move - I have now graced the pages of The Free Press. And I'll have Mr. A-List Kresse know that his fancy party picture bacon-wrapped mocha endive eating days are numbered! Let this be known!

Live music/art report

2004-11-19T13:28:00.000-06:00

ho-hum staged an excellent show last night at Juanita's. No A-list celebs on hand (that I know of, but hell I wouldn't recognize 'em anyway), but the boys from Bradley and their cohorts clearly have been working hard honing their chops. The set list included songs from most every ho-hum cd all the way back to and including 'Local'. I had to leave at 12:07 am, when Lenny was telling the still-substantial crowd, 'OK, but only two more.'

M.

PS: Apologies for the second sentence above to Kevin Kresse, John Kushmaul and Baxter Knowlton, all of whom were in attendance and are definitely A(art)-list guys. I believe Gallery 26's holiday show opening party is Saturday night (November 20) from 7 to 10. I'm about 99% sure Kevin and John have pieces in the show; not sure about Baxter, but I'm hoping.... Rita Henry has photographs in too. Once again not sure about Kevin Kerby's tangible art, but he is providing the music I believe.

I stole this from the Arkansas Times site:

"Feeling salsa? Norte de Havana, which blends Afro-Cuban funk, jazz and a spicy south of the border style, performs two nights at Cajun’s Wharf Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20. Joe Cripps and Greg Beck, former members of Brave Combo, provide the percussion, and the group has a full lineup with several vocalists, horns, guitars and more. Robert Gomez (of Rob G and the LPs), who plays the tres (a Cuban guitar), and trombonist David Pierce created the group three years ago. The rest of the band lineup is Ross Shodek (bass), Mark Hereth and Eric Gierroro (on trumpets) and Eugene LeBeaux (on the trombone). Pierce serves as musical director and arranger. The Dallas Observer deemed the band the “hottest new thing to listen to in the area,” and, noted for its high energy, Norte de Havana has been nominated in both the Dallas and Fort Worth music scene for various awards. Gomez has recorded with Norah Jones and Turkish music star Omar Faruk. Pierce has worked with several symphonies.The music starts around 8:30 p.m. both nights, and the cover is $5."

Joe Cripps

2004-11-19T13:22:00.000-06:00

fideljoe
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Yeah, this is the guy (on the right)....

Party like a former President

2004-11-18T18:02:00.000-06:00

111804a
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

The Clinton Library opens here in Little Rock November 18, 2004. President Bush and every former President are supposed to be there. And Bono. I'm guessing bigshot/celebrity overload and gridlock.

So it ought to be interesting going downtown to catch Ho-Hum and their CD release party at Juanita's. No telling who you'll see. Or which law enforcement agency might be watching you watching her/him....

Where am I?

2004-11-18T18:00:00.000-06:00

111804b
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

An easy drive from the library....

Better yet, walk.

Scott Diffee: presidential tattoo guy?

2004-11-17T23:59:00.000-06:00

diffee
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

I ran into Scott Diffee of Go Fast, not to mention The Parlor, downtown tonight at the free show before the fireworks before the Clinton library opening. [NMA rocked the house as always.]

Scott says GF is touring and releasing a new CD very shortly. Check 'em out if you dare when they rock down YOUR town!

PS: This photo isn't from tonight, or even this year....

Fahrenheit 9/11 online

2004-10-25T14:24:00.000-05:00

You can see the Michael Moore film free right here.

Welcome to the HTS hivemind blogsite

2004-10-25T11:40:00.000-05:00

Hello music fans. Thank you for visiting HTS.

This is the official kick-off of our blog, although you will shortly see 'older' posts as we backdate archival information to its appropriate dates.

The message of the day, and for the next 8 days, is VOTE!, and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. Your country needs you. Here's an interesting site that attempts to keep up with all the presidential polls and forecast the electoral vote winner. What political sites are YOU checking these days?

Thanks to our graphics guru, Michael Jukes, for the site's new look and the blog.

And thanks again to all of you for visiting.

Matt Barker
HTS Recordings LLC

Party for Paul!

2004-10-15T23:17:00.000-05:00

pf2 copy
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Thanks to Martin and Rod for a great evening with a bunch of us who loved Paul (Lovett, our founder). It was great to see our buddy Dale Hawkins lookin' good.

HTS Recordings on Arkansongs (2004-05-14)

2004-05-14T17:53:00.000-05:00

Arkansongs, Stephen Koch's great radio show about Arkansas music, featured Paul and HTS. Thanks Stephen and KUAR.

The daily assault on the free enterprise system

2000-07-01T01:20:00.000-05:00

pf4
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Paul works the phone, probably talking to Tav Falco.

All work and no play....

2000-07-01T01:18:00.000-05:00

pf3
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Paul in the backroom 'studio' at the HTS offices on 6th Street.

18 December 1989

1999-12-18T15:42:00.000-06:00

gunbunxmas
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Paul was with OHP Management in December 1989, looking forward to the 1990 release of the Gunbunnies' debut LP on Virgin.

Kevin Kresse did this cool holiday card.

OHPOHPOHPOHP

1999-12-18T15:40:00.000-06:00

gunbunxmas2
Originally uploaded by htsmatt.

Check out the name of the addressee. Who knows who that is?