Bistro Californium

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 19 THE LUCKY PEOPLE w/ Laz Harding Apr 26, 2023

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Topics: Justin Kerrigan's Human Traffic (1999) + Spaced (1999 + 2001) Guest: Laz Harding (@TheUpestFukist) yeerk is joined by official best m8 IRL, Laz Harding (of BISTRO CALIFORNIUM intro music fame) to explore "the last gasp of the UK Gen X thing" via two quintessential cultural documents of 90s Britain https://twitter.com/TheUpestFukist Check out Laz's music project, Active Sun Particles https://www.youtube.com/@Active_Sun_Particles

Ep. 18 GUNPLAYTIME w/ Jacob Everett Apr 19, 2023

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Topics: Chad Stahelski's John Wick (2014) + John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) + John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) Guest: Jacob Everett (@blauer_geist) Jacob Everett, editor-in-chief of APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL and RESIDENT LIFE ENJOYERS alumnus, joins yeerk for a comprehensive anatomy of the John Wick cinematic universe up until now, from comparisons to Jacque Tati's Playtime (1967) to a reading of the film as a drama of smooth vs. striated surfaces + the action movie as psychogeography, and finally, a meditation on the occult nature of debt "I've got these arms and legs that flip-flop" "I saw secret scenes in the cracks of the cities secret scenes in the seams of the world" https://twitter.com/blauer_geist https://apocalypse-confidential.com/

Ep. 17 IT TAKES A WORRIED MAN w/ Alec Mouhibian Apr 12, 2023

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Topics: Greil Marcus' Mystery Train (1975) + Harmonica Frank, Robert Johnson, The Band, Sly & the Family Stone, Randy Newman, and Elvis Guest: Alec Mouhibian (@FilthyArmenian) On this very special episode, yeerk is joined by charismatic Armenian & raconteur, Alec Mouhibian, of Filthy Armenian Adventures and The Back Wall, to discuss the greatest and most essential book of rock criticism ever written, Greil Marcus' MYSTERY TRAIN. Together they meditate on the death of rock n roll and what it means to live in a world without mystery Alec has a forthcoming interview with Greil Marcus on his own Filthy Armenian Adventures podcast, so make sure you look out for that! And be sure to check out the documentary INVISIBLE REPUBLIC, which Alec co-produced, on the diary of Lika Zakaryan recounting her experiences during the 2020 invasion of Artsakh "It takes a worried man To sing a worried song It takes a worried man But I won't be worried long" "I want to be like you are I want to rewrite your name I want to live in the heart of someone Ride that mystery train." https://twitter.com/FilthyArmenian https://www.patreon.com/filthyarmenian https://www.patreon.com/thebackwall https://www.invisiblerepublicfilm.com/

Ep. 16 TUXEDOROOM w/ Gwen Apr 05, 2023

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Topics: Tommy Wiseau's The Room (2003) + Tuxedomoon Guest: Gwen Gwen joins us to aid a comprehensive rehabilitation of Tommy Wiseau's cult masterpiece THE ROOM as a series of surrealist landscapes, and how it all relates the mysterious De Chirico ambience of a weird little city called San Francisco + we begin a deep dive into the mysterious San Fran post-punk scene and the tropical Hitchcockian noir of TUXEDOMOON "Women change their minds all the time." "Sometimes, in the finest of moments You find the furniture just doesn't fit"

Ep. 15 WHAT DOTH LINT? w/ Jo *PREVIEW* Mar 23, 2023

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Topics: Xavier: Renegade Angel (2007 - 2009) + Steve Aylett's Lint (2005) Guest: Jo (@junker_jo) *PREVIEW* FOR FULL EPISODE, SUBSCRIBE TO BISTRO CALIFORNIUM ON PATREON https://www.patreon.com/BistroCalifornium This episode asks many important questions... and questions many important answers: Answers like 'rectangular' and 'no, thank you'... and questions like: 'Is Lint a famous and very real SF writer from Chicago- or is he sticky grit of a cocky pocket's wilted figment? Is he just the dusty residue of a dirty muddy dustbunny in a denim-dark enclosure? Or a bubbling bauble paddled up by a monstrous poet's pocketed paw from an ocean of... LIFE??' Or in other words... 'WHAT... DOTH... LINT??' The only way to find out is listen this brand new cast-off pod "Are we just flesh blips in some meaningless stew of cosmic oblivion? Or is it vice reversa...." "This isn't prose! It's gnats in formation!" "Snail, sarge?" Subscribe to Jo's substack (https://thejozone.substack.com/) Intro theme by Active Sun Particles (@TheUpestFukist)

Ep. 14 THE SAUL GOLDEN w/ Adam Lehrer Mar 22, 2023

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Topics: Better Call Saul (2015 - 2022) + a bit of Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013) Guest: Adam Lehrer (@SafetyPropagan1) Adam Lehrer, the man behind Safety Propaganda (but whose name, importantly, is Adam, not 'Safety') joins yeerk to discuss the Vince Gilligan show Better Call Saul- and a little bit about Breaking Bad also Buy Adam's books: Safety Propaganda: Conceptual Manifesto for Psychological Warfare Communions Safety Popaganda on Substack (https://safetypropaganda.substack.com/) Subscribe to System of Systems on patreon (https://www.patreon.com/systemofsystems) Hear Adam discuss Breaking Bad + Better Call Saul on The Perfume Nationalist Intro theme by Laz Harding aka Active Sun Particles (@TheUpestFukist)

Ep. 13 PODCAST IN THE KEY OF Z w/ D. E. Mar 15, 2023

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Topics: Irwin Chusid's Songs in the Key of Z (2000) + Daniel Johnston, The Shaggs, Tiny Tim, Joe Meek, Captain Beefheart, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, R. Stevie Moore, 1/2 Japanese, Jack Mudurian, B. J. Snowden, Lucia Pamela, Luie Luie, Wesley Willis Guest: D. E. (aka lifeinratutopia) Old skool posting legend D. E. joins yeerk for a journey into the 'incredibly strange' world of OUTSIDER MUSIC via the carnival barker showmanship of 'ideologue with a hustle' Irwin Chusid and his landmark book SONGS IN THE KEY OF Z They ponder the ethics of outsider art, the paradoxical connections between conservatism and conservationism, the perverse freedom of obscurity- and finally ask the question: just how weird are these people anyway? "Oh, the boys with cars want motorcycles And the boys with motorcycles want cars You can never please anybody in this world" "If I could only stay sixteen forever Then I'd know that I'd be satisfied with life" Check out John Jay Stancliff's Fedbook (on which D. E. worked as an editor) Intro theme by Laz Harding (The Upest Fukist) (https://www.youtube.com/@theupestfukist3064)

Ep. 12 I'M SO PRETTY w/ Salomé Mar 08, 2023

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Topic: West Side Story (1957) by Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, & Stephen Sondheim + Robert Wise's West Side Story (1961) Guest: Salomé (@DollPariah) yeerk is joined by the infamous glittering personality and musician known as Salomé aka Pariah the Doll to discuss the Jerome Robbins musical WEST SIDE STORY- along the way they discuss their respective experiences with Christianity, her forthcoming novel, the dietary philosophy of Ray Peat (and a certain well-known Bulgarian populariser), and the decline of the West Salomé contributes a very beautiful song "I feel charming Oh so charming It's alarming how charming I feel And so pretty That I hardly can believe I'm real" Support Salomé's Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/pariahthedoll) Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/dollpariah) Substack (https://thedollhouse.substack.com/) Intro theme by Laz Harding (The Upest Fukist) (https://www.youtube.com/@theupestfukist3064)

Ep. 11 FAIRYTALES FOR HARDMEN w/ Zach Langley Chi Chi Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

Topic: Jackie Leven + Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber (1979) Guest: Zach Langley Chi Chi (@asukahomo) On this very special episode of Bistro Californium, yeerk is joined by dear guest Zach Langley Chi Chi of the wonderful I'M SO POPULAR podcast to pursue a witch's cackle through the music of Jackie Leven and Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber Covering everything from the decline of the drum circle, the deep gravity of the cosmic masculine soul, and the loneliness of the phallus, and brining attention to one of the most talented and neglected musical artists ever to have lived, this extremely special episode of Bistro Californium is not to be missed "When we were children in the woods Wearing dresses made of what we find We were damsels in distress..." "How my circumstances had changed since I first heard those voluptuous chords..." Follow Zach on twitter (@asukahomo) Listen to I'M SO POPULAR (https://www.patreon.com/imsopopular) Theme by Laz Harding (The Upest Fukist) NOTE: Zach's contribution to the interlude here is particularly powerful and moving- be sure to listen

Ep. 10 UGLY THOUGHTS & CROCODILE TONGUES w/ Glen Rockney Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Topic: Roald Dahl James and the Giant Peach (1961) The Twits (1980) The BFG (1982) The Witches (1983) Guest: Glen Rockney FEATURING yeerk's mum in the role of ** SPECIAL GUEST READER **

yeerk is joined by Glen Rockney of Rare Candy and The Back Wall to discuss the recent scandal involving Roald Dahl's legacy of children's literature, its wholesale butchery by a shadowy and unaccountable 'sensitivity reading' consultancy firm, and the value of Dahl's writing today Along the way they compare childhood bee encounters, ponder the significance of the sphere, and medidate on the moments of genuine Otherness that mark Dahl's writing "One thousand long slimy crocodile tongues boiled up in the skull of a dead witch for twenty days and nights with the eyeballs of a lizard!" "He seemed almost to be transfigured by the excitement of his thoughts. His face was beautiful in its blaze of emotions." Check out Rare Candy & The Back Wall Follow Glen Intro theme by Laz Harding (The Upest Fukist)

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