From: chris stein

Subject: Re: America 250

July 4 1976 is so utterly memorable for me. 

We were returning from an early ‘out of town’ Blondie gig in Philly.

The trip back was laborious, returning a rented beat up station wagon, hauling gear etc.

A long bus ride going downtown, we saw ships in the Hudson river.

When we got back to the Bowery loft there was a really really large guy with pants around ankles taking a dump in our doorway. Beyond any metaphor.

True story

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From: Phil

Subject: Re: Album Airplay/40-July 2, 1976

Heart “Dreamboat Annie”

“I’ve got a half-speed mastered vinyl album of this recording, it’s FANTASTIC, which is surprising, you wouldn’t expect such clarity considering the people who made it and where they made it.”

 

If it’s the Nautilus cut you speak of, then I’m with you. This is the disc I always reach for when setting up a new cartridge on my turntable. Its big, fat sounds just test the limits accross a range of measures (frequency response, soundstage, dynamics, etc, etc). I was absolutely paralyzed the first time I spun it. Credit this, and lacquer cutter Jack Hunt for making me an audiophile constantly in search of that perfect pressing. And the occupants of the house never seem to mind hearing “Magic Man” over and over while I make my tweaks to the big rig 🙂

Phil Nazzaro

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Subject: Comedy Is Hot – Subtronics

Hi Bob,

Big fan of your newsletter and podcast! Was surprised but psyched to see Subtronics mentioned in your “Comedy Is Hot” piece. Similar to Denis Arfa with Def Leppard, I just wanted to clarify the reason most likely for our mid-sized venue charting was Subtronics’ six sold out LA Shrines (Fred again.. is #1 with eight and our other client Crankdat is #3 with five). Subtronics is actually an arena act with triple Tacoma Domes (15k cap night), double Red Rocks (9.5k cap per night), triple Bill Grahams (8k cap per night), etc. annually, as well as performing to 80k+ people per weekend at Coachella (Sahara) and EDC Las Vegas (kineticFIELD) in 2026.

Check out Subtronics’ Coachella livestream performance for some context: https://youtu.be/aR3Q5QJTtnU?si=AYA9j2eBnKphLH8v

Many thanks + keep fighting the good fight!

Best,

Eric

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From: jim windolf

Subject: dylan/beatles book

Dear Bob,

I was happy, and relieved, when I read your review of my book (“Where the Music Had to Go”).

I’m a longtime reader and listener. Your interviews with Robin Green, Paul Carrack, Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Harrison, and Joel Bernstein are probably my favorite podcast episodes of all time.

More than once I almost sent you a copy of my book — but I thought there was a decent chance you might fling it across the room. Very glad you found it on your own!

yours, Jim Windolf

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

I just got my Masters in business at UT Austin.

First class they taught us about this podcast.

Matthew Leishman

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

“And tell ‘em Ben and David sent you!” Love reading you finally found Acquired! I teach entrepreneurship at the collegiate level and honestly – students need only listen to this show to understand so many of the fundamentals. Give last season’s final episode “10 Years of Acquired,” a three way conversation with author Michael Lewis a listen. You’ll learn a ton about the host’s failures, lessons, and craft. That episode is a gift to creative people.

Tim Brunelle

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

Hey Bob – love the Acquired Podcast. Listen to the one on IKEA – some very dodgy beginnings!

Dean Dorrell

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

I’m hooked. The LVMH episode may actually be my favorite so far.

It reinforced something I’ve long believed: music or product isn’t ultimately what people buy; they buy belonging. When it’s done right, they become signals of identity and membership. There’s a lot for our industry to learn from that in the superfan era. Also, the concept of scarcity which was later adapted by streetwear culture was institutionalized  by LVMH. It’s worth checking out, really incredible listen.

Dan Goldberg

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

Glad you discovered Acquired Bob.  If you ever have time and interest in digging into over 10 years of archives, you’ll find a treasure trove that goes from tech to luxury to healthcare to retail to CPG to old world manufacturing all the way to F1…

The best part is that they are real people, not celebs turned podcasters.  Ben and I have corresponded for a couple of years now, and I often provide inputs and connections for their research which they always appreciate and follow up on.  He and David are genuinely smart, good guys who are interested in their subject matter and help the rest of us get smarter from that standpoints of lessons learned, valuation analysis for investing, decision making frameworks to emulate, and the human elements that make great companies great and cause others to peter out and die.

Best,

Mark S. Rangell

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

The Acquired guys are a testament to the beauty of deep research in the telling of a story.

You really get a sense of the characters, and a company’s identity and it’s lifeblood. From Bernie Eccelstone to Sol Price to Jim Simons (The Renaissance Technologies episode is a MUST listen if you manage your own investments, or if you have them managed) to the NFL to Coca Cola and Rolex… those episodes are also just so great – just as strong as the Costco piece, in my view.

Whatever the case, I’m glad you gave them a shout out Bob! They’re doing things the right way. I’ve listened to this pod from early days, and it’s nice watching them grow it, and grow their community, and take some of the lessons they learned from the work they did, and apply them to their podcast!

Jeff Richardson

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

I was hipped to them some time ago. Their podcasts can be lengthy. Costco is excellent.

Here’s some I recommend: Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Trader Joe’s, Mars Inc.
I tried listening to the Charlie Munger, but I found his aged voice difficult.

I forwarded your blog to one of the Acquired guys.

-Harold Bronson

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

I’ve been listening to Acquired for about 4-5 years. It’s an education.
The two hosts are terrific and their research is second to none.

Glad you found it.

Fred Raimondi

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

Ferrari (!), Costco, Ikea, F-1, Morris Chang (!), Vanguard, to name a few, are beyond fascinating.  Not to mention their reverence for Google, which gives so much insight to Silicon Valley.

And the hosts proudly display their nerd bona fides with the overuse of “awesome” and “totally”  🙂

Glad you discovered it.

Randy Ezratty

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

Bob, I love Acquired! Been listening for years…blasted through the new Disney episode. They did great episodes on CAA w/Ovitz!! and Taylor Swift. Other greats include Coke, trader joes, IKEA, Starbucks, Walmart and of course Berkshire

Eli Wener

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

Hey Bob-

I was turned on to this podcast a few weeks ago. My first listen was the episode about Rolex. I’m not a watch guy at all (usually wearing either an Apple Watch or a bare wrist), but it was absolutely fascinating.

Rich Madow

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

I love this pod . . . I got hooked listening to the one about the NFL.  Fascinating.

Vickie Strate

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

So far I’ve gotten through the episodes on Costco, Disney and Rolex. All brilliant. More interesting than 90% of what passes for fiction these days.

Just like London Falling. To quote the Lizard King, people are strange.

Best

David Vawter

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

I listened to the Formula 1 episode a couple weeks ago. After that I just had to read The Formula. Highly recommend it.

Enjoy. Steve Waxman

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

The Rolex Episode is fascinating!

Enjoy

Best regards,

Lorne Burnett

Chairman and CEO

Burnac Produce Ltd.

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

I did a double take when I received your newsletter discussing the Acquired Podcast. I was happy to see you giving it some kudos. I agree, it is great. The Formula 1 episode, especially, was top notch. It was my introduction to the podcast – and I’ve since gone back and listened to some of the “catalogue,” if you will. I’m looking forward to catching up on The Walt Disney Co. episode.

Best Regards,

J.R. Rees

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

Yes! My neighbor turned me on to this last winter. Mentioned the Novo Nordisk episode, which tells the amazing story of that company and the development of insulin, and ultimately, Ozempic.
Sounds dry. It’s not. It’s action-packed. The 2 hosts are highly engaging.
I’m a little smarter after each highly entertaining episode.

Vicky Germaise

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Re: The Acquired Podcast

I’ve been listening for a couple years. It’s my favorite podcast. In fact, your podcast and acquired are the only two podcasts I listen to anymore. Try the Trader Joe’s one, it’s fantastic.

Joel Goldman

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Re: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks in Thousand Oaks

It’s actually stunning to me how great Jon still sounds. After hearing too many of his contemporaries struggle, the man is timeless.

This was Jon’s third time playing the area with Band Geeks, and I’ve been fortunate enough to attend them all. The first time was excellent, and they’ve only gotten better.  The album they released, True, is also solid, and the longer track they played, Once Upon a Dream, would have been right at home in the Yes 70’s catalog.

I’m not sure 13 year old me attending my first Yes show in the 70’s could have imagined all of still gathering to do this again 50 years later (and Chris, Alan and Peter Banks are are sorely missed), but how lucky we are that ‘our people’ can still experience Yes music live.

Aaron Weinstein

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Re: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks in Thousand Oaks

I’m seeing them tonight in San Jose and after reading this, I’m more excited than ever. Particularly given how often you trash aging musicians falling back on yesteryear. This is the closest I’ve seen you come to a rave review in recent memory.

Just found my ticket from February 22,1972. I had just turned 16. The Yes Album had been out for about a year and they announced that they were coming to my home town of Princeton, NJ. I bicycled over to the lobby of McCarter Theater and purchased the entire second row of the center orchestra, and I went to the show with all of my best friends. The tickets were $4.00. On the back of my ticket I wrote “YES, All time #1.” I carried my SLR camera into the theater without a hassle and took pictures with no interference, that I developed in the dark room at my house. Those were the days!

Scott Kauffman

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Re: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks in Thousand Oaks

I am a huge YES fan, and for me, “And You and I” was a pivotal song that crashed into my world when I was 18 years old and literally set the foundations of the life of creativity I chose to live. After reading the comments from everyone on your first email on this, I watched that performance tonight on YouTube with Jon and the Band Geeks, and lick-to-lick, note-for-note, it was absolutely astonishing to see. I was never able to see the original lineup, so the cool thing here is, the Band Geeks are playing it as it was recorded, whereas YES always embellished live from what I can tell from the rare video footage I have seen online. I did see the 90125 tour and aside from being meltingly loud (particularly on the bottom end) and incredibly well performed, it was cool for me because Jon was there. Same situation here tonight, the tears that rolled down my cheeks when I was 18 and heard “And You and I “ from the 33 LP on a massive system at full tilt volume sitting on the floor in a separate room by myself from the party my GF took me to also ran down my cheeks again tonight. I cannot believe Jon is 82, he sounds absolutely pristine with his vocals and intensely pure belief of his musings. Goes to show you what singing in that era actually meant for the vocalists without any auto-tune and the like, pure vocal talent par excellence. It’s extraordinary to see the 60’s and 70’s so accessibly alive in this era (of what exactly?) through such an expertly performing lineup of true players that totally nail it! And how much fun is Jon having, I mean seriously man, imagine how awesome for him this must be considering how much of the creative force he has always been in YES. It’s stunning man! Thank you so much for sharing!!

Sacha Spindler

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Re: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks in Thousand Oaks

I promoted one of Jon’s solo shows in early 2000.  It was a very special performance for me as a major Yes freak One highlight was Jon grabbing a mop after sound check to clean up the stage.  He claimed the glitter on his guitar was to blame so it was on him to make it right. Needless to say my stage manager was horrified and tried to take the mop. Jon was not having it and proceeded to mop. What a wonderful guy. There is no Yes without him

Best Regards,

Steve Gietka

SMG Entertainment LLC

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Re: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks in Thousand Oaks

Hi Bob,

So good to see the overwhelming positive responses to Jon and the Band Geeks.

It was my honor  to book their first date together as Jon Anderson  & the Band Geeks, April 23, 2023 at The Space at Westbury on Long Island.

Most notable is that they had never played together live before our date.

Not only had they never played together, they had never actually met each other in person until the rehearsals.

They had communicated only virtually.

So I gave them the venue for two days prior to meet and rehearse.

It was exciting to be at that first rehearsal, and when Jon heard the bands opening notes I watched the smile spread across his lips and take his whole face with it.  He just could not stop smiling.

They nailed every note, effect, sound and mood of the music.

For my ears Jon’s voice is the sound of Yes. Of course every one of the past members of Yes are amazing players, but having heard most of the incarnations, I believe this is the best Yes not only on the scene today, but in many years.

A year later (and after having a number of dates  under their belts) I had them headline the Great South Bay Music Festival, … they were perfect!

If you are a Yes fan, you do not want to miss this show!

Jim Faith

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Re: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks in Thousand Oaks

I’ve been saying this for ages.
Do we go to the symphony to see Beethoven? No. He’s been gone for a long time.
We go because we want to see an amazing composition performed live.
And THAT’S the way I view these incarnations of the Prog bands. Call them Tribute bands…whatever.
We go because the COMPOSITIONS are the stars, and we want to hear them performed.
It’s that simple.
Of course we can listen to an album but it’s just not the same.
And as long as the performers have the chops and intent of the original composition you’re going to see something special.
Live performances of amazing compositions come with their own brand of magic.

Fred Raimondi

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Re: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks in Thousand Oaks

Thanks for the memory Bob. I saw them in 2000 with the classic lineup. At that time it seemed we were reminiscing. A lot of older guys like myself. The only difference from your show was our warm up band was Dream Theater. There were kids there with their dads. There were younger people there to see Dream Theater. So, it was interesting to watch the difference in the crowd. There were two guys behind me that stood the whole time for Dream Theater. There were fans there for Dream Theater but, they were outnumbered by Yes fans. The lead singer of Dream Theater was trying to get the Yes fans into them and wasn’t haven’t much luck. He stomped over to our side (right side 10th row not far off center) and glowered at me like get up what’s wrong with you! Now, they were good and talented but they wanted to show off their virtuosity to the detriment of the song. The difference in the energy when Yes came out was night and day! Like your show there was a lot standing and singing along. At that time I thought it was amazing that Jon still had his voice. That sound just washes over you and it feels soo good. The interaction between the band was really fun to watch. Being on Wakeman’s side I could see his face when he turned to our side and he would make faces at us. Squire was a blast as well. When he hit some deep notes he would get the biggest grin. Then Jon, the front man par excellence! All of us old guys were in our element. We showed the kids where greatness lay and we weren’t too old to rock and roll!

 

One more thing. In 1973 I bought a Yes shirt at Budget Tape & Records. It just had the multi colored logo on it. People thought it was comment not a band! They would say to what… After Roundabout that changed. It took a few years for people in my area to get it. Thanks again for a great memory.

Russ Wilson

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Re: Jon Anderson & the Band Geeks in Thousand Oaks

Thanks for the nice words about Jon and our show in Thousand Oaks. Hope to see you there at a show, I’ve missed the ones you have been to that I’ve done.
Cheers, mate. Thanks for spreading the word.

Danny  Zelisko

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From: Jeff Laufer

Subject: Fw: Comedy Is Hot

Dear Bob

Comedy is the new Rock and Roll..

Anthony Jeselnik, Jeff Ross, Dave Chappelle and more are the new Jagger, Prince, Lennon..et al..

They speak the truth. They spill their guts and they make us laugh.

The world needs laughter.

To take a date for an evening of comedy can cost about$100. To take a date to see Taylor Swift is $1000. Comedy is more economical. There’s no bullsh*t…

I’m now in my 5th year of doing comedy and I’m still light years away from fame. If I’m lucky to get a paid gig I’ll make around $50 and I’ll have to drive to Oxnard or further. The promoter may comp we with a meal and a beer. This is the course I chose to take. 

I’m having the time of my life.. Instead of hangin’ at the Troubadour, Whisky or the Rainbow you’ll see me at The Improv, The Comedy Store or the Laugh Factory.

Attending open mics you’ll see a slew of delusional misfits hoping they’ll get discovered. Most are not funny but they are giving it a go spilling their guts.

I’ll attend 4 to 6  open mics a week. You sign up and hope you’ll get picked to perform  for about 2 or 3 minutes in front of a booker or as I like to refer to them as “gate keepers”. If they like you can come back next and they will put you up. You are not guaranteed a slot with national touring comics. Often times at mics you have to pay $5 just to go up.

Frequently there are house rules.. you must be “clean”.., I find it funny that black comics can say the “N” word while if a white comic says it they are expelled. 

I’m 73 years old and it’s a world I’m still allowed to play in. I’ve made some great new friends while my record friends are dying off. I’m going to stick at it till I can no longer do it.

Jeff Laufer dba Barney Kugel