We kick off the second half of our season with a blockbuster episode featuring our good friend Jack McDonald! Jack is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter and we learn about some of his musical exploits and close encounters with cows and sheep. Resident TCK culinary cats Arya and Bryce Silander return with a fantastic pizza recipe along with some tips on how to make your oven really hot. And we top things off with another informative session with Mr. O’Malley taking the mystery out of history- this time he brings us up to speed on a particularly sticky situation. Be sure to check out this exciting episode- it’s the cat’s pajamas!
Performed by Two Cat Tango:
Shine Your Light by R. McKinney, © Two Cat Music
Performed by Jack McDonald with The Coconotes:
That’s What Friends Are For by Jack McDonald
Passing Up the Plate by Jack MacDonald (f/ Maria Meleschnig)
Head over to our YouTube channel Two Cat Kitchen to check out Arya and Bryce’s fantastic Purrfect Pizza Pie Recipe!
Visit our website at twocatkitchen.net
[00:00:00] Joey, got any papaya?
[00:00:04] Oh no, I'm not big on papaya
[00:00:06] How about guava?
[00:00:09] Oh, I don't know, you know, I'll check, I'm heading down to the
[00:00:13] Two Cat Kitchen
[00:00:14] It's time for us to pitch in
[00:00:17] And start another Two Cat Show
[00:00:19] Down at the Two Cat Kitchen
[00:00:22] We're starting on a mission
[00:00:24] To put you in the culinary know
[00:00:27] You've got the finest recipes you ever will find
[00:00:32] Guaranteed to show you all a mighty fine time
[00:00:36] Here at the Two Cat Kitchen
[00:00:38] Time for a new edition of the Culinary Two Cat Show
[00:00:45] The Tulinette Show
[00:00:53] Welcome to the Two Cat Kitchen
[00:00:55] The show that mixes musical mayhem with culinary calamity
[00:00:58] Rick McKinney is here to help with the mixing
[00:01:01] Hey everybody, welcome to the kitchen
[00:01:03] Each episode features new songs
[00:01:06] A brand new recipe
[00:01:07] And a special musical guest
[00:01:10] Who's our guest today?
[00:01:11] Today we're joined by a good friend of ours
[00:01:13] Guitarist, singer, and songwriter
[00:01:16] Jack McDonald
[00:01:18] Every show also includes an informative segment
[00:01:21] What do we have for the people today?
[00:01:24] Today we have our friend
[00:01:26] Mr. O'Malley
[00:01:27] He's back
[00:01:27] And he'll be taking the mystery
[00:01:29] Out of history
[00:01:31] And speaking of history
[00:01:33] I see the coconuts are gone again
[00:01:36] Any idea where they are?
[00:01:37] They got cast as the three wise men
[00:01:40] In a Christmas pageant
[00:01:41] No kidding
[00:01:42] But there's only two of them
[00:01:43] So they brought a cat
[00:01:44] And they'll be bringing gold
[00:01:47] Frankincense
[00:01:48] And purr
[00:01:50] Makes sense
[00:01:51] Alright, well I guess we'll make our way
[00:01:54] Over to Studio C
[00:01:55] And talk to today's musical guest
[00:01:58] We'll be right back
[00:02:00] We're back at the Two Cat Kitchen
[00:02:33] And we're here with our musical guest
[00:02:35] It's Jack McDonald
[00:02:37] Jack, thanks for joining us
[00:02:39] On the Two Cat Kitchen
[00:02:40] Thanks for having me
[00:02:41] Yeah, so Jack is a singer
[00:02:43] Songwriter
[00:02:44] Guitar player
[00:02:45] Plays a little mandolin
[00:02:46] Done a lot of music over the years
[00:02:48] And yeah, so I think we're going to get
[00:02:51] Right into
[00:02:52] You know, your kind of musical history
[00:02:54] So tell us
[00:02:56] When did you actually get into music?
[00:02:58] So going way back
[00:02:59] Did you play in high school?
[00:03:01] Did you do music in high school?
[00:03:02] I did not
[00:03:03] I briefly played trumpet
[00:03:06] In elementary school
[00:03:07] And realized that
[00:03:08] I had wanted nothing to do with that
[00:03:10] Yeah
[00:03:10] And I didn't get into
[00:03:12] Playing any music
[00:03:13] Until buying this junky old guitar
[00:03:17] In college
[00:03:19] And you know
[00:03:20] The usual reasons
[00:03:21] That every musician gives
[00:03:23] It seems like you're
[00:03:24] Somebody that
[00:03:25] You're trying to attract girls
[00:03:26] Attract girls
[00:03:27] And all of that
[00:03:28] Just be part of a crowd
[00:03:30] That I admired
[00:03:30] Yeah
[00:03:31] And so yeah
[00:03:31] What kind of guitar did you get?
[00:03:33] Do you remember?
[00:03:33] I have no idea
[00:03:34] It was probably
[00:03:35] You know
[00:03:36] It probably had horrible action
[00:03:37] And all that
[00:03:38] Eventually I did
[00:03:39] Once I played for a little while
[00:03:40] I went down to
[00:03:42] Caruso's Music Store
[00:03:43] Which is down in London
[00:03:44] And picked up
[00:03:46] A westerly guild
[00:03:49] And from there
[00:03:50] I just started
[00:03:51] Okay
[00:03:51] I'm going to try
[00:03:52] And figure this thing out
[00:03:53] Yeah
[00:03:54] So actually
[00:03:55] Just for context
[00:03:56] For our listeners
[00:03:58] We're in southern
[00:04:00] New England here
[00:04:01] Southern Rhode Island area
[00:04:03] And New London, Connecticut
[00:04:05] Is where you're actually
[00:04:06] And Jack
[00:04:08] You live in
[00:04:09] Arizona now
[00:04:11] I live in Tucson
[00:04:12] Yeah
[00:04:12] I've been there
[00:04:13] For a number of years
[00:04:14] And we maintain
[00:04:16] A place here
[00:04:16] In Rhode Island
[00:04:17] And my wife Liz
[00:04:19] And I come back
[00:04:19] For the summer
[00:04:21] We've kind of become
[00:04:22] Those people
[00:04:23] In this tourist area
[00:04:24] That clog things up
[00:04:26] No, no
[00:04:27] It's great
[00:04:27] And we're
[00:04:28] In your beautiful house
[00:04:30] In Rhode Island
[00:04:31] Right now
[00:04:31] But anyway
[00:04:32] Getting back to your guitar
[00:04:33] So you picked up a guild
[00:04:34] Now guild guitars
[00:04:35] They were a really
[00:04:37] Solid brand of guitar
[00:04:39] I remember
[00:04:39] They were made
[00:04:40] In Rhode Island
[00:04:40] I believe
[00:04:41] Right?
[00:04:41] That's right
[00:04:42] This one was
[00:04:42] It was still
[00:04:43] They were still making them
[00:04:45] In Westerly, Rhode Island
[00:04:46] At that point
[00:04:47] And that's where it started
[00:04:48] Right?
[00:04:49] It started there
[00:04:49] Yeah
[00:04:50] I don't know the full story
[00:04:52] But I think they brought
[00:04:52] Luthiers over from Europe
[00:04:54] And you know
[00:04:55] It was a very well
[00:04:57] Respected guitar
[00:04:57] Yeah
[00:04:58] And it's
[00:04:58] A Rhode Island treasure
[00:05:00] And I guess they sold out
[00:05:02] Right?
[00:05:02] To Fender
[00:05:02] Or something like that
[00:05:03] They sold out to Fender
[00:05:04] And I think
[00:05:04] As usual
[00:05:05] The quality went down a bit
[00:05:06] But yeah
[00:05:07] The one I got
[00:05:08] Was a good one
[00:05:09] Yeah
[00:05:09] So you got a guitar
[00:05:10] In college
[00:05:11] And there you go
[00:05:12] So what kind of music
[00:05:13] Did you gravitate towards?
[00:05:14] I mean I know
[00:05:15] What music you ended up playing
[00:05:16] But
[00:05:17] Well
[00:05:17] I was
[00:05:18] You know
[00:05:19] I started out of course
[00:05:20] When I was younger
[00:05:20] Rock and roll
[00:05:21] All the things that everybody plays
[00:05:23] But I eventually
[00:05:24] Sort of drifted towards
[00:05:25] The band
[00:05:28] All and Brothers
[00:05:29] Grateful Dead
[00:05:31] Kind of thing
[00:05:32] And from there
[00:05:35] Started to find out
[00:05:36] About more
[00:05:37] Which I guess
[00:05:38] Would now be called
[00:05:39] Americana music
[00:05:40] But bluegrass
[00:05:41] And other stuff
[00:05:43] And I
[00:05:44] You know
[00:05:44] I became
[00:05:45] A lot more interested
[00:05:46] In that kind of stuff
[00:05:47] And so
[00:05:48] Folk music
[00:05:49] And I also realized
[00:05:51] That a lot of that stuff
[00:05:52] You know
[00:05:53] Basic three chord stuff
[00:05:54] Maybe a minor thrown in
[00:05:56] Was easy to learn
[00:05:57] Yeah
[00:05:57] And
[00:05:59] Fun
[00:05:59] And you know
[00:06:00] Learned
[00:06:01] Songs I liked
[00:06:02] I could figure them out
[00:06:03] And play them
[00:06:03] And you know
[00:06:04] Eventually
[00:06:05] I just learned them
[00:06:06] And then would
[00:06:07] Go to parties
[00:06:08] And play them
[00:06:08] Yeah
[00:06:09] That's great
[00:06:09] And
[00:06:10] Yeah
[00:06:11] So like folk rock stuff
[00:06:12] Yeah
[00:06:13] Maybe to start off
[00:06:14] Yeah
[00:06:14] And you know
[00:06:15] Back
[00:06:15] So we're talking college
[00:06:17] We're talking
[00:06:17] I mean
[00:06:18] For both of us
[00:06:18] It was back in the 70s
[00:06:20] Yeah
[00:06:20] I started college in 72
[00:06:22] Here at University of Rhode Island
[00:06:24] Yeah
[00:06:25] So that
[00:06:26] Back in those days
[00:06:28] Like bands
[00:06:28] Like the Grateful Dead
[00:06:30] And
[00:06:31] The band
[00:06:32] And
[00:06:33] You know
[00:06:34] They were like
[00:06:34] Right
[00:06:35] That was like pop music
[00:06:36] Almost
[00:06:37] Almost
[00:06:37] But it wasn't
[00:06:38] It wasn't everybody's cup of tea
[00:06:39] Right
[00:06:40] Yeah
[00:06:40] You know
[00:06:40] There were still
[00:06:41] All the
[00:06:42] You know
[00:06:42] These other types of bands
[00:06:43] That
[00:06:44] But it was popular
[00:06:45] I think the majority of people
[00:06:46] Listened to
[00:06:46] But
[00:06:47] Yeah
[00:06:47] I gravitate
[00:06:48] As a matter of fact
[00:06:49] There was this festival
[00:06:50] That
[00:06:51] Called Watkins Glen
[00:06:52] That I went to
[00:06:53] And it featured those three bands
[00:06:54] The Dead
[00:06:56] The Allman Brothers
[00:06:57] And the band
[00:06:58] And
[00:06:59] You know
[00:07:00] Your basic hippie festival
[00:07:02] Yeah
[00:07:02] They went up in Watkins Glen
[00:07:03] New York
[00:07:03] Yeah
[00:07:04] That was in New York
[00:07:05] Right
[00:07:05] Yeah
[00:07:05] Yeah
[00:07:05] That was a good one
[00:07:06] Yeah
[00:07:07] That's great
[00:07:07] So I started going to those things
[00:07:09] Yeah
[00:07:10] And then
[00:07:11] So then you started
[00:07:12] How did you get
[00:07:13] Into playing with
[00:07:16] Bands
[00:07:16] And things along those lines
[00:07:18] Or did you play like solo stuff
[00:07:20] Or
[00:07:20] Yeah
[00:07:21] A little bit
[00:07:21] I played
[00:07:22] I
[00:07:24] Would
[00:07:24] You know
[00:07:24] Just jam with people
[00:07:26] Basically
[00:07:26] Living room kind of stuff
[00:07:28] And
[00:07:28] Occasionally something would come up
[00:07:30] And it's like
[00:07:30] Oh we're doing a coffee house
[00:07:32] And you know
[00:07:33] Why don't you come down
[00:07:34] And so I would do it
[00:07:34] And I
[00:07:35] I was starting to experiment
[00:07:36] With writing songs
[00:07:37] And I
[00:07:37] I would play a couple
[00:07:39] My things
[00:07:39] And other things
[00:07:40] That I knew
[00:07:40] And then there was a
[00:07:41] There were a couple
[00:07:42] Of friends of mine
[00:07:43] That I would get together with
[00:07:45] And we
[00:07:45] You know
[00:07:46] We would
[00:07:46] Do these
[00:07:47] Kind of like
[00:07:48] Open mic sort of things
[00:07:49] I see
[00:07:50] Yeah
[00:07:50] No money or any of that
[00:07:51] But just
[00:07:51] Just fun to get out there
[00:07:52] And play
[00:07:52] And get a sense
[00:07:53] Of what it's like
[00:07:54] Yeah
[00:07:54] That's how it started
[00:07:55] I almost think that
[00:07:57] I want to say that
[00:07:57] Maybe there was a little bit
[00:07:58] More of that
[00:07:59] Going on back then
[00:08:00] Like open mic stuff
[00:08:01] And just kind of informal
[00:08:02] Yeah
[00:08:03] Jamming
[00:08:03] But I think there's
[00:08:04] Quite a lot of it
[00:08:05] Going on today
[00:08:05] There is some
[00:08:07] You know
[00:08:08] There's a local place here
[00:08:09] That has a jam
[00:08:11] Like a
[00:08:12] You know
[00:08:13] Like some kind of jam session
[00:08:14] Yeah
[00:08:15] Once a week
[00:08:16] And other ones
[00:08:17] That do stuff
[00:08:18] But yeah
[00:08:18] It's not
[00:08:19] I think it was
[00:08:20] I think it was more prevalent
[00:08:21] Back then
[00:08:22] The folk music scene
[00:08:23] Was big
[00:08:24] You know
[00:08:24] There's Bob Dylan
[00:08:25] And all these people
[00:08:27] That kind of
[00:08:28] You know
[00:08:28] Brought people out of the woodwork
[00:08:30] Like myself
[00:08:30] Yeah
[00:08:31] Who was like
[00:08:32] Oh I can play that
[00:08:33] And oh I like it
[00:08:34] You know
[00:08:34] That person's song
[00:08:35] So yeah
[00:08:36] Yeah
[00:08:36] Yeah I mean
[00:08:38] Yeah
[00:08:39] Bob Dylan
[00:08:40] Had definitely fueled
[00:08:41] A generation of musicians
[00:08:43] Oh yeah
[00:08:44] He was a big influence
[00:08:45] On me
[00:08:46] And I learned a lot
[00:08:47] Of his songs
[00:08:47] He just wrote so much stuff
[00:08:49] So prolific
[00:08:50] Appeals to
[00:08:51] I mean
[00:08:51] Different character stuff
[00:08:53] That appeals to different people too
[00:08:54] So that's
[00:08:55] That's great
[00:08:56] I love his stuff
[00:08:57] I still do
[00:08:57] Yeah
[00:08:58] And
[00:08:58] Yeah so
[00:09:00] Maybe we can talk a little bit
[00:09:01] So that was in college
[00:09:02] You were doing that
[00:09:03] A little bit of that
[00:09:04] Yeah yeah
[00:09:04] And then
[00:09:05] You got
[00:09:06] No so
[00:09:07] Jack and I go way back
[00:09:08] We were in a band
[00:09:10] I believe it was in the
[00:09:12] Was it in the 80s
[00:09:14] I think
[00:09:15] It might have been in the 80s
[00:09:16] Yeah
[00:09:17] But it was a fun time
[00:09:18] And
[00:09:18] It was
[00:09:19] And we did some stuff
[00:09:20] And had some crazy times
[00:09:22] And
[00:09:23] You know
[00:09:24] I can't
[00:09:24] It was so long ago
[00:09:25] I can't remember any
[00:09:28] Specific stories
[00:09:29] Other than one
[00:09:31] Thing
[00:09:32] I remember
[00:09:33] We played at a
[00:09:35] At a wedding
[00:09:37] In
[00:09:39] I want to say
[00:09:39] Oh up in like
[00:09:40] Vermont or something
[00:09:41] Is it Vermont
[00:09:41] Was it Vermont
[00:09:42] I want to say
[00:09:42] Akemo
[00:09:43] Is that in Vermont
[00:09:44] That's in Vermont
[00:09:45] Yeah
[00:09:45] And it was in the summer
[00:09:47] So it wasn't
[00:09:48] Like a ski thing
[00:09:49] Right
[00:09:50] But there was
[00:09:52] The
[00:09:52] The wedding was
[00:09:53] At the
[00:09:54] At the resort
[00:09:55] Right
[00:09:56] And
[00:09:56] We were
[00:09:57] The band
[00:09:58] Or a band
[00:09:59] And we were put up
[00:10:01] In a condo
[00:10:02] That was sort of
[00:10:03] Up on the mountain
[00:10:03] Oh yeah
[00:10:04] I forgot about that place
[00:10:05] We had
[00:10:06] A bunch of equipment
[00:10:07] And one of the members
[00:10:08] In the band
[00:10:09] Who will remain nameless
[00:10:11] Had
[00:10:12] A
[00:10:12] Pickup truck
[00:10:13] That
[00:10:14] Didn't
[00:10:14] Have the greatest
[00:10:16] Brakes
[00:10:17] Oh I know
[00:10:17] And I remember
[00:10:18] We were coming down
[00:10:19] With all the equipment
[00:10:20] Me and this person
[00:10:21] In his pickup
[00:10:22] And
[00:10:23] We were gaining speed
[00:10:24] It was downhill
[00:10:25] It was down the side
[00:10:27] Of a mountain
[00:10:27] On a road
[00:10:28] And it was like
[00:10:30] You know
[00:10:31] Hey
[00:10:32] We're going a little bit fast
[00:10:34] We're going even faster
[00:10:35] It's becoming hard
[00:10:35] To take these corners
[00:10:36] So I asked the fellow
[00:10:38] You know
[00:10:38] What's
[00:10:39] What's going on
[00:10:40] I looked over
[00:10:40] And he had both feet
[00:10:42] On the brakes
[00:10:44] Desperately trying
[00:10:45] Yeah
[00:10:46] To stop the truck
[00:10:47] Yeah yeah
[00:10:47] His brakes went out
[00:10:48] His brakes overheated
[00:10:50] Right
[00:10:50] Going down the mountain
[00:10:51] And I was like
[00:10:52] For a split second
[00:10:53] I was like
[00:10:53] Holy moly
[00:10:54] This is how it ends
[00:10:55] This is the end
[00:10:56] But luckily
[00:10:57] They had those
[00:10:58] Gravel turn offs
[00:10:59] For like people
[00:11:00] That lost their brakes
[00:11:01] Yeah yeah
[00:11:01] And he hit one of those
[00:11:02] And that stopped us
[00:11:04] And I was like
[00:11:04] Holy moly
[00:11:05] Yeah I have a very
[00:11:06] Big recollection of that
[00:11:07] That was one thing
[00:11:08] Yeah
[00:11:09] That I remember
[00:11:10] And maybe I'm not
[00:11:11] Telling the story right
[00:11:12] But it was definitely
[00:11:13] An interesting situation
[00:11:14] Yeah
[00:11:14] It was a great time
[00:11:16] Basically we were all friends
[00:11:17] And it was
[00:11:19] It was about
[00:11:20] Hanging out
[00:11:20] And you know
[00:11:22] And then having these gigs
[00:11:23] And we'd go up
[00:11:24] And it was fun
[00:11:24] Yeah
[00:11:25] It was really a lot of fun
[00:11:26] We enjoyed each other's
[00:11:27] I think we would go up
[00:11:28] Whitewater rafting
[00:11:29] Once in a while
[00:11:30] Up in Maine
[00:11:30] Yeah that's right
[00:11:31] And hang out
[00:11:32] And play in a club
[00:11:34] And then go rafting
[00:11:35] During the day
[00:11:36] That was a blast
[00:11:37] Yeah that was really fun
[00:11:38] And so anyway
[00:11:40] Yeah
[00:11:40] There's a lot of those
[00:11:41] Kind of things
[00:11:41] And that was
[00:11:42] And what kind of music
[00:11:43] Did we do
[00:11:44] I mean it was kind of like
[00:11:45] Well we were called
[00:11:47] Bluegrass
[00:11:47] Yeah
[00:11:48] And we sort of were
[00:11:50] And we
[00:11:50] But we were also
[00:11:52] Bluegrass with a
[00:11:53] Kind of a
[00:11:54] You know
[00:11:55] Rock and roll tinge to it
[00:11:56] Because we would bring in
[00:11:57] Songs that were
[00:12:00] You know
[00:12:01] Not necessarily
[00:12:02] From the bluegrass song
[00:12:03] But nowadays
[00:12:05] That's commonplace
[00:12:06] Yeah
[00:12:06] You know
[00:12:07] When I look back on it
[00:12:08] There weren't that many people
[00:12:09] Doing that kind of thing
[00:12:10] Yeah maybe not
[00:12:10] Just taking those kind of songs
[00:12:12] And putting bluegrass
[00:12:13] Instruments on them
[00:12:14] And we'd play them
[00:12:15] And yeah
[00:12:16] So that kind of stuff
[00:12:17] I think we did
[00:12:18] Rock and Robin
[00:12:19] We did a bunch of things
[00:12:21] Like that
[00:12:21] Yeah
[00:12:21] And later on
[00:12:22] I get into some stuff
[00:12:23] With a banjo player
[00:12:25] With a phase shifter
[00:12:26] And all kinds of
[00:12:27] Wacky stuff
[00:12:28] But yeah
[00:12:41] Okay so that
[00:12:59] That was early on
[00:13:00] That was
[00:13:02] In early days
[00:13:03] What are some of the other bands
[00:13:04] That you've played with
[00:13:05] Over the years
[00:13:06] Let's see
[00:13:06] I know a few of them
[00:13:07] But I'm not sure
[00:13:34] It was called
[00:13:35] It was called
[00:13:35] Biscuit City
[00:13:36] There's another band
[00:13:36] Now called that
[00:13:37] But it was named after
[00:13:38] The street I lived on
[00:13:39] Oh that's right
[00:13:40] Yeah
[00:13:41] And so there's
[00:13:42] Bass player
[00:13:43] And this guy Larry
[00:13:44] We talked about earlier
[00:13:45] And myself
[00:13:46] And just a trio
[00:13:47] And it was
[00:13:48] It was really fun
[00:13:49] We got
[00:13:49] We got a lot of gigs
[00:13:50] And we
[00:13:51] We kind of
[00:13:51] Got a lot better
[00:13:52] And we played all over
[00:13:54] And
[00:13:55] That was really fun too
[00:13:57] And then that
[00:13:58] Kind of
[00:13:58] Died off
[00:13:59] Eventually
[00:14:00] What kind of
[00:14:01] What kind of music
[00:14:02] Were you guys doing
[00:14:02] It was still the
[00:14:03] Bluegrass stuff
[00:14:04] But we were heading
[00:14:04] More towards
[00:14:05] You know
[00:14:06] Like what one would
[00:14:07] Call Americana
[00:14:08] These days
[00:14:08] And
[00:14:09] Okay
[00:14:09] You know
[00:14:10] Taking rock songs
[00:14:11] And turning them into
[00:14:13] You know
[00:14:13] Like we did
[00:14:15] You know
[00:14:16] Just
[00:14:16] Rock and roll
[00:14:17] Kind of stuff
[00:14:18] But with bluegrass
[00:14:19] Instruments
[00:14:19] Yeah
[00:14:20] Yeah
[00:14:21] So that was
[00:14:21] That was a good one
[00:14:22] And that broke up
[00:14:23] When the guy
[00:14:23] Ended up getting
[00:14:24] A caretaking gig
[00:14:26] On
[00:14:26] On an island
[00:14:27] Off the coast
[00:14:28] Of Massachusetts
[00:14:30] Oh okay
[00:14:31] Yeah
[00:14:31] So that ended
[00:14:33] And then
[00:14:33] We used to go out there
[00:14:35] On the island
[00:14:35] It was great
[00:14:35] Like they
[00:14:36] Come out for a weekend
[00:14:37] And we'd play
[00:14:38] Play there
[00:14:39] And there was just
[00:14:40] Cows
[00:14:40] And
[00:14:41] Did you ever
[00:14:42] Go to one of those?
[00:14:44] I think so
[00:14:45] I can't totally remember
[00:14:46] It was great
[00:14:47] So the cows
[00:14:48] Enjoyed it
[00:14:49] The cows enjoyed it
[00:14:50] The cows would show up
[00:14:51] Yeah
[00:14:52] There was nobody out there
[00:14:52] There was a few
[00:14:53] A few houses
[00:14:54] So what were the cows
[00:14:55] Doing out there?
[00:14:57] I don't know
[00:14:57] Yeah the cows would just show up
[00:14:59] And
[00:14:59] Very inquisitive
[00:15:01] So
[00:15:01] Were they like
[00:15:02] Feral cows or something?
[00:15:03] Come again?
[00:15:04] Were they feral cows?
[00:15:05] No no
[00:15:06] They were raising these cows
[00:15:07] They were Scottish Highlanders
[00:15:09] I believe they were called
[00:15:10] And they also had
[00:15:10] A whole mess of sheep
[00:15:12] And we would go out there
[00:15:13] For the weekend
[00:15:14] Drive the sheep
[00:15:16] Across the island
[00:15:17] So they could be sheared
[00:15:20] And
[00:15:20] And
[00:15:21] We made a
[00:15:22] You know
[00:15:22] We'd make a whole day
[00:15:23] Of that
[00:15:23] And we'd be out there
[00:15:24] For the weekend
[00:15:24] So we'd get all the sheep
[00:15:25] And then we'd just play music
[00:15:26] And drink beer
[00:15:27] And
[00:15:28] It was great
[00:15:29] Yeah
[00:15:30] And so
[00:15:30] But that band
[00:15:32] You know
[00:15:32] So he moved out there
[00:15:33] For a while
[00:15:34] And that band
[00:15:35] Ended up
[00:15:35] Going away
[00:15:37] In addition to your
[00:15:38] Many musical talents
[00:15:39] And endeavors
[00:15:41] You also
[00:15:42] Owned your own business
[00:15:43] For quite a while
[00:15:44] I did
[00:15:45] And
[00:15:45] You know
[00:15:45] I got out of college
[00:15:46] And I
[00:15:47] I was not driven to
[00:15:49] I had a degree in agriculture
[00:15:50] And it would have meant
[00:15:51] Leaving
[00:15:53] New England
[00:15:54] Where I was very
[00:15:54] I was very fond of living here
[00:15:56] I love this area
[00:15:57] This
[00:15:57] Where South County
[00:15:58] Rhode Island
[00:15:58] Was back in the day
[00:16:00] And still
[00:16:00] It was a beautiful
[00:16:01] Beautiful place
[00:16:03] But it would have meant
[00:16:04] Me moving
[00:16:04] To get a job
[00:16:05] That I was trained for
[00:16:06] And I
[00:16:07] I just wasn't ready
[00:16:08] And so
[00:16:08] I just took these
[00:16:09] Part time jobs
[00:16:10] And one of them
[00:16:11] Was a
[00:16:12] And part of it
[00:16:13] Was that
[00:16:13] I didn't want to get
[00:16:14] Something too
[00:16:16] Rigorous
[00:16:17] Because I
[00:16:17] I like playing music
[00:16:19] And I like the freedom
[00:16:20] Of
[00:16:20] And I wasn't driven
[00:16:21] By money
[00:16:22] At all
[00:16:23] It was more
[00:16:24] You know
[00:16:25] I want to
[00:16:25] Live a good life
[00:16:26] And grow gardens
[00:16:27] And all that kind of stuff
[00:16:28] I became a painting contractor
[00:16:30] And it was a
[00:16:32] It was a good job
[00:16:34] You know
[00:16:35] It was hard work
[00:16:36] It was
[00:16:36] You know
[00:16:37] Labor intensive
[00:16:38] And all that
[00:16:39] And as you know
[00:16:41] Having been one of my sheep
[00:16:42] At one point
[00:16:43] And
[00:16:44] And a lot of people
[00:16:45] There were so many people
[00:16:46] I can
[00:16:47] From this community
[00:16:48] That worked for me
[00:16:49] They would come and go
[00:16:50] And it was
[00:16:51] You know
[00:16:51] It was always nice
[00:16:52] And I was more into the
[00:16:53] You know
[00:16:54] Like
[00:16:55] The criteria for me
[00:16:56] Having somebody work for me
[00:16:57] Was
[00:16:57] Can I get along with this person
[00:16:59] And then after that
[00:17:00] You know
[00:17:00] The second thing was
[00:17:01] And do I think they can paint
[00:17:05] And you know
[00:17:06] Unfortunately for certain
[00:17:07] You know
[00:17:09] Customers
[00:17:09] You know
[00:17:10] There was some learning
[00:17:10] On the job
[00:17:11] But you know
[00:17:11] In the end
[00:17:12] I honed my craft
[00:17:14] And I ended up
[00:17:14] In some really
[00:17:16] Nice places
[00:17:17] And ended up
[00:17:18] It was all
[00:17:18] Most of my stuff
[00:17:19] Was you know
[00:17:21] Along the coast
[00:17:21] We're a coastal community here
[00:17:23] And very
[00:17:24] Wealthy people
[00:17:25] And you know
[00:17:26] We gave them what they wanted
[00:17:27] And charged accordingly
[00:17:28] And it was
[00:17:29] It was a good
[00:17:29] A good
[00:17:31] It was a good livelihood
[00:17:32] I went back to school
[00:17:34] RISD
[00:17:35] And got some
[00:17:36] Got some of my
[00:17:38] Design chops
[00:17:38] And interior design
[00:17:40] And was able to use that
[00:17:41] As well
[00:17:42] Yeah
[00:17:42] You were interested
[00:17:42] I mean you were
[00:17:43] Helping with design
[00:17:45] Yeah
[00:17:45] Yeah
[00:17:45] So I did
[00:17:46] Some things got designed
[00:17:47] Eventually
[00:17:48] That I
[00:17:49] Built
[00:17:49] That I designed
[00:17:52] But it was
[00:17:53] You know
[00:17:53] The painting thing
[00:17:54] Was where the
[00:17:54] Bread and butter was
[00:17:56] Yeah
[00:17:56] And I had crews
[00:17:57] And I did that
[00:17:59] My whole life
[00:18:00] Climbing up
[00:18:02] The mountain
[00:18:04] Children
[00:18:06] Where your faith
[00:18:07] Will be
[00:18:09] Restored
[00:18:11] Light the world
[00:18:15] Together
[00:18:16] Back here at the
[00:18:30] Two Cat Kitchen
[00:18:30] With Jack McDonald
[00:18:31] So Jack
[00:18:32] You've written a number
[00:18:33] Of songs over the years
[00:18:34] And I was wondering
[00:18:37] About your approach
[00:18:38] To songwriting
[00:18:39] How did you get
[00:18:40] Into writing songs
[00:18:41] Is it something
[00:18:41] You always wanted
[00:18:42] To do
[00:18:42] Or
[00:18:44] Well not really
[00:18:45] No
[00:18:46] I
[00:18:47] It came about
[00:18:48] I was already
[00:18:49] Painting
[00:18:50] And I spent a lot
[00:18:51] Of time by myself
[00:18:52] On a ladder
[00:18:55] And
[00:18:55] So
[00:18:56] These
[00:18:57] I just thought
[00:18:58] Well it'd be cool
[00:18:59] And these things
[00:19:00] Would come into my head
[00:19:01] And I'd be like
[00:19:01] Oh maybe I can
[00:19:02] You know
[00:19:03] Do something with that
[00:19:04] And so I would
[00:19:04] Kind of compose
[00:19:05] These songs
[00:19:07] In my head
[00:19:08] And eventually
[00:19:09] I would
[00:19:10] You know
[00:19:10] I'd come to the point
[00:19:11] Where I was like
[00:19:11] Oh I gotta write
[00:19:12] Some of these down
[00:19:12] Or I'm gonna forget it
[00:19:13] And you know
[00:19:14] More often than not
[00:19:15] I forgot what I
[00:19:15] Was thinking about
[00:19:16] But every now and then
[00:19:17] I'd get enough stuff
[00:19:18] To put down
[00:19:20] Into a song
[00:19:21] And I wasn't all
[00:19:22] That dedicated
[00:19:22] About it
[00:19:23] And I
[00:19:24] Gotta say
[00:19:25] I
[00:19:26] You know
[00:19:26] I wasn't all that
[00:19:28] I certainly wasn't
[00:19:29] Schooled in it
[00:19:30] And
[00:19:31] A lot of
[00:19:31] The stuff I came up with
[00:19:33] You know
[00:19:34] Looking back on it
[00:19:36] You know
[00:19:36] I could have done better
[00:19:37] Had I really put my mind to it
[00:19:38] But
[00:19:39] For the times
[00:19:40] And for what I was doing
[00:19:41] It was perfect
[00:19:41] Or not perfect
[00:19:43] But it was fine
[00:19:43] And I enjoyed it
[00:19:45] And it was
[00:19:46] You know
[00:19:46] It was fun
[00:19:46] It was great to have
[00:19:47] To be able to create something
[00:19:49] And then have it
[00:19:50] Go out there
[00:19:51] Yeah
[00:19:52] Have other people play
[00:19:53] Have other people
[00:19:53] Yeah
[00:19:54] Have other people
[00:19:54] Play along
[00:19:55] And you know
[00:19:56] All that stuff
[00:19:56] So I
[00:19:57] I have played
[00:19:58] A number
[00:19:59] A number of your songs
[00:20:00] At least three or four
[00:20:01] I think
[00:20:02] And I always
[00:20:03] I love
[00:20:04] I like them all
[00:20:05] And one thing
[00:20:06] I really appreciate
[00:20:06] About your
[00:20:07] Songwriting
[00:20:08] I don't know
[00:20:08] If this was a conscious
[00:20:09] Thing or not
[00:20:10] But you wrote
[00:20:10] Songs about
[00:20:11] You know
[00:20:12] Things that you
[00:20:12] Experienced maybe
[00:20:14] And then maybe
[00:20:15] About people
[00:20:16] That you knew
[00:20:17] But you always
[00:20:18] Made it sound
[00:20:19] Like sort of
[00:20:21] It wasn't
[00:20:22] You could
[00:20:22] You couldn't tell
[00:20:23] That it was about
[00:20:23] Somebody you knew
[00:20:24] It was kind of
[00:20:25] A more general
[00:20:26] Approach to the songwriting
[00:20:27] Which I think was good
[00:20:28] It was more
[00:20:30] More relatable
[00:20:31] Yeah
[00:20:32] I mean
[00:20:32] That was on my mind
[00:20:34] That you don't want
[00:20:34] You get too particular
[00:20:35] And that's it
[00:20:36] You know
[00:20:36] Yeah
[00:20:37] If you're writing
[00:20:38] About somebody
[00:20:39] That you know
[00:20:40] That exhibits
[00:20:41] A certain
[00:20:41] You don't want them to know
[00:20:42] Sometimes
[00:20:42] Yeah
[00:20:43] It could be
[00:20:44] It could be embarrassing
[00:20:45] But you always had a knack
[00:20:46] For making the songs
[00:20:48] Come out
[00:20:48] Like talking about
[00:20:50] You know
[00:20:51] A certain behavior
[00:20:52] Of a person
[00:20:53] Or something like that
[00:20:54] Right
[00:20:54] Or an approach
[00:20:55] Of a person
[00:20:55] But you could never
[00:20:56] Figure out who it was
[00:20:57] Exactly
[00:20:58] You were talking about
[00:20:59] It was kind of
[00:20:59] A more general thing
[00:21:01] Is what I'm trying to say
[00:21:02] Yeah
[00:21:02] And that makes it
[00:21:03] More relatable
[00:21:04] To other people
[00:21:05] I think
[00:21:05] Because other people
[00:21:07] Can say
[00:21:09] Oh I know somebody
[00:21:09] Like that
[00:21:10] You know
[00:21:10] Right
[00:21:11] Because it's not
[00:21:11] About a specific person
[00:21:12] It's just
[00:21:13] Yeah
[00:21:13] And that's probably
[00:21:14] The
[00:21:14] You know
[00:21:14] That's what a songwriter
[00:21:16] Should strive for
[00:21:17] Yeah
[00:21:17] And I actually
[00:21:18] Picked up on that
[00:21:19] When I started writing songs
[00:21:20] I was like
[00:21:20] Oh yeah
[00:21:20] That's a good way
[00:21:22] To approach it
[00:21:22] And that's the way
[00:21:23] I always wanted to do it
[00:21:24] Yeah
[00:21:24] You write some great ones
[00:21:25] It kind of inspired me
[00:21:26] On that
[00:21:26] And then
[00:21:28] You also wrote
[00:21:28] Some topical songs
[00:21:31] About
[00:21:32] You know
[00:21:33] Topics of the day
[00:21:34] Or you know
[00:21:35] That express the point of view
[00:21:36] Which was good too
[00:21:37] And that's great
[00:21:39] So anyway
[00:21:40] Here's a couple of
[00:21:41] Specific questions
[00:21:42] That I always like to ask
[00:21:43] People that write songs
[00:21:44] Is
[00:21:44] I know how I do it
[00:21:46] And you know
[00:21:47] The big question is
[00:21:48] Do you get the lyrics first
[00:21:50] And then come up with the melody
[00:21:52] Or do you just get a melody
[00:21:53] In your head
[00:21:53] And then it's like
[00:21:54] Oh yeah
[00:21:54] I got it
[00:21:54] Right
[00:21:55] It kind of depended
[00:21:57] On what I was doing
[00:21:58] I mean
[00:21:59] Many things that I did
[00:22:01] And again
[00:22:01] I wasn't all that prolific
[00:22:02] But some of them
[00:22:05] They could have gone either way
[00:22:06] I would have these lyrics
[00:22:07] In my mind
[00:22:08] And then come up with
[00:22:10] You know
[00:22:11] Some kind of chord structure
[00:22:14] And then alter the lyrics
[00:22:17] To accommodate the chord structure
[00:22:18] Or you know
[00:22:20] I would just have some
[00:22:21] Some little musical riff
[00:22:23] That I was fiddling around with
[00:22:25] And like
[00:22:25] Something would just pop into my head
[00:22:28] And it'd be like
[00:22:29] Oh yeah
[00:22:29] And then
[00:22:29] Then I would
[00:22:31] Have a
[00:22:31] You know
[00:22:32] A topic of sorts
[00:22:33] And kind of
[00:22:34] Go with that
[00:22:35] And explore that
[00:22:36] So that's sort of how I did it
[00:22:37] Okay
[00:22:38] So like a mixed approach
[00:22:39] Yeah
[00:22:39] Yeah
[00:22:39] That's kind of the way
[00:22:40] Yeah
[00:22:41] I didn't
[00:22:41] I wasn't a dedicated
[00:22:42] I wasn't like one of these
[00:22:43] You know
[00:22:44] Like good songwriters
[00:22:45] That would get
[00:22:45] You know
[00:22:46] Get up in the morning
[00:22:47] And sit down at their table
[00:22:49] And you know
[00:22:49] I was never that guy
[00:22:50] Right
[00:22:50] It's just like
[00:22:50] Yeah
[00:22:51] You know
[00:22:51] Well
[00:22:51] Oh
[00:22:52] Maybe I'll do this
[00:22:53] You know
[00:22:54] That kind of thing
[00:22:54] Yeah
[00:22:55] Okay
[00:22:55] That's interesting
[00:22:56] And you know
[00:22:57] So
[00:22:58] And my experience has been
[00:22:59] It's always
[00:23:01] The lyrics
[00:23:02] That just show up
[00:23:04] In your head
[00:23:04] That are the best
[00:23:06] Yeah
[00:23:07] Yeah
[00:23:07] That's right
[00:23:08] And you hear that
[00:23:09] From a lot of songwriters
[00:23:10] The ones that consciously
[00:23:11] You're thinking about
[00:23:12] Trying to craft
[00:23:14] Right
[00:23:14] For me anyway
[00:23:15] Are like
[00:23:16] Freaking horrible
[00:23:17] And it's the ones
[00:23:18] That just pop in
[00:23:19] Right
[00:23:20] That are like
[00:23:20] Oh
[00:23:21] Yeah
[00:23:21] Where did that come from
[00:23:22] Yeah
[00:23:23] Oh okay
[00:23:23] Anyway
[00:23:24] I love the stories
[00:23:25] Of you know
[00:23:26] Bands
[00:23:27] Somebody will say
[00:23:28] How did you write that song
[00:23:29] And I'm like
[00:23:29] Well I was on the way
[00:23:31] To the recording session
[00:23:31] And we needed another song
[00:23:33] And then this car
[00:23:34] You know
[00:23:34] Drove in front of me
[00:23:35] And the next thing I knew
[00:23:36] I was
[00:23:36] You know
[00:23:37] That kind of stuff
[00:23:38] That just
[00:23:39] Spur of the moment
[00:23:40] Yeah
[00:23:41] And sometimes
[00:23:42] They're their hit
[00:23:42] They're the hit
[00:23:43] But
[00:23:45] And yeah
[00:23:46] That sounds like
[00:23:47] A common experience
[00:23:48] Definitely
[00:23:50] And then another question
[00:23:51] I had
[00:23:53] How did you feel
[00:23:54] Like when you
[00:23:54] Would write a song
[00:23:55] And then you would
[00:23:56] Have it
[00:23:56] You were in a band
[00:23:57] Situation
[00:23:58] And you'd present it
[00:23:59] To the band
[00:24:00] And how would you feel
[00:24:01] About the band
[00:24:01] Doing your song
[00:24:02] I mean
[00:24:02] Did you feel like
[00:24:04] You're imposing on them
[00:24:05] Like asking them
[00:24:06] To do your song
[00:24:07] Or
[00:24:08] Not really
[00:24:09] I felt like
[00:24:10] At least all the people
[00:24:11] I played with
[00:24:12] We were a very
[00:24:14] Egalitarian bunch
[00:24:15] And we're friendly
[00:24:16] And so
[00:24:17] You know
[00:24:18] If somebody brought
[00:24:19] Something in
[00:24:19] Everybody gave it a shot
[00:24:20] See if
[00:24:21] Well yeah
[00:24:22] Okay we'll try that
[00:24:23] And you know
[00:24:24] There were a couple
[00:24:25] Of things that I
[00:24:25] Threw out there
[00:24:26] And I
[00:24:26] I gathered
[00:24:28] What the response was
[00:24:29] And I was like
[00:24:30] Okay that's not
[00:24:30] Going to fly
[00:24:31] Okay
[00:24:31] But for the most part
[00:24:33] I had a sense that
[00:24:35] Okay this is a good thing
[00:24:36] And we
[00:24:36] This is
[00:24:37] This would be good
[00:24:37] For our band
[00:24:38] And we could do that
[00:24:39] Yeah
[00:24:39] That's sort of how
[00:24:40] I did it
[00:24:41] Yeah
[00:24:42] And okay
[00:24:43] So you had
[00:24:43] Band situations
[00:24:45] Where people were open
[00:24:46] To doing original songs
[00:24:47] Yeah
[00:24:48] Yeah
[00:24:48] We were
[00:24:48] I like to think
[00:24:50] That we were friends
[00:24:51] At least
[00:24:52] You know
[00:24:53] Most of the bands
[00:24:53] Friends first
[00:24:55] And you know
[00:24:56] Musicians
[00:24:57] As part of that
[00:24:58] But also
[00:24:58] You know
[00:24:59] It was more important
[00:25:00] That we were friendly
[00:25:01] And so that meant
[00:25:03] You know
[00:25:03] Everybody kind of
[00:25:04] Giving everybody a shot
[00:25:05] And I was fortunate
[00:25:07] Enough on occasion
[00:25:08] To get some of my stuff
[00:25:09] Out there
[00:25:09] I did other people
[00:25:10] That I played with
[00:25:11] So it was great
[00:25:12] All right
[00:25:12] Well we're going to hear
[00:25:13] One of your songs
[00:25:14] Right now
[00:25:15] We got together
[00:25:16] A while back
[00:25:17] With members of the
[00:25:18] Coconauts
[00:25:19] And we put together
[00:25:20] Our version of
[00:25:22] That's what friends are for
[00:25:24] Let's check it out
[00:26:01] Settle down
[00:26:03] Stay up all night
[00:26:05] And laugh until the morning
[00:26:06] Come
[00:26:07] But you quit your
[00:26:08] Reaching for the sky
[00:26:09] You lost that sparkle
[00:26:10] In your eye
[00:26:11] But I've been your friend
[00:26:12] Through thick and thin
[00:26:13] So I'll stick around
[00:26:14] Once again
[00:26:15] That's what friends are for
[00:26:17] Oh
[00:26:20] That's what friends are for
[00:26:22] Yeah
[00:26:23] Yeah
[00:26:24] Open up your eyes
[00:26:54] And listen to your sense of reason
[00:26:56] And you will realize
[00:26:58] That compromise
[00:26:58] Can leave your freedom
[00:27:00] And when it's all
[00:27:01] Been said and done
[00:27:02] We'll finish strong
[00:27:03] Like we've begun
[00:27:04] We'll be friends
[00:27:05] Like we've been
[00:27:06] So I'll stick around
[00:27:07] Once again
[00:27:08] Cause that's what
[00:27:10] Friends are for
[00:27:11] Yeah
[00:27:12] Yeah
[00:27:13] That's what friends are for
[00:27:17] That's what friends are for
[00:27:18] That's what friends are for
[00:27:23] Jack one thing we ask
[00:27:30] Everybody here
[00:27:31] On the Two Cat Kitchen
[00:27:31] Is what was your
[00:27:34] Earliest musical memory
[00:27:37] Well
[00:27:38] I go back to
[00:27:39] My grandfather
[00:27:40] On my father's side
[00:27:42] He was a musician
[00:27:43] And he
[00:27:45] He went
[00:27:46] He was actually
[00:27:47] He graduated from
[00:27:48] I believe
[00:27:49] The first class
[00:27:50] Of Boston Conservatory
[00:27:53] And he was mainly
[00:27:54] A piano player
[00:27:56] But he could play
[00:27:57] Violin
[00:27:58] He could play saxophone
[00:27:59] He wasn't doing
[00:28:00] Much of that
[00:28:01] He was pretty old
[00:28:02] When I was coming up
[00:28:05] But he
[00:28:06] The piano was always there
[00:28:07] And every now and then
[00:28:08] He'd get down
[00:28:08] And play on it
[00:28:09] So as a little kid
[00:28:10] I'd hear a little bit of that
[00:28:11] When we'd go visit
[00:28:12] My grandfather
[00:28:14] He pretty much
[00:28:16] Stopped doing most of it
[00:28:17] During the depression
[00:28:18] There was no
[00:28:20] There wasn't a market
[00:28:21] For bands
[00:28:22] He had a bunch of bands
[00:28:23] And all that stuff
[00:28:23] And actually had a dance hall
[00:28:25] In the Connecticut River
[00:28:25] Lost it all
[00:28:27] So my parents
[00:28:28] Were not
[00:28:29] My mother
[00:28:30] Wasn't really
[00:28:31] Musical
[00:28:32] My father
[00:28:33] Didn't
[00:28:34] Thought the music
[00:28:35] Was just
[00:28:36] Not a
[00:28:36] Not something
[00:28:37] You know
[00:28:38] He did not
[00:28:39] Encourage me
[00:28:40] Or anybody
[00:28:41] In our family
[00:28:41] We were all
[00:28:42] Given the obligatory
[00:28:43] Okay
[00:28:44] You get to have
[00:28:45] A
[00:28:45] You know
[00:28:45] I played trumpet
[00:28:46] For a
[00:28:47] Part of a year
[00:28:48] And my sisters
[00:28:49] Got piano lessons
[00:28:50] Until they hated it
[00:28:51] And that kind of stuff
[00:28:52] But
[00:28:53] I would
[00:28:55] You know
[00:28:56] I remember that part
[00:28:57] Of growing up
[00:28:58] So that's probably
[00:28:59] My first one
[00:29:00] And
[00:29:00] Eventually
[00:29:02] We
[00:29:03] Despite my parents
[00:29:04] Lack of interest
[00:29:06] In music
[00:29:06] Literally
[00:29:07] We did not have
[00:29:08] A
[00:29:09] Stereo
[00:29:10] Or any of that stuff
[00:29:11] We had a radio
[00:29:11] And they listened to
[00:29:13] My father listened to
[00:29:14] Red Sox games
[00:29:14] And stuff like that
[00:29:15] Music was not
[00:29:16] A part of my family
[00:29:17] Growing up
[00:29:17] Yeah they just
[00:29:19] Weren't into music
[00:29:19] They just weren't
[00:29:20] Into him
[00:29:20] He was into sports
[00:29:21] And stuff like that
[00:29:22] And my mother
[00:29:23] Had a
[00:29:23] One of seven kids
[00:29:24] And so
[00:29:25] You know what
[00:29:26] She was into
[00:29:27] Keeping us all going
[00:29:28] But
[00:29:30] So I didn't get
[00:29:31] Any of that stuff
[00:29:32] And
[00:29:32] It didn't
[00:29:33] So that
[00:29:34] That was pretty much
[00:29:34] My first musical
[00:29:37] Experience
[00:29:38] Thinking about it
[00:29:39] And I eventually
[00:29:40] You know
[00:29:40] I always kept that
[00:29:42] In mind
[00:29:42] And I remember
[00:29:43] One story
[00:29:44] Where I
[00:29:45] I wanted to play
[00:29:46] The drums
[00:29:47] And I was
[00:29:48] I think
[00:29:49] I was in
[00:29:49] Junior high school
[00:29:50] And this
[00:29:51] This song came out
[00:29:52] It was called
[00:29:53] In a God of De Vida
[00:29:54] And there was
[00:29:55] This drum solo
[00:29:56] And it's
[00:29:56] You know
[00:29:56] It's this
[00:29:57] You know
[00:29:57] Iconic drum solo
[00:30:00] In this
[00:30:00] You know
[00:30:01] It's for this rock band
[00:30:02] And
[00:30:02] I wanted
[00:30:03] To play the drums
[00:30:04] And so I got
[00:30:06] Drumsticks
[00:30:07] For Christmas
[00:30:08] And we had
[00:30:09] This leather chair
[00:30:10] And I would
[00:30:10] Sit myself
[00:30:11] With my legs
[00:30:11] Over the arm
[00:30:12] And whack away
[00:30:13] On this thing
[00:30:14] Make a
[00:30:14] You know
[00:30:15] A racket
[00:30:15] My parents
[00:30:16] Hated it
[00:30:16] Of course
[00:30:17] And
[00:30:18] But you got
[00:30:19] The sticks
[00:30:19] Yeah
[00:30:20] But I did
[00:30:20] Have the sticks
[00:30:21] And so I wanted
[00:30:22] To keep going
[00:30:23] With it
[00:30:23] And when I
[00:30:24] Finally
[00:30:25] And this was
[00:30:25] You know
[00:30:26] My father
[00:30:28] Neither of them
[00:30:29] Were interested in that
[00:30:30] And so
[00:30:31] When it came time
[00:30:32] For me
[00:30:40] Arrange this
[00:30:41] And my
[00:30:43] Grandfather
[00:30:43] You know
[00:30:43] I called him up
[00:30:44] And he said
[00:30:44] I want to play the drums
[00:30:45] He says
[00:30:45] Anybody can play the drums
[00:30:47] Why don't you take up
[00:30:47] Something like the saxophone
[00:30:48] Or the drummer
[00:30:50] And I was not interested
[00:30:51] In any of that
[00:30:52] So that pretty much
[00:30:53] Put that all to rest
[00:30:55] Until I got into college
[00:30:56] And you know
[00:30:57] Started to see people
[00:30:58] Playing music
[00:30:59] And I was like
[00:31:00] Okay
[00:31:00] I think I'm going to
[00:31:00] Give this another shot
[00:31:01] Where I'm not being
[00:31:03] Thwarted by
[00:31:03] You know
[00:31:05] My parents
[00:31:06] Okay
[00:31:07] Yeah
[00:31:08] Well you turned out
[00:31:09] Okay musically
[00:31:10] Yeah yeah
[00:31:10] I took it
[00:31:11] And the funny story
[00:31:13] Is my brother
[00:31:14] Two of my brothers
[00:31:15] Actually
[00:31:15] One in particular
[00:31:17] Became a drummer
[00:31:18] And he was the drummer
[00:31:19] For the high school band
[00:31:20] He was you know
[00:31:21] Four or five years
[00:31:22] Younger than me
[00:31:22] And they all practiced
[00:31:24] In our basement
[00:31:24] I was already in college
[00:31:25] And I would come back
[00:31:26] And they'd all be
[00:31:28] You know
[00:31:28] Hanging out there
[00:31:29] And my mother would say
[00:31:30] Oh it's so nice
[00:31:31] To hear Jimmy play
[00:31:32] With his band
[00:31:33] And stuff
[00:31:34] And I looked downstairs
[00:31:34] And there's all these
[00:31:35] These kids are all
[00:31:36] They're all stoned
[00:31:37] You know
[00:31:37] And they're just
[00:31:38] They're all hanging out
[00:31:40] And it's this rock and roll
[00:31:41] And it was
[00:31:42] You know
[00:31:43] And I thought it was great
[00:31:44] I was like
[00:31:44] God I wish I had been
[00:31:45] Given this opportunity
[00:31:45] But you know
[00:31:46] Yeah he broke through
[00:31:47] He broke through
[00:31:47] He was able to
[00:31:48] Finally do it
[00:31:49] He wore them down
[00:31:49] Yeah
[00:31:50] He wore them down
[00:31:51] Yeah
[00:31:52] Yeah
[00:31:52] I mean his kids
[00:31:53] All ended up
[00:31:54] Being good musicians
[00:31:54] My kids
[00:31:55] Are musicians as well
[00:31:57] You know
[00:31:57] I've got one in LA
[00:31:58] Who's a professional musician
[00:32:01] My son Tom
[00:32:01] Who's a very good songwriter
[00:32:03] And excellent guitar player
[00:32:06] And other instruments
[00:32:06] And stuff
[00:32:07] And that's
[00:32:07] That's what he's doing
[00:32:08] So I mean
[00:32:09] We always kept instruments
[00:32:10] Around the house
[00:32:12] When they were growing up
[00:32:14] And they
[00:32:15] You know
[00:32:16] They both of them
[00:32:17] You know
[00:32:17] They were given opportunities
[00:32:18] To play and stuff
[00:32:19] So I
[00:32:19] I was determined
[00:32:21] Not to have that happen
[00:32:22] To them
[00:32:23] We wanted to expose them
[00:32:24] To music
[00:32:25] And indeed it took
[00:32:26] Did either one of your kids
[00:32:28] Want to be a drummer?
[00:32:29] No but Tom
[00:32:30] The one that's in LA
[00:32:32] He can play drums
[00:32:32] I mean some of his
[00:32:33] Stuff he puts out
[00:32:34] He'll do the drums on it
[00:32:35] He can play anything really
[00:32:37] And yeah
[00:32:38] It's cool
[00:32:38] I had a drum set
[00:32:39] At our house
[00:32:41] We had a drum set
[00:32:41] We had vibes
[00:32:42] We had a keyboard thing
[00:32:44] Matter of fact
[00:32:45] When Tom was
[00:32:45] Maybe
[00:32:46] I don't know
[00:32:48] He couldn't have been
[00:32:49] More than five or six
[00:32:51] And we were going out
[00:32:51] To dinner
[00:32:52] And
[00:32:53] Where's Tom?
[00:32:54] You know
[00:32:54] He can't find him
[00:32:55] And I go back in the house
[00:32:56] And he's in front of this
[00:32:58] Little Casio keyboard
[00:32:59] That I had set up
[00:33:01] And he's
[00:33:02] He's picking out this tune
[00:33:04] He's got
[00:33:04] It's one of those ones
[00:33:05] Where you could
[00:33:05] You could get a rhythm thing going
[00:33:07] And you could change the key
[00:33:09] And so he's got it
[00:33:10] In another key
[00:33:11] Not wasn't C
[00:33:12] So he's got it in another key
[00:33:14] And he's got this rhythm going
[00:33:15] And he's picking this stuff
[00:33:16] Out
[00:33:16] And you know
[00:33:18] I was just flabbergasted
[00:33:21] And he
[00:33:21] So I was like
[00:33:22] Oh I gotta get this
[00:33:23] Kid lessons
[00:33:24] You know
[00:33:24] He's obviously got something
[00:33:26] And there you go
[00:33:27] Yeah
[00:33:27] Yeah
[00:33:28] Yeah that's crazy
[00:33:29] That's great
[00:33:30] Yeah so
[00:33:30] You know
[00:33:32] Alright
[00:33:33] Oh great story
[00:33:34] Thanks Jack
[00:33:36] Yeah
[00:33:36] We'll be right back
[00:33:40] Gather round people
[00:33:42] Right now
[00:33:43] Got a story to tell
[00:33:45] Listen up well
[00:33:46] Do you wanna be safe
[00:33:48] Oh burn it in the fires of hell
[00:33:51] In those fires of hell
[00:33:52] Well heed the call
[00:33:54] You'll have it all
[00:33:56] When you reach those pearly gates
[00:33:59] But you
[00:34:00] Can't take it with you
[00:34:02] Won't you leave it in the play
[00:34:05] Cause it don't walk across no river
[00:34:08] It won't part a raging sea
[00:34:11] It can't change your faucet water
[00:34:14] Get them drunks to take a drink
[00:34:17] But when it goes to church on Sunday
[00:34:20] Well it makes the preacher sing
[00:34:23] It may be the root of evil
[00:34:26] But it loves that mighty green
[00:34:29] We'll do a little praying
[00:34:33] Oh Lord
[00:34:35] About an hour a week
[00:34:36] Or more
[00:34:38] Don't you be napping
[00:34:39] Don't you be napping
[00:34:41] No sleeping
[00:34:41] When the preacher speaks
[00:34:42] When the preacher speaks
[00:34:43] When that preacher speaks
[00:34:44] And you better be ready
[00:34:46] For the reason
[00:34:47] We are gathered in his name
[00:34:50] Cause you know he will be watching
[00:34:53] What you're putting in the play
[00:34:56] Cause it don't walk across no river
[00:34:59] It won't part a raging sea
[00:35:02] It can't change a glass of water
[00:35:06] Into your evening drink
[00:35:09] But when it goes to church on Sunday
[00:35:12] Well it makes the preacher sing
[00:35:15] It may be the root of evil
[00:35:18] But it loves that mighty green
[00:35:22] Tammy and Jimmy
[00:35:24] Which Jim?
[00:35:26] Oh the other Jim too
[00:35:27] That's who
[00:35:29] Are gonna be baking
[00:35:30] And breaking that bread with you
[00:35:33] Yeah me and you
[00:35:35] So you better just fatten up those envelopes
[00:35:38] But when you meet your fate
[00:35:41] They'll send you down below the ground
[00:35:45] For passing up the plate
[00:35:47] Cause it don't walk across no river
[00:35:50] It won't part a raging sea
[00:35:53] It can't change your glass of water
[00:35:56] Into your favorite drink
[00:35:59] But when it goes to church on Sunday
[00:36:03] Well it makes the preacher sing
[00:36:05] It may be the root of evil
[00:36:09] But it loves that mighty green
[00:36:12] Yeah it may be the root of evil
[00:36:15] But it loves that mighty green
[00:36:18] We're back at the 2Cat kitchen
[00:36:27] And we have Aria and Bryce here
[00:36:28] And we're gonna
[00:36:29] Today's recipe is going to be pizza
[00:36:32] But you guys make a great pizza
[00:36:34] And you're gonna tell us how we do it
[00:36:35] We're gonna go over it right now
[00:36:37] And to start
[00:36:38] The foundation of the pizza is
[00:36:41] The crust
[00:36:42] The crust
[00:36:43] So how do you make your dough
[00:36:44] Oh boy
[00:36:45] Well
[00:36:45] It's very simple
[00:36:46] We had
[00:36:47] What we did was
[00:36:48] One and a half cups of flour
[00:36:50] To start
[00:36:52] Ah
[00:36:52] Okay
[00:36:52] And just what kind of flour do you use?
[00:36:55] We often use all purpose
[00:36:57] But today we had the double O
[00:36:59] Double O?
[00:37:01] Yeah
[00:37:01] Is that like an Italian flour?
[00:37:03] Or
[00:37:03] Yeah
[00:37:03] You can get it like actually imported from Italy
[00:37:06] And pizza
[00:37:08] Oh
[00:37:08] Real pizza aficionados
[00:37:10] Probably would prefer that
[00:37:11] Yeah
[00:37:11] But we find that organic all purpose flour works really great
[00:37:16] And that's a lot easier to come in
[00:37:18] Okay
[00:37:18] So either one
[00:37:19] Okay
[00:37:19] Alright one and a half cups of flour
[00:37:21] And then two teaspoons of yeast
[00:37:24] Two teaspoons of yeast
[00:37:25] Like an active yeast
[00:37:26] Or an instant yeast
[00:37:28] Yeah
[00:37:28] Any kind of yeast doesn't totally matter
[00:37:29] Okay
[00:37:30] Also pizza is great with sourdough
[00:37:32] So if you do sourdough
[00:37:34] Oh
[00:37:34] You just throw a little bit of that in there
[00:37:36] Oh no kidding
[00:37:36] Okay
[00:37:37] Alright
[00:37:37] It's a little wetter
[00:37:39] Yeah
[00:37:39] It's an anad
[00:37:40] Alright
[00:37:41] And then so we have flour, yeast, something else?
[00:37:46] Um
[00:37:46] Half teaspoon of salt
[00:37:47] Half teaspoon of salt
[00:37:48] And then we'll mix three quarter cups of warm water
[00:37:52] And maybe a little bit of some sort of sweetener
[00:37:55] So like honey I think we use
[00:37:58] Okay
[00:37:58] So you mix the sweetener in with the water
[00:38:00] A little warm water
[00:38:01] Three quarter of salt
[00:38:02] Okay
[00:38:03] And then you'll
[00:38:04] Well first I would whisk the dry
[00:38:06] And then once I add the water
[00:38:09] I would combine it and then knead it for a couple minutes
[00:38:11] Okay
[00:38:12] Yeah
[00:38:13] Nice
[00:38:14] Knead it until it's smooth
[00:38:15] Smooth
[00:38:16] Don't
[00:38:17] Don't go at it like crazy
[00:38:18] So then while that's rising
[00:38:20] We've pretty
[00:38:21] How do you put it for rising?
[00:38:22] So then you
[00:38:23] Oh, we'll cover it with a little oil
[00:38:25] Okay
[00:38:26] Keep it in the bowl
[00:38:26] In the bowl
[00:38:28] Yeah
[00:38:29] Like a
[00:38:29] Cloth over it
[00:38:31] Yeah
[00:38:31] And try to keep it warm
[00:38:32] Keep it in a warm place
[00:38:33] Not too warm
[00:38:34] But okay
[00:38:35] Alright so now the dough is rising let's say
[00:38:37] Yeah
[00:38:38] In our little hypothetical situation here
[00:38:41] And then you're going to make a
[00:38:43] What?
[00:38:44] Sauce
[00:38:44] Yeah
[00:38:45] Well while we're making the sauce
[00:38:47] We've probably preheated the oven
[00:38:49] Oh
[00:38:49] With the stone in it
[00:38:51] So it can get real hot
[00:38:52] Using a baking stone
[00:38:54] Oh, baking stone
[00:38:55] Very good idea
[00:38:56] Yeah
[00:38:56] You've got to have a baking stone for pizza
[00:38:58] Nice
[00:38:59] Nice big baking stone
[00:39:00] Yeah
[00:39:00] Put it in there
[00:39:01] And set your oven
[00:39:03] Yeah
[00:39:04] Right in the middle of the oven
[00:39:05] Seems to work best
[00:39:06] That is how
[00:39:07] Actually you were asking earlier
[00:39:09] How do we know the bottom's not burnt
[00:39:11] And it's because over time
[00:39:12] We figure out where to put the stone
[00:39:22] And you have a little trial and error
[00:39:23] To figure out for your particular oven
[00:39:25] And then you have
[00:39:26] And you turn your oven up as high as it'll go
[00:39:28] This is what blows my mind
[00:39:30] Yeah
[00:39:30] Yeah
[00:39:30] And actually Bryce you had an idea
[00:39:33] That you heard about an idea
[00:39:34] To get your oven to go even higher
[00:39:36] Right
[00:39:37] Which I thought was great
[00:39:38] Yeah
[00:39:39] I've heard from an associate
[00:39:41] That you can
[00:39:44] If your oven has a self-clean function
[00:39:47] Then you can use that
[00:39:48] And if it has a lock that you need to engage
[00:39:51] For the self-clean function
[00:39:52] You can disable the lock
[00:39:54] So that you can still open your oven
[00:39:56] When you need to check and see if your pizza's done
[00:39:59] Okay
[00:40:00] The self-clean function on an oven
[00:40:02] Just makes it run as hot as it will run
[00:40:04] And this would be
[00:40:05] Yeah so this is a pro tip here
[00:40:06] In the 2Cat Kitchen
[00:40:08] Disable your self-clean lock
[00:40:10] And turn it on self-clean
[00:40:12] I like it
[00:40:14] We were just at 510
[00:40:15] Right
[00:40:16] And that you get good results
[00:40:17] Yeah
[00:40:18] Anywhere around 500 will do
[00:40:19] 500 okay
[00:40:20] So we're gonna try to get up to 500
[00:40:21] Or 90 if you
[00:40:22] And if you're feeling old
[00:40:25] Then self-clean it
[00:40:26] But anyway
[00:40:27] Okay so now
[00:40:28] So then the sauce
[00:40:29] The sauce
[00:40:30] Okay
[00:40:30] So we just get canned tomatoes
[00:40:33] Canned tomatoes
[00:40:34] And crush them up
[00:40:35] Crush them
[00:40:36] But we'll start with onion and garlic
[00:40:39] And some olive oil at the bottom of the pot
[00:40:42] Mince up some garlic and onion
[00:40:45] A lot
[00:40:45] Use a lot because it's good
[00:40:49] Then in the pot that you're going to make the sauce in
[00:40:55] Put a nice good amount of olive oil
[00:40:59] Probably like
[00:41:02] I don't know
[00:41:02] Two tablespoons
[00:41:03] Two, three tablespoons
[00:41:05] For one or two cans of tomatoes
[00:41:09] Okay
[00:41:09] And put in your garlic and onions
[00:41:12] Let that on like a medium low heat
[00:41:15] Like they should sizzle when you throw them in there
[00:41:18] But they'll cook pretty quick so you don't need it to be raging
[00:41:22] Okay
[00:41:22] So let those just get a little bit browned up
[00:41:25] And then put in your other herbs
[00:41:29] Like oregano, basil
[00:41:31] Just a little bit of that
[00:41:33] Probably, I don't know
[00:41:34] A teaspoon
[00:41:36] Half a teaspoon to start
[00:41:37] Okay
[00:41:38] Of both of those
[00:41:39] Put those into the oil
[00:41:41] Let them kind of cook in there for a minute
[00:41:44] And then put in a splash of balsamic vinegar
[00:41:48] Stir that around
[00:41:49] And then quickly add your crushed tomatoes
[00:41:52] And then stir everything together
[00:41:56] And at that point you can add your salt
[00:41:59] Probably about a teaspoon of salt
[00:42:01] We usually do a little bit of black pepper
[00:42:04] Maybe a little bit of paprika
[00:42:05] And you can add extra, you know, herbs or spices to taste at that point
[00:42:11] But from there on out
[00:42:13] Once you add the tomatoes in
[00:42:14] You're just letting it simmer
[00:42:16] And all combine for however long
[00:42:19] Take it nice and low and slow
[00:42:20] And it'll make a better sauce
[00:42:23] Nice, okay
[00:42:24] Alright, so we have the sauce made
[00:42:26] We have the
[00:42:27] Now the dough has risen
[00:42:29] And we're ready to go
[00:42:30] So
[00:42:30] So we'll take a piece of parchment paper
[00:42:32] Okay
[00:42:34] And sprinkle that with durum wheat flour
[00:42:37] Oh, okay
[00:42:38] Which makes a nice
[00:42:39] Semolina
[00:42:39] Yeah, durum semolina
[00:42:41] Yeah
[00:42:42] So the bottom doesn't stick
[00:42:45] It's got that nice kind of sandy texture
[00:42:49] That's a great idea
[00:42:50] That you get from pizzas
[00:42:52] And we tend to just roll the dough out
[00:42:56] Okay, roll that out
[00:42:57] Because it's pretty foolproof
[00:42:58] Okay
[00:42:59] You don't
[00:42:59] You can stretch it by hand
[00:43:02] But you might put like skinny thin spots in it or holes and that's annoying
[00:43:09] Yeah, so
[00:43:10] I like a combination of rolling it and doing it by hand to stretch around
[00:43:14] Yeah
[00:43:15] Yeah, and so we
[00:43:16] And you rolled it out I think to about maybe an 8 inch diameter circle
[00:43:21] I can't remember
[00:43:22] Maybe 12 inch?
[00:43:23] Yeah, probably
[00:43:23] I mean the finished pizza
[00:43:25] Yeah, maybe 12 inch
[00:43:26] That's half of it
[00:43:26] The finished pizza was probably
[00:43:28] Yeah, at least you know about 10 inches across
[00:43:32] Okay, 10 inch diameter
[00:43:33] So yeah, probably close to 12 inch diameter and then you roll the edges on
[00:43:38] Okay
[00:43:39] So you just go around and just roll
[00:43:43] Crimp them up
[00:43:45] Yeah
[00:43:45] Yeah, yeah
[00:43:46] You can even pinch it or you can do a little roll and get that crossed over the edge so the
[00:43:52] sauce doesn't run out on you
[00:43:54] And then you'll add the sauce
[00:43:56] And you spread the sauce on it
[00:43:57] Yeah
[00:43:58] That's good
[00:43:59] And then we started with mozzarella on the base and a little cheddar and parmesan
[00:44:04] Sliced mozzarella on the base that's guys and good
[00:44:08] And then you added some shredded cheddar and parmesan
[00:44:13] Yep
[00:44:13] For this particular one but people could use whatever toppings you want
[00:44:16] Yeah
[00:44:16] Yeah
[00:44:16] Whatever to eat
[00:44:18] Alright
[00:44:18] And then into the glowing orb of the oven the red hot oven at 500 something degrees over there
[00:44:25] And just
[00:44:28] Oh yeah, I don't know if we did mention but the stone needs to be in there once the oven comes
[00:44:34] up to temperature for at least an hour
[00:44:37] Oh, okay
[00:44:38] An hour, two hours is better
[00:44:40] Wow
[00:44:41] Because the stone needs to get really hot too
[00:44:44] So that's why we started reheating it earlier
[00:44:47] Once we are, you know, before you start making the sauce
[00:44:53] You start with the dough, get your dough rising because that needs, you know, an hour or more
[00:44:59] Then you can kick your oven on, then you can start making your sauce
[00:45:03] Okay
[00:45:04] And then it will all be ready, you know, two hours later when you're actually ready to have your pizza
[00:45:09] Yeah
[00:45:09] Got it, okay
[00:45:10] That's a good point
[00:45:12] Alright
[00:45:12] Yeah
[00:45:13] And then the pizza goes in onto the stone
[00:45:16] Did we say parchment?
[00:45:19] Yeah
[00:45:19] And you put the parchment paper right in, you kept the pizza right on the parchment paper
[00:45:24] Yep
[00:45:24] Yep
[00:45:24] One time I didn't and then I ended up making a calzone
[00:45:27] Yeah
[00:45:28] It's just easier that way
[00:45:29] Cause it wouldn't flip off so that it like all stuck to each other
[00:45:34] Yeah
[00:45:35] Yeah, alright, so that's good
[00:45:36] And then we, you kept it in, you keep it in for at least ten minutes
[00:45:41] Yeah, probably more like fifteen to twenty
[00:45:44] Yeah
[00:45:44] Also depends if you can have your oven hotter
[00:45:47] And it will take a little time
[00:45:48] If your oven's hot, it's hot
[00:45:49] Yeah, if you get that self clean going
[00:45:50] There you go
[00:45:51] Yeah
[00:45:51] Then maybe you can be like eight minutes in there
[00:45:53] And what you're looking for is the cheese is bubbling
[00:45:56] And the edges of the crust are kind of browned
[00:46:00] And there you go, but nothing is burned
[00:46:03] So you keep an eye on it
[00:46:04] Yep
[00:46:04] Yeah
[00:46:04] And then you bring it out, let it cool
[00:46:07] And then you have pizza
[00:46:08] Way to go
[00:46:09] Wow
[00:46:10] Alright
[00:46:11] Well, thanks for sharing your pizza making tips with us
[00:46:15] Yeah
[00:46:15] We really appreciate it
[00:46:16] You're on the Two Cat Kitchen
[00:46:17] Alright
[00:46:28] Next up on the Two Cat Kitchen
[00:46:30] We have Mr. O'Malley
[00:46:32] Taking the mystery out of history
[00:46:34] Do you have any idea what he's planning on talking about?
[00:46:37] Well, all I know is that he's going to be talking about a sticky situation
[00:46:41] Ooh
[00:46:42] I have too many guesses about what that could be
[00:46:45] Alright, let's check it out
[00:46:46] We take the mystery out of history
[00:47:10] Welcome to Taking the Mystery Out of History
[00:47:13] I'm here with Mr. O'Malley
[00:47:15] John, how are you doing today?
[00:47:17] Good
[00:47:18] How are you?
[00:47:19] Good, good
[00:47:20] So, you have some information for us
[00:47:23] I believe
[00:47:24] On the Great Molasses Flood, is it?
[00:47:28] Yes
[00:47:29] Molasses Flood?
[00:47:30] The Great Molasses Flood
[00:47:31] 1919
[00:47:32] Who would have known?
[00:47:34] Right
[00:47:35] Right
[00:47:36] A Molasses Flood in 1919
[00:47:39] Wow
[00:47:40] In Boston, no less
[00:47:43] Boston, wow
[00:47:44] Right?
[00:47:45] Knocking on our door
[00:47:47] Unbelievable
[00:47:47] The Molasses Flood
[00:47:49] So, first of all, let me just ask
[00:47:52] How can you have a Molasses Flood?
[00:47:55] Well, that's
[00:47:56] That doesn't make any sense
[00:47:57] That's
[00:47:58] Usually you think of floods with water
[00:48:02] Only with water
[00:48:05] Yeah
[00:48:06] But Molasses is mostly water
[00:48:10] Okay
[00:48:11] And, in particular, this flood was started by a 50 foot high storage tank
[00:48:28] Oh
[00:48:29] In the north of Boston, north end of Boston, which was an Irish and mostly Italian and Irish immigrant neighborhood
[00:48:39] And, in the north of Boston, which was a big part of the river, and it was close to the docks and, you know, the Caribbean trade and sugar cane was, goes back to colonial times
[00:48:59] The, you know, the triangle trade for slaves and sugar cane and New England used the sugar cane to make rum
[00:49:12] And Molasses is the byproduct of sugar cane
[00:49:18] Oh
[00:49:18] And, in 1915, this giant tank was built
[00:49:27] It was 50 feet high and, you know, like 95 feet in diameter
[00:49:36] And it was made of metal
[00:49:40] And, it was right in this neighborhood of the north end
[00:49:47] And, it was, you know, it was shoddily built
[00:49:53] And, in my research, I found out that molasses was also used to make alcoholic drinks, like rum
[00:50:04] But, it was also used to make dynamite
[00:50:10] Dynamite?
[00:50:11] Dynamite
[00:50:11] Wow
[00:50:12] And, musician, munitions
[00:50:15] And, in 1915, you know, the United States was supplying all the musician, munitions from, for World War I
[00:50:29] Oh, okay
[00:50:30] And, so, you know, and they, this was an era of no regulations
[00:50:38] The, the people who built it didn't have to be certified engineers
[00:50:44] They didn't even have to be certified architects
[00:50:49] There was no regulations in terms of the safety of these structures
[00:50:56] This tank was, um, quickly built up
[00:51:00] And, it was steel
[00:51:02] And, the, the pop rivets on the steel were substandard
[00:51:09] And, it was mixed with manganese
[00:51:13] Which, um, I'm getting scientific
[00:51:17] Manganese
[00:51:19] In the two cat kitchen
[00:51:20] Wow
[00:51:21] And, and
[00:51:23] Manganese, uh, weakens the, uh, the, the steel
[00:51:31] Oh
[00:51:32] And, it makes it, uh, susceptible to temperature fluctuations
[00:51:38] And, the disaster, the flood took place on January, uh, 5th, 1919
[00:51:46] And, it was an extremely high temperature
[00:51:51] 40 degrees
[00:51:53] Uh, today that would be normal, um, on January 5th
[00:52:00] Um, and, so, the, um, the, the mixture of cold air
[00:52:10] And warm molasses
[00:52:12] Because they topped off this, uh, tank
[00:52:16] With warmer molasses delivered from the Caribbean
[00:52:22] And, they tapped, uh, they topped it off
[00:52:27] Days before that disaster
[00:52:30] And, little kids in the neighborhood
[00:52:34] Would often go to the tank
[00:52:37] And, because there was always, uh,
[00:52:43] It always leaked molasses
[00:52:46] Oh, wow
[00:52:47] And, and they would, you know
[00:52:50] And, it was reported, like, creaking
[00:52:54] And, you know, noises coming from it
[00:52:58] Expansion and contraction
[00:53:01] And, one workman said
[00:53:05] And, he reported to the company
[00:53:08] There's gonna be a disaster
[00:53:10] Oh
[00:53:11] Because, this thing is gonna fail
[00:53:15] At some point
[00:53:17] And, the, the guy in charge
[00:53:21] The, the workman, or, was in charge of management
[00:53:25] Said, well, it's still standing
[00:53:29] Yeah
[00:53:29] And, and, and, again
[00:53:32] There was no safety regulations
[00:53:34] And, this thing was full of molasses at this point
[00:53:37] It was full of molasses
[00:53:39] It must have been
[00:53:39] And, because of, um
[00:53:42] Because of the temperature gradation
[00:53:45] Increase the, uh, the cold air
[00:53:50] In the molasses, uh, the cold air in the tank
[00:53:54] Met the warm air
[00:53:56] And gases built up
[00:53:58] Oh, okay
[00:53:59] So, and, so, by January 5th
[00:54:05] It exploded
[00:54:06] Wow
[00:54:07] Yeah, it exploded
[00:54:08] And, uh, 21 people were killed
[00:54:12] And, 150 injured
[00:54:15] And, the molasses was 15 feet deep
[00:54:20] Unbelievable
[00:54:21] And, 35 miles an hour
[00:54:23] It traveled out of the tank
[00:54:25] Whoa
[00:54:26] So, it, it just
[00:54:28] So, were people killed by the molasses?
[00:54:30] Or, by the tank blowing up?
[00:54:31] Oh, yeah
[00:54:31] Oh, yeah, people were killed by molasses
[00:54:33] Oh
[00:54:34] And, and it, it destroyed a fire station
[00:54:37] Wow
[00:54:38] Firemen were playing cards in the fire station
[00:54:42] And, they rescued a bunch of the firemen
[00:54:45] Um, because, and one fireman drowned
[00:54:49] In molasses, because he couldn't hold on
[00:54:53] Wow
[00:54:53] And, so, a lot of people got, uh, killed
[00:54:58] Or injured by falling debris from buildings
[00:55:03] It crushed mass transit trains
[00:55:08] And, with a half a mile swath
[00:55:12] Of, like, three or four blocks
[00:55:16] A hundred yards wide
[00:55:18] That got destroyed
[00:55:21] Unbelievable
[00:55:22] Got destroyed
[00:55:23] It's hard to imagine that
[00:55:25] There could be that much molasses
[00:55:26] But, I guess it was a very big tank
[00:55:28] Yeah, and, and, and
[00:55:29] what was interesting
[00:55:31] About the molasses
[00:55:35] If it happened in July
[00:55:38] The death toll
[00:55:40] They speculated
[00:55:42] Wouldn't have been so high
[00:55:45] Because molasses in the heat
[00:55:49] Would have flowed
[00:55:52] More smoothly
[00:55:54] And would have gone
[00:55:57] Out in a, a, a wider area
[00:56:01] So it might not have been as deep
[00:56:02] It might, might not have been as deep
[00:56:05] And as the temperature dropped
[00:56:08] People were stuck
[00:56:11] In one foot of molasses
[00:56:13] As the temperature dropped
[00:56:15] The molasses became, like, solidified
[00:56:20] It almost was like cement
[00:56:24] Wow
[00:56:24] And people were stuck in the molasses
[00:56:28] And they couldn't move
[00:56:30] Even though it was one foot deep
[00:56:34] Unbelievable
[00:56:36] So did people get, they, they died
[00:56:39] From being stuck
[00:56:40] Even though it was only a foot deep
[00:56:41] Yeah, well, they mostly
[00:56:44] The fire department
[00:56:46] And the police department
[00:56:47] And the Red Cross
[00:56:50] Immediately came to the rescue
[00:56:52] And a hundred sailors
[00:56:56] Who were training on a ship
[00:56:59] In Boston Harbor
[00:57:01] Came and helped out
[00:57:02] So there would have been
[00:57:05] Far more deaths
[00:57:06] If they hadn't responded quickly
[00:57:09] And there were
[00:57:12] A hundred and nineteen lawsuits
[00:57:16] After that
[00:57:17] Wow
[00:57:18] And the company defended,
[00:57:20] Defended itself by saying
[00:57:22] It was sabotage
[00:57:24] Oh
[00:57:25] It was sabotage
[00:57:26] Because
[00:57:27] Italian immigrants
[00:57:29] Were known
[00:57:30] Or
[00:57:33] Exaggerated
[00:57:33] Known as
[00:57:35] Arnachist
[00:57:36] And it was 1919
[00:57:38] And there was
[00:57:40] Anti-immigrant sentiment
[00:57:43] Like there is today
[00:57:45] In the United States
[00:57:47] But
[00:57:48] Anti-Italian immigrants
[00:57:50] And the company said
[00:57:54] Oh, you know
[00:57:56] Anarchists
[00:57:57] Italian anarchists
[00:58:00] Were to blame
[00:58:02] And they blew up
[00:58:05] The storage tank
[00:58:09] And the trial went on
[00:58:12] For five years
[00:58:14] And they brought in
[00:58:17] The first
[00:58:18] Lawsuit
[00:58:19] Ever
[00:58:21] In the United States
[00:58:22] Where they brought in
[00:58:24] Expert witnesses
[00:58:25] Really?
[00:58:26] Interesting
[00:58:27] Expert witnesses
[00:58:28] Like engineers
[00:58:29] And architects
[00:58:31] The guy who designed
[00:58:33] The thing
[00:58:35] Couldn't even
[00:58:36] Read blueprints
[00:58:39] Wow
[00:58:40] So, you know
[00:58:41] There was no
[00:58:42] Stamp of approval
[00:58:43] The approval
[00:58:44] Of an engineering society
[00:58:46] Yeah
[00:58:47] And this
[00:58:48] This great flood
[00:58:50] Molasses flood
[00:58:52] Sparked all these
[00:58:54] Regulations
[00:58:55] About building codes
[00:58:57] You had to have a stamp
[00:58:59] On
[00:59:01] The engineer
[00:59:02] Had a sign off
[00:59:04] That this building was safe
[00:59:06] Or this tank was safe
[00:59:09] And it met certain specifications
[00:59:12] And the
[00:59:15] The judge
[00:59:17] Ruled
[00:59:17] That the company
[00:59:19] Was liable
[00:59:20] They found no evidence
[00:59:22] Of
[00:59:24] Sabotage
[00:59:27] Wow
[00:59:27] Anyway
[00:59:28] You know
[00:59:29] I was
[00:59:33] Obsessed with like
[00:59:34] There's gotta be a lot of music
[00:59:37] Written about this thing
[00:59:38] Yeah
[00:59:39] But, you know
[00:59:40] I
[00:59:41] I don't know
[00:59:44] If
[00:59:45] Culturally
[00:59:47] It sparked
[00:59:49] A bunch of humor
[00:59:51] Or
[00:59:52] Songs
[00:59:54] But it did spark
[00:59:56] Political
[00:59:57] Outrage
[00:59:58] At the lack of regulations
[01:00:01] Oh, okay
[01:00:01] Yeah
[01:00:02] And
[01:00:03] And
[01:00:04] People say
[01:00:05] You can still
[01:00:07] Smell
[01:00:08] Molasses
[01:00:09] On a hot day
[01:00:10] After decades
[01:00:12] After this
[01:00:13] Disaster
[01:00:14] Really, in the North End?
[01:00:16] Yeah, in the North End
[01:00:17] Although I
[01:00:19] Would think that
[01:00:20] In the North End
[01:00:21] They use a lot of molasses
[01:00:22] Anyway
[01:00:23] In everyday life
[01:00:24] Yeah, really
[01:00:27] That's a fascinating story
[01:00:29] Yeah
[01:00:30] Well, molasses
[01:00:32] You know
[01:00:32] This is before
[01:00:34] The era of
[01:00:36] Sugar substitutes
[01:00:39] And molasses
[01:00:40] Was used
[01:00:41] Again
[01:00:42] For alcoholic
[01:00:44] Beverages
[01:00:45] Especially rum
[01:00:47] And munitions
[01:00:48] And it was used
[01:00:51] In baking
[01:00:51] All the time
[01:00:54] And
[01:00:54] Since
[01:00:55] This is
[01:00:56] A show
[01:00:57] About
[01:00:58] A kitchen
[01:00:59] Right?
[01:00:59] Yes, that's true
[01:01:00] The two cat kitchen
[01:01:01] Yeah
[01:01:02] And it sounds like
[01:01:03] There are also
[01:01:04] Industrial uses
[01:01:05] Maybe
[01:01:05] Because you said
[01:01:06] It was the industrial
[01:01:07] Alcohol company
[01:01:08] Yeah
[01:01:08] So maybe they
[01:01:09] Converted
[01:01:10] The molasses
[01:01:12] Into alcohol
[01:01:13] That was used
[01:01:14] For industrial processes
[01:01:15] Yes
[01:01:15] Maybe
[01:01:18] It might be before
[01:01:19] There was a lot of
[01:01:20] Synthetic chemistry
[01:01:22] Going on
[01:01:22] You know
[01:01:23] Yeah
[01:01:23] Yeah
[01:01:24] Yeah
[01:01:25] Yeah, that's a good point
[01:01:27] Yeah
[01:01:27] And it was right before
[01:01:30] The prohibition era
[01:01:32] Ah
[01:01:32] Okay
[01:01:33] So, you know
[01:01:34] People made
[01:01:35] Made a lot of money
[01:01:37] Off
[01:01:38] Alcohol
[01:01:40] Alcoholic drinks
[01:01:42] Well
[01:01:43] John, thanks so much
[01:01:44] Thanks for taking the mystery
[01:01:45] Out of the great
[01:01:46] Molasses flood
[01:01:48] Of 1919
[01:01:48] Yeah
[01:01:49] That was very informative
[01:01:50] Yeah
[01:01:59] That's all we have time for
[01:02:00] In this episode of
[01:02:01] Two Cat Kitchen
[01:02:02] We'd like to thank our
[01:02:03] Musical guest
[01:02:04] Jack McDonald
[01:02:05] And our special segment guest
[01:02:07] Mr. O'Malley
[01:02:08] I'm Rick McKinney
[01:02:10] And I'm Sarah Grady
[01:02:11] Join us next time
[01:02:13] Right here at the
[01:02:14] Two Cat Kitchen
[01:02:15] The Dool and Area Show
[01:02:20] We'll be right back to the