Phoning It In is the world's premier live-music-over-the-phone radio program. Dj talksonthephone has hosted hundreds of amazing performances from a wide range of artists including Marissa Nadler, BBQ, Daniel Higgs, Dan Melchior, Gary Wilson, USA is a Monster, Avarus, Fursaxa, R Stevie Moore, Daniel Johnston, and Jad Fair. With the motto "Lo-Fi is the Right Fi", Phoning It In strips artists of any stereo pretensions and bass frequencies, and sets them free to perform in an environment of their choosing -- a bathtub, a friends' basement, any place that has a land line (cell phones are not allowed!). A particular favorite of mine is Times New Viking phoning it in from a concert at the Taco Ninja/Cafe Bourbon Street in Columbus, OH, with the sound bouncing off the tiny venues walls through telephone wires and broadcast limiters smashed to blissful bits.
Phoning It In was born in January 2005 on 88.1-FM BSR in Providence, RI, where the flagship show is currently hosted by Gabe. The show's founder Nadav migrated to 88.1fm WMBR in Cambridge, MA, and recently moved to Davis, CA where he hopes to be back to the airwaves before too long. You can listen to every single past show from both stations in at Phoningitin.net, where each show is complemented by links and a set list. Some of the best PII performances will also be shared under Creative Commons on the Free Music Archive. While we put the finishing touches on our Free Music Archive website, Nadav offers four highlights from PII's first season
Mount Eerie [setlist & details] [mp3]
Only the third episode of Phoning It In, following the Mountain Goats and Jolie Holland. An ecstatic run, and it only got better. Does Phil Elverum really need an introduction?
Lettuce Prey [setlist & details] [mp3]
One of the more obscure shows, even by Phoning It In's standards, especially since this page is practically Lt. Prey's only remaining web presence. Mike Lenert has only a handful of easily available releases, all well-worth tracking down, including an LP on Catsup Plate. A former member of well-regarded Philly psych band Caterpillar, and sometimes the Lilys, Mike's solo stuff both predates and supersedes most everything called psych-folk nowadays. Fragile, trebly, and perfect.
David Kilgour [setlist & details] [mp3]
Again, no introduction should be necessary. Some tunes from David's most recent solo release at the time, on Merge, and a classic Clean cut!
Steven R. Smith [setlist & details] [mp3]
If you enjoyed Steven's WFMU performance from a few weeks ago, you're sure to enjoy this. An early, rare performance from this Jewelled Antler stalwart. Pretty much just Steven wandering around a room full of instruments (seemingly, anyway), except EPIC.
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