Mulligan Stew Podcast

EP 269 | Remembering Robbie

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Robbie Robertson passed away Aug 9, 2023.

We were born a year apart and once we were both making and playing music we crossed paths over the years.

What was special about the relationship was that we talked like two friends who loved the same music and artists.

I was fascinated by his Indigenous roots and he couldn’t believe that I had been a Mountie.

 

We discovered that we both found our musical roots through late-night radio. I was completely in awe of the Border Radio of  Wolfman Jack on XERB Del Rio Texas. Hard driving r&b, blues, conjunto and zydeco at midnight. Radio under the blankets and pillows.

Robbie was doing the very same thing in downtown Toronto and with his Mom’s family at  Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve.

Robbie of course went on to become a legendary guitarist and songwriter.

From Ronnie Hawkins Hawks to The Band to playing with Bob Dylan when he decided to introduce electric backing to his folk audience. They were decidedly not happy with Bob or The Band.

Robbie, Levon, Garth, Rick and Richard created historic music.  First in the basement of Big  Pink in Woodstock with Dylan then on their own.

The songs became the fabric of what was to become Roots and Americana Music.

Several became anthems.

The Weight, The Night they drove old Dixie down, Up on Cripple Creek. All three were written by Robbie.

I was lucky enough to be in the audience at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco for The Last Waltz.  November 25, 1976. Their final concert.

The only reason I got into that magical event was because Robbie had invited me to come.

I did interviews with him while he mixed the film’s audio a year later.

Another one was when the  Martin Scorsese film actually came out in 1978 and another was when Robbie released his autobiography,  Testimony.

Some interviews are locked away in network archives and some are lost.

However, in putting this special together I did discover, at the last minute,  another partial interview and I’ve added it into the Mulligan Stew Podcast.

It’s nearly impossible to include every project that Robbie either planned or executed. He was never not busy creating.

However, I’ll leave you with a partial awards list.

The Band and/or  Robbie were inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame, Rock Hall of Fame, Aboriginal Lifetime Achievement Award,  Canada’s Walk of Fame, Songwriting Hall of Fame, Govern General’s Performing Arts Awards for Life Time Achievement, Grammy Lifetime Achievement, Order of Canada, and many more.

Robbie and I talk, The Hawks, Bob Dylan, growing up at Six Nations, heading for the Mississippi Delta as a 16 year., The Last Waltz (and one magic moment) and talks about his three most famous songs.

If I’m lucky enough to locate more of our interviews, I’ll add them to the Podcast mix and repost them.

Thank you all..for Remembering Robbie and his life!

EP 268 | Robbie Robertson Revisited-Terrys last interview with Robbie -The 50th anniversary of The Band’s landmark self-titled 1969 album

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“…and then there was one “

One of the greatest bands to ever walk our stages and play with our hearts has been taking the final curtain – one by one.

Ricky Danko

Levon Helm

Richard Manual

This week – the heart of The Band –  Robbie Robertson

Left to carry the flag Garth Hudson.

Very few artists can ever lay claim to changing popular music. Just a handful.

Then one day it hits you– hammers you actually.  You get total clarity and begin to change everything you’ve known and held sacred.   So it was when Eric Clapton heard The Bands Music from Big Pink.

It was like all of a sudden he heard this record and said to himself, “Now this is what music should sound like.” For me personally– this has always been one of the most interesting moments in rock music history.

Photo-Don Dixon

My pal Corey Wood called me just as I was finishing recording Saturdays Stew. “Sorry to tell you this but Robbie’s gone”

He knew how special I thought Robbie Robertson was.

Dixie Down, Cripple Creek, I shall be Released, Chest Fever, King Harvest, Stage Fright, Acadian Driftwood, Somewhere down the crazy river. Once were brothers.


On the eve of the 50th anniversary of The Band’s landmark self-titled 1969 album, Terry David Mulligan catches up with Robbie Robertson. As the lead guitarist and principal songwriter for the brotherhood known to all as The Band, Robertson holds an esteemed place in music history.

On September 20th, his sixth solo album Sinematic will be released. The record will be followed by the release of the documentary Once Were Brothers, the story of The Band on film. Robbie talks with Terry about his many projects, including the soundtrack he wrote for Martin Scorcese’s film The Irishman. 

EP 267-From the Vault: Bob Dylan turned 80, comments from past Interviews

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Bob Dylan turned 80 on Monday the 24th.

As part of our coverage at CKUA, I started digging into old interviews looking for comments on Bob’s music, influence, and legacy.

I’m delighted to bring you a select group of artists who bring insight into the singular artist we’re celebrating.

A man for many. Matched by few.

Bob Dylan – Thank you for those 80 years.

Guests are:

David Bowie

Susan Tedeschi &  Derek Trucks

Robbie Robertson

Colin Linden

The Avett Brothers

Barney Bentall and Steve Dawson

Greg Keelor

Subscribe to the MulliganStew podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts, and Spotify

 

EP 266 | Roy Forbes, Holger Peterson, The Bros. Landreth and AV and the Inner City

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Roy Forbes, Holger Peterson, The Bros. Landreth and AV and the Inner City.
All of the interviews were done backstage at the Vancouver Island Music Festival of several weeks ago. In Courtney. Thank you, Doug Cox and Team.
Talking to Roy about performing his Thistles album after all those years, to Holger about some of the highlights of his years coming to the festival and interviewing Roy for the audience.
The Bros  Landreth tells the tale of travelling to the Byron Bay Blues Fest in Australia to finally play with Bonnie Raitt. There was just one thing they wanted to do before that…go swimming in the surf. Things went sideways.
Ann Vriend and her Inner City Choir introduced themselves and their second jobs and left us with a song.
Holger was hosting and doing interviews.
The Bros. Landreth was playing various side stages and headlining Sunday
Rocking Roy was playing his Thistles album from his “Bim” Days. with a great band
Ann Vriend and Inner City, after a chat,  left us with a cappella gospel song.
 

EP 265 | Mariel Buckley is on a ROLL! New Deluxe album ‘Everywhere I Used To Be’

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Two  Western Canadian Music Award Nominations for Breakout Artist and Roots ArtistPolaris nominationAmericana Festival in Nashville in September, Winnipeg Folk Festival, King Eddy gig with Tim,  released a version of album Everywhere I Used to be (deluxe) Two new tracks – Prairie Town Dreams and Sad all the Time.

And she’s not done yet!!! Heading to the Edmonton Folk Festival as well.

Mariel brings tales of relationships, sadness, depression, small-town loneliness that can squeeze the life out of you. Not exactly feel-good songs but there is hope throughout. And a fight-back spirit.

The complete interview – a romp – can be heard on the Mulligan Stew Podcast and the video version on terrydavidmulligan YouTube Channel

We talked about when she realized that words, music and voice could be the way out of her dark life and relationships.

 

I wrote this album for losers and underdogs. I want every outsider and lost soul to feel seen and safe with these songs.

I wrote it for anyone who’s ready to make a change and especially for those who aren’t.

 

Onward !!!!!!

EP 264 | 2023 Cowichan Wine Festival kicks off/Marilena Café opens in Victoria

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It’s Festival Season.

The annual Cowichan Valley Wine Festival returns to its Whole Month of August setting.

It kicks off July 27  with Sunset Soirée from 6-9 PM at the gorgeous Campbell Commons at  Brentwood College School in Mill Bay.

13 Cowichan wineries will be pouring some of their favourites plus some wines chosen especially for this event. Attending and tasting allow you to actually meet the maker of the wines. There’s nothing better than getting the real story behind the wines you’re tasting. Expect high end, new releases and a few surprises being poured.

This year the food program will be created by  Mensch Kitchen and  Catering . 

Wineries pouring on the night will be Alderlea,  Averill Creek, Blue Grouse, Cherry Point, Damali, Devino, Deol, Enrico, Rocky Creek, Unsworth, Venturi Schultze, Zanatta and Emandare.

August in the Cowichan Valley  Aug 1 – 31.  12 wineries.

Wine Passport Program

Your map and tasting glass are your ticket to all 12 participating Cowichan Valley Wineries.

Everyone who purchases a ticket is automatically entered into draws. Accommodations, wine, tours,  transportation and gift baskets.

Details at www.cowichanwineries.com

 

Our guests are

Alderlea – Julie Powell co-owner/co-winemaker

Blue Grouse – Bailey Williamson  Head Winemaker

Enrico Winery – Lorin Inglis  General Manager and Pres Cowichan Wineries Society.

(Jim Moody from Zanatta had tech issues and I will do a follow up)

www.cowichanwineries.com

www.alderlea.ca

www.bluegrouse.ca

www.enricowinery.com

@zanattawinery

 

Chef Kristian Eligh – Marilena Café and Raw Bar.  Victoria

 

It felt like the longest opening of a new restaurant in many years.

It was,  I think,  3-4 years ago I knew that Kristian and his family were moving back to Victoria with a plan to create a singular restaurant.

Then came years of COVID and post-Covid.

Finally, the day has arrived and Marilena Café and Raw Bar was just launched.

Kristian is a chefs chef.

From Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry to culinary director of Hawksworth Restaurant and now Top Table Group Executive Chef.

The Top Table Group includes Blue Water Café, Eliza, Cin Cin, Araxi, Il Caminetto, Bar Oso.  Quite a line up and it doesn’t include their two New York City restaurants.

Marilena is two rooms in one. They’ve been described as “pockets of ambience”.

The Raw Bar, led by Chef Clark ParkThe Café is the turf of one of the best managers Aaron Matsuzaki.

The wine directory is large. It’s overseen by the brilliant Shane Taylor

This is a destination, my friends…

Go to www.marilenacafe.com and check out the dazzling menu and wine list.

The café is a blend of Japanese-inspired small plates, Italian salads and large sharing plates of whole fish, lobster and  48 hr Beef Shortrib.

Cocktails on tap and a list of variables called lively, adventurous and sophisticated.

Pouring select Vancouver Island Wines. One from Basque Country and Aquilini   Cab/Merlot Family Blend from Red Mountain.

Marilena is now open. It was well worth the wait.

www.marilenacafe.com

 

 

 

EP 263 | Festival Time in Courtney. Also from 2019 two legends David Hood (Muscle Shoals) and Leland Sklar (LA)

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We start this week with Doug Cox, the artistic director of the Vancouver Island Music Festival. Next weekend. July 14-16 in Courtney, BC This year the headliners are Sarah McLachlan, Rickie Lee Jones and The Bros. Landreth. Doug asked Roy Forbes to return to his BIM character and revisit the tracks from his Thistles Album.

Two legends are appearing. . Dave Alvin and Jimmy Dale Gilmore with The Guilty Ones. Here’s Doug Cox with backgrounds on all those artists and more events and artists. NEXT WEEK – The Artistic Directors of Folk Festivals in Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Canmore.  Also Terry Wickham reveals his lineup for Edmonton Folk Fest

The second guests on our podcast are two bass playing legends – David Hood (Muscle Shoals ) and Leland Sklar. In 2019, at the very same Vancouver Island Music Festival two of the most famous bass players in popular music met for the very first time.

David Hood – from Muscle Shoals Alabama finally met Leland Sklar from Los Angeles. David Hood was part of the legendary studio musicians at FAME and Muscle Shoals Studios who shaped some of the most famous hits ever made. For Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones, and The Staple Singers. In LA, Leland Sklar has recorded over 2000 albums for artists including Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Randy Newman, Linda Ronstadt and many more.

They hold the unique distinction of being “makers of memories” through the music they helped to create. Great bass players are the glue that holds the band together. What makes bass players special? Memorable bass tracks? Did they follow each other’s careers? The key to surviving and thriving for all those sessions, all those artists and those albums? Honoured to finally meet these artists.

Enjoy

EP 262 | The final 2 interviews with The Last DJ, Red Robinson

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Red Robinson was the first announcer to play rock music on the radio in Canada. He was 16 years old.

Imagine the lives he influenced. Loved by teens. Hated and hounded by parents and adults.

Red made no distinction between black and white artists:  he just played the hits.

That drive and determination took him all the way to induction into the Rock Hall of Fame.

I’m told I did the last interviews with Red Robinson.

He was in a retirement home in Vancouver and living with his memories.

Red was directly responsible for the turning point in my career. He phoned me at CKCK in  Regina and asked “Would you like to come home.? Back to the West Coast?

One of the happiest moments in my life.

We became friends and co-workers.

His timing was impeccable.  He was the right guy. In the right place. At the right time

He got to play and then meet and interview

Elvis Presley

The Everly Brothers

Jerry Lee Lewis

Roy Orbison

James Brown

Bill Haley

Carl Perkins

Johnny Cash

Little Richard

Jackie Wilson

Fats Domino

Chuck Berry

Ray Charles

Rickie Nelson

Buddy Holly

Sam Cooke

Patsy Cline

Peggy Lee

And

The Beatles.

He Introduced The Beatles at their Vancouver Concert.

Started the careers of many many announcers. Me for one.

Changed the lives of millions of teens during the late ’50s and 60’s.

I have a number of interviews with Red…

The last two were Zoom interviews. The first didn’t go well. Red couldn’t hear the questions but the second and last in 2022 went much better.

This Podcast is both of those Zoom interviews back to back. The first was in March 2022 and the second October 2022.

I hope it tells some of the story of his life, the music he played, the lives he changed and his place in Canadian radio.

Red died on April 1, 2023.  He was 86

Terry

EP 261 | Bruce Allen: The state of todays music business, his roster and another birthday!

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On the occasion of Bruce Allen’s birthday, I thought I’d sit down for an early morning Zoom call.

Bruce has a roster of talent that plays the World’s stages, so you can find him at 8 am just finishing a call to South Africa.

He’s a full-speed guy. Never outworked,  no matter what the project.

In over 50 years Bruce has become one of the best artist managers in the entire music business.  Bruce Allen Talent.

After a start with BTO,  Bruce decided to take a chance on a young singer/songwriter Bryan Adams. They agreed to be a team with a handshake and started to make music history.

His roster now includes legend Anne Murray, Michael Bublé (there’s a story), Jann Arden, mega-producer Bob Rock and his first band in a while The Offspring.

In the 23 minutes that I have his attention, Bruce tells tales about

The state of the current music business..

The loss of Gordon Lightfoot

Bryan Adams – his place today

Jann – she’s busy Mully

Michael Bublé – we trade Bublé stories. Love it

Bob Rock and Gord Downie – amazing story

The Offspring – first band he’s signed in years.

The Loss of our dear friend – Red Robinson DJ Legend.

Enjoy Big Bad Bruce. Next Week and very special feature on the early rock life of Red Robinson. His last two interviews.

 

EP 260 | Two culinary and cultural leaders. Ned Bell on BC Seafood Fest and Lisa Ahier on Sobo, The Book and her future.

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Two very special friends. Both are culinary leaders in Canadian food.

Ned Bell.  Executive Chef and co-partner at Naramata Heritage Inn. A spokesperson for multiple culinary and seafood sustainability movements. A true force….leading by doing.

He’s the chef ambassador for the province of BC through the Buy BC Program.

Ned Bell is  a week away from launching the 4th annual BC Seafood Festival. On Mt Washington, Vancouver Island

June 23-25.

Lots to talk about with Ned and his event next weekend.

To Ned’s West on Vancouver Island is the official end of Canada. In Tofino.  A surf and food heaven.

Lisa Ahier started her SoBo restaurant as a food truck, making tacos for the surfers and then the tourists.

Her restaurant has become the epicentre of life in Tofino.

Surrounded by fancier and slicker dining, Lisa just does what her heart asks of her…give your community a place to gather, eat and celebrate how lucky you all are to be there. Lisa’s written and released her second book Together at Sobo.  The celebration continues.

In our interview, Lisa hints at what her future holds as she begins to move beyond Sobo and into our food destinations.

Two Pals. Doesn’t get much better than this.

www.sobo.ca

www.bcseafoodfestival.com

www.buybc

www.buybc.gov.bc.ca

www.experiencecomoxvalley.ca