Kerry's rocking days; Lydon checks in from Minnesota
ROCK THE VOTE Accepting the record of the year award at the Grammys, Coldplay's Chris Martin gave a shout out to Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry. Unfortunately for Kerry, Martin's a Brit and can't vote in this country. We assume the scruffy lead singer likes the lantern-jawed senator for his politics, not for his playing. Indeed, Martin may not even be aware that while a preppy at St. Paul's, Kerry played bass in a band called the Electras. Predictably, copies of the band's 1962 LP are fetching big sums these days on the Internet. (One sold yesterday on eBay for a whopping $2,551.) So is it any good? Depends who you talk to. Erik Lindgren, a Kerry supporter who operates Arf Arf Records in Middleborough, bought the record 25 years ago at a tag sale for about a quarter. "[Kerry] tends to have a bit of a stiff reputation, but, objectively, the record's really great," Lindgren said. "It has that raw, primal rock 'n' roll spirit. . . . For a teenage dance aesthetic, this is a really good record." Did we mention he's a Kerry supporter?
LISTEN UP Since his departure from WBUR-FM nearly three years ago, Christopher Lydon has done a bit of everything, from blogging to Web-casting to something he calls "parachute radio." (Basically, he hosts occasional call-in shows from far-off places such as Ghana and Singapore.) Lydon's latest endeavor finds him in a less exotic locale, St. Paul, Minn., presiding over Minnesota Public Radio's "Midmorning" show. Lydon started yesterday and will be on air for a month while MPR looks for a replacement for former host Katherine Lanpher. According to station flack Suzanne Perry, Lydon is filling in, not trying out. We couldn't reach Lydon yesterday, but on his blog he sounds excited, and is encouraging old friends to listen online. "I'll do my damndest to make it sing," he writes. "See you on the radio!" HIPPY TURNED FOODIE It was no coincidence that ex-Mamas and the Papas singer Michelle Phillips had dinner at Raphael Bar-Risto in Providence the same night Mary Ann Esposito, host of PBS's "Ciao Italia," was there promoting her new cookbook. Seems Phillips, better known to some as Anne on "Knots Landing" (or as Chynna Phillips's mom and Mackenzie Phillips's stepmom) is a fan of Esposito's show. Phillips surprised diners Sunday with an a cappella rendition of a song she called "Guess Who I Saw Last Night?"
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