Here is a very young but advanced player of contemporary electric guitar music. Combining vocals and looping devices, he blends sounds with subtleties quite uncommon to young "noise" players who are so wont to blast walls of mish mashed overdrive to a reluctant audience. This fellow has no such issues and his music reflects the intellectual and humble character he brings to the neighborhood of St. Johns.

Currently, StepMother is sowing his wild oats travelling the world, but we eagerly await his return so that we can continue pushing him toward his destiny as a prosperous sonic artist.

Why is the  US Government, funded by  our taxes, saving Wall Street's financiers from the consequences of their hubris?  On this program, hosted by Tom Becker, we discuss the situation in depth.  Also on the show: an conversation about what Sarah Palin signifies for the Christian Right as well as to women behond that  group.  Hear the whole program by clicking the arrow above, or listen to individual pieces by following their links below:

1.  Bill Resnick and economist John Miller  discuss  the  origins and direction of the economic crisis and what the left should be demanding. 

Larry Bowlden discusses Kate Christensen's novel  The Great Man, demonstrating the gap between the image a successful man projects to his public and in his biography,  and what the women in his life know about him.  Winner of the Pen/Faulkner Award.  You can find more reviews by Larry on line. 

Host Dmae Roberts talks with Maria Kanyova and Richard Troxell, the stars of Portland Opera's production of Verdi's "La Traviata."

 Also featured is Oregon Book Award finalist Elizabeth Rusch about her two books for young people.  

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Bill Plympton pays a return visit to his hometown of Portland as his new short Hot Dog premieres in Mike Judge's upcoming Animation Show (beginning Oct. 26 at Cinema 21).  Bill's latest animated feature Idiots and Angels opened to critical acclaim this spring at the Tribeca Film Festival and will be arriving in Portland theaters in early 2009.

On the September 18 Art Focus Julie Bernard interviews representatives of City Repair who generate community by setting up the giant winged T-Horse sculpture in parks around the city and serve tea to any and all.