Happy New Year! Louis CK. Horace and Pete. Hubris. Huck Finn. Lenny Bruce. Wayne’s World. Scrooge. Crack. Taking it long form. Marketing.

Roger CortonLouis CK? Why Louis CK?

JCHI recently saw a bootleg episode of this web TV show that Louis CK did called Horace And Pete. And it was a bit scary for me on several levels.

RCWhy?

JCHSorry for the detour, but you know how much I revere stand-up comedy, right?

RCRight. I believe you’ve even called it the most difficult of the performing arts.

JCHWow, you actually do stay awake during these things (laughs). OK, since Lenny Bruce, adventurous comedians have wanted to take it long form… go beyond comedy to real ‘storytelling’. Like Mark Twain. Just go into the realm of, I guess you’d call it ‘high art’.

RCOK. I seem to recall being told that Huck Finn was ‘great art’, so I’m with ya so far.

JCHCool. So […]

Merry Christmas! Why aren’t there more JC’s in the world! Why the disconnect between ‘Prog’? A marketing contest. With prizes! SnapChop! Tool. Periphery. Transatlantic. Butch Cassidy.

Roger CortonThe comments we got on our last Chat were mostly, “Are you guys fighting?”

JCHYears ago, when my ex and I were scouting locations for our wedding, we met with an old couple who had an old farmhouse they rented out for such events. They were talking about some memory and then they started having the most pleasant disagreement about whatever. And the old man said, “Dear, are we arguing?” And the woman said something like, “Well, I suppose we are. It doesn’t matter, Dear.” And then they both laughed and we moved onto some other topic. It took me a loooong time to realise that they really were arguing! That was their ‘argument’.

RCWhy did that stick with you?

JCHBecause that’s not an ‘argument’! It’s like in Crocodile Dundee where the mugger threatens Dundee […]

Slowly I turned. Step by step. Inch by inch. The Three Stooges. Plans for a fan party in Niagara Falls in February 2016. Great questions: CD Release Party or tragic marketing mistake? Is Roger for real? And if so, are there any other prog fans in Atlanta?

Roger CortonNiagara Falls. Slowly I turned. Step by step. Inch by inch.

JCHDamn. You beat me to the punch. I wonder if anyone under fifty will get that reference.

RCIt’s a sad day for America when you have to explain who The Three Stooges were.

JCHPreach, brother.

RCSo the upshot is that you want to revive the annual Niagara Falls Fan Party at Spring Break February 2016? Right on, man! It’s about time. We haven’t done that in six or seven years.

JCHNot since THE ICY HAND OF DEATH!

RCI […]

Not just in time for Christmas, the new album is Epic. Marketing failures and success. Compilations and complications. Robert Plant’s voice may not be able to hit the high notes, but JC’s hand still can! Shredding. Beautiful Sounds. Oceans Below. Why not Compartments? Reaching that base of constituents.

Roger CortonWhen you emailed me before this chat, you told me the subject was ‘Epic Fail’. When I hear that I think about some girl in a bikini falling off a diving board. Epic Fail! A guy tries to do some fancy moves on the half pipe and gets smacked in the balls. America’s Funniest Home Videos! On steroids.

JCHThat is, if steroids kicked you in the balls.

RCExactly. So… aside from the obvious pun, what’s the point in using that reference to announce Epic, the new record?

JCHAs we discussed in The Plan, I had planned to get a new record out early next year. But from a marketing standpoint

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