Episode 80: I’m Gonna Lose My Mind

I jumped at my friend’s suggestion to do a surf-themed show for my eightieth episode.

I love surf.  Heck, I’m a sucker for just about anything with jangly, reverberating guitars.  Most early surf bands lacked vocalists and snatched cool elements of country and R&B–twangy guitars and grooving rhythm sections.  Surf rock purists, in fact, won’t even acknowledge vocal acts like Jan & Dean or The Beach Boys.  (And to be fair, were you really a surf band if you didn’t even surf?)

I probably cover too much territory in this show, but I try to showcase some originators and the people they influenced fifty years later.  As usual, my choices are less then predictable, with deep album cuts and non-hits.  What counts is that I love all the music, and I hope you do, as well.

1. “The Switch” –  The Ventures (Walk Don’t Run | Dolton | 1960)
2. “Honky Tonk” – The Ventures (Walk Don’t Run | Dolton | 1960)
3. “The Breeze and I” – Santo and Johnny (Encore | Canadian-American | 1960)
4. “Chorek” – John Zorn (Masada Rock | Tzadik | 2005)
5. “Hintergrund” – Pluramon (Render Bandits | Mille Plateaux | 1998)
6. “Lose My Mind” – Starflyer 59 (The Changing of the Guard | Tooth and Nail | 2010)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1415312/80radiofreeraytown.mp3″

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #80 (6/10/11)

Episode 58: When We Awoke

The Threes, The Vinagaroons and Making Movies are playing this week at the Benetti’s Fall Classic.  It will be a fun mix of loud indie, hippie art and Latin-tinged rock bands.

This week, I have chosen to introduce the listeners of Radio Free Raytown to John Zorn.  Much of his work is so perfect for autumn: moody, expressive and expansive.  Even his forays into exotica, that may seem better-suited for summer tiki-themed parties, feel like falling leaves.

I feel so much in common with Zorn.  He plays alto sax and composes (as do I).  He makes the music that’s in my head.  In fact, I sometimes wonder if I need to try any more.  He’s done it all.  He’s listened to lots of the same music as me and lets it all influence his work: Bad Brains, The Ventures, Shostakovich, The Modern Klezmer Quartet and Bugs Bunny cartoons.  When I listen to Zorn, I feel as if I’m looking in the mirror.

Enjoy.

1. “Galaxy in Janaki” – Flying Lotus (Cosmogramma/Warp/2010)
2. “Chorek” – John Zorn (Masada Rock/Tzadik/2005)
3. “Kanah” – John Zorn (Masada Recital, Volume 4/Tzadik/2004)
4. “Osaka Bondage” – Naked City (Torture Garden/Shimmy Disc/1990)
5. “And When We Awoke” – Doug Burr (O Ye Devestator/Velvet Blue Music & Spune/2010)
6. “La Marcha” – Making Movies (In Deo Seperamus/independent/2010)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1415312/58radiofreeraytown.mp3″

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #58 (10/8/10)

I talked about the Making Movies video for “La Marcha,” so check it out: