KVCArts

The Palm Springs Plaza Theatre.

Established in 1936... Shuttered in 2014. It lived through movie premieres in the 30s and 40s, got divided in two in the 70s at the dawn of the multiplex - divided poorly by the way. You could have Shampoo playing in one side, with the sounds of Jaws bleeding though from the other. The last years saw a lengthy run of The Palm Springs Follies.

After so much time without use. It needed a renovation... but it DESERVED - a restoration. And that's what it got.

The next KVC-Arts has me in conversation with J.R. Roberts, taking me through the history, the idea of restoration, and some of the windfalls which came along the way.

This edition of KVC-Arts is a re-broadcast of the program originally airing on 12/8/24, a year to the day prior to the passing of Raul Malo, original member and front man of The Mavericks. The Mavericks, while GENERALLY labelled as a country band, always produced and performed a variety of genres. They weren't TRYING to avoid being pigeon-holed as one thing or another. They were just playing music which spoke to them.


This conversation has us exploring their 2024 release, Moon and Stars. I'm glad I was slow to go out and buy a copy, because Raul sent me one after the interview. Beautiful vinyl they're calling "lunar white." Again, just beautiful.



And a wonderful conversation to go back to. Conversation about music I enjoyed, and laughter along the way. A nice memory to have.

"A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas."

Yes... we just call it A Christmas Carol. You know... Scrooge and the 4 ghosts and all? Tiny Tim? God Bless us one and all?

That's the one. This play, adapted by Beth Wheat closes the 2025 season of The Big Bear Theatre Project. David Fleming spoke recently with Managing Director Beth Wheat about this adaptation performed by one actor accompanied by a chorus of voices. A foley table plays a role (to coin a phrase) as well. We also spoke about the history of the theatre, a kind of a hidden gem housed within City Hall. Performance dates are December 21st, then again the 26th and 27th.

More at bigbeartheatreproject.org

KVC-Arts first welcomed Joe Di Fiore about 3 1/2 years ago when he released "Out of the Woods," a wonderful combination of jazz and orchestral works. David Fleming speaks with Joe now about an original Christmas tune, "Cuter Than Christmas," with Anna Crumley providing beautiful vocals - very fitting for this tune. Anna will also be the vocalist for a holiday concert coming up in the very near future in Newport Beach.
Annnnnnd - another original Christmas tune… A favorite of David's and it’s another original! One by CW Thayer!

'Tis the season!

David Fleming speaks with author Alex Bernstein. He brought us "Miserable Adventure Stories," Miserable Love Stories," and followed those with... "Miserable Holiday Stories: Twenty Festive Failures That Are Worse Than Yours." Stories like racing babies across the floor to determine what faith they may become. Stories which seem like they couldn't possibly be acted out... and of course many HAVE been!

We'll also get the holiday classic from from Benjiphonik, "A Very Benji Christmas!"

David Fleming speaks with Danielle Giudicci-Wallace and Daniel Gohman about Artlands Creative & REACH - Regional Eco Arts Community Hub, an environmentally focused, community based, work-only artist residency program. Selected artists will develop workshops and public events that strengthen connections between neighbors, the natural world, and the place we call home. Applications are open through December 14th.

David Fleming speaks with Robert Sage, Director of Music with the Claremont Symphony Orchestra. We’ll hear for the most part, about their upcoming concert featuring Franz Schubert’s Fierrabras Overture AND his 8th symphony - The Unfinished Symphony. Also, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, with guest soloist Lyndon Johnston Taylor. A quick mention of some other upcoming performances as well.

David Fleming continues his exploration of the Titans of Soft Rock, Yachtley Crew, in conversation with guitarist and original member Tommy Bouy, known in some circles as Thomas Gardner. On a previous KVC-Arts we heard about the EP, Seas the Day, which was a collection of 5 covers, though with the Yachtley Crew stamp ON them, along with one original - Sex On the Beach. On this edition the conversation continues talking about the recent full length album, Seas the Night. Again, mostly covers, with one original written by none other than Diane Warren. She’s a fan of the band.


They're currently touring the new album with stops in our region.

If you don’t know the term Yacht Rock, quite simply, it’s for the most part all your favorites from the 70s and 80s. Songs you probably know all the words, whether you mean to or not. One of the groups out there touring full-time in the world of Yacht Rock is Yächtley Crëw. All dressed identically as ship captains, you MAY think it’s gonna be parody. And while SOME comedic elements WILL work their way in, the music, and musicianship, is QUITE serious. With a full length album just out, "Seas the Night," David Fleming speaks guitarist and original member, Thomas Gardner Jr.

David Fleming speaks with Al Pitrelli once again about the 2025 tour for Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. This is also the 25th anniversary Beethoven's Last Night, so a bit here as well. We'll also touch briefly on Savatage, the group from which TSO sprang. They (finally) started touring again!