PAVEMENT WEEK: EP6: 'SLANTED! ENCHANTED! A PAVEMENT MUSICAL' w/ Michael Esper

For today’s episode of Revolutions Per Movie’s Pavement Week (Episode #6 out #5…right?), I am joined by actor Michael Esper who played the lead role (Essem) in the musical Slanted! Enchanted! A Pavement Musical that is featured in the new documentary Pavements.

We discuss how Michael first got involved in the project and whether or not he felt the musical was earnest or a put-on, the mixed bag that often is a jukebox musical, whether or not his fellow actors knew about Pavement and their music before becoming part of the musical, jamming over 40 Pavement songs into 80 minutes of stage time, Michael feeling like he was losing your mind on stage, the plot and musical theater tropes used in the Slanted musical, could this format have worked for any other band besides Pavement, Michael working with David Bowie on one of his last creative stage projects before his death, how much freedom does a stage performer have from night to night, Michael getting to share an emotional moment from the stage of the musical with his sister (who was also a huge Pavement fan), the absurd leap that an audience has to take with the performers in a musical, how the Slanted musical was an actual love letter to the band and more!

So bring on the major leagues with this soon-to-be Tony-nominated podcast episode of Revolutions Per Movie & its subsidiary Pavement Week.

MICHAEL ESPER:
@airstreamrally

REVOLUTIONS PER MOVIE:
Host Chris Slusarenko (Eyelids, Guided By Voices, owner of Clinton Street Video rental store) is joined by actors, musicians, comedians, writers & directors who each week pick out their favorite music documentary, musical, music-themed fiction film or music videos to discuss. Fun, weird, and insightful, Revolutions Per Movie is your deep dive into our life-long obsessions where music and film collide.

The show is also a completely independent affair, so the best way to support it is through our Patreon at patreon.com/revolutionspermovie. By joining, you can get weekly bonus episodes, physical goods such as Flexidiscs, and other exclusive goods.

Revolutions Per Movies releases new episodes every Thursday on any podcast app, and additional, exclusive bonus episodes every Sunday on our Patreon. If you like the show, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing it on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!

SOCIALS:
@revolutionspermovie
BlueSky: @revpermovie
THEME by Eyelids 'My Caved In Mind'
www.musicofeyelids.bandcamp.com
ARTWORK by Jeff T. Owens
https://linktr.ee/mymetalhand