I've been into two types of music lately: strange cabaret-type stuff like Antony and the Johnsons and Klaus Nomi (watch Bowie's "The Man Who Saved the World" video from SNL on YouTube.com), and old psychedelia. A customer at the restaurant I used to work at gave me a box of his old vinyl, and Country Joe's Here We Go Again was in it. It's on Vanguard, and I'm sure it's out of print. I can't find it anywhere. It's just a great record, the guitar tones are phenomenal. I didn't know this goofy band had really dark, serious work in their catalog. It sounds a lot like music being made in Philly right now. I listen to it once a week at least.

--Michael Kiley
Frontman, Cordalene

I think 99 percent of all Broadway shows suck! I hate Andrew Lloyd Webber, and I will never see Les Miserables again. But I can still go for a showtune fix every now and then, and when I do, it's a show I saw about 15 years ago. I went to see a two-part off-Broadway show called March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland. I was blown away. This was the first Broadway show I had ever seen with lesbian and gay characters, psychiatrists and Jews playing baseball. I am most impressed that this show addressed the AIDS epidemic, which I didn't have much of an understanding of in 1990. I have promised myself that I will perform in these shows before I die. Hopefully it will happen while I can still hit the high notes.

--Rich Wexler
Founder, Sherman Community Arts

This year's long-delayed early springlike weather has brought up in me the desire to get into my tiny plot. But like many tillers in the city's terra firma, I must content myself with a soil space not much larger than the size of me when I'm in it. My home is in West Philly and "yard" is not the right term for the wee spot on the south-facing back side of the place. But with my neighbor we get out there happily, spreading out more implements of cultivation than are necessary, urging on the perfect fat tomato, the dark leafy basil, the heartiest pepper. And when that one perfect tomato comes true—by then it's late July—we build an outdoor meal around it in celebration, a satisfying urban sacrament.

--Al Filreis
Professor, University of Pennsylvania;
Director, Kelly Writers House

I've been enjoying the Asian Variety Show (Sundays, 11 a.m., WYBE Channel 35), where viewers call in and request their favorite clips from Bollywood musicals throughout the years. The women are goddesses, with eyeliner out to there and flowing black hair, wearing colors specifically invented for them. The men are endearingly goofy. The dancing is a good mix of flirting and fighting, unabashed sexuality and natural fun. Every movement is punctuated by a flash of strings and rolling Bhangra beats that spices up its Western influences, even the lamest '80s movie soundtrack. The high-pitched, girlish singing's the best part—it makes you feel like dancing the day away is the easiest thing in the world.

--Sara Sherr
Promoter, Plain Parade Booking;
Music Critic, Philadelphia Daily News