Pheaturing Brett Warwick From The Trembling Turncoats

PHIRST OF

Hello, welcome to the Phile, how are you? Three Americans were awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine today. Brazil got the Olympics; we get the Nobel Prize. I still can’t get over that Chicago lost the bid for the Olympics. Are the Olympics all about looking good in a bikini made of dental floss? On Monday, swine flu vaccinations start. Doctors receive it first; they’re the only ones who can afford to go see the doctor. Sarah Palin’s ex-son-in-law Levi Johnston is going to be a spokesman for pistachios. It makes sense because after being part of the Palin family he’s become an expert on nuts. Here's some music news, kids. The group Kiss has a new album out. Some people have never seen an album, so I’ll explain: It’s a flat vinyl disc that goes on a record player, and a toucan on the side of the record player drops his beak into the groove, and everyone dances the jitterbug. NASA is sending a missile to the moon to find out if there’s water there. So NASA is finally doing something cool — they’re blowing up the moon. If it works, NASA plans on looking for water on other planets. I would drink water from other planets. I’m not sure about water from Uranus, though... Michael Vick is getting his own reality show. I think it’s called, “I’m a Dog — Get Me Outta Here.” There’s a news story out that says the pill is making women choose more effeminate men. C’mon that’s nuts. I’m not sure I believe the news at all anymore. They seem to print stuff they read on Twitter. That’s like going to the street corner and talking to the guy who’s barking at the sky. I thought CNN stood for Cable News Network, not Crazy Night Nuts. You have to consider the source of your news. For instance, Fox News isn’t always “Fair and Balanced”... MSNBC is not really the “Place for Politics”... not really. And when they say, “All the News You Can Use,” they’re not really giving you all the news. If they were, they’d say, “Your car keys are behind the couch.” I watch a little of both: Fox News and MSNBC. It’s like mixing matter and anti-matter. I mentioned the Noble Peace prize, right? Well, Obama was given the prize, to his surprise. So, Obama, if you're reading this blog... yeah, right. Whatever. If you are reading this blog, I want to tell you something, Mr. President. How outstanding that you've been recognized today as a man of peace. Your swift, early pronouncements... you will close Guantanamo, you will bring the troops home from Iraq, you want a nuclear weapon-free world, you admitted to the Iranians that we overthrew their democratically-elected president in 1953, you made that great speech to the Islamic world in Cairo, you've eliminated that useless term "The War on Terror," you've put an end to torture... these have all made us and the rest of the world feel a bit more safe considering the disaster of the past eight years. In eight months you have done an about face and taken this country in a much more sane direction. But... The irony that you have been awarded this prize on the 2nd day of the ninth year of our War in Afghanistan is not lost on anyone. You are truly at a crossroads now. You can listen to the generals and expand the war (only to result in a far-too-predictable defeat) or you can declare Bush's Wars over, and bring all the troops home. Now. That's what a true man of peace would do. There is nothing wrong with you doing what the last guy failed to do, capture the man or men responsible for the mass murder of 3,000 people on 9/11. BUT YOU CANNOT DO THAT WITH TANKS AND TROOPS. You are pursuing a criminal, not an army. You do not use a stick of dynamite to get rid of a mouse. The Taliban is another matter. That is a problem for the people of Afghanistan to resolve... just as we did in 1776, the French did in 1789, the Cubans did in 1959, the Nicaraguans did in 1979 and the people of East Berlin did in 1989. One thing is certain through all revolutions by people who wish to be free, they ultimately have to bring about that freedom themselves. Others can be supportive, but freedom can not be delivered from the front seat of someone else's Humvee. You have to end our involvement in Afghanistan now. If you don't, you'll have no choice but to return the prize to Oslo. P.S. Your opposition has spent the morning attacking you for bringing such good will to this country. Why do they hate America so much? I get the feeling that if you found the cure for cancer this afternoon they'd be denouncing you for destroying free enterprise because cancer centers would have to close. There are those who say you've done nothing yet to deserve this award. As far as I'm concerned, the very fact that you've offered to walk into the minefield of hate and try to undo the irreparable damage the last president did is not only appreciated by me and millions of others, it is also an act of true bravery. That's why you got the prize. The whole world is depending on the U.S. -- and you -- to literally save this planet. Let's not let them down. Thanks. While we are on that subject, it seems not everyone is happy for the President. Take a look at this poster that just came out...

And now for the web's most popular game...


I think the sign is right, do you?

1919

The Cincinnati Reds win the World Series, but only because key Chicago White Sox ballplayers agreed to throw the series for $100,000 in bribes.
1951
RKO Pictures asks Marilyn Monroe to wear panties while working.
1967
After being debriefed by CIA field agent Felix Rodriguez, Che Guevara is executed in a schoolhouse in La Higuera, Bolivia. Guevara had been captured by the Bolivian 2nd Ranger Battalion, which was specifically trained by U.S. Army Special Forces to catch him.
1987
24 boats equipped with Lowrance X-16 sonar units detect a "large object" at a depth of 606 feet beneath Loch Ness.
1989
Three aliens and their UFO visit Voronezh, USSR, according to the TASS news agency.
1989
The Hebrew edition of "Penthouse" magazine is released. Kosher pornography!
1995
A 12-car Amtrak train derails near Hyder, Arizona. Letters claiming responsibility are found, signed by the "Sons of the Gestapo."

Below is a picture of the second book in the P.P.B.C. which is available from Amazon.com and fantomfilms.co.uk. So, go ahead and purchase a copy. Mary will be a guest on the Phile in a few weeks. Also, don't forget to purchase the first book club book "Mr. Lincoln Was A Robot" by Victor Langlois, also available on Amazon.com.

Today's guest is the singer and guitarist for a rock band based in Brooklyn, New York called the Trembling Turncoats. Their latest album "Isotopes For Lonely Hearts" is now available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Brett Warwick.

Me: Hello, Brett, welcome to the Phile. So, how are you?

Brett: Well hello, and thanks for having me on the Phile. I'm very full right now. Just enjoyed some pan-seared cod, with spinach and mashed potatoes. Sunday dinner indeed.

Me: The Trembling Turncoats... It almost sounds like a vintage 70's Disney movie. Where did that name come from?

Brett: We originally wanted to call ourselves The Turncoats, but we discovered after a little bit of research that there were already a few other acts with that moniker. We made lists of several variations of band names including Turncoats. Making Time for Turncoats, Tea Parties and Turncoats, The Trouble with Turncoats. Our drummer Dan came up with The Trembling Turncoats, and we knew it was a keeper. Fun imagery.

Me: Brett, who is in the 'Coats?

Brett: Our drummer, Dan Killoren, and I went to Emerson College together. We have DC native Mike Bromberg on bass and Long Island's own Peter Ferrari on keyboard. Our lead guitar player Nathan Clendenen is on hiatus becoming a doctor in Ireland. Apparently he feels he needs a back up career.

Me: You released two albums, Brett. Your newest is called "Isotopes For The Lonely Hearts." How is that album different then the first album?

Brett: We spent more time writing the songs on "Isotopes" together as a band. And that collaborative process has continued to accelerate. The songs on our next record were almost entirely created this way, relying on improvisation at band practice to expand on existing ideas.

Me: What is an Isotope?

Brett: Dude, didn't you take chemistry? An isotope is an atom that for all intents and purposes should be the same as another atom, however something like the atomic mass is slightly different making it unique. An Isotope for a Lonely Heart might be the face one puts on public, while they are dying inside. Too deep? Yeah, I think so too.

Me: I like the cover of "Lt. Commander". Who designed and drew it?

Brett: Wish I knew. We found the image in the public domain. It's an old ad for Baby Ruth candy bars.

Me: So, I purchased both CD's of iTunes, and thanks liked them both. I have to say thanks for recording a song about me called "Jason's Buzz". Just kidding. So, who is Jason?

Brett: Jason is a combination of a bunch of guys I went to high school with. All the guys that used to stand across the street of the school in the morning, smoking pot, cigarettes... and I was always too much of a pussy to join them.

Me: I would love to hear you guys live. Any plans for doing a live album?

Brett: We have a ton of live recordings and are planning on putting together a live album soon. It will be free to download.

Me: You guys are from Long Island, am I right? I grew up in Port Jefferson, Brett. Ever been there?

Brett: Dan and I have lived in Long Island City for years now, but are both originally from Massachusetts. Never been to Port Jefferson. Give me a reason.

Me: What are your influences, music wise, Brett?

Brett: It all started with the Beatles for me. Not that you'll directly hear all these, but I would include Harry Nilsson, Elvis Costello. David Bowie, Wilco, Guided By Voices, REM, Sloan, and The Fall among my favorites.

Me: You guys did a cover of the Beatles "Dear Prudence", which I really liked. Any plans on sticking that song on iTunes? Are you really big Beatles fans?

Brett: "Dear Prudence" will totally be on the live record. Huge Beatles fans. In fact, we're toying with the idea of doing a song for song live show of Lennon's Madison Square Garden concert.

Me: Brett, what's next for the 'Coats? Any plans on touring? Also, do you have a website you wanna plug?

Brett: Next is recording the new album, which will begin shortly. myspace.com/thetremblingturncoats.

Me: I hope this was fun and I wish you a lot of luck, and cannot wait for any new releases.

Brett: Thanks for the good luck! Will send you the new album as soon as it's done.

PHINALLY

Thanks to Brett for a great interview. When the new album comes out I hope to have him back. Thanks also to Wikipedia and Michael Moore. Well, that about wraps up another entry. The Phile will be back on Tuesday, not Monday... but Tuesday with Kevin Presbrey, the lead singer for the band Painkiller Hotel. And a week from today the Phile will have David Melbye, singer for The Heavy Water Experiments. So, until then, spread the word, not the turd. Bye, love you, bye.