28. October 2010 by Eric J. Lawrence
5 Ghastly Ghost Stories
By KCRW Host and Music Librarian, Eric J. Lawrence
In my long years as an avid reader of ghost stories, two facts have made themselves plain to me. One, spooky things are best encountered in short stories. Yes, there are some terrific ghostly novels – Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, Anne Rivers Siddons’ The House Next Door, to name a few – but in general, specters tend to wear out their welcome after a few dozen pages. Short stories give room enough for a short, sharp shock and then they disappear, often leaving the reader just the right amount of ambiguity to make one glance over their shoulder, just in case some lingering ectoplasmic tendril drifted off the page. (more…)
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5. October 2010 by Eric J. Lawrence
5 Cover Songs You Might Not Have Known Were Cover Songs
By KCRW Host and Music Librarian, Eric J. Lawrence
One of the great pleasures of pop music is hearing artists performing songs originally performed by other artists – the so-called “cover song.” The best ones are like getting a two-for-one: the genius of the original songwriters combined with the talents of the performing band. Ever since it became de rigueur for artists to write their own songs, choosing to perform cover songs has been a way for artists to learn their craft (Bob Dylan’s first album is mostly covers), as well as a means to pay tribute to their predecessors (e.g. the innumerable cover versions of Beatles songs). (more…)
11. June 2010 by Eric J. Lawrence
5 Salty, Greasy Snacks You Really Should Not Be Eating
by KCRW DJ and Music Librarian Eric J. Lawrence
I can’t deny that I’m a junk-food junkie. I have a vicious sweet tooth and am always eager to try a new savory crisp when offered. And I’m not deluded that any of the snacks that I cite here have any redeeming nutritional value. They are merely some tasty treats that I’ve encountered in my “culinary” adventures, and should you too have a soft spot within the soft spot of your belly for artificial, mass-produced candy and chips, then you might enjoy trying some of the following selections. Just do yourself a favor and afterward jog around the block 20 times, up your dentist visits to three times a year, give a donation to PETA and put some solar panels on your garage. You’ll feel better.
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23. October 2009 by Eric J. Lawrence
5 Best Places to Play Tennis by Eric J. Lawrence
Eric J. Lawrence, KCRW Music Librarian/DJ.
Believe it or not, we DJs really need our exercise. Like most working folk, our gigs don’t provide us with many opportunities to move around all that much. Instead, we fall into bad habits, like hunching over the mixers, contemplating our next selection, all the while screwing up our posture and building up pressure in the neck and upper back. So, in order to keep in shape, we have to work out. And each of us has a different routine. Myself, I’m a tennis guy.
Southern California is well-suited for the tennis fan, with our year-long accommodating weather. It’s a social vs. solitary activity, and, depending on your mood, can inspire serious trash-talk or silent, steely-eyed stares. And thankfully there are plenty of courts (and players) around town. Here are my Top 5 Favorite Places to Play Tennis in Southern California:
