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With Confetti In Our Hair: Celebrating The Artistry & Music Of Tom Waits
With Confetti In Our Hair: Celebrating The Artistry & Music Of Tom Waits
Author: James Abee and Bill Smith: Tom Waits fans
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Bill and James go through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole as they explore the personal mythology of their deep bond around the artistry and music of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan. Absurd, unexpected, off the wall and under the table, this is the podcast nobody was waiting for and everyone's been dreaming about, innocently. Featuring... in the center ring: itinerant theater director, bricoleur, and Fairy Podmother, Cheryl King; writer, thespian rain dog, and Fashion Fangod, Bruce Barton; along with a panoply of intrepid guests and "The Human Guinea Pig." Start the Party! Feel the Love.
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This time around finds the Dream Regime on their own, sans Bob, falling into a reflective discussion about respect, empathy and filling stations. Not to worry though, as their waxing philosophic is accompanied by great classic 70s Waits' tunes like Barbershop, Kentucky Avenue and Romeo is Bleeding. Then, be sure to stick around after the finale to hear the September 2017 Live performance of Respect Yourself by Mavis Staples at Lagunitas Brewing company in Petaluma, California with a surprise guest appearance by Tom Waits, his last live music performance as far as we know. Feel the Confetti!
This episode recorded back in November of 2024 was aging so gracefully we almost forgot to dust it off and take if down from the shelf. It was a little celebration of the 25th anniversary of the release of Mule Variations and has a special alternate "Spiritual" version of Get Behind The Mule. For all you hardcore Tom fans, this one stays squarely centered on Tom quotes, peculiar perspectives and a cover by Willie Nelson. Feel the love!
Dream Regime reunites after a wee break only to dig deep into Tom and Kathleen's approach to songwriting AND realize that Tom Waits appeared on SNL, which gets featured. Enjoy folks!
This one had to age a few months to reach it's prime but boy was it worth the wait! While Da Scherm hiked in Scotland, the rest of the gang put heads down to listen to the wisdom imparted from the great films featuring Tom Waits. From Down By Law to Short Cuts and Bustered Scruggs (yes he said Bustered) a great conversation on Tom's authentic acting ensues. Plus a surprise story about a neighbor. Feel the Love, folks!
Back in the Saddle again, this week the Dream Regime ponders the Unforgettable, the moments, the memories, the madness. An episode for the major Tom Waits fan, with a retelling of the Origin Story from the Georgian Terrace Hotel Bar replete with the illustrious Herb Hardesty and the wavy mop of hair only a young Tom in leather jacket could sport. Feel the Love!
The Regime's all here for a trip into the Ides of March and all things Roman, starting "In The Coliseum". Now we've all had one that "got away" but in this episode those stories come to light in a mind-bending raucous glory that'll bring you to your knees. With a tribute song to Tom Waits, weird Gregorian Calendar chants and an LA nightmare. Feel the Love, Folks!
Are you hip? Or broken down on the ice? Once again, the Dream Regime gathers and this time out comes cautionary tales full of speed bumps from hell, jewel saws run amuck, falling past windows onto flagstone and a little saggy skin broken elbows, dude. We're talkin wall to wall stories with a bit of the blarney digression to relieve the pain, this is a trip without the flare. Feel the confetti, folks!
This episode the dream regime shares past dreams of Tom Waits after discovering some exciting news - that on Sunday December 3rd, Tom Waits will co-host a special radio show with Iggy Pop during the latter's regular BBC Radio 6 Music slot. They will share old stories and spin some of their favorite tunes so check it out folks. Feel the Love!
Happy Halloween folks! In honor, we pay tribute to all the Ghosts we've crossed paths with, those who've Ghosted us and the afterlife. Spooky, haunting and full of cantankerous spirits this episode also has a little suprise from the set of the Coen Brothers film. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. For all you young and cool fans, Bob couldn't make it, but we soldiered on without him. Feel the Love!
If ya love Pirates, fancy yourself a Rogue, or have secretly dated a Stripper, this episode could be for you. Or more importantly, if you love hearing Keith Richards wax on fondly about Tom Waits, their time collaborating on Rain Dogs or get all giddy living vicariously through the Waits/Brennan 80s trilogy masterpieces, which defined the direction of their career, you'll want to listen to this one. The Dream Regime is in top form with Bill starring in a new Indy Film, the Fairy Podmother sprinkling her theatrical light to eager crowds and Bob drumming us through his Punk days, lessons be damned! Confetti rains folks, feel the love!
This episode we depart from our usual zany leap into the unknown and focus all attention on celebrating the 50th anniversay vinyl release of Tom Waits' first album, called a masterpiece by some, a major entrance onto the musical stage by others, and didn't bother Bob. In appreciation of the new 180g 45rpm vinyl released by Anti-, The Dream Regime shares stories, anecdotes and the major impact Closing Time had on peoples lives. Ok well Bob wasn't born yet but he was hearing a faint murmur of it from another reality, causing his speedy descent into this realm. And then, the Eagles covered it...er, not Bob, but Ol' 55, turning it into a top ten hit, since Neil Young had already long ago left that other bird band. So maybe a little zany is still woven in there, but for all our die-hard Tom fans, this one will make you swoon, laugh, cry and thank your lucky stars that he recorded Closing Time. Because without it, none of the other diamonds would have followed. Feel the love, folks!
To ring in Season 9, the Dream Regime tackles one of Tom's favorite subjects, the Vagabond, and all those who don't fit in to the straight and narrow, like the mysterious 19th century french Leather Man, who circled the same 365 mile northeastern route every year. That's right, it sounds just like a story worthy of a Coen Brothers film starring none other than...Monsieur Waits! And to top it all off, there's a riveting surprise reading by The Scherm from Kerouacs' "The Vanishing American Hobo," and a bit o' wisdom from the Fairy Podmother -" it's good to have a home and to also be free." Enjoy this chaco canyon full 3 Theme Song Episode folks, feel the love!!
For the die-hard Waits fans, this episode finds the Dream Regime reviewing a Pop Matters article by Alexander Heigl featuring his "15 of the best songs" list that encapsulates Toms' incredibly varied career. Trying to illustrate his entire catalog of song styles with 15 tunes is a brave act, one that we couldn't ignore. So we dove in with glee, a hammer and a nail on glass and came up with a bit of respect and some serious chatter. It all kicks off with a surprise visit from Fashion Guru Tadd Gunn and his take on the Golden Globes ensembles only to follow with an honory gratitude day for our beloved co-founder, Bill. Feel the Love!
What is Reality? Thats the question the celebrated comedy group The Firesign Theatre asked and we were fortunate enough to hang out in co-founder Phil Proctor's reality in this episode, totally engulfed in his hilarious and dangerous tales. From his start as a child actor in New York television and Broadway to acting with the likes of Jack Nicholson and Orson Welles to more recently voice acting for Pixar movies and the long-running animated series, "Rugrats", Phil had lots to tell. Did we mention his 3 grammy nominations? The Firesign Theatre's album, "Don't Crush That Dwarf, Pass The Pliers" being inducted into the Library of Congress? Or his surviving the first gangland massacre in San Francisco's Chinatown in the 70s? It sounds almost beyond reality, right? But no friends, it's all here in this wild 90 minutes so augment your reality and jump right in. It's your Lucky Day!
Back in the saddle again after the 6 month sabbatical, the Dream Regime celebrates their Resurgence with an unexpected discussion of all things Italian, or most all things, or at least the important ones! Including tales of Thanksgiving in Vienna, country feasts in Umbria, New York theater coming to Sonoma County AND a Beavis and Butthead commentary on Tom's music video "I Never Wanna Grow Up." With "Bad As Me", "Semi-Suite" and stellar covers of "Alice", "Tango 'Til They're Sore" and Marc Ribot's Bella Ciao. Happy Holidays, folks!
The Dream Regime is back after an unexpected 6 month hiatus with this last recording we did in June of 2022. This time around we tripped fantastic on the familiar topic of unrequited love, sharing stories of our own heart breaks and listening to some appropriate tunes from Tom. With Dead and Lovely, Black Wings, Black Rider and a surprise segment from the documentary on avante garde theater director, Robert Wilson. Feel the love, Folks!
This one's for all our die-hard Tom Wait's fans out there with the classic Dream Regime Lineup picking a favorite song from each decade and expounding on the effect Tom has had on our lives. Leaving a place in our hearts and feeling the gratitude to be walking on the same planet as our Muse, Bill also reads a very moving share from a Trucker fan posted on the Tom Waits Fan Page. Feel the Love, Folks!
The dream regime is back at it, this time delving into the bottom of anxiety, fear and the opposites - Trust and the holy now rodeo. Including a few hilarious panic attack tales, a recap of the origins of the podcast and an outstanding cover of "In the Neighborhood" by Peter Gabriel. It's another fun hour of delirious conversation on the music of Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan we so love!
Once again the Dream Regime, now five strong, leaps into another sideways conversation about all things nostalgia and conjures up some classic Tom Waits tunes. With a tribute to the recently deceased MeatLoaf and his cover of "Martha", it's another hour of camaraderie, conviviality and conundrums galore. Feel the Love, folks!
The Dream Regime reunites, now five strong, to start the New Year with a robust discussion on resilience, pig farming and the fifth Beatle. With lots of great songs including a cover of 'Trampled Rose' by Robert Plant and Allison Krause. It's a 3 theme song episode folks, which says it all. Feel the Love!




