J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 25th March 2009

[Tonight's edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem was dedicated to Shane Straight, a friend of mine who died last week. Shane's passing leaves a large hole for so many people that I know, let alone in the spot where his amiable and electric nature used to reside in my own spectrum. Though tonight's show isn't necessarily representative of him, just calling him out on the air is something at least. God speed, Shane. I hope Hemingway enjoys seeing his likeness on your arm when you come rolling in.

Tonight's show featured an interview with Mr. Rozzi and Joe Pope, Greensboro hip-hop artists who will be performing at tomorrow night's Dotmatrix Project show at the Green Burro downtown at 8pm. The show is free, as always. I had a great time with the two of them including some live performances that are well worth checking out.

Now, shall we? Onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 25th March 2009 Show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Mastodon - "Divinations" [from the new crack the skye which came out yesterday. on any given week i might be inviting some terrible requests when i play metal, but mastodon is just too good for words. they're playing at the cat's cradle in chapel hill on wednesday, may 13th.]

Sleater-Kinney - "Jumpers" [from the awesome the woods. i think when i do my top albums of the decade show next year, that album will be well near the top. just sayin'.]

the Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Young Adult Friction" [from their self-titled debut. they'll be at local 506 in chapel hill on monday, may 4th. i can't get enough of these guys.]

Fountains of Wayne - "No Better Place" [from welcome interstate managers. okay. so, i don't skip "stacy's mom" anymore when i listen to this album. yet i still tend to skip "denise" when i listen to utopia parkway. thoughts on my psychosis?]

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Doom - "Lightworks" [from born like this. this is doom as in mf doom. i think he dropped the mf apparently. his new album is..really good. i like the sample that builds the chorus of this song a lot. it was also produced by j. dilla. i think this guy is going to have stuff turning up for years, ala tupac.]

the Afghan Whigs - "Uptown Again" [from 1965. i love the first half of this album, up through "john the baptist," and then it takes a bit of a nosedive. i've never been into the last few songs on it and it's made it kind of a bittersweet swan song as a result.]

the Henry Clay People - "This Ain't a Scene" [from for cheap or for free. these guys were the bee's knees live, so you should catch them while you can.]

Evidence - "The Layover" [the title track from his new EP. not bad, especially considering how i gave up on dilated peoples after that really awful third LP.]

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the Veils - "The Letter" [from the forthcoming sun gangs which is due out april 7th. i like this song quite a bit and it's one of the album's true highlights.]

the Box Tops - "The Letter" [from the ultimate box tops. am i remembering correctly that sonny bono at least co-wrote this song? anyway, it seemed like a good thematic follow up to the veils.]

Citified - "Landlocked" [from the forthcoming absence which they are selling tonight at their show opening for blind pilot at studio b behind the broach theatre in greensboro, downtown on elm street. their new EP is seriously good and fans of the band will not be disappointed.]

Blind Pilot - "Go On, Say It" [from three rounds and a sound. i'm really looking forward to seeing these guys tonight.]

[Here's where the interview with Mr. Rozzi and Joe Pope takes place. We had a good time talking about Rozzi's origins in battle rap and poetry reading, what it means to truly be involved in collaborations with cohorts, and whether success involves an automatic sacrifice of artistic integrity. We also listened to one recorded track and they spit live over a few recorded beats as well. I had an awesome time with these guys and know they're really going to light it up for the Dotmatrix Project show tonight at the Green Burro.]

Mr. Rozzi - "Long Ride" [a recorded track that we checked out. the video is hilarious and rozzi wasn't lying - he really is the only human in the whole bit. check it out.]

Mr. Rozzi and Joe Pope - Live Performances #1 and #2 [i'm away from my copy of the podcast at the moment, so I can't recall whether rozzi and joe gave these names, but if they did, they say them on the podcast. good stuff, all around.]

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A.C. Newman - "Like a Hitman, Like a Dancer" [from get guilty. his live band is seriously tight and they put on a fantastic show at the cat's cradle last week.]

Frankel - "3 Legs" [from the ram on l.a. tribute album to mccartney's ram. all sorts of los angeles artists recording covers of the songs from the ram album. you can download the album for free so why not go grab it? you really should. while you're there, fire some coin at the no more landmines charity, one of mccartney's pet causes, as a thank you for the great music these artists put together.]

Blair - "Hello, Halo" [from the forthcoming die young. i'm so anxious for this record i could scream. auuughghhhhh!]

the Dead Boys - "Sonic Reducer" [from young, loud and snotty. god bless the dead boys and their so dumb it's brilliant punk rock.]

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the Damnwells - "Bastard of Midnight" [from the new one last century which you can also download for free from the paste magazine website. it's so good. keep an eye out for my interview with the damnwell's alex dezen coming up soon.]

J's Indie/Rock First Times - Michael Lerner - Click to Listen [i know i just played this the other week, but it was worth playing again now that my interview with lerner is up at aquarium drunkard. you can read the full scale talk over there.]

Telekinesis - "Great Lakes" [from the forthcoming self-titled album due out in a few weeks. seriously, guys. this is one of the best records this year, no doubt, and it only gets better with repeat listens.]

Heartless Bastards - "Early in the Morning" [from the mountain. more goodness from those callous wedlock-lackers.]

the Pogues - "Thousands are Sailing" [from if i should fall from grace with god. i totally blanked on playing anything for st. patrick's day last week and this is the least i can do. one of my all time favorite pogues songs. i stood in the hallway of my school between classes on the 17th, with my guitar, and played the title track from this album to a pretty amused crowd of students.]

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Jim White - "Jailbird" [from a funny little cross to bear EP. this song still affects me in some really amazing ways, lyrically. and it's made me ruminate on so much else that has happened recently. rest in peace, shane.]

the Replacements - "Can't Hardly Wait" [from pleased to meet me. i don't care what anyone says. i like this version - strings, horns and all. i like all the versions i've ever heard - this is a pretty undeniable song, but so many fans of the band hate this version. well, tough. it's awesome and amazing.]

That'll do it for this week. I'll be back next week with tons of new stuff and more classic goodness. Until then, Go Heels!, and take care.

J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 18th March 2009

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. I totally neglected to thank Johnny on the air for filling in for me last week. He did an awesome job and I hope you all were able to tune in and catch him at work. His show is normally on Saturday mornings from 6 AM - 8 AM, so if you're up early, tune him in.

I had some special guests in studio - Tiger Scouts from Pack 175 at Muirs Chapel United Methodist Church right up the road from us here at Guilford College. They were learning about how people communicate and came in to see a radio station. I got to talk about what I do, why it's so cold in the MCR (hint: the transmitter needs it), what purposes radio serves and I let the scouts talk on the air during the second voice break. You'll get to hear them on the podcast. They asked some good questions and were very good scouts. I should know, being a former Cub and Boy Scout myself. Thanks to listener Dan for giving me a chance to have them up. It was fun.

Now, while the rest of the tournament field thinks they might still have a chance to not be footnotes in the wake of another Tar Hell romp in the NCAA, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 18th March 2009

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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A.C. Newman - "The Heartbreak Rides" [from get guilty. newman and the broken west are playing tomorrow night, thursday, march 19th at the cat's cradle in carrboro. i. cannot. wait.]
Liz Phair - "Supernova" [from whipsmart. the second slot on my show each week has some repeat offenders - i like it to be an upbeat, raucous song. this song has appeared in that spot many, many times. so has the clash's "safe european home." good songs are good songs.]
Andrew Bird - "Fitz and the Dizzyspells" [from noble beast. one of my favorite songs from his latest. i would really like to see him live at some point. anyone had the experience?]
the Stranglers - "Nice 'n' Sleazy" [from 1978's black and white but also from peaches: the best of the stranglers. i love the design on this best of. the word 'peaches' is really large and 'the stranglers' rather small. you'd think it was a compilation of work by peaches. that said, the stranglers are awesome.]
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Lake Inferior - "Spiders" [from their self-titled EP. man, i literally cannot get enough of these guys. they're playing at local 506 in chapel hill tomorrow night, thursday the 19th, right up the street from where i'll be at the cradle.]
Adam Daniel - "Her Shake" [from blue pop. one of the great pop songs of all time, in my mind. i first heard this song on a mix-tape compilation i got in a trade years ago. and i never forgot just how mindbogglingly catchy it is.]
Blackalicious - "The Fabulous Ones" [from nia. hip-hop is so strange for artists making really amazing pieces of work and then floating off into weird hinterlands of shrug-inducing music. the first two blackalicious full lengths are amazing - especially blazing arrow, easily one of the best hip-hop albums of the last 25 years. then the third album..gift of gab's solo record..the new might underdogs. shrug.]
the Rain Parade - "This Can't Be Today" [from emergency third rail power trip. this is where i showed the scouts what a vinyl record looks like. one of them asked me if before all the CDs we used to have tapes, as if that was an old enough format. time marches on. long live the paisley underground, however.]
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the Veils - "Sit Down by the Fire" [from the forthcoming sun gangs due out april 7th. happiness abounds as the authors of the j's indie/rock #1 album of 2007 return with a new album. we'll be hearing more, for sure.]
Steve Earle - "Guitar Town" [the title track from his debut. i cannot say the name of this song any way other than "gui'-tar town." not "guitar town." i have the same problem with lucinda williams' "real live bleeding fingers and broken guitar strings." context is everything.]
Telekinesis - "Tokyo" [from the forthcoming self-titled debut. my interview with michael lerner of telekinesis should be going up on aquarium drunkard in the next week or so.]
the Handsome Family - "Weightless Again" [from through the trees. the first handsome family song i ever heard and i haven't turned back. they have a new record coming out later this year - an album of love songs. and you know that's something to tune in for. handsome family love songs are bound to end with someone being dismembered and yet, still be oh so sweet.]
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Citified - "Founded" [from the forthcoming absence EP. citified will be playing at studio b at the broach theatre here in greensboro along with blind pilot next thursday, march 26th. their new EP is..well..fantastic. and we will be hearing tons more.]
Megafaun - "Drains" [from bury the square. check out my interview with megafaun over at aquarium drunkard. these guys are serious musicians with a great sense of humor and are wonderful to talk to about music. their passion is effused in every inch of that interview and they were a sincere joy to talk to. what genuine, great guys.]
Liz Durrett - "All of them All" [from out side our gates. i downloaded this album the other week, but haven't gotten around to listening to it. the stray songs i've been playing are great though.]
Wilco - "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" [from yankee hotel foxtrot. i've kind of strayed from playing wilco over the years - their immense popularity doesn't hurt. but i've also strayed from this album amidst the ensuing die down of the fervor over it. i think it's time i revisit it.]
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Travel by Sea - "Back Seat of My Car" [another track from the ram on l.a. album that is available for free download. all los angeles artists covering mccartney's ram album in its entirety. even though it's free, donations to one of mccartney's favorite charities, no more landmines, is encouraged. go download and give today!]
James Gang - "Woman" [by request. from rides again. seriously. any song from this era where a man shouts out "womaannnnnnn," is just a little lost for me. that said, "funk #49" is an amazing song, so i gave the request the benefit of the doubt. still, don't plan on hearing this a lot.]
Vigilantes of Love - "Goes Without Saying" [from audible sigh. there's something about this guy's voice. another athens band in the plus column.]
Blitzen Trapper - "Crushing the Wheat" [from the pdx pop now! compilation of portland, oregon artists. this is, as far as i can tell, an otherwise unreleased blitzen trapper song and any new music from them is a godsend. obviously.]
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the Damnwells - "Down with the Ship" [from one last century, another one of them albums you can download for free. and seriously, the damnwells are an awesome power pop band and i can't recommend their work enough. go get it. i also did an interview with alex dezen of the damnwells and it'll be going up in the next week or so as well.]
Blind Pilot - "The Story I Heard" [from 3 rounds and a sound. they'll be at studio b at the broach theatre here in greensboro next thursday, march 26th. be there.]
the Broken West - "Perfect Games" [from now or heaven. i am so excited to see them in chapel hill tomorrow night that i can't even tell you how excited i am. everyone together now, repeat after me: "you will play 'down in the valley.' you will play 'down in the valley'..."]
Husker Du - "Books about UFOs" [from new day rising. catchy, swingin'. hey, it's a party!]
Jason and the Scorchers - "Broken Whisky Glass" [by request. from lost & found. same guy who requested the james gang requested this. he is redeemed.]

That'll do it for this week. I'll be back next week with, possibly, my first in-studio hip-hop interview in prep for next week's Dotmatrix Project show and cheering on the Heels to another national championship. So, until then, go Heels! and take care.

J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 4th March 2009

[Welcome to another action-packed episode of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. Had some great calls tonight and some great discussions which I may or may not mention in the text below, but I think all in all it was a good night. I'll be gone next week - off to Chapel Hill to see Kathleen Edwards, but one of WQFS's best new DJ's, the fantastic Johnny Welch, will be filling in for me. He'll make you feel right at home, I know it.

Now, shall we? Onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 4th March 2009 Show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Animal Collective - "My Girls" [from merriweather post pavilion. i finally have an animal collective album that makes sense to me. and the critical reports are universally placing it as one of their best, so i guess i picked a good point to get on board.]
Blur - "Tracy Jacks" [from parklife. so, if you missed the big news, blur are reuniting, yes, with graham coxon, and have shows planned. please, please, please come to the u.s. pretty please?]
Andrew Bird - "Oh No" [from noble beast. i need to give this album some more ear time. thoughts from y'all about it?]
Oakley Hall - "Confidence Man" [from gypsum strings. honestly i meant to play something else off this record as i always play this song, but it fit so nicely. who cares. freakin' great song.]
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Marty Willson-Piper - "High Down Below" [from nightjar. marty is, of course, the lead guitarist for the church and he and fellow church member steve kilbey both have new solo records out. i really like what i've heard from the willson-piper record, so we'll hear more.]
the Squirrel Nut Zippers - "The Ghost of Stephen Foster" [from perennial favorites. my favorite zippers album and this song is forever in my heart as a favorite on the album.]
the Bad Plus with Wendy Lewis - "Barracuda" [from for all i care. yes, it's a cover of the heart classic and yes, it's done up all jazzy. if you haven't heard the bad plus, you're in for a treat here.]
Buffalo Tom - "Birdbrain" [the title track from their 1990 album. this was their second LP, also produced, like the first, by j mascis. at this point buffalo tom still sounded like a disciple of dinosaur jr. (not that that's a bad thing), so they hadn't quite moved into the excellent stride they would hit on subsequent records. but they're getting there.]
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J's Indie/Rock First Times - Michael Lerner - Click to Listen [i did an interview last night with michael lerner of telekinesis and that interview will be going up on aquarium drunkard in a few days. meanwhile, here's a teaser in the form of the classic first times feature where michael talks about his first concert experience and the sickening feeling it left him with. literally.]
Telekinesis - "All of a Sudden" [from their self-titled debut which is out in early april. i will not stop playing this record until everyone understands how great this band is. seriously. one of the best, poppiest and catchiest records of this year.]
That dog. - "Minneapolis" [from retreat from the sun. i'm not sure why i love this song as much as i do, but i feel it has something to do with its simplicity. and my utter fascination with the city of minneapolis, even though i've never been there.]
the Moondoggies - "Changing" [from don't be a stranger. this is rock and roll, pure and simple. jeez louise.]
Mirah - "Don't!" [from 2008's the old day feeling. people are getting a lot of (good) mileage by revisiting the girl group/specter sound in recent years. i say keep it up.]
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the Broken West - "Eat at Home" [from the new ram on l.a. tribute album. it's a tribute to paul and linda mccartney's ram album where various artists cover different tracks and recreate the album in its entirety. this is put out through aquarium drunkard and its autumn tone records imprint. the album is available for free though you are encouraged to donate some money to the No More Landmines organization, a group championed by McCartney himself over the years. the compilation is seriously good, whether you're a fan of the original album or not. it features earlimart, frankel, the radar brothers, le switch, travel by sea and other great artists all contributing to a great product. go get it!]
Vigilantes of Love - "I Can't Remember" [from 1992's killing floor. a good friend made me a rather amazing mix CD recently that had this song on it - my first exposure to this athens, georgia band and i really like this song. i can't speak for the rest of their work at all, but this is great. anyone have any thoughts?]
Liz Durrett - "Wild as Them" [from out side our gates. another athens artist. i'm liking this record a lot. we should hear more.]
Sleater-Kinney - "The Size of Our Love" [from the hot rock. i mean it when i say i think it was a personal affront that they never played this any of the times i saw them live. alas. still one of my favorite songs.]
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the Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Kurt Cobain's Cardigan" [from the emusic selected and collected compilation. this song, as far as i know, is only available on this comp and is well worth seeking out over there at emusic if you're a fan of the band.]
the Breeders - "Doe" [from pod. so, on the air you'll hear me ask people if they have a preference between pod and last splash and about how i'm, somewhat oddly, really jonesin' to have an argument with someone about the two. cue caller brooke (she of the husband jason who called a few weeks ago; longtime listeners) who said that my playing this song had just inspired that very argument between she and her husband. i came down on the same side as brooke. make your claim to preference in the comments and maybe i'll share mine.]
Anathallo - "All the First Pages" [from their self-titled album. i downloaded this last year but hadn't really gotten onto it. but they'll be playing this saturday night at the cat's cradle in chapel hill, so here's a chance for you to hear them.]
Filthybird - "Fightsong" [from southern skies. greensboro's own filthybird will be opening for anathallo, so all the more reason to go check the show out.]
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Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - "Seven Mile Island" [from their self-titled album. good stuff.]
Swirlies - "Jeremy Parker" [from blonder tongue audio baton. oh, swirlies. will there ever be a moment for the rest of my life where your songs do not thrill me? doubtful. oh, so doubtful.]
the Box Tops - "Cry Like a Baby" [from the ultimate box tops. this was alex chilton's first group, before he would go on to change lives with big star. this was their highest charting hit - #2! a great song.]
Kathleen Edwards - "Asking for Flowers" [the title track from last year's superb album. she'll be playing at the carborro arts center next wednesday night on her acoustic tour. i'll be there. boy, will i.]
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Blair - "Hello, Halo" [from the forthcoming die young. i'm salivatin'.]
Peter Bruntnell - "Rio Tinto" [from 2002's ends of the earth. i got into bruntnell through his 2000 album normal for bridgewater and this is the first time i've picked up any additional material. he's a pretty masterful alt-country songwriter for a brit, so he's well worth checking out.]
Lyle Lovett - "She's Already Made Up Her Mind" [from joshua judges ruth. i cannot resist this album or anything off of it. it's my favorite lovett record and a masterful piece of country songwriting. this song and its neighbor on the record, "north dakota," are mesmerizingly dark and are just part of an incredible album.]

That'll do it for this week. I'll be back in two weeks, so don't get anxious, now. Until then, Go Heels!, and take care.