Chris Ballew’s new solo record, “I Am Not Me,” flies you deep inside an evolving creative arc for one of music’s most interesting players. You’ll hear elements of Chris’ Presidents of the United States of America days coming through along with notes that remind you that he’s made nearly 20 records for kids as Caspar […]

Most days are fairly quiet on my island. The Sheriff’s Report in the local paper is usually pretty light reading, and when sirens blare in the distance, we hold our collective breath as there’s a decent chance we know whoever is in distress. Last Monday was a distinct exception, starting and ending with different tales […]

Hoytus Interruptus – The Pandemic Diaries

April 2nd, 2020 - Posted in

Jeff describes a recent drive through downtown Seattle and continues his random observations about Life in the Age of COVID-19 in this new Hoytus Interruptus.

Hoytus Interruptus – Silver Linings

March 19th, 2020 - Posted in

For many, the coronavirus situation has been one bleak development after another. For Jeff, it’s taken a while to get there but he’s starting to see some upsides to what we’re living through at this moment in our shared history.

  With Great Britain having just installed Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, Jeff Hoyt discovered just days ago that when he was only 14 years old, he actually lived next door to the future Brexiteer. Boris was only four at the time, and went by the name Alexander, but on a couple of occasions, Jeff’s […]

Hoytus Interruptus – Super Bowl!

January 24th, 2019 - Posted in

With Super Bowl LIII just over a week away, Jeff remembers the one Super Bowl he actually attended. There was just the tiny matter of having to impersonate a car salesman in order to go.

Hoytus Interruptus – Lights, Camera, Action!

December 20th, 2018 - Posted in

Jeff Hoyt gets it about all the lights at Christmastime. In fact, he has a long history with lights at Christmas – the professional grade, television variety.

Hoytus Interruptus – Monkey Business

October 18th, 2018 - Posted in

Long ago on the island of Bali, Jeff had a somewhat negative encounter with a tribe of monkeys. While in Morocco recently, he entered a particular cedar forest with a bit of trepidation. The Barbary apes of the Middle Atlas Mountains who lived there were of a similar variety to the macaque monkeys he remembered […]

Hoytus Interruptus – Grown Men Flailing

April 20th, 2018 - Posted in

Today’s show was cut short so Jeff could meet their daughter Natalie at Safeco Field for their first game together in several years. Jeff wonders whether a game they attended back in 1996 might have contributed to Natalie’s lack of enthusiasm for the sport.

Jeff performed this story years ago on stages at the Blue Heron and Open Space, but for anyone who’s gone through the process of losing their parents, here’s a story that may resonate.