My Winter Vacation

What I did on my winter vacation...
By Matt The Cat

When I usually go to California, I end up in LA. This past week, I discovered what I had been missing all these years: Monterey. I spent the whole week traveling around the Monterey Peninsula and having a great time. From the incredible views of Big Sur to the frolicing sea otters of Fisherman's Warf, Monterey makes this hearty New Englander think that maybe the East Coast isn't all that I thought it was.

I am not much of a photographer, but I did take a few shots and wanted to share them. This first one was taken at Point 16 in Big Sur. It was a gorgeous Sunday and the perfect start to my relaxing vacation away from the XM Satellite.
The next picture was taken at Carmel Beach. In-between my trips to Big Sur and Carmel, I visited the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and rode the Giant Dipper Rollercoaster, which first opened in 1924. Up to this point, the oldest rollercoaster that I had ridden was the Cyclone in Coney Island. Now, I love the Cyclone, but The Giant Dipper was pretty damn amazing as well.
I saw two missions while I was out in MidCal. One was in Carmel and the other was in San Juan Bautista. I really dug San Juan Bautista, because so much of the old town remains intact and in use. They have roosters prowling the streets, crowing. The Mexican food shouldn't be missed as well.
I have so many glorious California Sunsets on camera, that to just pick one was almost impossible. This one was taken Friday Night on the patio of Spanish Bay at Pebble Beach. I don't golf, but golfers certainly have taste in location.

I went to California for a few days off with no intention of buying any records, I swear. Somehow, records just seem to find me. I wondered into a little shop called Vinyl Revolution and while flipping through the unimpressive bins, I saw out of the corner of my eye, a stack of 78s in the corner. After flipping through many a "fox trot" on Victor and Columbia, I found the "booty" I was hoping for. It was the red and black of the Atlantic label that jumped out at me like a diamond in crap. What followed was King, Specialty, Cadence and Chess. There's nothing like finding some rock n' roll 78s to put the finishing touches on a great trip out to God's Country: Monterey, California. But for me, it's time to jump back up into the XM Satellite and bring rock n' roll, doo wop, rockabilly and R&B to cats n' kittens everywhere.

Night Prowl Returns: Fats n' Cash

Fats n' Cash

The Night Prowl Show returns LIVE to the airwaves on Monday, February 27th to honor BOTH Fats Domino and Johnny Cash. Fats turned 78 on Sunday, while Johnny Cash would have been 74 on the same day. We'll honor these two very different, but equally important rock n' rollers on Monday's Night's show.

BLUESDAY TUESDAY will feature the late Frankie Lymon, who died 38 years ago on February 28th in Harlem, NY.

Harlem: Week of 2/27/06

This week on HARLEM....

New Orleans
Rhythm & Blues

Harlem gets fat all week (not just Tuesday) with a full hour of nothing but great New Orleans rhythm & blues from the early '50s. Celebrate Mardi Gras in the juke joint with the likes of Fats Domino, Professor Longhair and Smiley Lewis. I spilt gumbo all over my 45s and 78s.

Harlem airs on the 50s on 5:
Monday 2/27 @ 1pm in NY and noon in New Orleans
Tuesday Night 2/28 @ 9pm PST - Midnight EST
Friday 3/3 @ 6pm EST
Sunday morning 3/5 @ 11am EST and 10am in New Orleans

Keep it soulful, ya hear!

Matt The Cat

HARLEM: Week of 2/20/06

"I'm gonna get up in the morning and I believe I'll dust my broom"

Robert Johnson may have said it first, but it's Elmore James' 1951 recording of "Dust My Broom" on Trumpet Records that will live forever as the definitive version. Few people have said more with such few lines.


This week on HARLEM...
The story, the legacy of the great
ELMORE JAMES


Harlem airs on the 50s on 5:
Monday 2/20 @ 1pm EST
Tuesday 2/21 @ 9pm PST - Midnight EST
Friday 2/24 @ 6pm EST
Sunday 2/26 @ 11am EST

MTC Vacation

Hey Cats n' Kittens,

Yes I know, another vacation. This will be my last one for a good period of time. I'll be away from the satellite from February 18th to February 26th. I'll be back on the air LIVE with a new Night Prowl Show on Monday, February 27th.

I'll be in Monterey, CA seeing how the other side lives for a little while. Maybe I'll have some pictures to share when I get back. Harlem will feature Elmore James while I'm gone, so that should give you a good R&B fix.

Even when your furry leader is off the air, you've got to keep on prowlin', Night Prowlers.

Soulfully,
Matt The Cat

Instrumental Thursday is BACK!

Cats n' kittens rejoice as...

Instrumental Thursday RETURNS!

You'll dig in on some of the coolest sounds that are guarenteed to leave you "speechless". There are "no words" to describe these amazing instrumental sounds. Dig some B. Bumble & The Stingers, The Ventures, The Wailers, The Royaltones, Link Wray, Dick Dale, Duane Eddy and of course they'll be many songs you've never heard before.

Instrumental Thursday RETURNS to rock The Night Prowl Show with Matt The Cat

HARLEM: Week of 2/13/06

Love Won, Lost & Unrequited
on
HARLEM

This week, Harlem features an entire hour full of rhythm & blues love songs. Whether it's songs about love won, lost or unrequited, Harlem's got it covered. Oh, and what would a love songs show during Valentine's week be without plenty of songs about drinkin', cheatin' and gamblin'? We've got those too. So open up a bottle of Jack Daniel's good ol' Tennessee Whiskey, because this is going to be a long week, on Harlem.

Harlem Airs on The 50s on 5:
Monday 2/13 @ 1pm over NYC
Tuesday 2/14 VALENTINE'S DAY @ 9pm PST / midnight EST
Friday 2/17 @ 6pm EST
Sunday 2/19 @ 11am EST

Special Bluesday Tuesday 2/14

Debra DeSalvo joins Matt The Cat to discuss "The Language Of The Blues" on Valentine's Day.

Bluesday Tuesday

Valentine's Day has the BLUES written all over it, as we're joined by journalist, musician, author Debra DeSalvo to take a look at the "Language Of The Blues", her new book. It's a glossery of all those blues terms that you've heard in the music over the years and may have wondered what they mean. My personal favorite is "Canned Heat". Debra will reveal this and many other "blues terms" Tuesday Night at 8pm EST - 5pm PST on the Night Prowl Show.

Rockabilly Thursday

Rockabilly Thursday Returns!

Bill Haley died on this day in 1981 and Gene Vincent was born this coming Saturday, Feb 11th, back in 1935. To honor these legends and a ton more, tune in for a truly "crazy" Thursday Night Prowl Show. You'll dig on Roy Orbison's rockabilly days, Eddie Cochran, Sonny Burges, Charlie Feathers, Wanda Jackson, Buddy Holly and so many more hep rockabilly cats n' crazy rockabilly chicks.

HARLEM: Week of 2/6/06

Harlem Salutes One of the Forgotten Greats...

Little Esther Phillips


She was only 15 years old when she scored 3 #1 R&B hits in 1950 singing lead for The Johnny Otis Orchestra. This would also be the year that her addiction to heroin would begin as well. She would struggle throughout her career, going from Little Esther in 1950 and returning to the #1 spot in 1962 with "Release Me" as Esther Phillips. Matt The Cat brings you the true story of an American R&B legend, Miss Esther Phillips, this week on HARLEM; the soul that came before Rock n' Roll.

Harlem airs on the 50s on 5:
Monday 2/6 @ 1pm EST
Tuesday 2/7 @ 9pm PST and Midnight EST
Friday 2/10 @ 6pm
Sunday 2/12 @ 11am