WFMU's Beware of the Blog

Great Moments in WFMU History #27

Broken Windows and Bullet Holes - by Ken Freedman and Liz Berg

WFMU’s old house on Springdale Ave. was located in a crime-ridden sector of East Orange, NJ, adjacent to the Upsala College campus. WFMU was not immune to the area’s problems, which became evident after a visiting band’s van was stolen directly from the front driveway within a week of the station’s move from a basement dormitory on the Upsala campus.

This initial van theft foreshadowed countless staff muggings, a beating or two, and many vandalized vehicles. One time a police chase ended on WFMU’s front lawn, where a car thief bailed out of the stolen vehicle and the East Orange cops opened fire. Another time, gunshots rang out during an outdoor staff meeting. Staffers discovered that the East Orange police were engaged in some leisurely post-BBQ target practice on the abandoned Upsala soccer field just across the backyard fence.

Illustration by Edward Lasala

 

Great Moments in WFMU History #26

Live Before the Acropolis - by Ken Freedman and Liz Berg

Back in the midst of WFMU’s halcyon prog years, DJ Richard Ginsburg went against the collective flow of airing 19-minute guitar journeys, hosting an electronic space jam show called “Synthetic Pleasure.” The program was wildly popular, as many New Jersey music fans had recently embraced the power of keytar, and it even went down in the books for being the first show on WFMU to play CDs. But perhaps Ginsburg’s most significant innovation was that he broke Yanni. Yes, that Yanni. In fact, Yanni used to visit WFMU fairly often to play his demo tapes and chat on-air. This was, of course, prior to his being widely recognized as an adult contemporary new age pimp.

Illustration by Matthew Thurber

Great Moments in WFMU History #25

Wesley Willis Head-Butt - by Ken Freedman & Liz Berg

Late musician Wesley Willis dropped by WFMU to play live on the air in 1996. A sweet guy, Willis was plagued by schizophrenia and the voices inside his head, and would frequently scream out of fear. He was on tour with a Chicago metal band called The Fiasco, who were incredibly disrespectful to the tortured man. During his time at WFMU, Wesley took a liking to a young, attractive female volunteer, who had just started helping out at the station that very day. Willis repeatedly hugged his new muse, and was finally so enamored that he dealt her a hearty head-butt (a token of affection that he was well-known for offering fans, as evident by the unicorn bump on his forehead), which may have scared her away from the station for good.

Willis was very unsatisfied with his on-air performance, and actually wrote a self-deprecating song about the experience, called “I Fucked Up At WFMU,” which he performed the following night at a show in Washington, DC. The song title was later changed to “I Done A Poor Job” and appears on Wesley’s New York New York album.

Illustration by Dimitri Simakis

Great Moments in WFMU History #24

Burnt Orange - by Ken Freedman & Liz Berg

In 1998, a few years after Upsala College went completely bankrupt, closed its doors, and abandoned the East Orange, NJ campus, WFMU was on the brink of a move to its new home in Jersey City. During the final program on the final night of the last-ever WFMU fundraising Marathon held in the station’s Springdale Ave house next to the campus, a gratifying farewell symbol presented itself. The empty Upsala Business Office, a site of countless financial battles between the station and college administration, burst into flames and burnt to the ground. DJ Frank Balesteri (aka The Vanilla Bean) grabbed volunteer Phil Catalano’s cell phone, galloped toward the blazing inferno, and called in to the on-air line to give a play-by-play of the mayhem, even managing to interview a firefighter.

Art by Aaron Zimmerman

Great Moments in WFMU History #23

Making Old Ladies Cry Since 1995 - by Ken Freedman & Liz Berg

Fig. 1 - During an episode of talk show Seven Second Delay, callers provided hosts Andy Breckman and Ken Freedman with the name and number of someone who needed cheering up. A young woman called in and suggested that the hosts phone her Aunt Tess, who was living in a nursing home. Andy called up Aunt Tess, and when he explained that her niece had asked him to send her good cheer, the poor woman began to cry. Andy milked more tears by gushing about the thoughtfulness of the niece’s gesture. Sept. 25, 1995.

Fig. 2 - Two high school kids in a band called up during an episode when callers were asked to play their answering machine messages over the air. The band members played a message that another bandmate had left for them, in which he earnestly chatted about the group’s new songs and expressed excitement about their next practice. Trouble was, the callers wanted him out of the band. Andy jumped at this opportunity to call the unsuspecting teenager and kick him out of the band over the air.

Fig. 3 - On another occasion, Andy offered $50 to any kid who delivered their tooth to WFMU before the end of the hour instead of leaving it for the tooth fairy. A kid named Henry called in on a cell phone and his mother Wendy agreed to drive him to the station to trade the tooth for Andy’s money. The pair were stuck in traffic on the way, but upon reaching the station, the situation appeared favorable to Henry… until he and Wendy hopped into the station’s notoriously slow elevator. Still on the phone, Andy berated the mother and son, building the pressure and making it sound as though they were too late for the money. At this point, poor Henry lost it and broke into tears in the elevator. But in the end, Henry made it to the studio in time, and gladly took Andy’s $50. Listen to this archive in real audio here.

Illustration by Mark Kaufman

Great Moments in WFMU History #22

Upsala Sells WFMU - by Ken Freedman & Liz Berg

In late 1993, it became clear that Upsala College, the university that owned WFMU’s broadcast license and housed its studios, was on the verge of implosion. Seeing Upsala’s financial demise as a golden opportunity rather than the end of WFMU as he knew it, Station Manager Ken Freedman offered to purchase the station’s license from a reluctant Upsala administration.

As the college’s financial problems escalated to desperate, Ken convinced them to sign an agreement stating that he would run the station on their behalf and Auricle Communications, a non-profit group made up of DJs, listeners, and volunteers, would manage the station.

Finally Ken received a call from Upsala’s Vice President of Finance, who asked him “How quickly could we sell the station to you?” “Right away,” was Ken’s reply, even though Auricle did not have enough money to do so. A generous listener-donor loaned us the funds, papers were signed, and a rush order was sent to the FCC. Upsala’s final payroll barely squeaked by on funds from Auricle’s purchase of WFMU, and the college declared bankruptcy 2 weeks later. June 22, 1994.

Illustration by Danny Hellman

Great Moments in WFMU History #21

Panties is Fundamental - by Amanda Barrett

Bronwyn C.'s "Read 'em and Weep" was a radio book club, and in 2003 her fundraising premium giveaway was a thong with a picture of a winking book and the slogan "Panties is Fundamental." Which they is.

During her Marathon show (listen), Bronwyn was diligently hustling pledges on mic when DJ Kenny G dropped trou and stuffed his mighty man-unit into a pair of the teeny girl-undies. The shocked volunteers let the phones ring as Kenny G panty-danced behind the momentarily unaware Bronwyn.

Suddenly, Kenny G released his big ol' bookworm and rested it on Bronwyn's shoulder. She was somehow able to soldier on until Kenny began whacking her cheek with the thing. Luckily, no permanent physical injuries were sustained. Following post-traumatic stress counseling, Bronwyn said, "I knew Kenny G was nuts, but that's when I realized he was completely out of his mind." March 5, 2003.

Illustration by Steve Hogan

Great Moments in WFMU History #20

Sharing a Beer with Joe Strummer (This Gob's for You!) - by Hova Najarian

“Kill your idols” sounds nice in theory, but the fact is DJ Hova worshipped Joe Strummer. Hova was in complete awe when Strummer stopped by WFMU for a guest-DJ set in July 2001, but he wasn’t the only star-struck staffer either. A few light-headed WFMU DJs loitered in the studio after Joe had left, savoring the moment. Mike Lupica kept stealing sidelong glances at the unfinished black-and-tan in front of Joe’s chair, finally asking, “Is that... ?”

“Go on,” Hova said. “You know you want to.”

Mike took a swig - gingerly, reverently. Transubstantiation ensued.

Brian Turner (jokingly?) suggested giving the rest away during our fundraising marathon, so Hova took the bottle home to his fridge. Several months later, Terre T. was visiting Hova, and he brought it out to show off.

“Behold,” Hova bragged. “Essence of Strummer.”

“Gimmee!” Terre blurted, snatching the bottle and chugging like a frat boy. Eventually, Hova got it back, salvaging enough beer/backwash to fill 20 small vials, which, accompanied by a certified letter of authenticity, made for a fine marathon premium. One of which Hova drank.

Joe Strummer guest DJ show:  playlist  |   listen
Strummer’s beer giveaway Marathon show:  playlist  |  listen

Illustration by Abby Denson

Old Time Radio of Temporary Interest

I discovered a new show this week called The Whisperer. When the title character turns on the whisper it's super creepy. When he talks normally, it's a slight notch above the average OTR mystery show. I could not have asked for a better introduction to the short-lived 1951 series than the wonderfully named Tea Time for Teenagers, an enjoyable anti-marijuana romp in which The Whisperer whispers that "the syndicate has decided to introduce the widespread use of... mair-hah-waaaa-naaahh... into Central City ... one month from today we will expect two hundred regular mair-hah-waaaa-naaahh...addicts among the high school students." As if that weren't good enough, the episode also features the man who was, arguably, the greatest voice actor who ever lived, Paul Frees. Listening to Tea Time for Teenagers gave me the hair-brained idea of culling together as many anti-pot OTR shows as I could muster. Here is just a small sampling of what surely are many. I know I have heard more than just these over the years, but I can't seem to track them down. If you have links to any others, please let me know in the comments section.

The Whisperer - Tea Time for Teenagers (1951)
Calling All Cars - Reefers By the Acre (1936) - The pot dealer is "A man with warts on his hands!"
Dragnet - The Big Tomato (1951)
Dragnet - The Big Seventeen (1951) - This one was also turned into an episode of the TV show, which you can watch here.
Suspense - Melody in Dreams (1952)
Stand By for Crime - Marijuana Mystery (1953)
Tales of the Texas Rangers - Wild Crop (1951)

WFMU's Kelly Jones and Bronwyn C. on film

All of you Tribeca Film Fest fans should be pleased to know that WFMU's own hilarious girlie talk duo, Kelly Jones and Bronwyn C., are featured in one of this year's flicks: Guest of Cindy Sherman.

Back in 2004, listener Paul H-O called into The Kelly Jones Show Starring Bronwyn Carlton, seeking advice on how to deal with dating someone famous (listen to the archive). Said famous person happened to be artiste magnifique, Cindy Sherman. Less than a year later, Paul decided to document his experiences, and asked Bronwyn and Kelly to participate in the film.

Fast forward to 2008, and Guest of Cindy Sherman is slated for Tribeca AND Sundance. Congrats to Paul! More info and showtimes for Tribeca screenings available here. Ok ok, now the exciting part... check out this clip, starring Kelly Jones and Bronwyn Carlton.

Great Moments in WFMU History #19

WFMU's Emergency Plan - by Mike Lupica

Given its proximity to downtown NYC, 9/11 was an especially lousy morning to wake up in Jersey City. With random road closures and a panicked citizenry all contributing to the general chaos, it took longer than usual for WFMU’s staff to arrive for work in JC that morning.

First onhand were JM in the AM’s Nachum Segal and freeform DJ Michael Goodstein, both of whom valiantly maintained the air signal during the crisis. Mike Lupica arrived next via mountain bike and was soon joined by Scott Williams, who’d sought emergency passage on public transit. DJs Rich and Tamar arrived later, and after watching the towers fall, it was universally decided that a visit to WFMU’s smelly but well-fortified basement was quite overdue.

As F-15s screamed overhead and social chaos reigned just beyond our foyer, no less a man than Bob Gruen (famed photographer who snapped the photo of John Lennon standing astride Lady Liberty) rang the doorbell and joined the fearful cellar-dwellers; earning his place as an honorary FMU staffer for the day. By mid-afternoon, overwhelmed with the dueling stenches of moldy records and raw sewage, the shaken group left the basement to seek the particular comforts that only aggressive drinking can afford. September 11, 2001.

Art by Robert Piersanti

Great Moments in WFMU History #18

The Misfits Take On Terrorists - by Mike Lupica

“This one goes out to Pat Duncan! It’s called ‘Dig up her Bones!!’”

Eternal bearers of teenage sleaze culture, the re-activated Misfits performed on Pat Duncan's show just weeks after 9/11. The band's lineup read like a roll call of intergalactic superheroes, with genuine Misfits Jerry Only and Robo donning leather trousers and devil locks, teaming up with drummer Marky Bell (whom one FMU staffer mistakenly called “Tommy” -- earning blank stared non-recognition from the erstwhile Ramone) and Black Flag's Dez Cadena. The oldies revival set list comprised a bevy of Ramones and Black Flag covers, plus all the expected Misfits tunes into one skateboard-wielding teenager’s aural wet dream.

During the on-air interview with Pat, things took an unexpected turn for the surreal when in regard to the 9/11 attacks, the affable but fast talking Jerry Only brought calm to our wounded spirits by reasoning that America, with help from the Misfits, would hunt down those responsible. And kill them. October 4, 2001.

Listen to the Misfits, as they admonish terrorists and perform a great live set (real audio).

Illustration by Diego Medina

More Star Ads

Today, as a sequel to a post I did for the original 365 Days project, I've selected five more radio advertisements from the wondrous Star Ads collection that I was given by my Uncle, who once worked as a salesman for the company. What I know of the story is in the original post here.

In today's post, we have another ad for National Bohemian Beer, another great Puritan Meats ad, a commercial for "the Mercury and the Comet Caliente", and Frankie Laine selling Potato Chips (if you've ever seen the clip of Johnny Carson with the potato chip lady, well, she worked for the same company being advertised here). Oh, and the last one, for the phone company, has always amazed me, what with its theft of the melody of "King of the Road" for the opening phrase of its melody.

Bob Purse

1.) Star Ads - National Beer Octopus Ad (MP3)

2.) Star Ads - Assorted Puritan Meats (MP3)

3.) Star Ads - The Mercury and the Comet Caliente (MP3)

4.) Star Ads - Seyfert's Potato Chips (MP3)

5.) Star Ads - Two Phones That Ring As One (MP3)

Great Moments in WFMU History #17

World Record Broadcast - by Scott Williams

Glen Jones is WFMU's reigning bad boy. But in May 2001, he flirted with respectability when he reached for, and briefly held, the Guinness World Record for longest ever radio broadcast. A media blitz ensued, Katie Couric repeatedly checked on Jones' progress, and some began to worry: would all this attention mellow Our Jonesey? 100 hours and 42 seconds later, as Tom Waits's "You're Innocent When You Dream" spun on turntable #2, a haggard and exhausted Jones reflected on the 1,128 songs, dozens of guests, and several on-air massages. Witnesses to this feat look back fondly on one particular portion of the record-breaking broadcast: Jones’ phone interview on the Howard Stern show, where Jonesey told Howard "I don't respect you", right after saying "shit" -- on Stern's airwaves, and not WFMU's. May 25-29, 2001.

Real audio links to all 100+ hours of the Jones-a-Thon broadcast are available here.

Illustration by Lyman Dally

Great Moments in WFMU History #16

Elvis Phone Sex Prank - by Ken Freedman

One of the most inspired phone pranks on record was orchestrated by WFMU’s Frank Balesteri (aka The Vanilla Bean): he called a phone sex outlet in Memphis, Tennessee and pretended to be a guy with an Elvis fetish. But Frank’s real stroke of genius was turning the tables on the actress/operator and getting her to fantasize about Elvis - his guitar-shaped swimming pool, Elvis getting laid in heaven, the jism on his blue suede shoes. Frank even got her singing "It's Alright, Mama," or at least all the lyrics she could remember. Too bad this was never aired.

The outrageously dirty conversation is available on WFMU’s 2-CD set, Radio Archival Oddities, Vol. 2, or can be downloaded here (MP3).

Illustration by Brian Musikoff

WFMU's SXSW Poster for Sale

WFMU is pleased to offer up our beautiful, limited-edition 2008 SXSW poster.

Designed and screen-printed by Aesthetic Apparatus, the poster features a scary monkey, multi-directional "action arrows," and the list of bands that performed at our SXSW showcase on 3/14/08: Half Japanese, Hank IV, Evangelista, Paul Metzger, Gary Higgins, Harvey Milk, Lexie Mountain Boys, Psychedelic Horseshit, Kelley Stoltz, The Bad Trips, Citay, Cheveu, The Homosexuals, and Los Llamarada.

The poster is on fancy, thick paper stock and measures 18" x 24". Each poster is individually numbered (limited edition of 200). Click here to buy one!

Great Moments in WFMU History #15

Within Reach - by Brian Turner

Damo Suzuki is the Japanese-born, free-spieling vocalist from the German Krautrock legends Can, still performing around the world with his "Network," continually shifting pickup bands of faithful disciples in each city a performance is scheduled. For his appearance at WFMU’s Spring ‘02 Record Fair, he tore the roof off the joint when he was joined by Boston's Cul De Sac, improvising powerful currents of drone, some hints of Can's "Mother Sky" and generally upflifting the spirits of sweaty shoppers who huddled around WFMU’s broadcast booth. The capper: Damo walked around the crowd during the final jam, embracing each and every onlooker in attendance. Who says not everyone scores at the record fair?

 

Illustration by Wayno

SXSW: Butts, Bulls, Backpatches & BBQ

Ah, so there I was, in the land where everything has to do with meat or music, in one way or another. I had never ventured to this conference/land o' plenty festivalism before and was glad to see what all the ruckus was about! After checking in, dropping my stuff off at my friend Mer's house, and receiving my SX gear, I went to the first venue of many. I started my "holiday" as it were, at Red 7, to see the mighty EASY ACTION, yea! I caught John, Harold, Tony & Matt in the backyard/second stage of the venue before they went on & captured some of this buttiness... I mean nuttiness...OK, so it was not really a big deal, I thought it was amazing that Mr. Gold, Mr. Red and Mr. Silver all had no pantylines - these guys are pros - no doubt performing at a venue near you soon. EA vocalist John Brannon told me that he was going to be singing some Negative Approach songs later in the week with Fucked Up on the famous Congress Street "Bat" Bridge at 2am. Most of the bats are still away in warmer Mexico, but just the idea of seeing anyone play at 2am on a bridge that's famous for bat migration was pretty great.

Great Moments in WFMU History #14

Potty-Mouthed Partisans - by Brian Turner

When UK punk legends the Partisans spilled drunkenly into WFMU, the first thing the singer said to Music and Program Director Brian Turner was "oo the fuck are you and where's the fucking loo?"

Over the next several hours, DJ Diane Kamikaze tried to cajole some kind of performance from them, and unfortunately failed. Between outbursts about George Bush being a c**t, half-slurred demands for band members to get their acts together, and about 78 aborted song attempts, Diane pretty much chalked up the expletive-laden session as unairable.

Brian released some of the between-song banter on his Marathon premium, as it was too amazing to let pass into history without some sort of documentation. To this day, Brian still greets fellow WFMU-staffers in the morning with "oo are you and where's the fucking loo?"

Read more about the Partisans unairable, inebriated expletive fest here.

Or you can download the entire filthy studio session (MP3)

Illustration by Brian Musikoff

Shield in the shadows

Robert Crumb is a curmudgeon nonpareil, and a man of idiosyncratic fetishes. One of them is the music of Leroy Shield. Until the 1990s, Shield, a prolific composer/conductor most of his life (1893-1962), was relatively unknown for what was arguably his greatest musical achievement: composing hundreds of themes for the 1930s Hal Roach comedies of Laurel & Hardy and The Little Rascals. In the early '90s, a Dutch orchestra called The Beau Hunks (christened after a L&H feature) recorded three albums of Shield's compositions from the Roach era, thus reviving a prodigious legacy.

After the Hunks released their first album in 1993, Crumb wrote them a fan letter, exclaiming, "This is music I've been looking for all my life!" He later elaborated: "Shield's music first got me interested in old music. I was hearing it on TV when I was a kid. I searched for that music." His hunt was a predestined dead-end because, until the Hunks recorded the Shield themes, they had never been commercially available. The composer hadn't even received screen credit. Along with legions of Roach film fans, Crumb was elated to discover the reconstructed versions. "It's my favorite music of all time," he affirmed. "I never get tired of it. I guess Shield was not too concerned with getting credit. He just did his job, then went out and played golf. There's a certain kind of Indian shaman that works his magic behind the scenes. I guess that's what Shield was."

Crumb was so enamored of the Beau Hunks' masterful performances of the Shield charts, he rendered the sketch (at right) and offered it free of charge to the band to use as CD cover art.

Now Steve Cloutier, working with Shield historian/graphic designer Piet Schreuders, has launched a new site devoted to the composer.

"The site's purpose is both a tribute and the means to satisfy a widespread curiosity that many have about the composer," Cloutier emailed. "Piet's diligent research and advice have been the most important ingredients in building this site. Thank heaven the Beau Hunks recorded this wonderful music. Leroy Shield's name could well have slipped into obscurity."

Great Moments in WFMU History #12

Protecting Projected Beastiality - by Brian Turner

WFMU had a successful benefit at the Westbeth Theater thanks to Stereolab (and in spite of the glares from Paul Simon's musical's crew whom we were interrupting for the show), but started to overstay our welcome during our next show there in 1997. After a bill of Chris Knox (Tall Dwarfs), Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields), Tuli Kupferberg (the Fugs), and the Lynnfield Pioneers pushed the venue's security overtime hours past midnight, the fact that the Bunnybrains were going on at 1am and looking like they were gonna stay a while was getting Music and Program Director Brian Turner dirty looks from everyone at the theater. The employees tolerated the Bunnybrains hurling full cans of beer into the audience then utilizing the building’s beer-soaked floors as a makeshift slip-and-slide, but when the 'brains started an endless noise jam in front of a film screen where hott xxx chick/dog action was being projected, Turner was told to yank the plug. He didn't. And we can't quite remember another rock show ever happening at the Westbeth since.

Illustration by Peter Gallagher

Great Moments in WFMU History #11

Fundraising by Attorney - by Irwin Chusid

Assigned a fundraising Marathon slot together, Kenny G and co-host Irwin have a pre-show falling out and refuse to speak to one another. They each bring “legal counsel” to the studio and communicate on-air only through each others’ attorneys.

Pledges and prize giveaways, pitches and pleas all have to be negotiated. Much friction ensues. Things get heated -- not between Irwin and Kenny, but between Kenny and his attorney, as the ever-obstinate Mr. G refuses to follow advice.

In exasperation, his attorney quits, leaves the studio, and joins Irwin's legal team on the other side of the studio glass. Without advice from an adult with mature judgment, Kenny degenerates to name-calling, object-throwing, and abusive behavior. Within 15 minutes, he and Irwin have a fistfight on-air in the main studio. The attorneys rush to quell the fracas – by helping Irwin whup the crap out of Kenny. March 12, 2003.

Listen to the jargon-filled debacle here (real audio).

Illustration by Lorna Miller

Great Moments in WFMU History #10

Down with Disco - by Irwin Chusid

Volatile, autocratic music director John Narucki, a big blues fan, registers his disgust with new afternoon DJ Larry Ozone's disco fixation by ritualistically smashing the station's incoming 12" vinyl dance promos over his knee in WFMU’s Studio B. He does this on a weekly basis while Larry, on the air in WFMU’s adjacent Studio A, is forced to witness the destruction through a large plate glass window between studios. John, chomping on a fat cigar, commits his mayhem with an expression of demonic glee on his face. 1979.

Illustration by Megan Murphy

Enablers | the Whitney Biennial | Neighborhood Public Radio

Last night I fulfilled one of my top seven life goals... which was to see a crazy rock band play in an abandoned storefront on Madison Avenue. OK, that's not really in the top seven, but seeing San Francisco's mighty Enablers perform an impromptu set sponsored by Neighborhood Public Radio and in conjunction with the Whitney Biennial was definitely one of the best and most unusual live events of recent memory.

Neighborhood Public Radio, or "NPR" as they rather hilariously refer to themselves, is an ongoing broadcast art project with roots in everybody's favorite left coast looney town of San Francisco. According to their website, NPR is "an independent, artist-run radio project committed to providing an alternative media platform for artists, activists, musicians, and community members". Since 2005, the folks turning the wheels behind the project have hosted thematic Web and Low Power FM broadcasts in numerous San Francisco art galleries, as well as at Chicago's Version 5 Festival, San Jose's Zero1 Fest, and at numerous points across Europe. NPR also boasts the curious honor of probably being the only entity to ever be featured in the Chicago Reader, Artforum, and Punk Planet. Talk about a trifecta of distinction.

Through some glorious twist of fate, NPR was invited to participate in the Whitney Biennial, which everyone ought to know is among the most widely anticipated and discussed exhibitions of new American art. The Biennial just opened a few days ago, and according to NPR's press release (which you can download here), their plan is to "install a broadcast point inside the Whitney museum, as well as transmit programming from another publicly accessible location in New York." (In this case, at the above referenced storefront at 941 Madison Avenue.) "It will also install remote studios in cities across the U.S., each sending live community radio programs to the New York hub". (Upon first tuning in yesterday afternoon, I was treated to a hypnotic solo recitation of the lyrics to "Goodbye to Love" which I later learned was originating live from one such "remote studio" in Chicago. I was able to capture part of the stream on my computer, and you can download the MP3 of it here).

Arriving shortly before 8 PM, I quickly said my hellos to my pals the Enablers, and after the most perfunctory soundcheck in history, (Soundman: "Play one loud note". Band: "BLHAAMMKKKTT!" Soundman: "OK, we're ready") the band proceeded to blow the doors off the small space crowded mostly by friends and onlookers who'd spilled over from the museum just a few doors down. If you've not heard the Enablers' music via their two brilliant albums on Neurot Records, I can say that their swarming musical tension definitely invokes a luridly appealing noir sensibility. The cinematic desperation of 4 AM phone calls and anxiously huffed cigarettes is vividly summoned through vocalist Pete Simonelli's disquieting poetry, as this MP3 of Enablers performing the song "And Last Night?" live on my show in 2005 demonstrates. [Download]

If you're looking to see a band at the top of their game this rainy weekend in NYC, do yourself the service of seeing Enablers tonight (Saturday) at the Luna Lounge in Brooklyn, or tomorrow (Sunday) at the Knitting Factory tap room. Be sure to pick up one of the tour-only 12"s they'll be hawking at the shows, which feature beautiful hand-silkscreened sleeves, and wish them well on their upcoming European tour.

Great Moments in WFMU History #9

Band Interviews Themselves - by Irwin Chusid

Someone was leaning on the front doorbell at our East Orange studios. Afternoon fill-in TK Folger opened the door and saw a five-member band, Tallowcross, and their manager, who explained they were booked for an interview. Folger knew nothing about it. He apologized, said he was busy, and tried ending the matter. The band persisted; they'd traveled far, and weren't leaving. A prolonged argument ensued. Disgusted and outnumbered, Folger opened the door and ushered Tallowcross into the studio. He switched on the air mics -- then walked out. The band was stunned -- but their manager jumped in as host/interviewer. An existing tape excerpt reveals these witless pinheads rambling vacuously in chaotic cross-talk. Every ten minutes they exhaled long enough to treat the audience to their equally boring album. It was the band's pinnacle of celebrity. They don't even merit a Google hit. Dec. 18, 1983.

Read more about the incident here.
Download an ugly snippet of the vapid aircheck (MP3)

Artwork by Robert Piersanti