KZSC Santa Cruz
On-demand news, interviews, and live performances from KZSC 88.1 FM Santa Cruz - Non-commercial, educational, community radio for the Monterey Bay, California
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Kim De Serpa_Santa Cruz County Supervisor_interviewed 2026-02-27 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club' KZSC
02/28/2026
Kim De Serpa_Santa Cruz County Supervisor_interviewed 2026-02-27 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club' KZSC
Kim has now been a supervisor for just over a year, having previously learned governance being on the Pajara Valley Unified School Board; a previous interview on Bushwhacker's in late 2024 / early 2025 got derailed when she attended "Supervisor Boot Camp" in Palm Springs - they had booked it for both Kim & her opponent, Kristin Brown, before the election; District 2 includes 30% of all the roads in the county, some 526 miles of roads - & roads are one of the top 3 issues she & her staff deal with, the other 2 being connectivity & PG&E, and the Planning Department; Prop. 1, when it passed, looked great - build out facilities for mental health & substance abuse, where the county is the primary supporter of health & mental health - instead, 30% of the behavioral health budget was removed...diverted...offsetting the gains from Prop. 1 - this is called "re-allignment", & is robbing Peter to pay Paul!; only 13.4% of property taxes stay in the county; the county is also being hit by online e-commerce, where the sales taxes go to the locales where the distribution centers are, which are in counties other than Santa Cruz, which is losing ~$10MM / year; with the federal budget cuts, 40,000 people in the county will lose their insurance, with the burden falling to the county; re: Watsonville hospital - medicare / mediCal reimbursements are not great, and the hospital needs a mix of payors to be viable; to survive, the hospital needs to cut $25MM out of their budget; a bill has been introduced in Sacramento to "Save Rural Hospitals', but its $300MM barely scratches the surface; Kim as 2 staff, a chief-of-staff, Maureen McCarty, who previously worked in Assemblymember Mark Stone's & Gail Pellerin's office (& who was interviewed on Bushwhacker's in December, 2024), & a super-analyst, Gigi Kelbert; Housing Element? There are 3 "builder's remedy" projects currently under construction...of the 4,634 units that are required to be built before 2031, 300 have been built!!!! other projects are in the pre-permitting stage; discussion about unpaid Federal Disaster funds, and that the county borrowed $80MM to cover the shortfall...$53MM has come in to pay down that debt; the county 2025-2026 budget is $1.35 B (yes, that's Billion!!) An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Wrangle" (Chris Jong), airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Zoë Aqua - Transylvanian String Music_interviewed 2026-02-27 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club'by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Wrangle" (Chris Jong)
02/28/2026
Zoë Aqua - Transylvanian String Music_interviewed 2026-02-27 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club'by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Wrangle" (Chris Jong)
Zoë is coming to town tonight with 3 people in her Transylvania String Band - they played San Francisco last night; Zoë discovered Klezmer music in high school, and when she moved to New York, she started hanging out with her Klezmer Peeps; a Klezmer pal exposed her to Transylvanian string music, & her reaction was "Huh?!?! What's THAT??!!?", so in 2018, after having won a Fulbright, she traveled to Transylvania, where she met her bandmates; the Fulbright was very, very helpful; discussion of bandmates and the instruments they play, which probably are unfamiliar to everyone; discussion of different music types, including a doina (improvisational). An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Wrangle" (Chris Jong), airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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John Leopold - Executive Producer Grammy Winner 'A Tribute to the King of Zydeco', Clifton Chenier_interviewed 2026-02-27 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club
02/27/2026
John Leopold - Executive Producer Grammy Winner 'A Tribute to the King of Zydeco', Clifton Chenier_interviewed 2026-02-27 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club
John is a former Santa Cruz County Supervisor who, after losing re-election went on to be Managing Director of the Arhoolie Foundation, which was founded by Chris Strachwitz; Chris founded Arhoolie Records, a roots label founded in 1960 in the Bay Area; 40 years ago, John found Chris through his radio show in KPFA; Chris founded the Arhoolie Foundation in the 1990s; John cold called Chris, & asked if he could write grants for them - Chris was skeptical, saying, "We don't have any money."; John started writing grants anyway, & ultimately brought in $1M; Chris asked John to join the Arhoolie Board of Directors in 2000 &, after he lost re-election, asked him to be Managing Director of the Foundation; on New Year's Eve 2022 Los Lobos played the Rio Theater; 2023 would begin the 50th year for the band, so they threw a celebration / party before the gig; after the gig, John was talking backstage with Steve Berlin & David Hidalgo, who asked John what he was working on; when he told them, "A Clifton Chenier archival box" to celebrate Clifton's Centenial; they said, "If you're doing a tribute album, we're in!"; John asked, "How do you make an album?" Steve had been a producer for 40 years and said, "First, you get a record label!"; John approached Jo-el Savoy, of Valcour Recrods, whose parents were friends of Clifton's; both Jo-el Savoy & Steve Berlin had won Grammys, so John wasn't sure how it would go when he introduced them at a Crawfish Boil in May, 2023, but they were totally sympatico; they released the record on June 27, 2025 (June 25 would've been Clifton's 100th birthday); how do you get a Grammy nomination? Pay $75 & nominate! Who votes? members of the Recording Academy (people who pay their dues & work full time in the music industry); there are 92 or 96 categories - only 10 are on TV; the awards ceremony, including the pre-telecast portion with the other 82 or 86, was on Sunday, February 1st, & "A Tribute to the King of Zydeco", on Valcour Records with John Leopold as Executive Producer, won the Grammy for Best Regional Roots Music Album!!! If John had won re-election as County Supervisor, cannot tell what would've been: John loves music....saw an opportunity...took advantage of that opportunity (John is proud of his 20 years as an elected official); what's next? John is working with Steve Riley & Christine Balfa (Dewey Balfa's daughter) on a project celebrating Dewey's life, music, & impact, planning for release in 2027 when Dewey would've been 100. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Wrangle" (Chris Jong), airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Patti, Lilly & Melia Spooner_Alta Organic Coffee - interviewed 2026-02-20 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club'
02/20/2026
Patti, Lilly & Melia Spooner_Alta Organic Coffee - interviewed 2026-02-20 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club'
Patti was building masts for racing boats, and looked into getting into coffee, because "that's the last thing people would give up" - during Covid, they learned that this was indeed true, as they were declared an "essential business"; Patti started Alta in Newport Beach in 1984, & moved to Santa Cruz in 1998; Patti, when she was "Sleepy John's" girlfriend, went to Costa Rica where they went to a finca (farm) which had the best coffee they had ever tasted; Patti looked into different kids of roasters, & decided on an air roaster, when there were hardly any small roasting companies, just the enormous ones putting out industrial coffee; Lilly, Patti's granddaughter, was born in 1999, and was "born into Alta Coffee"; Melia, Lilly's aunt (the family tree would take a half hour to explain!), was a Newport kid, and, after graduating UCSC, managed Alta in Santa Cruz; their roaster is big enough to climb into, & roasts 33 pounds at a time, roasting before the shop opens at 8am; they have a few single origin coffees, but are known for their house blends, like their Wild Women Blend; Alta was organic before it was a thing, & it's important to support restaurants that support organic, & organic in general; Q: How were they able to pass along a working business to the younger generation? A: "Nepotism!"; one nigiht over dinner Lilly asked Patti if she would sell the business to her, & Patti was releaved, as she was considering retirement but had not come up with a way for Alta to continue; what's their favorite Alta coffee? Mehlia: espresso blend, because the Ethiopean beans are sun-dried, resulting in a European-style coffee; Lilly: Etheopean wash single origin, because of the chocolate flavor; Patty: mountain blend (which combines Sumatra, Guatemala, Mexico...); all from Arabica beans, as they are high grown (Robusta beans are for more mass-produced coffee); "Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Industrial Coffee!!"; The Money Question: Patti: "Yes, it sustains me, & is thriving"; Lilly: "Yes, but we have different dreams & visions, but will continue with authentic hearts"; Melia: "Yes...it's only been a couple of months since taking over, but they are now in Patti's rich life shoes; Alta has 6 employees, & a shout out to them on Santa Cruz's Westside! (find them at AltaOrganicCoffee.com) An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", "Goldenv Voice Gene" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Gail Pellerin_CA_Assemblymember_interviewed 2026-02-20 on KZSC's 'Bushwhackers Breakfast Club'
02/20/2026
Gail Pellerin_CA_Assemblymember_interviewed 2026-02-20 on KZSC's 'Bushwhackers Breakfast Club'
"2-year bills" had a January deadline to pass out of their House of Origin - Assemblymember Pellerin's bill on Janus Services passed out of the Assembly, & is now in the Senate (it would allow a campus like Janus to have an umbrella license, simplifying inspections & administration); Assemblymember Pellerin reviewed the bills she has submitted or will submit today as this year's bill package - it includes AB1548, the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority, or MBASA, for creative funding solutions that support conservation & stewardship; AB1668, on Open Space Property Tax Exemption; AB1736 on Deceptive Lobbying; AB1988, the "Pause Act" (using 988 because that's the mental health hotline #), which would require chatbots to pause for 20 minutes & a real human to come on the line if there's a risk of suicide; once a bill is submitted, there's a "30 days in print" rule before any hearings can happen; once a bill is assigned to a policy committee by the Rules Committee, the Assemblymember & her team advocate on behalf of their bills, & negotatiate; discussion of last night's town hall with 1st District County Supervisor Manu Koenig - both gave 5-15 minutes of prepared comments before Q&A; questions about 3 housing projects being built with the "builder's remedy"; one local landlord said that he has vacancies for the first time in a long time, so that there's a view toward rent stabilization, & maybe even decreasing rents; Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas has initiated a review of a handful of bills that were passed, to see what worked (& what hasn't) - Assemblymember Pellerin has one, AB2496, which was passed as a Band-Aid for 10,000 foster kids who were to be removed from their homes due to foster agencies getting hit by claims - it was to allow kids to stay whiel working on a longer term solution, but the Assembly never got a report, so they will now hold hearings in the Policy Committee that heard the bill initially, as they have the expertise; that bill sunsets in 2027, & may need to be renewed (with a new bill?) if there hasn't been enough progress. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan","Golden Voice Gene" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Sonia Shell_bluegrass banjo and vocals_interviewed 2026-02-06 on KZSC Santa Cruz's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club' by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
02/19/2026
Sonia Shell_bluegrass banjo and vocals_interviewed 2026-02-06 on KZSC Santa Cruz's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club' by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Sonia didn't decide to play banjo originally...she was a cello player, but one of her oldest friends played the banjo, and Sonia wanted to find out if she could play as well (or better); was accepted to grad school when she decided to join a band instead - Sidesaddle (which had formed in 1979, but Sonia was asked to join in 1984)...Sonia played & toured with Sidesaddle for 9 years, until she quit to have kids, but later returned to the band; 90% of bluegrass is written from a man's point of view, and Sonia enjoys modifying the pronouns so that a song would be from a woman's point of view - the problem is, if the song is under copyright, she could get sued...but songs in the public domain are far game!!! (such as "I'm My Own Grandpa", which Sonia changed to be "I'm My Own Grandma") - 40 years ago she just sang it, but this last week, revisiting the lyrics (because Dangerous Dan requested it), she sees how the family structure evolves (Dan would like to diagram it sometime! :) // Sonia writes, but all of her songs are still in notebooks - but she has a plan to bring them out to work on a project with them; the bluegrass tradition has a large canon to draw from; Sonia was in The Goat Hill Girls, and later, Harmony Grits, who would play weekend afternoons at the San Gregorio Store, which was perfect for bringing her kids because she could park them on the lawn with coloring books while she played bluegrass banjo; The Money Question? A: You can make a living as a musician, but for Sonia, that involved part time "day jobs", such as music therapy for seniors, or teaching music lessons; Sonia wrote an instrumental inspired by My Fair Lady's 'I Could've Danced All Night"; Sonia still plays, & teaches, cello. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Ashwin & Keshav Batish-Sitar Power, also Jase Earl - Afrobeats_ interviewed on KZSC's ‘Bushwhacker’s Breakfast Club’ 2026-02-13 by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
02/18/2026
Ashwin & Keshav Batish-Sitar Power, also Jase Earl - Afrobeats_ interviewed on KZSC's ‘Bushwhacker’s Breakfast Club’ 2026-02-13 by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Ashwin lived in India until he was 12, where he played drums with his mother, before moving to England; dad was a vocalist by profession, but played sitar - he plays sitar in the Beatles movie, "Help!"; Ashwin lived in England until he was 21, & he learned sitar from his dad; at 21, he started at Cabrillo, and his family had a restaurant where Ashwin played sitar every night; the tablas are 2 separate drums, pitched, tuned to a "tonic" (middle C) - the doluk is a 2 headed drum made out of a hollowed log; Bollywood is completely different - more like Indian pop music; but his dad was from Lahore pre-Parition, which at the time was called "Lollywood" - after Partition, the movie industry moved to Bombay, thus "Bollywood"; Ashwin's dad started the first musician's union; Ashwin teaches 4 different classes at U.C. Santa Cruz, including tabla, singing, and raga jazz; Keshav recently completed his Ph.D. in music, playing what he calls "Indo Jazz" melody and rhythms, "Alap"-style - unmetered; the Money Question? "Luckily, yes. Father studied poultry farming, and they had chickens everywhere. If you can steadfastly make a good product, & be omnipresent. Ravi Shankar says you never say 'no.' Always have a back-up...Ashwin's is accounting; Ashwin coined the term "World Beat", which Shenachie Records took on as a label; tomorrow night's show will include bassist, keyboards, and Ashwin's sister singing. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Jim Lewin_Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter on Todd Snider tribute_interviewed 2026-01-30 on KZSCs 'Bushwhackers Brakfast Club' KZSC Santa Cruz - Jim Lewin, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter on Todd Snider tribute_interviewed by "Dangerous Dan" Orange
02/18/2026
Jim Lewin_Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter on Todd Snider tribute_interviewed 2026-01-30 on KZSCs 'Bushwhackers Brakfast Club' KZSC Santa Cruz - Jim Lewin, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter on Todd Snider tribute_interviewed by "Dangerous Dan" Orange
starting in 1980 the "Continental Drifters", followed later in the 1980s with "Harmony Grits" - "Continental Drifters" started as bluegrass, but evolved into country rock - "Harmony Grits" was bluegrass; first heard Todd Snider at The Fat Fry,a KPIG / KUSP music festival at Aptos Village Park; Jim later joined a Leftover Salmon (Vince Hermon) spin off band "Great American Taxi", touring with them for 5 years - Todd Snider was in a similar orbit, and Great American Taxi occassionally opened for Todd, & then would play wiht Todd; Todd helped produce GAT CDs, as well as Jim Lewin's CDs; Jim played on Todd's "Live (The Storyteller)" album; JIm never got into any trouble playing some of Todd's more in-your-face songs, but Todd managed to get into trouble; "The Money Question" - yes!!! through a lot of day jobs...taught a lot of guitar...rent out part of his house... and playing in *many* bands both locally (duo with Diane Z; Tiger's Tails; backing 2 local women banjo players, Sonia Shell & Alison Steele) and touring nationally (Edge of the West; Great American Taxi); Todd Snider passed away unexpectedly last fall, and left an increidble catalog of heartfelt, sometimes quirky, songs (e.g.: "Alright Guy", "“Conservative Christian, Right Wing, Republican, Straight, White, American Males”) An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Mali LaGoe-Scotts Vally City Manager re-Citizens Academy 2026 interviewed 2026-02-13 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club' KZSC Santa Cruz - Mali LaGoe, Scotts Vally City Manager - interviewed by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
02/18/2026
Mali LaGoe-Scotts Vally City Manager re-Citizens Academy 2026 interviewed 2026-02-13 on KZSC's 'Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club' KZSC Santa Cruz - Mali LaGoe, Scotts Vally City Manager - interviewed by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
City manager for 4 years, having moved to the area for the job; previously, Nevada County government (Grass Valley, Nevada City & Truckeet): from the forest & snow to Scotts Valley; bachelor's degree in political science, with a masters in public administration; there are various paths into city government, hers was analyst, but there's also finance & police; the Scotts Valley Citizens Academy does not have a hard requirement to be a Scotts Valley resident, but they'll prioritiae that, as well as people who want to get involved in local government; they have a mix of ages - and they provide dinner; it'll be in person, in the city council chambers, but with tours most weeks, including the police department (& not for being bad), wastewater treatment, & Scott House - it'll be a deep dive into how the city works; Scotts Valley just launched an ADU guide, with many affordable housing projects in progress - it'll be a 25% increase in units in 8 years!, including the Town Center project; Q: What is "affordable"? A: state sets, but there are needs at all ends of the spectrum (last year, a teacher did not qualify because of a 401(k) plan!!! Heartbreaking; ....need *diversity* of housing, not all single family detached homes; deadline to apply for Citizens Academy, with 20 applicants so far; no part of income taxes stay local!; Scotts Valley has 65 employees, with 28 of them police, who are 24/7; the annual budget is $20M (+ $10M for capital projects); citizens academy is government 101. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Pacific Voices Quartet + 1 - Santa Cruz Community Choir - interviewed on KZSC's "Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" on 2026-01-23
01/29/2026
Pacific Voices Quartet + 1 - Santa Cruz Community Choir - interviewed on KZSC's "Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" on 2026-01-23
Why did you join Pacific Voices? Krista - it was the dead middle of the pandemic, & her other singing group was not able to meet; upcoming concert theme, "Wisdom of the Ages"; Q: where is the best place to listen to a choir, outside, or in a building? A: a capella means "in the style of the chapel," referring to music performed in a church without musical accompaniment, so a church is the best place to hear a choir - but this weekend's concert is in a hall built for spoken word; Mitch joined Pacific Voices because he was raising 4 kids, & needed to re-connect with *his* passion; how do they visually spice up their music? Not so much, but they have a surprise for the upcoming show; impact of Pacific Voices on their lives? Tommy: connected to community; Camilla: Family (after arriving in 2023 & knowing no one); Most enjoyable aspect of Pacific Voices? Tommy: creativity. The "+ 1" is Bonnie Holmer-Orange (tenor), currently chair of the Pacific Voices Choir Council. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Bill Monning - California State Senator (retired) - interviewed on KZSC's "Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & DJ "Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez) - 2026-01-23
01/29/2026
Bill Monning - California State Senator (retired) - interviewed on KZSC's "Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & DJ "Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez) - 2026-01-23
When we spoke in 2023, we discussed how bad things had gotten...& now we pine for those days!! "What's transpired in the last year, and even the last 2 weeks, is an administration that is off the rails!!" California is facing a deficit, with cuts to medical / medicare where state funding is interleved with federal funds....& the cuts are being felt, & will be felt; the insults & assaults are adding up, pushing independents away from the administration; how frame Democrats? "One size does not fit all." - candidates need to fit their district, & address what the issues are at the local level; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech at Davos 2 days ago, that "Middle countries cannot acquiesce to bullying." Listener Q: "Why can't Dems vote together?" A: it's a Big Tent, with Diverse Voices - so it's a tightrope walk, built on relationships; The Grateful Dead Archive in Monning's Senate District (U.C. Santa Cruz McHenry Library); Bobby Weir's passing - the youngest in the group - leaves behind a legacy of music; the cultural front can be a wedge to face Goliath / monolith, & address the collective mental health crisis; Qs for the next generation? What sparked DJ Spark Plug's interest in joining KZSC? A: building community. Mood on campus? A: Pessimism, with opportunities disappearing, but organizing; Government CAN work, as evidenced by Monning's youth in Pasadena marred by smog alerts & unable to play / practice outside - government got the lead out of gas, and mandated catalytic converters to reduce smog. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Painted Mandolin - 'Airy Larry' Graff & Joe Craven - Acoustic Jamgrass_interviewed on KZSC Santa Cruz's "Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" by "Dangerous Dan" Orange - 2026-01-16
01/29/2026
Painted Mandolin - 'Airy Larry' Graff & Joe Craven - Acoustic Jamgrass_interviewed on KZSC Santa Cruz's "Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" by "Dangerous Dan" Orange - 2026-01-16
Joe got the nickname "Rooster" back in the Way Out West trio days; Larry is dreaming up a Bob Weir tribute for tomorrow night's show; Larry has written a ton of songs since the Sweet Rain CD 3 years ago, and this Monday they will be in the studio recording a song with lyrics written by Bobby Peterson, who wrote the lyrics to Unbroken Chain & Pride of Cucamonga; CD sales? Physical media sales suffering due to the financial devaluation of recorded music in the era of streaming - CDs become a promotional tool, a "business card" - this puts a premium on live music, especially for jam-oriented bands; have to raise prices for live music (tomorrow night's double bill, with Broken Compass Bluegrass, is $30); "Music is religion...and requires feeding / watering / nurturing and a culture of support." - Joe Craven; The Money Question: Joe - everything requirs feeding & watering...wind up making a go of it if you have enough eggs in the basket; Larry - "if you rehearse, it's not new!" Joe - David Lindley never rehearsed, "rehearsal is for cowards!"; but vocals need rehearsal, and new things need rehearsals; sometimes there are train wrrecks, which are OK, "as long as you get it back on the rails!", the Grateful Dead would have train wrecks, and you could hear the crowd voice their appreciation when they got it back on the rails. Painted Mandolin is Joe (percussion, stringed instruments, vocals) and Larry (guitar, vocals), plus Matt Hardle (guitar, vocals) and Dan Robbins (bass). An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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KZSC Santa Cruz - Gail Pellerin, California 28th District Assemblymember - interviewed on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & DJ "Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
01/29/2026
KZSC Santa Cruz - Gail Pellerin, California 28th District Assemblymember - interviewed on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & DJ "Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Back in the district; last night, presented an award at the Santa Cruz Warriors arena to the Harlem Globetrotters celebration 100 years; just starting the 2nd year of a 2 year legislative session; "2 year bills" that were held over have been heard in policy committee - the deadline for new bill submittals is Feb. 20; Assemblymemember Pellerin's bill package is not finalized - working on public safety, mental health, consumer protection, AI...one bill that has received a number is AB-1548, the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority - now that it has a #, it's in a "30 day introduction hold" when the rules committee will assign it to a policy committee; last year, Assemblymember Pellerin advanced 10 bills, and all 10 were signed by the governor; 2 year bill: Janus (Roman god of new beginnings & doorways) single license, also clean up AI in elections bill; Governor's "State of the State" address - in person - first time since 2020: California as a leader, highlighting 9% reduction in homelessness, but also laying out a need for a federal aid package for LA after last year's fires; California budget: the governor released his "first draft" budget on 1/10 - it fills in gaps left by slashed federal funding, but it's cautious - the governor projects a $3 Billion deficit, vs. the GAO's $18 B projection in November (does the governor look out of "rose colored glasses"?) - looking ahead to a "May Revise", and a state constitutional requirement to have a budget out of the legislature by June 15; looking at the horrific murder of Maddy Middleton with the County DA, & how to balance juvenile perpetrator hearings for early release against the victim's family having to re-live the tragedy every 2 years...also traumatizing testimony & pictures triggering jurors, and how to offer mental health services after jury duty; proposed "billionaire tax" ballot measure - the need is real, but how to address it. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Russ Ives - The Overextended_singer, songwriter, Americana_2025-06-20_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club, KZSC Santa Cruz
12/27/2025
Russ Ives - The Overextended_singer, songwriter, Americana_2025-06-20_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club, KZSC Santa Cruz
"The Overextended" is a band that, with longtime collaborator (and keyboardist extraordinaire) Ben Jacobs' encouragement, was born before COVID, with songs released in the lead up to the 2020 election; Russ' day job is in musical production as part of the Bay Area union; upcoming festival gigs, including Rogue River 'Fest; "We're Alright" was written in 2018 in the lead up to the 2020 election to both highlight political things going on and to inspire hope (and action) - it's relevant again today! deep dive into tropical diseases and malaria, which Russ got not once, not twice, but three times in Tanzania, with the 3rd time serious enough that he got medi-vac''d to London; truly making lemonade out of lemons, Russ wrote a song about it (with a chorus that includes 4 different anti-malarial medications - a musical first!); "World Keeps Spinning" is a song to daughter Eliana about being her father, particularly during the teen years. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Musician_Jackson Emmer, singer-songwriter_2025-06-27_interviewed on KZSC' Bushwhacker's "Dangerous Dan" Orange
11/22/2025
Musician_Jackson Emmer, singer-songwriter_2025-06-27_interviewed on KZSC' Bushwhacker's "Dangerous Dan" Orange
woke up in Denver, and headed to Estes Park; new CD is all about family, including Jackson's 4-year-old daughter, and parenting, and Jackson has nicknamed it the "Tired Dad Album"; Jackson's been a touring musican for years, and that life has shifts & stresses; "Home Improvement" is about fixing up the house - a DIY lament; Jackson uploads songs through Distro Kid, and Spinitron picks it up, also a new service called the "Mechanical Licensing Collective"; The Money Question: are you able to make a living playing music, and if so, how? A: It's highly variable...royalties are not good...but being on the road selling workshops, & "experiences" help - but the biggest help is coming to a show & purchasing merch / CDs directly; if not buying at a show, CDs/music are best purchased through Band Camp, where the artist may set a minimum price, but it's up to the purchaser to put their price down ("Band Camp is a little shop that allows someone who likes their music to support that musician directly through, at times, a generous purchase price." Dangerous Dan has some bad news for Jackson re: the new song, "Dinosaur Bones": there is no Nobel Prize in Geology, Paleontology or Earth Sciences! Discussion of Jackson's role as a promoter - hosting shows, but not making money from them. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Gail Pellerin_CA_Assemblymember_2025-11-21_on KZSC's Bushwhackers Breakfast Club "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
11/22/2025
Gail Pellerin_CA_Assemblymember_2025-11-21_on KZSC's Bushwhackers Breakfast Club "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
The day is off to a busy start, with Darwin (her dog) off to Doggy Day Camp, & a pot of pea soup on the stove! Deep dive into Prop. 50 re-districting initiative passed, and Texas' re-districting struck down for "racial gerrymandering" by the District Court - language in Prop. 50 that it would kick in only if Texas re-districted was removed from the initiative...3 or 4 days before the legislature voted on it! Prop. 50 includes a sunset (2032) - Assemblymember Pellerin says that what we need is a nationwide system of independent re-districting committees; 2025 election hindsight? It's "affordability"!, + what's happening on the streets & withholding food from seniors & children; California fighting back against Washington's swipes ($80MM for food banks, health care affordability, keeping hospitals open, fighting back against assault on the planet); preview of 2026 bill themes and discussion of "2-year bills" submitted in 2025 but not passed or vetoed; the last day to move bills that involve $$ is 1/16, the bill deadline for house-of-origin in 1/23; touring new La Bahia today, tomorrow is the unveiling of the sign designating part of Highway 9 after Sgt. Guswailer - it's also "International Survivors of Suicide Loss Dan", soon after (11/19) the anniversary of Assemblymember Pellerin's husband's suicide; eBike bills needed! The Harbor Bridge closure & how to get some functionality before the 3 year completion timeframe. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Richard Stockton_Stand-up Comedian_2025-09-12_on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
11/22/2025
Richard Stockton_Stand-up Comedian_2025-09-12_on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Phone interview with Comdedian/Writer Richard Stockton reguarding his upcoming preformances and life as a comdian. Includes his suggestions for the "Mount Rushmore of Comedians" :) An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Don Porcella_artist (pipe cleaners!), musician (Face Urchins)_2025-10-31_interview on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club "Dangerous Dan" Orange, "DJ Wrangle" (Chris Jong) & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
11/22/2025
Don Porcella_artist (pipe cleaners!), musician (Face Urchins)_2025-10-31_interview on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club "Dangerous Dan" Orange, "DJ Wrangle" (Chris Jong) & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Don relocated to Santa Cruz in January; as an artist, made some hand-sized art in grad school with pipe cleaners, and his professor urged him to try something larger; that was 2006, & now this is his signature medium; Don's art is in a gallery in downtown Santa Cruz, as well as other galleries around the country (e.g.: Tuscon); moved to New York City after grad school because, "if you want to be in the movies, you move to LA, but if you want to be an artist, you have to go to a city that's big & that supports artists!"; the Money Question? Are you able to make a living as an artist, and if so, how? The answer is Yes! and it's by having his art in enough galleries, but also having his art picked up by people like Lou Reed's guitar player, who asked him to create his album cover; music is another outlet for art, and the Face Urchins have been playing for 25 years; Don got into music by growing up going to the Strawberry Music Festival where he was exposed to lots of great acoustic music and jamming musicians; the Face Urchins are Don and Dave Wave, who is also a teacher, and they will be performing at our local MAH patio a week from tomorrow with bassist Pat Dintino. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", "DJ Wrangle" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Kristin Paley - Horse Sense Education & Advocacy, also Jacks & Dogs Rockin' Americana_2025-11-07_on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club_Wine & Whinnies event_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhacker's by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
11/21/2025
Kristin Paley - Horse Sense Education & Advocacy, also Jacks & Dogs Rockin' Americana_2025-11-07_on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club_Wine & Whinnies event_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhacker's by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Kristin Paley is the Executive Director of Horse Sense Education & Advocacy, a relatively new (3 years) local non-profit that runs a range of programs that heal horses & help humans; they are having a Wine & Whinnies weekend to support the adoption of MyDunn, a horse that has been in the Hearts & Hooves program; they also have a Children's Reading Program (Horse Tales) the 1st Saturday of every month February to November, & a Diamond Program for building confidence; What posessed her to start a non-profit? So thankful you asked! Horses are non-judgemental, & stick with people...they can help with trauma recovery...horses inspire 1) community, 2) grounding [as they uniquely mirror humans], 3) love of nature [and our mountains], and 4) can teach children; Venus, one of their horses, is an artist! [horses love smells & colors]; horse life expectancy 20-27, some 30, few 40, oldest ever is 43; Horse Sense Education & Advocacy has volunteers [& values them!], who they teach how to work with horses, clean stalls, look out for their health, & grooming; Wine & Whinnies weekend starts tonight at Kissed by an Angel tasting room in Scotts Valley with Jacks & Dogs. (during the interview you can hear the Jacks & Dogs original song, "Flying on the Wind" An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Ian George_singer, songwriter_2025-09-19_interview on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club KZSC Santa Cruz - Ian George (singer/songwriter) interviewed by "DJ Spark Plug
11/21/2025
Ian George_singer, songwriter_2025-09-19_interview on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club KZSC Santa Cruz - Ian George (singer/songwriter) interviewed by "DJ Spark Plug
Pre-recorded interview with Singer/Songwriter Ian George. This interview covers their currenrt tour, making a living as a muscian, and creative processes.
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Susie O'Hara_Santa Cruz City Councilmember_2025-10-31_interview on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club
10/31/2025
Susie O'Hara_Santa Cruz City Councilmember_2025-10-31_interview on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club
Elected in March, 2024, installed in December, 2024 - City Council Member for District 5, which includes most of U.C. Santa Cruz; background is Civil Engineering - Water Resources - on Water Supply Advisory Committee, and Public Safety Task Force; if you divide the salary ($20k) by the # of hours per week put in to the job, do you make at least the Santa Cruz County Minimum Wage ($16.50/hour)? "Not a chance!!"; review of Councilmember O'Hara's week, from Housing Matters (elimination of day services) to Public Safety to Radius Gallery to FLOC cameras! She arrived in Santa Cruz in 2006 (her husband is an academic), and has worked for the City Manager and the Water Resources Department; deep dive into "Affordable Housing", and what "local preference" is; Pure Water Soquel project, transfering tertiary treated water from the Regional Wastewater Treatment plan to Soquel Ave Treatment plant for injection into an aquifer to combat salt water intrusion (we're all "One Water"); Murray Street Bridge challenges, and reaching out to businesses; Councilmember O'Hara called "Super Freshman" by Mayor Fred Keeley because she knows how the city runs, what you should step in, and what you shouldn't step in! An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", "DJ Spark Plug" & "DJ Wrangle", airing Friday mornings on KZSC 88.1 FM Santa Cruz, California.
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The Fintztones_singer-songwriters, musicians_2025-10-24_on KZSC's Bushwhackers Breakfast Club "The Fintztones" - Golden Voice Gene, Alia & Wade-O interviewed by Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
10/31/2025
The Fintztones_singer-songwriters, musicians_2025-10-24_on KZSC's Bushwhackers Breakfast Club "The Fintztones" - Golden Voice Gene, Alia & Wade-O interviewed by Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Golden Voice Gene started out with solo shows...later, Alia joined in harmonies, then bass & sax, and Wade showed up with electric guitar and also vocals; "The Fintztones" formed in 2010; Golden Voice Gene put out a CD, and later the "Fintztones" put one out, "Make It Right"; The Money Question? Golden Voice Gene: "day job" with the DMV (which meant all of his friends could end up wtih a drivers license photo they didn't cringe at everytime they saw it) gave him the means to pursue music on his time; Alia has a remote day job that is totally supportive, and she has several musical outlets (shout out to "Lady Kiah", trumpet / flugelhorn player in last night's show, who is making a go of it as a full time musician); Wade-O no longer has a day job, and enjoys playing music & performing; the 3 of them are scatterred, but bring it together for gigs; songwriting discussion, with both Alia & Gene writing tunes; friendly ribbing over ratio of originals to covers at gigs; Golden Voice Gene never makes a set list; does he know the first song for tonight's gig? "I'm not telling!" An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC 88.1 FM Santa Cruz, California.
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Karen with a K_A Musical Temper Tantrum_2025-09-12_Live! on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club Karen with a K ensemble, interviewed by "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
10/31/2025
Karen with a K_A Musical Temper Tantrum_2025-09-12_Live! on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club Karen with a K ensemble, interviewed by "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Live in the Studio interview with members of Karen with a K. The interview covered thier beginnings as band, how they write their music, and some live performances! Laura February Strange, who lives in Corralitos (South Santa Cruz County), wrote the "Musical Temper Tantrum" exploring, & poking fun at, the "Karen"-meme. As they describe themselves, it's a "A garage-rock musical, social satire. Titular character Karen (with a K) is a woman stumbling through a very bad day. Wearing her self-serving flaws like a gaudy, costume tiara, her current ordeals are conceived in a dozen or so songs written by Laura February Strange and performed by Strange Bedfellows. Strange Bedfellows are group made up of veteran musicians Laura February Strange, Scott Kail, Jojo Fox, Jack Hanson and Orbrad Darbro plus vocalists Stephanie Madrigal, Bonny June and Judy Appleby." (source: , accessed 10/31/2025) An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC 88.1 FM Santa Cruz, California.
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Jimmy Dillon_Guitar player, singer, songwriter_interviewed 2025-10-10 on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
10/31/2025
Jimmy Dillon_Guitar player, singer, songwriter_interviewed 2025-10-10 on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Jimmy's been a pro since he was 12, grew up in LA, then Chicago, the Sausalito since 1970; Jimmy saw Jimi Hendrix & B.B. King in the same week! Impacted him! Jimmy was Clarence Clemmons' musical director for 10 years; writes songs, but more instrumentals these days; the "Money Question" - Jimmy has managed to support himself with music through a diverse set of revenue streams: teaching, recording, touring, jingles, stage shows; he ran "Blue Star", a non-profit kids program, for 15 years; his National Steel guitar is named "Stacy", & was signed by John Lee Hooker; the song "Diamond Girl" is for his wife, Kelly; lead Clarence Clemons' band for years (which is how he got to play the White House!); lived in Maui for 6 years, but moved back into his wife's grandfather's house in mid-town Santa Cruz; Jimmy played with Lauren Rowan in the 1970's, in a band called "The Edge" - they are getting together for a reunion show later this year, and have Keith Greeninger & Dayan Kai opening up to expose his north Bay audience to these Santa Cruz known musicians; he has benefitted from a partnership with Jason Moffett, who has helped Jimmy with digital marketing. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC 88.1FM Santa Cruz, California.
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Gail Pellerin_CA_Assemblymember_2025-10-24_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhackers Breakfast Club "Dangerous Dan" Orange, "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez) & "Golden Voice Gene" Fintz
10/30/2025
Gail Pellerin_CA_Assemblymember_2025-10-24_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhackers Breakfast Club "Dangerous Dan" Orange, "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez) & "Golden Voice Gene" Fintz
Gail Pellerin is California's 28th District Assemblymember. AB 679 re: Sempervirens finally passed, & signed by the Governor! Assemblymember Pellerin introduced this bill in 2023 as one of her first bills as a Freshman Assemblymember, which, given the fires & VIP visits, meant it got a lot of visibility; at its first stop in the Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee they wanted to know why wasn't it state side, so Gail amended it but it failed because the cost was too high; in 2024 the concern was still about cost; Gail got public input, and this year put in a pair of bills, one limited to Sempervirens, and a companion bill for statewide; this year Assemblymember Pellerin sent 10 bills to the Governor & all of them were signed, including one authorizing nurse practitioners to sign off on death certificates (avoiding lengthy delays if the doctor is unavailable); ACR (= "Assembly Concurrent Resolution" on Suicide Prevention & Awareness; deep dive into upcoming special election and Proposition 50, an ACA (= "Assembly Constitutional Amendment") for a mid-decade redistricting; voters should be engaged!; ballot box drop-off for casting ballot; select committee on wine no longer exists! we are nearing the end of the first year of a 2 year legislative calendar, with "held over" bills = "2-year bills" still in play. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", "DJ Spark Plug" & "Golden Voice Gene", airing Friday mornings on KZSC 88.1 FM Santa Cruz, California.
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John Laird_California State Senator_2025-10-10_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club
10/30/2025
John Laird_California State Senator_2025-10-10_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club
California Senator Laird's district extends from San Luis Obispo county to Santa Cruz to southern Silicon Valley; last week staff retreat (n = 26!) - Laird has 3 offices: SLO, Monterey (with a satellite office in Salinas) & Santa Cruz - one of Senator Laird's staff is the longest serving staff member in the legislature: Tim Shelly; there's little going on in Sacramento now other than the Governor signing or vetoing bills - the legislative session ended a month ago....it was supposed to end at midnight, but went until 3am, at which point they put it on hold and came back Saturday - that day was Senator Laird's anniversary, & as the speeches went on & on, Senator Laird put his head down on his desk, which went completely viral; Measures B & C are Santa Cruz City, and are competing measures to provide money for affordable housing; we need this because affordable housing "does not pencil out"; the governor has until Sunday or Monday to sign or veto bills - for a bill to go into effect without a signature paperwork has to be filed by that deadline; anti-semitism in schools bill; Governor historically vetoes ~11% of the bills - the legislature has not overridden a veto since Jerry Brown was governor!...there are 700-800 bills on the Governor's desk..the governor issues a "legislative update" with 80-100 bills signed, and 20 vetoes; many bills are waiting until the last day, including a whole host on AI; Senator Laird has 1 that hasn't been acted upon, and it's a bill to override the state's limit on Sales Tax % for a city (or cities) in SLO county for a transportation tax - the governor has signaled opposition, not by smoke signals, but via his legislative staff - deep dive into working with staff, pre-submitting bills to avoid "veto bait". An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC 88.1FM Santa Cruz, California.
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Gail Pellerin_CA_Assemblymember_interviewed 2025-09-19 on KZSC's "Bushwhackers Breakfast Club" by "DJ Spark Plug"
09/27/2025
Gail Pellerin_CA_Assemblymember_interviewed 2025-09-19 on KZSC's "Bushwhackers Breakfast Club" by "DJ Spark Plug"
Call in interview with California State Assembly District 28 Assemblymember Gail Pellerin reguarding the legislative session formally ended on September 12, but it ended up going over onto Saturday, September 13th. Assemblymember Pellerin provided a report on the session's final days, including what passed, what didn’t, the reasons for the extension, and what we are now waiting for the governor to sign or veto. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on 88.1 FM KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Grant Wilson_local activist, art therapist, puppeteer_intervivewed 2024-11-22 on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club by "Dangerous Dan" Orange
09/27/2025
Grant Wilson_local activist, art therapist, puppeteer_intervivewed 2024-11-22 on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club by "Dangerous Dan" Orange
arrived in Santa Cruz in 1976 for undergrad, after growing up as a foreign kid (Scotland) in New York...who didn't wear jeans; psychology & art therapy major; later, used art to help found and run the Gorilla Drive-In, with free outdoor movies...screened 178 movies over 12 years; how to maintain activism / optimisim without getting exhausted: use creative approach, allowing vision, and find other creative types; deep dive into large puppets and the "Art & Revolution" group in Santa Cruz; discussion of taking art and activism to digital channels. Pronounces his first name as "GRRRRRrrrrant!!" An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan", airing Friday mornings on 88.1FM KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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John Laird_California State Senator_2025-09-05_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
09/09/2025
John Laird_California State Senator_2025-09-05_interviewed on KZSC's Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Overturned gasoline tanker truck yesterday on Highway 17, & discussion of things we'll have to explain to our grandchildren; One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) & Watsonville Community Hospital - do we need to worry? Yes! OBBBA guts federal support for rural health care; 70-80% of Watsonville's patients have their care paid for: if you cut federal support, cuts the federal $$ that would've supported the hospital; ironic, as 2025 is the first year in 6 years that they've broken even; "Gut & Amend", with OBBBA, most changes start on Jan. 1, but the cuts to Planned Parenthood kick in immediately; how to increase state support in the next few weeks? A special session? Gut & Amend (possible, as "there's a ton of budget bills that are empty shells"; Sept. 19 is the last day of the legislative session - the Senate dealt with 180 bills this week, with 300-400 remaining; the "Suspense File" is for all bills with a > $50,000 fiscal impact...300 bills...30% cut (weed them out); Suspense File cleared last Friday; John Laird's Pain & Sufferring bill to not end with death, but settle with heirs, has a sunset approaching; it's being held hostage until hard negotiations with the former speaker Fabian Nunez (& current speaker, Robert Rivas?), who said, "You thought this was the ransom call!?" (...& it was). An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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Dmitri Gascon, Accordianist, & Matthew Stein, fiddler, with Baymele_Eastern European Folk Music & Klezmer_2025-08-29_interview on KZSC's Bushwhacker's by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
09/09/2025
Dmitri Gascon, Accordianist, & Matthew Stein, fiddler, with Baymele_Eastern European Folk Music & Klezmer_2025-08-29_interview on KZSC's Bushwhacker's by "Dangerous Dan" Orange & "DJ Spark Plug" (Dylan Estevez)
Dmitri (accorion) & Matthew (fiddle) are part of a 5-piece Klezmer band, Baymele, that also includes 2 more fiddle powerhouses, Zoe & Rebecca, and Misha on cello - they met & started playing together 10 years ago; all live in the Bay Area, so the band name is both Yiddish (for sapling) and a play on the Bay Area; all have backgrounds in classical music, + a passion for Eastern European music, espeically Klezmer (Jewish) music; klezmer didn't always have titles, and the song we played they dug up in the Kiev, Ukraine, archives; "The Money Question" Not good, but there's interest, and they can make it work. "Most of us make most of our money through music.", with 3 of the 5 full time, most of the band members having their own CDs, & most involved in other music projects; they play a mix of originals & covers (including hidden gems); violins are essential to klezmer music: "You can tell how many people live ina house by the # of fiddles hanging on the wall!"; plug for KlezCalifornia festival coming up in Berkeley (CA) Sept. 12-14, 2025. An interview on "The Bushwhacker's Breakfast Club" with "Dangerous Dan" & "DJ Spark Plug", airing Friday mornings on KZSC Santa Cruz, California.
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