October 27, 2006
Jeff Daniels, Actor and Musician
Inside his tour bus, World Cafe Live, Sun., Oct. 22, 6pm.
On Philadelphia: “I think it’s my first time in the city. Great sports town, I know that of it, much like [my hometown] Detroit. Their reputation is they accept nothing less than excellence. Anything less is unacceptable. And it seems sometimes even the excellence is unacceptable. They demand a lot, and like Detroit, whenever they win, it’s the best place to be. Tiger fans know about that. It’s a privilege to play here. I’m looking forward to it. I’m riding this actor-who-sings-and-writes-songs thing as far as I can. The expectations for me are so low. Everyone thinks, ’My God, this could be a 20-minute version of “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore,” a pretentious serious-minded actor trying to sing.’ And it’s not. It’s a lot of fun. I think I’ll like it here. I just wish the Lions had Donovan McNabb.”
Jeff Daniels was in Philadelphia to play songs from his debut CD Live & Unplugged: To Benefit the Purple Rose Theatre.
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October 20, 2006
Big Sandy, Lead Singer of Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys
North by Northwest, Fri., Oct. 13, 4:20pm.
On Philadelphia: “I’ve been here probably 15 times over the years. Early on we’d be on a mixed bill, playing with punk bands. Then we settled into a thing of our own. At some point in the ’90s a swing scene developed and we were playing for that crowd. When we play in Philadelphia I end up getting into these pretty interesting conversations with record collectors. There are hardcore record people in town. They love to talk about all the musicians who used to play here and about doo-wop records. It’s something I want to find out more about. Sounds like there was a pretty vibrant scene going on. I suppose there still is. There’s a passion here for the old vinyl, and that’s a passion I share.”
Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys’ newest album is Turntable Matinee
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October 12, 2006
Alejandro González Iñárritu, Director
Four Seasons, Wed., Oct. 4, 4:45pm.
On Philadelphia: “I’ve seen nothing but a Spanish restaurant that was very nice, very good food, which normally you don’t get in L.A. Then I passed the street where the creator of the flag live. What’s her name? Betsy Ross, yes. My very humble impression is a kind of combination between Boston and New York, like a mix of those cities. I haven’t been able to see those historical things, just this lonely room in this hotel. They showed me where Rocky Balboa ran. This film, Philadelphia, was it shot here? Cheesesteak? What is that, like a baguette? Did you invent it here? Should I try one? I’ll have about two hours tonight to walk after the screening. It’s hard in two hours to get something to say about a city, but at least I’ll have the smell of it, you know?”
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s film Babel will be released in Philadelphia on Nov. 3.
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October 06, 2006
Cindy Sheehan, Activist
Free Library, Tues., Sept. 26, 2:30pm.
On Philadelphia: “I was here last September for our Bring Them Home Now bus tour. Philadelphia, of course, is very supportive. The American Friends Service Committee is here. I was a history major in college and there’s so much history here. I like that about this city. It just makes me want to fight hard for our country to get back the freedom we’ve lost during the Bush administration.”
Cindy Sheehan’s book Peace Mom was published in September by Atria Books.
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