Adam-Richter.com

The Richter Scale

“The Richter Scale” was the name of my music column back when I wrote for the Express-Times in Easton, Pa. As an homage to that time in my life when I’d get a bunch of CDs from bands that no longer exist, I named my blog after the column. Here you’ll find my musings on playwriting, theater, technology, journalism and whatever else I think is worth thinking about. If you’d like to get these updates in your inbox from time to time, sign up below.

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banshee, history, ireland, playwriting, theater, writing

Patty Griffin announces new album, ‘American Kid’

The last news I heard about Patty Griffin, she was performing guest vocals on Robert Plant’s fantastic “Band of Joy” album, back in 2010. But just two and a half short years later, she’s back. On Thursday came the announcement that Griffin’s new album, “American Kid,” will be released May…
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Band profile: The Menzingers

This Sunday, the Philadelphia-based band The Menzingers comes to Reading, Pa., for their first show in Pretzel City. My interview with the band’s singer Tom May appears in today’s Reading Eagle. Read it here. Do you wonder how they sound? Check out the video below:
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Building-sized mural

A mural on a building on Washington Street in Reading. Every once in a while, this is my view from the garage where I park.
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Tuesday new release: Races, ‘Year of the Witch’

The band Races haven’t done themselves any favors by giving themselves a name that’s difficult to find in a Google search. Yes, their Bandcamp page ranks high on the list, but it’s still far below references to Tony Stewart. At least they didn’t call themselves “Santorum.” But if you like…
Continue reading →: Tuesday new release: Races, ‘Year of the Witch’
Truth, fabrication and consequences

“This American Life” took another, badly needed step on its road to correcting the record on Friday when it pulled three more audio episodes from its Web archive. Professional liar — I call him that because he got paid to make up stories and pass them off as factual —…
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Grammar never goes out of style; well, sometimes it does

In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. So was Robert F. Kennedy. A Viet Cong prisoner was shot in the head by a South Vietnamese security official. Riots broke out in Chicago, as well as Paris. Richard Nixon won the presidency. The Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia. And the Associated…
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The misunderstood copy editor

Do not pity the copy editor. Pity instead the reporter who thinks the copy desk isn’t important. A National Post opinion piece earlier this week heaped both pity and scorn on the “lowly copy editor,” the newsroom functionary whose job is never romanticized. Our value as a guardian against poor…
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