October 17–24, 1996 earshot zoom Lost Art of Puppet Orchestra By Margit Detweiler Irving is a puppet. Sailing across the stage with a woeful expression and closed eyelids, he’s not your typical Punch or Judy. He’s a giant, two-dimensional, colorful…

October 17–24, 1996 earshot in studio Building Blocks Vintage equipment and old pros at Tongue and Groove. By Margit Detweiler Leaning back in a black leather chair, Michael Block kicks his feet up on the recording console. It’s the same…

October 3–10, 1996 gyrate Brill Builders Sixties pop songwriters and modern rockers collaborate on a fantastic soundtrack. By Margit Detweiler Nancy Falkow, a local singer-songwriter, and I are slouched in seats at The Ritz, absorbing the movie Grace of My…

August 8–15, 1996 20 questions Syd Straw By Margit Detweiler Background: Singer and songwriter Syd Straw describes her long and sporadic career as “curvy, with a lot of hairpin turns.” “But I’m collecting the hairpins,” says 37-year-old Straw. “At the…

August 1–8, 1996 city beat Lawyers, Guns and Lyrics Has the FCC cowed WXPN into cutting the naughty bits out of songs? By Margit Detweiler One WXPN listener is willing to pay good money to hear her songs unadulterated. Fifty…

July 25–August 1, 1996 20 questions Donna Summer By Margit Detweiler Background: Disco diva Donna Summer sparkled brighter than a mirrorball in the ’70s. Now, with the ’90s still in the throes of Golden Oldies revival, Summer’s hotter stuff than…

July 25–August 1, 1996 20 questions Donna Summer By Margit Detweiler Background: Disco diva Donna Summer sparkled brighter than a mirrorball in the ’70s. Now, with the ’90s still in the throes of Golden Oldies revival, Summer’s hotter stuff than…

July 18–25, 1996 cover story Not With My Mutter You Don’t Not With My Mutter You Don’t No more Letterman. No more calendar. Is the College of Physicians dulling the edge of its famously quirky Mutter Museum? By Margit Detweiler…

July 18–25, 1996 cover story Not With My Mutter You Don’t Not With My Mutter You Don’t No more Letterman. No more calendar. Is the College of Physicians dulling the edge of its famously quirky Mutter Museum? By Margit Detweiler…