tonybreed: a blog

Friday, September 28, 2007

I'm not the one to try to tell you- 9/28 Show

This week was a hard week at work; I stayed very late three nights in a row. We launched a new web site on Wednesday night.

Our Online Product Manager for the product has been in a couple of bands, he tells us. Which ones? Nothing I'd heard of... but they are not unheard-of bands, despite my ignorance, because there were a couple of them in WLUW's catalogue. (To be fair, he also played on Nina Persson's solo project; I've heard of her, since she was lead singer of The Cardigans. This, however, was not in the catalogue.) Anyway, I played both bands, Champale and Clem Snide, back-to-back this morning, in honor of having worked so closely with their saxophonist all week.

This was week three of DJ training for Julio; the second hour (which I've left off, below) was his. He did better than the week before (which is what training is all about, after all). Next week, he goes solo... and I sleep in.

* = new stuff / (r) = requests
artistsongalbumlabel
New OrderThe Age of ConsentSelections from RetroWarner Brothers
ChampaleLike I DoSimple DaysPitch-A-Tent
Clem SnideJoan Jett of ArcThe Ghost of FashionSpin Art
*Devendra BanhartSo Long Old BeanSmokey Rolls Down Thunder CanyonXL
*Aesop RockCoffeeNone Shall PassDefinitive Jux
LCD SoundsystemWatch the TapesSounds of SilverDFA/Capitol
Klaus NomiSimple ManSimple ManRCA
*Bettye LaVetteThe Last TimeThe Scene and the GrimeAnti-
Lena HorneMy Blue HeavenSome of the BestStanyan
CocoRosieSunshineThe Adventures of Ghost Horse and StillbornTouch and Go
*CaribouIreneAndorraMerge
HeadlightsCenturiesThe Enemies EPPolyvinyl
The VandervoortsHe's RealisticSelf-released
Mary WeissMy Heart is BeatingDangerous GameNorton
*TunngArmsGood ArrowsThrill Jockey
Neko CaseSoulful Shade of BlueThe Tigers Have SpokenAnti-

Labels:

posted by Tony at 9:59 PM | 0 comments

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Tug 'o War

Finally, finally, this week's comic is up.

And after three very late nights, our new web site at work has launched and it seems to be a success. Time will tell.

Thank you for your patience!

Labels:

posted by Tony at 10:12 PM | 0 comments

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Working Hard; Comic Late; Limericks for Punk Geeks

Last night I was at work till 11:30 pm, working toward a new major site launch on Wednesday. As a consequence, Finn and Charlie will be late this week. Sigh.

So to tide you all over, something to interest to Punk Rock Geeks in the audience: London Calling as a suite of limericks. It's all kinds of awesome.

Labels: , ,

posted by Tony at 3:21 PM | 2 comments

Friday, September 21, 2007

All of it's hot- 9/21 Show

This week I biked to work on Thursday. On my way home, two songs came up in my iPod Shuffle that I decided to play in my show the next day (which happens a lot) — today's first two songs. The Postal Service song is from an album I confess I don't even know that well; when I got home, I had to plug it into my computer to find out what I'd been listening to (the Shuffle has no readout). The B-52's song is, by contrast, maybe 25 years old, and from an album I have had for at least 20.

It's still DJ training time, and my trainee is Julio. I gave him control of the second hour, so he'd really get a feel for it. It went OK.

Here's my hour:


* = new stuff / (r) = requests
artistsongalbumlabel
The B-52'sLegal TenderWhammy!Warner Brothers
The Postal ServiceWe Will Become SilhouettesGive UpSub Pop
*Imperial TeenThe Hair the TV the Baby & the BandThe Hair the TV the Baby & the BandMerge
*The Go! Team feat. Chuck DFlashlight FightProof of YouthSub Pop
The NoisettesDon't Give UpWhat's the Time Mr Wolf?Universal/Motown
Bobby ConnJealous (Winners Mix)Winners EPThrill Jockey
*OfficeBig Bang JumpA Night at the RitzScratchie/Newline
Os MutantesPanis et CircensisTropicália ou Panis et Circensis
Jacque BrelNe Me Quitte PasNe Me Quitte PasUniversal
Rufus WainwrightLeaving for ParisRelease the StarsGeffen
Jim O'RourkeMemory LaneInsignificanceDrag City
*Bettye LaVetteBefore the Money Came (the Battle of Bettye LaVette)The Scene and the CrimeAnti-
Animal CollectiveFor Reverend GreenStrawberry JamDomino
The SmithsSheila Take a BowLouder than BombsSire

Labels: ,

posted by Tony at 8:03 PM | 1 comments

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

This year, why not give the gift of facial hair?

Well, I very nearly didn't get this up today. Actually, technically it is tomorrow already. But here we go! Finn and Charlie are HITCHED. Do enjoy.

Labels:

posted by Tony at 11:59 PM | 0 comments

Monday, September 17, 2007

Left in obscurity: subbing for Nicole, 9/17

I subbed for Nicole ("The Perfect Face for Radio," as she calls her show) tonight. She has a trainee, Ashley, and so I gave the second hour to her. I already know Ashley — she's been with the station for a year already, maybe, but she's just starting DJ training now.

Here's my hour:

* new / (r) request
StereolabThe Flower Called NowhereDots and LoopsElektra
*M.I.A.Bamboo BangaKalaInterscope
*Bettye LaVetteYou Don't Know Me at AllThe Scene and the CrimeAnti-
The Shangri-La'sThe Train from Kansas CityThe Myrdmidons of MelodramaRPM
Kate BushRocket's TailThe Sensual WorldColumbia
*Le LoupBreathing RaptureThe Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nation's Millenium AssemblyHardly Art
OK GoHere It Goes AgainOh NoCapitol
Manu ChaoMalegríaClandestino
Eugenio BennatoChe Il Mediterraneo SiaWorld 2003Narada World
*OfficeThe RitzA Night at the RitzScratchie/New Line
*New PornographersMutiny, I Promise YouChallengersMatador
Chin Up Chin UpThe Soccer Mom Gets Her FixChin Up Chin UpFlameshovel
(r)The NotwistNeon GoldenNeon GoldenDomino

Labels:

posted by Tony at 10:17 PM | 0 comments

Friday, September 14, 2007

Scream and Shout - 9/13 Show

Probably my favorite New Order song is the one that opened today's show, "All Day Long." It's got a symphonic quality to the synthesizers and a rhythm that feels as though it's constantly moving forward. The whole effect is dense, enveloping, and slightly sad.

Today was my interview with Haale (who's playing Saturday night at the Kinetic Playground). It was my first ever live interview, and it went pretty well, I thought. Mike from work heard it and said I sounded like an old hand. Unfortunately, the tape recorder was disconnected and I didn't get a recording of it. A short interview is a funny thing, because there isn't really time to learn anything new. It was news to my listeners, I'm sure, which is enough. Anyway, maybe I'll do more live interviews... anyone want to be interviewed?

Whenever I play the Family Fodder, I invariably play "Deep Time", because I love the song so much. It's a good move-your-but dance toon — but there are other good songs on the album I should probably play. I bought the album because I liked the song "Naked" so much (another dance tune, which ends with a non-dancey couple of minutes of wailing bagpipes that evoke windswept moors. (So maybe I'd want to fade out partway into that; I enjoy it, but I do think it's about a minute or so too much.) The Family Fodder is a sort of post-punk collective from the early 80's, who came back together in 1999/2000 to release Water Shed. I discovered them when I used to listed to Yale's AM station on the internet; they always played Family Fodder's cover of "Sunday Girl", but it took me a while to figure out who they were. (Yale's AM station, at least at the time, was often playing off a tape, with a recorded DJ's voice coming in and announcing the songs periodically, but so quietly and quickly that I could hardly ever understand it. Still, it introduced me to some great stuff.)

The full playlist:

* = new stuff / (r) = requests
artistsongalbumlabel
Ted Leo and the PharmacistsCounting Down the HoursShake the SheetsLocust
New OrderAll Day LongSelections from RetroWarner Brothers
Family FodderDeep TimeWater ShedDark Beloved Chord
Laurie AndersonBaby Doll Talk Normal: The Laurie Anderson AnthologyWarner Bros
*Aesop RockFive FingersNone Shall PassDefinitive Jux
*Bat for LashesPrescillaFur and GoldEcho
Charlotte GainsbougTel Que Tu Es5:55Because Music/Vice
*Mirah and Spectratone InternationalMy Lord Who HumsShare the Placek Records
Elvis CostelloMy Funny ValentineArmed ForcesRyko
Cocteau TwinsHeaven or Las VegasStars and Topsoil: 1981-19904AD
The Aluminum GroupChocolatesPlanoMinty Fresh
*Thurston MooreNever DayTrees outside the AcademyEcstatic Peace
*Imperial TeenEveryone Wants to KnowThe Hair, the TV, the Baby and the BandMerge
ZerostarsLike Lovers DoThe Good Can't EscapeSelf-released
Romeo VoidTalk Dirty to MeWarm, in Your CoatColumbia/Legacy
The DecemberistsAngel, Won't You Call Me5 SongsHush Records
Tom WaitsPlease Call Me, BabyThe Heart of Saturday NightAsylum
The HousemartinsThe People Who Grinned Themselves to DeathThe People Who Grinned Themselves to DeathElektra
*Stereo TotalMiss Rébellion des HormonesParis-BerlinKill Rock Stars
*The Yeah Yeah YeahsKiss KissIs Is EPInterscope
The Fiery FurnacesI'm in No MoodBitter TeaFat Possum
P:anoAll of November, Most of OctoberWhen It's Dark and It's SummerZum/Hi-Five Recordings
*PlaneBlood on the WavesLose All TimePaper Bag
*You Say Party! We Say Die!MonsterLose All TimePaper Bag
AtombombpocketknifeLeave TonightLack Aid PatternFile 13
Yasuyuki OkamuraBurning Down the HouseFine Time~A Tribute to New Wave
HaaleFloating DownParatrooperDarya Records
Interview with Haale
HaaleNavayeeMorningDarya Records

Labels: ,

posted by Tony at 11:15 AM | 0 comments

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Nice hat

So here's me posting early enough that this week's Finn and Charlie and Hitched will be available all day on Tuesday, instead of just the last few minutes.

Enjoy!

Labels:

posted by Tony at 12:02 AM | 1 comments

Friday, September 07, 2007

Wondering if I've got a soul - 9/7 Show

So I finally asked the name of my regular caller, whose voice I always recognize: Pete. Hi Pete! Pete apparently has a younger brother my age. "My little brother is named Tony... well I call him my little brother, actually he's 36." Thanks Pete! I didn't mention that I too was 36. I was struck by the urge to say "Hey, I'm 36, maybe we know each other," as if having the same name and being the same age would somehow make us likely to cross paths.

Instead, I took a request for Imogen Heap. Interestingly, the reason we have Imogen Heap in the library is because sometime last year Mary Nisi brought it in an played it during her show, and Pete heard it, and then requested it during my show. Since it wasn't in the library, and Mary had played it (and I figured it was probably therefore good), I put it on our CD request list. When the station then bought a copy, I volunteered to review it, since it was sort of my idea to get it. So something about Pete requesting it and me playing it today brings the whole thing full circle nicely.

So to me, this is kind of the point about community radio — we really do respond to our listeners. During the last pledge drive, I went on the air with Mary during her show to pitch, and I told the Pete-Imogen Heap story. Mary said that she had played Imogen Heap because she'd heard it on The O.C. or Grey's Anatomy or something like that. Actually, this changes the story for me a little bit... I don't know, it just feels different. Anyway, now when you hear about what a big deal it is for artists to get their songs on TV, well there you have it. From TV to Mary to Pete to me to WLUW's library and our full listenership.

Pete requested Imogen Heap because he thought it would go with my set of chanteuses, as he put it, which I am apparently known for. (It's an area where I feel my show intersects with Claire's Monday night show, though I do like my dance music, too.)

Tom Waits is, of course, not a chanteuse, but you might call him a chanteur. I played the title track from Rain Dogs, an album my sister gave me while I was in high school. (She got quite into him in college.) Rain Dogs is a nice balance between his earlier, croonier music, and his later, more rough-edged work. The lyrics are colorful, and though they don't exactly tell stories, they seem to allude to them, and in this way, the album feels pleasantly like a soundtrack to a musical.

Lena Horne is a fabulous chanteuse with a gorgeous voice. I don't know her work as well as some of the other jazz vocalists I play, and though the songs on this album are old standards, I'm only really well acquainted with a couple. So playing songs from Some of the Best is always an adventure and a pleasant surprise.

Camille is a French artist recommended to be by Graziella. Her music features lots of oversampled vocals and complex rhythms, and is noticeably influenced by Afropop. If you like Zap! Mama, you'll like Camille. "Baby Carni Bird" is about half in English, the only English on the album I think. I tend to avoid English songs on foreign albums, because of my fondness for foreign languages, but "Baby Carni Bird" is really quite a nice song, showing heavy American Soul music influences.

The album from Mirah and Spectratone International is new in the studio, and I'm still in the process of discovering it. So far, it's good stuff. Many of the song titles refer to insects directly ("Love Song of the Fly") or obliquely ("Credo Cigalia" — not sure of the meaning, but "cigale" is French for "cicada", and the song refers to noise-making insects). "My Prize" seems to be told from the point of view of a dung beetle. It is musically lovely, though: a waltz somewhat reminiscent of old sea shanties.

And finally Imogen Heap, by request. "Have You Got It In You" was a nice choice; it's not one of the songs that stands out the most, which I think makes for a better set of music. The album Speak for Yourself is perhaps a bit too tightly-produced; I thought the Pitchfork Review summed it up well with the line "Heap actually mortgaged her London flat to finance the making of this record, and the go-for-broke attitude is evident. This record is produced within an inch of its life...." While the album as a whole can be a bit much, it's good mixed into other things, and so perfect for radio. (This problem can work the other way around, too — last year's There's Nothing I'd Like More Than to See You Dead by the Husbands is perhaps a bit too rough for a whole album, but mixes in well with other music.)

The full playlist:

* = new stuff / (r) = requests
artistsongalbumlabel
Ted Leo and the PharmacistsCounting Down the HoursShake the SheetsLocust
Frank ZappaI'm the SlimeZappa Picks: Jon Fishman of PhishRyko
*Aesop RockCatacomb KidsNone Shall PassDefinitive Jux
(r) Bloc-PartyShe's Hearing VoicesSilent AlarmVice
The Electric PrunesI Had Too Much to Dream Last Night
Har Mar SuperstarBody RequestThe HandlerRecord Collection
*You Say Party! We Say Die!MoonLose All TimePaper Bag
*Patrick CleandeminUntil You Say I'm GoneBaby Come HomeBa Da Bing
The Andrews SistersDon't Sit Under the Apple TreeThe Andrews Sisters Greatest HitsCURB Records
Mavis Staples99 1/2We'll Never Turn BackAnti-
*Imperial TeenRoom with a ViewThe Hair the TV the Baby and the BandMerge
The Brown PartyThe Plus Four Equals FunThe Brown PartySelf-released
(thebrownparty.com)
Ben Folds FiveKateWhatever and Even AmenEpic
*Architecture in HelsinkiDebbiePlaces Like ThisPolyvinyl
FeistI Feel It AllThe ReminderInterscope
Tom WaitsRaindogsRaindogsIsland
Lena HorneMy Blue HeavenSome of the BestStanyan
CamilleBaby Carni BirdLe FilEMI
*Mirah and Spectratone InternationalMy PrizeShare this Placek Records
(r)Imogen HeapHave You Got It in You?Speak for YourselfRCA Victor
*M.I.A.BoyzKalaInterscope
Psalm One with DJDQ of GlueBeat the DrumThe Death of Frequent FlyerRhymesayers
Deee-LiteWhat Is Love?World CliqueElektra
*JusticeNewjackEd Banger/Vice
My or May NotBest You CanColors Only Bees Can SeeTwo Thumbs Down
B-52'sDirty Back RoadWild PlanetWB
HaaleHome AgainParatrooperDarya
*Augie MarchThere Is No Such PlaceMoo, You Bloody ChoirJive
*The RentalsLittle Bit of You in EverythingLast Little Life EPBoompa
(r)Throwing MusesJunoHouse TornadoSire
The Shangri-La'sSophisticated Boom BoomThe Myrmidons of MelodramaRPM

Labels: ,

posted by Tony at 7:25 AM | 1 comments

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

I mock you, prime-time television!

New Finn and Charlie!

Note to the world: in this blog I always link to the main page for my comic, so whenever you follow this link, it will always be the latest comic. To read earlier comics, click the "<PREVIOUS" link just below the comic.

So anyway, I did enjoy drawing the new guy in the office. Wheee!

Labels:

posted by Tony at 11:31 PM | 4 comments

Info

My Photo
Name:

Rather than reading my blog, which is boring and never gets updated anymore, may I suggest you read my comic, which is at hitchedcomic.com

I am officially no longer a DJ at WLUW. Long story.

However, the Chicago Independent Radio Project will have a webcast soon, and I'll be a part of that. And we can still talk about music... leave me a comment if there's something on your mind.

DJ Blogroll

My hosts

This blog is hosted by Blogger, but all the images, plus the rest of my personal and professional sites, is hosted by ULTRAsurge.com. They have very cheap rates available for sites like this one, that have low-bandwidth needs.

read more »

Technorati

Powered by Blogger


Blog Directory - Blogged