TWO GUESTS: Brian Coleman & Boots from The Coup Wednesday, April 5th, 2006, 11pm - 2am
on
Coffee Break For Heroes & Villains with Noah
Brian Coleman is the author of 2005's "Rakim Told Me: Hip-Hop Wax Facts, Straight From The Original Artists. The '80s." In the past decade he has written for Scratch, Wax Poetics, XXL, and Complex. From 1995 through 2005 he was also the host of the popular "School Beats" and "Funk To The Folks" radio shows on WZBC 90.3 FM in Boston, MA. He is currently at work on Volume Two of his book series, focusing on classic albums from the 1990s. Fix the dial to hear Brian play some of his favorites and talk about his amazing book! Also appearing will be The Coup, who are one of the most respected groups in Hip-Hop for their diversity, live instrumentation, heavy funk, and political awareness. Debuting on the legendary Wild Pitch Records on 1993 and now on Epitaph
Records, The Coup continue to enlighten minds and ear holes! Listen up as Boots comes by and chats with Noah & Brian Coleman!
Tommy Boy Records retrospective with Tom Silverman Wednesday, April 5th, 2006, 2am - 6am
on
Put the Needle On the Record with Billy Jam
What do Afrika Bambaataa, De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Coolio, Paris, and Digital Underground all have in common? They are among the countless acts that were signed to Tommy Boy Records. On the "Hip-Hop History" segment of this week's 'Bring That Beat Back' Tom Silverman, who set up the pioneering label 25 years ago, will talk with Billy Jam about his label's history and play music from Tommy Boy's extensive back-catalog.
Kelley Stoltz Tuesday, April 4th, 2006, Noon - 3pm
on
Three Chord Monte with Joe Belock
San Francisco home-recording multi-instrumentalist Kelley Stoltz brings
his special combination of psych rock, folk, blues, and improvised pop back
to WFMU. His latest LP is called "Below the Branches". Last time he was
here, he did Echo & the Bunnymen covers with Spiral Stairs, so who knows
what'll happen this time.
Theo and the Skyscrapers Thursday, March 30th, 2006, 11pm - 2am
on
Pat Duncan's show
Theo and The Skyscrapers, featuring Theo Kogan, singer of the legendary Lunachicks, will perform live on WFMU in support of their new CD/DVD. They perform a hypnotic concoction of dark, new wave lazer punk. Blondie meets Slayer!
Author Karen Schoemer Wednesday, March 29th, 2006, Noon - 3pm
on
Irwin's show
Author Karen Schoemer will discuss her new book, "Great Pretenders: My
Strange Love Affair With '50s Pop Music." Far from being a definitive
history of the genre, the book recounts Schoemer's personal odyssey to
discover how creamy teen ballads of the late 1950s reflected her parents'
marriage -- and how the music's fall from grace presaged their divorce.
Schoemer is a former Pop Music critic for Newsweek, and wrote the book
partly to refute the common hipster notion that white-bread hits of the '50s
are worthless crap. Along the way, she interviewed Pat Boone, Patti Page,
Connie Francis, and other pop idols of the '50s. Her journalist colleagues
thought that writing such a book was a waste of time. Tune in and find out
why Schoemer disagreed.
Daniel Johnston Documentarian Jeff Feuerzeig Tuesday, March 28th, 2006, 8pm - 11pm
on
The Best Show on WFMU with Tom Scharpling
Tom welcomes Jeff Feuerzeig - the award winning director of the amazing
documentary THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON - to The Best Show On WFMU. Listen
in as Jeff talks about the man behind the film, what it's like handing your
life over to a movie, the finer points of producing a film with the drummer
from Crime and more! THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON opens on March 31st at a
theater near you.
Th' Faith Healers Tuesday, March 28th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
Brian Turner's show
England's Faith Healers appeared on the scene in 1990, coming out of the
same Too Pure label stable as kindred spirits Stereolab and PJ Harvey,
whom some folks claimed the band fell somewhere between stylistically.
While the Healers did share a pronouced leaning towards Kraut-like
repetition and also had a strong female presence in vocalist Roxanne Stephen, they
easily leave both in the dust in terms of sonic capability; fragile, tense
melodies explode into total guitar chaos, basslines lumber like runaway
trucks, and as soon as the songs regain some semblance of control, they
lose it at the next drop of a hat. They split in 1994 but are amazingly
back together for live shows in the USA in support of their recent Peel
Sessions disc (Ba Da Bing Records), playing live North Six 3/27, the
Mercury Lounge 3/29 and here on Brian's show.
Scott McCaughey Tuesday, March 28th, 2006, Noon - 3pm
on
Three Chord Monte with Joe Belock
Scott, the leader/culprit behind such beloved projects as the Young Fresh
Fellows and the Minus 5, returns to WFMU to sing and talk and play some
records. He's on tour with the Minus 5 supporting their new, self-titled
album, which is quickly becoming known as "The Gun Album" due to its cover
art. This description is based on hearsay since the record company did not
send us the cover art, perhaps waiting for the firearms backround check
results.
Hellenic Hoedown Saturday, March 25th, 2006, 6pm - 8pm
on
Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob Weisberg
Three perspectives on music from Greece: Akis
Perdikis, Athenian Rock and Roller gets us up to date on Greek indie rock
and introduces his latest cd: "To Fronimo Paidi" ("The Well-Behaved Boy");
George Sempepos, Greek-American pop-hybridist (of Annabouboula fame)
explores Greek music's give-and-take with the world, and Rob Weisberg,
American guy who bought a bunch of CDs in Athens last summer, gets George
and Akis to decipher the track listings!
Double Dagger Thursday, March 23rd, 2006, 11pm - 2am
on
Pat Duncan's show
Baltimore-based Double Dagger plays art rock for punk kids or punk rock for art kids, with a decided emphasis on the rock half of the equation. The trio employs a minimalist palette of bass, drums, vocals, and graphic design --- the moderately-successful results of which have led to Double Dagger playing at home and on the road with such bands as Black Eyes, Melt Banana, Lightning Bolt, The Buzzcocks, and Boyz II Men (seriously). Listen in while the band attempts to contain the confrontation, noisiness, and volume of its live shows within the studio at WFMU.
MC Lars Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006, 11pm - 2am
on
Coffee Break For Heroes & Villains with Noah
Educated at Stanford and Oxford, this Brooklyn-based Post Punk Laptop rapper is a member of what he dubs the "iGeneration."
Performing with his laptop and lyrics, Lars reaches out to a group born and raised in the time of the Ninja Turtles and cassette tapes. His newest album, "The Graduate" will be released in March. Tune in to check his tracks as well as what he's diggin'!
"Style Wars" producers Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant. Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006, 2am - 6am
on
Put the Needle On the Record with Billy Jam
The influential 1983 hip-hop documentary "Style Wars" introduced the world to the New York phenomenon of graffiti art and is directly responsible for making it as a global street art movement. Director Tony Silver and producer/photo-journalist Henry Chalfant talk with Billy Jam about making their pioneering film (with just camera), struggling to get it shown (it aired on PBS), the documentary's impact in the subsequent 23 years, and the new DVD version of "Style Wars." This week's Hip-Hop History segment begins at 4:20AM.
Nikki Sudden Monday, March 20th, 2006, 8pm - 11pm
on
Mike L.'s show
The iconic guitarist, founding member of pre-punk greats the Swell Maps, one half of the Dylanesque acoustic duo the Jacobites, noted solo artist, and one of Mike's all-around musical heroes drops by the WFMU studios for a live session and chat.
Love is All Saturday, March 18th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
The Cherry Blossom Clinic with Terre T
Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Love Is All stops by WFMU studios with a new album, "9 Times That Same Song" on What's Your Rupture? Love is All play scrappy, darkly happy pop utilizing keyboards and sax in an old school DIY way. Think of Love is All as a modern day counterpart to Kleenex, Essential Logic, X-Ray Spex, and Au Pairs!
Bring That Paddy Back (web only) Friday, March 17th, 2006, 6am - 9am
on
Put the Needle On the Record with Billy Jam
WFMU's resident Irish-born hip-hop DJ is proud to deliver this special St. Patrick's Day Irish music special: He'll spin a diverse mix of Irish tunes including traditional folk, rock, and beats including special sets of recent indie hip-hop out of Dublin, and 1979 Belfast punk on the Good Vibrations label. (This program will be heard on the web only!)
Hola Diablo Thursday, March 16th, 2006, 11pm - 2am
on
Pat Duncan's show
Hola Diablo formed in 2002 and have been playing shows throughout the
tri-state area. Called punk rock by some and psychobilly by others, this
DIY
outfit plays a brand of rock and roll unique to this seven piece band. Hola
Diablo has graced the stage with a variety of local bands and are currently
working on their second studio recording. Tune in to hear some live tracks from it.
Billy Bragg & the Chapin Sisters Monday, March 13th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
Irene Trudel's show
Acclaimed Brit-rocker/ activist Billy Bragg joins Irene for a few live
tunes and chat. Infamous for his rambling 'raps' during the show, tackling everything from the failings of New Labour, to incontinence and Morrissey,
Billy';s just-released a massive box set on Yep Roc, and will drop by
WFMU for some post-Marathon fun.
Billy's preceeded on the show by The Chapin Sisters, a sweet folk trio
with gorgeous three-part harmonies. Abigail, Lilly, and Jessica talk about
growing up in a famous musical family and perform live.
The Hoof n' Mouth Sinfonia! Sunday, March 12th, 2006, 7pm - Midnight
on
Marathon Finale
It all began innocently (if embarrassingly) enough, back in March 2001,
with a little party we called "Up With DJs". The WFMU airstaff got loaded
and started doing live band karaoke - on the air. Well, the humiliation
proved addictive, and this year we present the 6th Annual Marathon Finale
with the Hoof & Mouth Sinfonia - starring 35 of your fave DJs soiling
themselves aurally for the love of no longer having to beg for your money
for another year. The revelry ensues at 7pm on Sunday March 12th, and
won't quit til someone with a smidgen of remaining good-sense lets us know
that's been quite enough Marathon, thank you very much.
Bob fills in for Kenny G with guest Noah Budnick of Transportation Alternatives Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
Bob W.'s show
Noah Budnick of Transportation Alternatives, the bicyclist/pedestrian
advocacy group, will be BobW's guest to ponder the question, "NYC - bike heaven or cycle hell?" He'll discuss transalt.org's programs to promote safe
cycling in New York City as well as the recent NYPD crackdown on cyclists.
The Catholic Girls Thursday, February 16th, 2006, 11pm - 2am
on
Pat Duncan's show
The Catholic Girls were born in the 1980s and
signed to MCA Records. After two national tours, widespread commercial airplay, and MTV exposure, they
disbanded in 1985. The band is now back and have
released their first full-length album since the MCA days entitled "Meet The
Catholic Girls" which contains a variety of garage, punk, & power-pop tunes.
Filmmaker Michael McNamara Thursday, February 16th, 2006, 8pm - 11pm
on
Music to Spazz By with Dave the Spazz
Dave the Spazz speaks with director Michael McNamara, whose documentary about legendary radio station CKLW (Radio Revolution: The Rise & Fall of the Big 8)has just been released on DVD.
Little Howlin' Wolf Tuesday, February 14th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
Brian Turner's show
Contrary to what his name might conjure up in one's mind, Little Howlin' Wolf is indeed James Pobiega, a 6'9" Polish fellow from the South Side of Chicago whose past activities have included being a bounty hunter, secret agent, diving instructor, and kids' pirate entertainer. As a street musician, he also has created a body of free-flowing music from another planet ranging from demented voodoo-blues, junkyard calypso, fractured free-gospel and
other uncategorizable sound forms that call to mind the greatest moments of Abner Jay, Albert Ayler, and Don Van Vliet. He opened the floodgates with a stunning pile of 7"s and LPs through the late 1970's and 80's that are being compiled today by the likes of Baltimore fans Nautical Almanac and Ehse Records. He's going to perform and chat with Brian today.
Au Revoir Simone Thursday, February 9th, 2006, 9am - Noon
on
This Is the Modern World with Trouble
Trouble welcomes Au Revoir Simone for a live performance in the WFMU studios. Fresh from a tour of Japan and Europe, these three lovely women from Brooklyn bring three equally lovely keboards to break out the most luminous, shimmery sounds this side of the sun shining on the Hudson. Tune in, or live with the horrible regret of missed perfection.
Sam Ulano Wednesday, February 8th, 2006, Noon - 3pm
on
Irwin's show
Sam Ulano started playing drums at age 13. That was in 1933. What were you
doing in 1933? Thought so. Seventy-three years later, Sam will be
interviewed on WFMU -- and not for the first time. (He performed live at our
East Orange studios in 1991.) Known as "Mr. Rhythm," Ulano has played and
recorded with the top names in traditional jazz, and in the 1950s made TV
appearances on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, and the Ernie Kovacs Show.
In the 1940s and '50s he recorded a series called "Drum's Fairy Tales," in
which he played wild percussion solos while simultaneously reciting hepcat
Mother Goose. He's been a drum teacher for decades, has written 2500
instruction books, and he has shoes older than you. Oh, and he once gigged
with Public Image Ltd. And recorded with Moondog. Hear about it on Irwin's
program, Feb. 8, from 1-2 pm. Sam will bring recordings and recollections
about a lifetime behind the drum kit.
Picastro Monday, February 6th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
Irene Trudel's show
If quiet is indeed the new loud, Picastro are today's answer to Black Sabbath. Picastro began long ago in Toronto as a guitar/cello duo. Now a five-piece ensemble featuring Liz Hyasen's despairing vocals, their music has been described "songs that make hearts wrench, ears bleed, and eyes well with tears."
Bryan Vargas y ¡Ya Está! Saturday, February 4th, 2006, 6pm - 8pm
on
Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob Weisberg
Citing folks like Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo & the Fania
All-Stars as inspiration, Vargas adds a raw, electric rock-guitar-driven edge to
old-school Latin music. The esteemed Latin-jazz pianist Arturo O'Farrill, son of the great mambo arranger Chico O'Farrill produced the ¡Ya Está!'s
debut CD "Afro Latino Soul" and the band's lineup features a multicultural
array of great young musicians: Bostonian Matt Hilgenberg on trumpet and
vocals; Cuban-Dominican Ernesto Abreu on congas, percussion & vocals;
Japanese Toshi Someya on bass; Boricua percussionist Jorge "Georgie"
Vázquez on
bongó, campana & vocals; and Italian-American Matt Baranello on the drum
kit, & percussion. ¡Ya Está!'s next big NYC show is at Makor on March 25.
The Wretched Ones Thursday, February 2nd, 2006, 11pm - 2am
on
Pat Duncan's show
New Jersey's legendary DIY Punk Rock Masters, The Wretched Ones, are
back with a vengeance!
Their heavy blend of Punk, Metal, & Rock has been slaying fans for going on
20 years.
Pounding out the classics or working on their latest 2006 release,
The Wretched Ones have been on the job & continue to work overtime playing
wherever & whenever duty calls!
The Tampoffs Saturday, January 28th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
The Cherry Blossom Clinic with Terre T
Terre T is proud to present Boston's insanely legendary band, the Tampoffs! These guys rock it like you wouldn't believe! And their legend is purely based on audience reaction and word of mouth because they have no records out and rarely play shows outside of Boston! A rare treat indeed!
Ambergris Thursday, January 26th, 2006, 11pm - 2am
on
Pat Duncan's show
Ambergris plays an old-school punk style blended with hardcore elements that's influenced by Black Flag, The Descendants, Agnostic Front, Gorilla Biscuits, G.B.H., Stiff Little Fingers, and more.
Lockhart Steele Wednesday, January 25th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
Kenny G's show
Join Kenny G and DJ Monica on Wednesday, January 25th between 5 and
6pm for an hour of red-hot real estate porn as they welcome guest
Lockhart Steele, proprietor of New York City's hottest real estate
blog curbed.com. Venturing into topics never-before heard on WFMU's
airwaves, Steele will be slinging the same sort of mix of savvy
gossip and speculative irony that makes curbed.com tick. We'll be
taking calls from listeners, either drooling with envy or frothing
with anger about the one subject that everyone in the tri-state area,
one way or another, is forced to deal with.
Pamelia Kurstin Wednesday, January 25th, 2006, Noon - 3pm
on
Irwin's show
Thereminist Pamelia Kurstin will present a live solo performance on Irwin's
program on Wednesday Jan. 25 from 1-2 pm. Pamelia is one of the instrument's
great innovators, creating sounds never dreamed by its inventor, Leon
Theremin. Besides playing, she will demonstrate the possibilities of the
instrument, and talk about its history. Pamelia has performed with Yuka
Honda, Arthur Blythe, Lou Reed, and John Zorn, and recorded with Matthew
Sweet, Bela Fleck, Foetus, and David Byrne. She appeared in the 2004
documentary Moog, and has improvised on theremin in jazz and electronic
music concerts. Pamelia is at work on a solo album for the Tzadik label.
Jonathan Kane Tuesday, January 24th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
Brian Turner's show
Having performed and recorded with the Swans, Rhys Chatham, La Monte
Young, and Dave Soldier's Kropotkins, Jonathan Kane has been one of New York's
great powerhouse avant-drummers. On his new Table of the Elements label
release February, much of the great 1980's Downtown tradition of percussion
and open-tuned electric guitar-based minimalism at maximum
volume continues, though with deliberate incorporation of the trance of
North Mississippi blues heroes like Fred McDowell, Junior Kimbrough, and Otha
Turner (whose fife-and-snare workouts were definitely a huge element in
the Kropotkins). Today Kane and four guitarists will cut a wide path down
the middle of the WFMU studios for what is sure to be a set of total
electric power.
Loga Ramin Torkian of Niyaz Saturday, January 21st, 2006, 6pm - 8pm
on
Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob Weisberg
The self-titled debut CD by Niyaz (on Six Degrees Records) weaves together
ten mystical poems written by some of the greatest Sufi poets of all time. Niyaz calls its electronica and rock-tinged treatments 'folk music for the 21st century'. Torkian, whose longstanding band Axiom of Choice has won much critical
acclaim, is deeply involved with the music of his homeland, Iran. He is
accomplished on the guitar, the Turkish saz and electric guitarviol (a
14th century European bowed guitar), a traditional Persian lute, as well
as other Turkish and Kurdish instruments. He also uses the Persian
classical repertoire, known as the radif, within his own compositions.
DC Snipers Saturday, January 21st, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
The Cherry Blossom Clinic with Terre T
From NYC come hot-as-hell ponk rockers DC Snipers! They have great songs played with a special, fevered & edgy aggressiveness that's rarely found these days. The DC Snipers have a new album "Missile Sunset," out now on Dead Beat Records and the music sounds like something you'd hear only on an old Killed By Death comp!
The Misteriosos Tuesday, January 17th, 2006, Noon - 3pm
on
Three Chord Monte with Joe Belock
The sounds of Psychedelphia come to the WFMU studios! The Misteriosos may
be a far-out three-piece from the City of Brotherly Love, but their
grooves are out of this world, blasting blasts from the past right into
the future.
Roxy Pain Saturday, January 14th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
The Cherry Blossom Clinic with Terre T
This NYC super group
features a who's who of downtown coolness: OJ from Mob Stereo, Oneida
collaborator Kayrock, his partner in screenprinting Wolfy, and others. These disturbo punx sound like John Carpenter meets Hawkwind meets Chrome
meets the Weirdos! Yes! Their self-released CD 'Best of the Last 40 Years'
was one of Terre's Best Faves of 2005; find out why when they play live on
the air.
Fabio fills in for Donna with special guests Meja Friday, January 13th, 2006, 3pm - 6pm
on
Strength Through Failure with Fabio
Featuring Michael Evans (acoustic / electronic percussion) and Jeff Arnal (acoustic percussion), Meja approach their instruments with extended techniques and unorthodox sound generating methods. As a duo, they investigate the fluidity of rhythm and pulse with floating structures inspired by many traditions including blues, electronic, improv, free jazz, percussion music of the world, noise, and time travel.
Na Wednesday, January 11th, 2006, 8pm - 11pm
on
World of Echo with Dave Mandl
Dave's guests performing live in the studio will be the indescribable
Japanese (by way of Seattle) experimental group Na. From the group's website: The group performs with all instruments possible, including classical
guitar, piano, electronic guitar, laptop, a child drum kit, lots of
cymbals and vocals with screams and laughs in their own
language. Since they began in the nice summer of 2004, Na has been
busy releasing thousands of CDRs for free with no responsibilities and
organizing tons of performances all over the U.S.
Tom Verlaine Sunday, January 8th, 2006, 5pm - 7pm
on
Gaylord Fields's show
The innovative singer/guitarist, most famously of the trailblazing
late-70's New York band Television, will stop by to chat and perform
guest-DJ duties in an informal setting. Verlaine's 1992 solo
instrumental album, "Warm and Cool," was recently reissued on Thrill
Jockey, complemented by enticing bonus tracks.
All times listed are Jersey City time, EST.
Questions? E-mail Brian or call (201) 521-1416
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