The (New & Improved) HYENA KITCHEN

                  Hiya, Kids.   Welcome to this week’s “No” Music Friday.   I look forward every week to New Music Friday on NPR and am constantly dismayed - I cannot believe that Robin Hilton, et al at NPR spend their days (and nights) listening to Hip Hop and overproduced/auto tune pabulum that they pass off as important. Artists whose names (in all caps) read like the latest product from Big Pharma, or better yet simply a typography glyph, I guess it’s my curmudgeon showing.   So in light of this, join me, won’t you, in Old Music Friday in celebration of my Anniversary - as we travel back 27 years and blow the cobwebs off a few (now) oldies. To a time when radio still offered a mix of grunge, rock, hip hop, and Mariah Carey; a world that still offered new music from Prince, Bowie, Cobain and Tom Petty; when everything seemed…well, you know.                 First off, I give you Ben Harper ’s Welcome to the Cruel World , his prophetic 1994 debut album. Who knew the title track, “Ho

  Pretty Words for the "ICONOCLASS" of 20/20 a collection of COVID Prose (written during quarantine) is now available as part of Sour Grapes Press Chapbook Series.  Available in indie bookstores across Northwestern Washington or from Sour Grapes Press (www.sourgrapespress.com). Trade edition (February 2021):  $10.00 Sold Out Limited Lettered/Folio case edition (January 2021) $20.00 Sold Out Limited number of each available from here in the kitchen with $5.00 S/H via PayPal: jlockett59@gmail.com.  (Shipping maybe delayed due to COVID restrictions, but I'll let you know via email)

        Hey there gang, welcome back to New Music Friday , it’s been a while since we did a big one, so whether you’re celebrating this weekend’s Puppy Bowl or the [insert shameless plug here] release of my new poetry chapbook Pretty Words for the “Iconoclass” of 2020 (available wherever fine Covid-prose is sold) - there is a great batch of quarantine produced music out there to get you through, so let’s get to it   First up, those benevolent fighters of all things Foo have a beautiful new CD - Medicine at Midnight ( Roswell/RCA )- a departure? Sort of? More of a late 70’s rock sound - which I love - plenty of Dave and Taylor drums throughout with distinctive Foo Fighters sound in “Waiting on a War.” Just wait until you hear the Beach Boy-esque “Chasing Birds.” Wow, who knew?   Speaking of who knew, Paramore lead singer and cryptic social media honey Hayley Williams has been busy in lockdown proving herself as a singer/songwriter with the stripped down, Flowers for Vases/descanso