Thursday, October 16, 2014

Meet Chris Jane! A Spotty Blog Interview

Introduction


Chris Jane is a mystery meat stew wrapped in enigmatic bacon covered in conundrum chocolate.... Wait. What was I talking about?


Clearly, I need to eat something.


Let's try this again.


Ahem.


Chris Jane is a writer whose debut novel, The Year of Dan Palace, is at turns funny, smart, painful and most of all, honest as it follows one man's choices in the face of the possibility that the world will end. I don't know Chris well, but the writing is more than solid. This is a writer that doesn't pull punches, that shows us sides of character it might be easier to turn away from. Of course, if Chris did that, we'd have a very different sort of story. This is good stuff.


The book is out on November 22, but it is available for pre-order on Kindle, now.


It is an honor and a privilege to present to you...


The Interview


Q) Where did you draw inspiration for the story of The Year of Dan Palace?

A) It was probably a combination of a fear of dying and a fear of not appropriately living, and added to that a desire to take a real, hard look at what a person might do with the end of the world as a possibility. Not only that, but how that person's actions might impact others.

I also wanted to have fun with the writing. While The Year of Dan Palace isn't, at its heart, a "fun" book (there is a serious theme or two), there is certainly fun stuff in it. It isn't oppressively heavy or "Oh, woe," and the characters themselves are pretty entertaining. They were certainly entertaining to write.

Q) Winnipeg or Winnebago?
A) Tough question. When Dan leaves home, he buys a Pace Arrow made by Fleetwood, a Winnebago competitor. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience choose Winnebago.

I did just learn on a "what to do in Winnipeg" search that a tourist attraction called "Lower Fort Scary" is just half an hour away in Selkirk, which I think makes the choice that much easier.



Q) In the Year of Dan Palace, you address how one person deals with End of the World anxieties which in turn causes the protagonist to second guess everything about the life he has. When 2012 rolled around did you or anyone you know experience anxiety over the much-discussed Mayan doomsday?
A) No. But we did have the standard "What would you do if?" conversation, at which point we listed the things we would do if we were going to die, none of which any of us ended up doing - even though we are all obviously, unquestionably, inevitably dying. Someday. Even so, most of us don't believe it, even if we know it's going to happen. One of the challenges Dan has is holding tight to that belief.



Q) Quinoa or purple rice?
A) I recently had quinoa for the first time. It was a little like tasty wet sand pasta-rice pellets. Pretty good!

I haven't had purple rice. What I'd like to try is risotto at a very high-end restaurant. Any time I catch Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsey is going on about risotto. It's safe to assume it's the best food on the planet when done correctly.



Q) Is this your first novel? If so, when did you begin writing fiction?
A) I've been writing fiction since my pre-teens but didn't get serious about it until my early twenties. I was one of those readers, particularly in middle and high school, who always had to have a book. If I forgot one, my day would be ruined. What was I supposed to do while I was waiting, walking, or sitting in class without a good novel?
All of that reading somehow led to wanting to write. (I say "somehow" because I could just as easily have become a lifelong, passionate reader.)

This is not the first novel I've written. The very first, when I was 19, was a series of interconnected stories: X driving a car hits the brakes to avoid hitting Y. Their eyes meet, and the story lurches forward into the life and story of Y. And so on. I like to pretend it was an original idea at the time.



Q) When it comes to salsa, do you prefer black bean chipotle or mango peach?
A) They're both a little chunky, aren't they? Restaurant style is my daily addiction, with Tostitos lime chips.



Q) What advice would you offer to anyone setting out to write fiction?
A) Don't get hung up on perfection while writing the first draft, because you'll probably never finish (as far as novels are concerned). Write through, get to the end, get to know your story and characters, and then go back and make it better.

If short stories (and this is true for longer fiction, too), be honest, and don't be afraid to be honest. There's little you've felt that someone else hasn't felt at one time or another. Your task is to present that feeling in your unique way.



Q) Artists tend to have pretty interesting job histories. What's the strangest paid gig you ever had?
A) I willingly and knowingly improved the writing of a once-successful charlatan spiritual leader whose books' sole goal was to milk money from people wanting a better life. I'd try to find subtle ways to slip digs into the material.



Q) What's next for Chris Jane in terms of projects?
A) I have two in mind, one of which I hope to write with a partner. One tackles a social issue, and the other is a revenge plot. In real life, I'm probably more of a passive-aggressive revenge seeker - the kind who fantasizes about saying "No" when the wrong-doer needs a favor - so I think I'll enjoy writing a character who is a more active revenge participant.



Q) Binge-watching or binge-drinking?
A) Binge-watching on my smart days. Binge-drinking on my less smart days, and to a lesser degree than in my twenties. I think I can handle about three glasses of whatever is put in front of me. I am a middle-age cliche.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Meet Che Gilson! A Spotty Blog Interview

Introduction:


Che Gilson is an author and a graphic artist who recently released a novel called Carmine Rojas: Dogfight with Black Opal Books. When you take a look at her bio, you'll see a ton of credits for work in comics as well as fiction. I interviewed her over the summer about Carmine Rojas, an action-packed story about an werewolf in an illegal pit-fighting ring, a werewolf who is as tough as,,, well... a werewolf, with a big heart. The story of Carmine, in this first book, is told in "rounds" which I think is a particularly clever way of indicating a change in the narrative.


I was privileged enough to interview her on the air at WRKC over the summer, but had yet to figure out how to create a video of that discussion. I am doubly blessed to get to interview her for a second time on Ye Olde Spotty Blog.


Without further preamble...


The Interview


Q) What inspired Carmine Rojas: Dogfight?


A) I was writing another book called Tea Times Three, and it's a sweet book about a town, and tea, and witches, and food, and there is only mild swearing and nothing explodes. After working on Tea Times Three for something like three years I needed a break. I needed to write a book with action, violence, swearing and explosions! That's how Carmine came to be. I don't remember exactly HOW I created her or her world. She might have been one of those characters that just spring instantly to life. I don't remember writing Carmine to be very hard. I spent a lot of time editing it though with great suggestions from Suzanne McLeod.




Q) If you could be a shapeshifter, what kind of shapeshifter would you be?


A) I'd like to turn into something that could fly. So maybe an owl or an eagle.




Q) You are also a graphic artist. Do you think that your sense of the visual influences your writing? If so, how?


A) Maybe. I tend to visualize my books as movies and then try to describe what's happening. I like to describe things like clothing and weather. I don't know if it's a help or a hindrance though.




Q) Cows or crows?


A) CROWS! I love crows! I watched a documentary about them and they actually call on other crows for help, then other crows come and help the one in trouble, they're amazing! I'm also a fan of all things avian :)




Q) When did you first know that you wanted to be a fiction writer?


A) I came to writing from a slightly different direction than other authors. I always made up stories, as a kid, but I would draw them out, not as a comic, but as a series of illustrations. Then I discovered graphic novels (ElfQuest) in third grade and that became my calling. I wanted to write and draw comic books.


The comics didn't work out as I planned and I decided that I would have a better chance of getting my stories to the world if I wrote them as prose. So, while I was always writing SOMETHING, stories, comic book scripts, and bad attempts at novels, I wasn't 100% dedicated to writing prose until I had to drop out of art school because of damage to my arm. I wrote three (terrible) children's books, then got sucked back into comics off and on for years before I FINALLY quit trying and just started prose.




Q) Harmonica or Harmonium?


A) Hang on while I Google harmonium.... Harmonium! For sure!




Q) I get the sense from Carmine Rojas: Dogfight, that we'll be seeing more of her in the future. What's next for her?


A) Next up is her mid-life crisis! LOL! I'm about halfway done with her next adventure. I'm worried it's a bit too much of a departure, there's only one fight scene so far (but lots of swearing!). It ends with a massive fight scene, so maybe that will make up for it. I'll have to do better in the third one...




Q) Courier or Times New Roman?


A) Both actually. I like to uses Times for the manuscript, then to edit I change the font to courier, then switch it back when I've got the major edits done. Switching fonts helps me see the book differently and catch mistakes I wouldn't normally see.




Q) Is there a particular form of writing that you haven't tried yet that you'd like to?


A) Epistolic- does that count? I'm actually trying out a novel written in e-mails right now. I don't know how it's going...




Q) When your creative batteries are drained, what do you do to recharge?


A) I watch TV and work on art usually. I haven't had a lot of time art lately. Art is actually what I THOUGHT I'd be doing with my life. It's still really important to me and I love to draw! I also just take time off writing. I'll stop for a week or two at times. Though I feel terribly guilty that I'm not the sort of author who can turn out 5000 words a day.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Spotty Blog Interview: Meet Trevor Strong!

Introduction

Trevor Strong is a Canadian musician, writer, and educator. His career began in 1991 with The Arrogant Worms. Since then he's done about a bajillion other things. He writes his own music, for which there is now a way for fans to support his output directly.  He's given a talk for Tedx on the role of humor in education. If you go to his website you'll see a variety of educational programs from songwriting classes to business for creatives.

He's written several books. Recently, I read Edgar Gets Going, a novel about a bass player who has fallen from the glory of a successful 80s hair band and finds himself struggling to remain in the creative life. He ends up working as a musician in a children's act, and the story gets more complex from there. It's a story that is hilarious, but it is hilarious with a lot of heart. I've said this on other places on the interwebs, and I'll say it again, everyone who has worked in entertainment should read this book.


Interview

Q) You've had a career in music since the 1990s with the Arrogant Worms. How did changes wrought on the music industry by the advent of internet distribution impact your career? What's different for you?

A) Wow! A business question right off the bat! You know, we've been pretty good at riding the whole thing out. We've had both good things and bad things happen to us because of the internet. The good thing is that fans put up our songs on Youtube and lots of people saw them there. Since we're self-(mis)managed we don't really do any marketing, so having another way that people can discover us is great. The bad thing is we got no money from this and people stopped buying albums, so we made less money. Now, things are changing again and it's now possible to get money from streaming (not always easy, though) so I think we might make up for a bit of that. I personally like the control the internet gives creative people, I just wish the money stuff would get sorted out.


Q) Union suits or union representatives?

A) Not sure exactly what that means. I very seldom wear suits. Or representatives.


Q) As a writer, musician and an educator, is there anything else that you'd like to try that you haven't yet?

A) I think I might have enough going on already... I'd just like someone to do all the paperwork so I could do more of it. Although I'd love to have super-powers or be forced to become Santa Clause one year to save Christmas.


Q) Hockey or Hawking?

A) I am a bad Canadian. I'm not really into hockey. Don't get it. First off, I hate the cold, and then I really don't understand the whole punching each other in the face part. I would certainly rather have a hawk and a cool glove. Or Stephen Hawking, for that matter. 


Q) Humor seems to be an important component for you in writing, education and music. Has this always been the case or was it something that developed over time? How important is it for you in the day to day? Also, have you ever been in the position where someone demands you to "Be funny! Right now!" and you haven't been able to? If so, how do you cope with that?

A) Humo(u)r is generally my first reaction to almost anything, although I can usually tell when that is perhaps not appropriate. The problem is that most of my humour is reactive. I don't tell jokes, I can't remember them. So, when people ask me to be funny I can't. I have nothing to be funny about. Although I might be making a sarcastic comment in my mind. I usually just smile and look busy when that happens.


Q) Pants or pantaloons?

A) Pants is a funny word but pantaloons is funnier. It is like the love-child of pants and balloons. Pantaloons! 


Q) How does the creative process differ for you between songwriting, creative writing and collaboration? (Aside from the obvious differences due to audio/visual versus textual mediums.)

A) That's a big question!
Well, the first two books I wrote were basically short story/gag books. So they were sort of like songs without the music part, because they were in short, self-contained units. Still it took a long time. Now, writing a novel, is a whole different story. I had a really hard time making the novel long enough because, since I'm used to writing stories in about twenty lines, I tend to leave things like description completely out. With a song, there's always a chance that you can start and finish it in one sitting. That doesn't happen with a novel... unless you can sit for a very long time. After writing the novel I understood why so many novelists seem to go a little cooky.

In most of my collaborations different people do different things (like the song videos I'm making) and I really like that because everyone gets to do what they're best at and getting out of my own mind is a good thing every now and then.


Q) How was your love of banana bread born?

A) I don't have a love of banana bread, per se, I more love what banana bread can do for me. I have kids, so there are always bananas in the house. Of course, bananas seem to age quite suddenly--but here is the wonder of banana bread: it is better when you use over-ripe bananas. So nothing wasted! Also I can make it in about 5 minutes and then use it in school lunches all week. Anything that helps with school lunches is miraculous. I have a feeling that when I go to hell I will be forced to make school lunches for all eternity.


Q) Recently, you've joined Patreon, which is a way for people who love what you do to support that directly and be part of the process of creation. What prompted you to try this? Would you recommend it for other creators? What has that experience been like for you?

A) Thank you for bringing this up! Yes, Patreon is a great platform and it gives the creator and supporter a much more direct relationship. I think it depends on the creator whether this would work for them--it seems to lend itself better to creations that are made in smaller chunks, like songs. And for supporters, they get the knowledge that their money is going directly to help the creator be able to carve out some time to create. It is a wonderful feeling that anyone reading this can enjoy simply by supporting me. 


Q) In terms of writing, what's the next project?

A) I've just finished a kids book which I'm going to start sending off soon. Believe it or not, I've been working on a financial planning book (with a financial planner, of course) and I also want to write a book about humour, and then I'd like to write another silly book too. I just need to find more time. Or become a vampire or something. You're not a vampire, are you?


Q) Can I have some banana bread?

A) No, I told you, it's for the kids' lunches.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Spotty Blog Interview: Ian T Healy COMES BACK!

So, back in February, I interviewed superhero fiction author and publisher Ian Healy here on the Spotty Blog. AND HE ACTUALLY AGREED TO COME BACK OMG!


This time, he's got a new book from the Just Cause Universe coming out, with a cover reveal party on facebook on 9/30/14 to help promote it. You can find his books on Amazon, or go directly to Local Hero Press.


When I was publishing my book Haunted, Ian was kind enough to answer a bunch of questions for me about stuff that was making me feel anxious. He didn't even make me pay for therapy! That makes him a swell guy.


And he writes good, too.


The Interview


Q) The Just Cause Universe follows a team of super-heroes through a series of adventures in which [redacted because spoilers]. What was different for you in writing Champion?

A) This was the first time I'd come back to my original cast of characters since The Archmage, book 2 in the series. Day of the Destroyer, book 3, dealt with Mustang Sally's parents and was the secret origin of her biggest enemy. Deep Six, book 4, broadened the world by focusing on the prison for parahuman offenders. Jackrabbit, book 5, was a straight-up one shot with a character that was lots of fun. Champion is a continuation of Mustang Sally's story and really brings to a close her coming-of-age storyline. The next book in the series, Castles, deals with a major change in her life.

Champion is also a murder mystery, which is something I've always wanted to write.





Q) In superhero worlds, costumes are important for defining characters and their powers. If you were a superhero, what would be the most significant aspect of your on-duty costume? 


A) Being able to use the bathroom when you need to without having to take the entire thing off.




 Q) How do you design/select your cover art?


A) I hire artists based upon a variety of criteria (there are guidelines posted on http://localheropress.com), and work closely with the artist to develop an exciting, eye-catching cover. I'm thrilled to be working with Ontario artist Irshad Karim. His Champion cover is spectacular and he will be doing the Castles cover as well.




Q) You've written across a variety of sub-genres. What is the most challenging for you? What keeps you coming back to the world of super-hero fiction?


A) Superhero fiction is  my first love, and you never really let your first love go. I've written a lot of other genres, and the two hardest for me by far are horror and mainstream (without any kind of science fiction or fantasy elements). The bulk of work that I have trunked, meaning I will most likely never finish/never release it, is in those two genres.




Q) What is the main focus of Champion?


A) "What defines a hero?"




Q) Bandanas or bananas?


A) Bandanas. They're awesome for holding my waves of curls back.




Q) When it comes to the business side of self-publishing, what is the most important thing you think anyone thinking of doing this should know?


A) Don't do it unless you are prepared to do ALL the work and spend ALL the money.




Q) If you had to choose between a cape or a set of gauntlets, which would you choose?


A) Depends on whether or not the cape allows me to fly or the gauntlets allow me to fire lasers. If they're just stylistic, I'd go with the cape because it would be hard to type wearing gauntlets. And honestly, I'd rather fly than shoot lasers. How often do you really need a laser outside of your commute?




Q) How do you maintain the tension in superhero narratives? 


A) Rubber bands. LOL. The same way you maintain tension in any narrative. Throw worse and worse things at your hero until she can't possibly succeed, and then see how she powers her way through it anyway.




Q) What's your favorite flavor of rock'n'roll?


A) Progressive rock. I learned to play bass listening to Rush.

CHAMPION releases on November 25th. Link to preorder it can be found here:
localheropress.ianthealy.com/preorder-champion-now/


For more information, follow Ian on Twitter as @ianthealy or on Facebook as Author Ian Thomas Healy.


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 9/10/14

Today was the last show until summer of 2015! I thought I was going to be able to do it throughout the year, but alas, scheduling conflicts between the day job and fiction projects have swung their sharp-toothed faces upon me... It's all about numbers, there. Word counts and paychecks and limits on time... but the beat goes on as Sonny and Cher once sang... And I'll be back next summer!


The happy news is that Jean Roman and Dr. Ham joined me today, and many of the interviews I have done this summer are saved for posterity on Youtube.


Also, it was great show... XOXO to everyone who listened, called in, poked me online, or otherwise supported the show.


The Playlist


Hour the First


The Temples - Shelter Song
Morphine - Honey White
Drive-by Truckers - Made Up English Oceans
Cakelike - Lucky One
Peggy Sue - Long Division Blues
tUneYaRdS - The Real Thing
Wand - Broken Candle
No - Leave the Door Wide Open
Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealin'
Letters To Cleo - Here and Now
Jim Jones Review - The Princess and the Frog
Jesca Hoop - Pack Animal
Iggy Pop - Lust for Life
The Matthew Show - Poison Pickin' Time
Ani DiFranco - Shameless
Portishead - Roads
The Kills - What New York Used to Be


Hour the Second


Eleni Mandell - Put My Baby to Bed
Jill Sobule - The Jig Is Up
Ty Segall - Susie Thumb
Jean Roman Live Performance and Interview
Pavement - Shady Lane
Twin Peaks - I Found a New Way
Eilen Jewell - Queen of the Minor Key
The Orwelles - The Righteous One
The Hold Steady - The Only Thing
Spoon - Do You?
Spider Bags - Chem Trails
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore
Violent Femmes - Hey Nonny Nonny
The Breeders - Cannonball
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Southern Culture on the Skids - Camel Walk
Trevor Strong - The Introverted Army
T. Rex - 20th Century Boy

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 9/3/14

Today's show was jam-packed with awesomesauce. This was the first web interview with a live performance that I've conducted on the show and I could not have asked for better guests. The Strayers were awesome.


Comedian Emrys Smith visited me in the studio for the second hour and there was much giggling. And butt-whispering. There may or may not be an audio file of this somewhere, which may or may not be released for the consumption of the general public.


Lest we forget, the rock and roll was very present, as always.


The Playlist


Hour the First


Edwyn Collins - Girl like You
B-52s - Dance This Mess Around
Angry Johnny and the Killbillies - Disposable Boy
The Strayers: Interview and Performance
Robyn Hitchcock - Ferries
Letters to Cleo - Here and Now
The Jim Jones Review - The Princess and the Frog
Elastica - Stutter
The Muffs - Weird Boy Next Door
Spider Bags - Chem Trails
A3 - Woke Up This Morning
St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Half the City
Sunny Day Real Estate - Pillars


Hour the Second


Sleater-Kinney - You're No Rock N Roll Fun
Chad VanGaalen - Monster
tUneYaRds - The Real Thing
Spacehog - In the Meantime
Ty Segall - Susie Thumb
Jesca Hoop - Pack Animal
Illinois - Nosebleed
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way?
The Gaslight Anthem - She Loves You
Mary's Danish - Don't Crash the Car Tonight
The Darcys - The River



Wednesday, August 27, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Eclectic Playlist 8/27/14

Well, today was my first show with classes in full swing. It was kind of fun to be around all that energy. Welcome back, officially, kids...




(I'm mumblesomething years old, I can address people as kids now, with feeling.)



Bonus for today's show, I got to start about 40 minutes early, which is a thing that is cool. I have yet to make it through all the cool stuff I want to play. And of course, they keep making cool new stuff... so, you know, there's that.




Dr. Ham joined me in the last hour, wherein it was discovered that Fred the Dishwashing Monkey and I have something in common. We hate conflict. High-fives, Fred.




But as I am fond of saying on the air, enough babble.






The Playlist


Bonus :45




Folk Implosion - Natural One
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
Cold Specks - Bodies at Bay
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Local H - Bound for the Floor
Jesca Hoop - Born To
Eilen Jewel - Queen of the Minor Key
Jim Jones Revue - Collision Boogie
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
Ty Segall - Feel
Violent Femmes - American Music
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore


Hour the First
Morphine - Honey White
Drive-by Truckers - Made-up English Oceans
Nada Surf - Popular
EMA - Satellites
Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop
Cibo Matto - 10th Floor Ghost Girl
Poe - Hello
Hospitality - I Miss Your Bones
Liam Finn - 4 Track Stomper
Beta Band - Dry the Rain
The Vines - Ladybugs
Luscious Jackson - Love is Here
The Horrible Crowes - Teenage Dream
Lykke Li - Gunshot
Joan Jett and Paul Westerberg - Let's Do It




Hour the Second




The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Wail
Dawn Kinnard - Father Couldn't Break It To You
Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound - Jebediah Moonshine's Friday Night Shack Party
Murder By Death - Lost River
Lo Fidelity All-Stars - Battle Flag
The Hold Steady - The Only Thing
Anthony Damato - Hard to Say
The Kills - What New York Used To Be
The Orwells - The Righteous One
Chuck E. Weiss - Devil With The Blue Suede Shoes
The Basic Blues Band - Kind-hearted Woman Blues
Twin Peaks - Found a New Way
Southern Culture on the Skids - Camel Walk
Matthew Sweet - Dinosaur Act
Tacocat - Crimson Wave
Marah - Sing! O Muse of the Mountain
The Royalty - Every Little Bit

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 8/20/14

So, no interviews today, which was a good thing because fall semester is about to start at King's College and ALL OF THE PEOPLE WERE THERE TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS OMG!


A bit of news, I'll be staying throughout the school year to corrupt  expose the youth to the old timey ways of a live broadcast... or, um, something. Basically, it just means that radio day Wednesdays gets to continue, which means I keep getting to discover and spread new music around every week, which everyone knows is crazy fun for me.


Also, there will be more interviews with awesome people. SQUEEPANTS!


I did get the opportunity to have both the student program director and music director on the show to welcome back returning students and offer a word of advice to the incoming freshmen.


Therese, music director and hostess of the Hypnotic Electronic says "Pace yourself."


Erin Harvey, our trusted PD says, "Get involved."


Also, the next imaginary band formed will have a project titled, "Cage Match for the Papacy."


Warm fuzzies were had by all and I got to play some music real loud.


Here is the aforementioned music.


The Playlist


Hour the First


Folk Implosion - Natural One
Devo - Girl U Want
Chuck Ragan - You and I Alone
Christina Musumeci - I Bit the Apple
The Hold Steady - The Only Thing
Dionne Farris - Always Something There to Remind Me
A3 - Woke Up This Morning
Twin Peaks - I Found a New Way
Rickie Lee Jones - Easy Money
Iggy Pop - Lust for Life
Lana Del Rey - Shades of Cool *request
Primus - Tommy the Cat
Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
Illinois - Nosebleed
Beta Band - Dry the Rain
Lykke Li - Gunshot
The New Morty Show - Unskinny Bop


Hour the Second


Primitive Radio Gods - Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in my Hand
Hospitality - I Miss Your Bones
Operation Ivy - One of These Days
Marah - Sing! Oh Muse of the Mountain
Mirel Wagner - The Dirt
Robyn Hitchcock - Mexican God
Edwyn Collins - Girl Like You
Save Ferris - The World Is New
Eleni Mandell - Put My Baby to Bed
Matthew Sweet - Dinosaur Act
George Ezra - Budapest
They Might Be Giants - Shoehorn with Teeth
Soul Coughing - Super Bon Bon
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hell
Sean Rowe - Madman
Drive-by Truckers - Made Up English Oceans






Wednesday, August 13, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 8/13/14

Well, today was a fun show. Lillian Csernica joined us in the first half hour to talk historical romance and horror fiction and we talked a bit about the efficacy of spider-webs for the preventing infection of serious cuts. YAY!


Without further ado,


The Playlist


Hour the First


Lillian Csernica Interview
Ruby - Tiny Meat
Spacehog - Spacehog
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Marah - Sing! O Muse of the Mountain
Tom Waits - Clap Hands
Eleni Mandell - Put My Baby to Bed
XTC - Making Plans For Nigel
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore
Telekenesis - Please Ask For Help
Hefner - The Hymn For the Cigarettes
Rasputina - Sweethaven


Hour the Second


Jim Jones Revue - The Princess and the Frog
Morphine - Honey White
They Might Be Giants - Youth Culture Killed My Dog
Taco Cat - Crimson Wave
Eilen Jewell - Warning Signs
Spider Bags - Chem Trails
Emmet Swimming - Arlington
Christina Musumeci - I Bit The Apple
X-Ray Spex - Oh Bondage! Up Yours!
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - Heaven In Stereo
The Hold Steady - The Only Thing
Liam Finn - 4 Track Stomper
Jesca Hoop - Born To
Concrete Blonde - God Is A Bullet
The Courtneys - 90210
Spoon - Inside Out
Dead Milkmen - If You Love Somebody Set Them On Fire
Aimee Mann - Wise Up
Cake - Frank Sinatra

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 8/6/14

So today's show was full of awesome. Chuck Wendig was gracious enough to join us in the first hour to talk about the newly released Blightborn. He was also really patient with the weird tech issues involved in merging internet technology with my old-timey radio tech. (One day, I shall master this!)


Lillian Csernica and I had a little bit of a time zone mix up, so she'll be with us next week. YAY! (Um, for the second part of that.)


And now, before it becomes rum-thirty,


The Playlist


Hour The First


Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock
Tuneyards - The Real Thing
Dionne Farris - Always Something There To Remind Me
*Chuck Wendig Interview
Drive-by Truckers - Made Up English Oceans
Soul Coughing - Super Bon Bon
Charles Ramsay - The See and Be Seen Scene
The Hold Steady - The Only Thing
Teenage Fan Club - Star Sign
Luscious Jackson - Love is Here
The Orwelles - The Righteous One
The Cavetones - ??? (at Zeno's in State College)
Iggy Pop - The Passenger
Lykke Li - Gunshot
Jim Jones Review - The Princess and the Frog
Hospitality - I Miss Your Bones




Hour the Second


Emmet Swimming - Arlington
The Darcys - Itchy Blood
Rasputina - Sweethaven
Sugarcubes - Birthday
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
Tacocat _ Crimson Wave
Cracker - Low
Liam Finn - 4 Track Stomper
Ruby - Tiny Meat
T Rex - Cadillac
Violent Femmes - Life Is A Scream
Old 97's - Longer Than You've Been Alive
The Gaslight Anthem - She Loves You

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 7/30/14

HOLY TECHNICAL ISSUES TODAY, BATMAN! It must have been the fnords. Or, uh, something. It's all good though. Kameron Hurley, author of the Bel Dame Apocrypha and the soon to arrive The Mirror Empire joined us during the first half hour of the show, and in spite of wonky computer issues, she hung in there with me and was a great guest.


We determined that it takes a special kind of self-help guru to wield a whip. And of course, we played some music...


The Playlist


Hour the First


Spacehog - Cruel to be Kind
Jesca Hoop - Born To
The Darcys - The Pacific Theatre
Ani Difranco - Shameless
*Kameron Hurley Interview
Jim Jones Review - The Princess and the Frog
Mary Gauthier - Sugar Cane
Jason Isbell - Grown
Soul Coughing - Super Bon Bon
Liam Finn - 4 Track Stomper
Air - All I Need




Hour the Second


Pavement - Shady Lane
Well-Behaved Wolves - Web In Front
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
EMA - Satellites
Dance Hall Crashers - Lost Again
Tacocat - Crimson Wave
Edwyn Collins - Girl Like You
Chuck E. Weiss - Devil With The Blue Suede Shoes
The Orwells - Righteous One
Death In Vegas - All That Glitters
The Hold Steady - Wait A While
Joyce Manor - Schley
Furslide - Over My Head
*Lana Del Rey - Shades of Cool (request)
Southern Culture On The Skids - Nitty Gritty
Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore
Tori Amos - Talula


The Bonus Half


Cibo Matto - 10th Floor Ghost Girl
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Eleanor Friedberger - She's A Mirror
Dr. Dog - Broken Heart
Marah - Point Breeze
Trevor Strong - The Introverted Army
Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound - Little Red Wagon
The Eels - I Like Birds
No - Leave the Door Wide Open
Fiona Apple - Hot Knife



Wednesday, July 23, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic-Eclectic Playlist 7/23/14

Another fun day in the studio today with special guests author RJ Keller and the artistic director of the Pennsylvania Theater of the Performing Arts. Music, laughter, culture, and a very brief appearance by Dr. Ham toward the end of the show. A girl couldn't ask for a better day!


Today, I actually managed to record the interviews for posterity.


(Don't you dare make that joke about posteriors!)


*sigh*


(I'm too late, aren't I?)


Without further ado


The Playlist


Hour the First


Jim Jones Revue - Princess and the Frog
*RJ Keller The Interview*
Cowboy Junkies - Ooh Las Vegas
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore
Matthew Sweet - Millenium Blues
The Darcys - The River
Hospitality - I Miss Your Bones
Marah - Faraway You
Sean Rowe - Madman
Pure - Chocolate Bar
Helium - Leon's Space Song
Southern Culture on the Skids - Camel Walk
The Hold Steady - Wait A While
PJ Harvey - Down By The Water
Cold Specks - Winter Solstice


Hour the Second
Eilen Jewel - Queen of the Minor Key
Hysterics - Charlie's Infatuation with Magical Moss
Jean Roman - Pleasure All The Time
*Paul Winarski The Interview*
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Poodle Rockin'
Salt - Bluster
Afghan Whigs - Algiers
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
*from the Producers - Keep It Gay
Murder By Death - Lost River
Christina Musumeci - I Bit the Apple
Violent Femmes - Hey Nonny Nonny








Wednesday, July 16, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic-Eclectic Playlist 7/16/14

So today's show was a friggin party! Minus the alcohol, and food. Although there was coffee. (In Reggie-land, there is always coffee.) I was able to do some killer on air interviews today with author Che Gilson, whose werewolf pit-fighter novel, Carmine Rojas: Dog Fight, will be available for pre-orders August 9 from all the usual internet venders. Later, Paul Shapera of the Steampunk Opera fame came for an interview. We thought that Canadian band Moxy Fruvous should do a reunion if only to perform a version of the Yam Salve Song, the only caveat being, of course, that my head might explode with an overload of awesome. Played a lot of Matthew Sweet today. A LOT. Because he has a kickstarter going to fund a new album.


Dr. Ham also stopped by to deliver Fred the Dishwashing Monkey's review of the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. I was relieved to discover that there was no poo-flinging in the film.


Okay, gang, here it is:


The Playlist


Hour the First


*Che Gilson Interview
Morphine - Yes
Matthew Sweet - Oh Oldendaze!
Geoffrey Lloyd - Right Now
Chuck Ragan - You and I Alone
Soup Dragons - Divine Thing
Ted Mcloskey - Cameras and Microphones
Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Sugar Daddy
Paul Shapera - New Albion 9
The New Morty Show - Unskinny Bop
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore
Cake - Frank Sinatra
*Paul Shapera Interview
Moxy Fruvous - The Incredible Medicine Show
Drive by Truckers - Made Up English Oceans
Matthew Sweet - Dinosaur Act
Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing
Christina Musumeci - I Bit the Apple
Sean Rowe - Madman


Hour the Second


The Darcys - Close to Me
The The - This is the Night
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
Old 97's - Timebomb
Jim Jones Revue - Seven Times Around the Sun
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
*Dr. Ham Delivers Fred The Dishwashing Monkey's Review of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and a Castle Ham moat status update
The Orwelles - The Righteous One
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Wail
Paul Shapera - Pokerface/Gambler mashup
Matthew Sweet - What Matters
Peggy Sue - The Shape We Made





Wednesday, July 9, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic-Eclectic Playlist 7/9/14

Well, today's show went by too quickly, but it was fun and I got to play a lot of great stuff. Paul Shapera released Act 1 of the Atompunk Opera this week, and Ted McCloskey's new album, Sea Foam Green, also releases this week.
(Yes, there will be links embedded in the playlist...)


I don't know what Sue Henry was planning to do with that bagel schmearer but it seems her plans were foiled! She never did get past the lurking and cackling stage of her plan...


Okay, no more shenanigans, here is


The Playlist


Hour the First


Poe - Dolphin
Christina Musumeci - I Bit the Apple
Chuck Ragan - You and I Alone
Matthew Sweet - Sick of Myself
Morcheeba - Trigger Hippie
Geoffrey Lloyd - As Much As We Believe
Rasputina - Sweethaven
Tuneyards - The Real Thing
Morphine - Honey White
The Darcys - The River
Tom Waits - 16 Shells From A 30 Ought Six
Ted McCloskey - Cameras and Microphones
The Orwelles - The Righteous Ones
Reel Big Fish - Sell-Out
Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions




Hour the Second


The Hold Steady - Ask Her For Adderall
The Both - No Sir
Jesca Hoop - Hospital (Win Your Love)
Eleni Mandell - Put My Baby To Bed
Paul Shapera - The Atompunk Opera: The New Albion Guide to Analogue Consciousness: Act 1: Song 2: New Albion 9
Peggy Sue - The Shape We Made
Marah - Faraway You
Sean Rowe - Madman
SCOTS - Nitty Gritty
Nick Cave - I'll Love You Til the End of the World
Presidents of the U.S.A - Peaches
T Rex - 20th Century Boy
Hospitality - I Miss Your Bones
Old 97's - Timebomb
Billy Bragg & Wilco - She Came Along to Me
Elastica - Stutter



Wednesday, July 2, 2014

WRKC The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 7/2/14

Holy DELUGE OF SWEAT! It is super muggy today. Misadventures in radio-land today included a visit from Dr. Ham and his discoball of doom, as well as an alarming test of the fire alarms on the King's College campus. It was not Armageddon, as we feared. It was only a test...


Without further ado,


The Playlist


Hour The First


The Darcys - Hunting
The Perkolators - Goodfoot
Liz Phair - Divorce Song
Sean Rowe - Madman
Jill Sobule - The Jig Is Up
Christina Musumeci - I Bit The Apple
Pure - Chocolate Bar
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Peek-A-Boo
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
Tom Waits - Jockey Full of Bourbon
Ted McCloskey - Just Wanna Disappear
Gaslight Anthem - She Loves You
Weezer - Hash Pipe
Bully - Brainfreeze
Air - Sexy Boy
Wally Pleasant - Stupid Day Job
The B-52's - Rock Lobster


Hour the Second


The Both - The Gambler
Geoffrey Lloyd - As Much as We Believe
David Garza - Discoball World
The Clash - Know Your Rights
The Orwells - The Righteous One
? - Sonic Reducer from the motion picture Hard Core Logo
Scott Walker - Jackie
Peggy Sue - February Snow
Bjork - It's Oh So Quiet
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Bell Bottoms
Jim Jones Revue - Collision Boogie
Spoon - Waiting for the Kid To Come Out
Jonathan FireEater - No Love Like That

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

WRKC: The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 6/25/14

Another show beneath my belt. This week I got the opportunity to play some stuff from the fabulous Paul Shapera, whose show, The Dolls of New Albion, is going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year. (There are a handful days left for the kickstarter.)


Also, Foster the People show is happening at the Bryce Jordan Center on 9/5/14 with tickets on sale 6/27. That was fun to announce!


Ooof. I'm tired. Mostly from getting chased around the studio by Sue Henry. But you know, just another day in radio land.


Thanks to everyone who listened and called in!


XOXO


And now...


The Playlist


Hour the First


Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You
The Darcys - Itchy Blood
Eleni Mandell - Put My Baby to Bed
Christina Musumeci - I Bit the Apple
G. Love - Cold Beverages
Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)
Foster The People - Coming of Age
Murder By Death - Lost River
Tom Waits - Clap Hands
Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place
Sean Rowe - Madman
T-Rex - New York City
Paul Shapera - The Gambler/Pokerface Piano Mash-up


Hour the Second


Pogues - Streams of Whiskey
Ramones - Spider Man
Joan Jett and Paul Westerberg - Let's Do It
Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions
Southern Culture on the Skids - Camel Walk
Portishead - Glory Box
Paul Shapera - The Dolls of New Albion: Act 1: Song 2
Jesca Hoop - Pack Animal
Tuneyards - The Real Thing
Jake Bugg - Slumville Sunrise
Jim Jones Revue - Collision Blues
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Meryn Cadell - The Sweater
PJ Harvey - We Float
Luscious Jackson - So Rock On
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore
Lo-fidelity All Stars - Battle flag
Beta Band - Dry The Rain
Primus Jerry Was A Race Car Driver











Wednesday, June 18, 2014

WRKC: The Not-So-Hectic-Eclectic Playlist 6-18-14

Well, hey there everybody! I had a lot of fun this week on the show, though I missed having Christina Musumeci play live... (If you missed it, too, there are videos here and here.) I didn't get to play A Tribe Called Red, but Therese on The Hypnotic Electronic did, and I just wanted to give everyone a heads up about these artists because good stuff. But don't take my word for it... they recently got some positive press over at Rolling Stone.


I started roughly a half hour early this week, which was cool because I never actually get through the whole playlist before its time to go. Old habits. In the beforetimes, air shifts lasted 4 - 6 hours and I have a tendency to over-program.


Without further pre-amble, here is ...


The Playlist


Bonus Half Hour


Illinois - Nosebleed
Geoffrey Lloyd - As Much As We Believe
Pulp - Common People (live)
Darcys - The River
Sleater-Kinney - All Hands on the Bad One
The Rentals - Friends of P


Hour the First


Eilen Jewel - Queen of the Minor Key
Reverend Horton Heat - It's Martini Time
Ted McCloskey - The Last of the Pin-up Girls
Devo - Girl U Want
The Eels - Novocaine For the Soul
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hell
Jesca Hoop - Born To
Eve's Plumb - Blue
Old 97's - Timebomb
The Hold Steady - The Only Thing
Temples - Shelter Song
The Gaslight Anthem - She Loves You
Jill Sobule - Supermodel
Southern Culture on the Skids - Soul City
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Fiona Apple - Hot Knife


Hour the Second


Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound - Jebediah Moonshine's Friday Night Shack Party
Melanie - What Have They Done To My Song, Ma?
Operation Ivy - One of These Days
Portugal the Man - Atomic Man
Soul Coughing - Super Bon Bon
Cold Specks - The Mark
Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitter
Courtney Barnett - Avant Gardner
Jean Roman - Pleasure All The Time
The The - Dogs of Lust
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore
Ben Harper - Steal My Kisses
EMA - Satellites
Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
Madder Rose - Overflow
Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Tear Me Down (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Geoffrey Lloyd - Right Now
Marah - Valley Farm Song



Wednesday, June 11, 2014

WRKC: The Not-So-Hectic-Eclectic Playlist 6/11/14

This week was really a special week as a good friend of mine was able to take a break from a recording session in order to perform for us. I will be posting audio on youtube some time later so you get to hear the brilliance of Christina Musumeci's voice and mad songwriting skillz. There's a bit of an interview, and a lot of goofing around. *Note: We may not be the first to have invented percussion via urine, however we might be the first to discuss this over the airwaves.


Due to the zaniness of today's show (including an appearance by Dr. Ham and his dishwashing monkey) the actual passage of time got away from me. (Surely a sign of an excellent time had by all, I hope.)


Playlist


Part the First


A3 - Woke Up This Morning
Chuck Ragan - Vagabond
Marah - Point Breeze
Bob Mould - I Don't Know You Anymore
Temples - Shelter Song
Lida Husik - Fly Stereophonic
Rasputina - Sweethaven
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - Heaven In Stereo
T-Rex - Cadillac
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
Goodness - Electricity, Electricity
Tom Waits - Hold On
EMA - Satellites
Pavement - Spit on a Stranger
Eilen Jewel - Warning Signs
Eleni Mandel - Put My Baby To Bed
Cibo Matto - 10th Floor Ghost Girl
Matthew Sweet - Sick of Myself


Part the Second


Folk Implosion - Natural One
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - I'll Love You Til The End of the World
Eleanor Friedberger - She's A Mirror
Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver
Chuck E. Weiss - Devil With the Blue Suede Shoes
*LIVE PERFORMANCE*
... Christina Musumeci - Remembrance
Christina Musumeci - I Bit The Apple
The Hold Steady - Almost Everything
Geoffrey Lloyd - Right Now
Cornershop - Brimful of Asha
*LIVE PERFORMANCE*
...Christina Musumeci - Mountain Song
INXS - Burn For You
Jesca Hoop - Hospital (Win Your Love)
Christina Musumeci - Head vs. Heart
The Horrible Crows - Teenage Dream

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

WRKC: The Not-So-Hectic-Eclectic Playlist 6/4/14

Well, hello there music lovahs. This week was relatively free of technical issues, for which this old-timey, mostly cd-using dj is grateful. It was full of whispering, though. Some of that whispering was requested.


What is not full of whispers, is this week's rad playlist.


(Did I just say rad? Pretend that didn't happen.)


Ahem.


Well, without further ado...


The Playlist


Hour the First


Whale - Kickin'
Vallejo - Just Another Day
Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Murder By Death - Lost River
Roxy Music - Virginia Plain
Elevator Drops - Sentimental Love
Moxy Fruvous - Splatter Splatter
Bif Naked - Daddy's Gettin' Married
The Darcys - Itchy Blood
Pure - Chocolate Bar
Robyn Hitchcock - The Cheese Alarm
Courtney Barnett - Canned Tomatoes (Whole)
Drive-by Truckers - Made Up English Oceans
Air - Kelly Watch the Stars
EMA - So Blonde
Greg Garing - Walk Away From Me
Guided By Voices - Cool Planet
Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Wig In A Box


Hour the Second


Tuneyards - The Real Thing
Teenage Fan Club - What You Do to Me
New York Dolls - Personality Crisis
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity
Me First & the Gimme Gimmes - Crazy For You
Sunny Day Real Estate - Pillars
Barry Adamson - What It Means
Franz Ferdinand - Evil Eye
Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound - Jebediah Moonshine's Friday Night Shack Party
Luscious Jackson - Love Is Here
Brian Eno - Baby's On Fire
The Charlatans UK - One To Another
Built to Spill - Car



Wednesday, May 28, 2014

WRKC: The Not-So-Hectic-Eclectic Playlist 5/28/14

Well, today's show was a win for old-timey technology! CD's worked, the digital delivery system, alas, had issues. BUT it was fun and thanks to everyone who listened and called in for making it great.


The Playlist


Hour the First


Bjork - Joga
Squirrel Nut Zippers - The Suits Are Picking Up the Bill
Chuck Ragan - For All We Care
Dance Hall Crashers - Beverly Kills
Wayne Hancock - Brand New Cadilla
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Straight Up
The Darcys - Horses Fell
Soul Coughing - Soundtrack to Mary
Scott Bradlee and the Postmodern Jukebox Featuring Puddles Pity Party - Royals
Sneaker Pimps - Post-Modern Sleaze
They Might Be Giants - Alienation's For the Rich
Afghan Whigs- Matamoras
Space - Mister Psycho
Cibo Matto - 10th Floor Ghost Girl
Spoon - Waiting for the Kids to Come Out
Marah - Life Is A Problem
Matt Keating - Killjoy


Hour the Second


Self - What A Fool Believes
EMA - Satellites
T. Rex - 20th Century Boy
Clinton - People Power In the Disco Hour
The Hold Steady - The Only Thing
Elliot Smith - Son of Sam
Portugal the Man - Atomic Man
Violent Femmes - Look Like That
Imperial Teen - You're One
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
Propellerheads - History Repeating
Jesca Hoop - Pack Animal
Freedy Johnston - Bad Reputation
Jean Roman - Pleasure All The Time
Cold Specks - Winter Solstice

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

WRKC: The Not-So-Hectic Playlist 5/21/14

Is it that time already? It goes fast when you're having fun.


It also goes fast when Sue Henry is zapping you with old-timey electric do-hickeys.


Ahem.


Another great, fun week on the air. I managed to get the whole day away from the day job so I started the show early this time. An extra 45 minutes in which to blast music loudly. YES!


Without further ado,


The Playlist


"Hour" the first


Chuck Ragan - Something May Catch Fire
Ani DiFranco - Angry Anymore
Hefner - The Hymn For The Cigarettes
Suzanne Vega - Blood Makes Noise
Bob Mould - Shoot Out The Lights
The Horrible Crowes - Teenage Dream
Spacehog - In The Meantime
Jake Bugg - Two Fingers
Darcys - The River
Temples - Shelter Song
Apples In Stereo - Bird That You Can't See
The Heads - Damage I've Done




Hour the Second


Southern Culture on the Skids - Camel Walk
Vampire Weekend - Step
Jesca Hoop - Hospital (Win Your Love)
Furslide - Over My Head
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito
Soul Coughing - Super Bon Bon
The The - This Is The Night
Tuneyards - Water Fountain
Elastica - Stutter
Reel Big Fish - She Has A Girlfriend Now
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - On the Radio
Propellerheads - Velvet Pants
EMA - Satellites
Bettie Serveert - Rudder
Drive-by Truckers - Made-up English Oceans


Hour the Third


Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound - The Real Thing
B-52's -Wig
Matthew Sweet - Millenium Blues
The Hold Steady - I Gotta Get Drunk
Eilen Jewel - Queen of the Minor Key
Dandy Warhols - Not if You Were the Last Junkie On Earth
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - Heaven in Stereo
St. Vincent - Rattlesnake
Poe - Hello
Courtney Barnette - Avant Gardner
Old 97's - Most Messed Up
Marah - Point Breeze
Man Man - Loot My Body
Artificial Joy Club - Sick and Beautiful
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
Tuneyards - The Real Thing

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

WRKC: The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic Playlist 5/14/14

For anyone just stumbling onto this blog, The Not-So-Hectic Eclectic is on WRKC ( wrkc.kings.edu ) Wednesdays from 1p-3p over the summer. It's a mix of 90s and current alternative.


This week's show really felt like summer, even though it is still spring, mostly because of the heat in downtown Wilkes-Barre, but also because for me it was once again a lot of fun. Even though I had to try to soothe the ire of Dr. Ham's dishwashing monkey... (don't ask)


Without further pre-amble


The Playlist


Hour The First


Ruby - Tiny Meat
Chuck E. Weiss - Devil With The Blue Suede Shoes
The Gaslight Anthem - She Loves You
Jonathan Fire-Eater - No Love Like That
The Dismemberment Plan - Waiting
The The - Dogs of Lust
The Love Language - Calm Down
Yo La Tengo - Sugarcube
Cake - Frank Sinatra
The Darcys - The River
Morphine - Honey White
Dawn Kinnard - Father Couldn't Break It To You
Beta Band - Round the Bend
Rogue Wave - College
Portugal the Man - Atomic Man
Eilen Jewel - Bang Bang Bang
Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound - The Real Thing
Luscious Jackson - Naked Eye


Hour the Second


Jesca Hoop - Born To
Marah - Faraway You
Ted McCloskey - Just Wanna Disappear
Folk Implosion - Natural One
Chuck Reagan - Something May Catch Fire
Flaming Lips - She Don't Use Jelly
Peggy Sue - The Shape We Made
Primus - Tommy The Cat
Drive-by Truckers - Made Up English Oceans
David Garza - Discoball World
Tom Waits - Big In Japan
Cold Specks - Winter Solstice
Illinois - Nosebleed
Beastie Boys - Intergalactic





Wednesday, May 7, 2014

WRKC: The Not-So-Hectic-Eclectic: May 7, 2014 Playlist

Hello everybody! Whew! First week back on the airwaves since last summer. Those two hours went by way too fast. I'm already daydreaming about next week's show... Lot of calls this week, which was surprising and cool. Thanks to everyone to called in or chimed in online. You guys help make this really fun.


Without further ado...


The Playlist


Hour The First


Edwyn Collins - Girl Like You
Reverend Horton Heat - It's Martini Time
Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound - Jebediah Moonshine's Friday Night Shack Party
Eels - I Like Birds
The Strayers - I Touch Myself
Marah - Valley Farm Song
Eilen Jewel - Queen of the Minor Key
Stray Cats - Rock This Town
Cold Specks - Winter Solstice
Pavement - Stereo
Murder By Death - Lost River
Primitive Radio Gods - Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand
Primus -Jerry Was A Race Car Driver
Jesca Hoop - Hospital (Win Your Love)
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Wail
Elastica - Connection
The Darcys - The River
Southern Culture On The Skids - Camel Walk




Hour The Second


Cibo Matto - 10th Floor Ghost Girl
G. Love and Special Sauce - Cold Beverages
Robyn Hitchcock - Sinister But She Was Happy
Scott Bradlee and the Post-Modern Jukebox feat. Puddles Pity Party - Royals
Portugal the Man - Atomic Man
B-52s - Good Stuff
Shivaree - Good Night, Moon
Charles Ramsey - So Much Better Off
Chuck Reagan - Something May Catch Fire
Apples In Stereo - Ruby
Eleni Mandell - Put My Baby To Bed
Soup Dragons - Divine Thing
The New Morty Show - Unskinny Bop
Man Man - Head On





Friday, February 14, 2014

Spotty Blog Interview: Meet Ian T Healy!

Introduction:


Author Ian T Healy was introduced to me by the awesome Kristen J Tsetsi (who has recently released her novel Pretty Much True). You may be familiar with him from the Paper Rats videos that I am always going on about. Or you may be familiar with him as the publisher of Local Heroes Press, or, you might be familiar with his work as a novelist, author of the Just Cause series about a multi-generational family of superheroes. Superheroes, you guys! He's got a new one set in that universe coming out on April 1, 2014 titled Jackrabbit.

It is with great pleasure that I present the Spotty Blog interview.

Interview:

Q) As a 9 time NanoWrimo participant, how has that process helped your writing?


A) Actually, I'm a ten time champion, as I pulled off a successful marathon once again this past November. Over the years, I've gotten very good at planning ahead during the times when I'm NOT writing, so that when I sit down to write (whenever or wherever that might be), I have two things already in mind: what happens next, and what happens in the end. Knowing those things helps me to put together a cohesive plot, in spite of the general philosophy that plot is inconsequential during NaNoWriMo. I disagree with that fundamentally, and believe that plot is every bit as important as character and setting.


Q) What do you find most appealing about the idea of the superhero?

A) I just love the idea of having abilities far beyond those of the typical mundane. Like George Carlin said, we're just big piles of protoplasm walking around. Superheroes are immediately something more than that. They can DO more. What they CHOOSE to do is what defines them as heroes (or not heroes, as the case may be). In religious philosophies, they might be angels, or demigods. Whatever the case may be, they are the legends and myths of our culture. And as a writer in that genre, I am creating new legends. That's a pretty awesome place to be.

 Q) What's your superpower?

A) Clearly, I can clone myself to get all this work done.


Q) What prompted you to form your own imprint and become an author/publisher? What advice would you give to someone thinking about taking that road to publication?

A) I was looking toward the future, when I'll be sitting atop a publishing empire, raking in the dough, surrounded by hookers and blow (hookers and blow is a recurring joke between me and my dearest friend, writer Allison M. Dickson). Honestly, I didn't want to see my work just published under my name. I wanted it to be attached to a publisher of some kind, and I also considered that someday I would probably try to publish other authors. It looks like that day may come as early as this summer, when Local Hero Press will be publishing an anthology of superhero fiction by several other authors.

My best advice is to do it the right way. Don't pick a company name that is already in use somewhere else. Register the company with your local Secretary of State. Form it as an LLC (that's on my to-do list for this year). Be professional about it in all aspects. Do not ever expect people to pay you for the privilege of being published by you. Money should always flow TO the author (and to your service providers like editors and artists). That's the biggest reason I haven't taken on publishing anyone else yet. I want to make sure I have enough income from my own work that I can pay someone right out of the gate. Shared royalties are all well and good, but cutting an author a check right from the start for the privilege of publishing their work says a lot about how willing I am to assume the financial risk for the work's success.


Q) Would you like fries to go with that font?

A) My current favorite font is Linux Libertine. It is utterly gorgeous in print. And it's also free. I love open source projects!


Q) How did you approach creating your series set in the Just Cause universe? What is one feature of world-building you think of as unique or most significant?


A) I built the JCU around the character of Mustang Sally and her family. She was the first third-generation superhero, with her mother being a hero during the '70s and '80s, and her grandmother during the '40s and '50s. Someday I will tell tales about Sally's own children as well. It's given me a lot of story material, and I think that's one of the things that makes the JCU unique. At its core, it is a family saga, like the sort of things James Michener wrote. Sure, there are tales that reach outside the saga--in fact, JACKRABBIT is one of those--but the main focus of my work in the JCU deals with Sally and her family in some way.
The novel coming out this fall, CHAMPION, is a return to Sally's ongoing
career as a member of Just Cause the team.


Q) Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming novel?


A) Yes, of course.
Jay is having a pretty bad day at school. His popular cheerleader girlfriend just dumped him and a jock spilled soda all over his brand new Nikes. So when the God of Rabbits recruits him to save the world from an invasion of interstellar cockroaches, it seems like it might be a pretty cool gig.
Unfortunately, in the spectrum of god-like abilities, rabbits rank pretty low, and Jay receives the ability to make snarky wisecracks, jump real high, and . . . that’s about all.

With all other superheroes snapped up by the Cockroach God and his minions running rampant in the extra-dimensional Gods’ Home, Jay and his newfound ally Bluebird are the only two unlikely heroes left to defend humanity.

We are doomed . . .


Q) What has changed or stayed the same for your writing process since you started writing fiction?


A) I have more gray hairs in my beard than when I started. Writing tends to be a little slower for me now, not because I want to write less, but because I'm working harder at writing better. Recently I've been stretching myself and working well outside of my comfort zone in unfamiliar genres and situations, simply because I think doing so will
broaden my skill base and make me better overall at the craft. People ask what's the hardest thing about being a writer, and I always say it's being a better writer. I write less on my phone than I used to, but that's mainly because I have much less time outside of the home to do it. I do still keep an active project or two on the phone in case the mood and the time strikes.
As far as what has stayed the same, it has to be the drive to tell stories no matter what. I'd still write even if people stopped buying my stuff tomorrow. And I would be very, very sad SO DON'T DO IT.


Q) Unitard or union suit?


A) Depends on the application. Mustang Sally wears a full body suit reminiscent of what speed skaters wear. Jackrabbit also wears a full body suit (at the insistence of his ballerina coach tailor). Another character in the JCU, named Crackerjack, is completely immune to harm, and he could fight crime bare-ass nekkid if he so chose.

I don't really have the abs to rock either one, so I'd have to go with a nice Italian suit, overcoat, and fedora like The Question.


Q) Is there a form of storytelling that you haven't tried yet that you would experiment with? *hands Ian an Erlenmeyer flask*


A) That's a tough question. So far over the years I've written space opera, mainstream fiction, non-fiction, superhero fiction, western/fantasy, hard science fiction, urban fiction, mainstream YA, cyberpunk, steampunk, a murder mystery (that's CHAMPION), horror (my current WIP), and slipstream. What's left?

Oh yeah, romance. I have a dear friend, Shewanda Pugh, who writes romance brilliantly. I need to take some lessons from her in that and see if I can squeeze out a better romance than what's in the Just Cause books.







About Ian Healy:
I can be found on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ianthealy), Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com/authorianthomashealy), Scenicwww.ianthealy.com, and on Amazon
(
http://www.amazon.com/author/ianhealy).

Jackrabbit releases in print and ebook versions worldwide from all
online retail outlets on
April 1, 2014 (honestly!).


Check out the Goodreads Giveaway at
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/81665-jackrabbit (runs from Feb.
14 through March 21, 2014, with three signed ARCs as the prizes). Visit
my Facebook page for more information.







Thursday, January 30, 2014

A Spotty Blog Interview: Meet the Strayers!

Introduction: What can I say about the Strayers that I haven't already said in last week's review of their DIY CD?


A lot probably, but if I told you, THERE WOULD BE CONSEQUENCES!


They were great fun to interview.


As you check out what they have to say for themselves... er, I mean, say about the musical path, you'll see an initial in front of the answers to indicate who responded.


Sometimes they merge into a three headed beast, but for purposes of less confusion and terror...


B = Bill Strayer
D = Denise Strayer
J = Joshua Troup


Let the inquisition... er... interview... begin!






The Interview:


Q) When was the first time you each knew that you wanted music to be a big part of your lives?


B: Bought my 1st album at 8, Iron Maiden’s Piece of Mind. I’ll never forget the look on my dad’s face when I showed it to him. Music’s always been big since.


J: When I was as young as 3, I would go to my parents den in our basement and find
their copy of The Beatles “let it be” and take it upstairs to my bedroom so I could play it on my Fisher Price record player. I’m sure I didn’t realize then, just how important
music would become later in my life...but now I cannot imagine an existence without it.


Nietzsche said it best: “Without music, life would be a mistake.”


D: I have been playing the piano since 9 and continued to play all throughout high
school, however, it wasn’t until I went away to Penn State Main as a Communications
major that I realized how much I missed it. My boyfriend at the time and I one night
went to the Music Building to one of the basement practice rooms and I played for him
for the first time, he was the one who told me I should be a Music major. I later did get
into the School of Music and graduated with an emphasis in piano pedagogy and have
been teaching piano since. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.




Q) What was the most surprising or perplexing element of your experience with
recording the debut album?


B and J: How much money we spent on booze


D: Agreed but for me especially it was the evolution of opening up to a third member of the band. Prior to recording I was extremely reluctant to have anyone enter the band
full time, wanting to preserve the sanctity of what Bill and I had all by ourselves. Bill and Mark Ross (who produced our album) eventually broke me down to the reality that we needed a drummer for the “album only” to keep time and fill in the sound. My first
choice was Troup and after 4 sessions and hearing Troup’s tracks on Remind Me I’m
Kind come together I knew I couldn’t allow my fears hold me back from the reality that we needed him be a part of what we had. Luckily he said yes.




Q) What drew you to your respective instruments? Can you remember the first time you touched one?


B: 14 years old. Guitars are cool.


J: I was drawn to percussion because of the simplicity and rawness of it. You find a
beat and sink into it. First time I touched one was when I was 6 and my family moved
into our new house, my uncle returned my dad’s 1967 Ludwig 5 piece drum set to my
father.

D: Being a piano player I jammed a few times with other people and Bill and I began
playing music together with the digital piano we have in our family room. However,
when Spring time rolled around, it really blew that Bill could take his guitar outside and I was left opening a window. At the time, we started listening to bands like Old Crow Medicine Show and The Felice Brothers, and after hearing the accordion on the Felice Brothers album, I decided that I wanted to make the accordion my portable piano. I didn’t know what all the buttons were on the left hand side but figured I could teach myself, and I did. That was 2009.


Q) How did the 3 of you meet?


D: Bill and I were encouraged to come by the Gamble Mill for Open Mic nights by our
friend who ran the event, Mark Ross, and who subsequently produced our debut album.


It was after the first or 2nd time there that we met Josh and he introduced himself as a
drummer and gave us a business card. We surprisingly didn’t throw it away, because as
I mentioned earlier I was not interested in having anyone else in the band.  Nonetheless, we would see Troup from time to time there and downtown with friends
and when it finally came time to record our album in October, he was our first choice
when it was revealed we needed to add a percussion to the album.




Q) What do you think most influences you as individual musicians and as a group?


B: Music or people who perform with passion heart and soul.


J: I truly believe music is a celebration. A celebration of everything that we experience
in life. Good times, bad times, and everything in between. I try to find positive
inspiration from all aspects of life. From the moments that change us and make us
grow to the seemingly trivial...


D: Music helps me keep my sanity. The revelation of TRUTH and LOVE.




Q) Cola or Pop?


B: Soda


J: Ale


D: Neither because they both contain High Fructose Corn Syrup and countless other
artificial ingredients that are really bad for you. Water.




Q) What have ben some of the most gratifying moments for you as a band so far?


Our first gig at the Gamble Mill as a TRIO in December. Plus the way we all felt after
hearing Remind Me I’m Kind put together during recording.




Q) When writing original material, what role do you each fulfill in the collaborative process?


B: I did all the writing for originals on the album, but moving forward we are all equal
collaborators with full artistic freedom.

D: I like having a classical background and knowledge of music theory to assist in
finding ways to move the harmony.


J: I hope to suggest new condiments, herbs, and spices to be uses as axillary
percussion instruments.




Q) Long Johns or onesies?


B: I would really like to get a “Forever Lazy” but until then, long johns.


J: Never ate at Onsies before but Long Johns is ok.


D: I like my long johns. Both kinds.




Q) Will you tell us a story about your tattoos?


B: I got my horseshoe when I was really hung-over. My friend bought it for me, after I
agreed to it the night before.


J: Most of mine are from prison and I don’t like to talk about that.


D: Each one I have is a celebration: the sun to celebrate life; the tree to celebration my
family of choice: my husband and my kids; the orchids to celebration my womanhood;
my kitty paw to celebrate the life of my first kitty who past away a few years ago.