The Lydian Spin

Anton Newcombe is the creative force behind The Brian Jonestown Massacre, a band he founded in 1990. He is a  prolific songwriter and a hands-on producer. Anton has collaborated with artists like Tess Parks and Dead Meadow and even scores the films and television such as the film Moon Dogs. Beyond music, he runs his label, A Recordings Ltd., likes to cook  and supports causes like Oxfam during his tours.

Daniel House is an entrepreneur and musician, he i the co-founder and bassist of Skin Yard, a band that played a pivotal role in shaping the grunge sound in Seattle and served as a starting point for many influential musicians. Initially purchasing C/Z Records as a platform to release his own music, Daniel transformed the label into one of the cornerstones of the Seattle music scene, championing acts like The Melvins and Built to Spill. After relocating to Los Angeles in 2003, he launched online projects, including DownloadPunk.com and RocknRollDating.com.

Oliver Edward Ackermann is a musician and innovator best known as the founder of the Brooklyn-based effects pedal company Death By Audio and the frontman of the rock band A Place to Bury Strangers, often called "the loudest band in New York." A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Oliver has crafted custom effects for legendary bands such as U2 and Nine Inch Nails. His work is driven by a passion for cultivating a vibrant artistic community, exemplified by the iconic Death By Audio venue.

While Lydia and Tim have been busy on their respective tours, finding time to record new episodes has been challenging. In the meantime,  take a trip down memory lane revisiting a memorable moment from the early days. Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles in January of 2019, Lydia and Tim sat down with the legendary burlesque star and actress, Kitten Natividad. In this candid conversation, Kitten shares how she transitioned from a conventional career to burlesque, her experiences with director Russ Meyer, and her fond memories of Tom Selleck and Sean Penn's bachelor party. Sadly, in 2022, Kitten passed away. welcomed Lydia and Tim into her home as they navigated the early challenges of podcasting. She was cheerful, whip smart, and very very funny.  

Kevin Rutmanis is a bassist and experimental musician, known for his work with bands like Cows, The Melvins, Tomahawk, and hepa.titus. Recently, he has teamed up with visual artist Gina Skwoz for the project Lords and Lady Kevin, creating boundary-pushing music. Their latest release, Last Days At Hot Slit not to be confused with the Andrea Dworkin book of the same name is due out December 6, marks a collaborative effort with Trevor Dunn. 

Oliver Edward Ackermann is a musician and innovator best known as the founder of the Brooklyn-based effects pedal company Death By Audio and the frontman of the rock band A Place to Bury Strangers, often called "the loudest band in New York." A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Oliver has crafted custom effects for legendary bands such as U2 and Nine Inch Nails. His work is driven by a passion for cultivating a vibrant artistic community, exemplified by the iconic Death By Audio venue.

This episode of The Lydian Spin is filled with haunting reflections and fierce critiques. Lydia opens by reading a sharply worded Daily Beast op-ed from Michael Ian Black on the high stakes of the upcoming election. She then dives into the Shimmy Disc release Poe: To One in Paradise (for Hal Willner), a limited edition LP that celebrates Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic verse. This 13-track album featuring luminaries from across poetry, literature, theater, and music—honors the late Hal Willner. On Side A, listeners are treated to To One in Paradise by Joan as Police Woman, Eldorado by Edgar Oliver, To My Mother by Thurston Moore & Eva Moore, The Valley of Unrest by Eric Mingus, A Dream Within a Dream by Britta Phillips, and Evening Star by Teller. Side B includes Fairy-Land by Anne Waldman, Dreamland by Lydia, The Sleeper by Larry 'Ratso' Sloman, Silence by Chloe Webb, Imitation by Rick Moody, The Lake by Jennifer Charles, and finally, an archival recording of Allen Ginsberg reading The Bells. Kramer's composition ties the collection together with an atmospheric score, keeping Poe’s spirit alive for a modern audience. A special thank you to Kramer for allowing the Lydian Spin to play the album. Happy Halloween!

Writer, Oxbow alum, Bunuel frontman and friend of the Lydian Spin, Eugene Robinson, joins Lydia and Tim to read from his memoir A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight Into Murderer's Row and share other entertaining stories from his life. Catch Lydia and Eugene at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall on November 9th.

Drummer Sim Cain played with the  Rollins Band from 1987 until 1997. Before joining Rollins Band, Sim played in the instrumental trio Gone, alongside future Rollins Band bassist Andrew Weiss and Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn.  He has also recorded with artists like David Poe, Marc Ribot, David Shea, and played in Elliott Sharp's Terraplane group. Cain appeared on Ween's 2004 album Quebec and performed with blues legend Hubert Sumlin in the early 2000s.

Babeth Mondini-VanLoo  is an artist, filmmaker, and cultural ambassador. She studied art under Joseph Beuys in Germany and earned a Master's in Film & Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1977. Babeth is the programming director and founder of the first Buddhist television station in the West. Her art, often described as Social Sculpture, emphasizes spiritual activism. She has created over 60 documentaries on topics such as the science of the mind, Buddhism, punk music, and poetry. Her subjects have included the Dalai Lama, Joseph Beuys, Meredith Monk, the Sex Pistols, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Babeth directed the 1990 film Kiss Napoleon Goodbye which starred Lydia and Henry Rollins. Her work has been exhibited and is held in collections worldwide.