The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Episode #383 and Like a Hood Ornament #45: Troll, Dave Stevens – Drawn to Perfection, Max Q, Airbrushing Rocketeer Figures, and Cleaning up a Resin Minifigure with Hot Water

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Episode #383 and Like a Hood Ornament #45: Troll, Dave Stevens – Drawn to Perfection, Max Q, Airbrushing Rocketeer Figures, and Cleaning up a Resin Minifigure with Hot Water

https://archive.org/download/podcast-383/Podcast%20383.mp3

This week, I thought I’d start by sharing a few things I have seen recently.  They all relate to the Rocketeer / previous show guest Billy Campbell in some way, though that was mainly coincidental.  If you get the chance to check out a Norwegian film Billy has a small role in, Troll (it’s on Netflix), I think you’ll definitely enjoy it if you like monster movies in the vein of Godzilla.  Interestingly, Billy plays a paleontologist whose last name is “Secord” … coincidence?  Hmmm …

In addition, a documentary about Dave Stevens also was just released.  If you have any interest in Dave, the Rocketeer, or comic book writers and artists in general, it was really well done.  They do a nice job at capturing the inherent loneliness that sometimes besets almost anyone who engage in a creative disciple (most of whic, in my opinion comes from the fact the artist alone know what is inside and there are always translational errors in making that vision something real in the world bound by time, skill, and other finite resources.  

Interestingly, I happened to see this comic magazine from 1983 on eBay the other day.  It was an impulse buy mainly because it had an interview with Dave Stevens in it.  Thought I would include it here since it just came in the mail and is very much in line with what was discussed in the documentary.  

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Lastly, while I was looking for Dave Stevens stuff, I randomly found a film called Max Q that also has Billy Campbell in it.  He again plays a flier ut this time a shuttle commander.  So far, it has reminded me a bit of Spacecamp, one of my favorite films as a kid, and I’m quite enjoying this look at the space shuttle (which NASA no longer uses) as well as the score of the film.  Not sure where you can watch it, but a kind soul uploaded it on Youtube, which is where I found it to begin with.

Welcome to a special edition of The Thirteenth Hour Podcast with guest Billy Campbell (a.k.a. the Rocketeer)! This was initially done as a thank you for supporters of a series of charity auctions of custom Lego Rocketeers done to benefit the nonprofit Hero Initiative. You may also be watching this if you are a listener of The Thirteenth Hour podcast and unlocked this interview by answering a few trivia questions related to our guest. Or, you are watching this at some future date, probably for a slightly different but related charity project. However you got here, thanks for joining, and thank you to Billy Cambell for a fun, wide-ranging conversation about the Rocketeer, comic books, drawing, Dave Stevens, and more.

Next, I thought we’d wrap up with some more hands on stuff.  I’ve been experimenting with using an airbrush to lay down at least the first few coats on the Rocketeer action figures 

@13thhr

I’ve started painting the #resin #customactionfigures of the #Rocketeer and working on the cases. First time using an #airbrush for this kind of thing #resintoyartist #davestevens

♬ Rocketeer To The Rescue: End Credits from The Rocketeer – Dan Redfeld

Lastly, I record a section where I am using hot water to warm a resin figurine I made of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour to make the cleanup of flashing and other bits that would need to be sanded or filed away a bit easier.  I’m not sure if you can do this with all resin but at least the clear stuff it works for.

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Exclusive Preview and Like a Hood Ornament #44: A Conversation with Billy Campbell of the Rocketeer!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Exclusive Preview and Like a Hood Ornament #44: A Conversation with Billy Campbell of the Rocketeer!

https://archive.org/download/podcast-rocketeer-billy-campbell-preview-for-13th-hr-pod/Podcast%20Rocketeer%20Billy%20Campbell%20preview%20for%2013th%20hr%20pod.mp3

 

The Rocketeer Is Getting A New Movie With A Black Lead And A Brand-New  Backstory | Cinemablend

 

Welcome to a special edition of The Thirteenth Hour Podcast with guest Billy Campbell (a.k.a. the Rocketeer)! This was initially done as a thank you for supporters of a series of charity auctions of custom Lego Rocketeers done to benefit the nonprofit Hero Initiative. You may also be watching this if you are a listener of The Thirteenth Hour podcast and unlocked this interview by answering a few trivia questions related to our guest. Or, you are watching this at some future date, probably for a slightly different but related charity project. However you got here, thanks for joining, and thank you to Billy Cambell for a fun, wide-ranging conversation about the Rocketeer, comic books, drawing, Dave Stevens, and more.

Speaking of Dave, none of this would have happened were it not for his many talents (writing, penciling, coloring, etc). Dave Stevens’ high flying hero went on to capture the nostalgia of a bygone era – the sights, speech, and zeitgeist of the golden age of aviation and the promise of the world of tomorrow – much of which eventually ended up on the silver screen in the 1991 movie. Unfortunately, Dave left this world for the next adventure all too soon. In honor of his work (40th years since the Rocketeer comic was first published – 1982), we wrap up the episode by speculating in “what-if” fashion about Cliff’s adventures in the early days of World War 2 in a Choose Your Own Adventure style interactive story.

Now, this episode is just a preview (about 20 minutes), but you can unlock the rest, annotated with pictures and video, by answering these four questions:

1.) In 1991, Billy Campbell played Cliff Secord, Gee Bee pilot, and of course, the Rocketeer. In the late 90s, Billy played another flyer in the film The Brylcreem Boys with Irish actor Gabriel Byrne. While Mr. Byrne wasn’t in The Rocketeer, he was in another Disney film made around the same time. Which one?

a. Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken

b. White Fang

c. Shipwrecked

d. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

 

2.) Billy Campbell currently calls Norway home, and Shipwrecked was a Norwegian film directed by Nils Gaup. Earlier, in 1987, Mr. Gaup wrote and directed another adventure film, released in Norway as Ofleas. The US title was:

a. The Neverending Story

b. Time Bandits

c. The Young Magician

d. Pathfinder

 

3.) Speaking of the 80s, Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens penned the comic of the Rocketeer’s first flight in 1982. The Rocketeer comic had some information on Cliff’s background that wasn’t in the film. In the comic, prior to being a stunt pilot, Cliff was:

a. a circus performer

b. a grocery store stockboy

c. a mechanic

d. a short order cook

 

4.) Speaking of the Rocketeer, one of the beloved parts of the film, comic, and cartoon is the Bulldog Diner, modeled after a real Depression era diner shaped like a bulldog. The Great Depression spawned many infamous diner dishes using available resources. Which one of these real dishes was known as SOS (shite on a shingle)?

a. prune pudding

b. Hoover stew

c. peanut butter and mayo sandwich

d. creamed chipped beef on toast 

Put you answers in the password field below, all lowercase, no spaces, to access the rest of the episode (with pictures)! 

 

 

Dave Stevens The Rocketeer Signed Print (c. 1991).... Memorabilia | Lot  #13920 | Heritage Auctions

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #355 and Like a Hood Ornament #43: Welcome Obi from Obi’s Toybox As We Talk All About the Rocketeer!

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #355 and Like a Hood Ornament #43: Welcome Obi from Obi’s Toybox As We Talk All About the Rocketeer!

https://archive.org/download/podcast-355/Podcast%20355.mp3

This week, I’m joined by special guest Obi of Obi’s Toybox as we talk all about one of our mutual favorite topics – the Rocketeer!  We were introduced by our mutual friend, Adam from AC Toy DesignThe Rocketeer is a pretty hopeful, optimistic film, so I think it’s no wonder that people that like it tend to be nice people.  Yet, I seldom meet folks in day to day life that know much about the film or the comics, so aside from my family and this podcast, I mostly keep that interest to myself.  So it was a rare pleasure to be able to talk with someone else on all manner of things Rocketeer related.  A few things we touched on for reference:

The comics by Dave Stevens:

Dave Stevens The Rocketeer Signed Print (c. 1991).... Memorabilia | Lot  #13920 | Heritage Auctions

Serials that influenced Dave Stevens, e.g.:

The 1991 film:

The Rocketeer Is Getting A New Movie With A Black Lead And A Brand-New  Backstory | Cinemablend

The board game

The animated series:

Toys!

The Rocketeer Action Figure By Diamond Select Disney Toy Walgreens  Exclusive 699788835654 | eBay

The trading cards (we open a pack on the show):

I just found this wonderful looping clip of ambient sounds and music from inside the Bulldog Cafe made by Saint Ambience.

Thanks, Obi, for coming on the show!  We will be back soon for a discussion on anther pulp hero, Flash Gordon!

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #332 and Like a Hood Ornament #41: Toymaking Updates, the Christmas Rocketeer Episode (20), Rocketeer Unboxings, and Reading the Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 18

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #332 and Like a Hood Ornament #41: Toymaking Updates, the Christmas Rocketeer Episode (20), Rocketeer Unboxings, and Reading the Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 18

https://archive.org/download/podcast-332/Podcast%20332.mp3

This week, we’re getting ready for the holidays by opening some presents my brother sent, watching the Rocketeer Christmas episode, discussing a few toymaking updates, and, of course, reading the next section of the Howard the Duck novelization.

As far as updates go, I’ve been sanding and painting, then sanding and painting some more.  I’ve got the parts laid out for each figure and have been painting parts of them piece by piece.

This is a preliminary idea of what Logan will look like.  Not all the colors have been painted in, obviously, but that will be the fun part – when all is painted and it’s ready to glue it all together.

Speaking of toys, my brother, Jeremy, who was last on for the Red Sonja episode, sent some Rocketeer gear, and I thought it might be fun to open it up on the show:

Then, we watch the Rocketeer cartoon Christmas Star episode.  A few screenshots:

Now, check out the Hughesville Mayor’s Rocketeer sweater!

And check out these ornaments!  Disney, take note!

Speaking of which, if you’re looking for a holiday gift, please consider checking out the Thirteenth Hour mask combo package on Etsy.  This fall, it became really hard to find good quality masks for our kids as they were going back to school.  There are still long wait times for some of the companies we like best, so I thought, why not try to find an alternative?  I eventually settled on the triple layer masks available for printing on by the company Flashbay.  They were one of the few companies I found that were transparent about their third party safety data (Junior: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Junior_REACH.pdf?v=1617870020, Adult: https://static.flashbay.com/images/certificates/Sky_Performance.pdf?v=1603078812), which is nice.  I was impressed by how well these masks performed on the filtration tests, even after repeat washings.  Also, I really liked how both the ears and nose piece could be adjusted for a good fit.

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The Thirteenth Hour mask combo also comes with Thirteenth Hour hand sanitizer! (But of course.)

Lastly, we are also reading the next section of the Howard the Duck from the movie novelization.  We are almost done!  Only two more chapters to go.  This past one has some humorous mid 80s satire/commentary on politics of the day (Ronald Regan economics and priorities, the Cold War, etc).

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Next week, we finish Howard!  Have a good holiday, everyone!

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #324 and Like a Hood Ornament #40: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 19, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 11

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #34 and Like a Hood Ornament #40: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 19, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 11

https://archive.org/download/podcast-324/Podcast%20324.mp3

Welcome to the first part of the Halloween editions of The Thirteenth Hour podcast!  This week, we’re discussing a few toymaking updates, reading the next section of the Howard the Duck novelization, and watching the Halloween episodes from The Rocketeer cartoon. 

Toymaking stuff first: with the spare resin that comes from making other things, I’ve been saving a bit for these little helmets to become (once finished) to Rocketeer helmets for the Lego Rocketeer minifigures to be donated to charity auctions:

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There’s always resin left over after a project, so I generally pour it off into another easy to use mold, like this one.  Some of those projects:

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The Beverly minifgures – still got to clean up the flashing along the seam lines and touch up a bunch of other parts (basically consisting of lots of filing, sanding, etc. edges and other parts, perhaps also strengthening the guitar necks).  Then they will be ready for painting (at least the non glow in the dark ones).

Lastly, it’s rough, but I finally have a prototype cast Logan made from flexible Smooth-On Smooth Cast 45 D resin for the limbs and head and Smooth-On Smooth Cast 300 resin for the torso.  I might try to make one that is all made of 45 D since I might be able to make it translucent, which would be fun.  Now, it’s just a matter of fine tuning the casting process to make sure the limbs can reliably fit inside the torso – which they did on the initial non-cast prototype but somewhere along the lines, something got lost in translation after casting and tolerances that were tight are no longer. 

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We’re also watching the next episode of the Rocketeer cartoon (number 19) … the Halloween episode!  Some screenshots:

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You can see Kit’s dressed up like a WW1 pilot for Halloween, making her look just like Cliff in the beginning of the film or in various pages of the comic by Dave Stevens.

We are are reading the next section of the Howard the Duck from the movie novelization.

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The author added another humorous aside calling back to our episodes on The Wizard of Loneliness, where “Lord, love a duck” was a frequent utterance.

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Happy Halloween!

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #323 and Like a Hood Ornament #39: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 18, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 10

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #323 and Like a Hood Ornament #39: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 18, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 10

https://archive.org/download/podcast-323/Podcast%20323.mp3

This past week, I have been waiting for some new resin to arrive for the Logan and Aurora Kenner style figures.  In the meantime, I have been working on these Lego Rocketeer minifigures to be donated to charity auctions. Here’s what I’ve got so far:

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The packs and helmets are being resin cast.  As I mentioned in the episode, I think I will use magnets to attach the rocketpacks, at least the ones not intended for kids.  (Rare earth magnets and small children are a bad combo).  

We’re also watching the next episode of the Rocketeer cartoon (number 18) …  Some screenshots:

323 1323 2

… and readung the next section of the Howard the Duck from the movie novelization.

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The author added this especially humorous segment:

3E9D0A19-804C-49A2-8CEA-BB0E35F63B53


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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #322 and Like a Hood Ornament #38: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 17, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 9

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #322 and Like a Hood Ornament #38: Toymaking Updates, Watching the Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 17, and Reading The Howard the Duck Movie Novelization Part 9

https://archive.org/download/podcast-322/Podcast%20322.mp3

This past week, I made a mold for the Logan and Aurora Kenner style figures.  There will need to be another one, since the torso halves are being made with different resin.  

Make molds can be messy business …

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These guys are about to be slimed …

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Like this: https://www.tiktok.com/@13thhr/video/7016844956908244230

@13thhr Oh snap! The Thirteenth Hour #actionfigures are happening! Pouring the first mold … @Smooth-On, Inc. #customactionfigures #thethirteenthhour ♬ Searching for Forever (Instrumental) – Joshua Blum

We’re also reading the next episode of the Rocketeer cartoon (number 17) …

And starting the next chapter of Howard the Duck from the movie novelization!

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #312 and Like a Hood Ornament #36: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 16

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #312 and Like a Hood Ornament #36: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 16

 
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Today, we are again working on the start of a new music track, this time with the iOS app Auxy (laying down the backing percussion and some notes in the verses) as well as watching the Rocketeer cartoon episode number 16, one of my kids’ favorites.  Some pictures from the episode … 

 

ep 161ep 162ep 163

I don’t know if this was written intentionally, but the part where Kit and Valerie go back and forth about stealing / borrowing a statue remind me of the part in the 1991 movie where Cliff and Peevy do the same thing (though the statue they “borrow” if of Charles Lindburgh, not the Rocketeer). 

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ep 165ep 166

It’s hard to see in the above screenshot, but the dinero Kit and Tesh are holding in this scene has Rocketeer helmets on it where the Presidential head usually is 🙂

Lastly, about a year ago, there was a tragic explosion in Beirut, Lebanon (the country where half of Kit’s family comes from).  Things had been bad for some time, but the explosion and COVID really have done a number on the people of Lebanon.  Last year and recently, I made little posts on Twitter about it, mainly to raise awareness in a positive light (things on Twitter seem to have a habit of turning negative / political very quickly).  As I mentioned there, although Kit’s obviously not a real person, if she were real, she would be trying to help in some way, and if it’s one thing the world needs more of right now, it’s more everyday people who embrace their inner “heart of a hero,” just like our friends, Cliff and Kit.

When I think of those sentiments, I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from another high flying aviator, astronaut Ellison Onizuka (RIP).

“… the people who make this world run, whose lives can be termed successful, whose names will go down in the history books, are not the cynics, the critics, or the armchair quarterbacks.

They are the adventurists, the explorers, and doers of this world. When they see a wrong or problem, they do something about it. When they see a vacant place in our knowledge, they work to fill that void.

Rather than leaning back and criticizing how things are, they work to make things the way they should be. They are the aggressive, the self-starters, the innovative, and the imaginative of this world …

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but by what your mind can imagine. Many things that you take for granted were considered unrealistic dreams by previous generations. If you accept these past accomplishments as commonplace then think of the new horizons that you can explore …

Make your life count – and the world will be a better place because you tried.”

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9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #311 and Like a Hood Ornament #35: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 15 with Production Coordinator Esther Gonzalez Murray

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #311 and Like a Hood Ornament #35: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 15 with Production Coordinator Esther Gonzalez Murray

Today, Esther Gonzalez Murray rejoins the show (she was last on for episode 294) to watch and discuss one of her favorite episodes.  Both of the segments that make up this episode are a lot of fun.  The show has really hit its stride by this point, as just about all the characters and villains have been introduced at least once, so even though each episode is generally meant to stand alone, there is some collective sense of history at this point that is nice.  

Some pictures from the episode … the first two involve a plot where the rocketpack is malfunctioning and gets captured by The Great Orsino (Cliff’s NY Adventure reference), who covers it for his stage act.   His assistant Deany, takes control of it for a short time and uses it to do good, but, ever helpful, not before first helping Orsino try to fly it in circles by holding him down with a tether (reference from the film where Cliff and Oeevy try something similar with a Charles Lindbergh statue).

doge sleeporsino flysavedoge2kit

Thanks, Esther, for rejoining the show!

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9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #306 and Like a Hood Ornament #33: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 14, Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of The Rocketeer (6/21/1991)

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #306 and Like a Hood Ornament #33: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 14, Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of The Rocketeer (6/21/1991)

The day this episode releases will mark the 30th anniversary of The Rocketeer.  In celebration, I have a few special things for this episode, including a few accompanying video segments.  

The first is the opening of the Diamond Select version of the Rocketeer figure:

There is also a short segment with a number of other Rocketeer figurines:

The next segment is annotation of a short part in the film where the Rocketeer is caught in between G-men, gangsters, and Nazi storm troopers, eventually leading to those iconic scenes where he’s taking off by the American flag. 

rocketeer movie mauser1rocketeer movie mauser2rocketeer movie mauser3

Although he is shown in both the comic (on covers mostly) and in pictures holding a Mauser C96 pistol, he never actually gets to use it in either the film or the original comic (more next week).  This clip shows how he obtained it in the film:   

This week, I’ll finish a little Rocketeer one screen game made with the app Pixicade.  It will be a shooting game, since those are very easy to make the the built in physics engine the app has.  Here is a preliminary drawing:

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Now onto more family friendly things!  Some pictures from the Rocketeer cartoon part of the episode:

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Lastly, check out episode 43 of I Used to Like This One for a guest appearance I made on the show to discuss the 1991 film version of The Rocketeer for the 30th anniversary of the film.

Lastly, thanks for all who joined in for the live Facebook concert of Thirteenth Hour music with the custom Logan action figure that happened on 5/30/21.  You can replay it here:

Set list:
1.) The Thirteenth Hour Theme*
2.) Empty Hands+
3.) Dragons’ Eyes*
4.) Forever Young (by Alphaville, acoustic guitar cover)
5.) Dreams Go Far*
6.) I Will Remember You (by Amy Grant, acoustic guitar cover)
7.) Love, Grey Dresses, and Other Things*
8.) Searching for Forever*
 
*from the Long Ago Not So Far Away LP (https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/…/long-ago-not-so-far-away)

If you would like to grab a little piece of The Thirteenth Hour, pick up a patch of Logan flying off into the sunset and bask in many of the things we discussed in this episode – silver flying machines, cloudscapes, and the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape – last week only!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

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9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

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The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #305 and Like a Hood Ornament #32: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 13

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #305 and Like a Hood Ornament #32: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 13

This week, I’m continuing to work on the new custom action figure of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour, this one made by a character from from the show PJ Masks that I had to fix.  I’m also in the process of painting the Lego Friends Rocketeer.  My progress so far:

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Some pictures from the episode:

mom daughterfly cloudskit tesh

Lastly, check out episode 43 of I Used to Like This One for a guest appearance I made on the show to discuss the 1991 film version of The Rocketeer.  Next week, it will be the 30th anniversary of his film!

Lastly, thanks for all who joined in for the live Facebook concert of Thirteenth Hour music with the custom Logan action figure that happened on 5/30/21.  You can replay it here:

Set list:
1.) The Thirteenth Hour Theme*
2.) Empty Hands+
3.) Dragons’ Eyes*
4.) Forever Young (by Alphaville, acoustic guitar cover)
5.) Dreams Go Far*
6.) I Will Remember You (by Amy Grant, acoustic guitar cover)
7.) Love, Grey Dresses, and Other Things*
8.) Searching for Forever*
 
*from the Long Ago Not So Far Away LP (https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/…/long-ago-not-so-far-away)

If you would like to grab a little piece of The Thirteenth Hour, pick up a patch of Logan flying off into the sunset and bask in many of the things we discussed in this episode – silver flying machines, cloudscapes, and the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #304: Starting a New Custom Thirteenth Hour Figure and Like a Hood Ornament #31: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 12

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #304: Starting a New Custom Thirteenth Hour Figure and Like a Hood Ornament #31: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 12

This week, I started working on a new custom action figure of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour, this one made by a character from from the show PJ Masks that I had to fix anyway.  I used Aves Apoxiesculpt clay to add to the base figure’s clothes to make them look more like what Logan wears in the book.  

img_3895img_3896img_3900

On the left, you can see some progress on the Lego Friends Rocketeer.  Speaking of the Rocketeer, there is a Rocketeer game I alluded to in the episode you can download for your phone.  More details here:

Some pictures from the episode:

kitlfylillth

Lastly, check out episode 43 of I Used to Like This One for a guest appearance I made on the show to discuss the 1991 film version of The Rocketeer.

Lastly, thanks for all who joined in for the live Facebook concert of Thirteenth Hour music with the custom Logan action figure that happened on 5/30/21.  You can replay it here:

Set list:
1.) The Thirteenth Hour Theme*
2.) Empty Hands+
3.) Dragons’ Eyes*
4.) Forever Young (by Alphaville, acoustic guitar cover)
5.) Dreams Go Far*
6.) I Will Remember You (by Amy Grant, acoustic guitar cover)
7.) Love, Grey Dresses, and Other Things*
8.) Searching for Forever*
 
*from the Long Ago Not So Far Away LP (https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/…/long-ago-not-so-far-away)

If you would like to grab a little piece of The Thirteenth Hour, pick up a patch of Logan flying off into the sunset and bask in many of the things we discussed in this episode – silver flying machines, cloudscapes, and the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #303 and Like a Hood Ornament #30: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 11

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #303 and Like a Hood Ornament #30: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 11

This week, I started working on a few of the action figure projects I mentioned the episode before last.  I got a chance to do some of the preliminary clay sculpting.  There is a little more to do, then some fine tuning with files and Dremels and such. 

img_3831

 

The figure on the left that currently looks like it’s wearing a diaper is from the show PJ Maskswhich my kids occasionally will watch.  If I can puff out the pants to resemble to baggy fatigue trousers Logan wears, sculpt in a belt – perhaps the yellow one Logan usually has on as part of his base uniform or the utility belt he is issued with lots out pouches and a sheath knife (more of a challenge but more interesting to sculpt those small details), puff out the sleeves of the arms a bit, then add a head than is not so disproportionately large, I’ll have another Logan custom.

@13thhr

Making jodhpurs and the Cirrus X-3 for a custom #legofriends rocketeer. Using apoxiesculpt.

♬ The Thirteenth Hour Theme (Trailer Version) – Joshua Blum

On the right in the picture and in the video above, you can see some sculpting going on to make a Lego Friends figure look more like the Rocketeer.

The second part of the episode is watching The Rocketeer cartoon, episode 11, which is one of my favorites, as there is a toy Rocketeer in it!

Some pictures from the episode:

rocketeerrocketeer3cliff's hatbruce

Lastly, thanks for all who joined in for the live Facebook concert of Thirteenth Hour music with the custom Logan action figure that happened on 5/30/21.  You can replay it here:

Set list:
1.) The Thirteenth Hour Theme*
2.) Empty Hands+
3.) Dragons’ Eyes*
4.) Forever Young (by Alphaville, acoustic guitar cover)
5.) Dreams Go Far*
6.) I Will Remember You (by Amy Grant, acoustic guitar cover)
7.) Love, Grey Dresses, and Other Things*
8.) Searching for Forever*
 
*from the Long Ago Not So Far Away LP (https://joshuablum.bandcamp.com/…/long-ago-not-so-far-away)

If you would like to grab a little piece of The Thirteenth Hour, pick up a patch of Logan flying off into the sunset and bask in many of the things we discussed in this episode – silver flying machines, cloudscapes, and the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #302 and Like a Hood Ornament #29: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 10 and Welcome Vocalist Tammy Infusino

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #302 and Like a Hood Ornament #29: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 10 and Welcome Vocalist Tammy Infusino

This week, I’m watching episode 10 of The Rocketeer cartoon and welcoming vocalist Tammy Infusino to the show (click on the picture below to go to her website). 

TAMMY INFUSINO

Tammy did the vocals for many of the songs in the show, including the intro song, the suit up sequence, and a number of songs in the playlist below.

One of the songs Tammy sings, “A Beautiful View” comes up in the episode we are watching this week and also has a great visual to go with it.  Check it out below!

Here are some of the other songs referenced in the podcast

Exchange – “Where the Truth Lies” (from the Prince Valiant cartoon intro)

Berlin – “Take My Breath Away” (from Top Gun)

Now that you’ve heard her belt out 80s style songs for The Rocketeer, check out Tammy’s original music on Spotify. 

Here are some pics from episode 10, which has lots of great cloudscape shots.

tesh and kitkit flyingvaleriekit rocket

Speaking of cloudscapes, pick up a patch of Logan flying off into the sunset and bask in many of the things we discussed in this episode – silver flying machines, cloudscapes, and the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

 

Speaking of Thirteenth Hour music, join Logan on 5/29/21 at 10:30 PM on Facebook Live for a Thirteenth Hour concert!  Mostly originals from Long Ago Not So Far Away, the Thirteenth Hour soundtrack, but also a number of covers of songs that inspired the music. 

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #301 and Like a Hood Ornament #28: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 9

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #301 and Like a Hood Ornament #28: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 9

This week, I’m discussing a few upcoming custom action figure ideas (a few Rocketeer ones, another Logan one) coming this summer.

A few pictures:

This little lady from PJ Masks has a broken hip. But if I can fix it, I think I might be able to use the body to make a custom Logan figure, since the tunic is pretty similar.  

I’ve slowly been collecting pieces to make a 3 3/4” Rocketeer custom figure as well as a Cliff and Jenny set (made of Lego Friends pieces and a few other accessories).

The second part of the episode is watching The Rocketeer cartoon, episode 9.  

Some pictures from the episode:

bulldog1bulldog3bulldog4 

There are lots of great interior shots of the Bulldog Cafe in this episode!

Lastly, thanks for all who joined in for the live IG concert of Thirteenth Hour music with the custom Logan action figure that happened on 5/15/21.  When I figure out how to get it onto another platform, I’ll have another concert there as well.  

If you would like to grab a little piece of The Thirteenth Hour, pick up a patch of Logan flying off into the sunset and bask in many of the things we discussed in this episode – silver flying machines, cloudscapes, and the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #300 – Special Anniversary Podcast Edition and Like a Hood Ornament #27: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 8 with My Daughter

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #300 – Special Anniversary Podcast Edition and Like a Hood Ornament #27: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 8 with My Daughter

Welcome to episode 300!  This show has been going in some fashion since 2014 and continuously since early 2015 so in commemoration, I’v gathered together a few clips from past episodes and time when I’ve been guests of fellow podcasters discussing some aspects of The Thirteenth Hour

We start off with a short clip from my first podcast in this format (since the first 15 had been just reading aloud from an earlier draft of The Thirteenth Hour pre-publication to try to catch errors).  Here is the full episode:

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #16: The Thirteenth Hour Podcast Returns!

We recently had Paul and Ric from the Classic Gamers Guild on the show to talk about the making of their pixelart adventure game, though in Jan of 2020, I was actually a guest on their show to discuss The Rocketeer (of course).  I have included a little segment that talks about the age of the show at that time and what it is about.  You can listen to their full episode here: https://www.cggpodcast.com/e/water-cooler-4/

Some years before, when I was living in New England, I was interviewed on his radio show, The Author’s Hour, fellow author Wayne Barber hosted me on his show.  There’s an excerpt here about what The Thirteenth Hour is about and what so many of the things touched upon in this show have been about over the years.  The full interview is here, back on episode 31 of the show:

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #31: Special Edition – Radio Interview from 2/16/16

Just one episode before, my brother, Jeremy, had just been on (my first guest!) to talk about the homebrew games we attempted to make in the 90s (which we circled back to in episode 298 with Ric and Paul).  The full episode (#30) is below, but Jeremy comes on the show briefly today to talk about what he’s been up to.  Find more of his writing over at https://pixelgrotto.tumblr.com/.

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #30: Homebrew Video Games with My Bro

Our next guest for today, Adam from @mom_gave_them_away, who has been on the show a number of times before (see below for one of those times) comes on to share what he has been doing and what he is passionate about. One of the great things about the show (and the reason I’ve kept doing it these past 6 years) is that through it, I’ve met so many talented, creative people I probably wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #220: An In-Person Conversation with Adam from AC Toy Design / @mom_gave_them_away

At the same time we recorded the show linked above (#220), we also recorded one for Adam’s show.  I’ve included a clip in this episode (about Spacecamp and other 80s movies), and you can listen to the full episode on Spotify above or on his Patreon.

d64c277b-d4ce-467c-970a-a2ce020ef6c5

I picked flying scenes to represent so many aspects of The Thirteenth Hour since I think that is what so many of those 80s films and songs did in a way – it was escapism in the purest sense, and I think the idea of flying, or rather the freedom of the open air, has always been something that I have found attractive (probably one of the reasons I liked and still like the Rocketeer so much).  I recently finished a painting of Logan and the Rocketeer zooming through a lilac purple cloudscape getting at exactly these images called “Wingmen.” 

img_3658

I just recorded for this episode a little video going of me opening a new Rocketeer action figure that recently came out.  Man, what I would have given for something like this as a kid! 

To do the next episode of The Rocketeer cartoon (#8), this week, my daughter joins for the whole segment.  It was a happy little coincidence that in the first clip on this show (from episode #16), she was an infant, and here, she’s almost 7.  It was a great thing to be able to do with her.

Some pictures from the episode:

  rockethangbulldog1bulldog2bulldog3

 

Lastly, stay tuned for a concert involved Thirteenth Hour music, a custom Logan action figure, and Logan stories next week, 5/15/21 at 10:30 PM EST on Instagram Live @the13thhr.ost.  It will look something like this:

If you would like to grab a little piece of The Thirteenth Hour, pick up a patch of Logan flying off into the sunset and bask in many of the things we discussed in this episode – silver flying machines, cloudscapes, and the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #299 and Like a Hood Ornament #26: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 7

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #299 and Like a Hood Ornament #26: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 7

This week, we’re continuing to go through episodes of The Rocketeer cartoon, one at a time, this time with Episode 7.  As before, you can watch along with the episode as I go though it in real time.  

Some pictures from the episode:

 

I also found a new Rocketeer podcast!  Check out Rocketeer Radio for more great Rocketeer info.  I listened to all the episodes in like a day and am looking forward to the next one.

If it weren’t for hopeful films like The Rocketeer, there probably wouldn’t a Thirteenth Hour, and you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog.  In the pixelart patch below of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour flying off into the sunset, you might be able to spot some of those influences – the silver flying machine, the cloudscape, the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

In the meantime, you may be interested in a few select Rocketeer related episodes :

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-249-and-like-a-hood-ornament-9-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-250-and-like-a-hood-ornament-10-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute-part-2-2/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-271-and-like-a-hood-ornament-19-welcome-nicole-dubuc-executive-producer-of-the-rocketeer-animated-series/

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #297 and Like a Hood Ornament #25: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 6

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #297 and Like a Hood Ornament #25: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 6

This week, we’re continuing to go through episodes of The Rocketeer cartoon, one at a time, this time with Episode 6.  In this one, my daughter (who is dressed up like Kit for Halloween in the banner above) joins for the last few minutes at the end to talk about an episode where Kit goes chasing after her piggy bank.

Some pictures from the episode:

ambroseorsinotesh

If it weren’t for hopeful films like The Rocketeer, there probably wouldn’t a Thirteenth Hour, and you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog.  In the pixelart patch below of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour flying off into the sunset, you might be able to spot some of those influences – the silver flying machine, the cloudscape, the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

In the meantime, you may be interested in a few select Rocketeer related episodes :

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-249-and-like-a-hood-ornament-9-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-250-and-like-a-hood-ornament-10-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute-part-2-2/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-271-and-like-a-hood-ornament-19-welcome-nicole-dubuc-executive-producer-of-the-rocketeer-animated-series/

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #296 and Like a Hood Ornament #24: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 5

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #296 and Like a Hood Ornament #24: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 5

This week, we’re continuing to go through episodes of The Rocketeer cartoon, one at a time, this time with Episode 5.  In this one, we meet a boy genius / mad scientist / dumpster diver by the name of Rolland, who fancies himself a metal clad character named Dr. Doodlebug as as well as a pilot-less plane still being beta tested named Ava.

Some pictures from the episode:

avaclassdoolebug

If it weren’t for hopeful films like The Rocketeer, there probably wouldn’t a Thirteenth Hour, and you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog.  In the pixelart patch below of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour flying off into the sunset, you might be able to spot some of those influences – the silver flying machine, the cloudscape, the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

In the meantime, you may be interested in a few select Rocketeer related episodes :

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-249-and-like-a-hood-ornament-9-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-250-and-like-a-hood-ornament-10-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute-part-2-2/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-271-and-like-a-hood-ornament-19-welcome-nicole-dubuc-executive-producer-of-the-rocketeer-animated-series/

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #295 and Like a Hood Ornament #23: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 4 with Show Writer’s Assistant Dan Salgarolo

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #295 and Like a Hood Ornament #23: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 4 with Show Writer’s Assistant Dan Salgarolo

This week, we’re continuing to go through episodes of The Rocketeer cartoon, one at a time, this time with Episode 4.  This episode is actually available for free on Youtube so even if you don’t have access to the full season, you can watch this one in full and follow along in real time as we watch it. 

Some pictures from the episode:

Assistant Writer (a.k.a script coordinator) Dan Salgarolo joins today to talk about some behind the scenes insights into the creation of the show, the music, the animation, and much more. For example, on the “Songbird” episode above, Dan shared some insights into how studio execs thought it might be too complex of a story for young child to understand, and yes, though it does deal with some adult emotions (daredevil flier has a traumatic experience in the air, gets saved by the Rocketeer, but loses her nerve and doesn’t fly again until Kit and Tesh wheedle (i.e. bribe with pie) their way into her life.)  I don’t think that kind of story is too complicated for kids to understand, since childhood is an array of dealing with things you don’t understand, are too complex for you to do, or that might scare you, but I get their concern about the part where May Songbird falls out of the sky.  The upside is that we get to see a return of Cliff Secord!  (The character animation in this episode and the first episode are the first time Cliff returns to the screen in almost 30 years).   If you ever had any desire to be part of the writing department on a TV show or a movie, tune in to see what day to day operations look like.  We also get to talk about the process of writing and what happens as ideas go from conception to their final forms.  Thanks so much, Dan, for joining the show and look forward to talking to you again for a future episode!

If it weren’t for hopeful films like The Rocketeer, there probably wouldn’t a Thirteenth Hour, and you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog.  In the pixelart patch below of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour flying off into the sunset, you might be able to spot some of those influences – the silver flying machine, the cloudscape, the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

In the meantime, you may be interested in a few select Rocketeer related episodes :

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-249-and-like-a-hood-ornament-9-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-250-and-like-a-hood-ornament-10-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute-part-2-2/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-271-and-like-a-hood-ornament-19-welcome-nicole-dubuc-executive-producer-of-the-rocketeer-animated-series/

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #294 and Like a Hood Ornament #22: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 3 with Production Coordinator Esther Gonzalez Murray

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #294 and Like a Hood Ornament #22: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 3 with Production Coordinator Esther Gonzalez Murray

This week, we’re continuing to go through episodes of The Rocketeer cartoon, one at a time, this time with Episode 3.  As before, you can follow along in real time.  This is my son’s favorite episode!  The Rocketeer’s best friend, Tesh, gets a gear upgrade and ends up with a shiny trike he dubs the Sonic Flash.  We also see a great art deco statue of the original Rocketeer.

flashflash2sky

In one part of the second episode, a plane Laurel and Harley (above) steal, looks remarkably like the Boeing P-26 (below). 

I’m doing the first part of the episode solo, and then production coordinator Esther Gonzalez Murray joins me for the second half to discuss more on the making of the show.  Unfortunately, there was a recording glitch during our interview where my mic was doing weird things, so in a lot of parts, I sounded like the teacher on Charlie Brown even after a lot of post production editing.  So, in the end, I cut most of those parts out so your ears don’t bleed.  But – you don’t really need my occasional comments (you can hear me talk in like almost 300 podcast episodes, after all), since Esther’s insights and memories stand well enough alone.  Thanks, Esther, for joining the show to offer your insights.  Look forward to taking with you on future episodes!  Learn more about her on Twitter.

Before I forget, at a few points the music and outro sequence get discussed.  Here’s the outro – I could watch this sequence all day!  I’ve talked about the first person point of view of flying into the clouds on this show quite a bit (like the cloudscape meditation video we made episode 290)

 

Also, one of the things Esther mentioned on the episode is a real life Bulldog Cafe (like in Dave Stevens’ comic and the 1991 film)in LA.  See the Idle Hour Gallery for more info!  Next time I’m in LA, sometime after this pandemic, I know where we are going … !

bulldog

Scott Gray on Twitter: "Ha-ha! I always thought Dave Stevens made this up!…  "

If it weren’t for hopeful films like The Rocketeer, there probably wouldn’t a Thirteenth Hour, and you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog.  In the pixelart patch below of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour flying off into the sunset, you might be able to spot some of those influences – the silver flying machine, the cloudscape, the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

In the meantime, you may be interested in a few select Rocketeer related episodes :

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-249-and-like-a-hood-ornament-9-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-250-and-like-a-hood-ornament-10-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute-part-2-2/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-271-and-like-a-hood-ornament-19-welcome-nicole-dubuc-executive-producer-of-the-rocketeer-animated-series/

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #293 and Like a Hood Ornament #21: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 2 with Show Writer Brian Hohlfeld

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #293 and Like a Hood Ornament #21: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 2 with Show Writer Brian Hohlfeld

This week, we’re continuing with going through episodes of The Rocketeer cartoon, one at a time, this time with Episode 2.  As before, you can follow along in real time. In both parts of episode 2, the dogs steal the show.

kitbutch

I’m doing the first part of the episode solo, and then show writer Brian Hohlfeld joins me for the second half to discuss more about one of the episodes he wrote as well as more on the making of the show.  Thanks, Brian, for joining the show to offer your insights.  Look forward to taking with you on future episodes!  Learn more about him on Twitter.

dogs

If it weren’t for hopeful films like The Rocketeer, there probably wouldn’t a Thirteenth Hour, and you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog.  In the pixelart patch below of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour flying off into the sunset, you might be able to spot some of those influences – the silver flying machine, the cloudscape, the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

In the meantime, you may be interested in a few select Rocketeer related episodes :

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-249-and-like-a-hood-ornament-9-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-250-and-like-a-hood-ornament-10-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute-part-2-2/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-271-and-like-a-hood-ornament-19-welcome-nicole-dubuc-executive-producer-of-the-rocketeer-animated-series/

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #292 and Like a Hood Ornament #20: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 1

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #292 and Like a Hood Ornament #20: Watching The Rocketeer Cartoon Episode 1

This week’s show starts a few month period where we’re going to go through the episodes of The Rocketeer cartoon, one at a time, starting with the first episode.  There are a lot of great odes in this one for fans of both the 1991 movie and Dave Steves’ comic, so if you have the means to watch it (the series is on Disney Plus but also available for purchase or rent on Amazon).

This is all gearing up for two things – episode 300 of the show as well as the 30th anniversary of The Rocketeer’s initial summer release this year!  So I figured what better way to celebrate those milestones than trying to bring some attention to the cartoon, the most recent iteration of Dave Stevens’ creation.  I hope that the more positive energy I (and other Rocketeer fans) throw at the flames (which, to be honest, are usually more like embers in the grand scheme of things for people to get excited about), the better.

If it weren’t for hopeful films like The Rocketeer, there probably wouldn’t a Thirteenth Hour, and you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog.  In the pixelart patch below of Logan from The Thirteenth Hour flying off into the sunset, you might be able to spot some of those influences – the silver flying machine, the cloudscape, the sun setting on another day signifying a hope for a better tomorrow.  The patches come with a high quality mp3 download from Once Upon a Dream, the next Thirteenth Hour soundtrack LP.

img_2898

In the meantime, you may be interested in a few select Rocketeer related episodes :

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/18/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-249-and-like-a-hood-ornament-9-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-250-and-like-a-hood-ornament-10-welcome-jim-okane-and-hal-bryan-of-the-rocketeer-minute-part-2-2/

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-271-and-like-a-hood-ornament-19-welcome-nicole-dubuc-executive-producer-of-the-rocketeer-animated-series/

If you still have a cassette player, take advantage of the following deal and be transported to another world!  SALE!  While supplies last, grab Long Ago Not So Far Away on cassette!  Just $1/tape!
https://ko-fi.com/s/5579db9b27

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #271 and Like a Hood Ornament 19: Welcome Nicole Dubuc, Executive Producer of the Rocketeer Animated Series

Episode #271 and Like a Hood Ornament 19: Welcome Nicole Dubuc, Executive Producer of the Rocketeer Animated Series

https://archive.org/download/podcast-271/Podcast%20271.mp3

This week, I’d like to welcome screenwriter, actress, and producer Nicole Dubuc to the show.  She is the executive producer of the Rocketeer cartoon that came out about a year ago (which, as of 10/16/20, is now also available on Disney+.)  She joins the show under another installment of the Like a Hood Ornament Rocketeer segment to discuss the creation of the series, the music, and some of the ideals she and her team brought to the cartoon.  It was especially great to see how they were able to take Dave Stevens’ and the 1991 film’s visions of the Rocketeer universe and turn it into something that young children could easily digest and fall in love with (as my kids did).

My own children started watching the show when it came out.  We don’t have cable, so I had no idea how to watch the episodes initially but eventually figured out that you could buy the episodes individually on iTunes (and then, ultimately, as a whole season on Amazon).  It’s been great to share my favorite movie with the kids in a form they can digest, and as I mentioned here before and on social media, we’ve done a bunch of things from that love of the show, like reading books about airplanes together, making a Halloween costume for my daughter (almost done, more on the first Patreon exclusive episode coming soon), and making little resin figurines.   I also have the Rocketeer comics to thank for helping to keep my three-year-old son on the potty long enough to, you know, take care of business.

If you haven’t seen the show, here is a clip of our favorite song, which has all the 80s pop glory of flying to the sound of synths and guitars.

Can you spot the original Rocketeer film/comic Easter Eggs?  Here are a few to get you started …

-recreation of the scene in the original comic and film of the Rocketeer saving a pilot in trouble at an airshow

-Butch the bulldog

Billy Campbell, the original Rocketeer in the 1991 film, who voices the pilot in trouble (the father of Kit, the new Rocketeer).

-gum in a white wrapper (a la Beeman’s) that saves the day

If you don’t have Disney+ or another streaming service with the show, you can, of course, buy episodes or the season individually like I did.

daa0d598-dc1b-4f92-bc6b-2d9d62d4b363

However, you can also watch an episode for free (which has a nice cameo by the original Rocketeer) on Youtube:

Although I wasn’t able to get it to work since I think my phone is too old, there was a Rocketeer game with the same bright color palate the series has that used to be part of the Disney Now app.  I’m not sure it’s still available since I wasn’t able to find it this time around, but you can check out the gameplay below.   Looks like fun!  I hope it gets released to be more widely available!

If you want to listen to more of the music, you can find a playlist of the songs on Youtube Music.  Here a great one that has a great retro 80s feel with some iconic cloud chasing:

Thanks, Nicole, for coming on the show!  You can find out more about her on Twitter and Instagram.

Look for more Rocketeer cartoon content in future episodes, and if you’re a member of the Thirteenth Hour Arts Patreon group, look for more updates on the costume we’re currently making.  Here’s a preview:

img_2062

As I mentioned last week, I wanted to finish the short story, “The Last Rocketeer” (which tells the story of what might happen if a 71-year-old Cliff from The Rocketeer met up with Centauri from The Last Starfighter) by Halloween since the story ends on Halloween, but also because, when writing it, I wanted to pay homage to the timeline the Rocketeer cartoon established for Cliff and Jenny later in life.  Although the IDW comics had stories that went up through World War 2 (and that was with Betty and the Dave Stevens version of the rocketpack), I don’t think there is anything that discussed what life was life for these characters after that.  That is, until the cartoon!  So, there are some cameos and mentions of Ambrose, Cliff’s son, and Dave, his grandson in “The Last Rocketeer.”  Here are a few of the illustrations, mostly done with the kids in daddy day care art time:

last rocketeer cover actualtired rocketeerimg_1490zandozaninside the minerocketeer kodan dogfightimg_2144

By the way, proceeds from the next Thirteenth Hour LP, Once Upon a Dream, will also be donated to the organization Corazon de Vida (see episode 268).  If you are also interested in helping to support their mission, learn more at https://www.corazondevida.org/get-involved.  Join me and others at the virtual event that Corazon de Vida is throwing on 10/29/20 at 7 PM PST by clicking on the picture below or here.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

 

9c855cfe-2bcf-4f9b-9681-898d80b49e9a

There are now Thirteenth Hour toys!  If you’d like to pick up one of these glow in the dark figures for yourself, feel free to email me or go to the Etsy store I set up (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirteenthHourStudio) and get them there.

If the past few months have got you needing a break, you may want to chill out to this 80s synth throwback track for a upcoming LP with the accompanying music video:

Empty Hands, the synth EP soundtrack to the novella, Empty Hands, is now out for streaming on Bandcamp.  

empty hands ep cover_edited-2.jpg

Stay tuned.  Follow along on Spotify!  There is also a growing extended Thirteenth Hour playlist on Spotify with a growing number of retro 80s songs.

Check it out!

As always, thanks for listening!

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞