Peter Himmelman Invites You into His Furious World: Internet TV Show

Peter Himmelman is a name you may not know. That's too bad, but it certainly doesn't have to stay that way. What you are missing out on is one of the finest singer-songwriters in modern music. Again, this is OK. Himmelheads or Himmelfans, as we call ourselves, are a very friendly and welcoming lot. Right now, Peter is doing something to welcome new fans and you can check it out on a Tuesday night at 7 P.M. Pacific time, if you want.

On the website known as Ustream or, via Peter's website, you can view his weekly internet show known as "Furious World." I am here to tell you that just one viewing will be enough to hook you and make you want to come back the following week to see what's happening then. The show is a mixture of pre-recorded skits (some of them deep and beautiful, some strange and some downright hilarious), live music, interviews and other bits.

The thing that stands out, first of all, is the live music. Peter is in his home recording studio in each episode and he and his band play his music. This is the perfect way to introduce yourself to some of the best tunes you have probably not heard before.

The find of the century, so far, is guitarist Jen Leigh (AKA Dirty Jenny). Jen Leigh is a musician that is going places and it's best to get on that bandwagon right now. She is a guitar player in the vein of Jimi Hendrix and she even plays left-handed. One of the highlights of the show was the week when those of us who pay the $10 subscription fee went Backstage and saw Jen and Peter jamming with just the guitar and drums. First she played drums while Peter played the guitar and then they switched. It was rock and roll at its most basic.

Kritin Mooney is almost Peter's sidekick during most shows. Kristin is gorgeous both in her appearance and her voice and has been a backing vocalist for Peter on such seminal albums such as "Skin." She adds such depth to the songs, but then she adds the off-hand comment during the times when the group is just speaking to each other. She's great.

The rest of the band is great too and I am embarrassed to say I don't have all of their names at my fingertips. I am sure there are other fans of the show who can help you.

You van view the show for free at the website, if you want. Be sure to sign in at the right an participate in the chat going on at the same time as the show. The room is filled with diehard Himmelfans and sometimes some of the best parts of the show are going on in the chat room.

In between songs Peter puts together skits and pre-recorded pieces. He does essays and poems while video runs of him driving on the 405 in L.A. Then there's "Turtle Talk" where a deep-voiced tortoise named King Ferdinand gives life advice and philosophy to Peter and the audience. There is a recurring bit where a supposedly Persian man gives various, and dubious, history lessons that are likely to leave you laughing. There is the strange skit involving three cows.

There are regular guests too. A man named Bruce from a radio station in Pennsylvania stops by twice a month to play unique music he thinks Peter and the audience might find interesting. Sometimes it's interesting and sometimes it's not.

Often the show ends with the "Speak Out" segment where fans can call in. Normally there is only time for one or maybe two calls, but it's almost always hilarious.

The show itself if rife with technical problems, but that often adds to the humor. This is an internet show, after all, and things go wrong all the time. Still, Peter makes it funny and proves himself to be a surprisingly good talk show host and a very good interviewer. Whether he is interviewing an author or a centegenarian pilot or a stuntman who once worked in the Israeli army, he manages to come up with great questions and show interest in what is being said.

For those who love the show, there is a way to donate money or become a $10 subscriber. If you do that you get an original piece of Peter Himmelman artwork suitable for framing. You also get access to the Backstage Pass which happens before and after the show. This really lets you inside the workings of the show. Plus, you get free music to download. Peter even releases a long-forgotten and thought-lost album just for $10 subscribers.

Summer is a tough time to find anything good to watch on television, that's for sure. So, you are forced to go elsewhere for entertainment. Of course Furious World is likely to run even when the fall schedule comes back, but if you spend a little time online with this group you will not be disappointed. The music alone is worth checking out.

I guess you could say I am a bit of a "fan boy" when it comes to Peter. This may be true, but I promise you that if you spend time checking out Furious World you will not be sorry. You will hear great music, meet interesting people, laugh, find yourself thinking and it may open up a whole new entire world for yourself.

Check it out for King Ferdinand alone!