Over the past year, I’ve become a fan of the Dinner Party Download.
Produced by American Public Media, the show airs weekly in about 80 radio markets nationwide. Since it is not broadcast by Iowa Public Radio, I listen to the podcast in order to participate in the “hour-long celebration of culture, food, and conversation designed to help you dazzle your friends at this weekend’s get-together.”
Hosted by Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam, every episode features a joke, odd bits of history and the recipe for a themed cocktail, along with interviews with artists of note, answers to etiquette questions, news about emerging food trends and new music.
Since I don’t get invited to many big weekend dinner parties, nor do I get to host them, I am a regular listener. And I liked the joke for this week’s show:
Q: What’s a mummy’s favorite kind of music?
A: Rap.
Now, I am about as far as you can get from being a rap-music aficionado. But I do like Public Enemy and this song.
Being an old Iowa farm boy, I lean more towards country music. And I’ve been a Johnny Cash fan my entire life. This is my favorite Johnny Cash song. Of course this version was produced by Rick Rubin, who founded Def Jam Records, along with Russell Simmons. They helped popularize rap and hip-hop music with artists such as Run-D.M.C., the Beastie Boys and … Public Enemy. So there is a direct connection that links today’s two featured songs.
And, in order to totally steal Dinner Party Download’s shtick, I’ll leave you with my favorite cocktail recipe: Take one tumbler or rock glass, fill with ice. Over that pour at least two or three — and maybe even four — fingers of Crown Royal. Stir and drink.
Brome Hill 