It’s the first day of fall which means you’ve already had a swig of your Pumpkin Spice and Toasted Graham Lattes. You’ve probably even attempted to sport a stylish sweater or scarf (even if it’s still 90 degrees outside). But don’t you still long for that summer that was only just a day a go? The pungent sunscreen smells, the sun bleached locks, and pool parties? Well, quit pining and you can keep summer going YEAR-ROUND! What? YES!!!! The King of Summah himself, HOWARD KREMER, has a new album out that will put you in an epic Summah mood when that El Niño storm hits. Howard can be considered a summer expert since he founded the “Have a Summah!” lifestyle movement, that promotes “loving, embracing and celebrating everything Summer.” The SUMMAHTOLOGY album was written and performed by the Who Charted? host and features tunes like “Summah Says,” which has become a fan favorite, yielding a fan-made music video. Kremer’s “Have a Summah” movement has spawned four full-length albums of Summah tunes with featured videos on Funny Or Die with both Zooey Deschanel, and director Lance Bangs (and a Jet Ski riding Orangutan) PLUS an annual “Summahfest” live show at the Nerdist Showroom at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood, CA. Find out which Summahtology tracks were our favorites while you download the album!
COMEDY CAKE: With the end of summer so close, does the “Have a Summah” lifestyle movement ever go into hibernation?
HOWARD KREMER: Nah, we just follow Summah’s progress as it embarks on it’s journey back to us next year.
CAKE: Explain the Summah philosophy to the uninitiated. What state of mind must one have to achieve true Summah zen?
KREMER: It’s all about celebrating Summah and treating it as a separate and special time of year like it was when you had the Summah off from school.
CAKE: Your newest independent album “Summahtology “ really rocked our dog days. Where did you find the inspiration for the new release?
KREMER: Glad to hear it. Last Summah’s experiences provided the inspiration. Non Summah provided the time for reflection and writing.
CAKE: Do you think Tom Cruise will be converting to “Summahtology” soon?
KREMER: He’d never want out, so he should.
CAKE: Could “Summahtology” become a tax-free religion like John Oliver’s “Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption?”
KREMER: Yes! We could buy the Griffith Observatory and turn it into a water park. We’d brighten up, revitalize and energize that whole area which is sadly now a storage facility for outdated space watching equipment.
CAKE: What’s the backstory behind your “evolutionary” song “Tiktaalik”, which features on the noted “fishapod,” a 375-million-year old fossil formally known as Tiktaalik roseae?
KREMER: There’s a fantastic documentary on Netflix called Your Inner Fish. Paleontologist Neil Shubin tells the story of how he and his team found the fossil of the first fish to crawl out of the water. It’s all about how fish evolved into reptiles, then birds and mammals. That name “ Tiktaalik” is so fun to say. It’s a percussive word. It evolved into a rap song.
CAKE: How often do you sneak in a slideboarding sesh? Please explain the rules of the game you so expertly honored on your album.
KREMER: At Wet N Wild Las Vegas, there’s a new waterside that’s also a video game. There’s flashing lights on the inside of the tube. You have a controller on your mat and you hit the buttons that correspond with the lights. I haven’t tried it yet. I’d love to.
CAKE: What’s the reception to “Summahtology” been like? How long did it take to put together?
KREMER: People are really loving it. Many are saying it’s the best one yet. This is the fourth Have a Summah album so that’s pretty encouraging. Brett “Stard’ Morris and I recorded it over about ten weeks in the late Non Summah or Spring as some call it. He is a huge part of these albums. He’s a fantastic musician and producer. His playing and sound design is all over the record. It sounds good because of him.
CAKE: You had quite the summer bash this year at the Nerdist Showroom. Do you ever think about expanding the yearly Summahfest?
KREMER: Eventually, it’ll be a weekend celebration that also has an event and show at the beach.
CAKE: Who are your go-to comedians to head to the beach with?
KREMER: I’d take Paul Danke who is an expert on the hammock and Brooks Wheelan who just took me along to Oahu as he filmed a role on Hawaii Five O.
CAKE: Your tune “Night Beach” was really spot on. Do you ever venture into the Cali waters when the life guards are a sleeping’?
KREMER: The opening of Jaws cured me of going in the ocean at night. That’s pure terror. I stay on the sand, that’s enough of a challenge in the evening.
CAKE: Are the statistics you listed about Summah startups true? Ever had any involvement in a “Summah Startup” yourself?
KREMER: The statistics are not accurate but I’d bet they’re spot on. In the Summah of 2009 I tried to focus on career but couldn’t resist the urge to go to the beach. Have a Summah was born out of that. Wait, that makes Have a Summah a Summah Start Up. Oops! If you make it your business to Have a Summah I guess it won’t go belly up.
CAKE: Switching gears, how’s the “Who Charted?” podcast been treating you? What guests do you have lined up for the fall?
KREMER: I love doing Who Charted. I’m not sure who we have coming in.
CAKE: What other projects do you have on your TO DO list this year?
KREMER: I am writing and performing on Nat Geo’s first foray into comedy. It’s a show called Now We Know. I’m also touring and recording another Dragon Boy Suede rap album.
CAKE: What kind of cake do you think shark hunter Quint would like?
KREMER: A cupcake that he could crush in his hand like a can of Narragansett.
Mentions: Summahtology was produced and co-written by Brett Morris (Lead engineer and Production Manager at Earwolf/Wolfpop). It is available on Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, to name a few. Pick up Kremer’s other Summah classics HERE.