Music fans and everybody else should check out “The Art of Process,” a new podcast featuring singer-songwriters Ted Leo and Aimee Mann interviewing creative types. There are just two episodes so far: I have listened to the one featuring writer, comedian, and star of “People of Earth,” which none of my friends would watch despite my constant threats . . . the charming Wyatt Cenac.
Leo, of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, and Mann have a natural talent for this; they keep things moving along and shut up in all the right places. Obviously these two have a great deal they could contribute to the topic, but I enjoyed hearing them learn the mechanics of a different discipline. Both have pleasing speaking voices. Leo could be mistaken for a young Sam Elliott . . . on a cheap phone . . . going through a tunnel. And this doesn’t get mentioned often enough, because she’s such a talented musician, but Mann has some serious comedy chops. She has appeared in Comedy Bang! Bang!, Corporate, and she and Sarah McLachlan were hilarious in Portlandia.
Leo and his wife — musician, visual artist, and Rhode Island native, Jodi Buonanno — had been shuttling between Rhode Island and Brooklyn, until five years ago when they moved to Rhode Island full time. (More at Stereogum.) Leo has been playing a few solo gigs locally, one at POP Emporium and last month at the Columbus, and let’s hope that continues.
Leo had been opening for Mann on tour until ultimately deciding to perform together as The Both. Leo writes on his website about creating the podcast.
Over the last year of being on the road, when we’d find ourselves together, we were just trying to grab an hour, pulling out our clunky Shure 58s (Shure – get at us) and begging people to try to handle them as quietly as possible (even with the poofy foam pop filters that professional Paul F. Tompkins kindly forced us to take from him after our sit down), while recording into my laptop with the battery that won’t hold a charge and the track pad that doesn’t work. We talked to a broad array of people from many backgrounds and many regions of the creative spectrum, including musicians, of course, but also comedians, speechwriters, screenwriters, illustrators, painters, authors, directors, producers, and more than a few who maybe lean one way or another, but are ultimately pretty hard to categorize.
You had me at Paul F. Tompkins.