Sushi combo at Hikari. Very good!

…And to think that I would have experienced none of the following if I had decided to go to a pool/dance party in South Jersey.

1. Spent my afternoon checking out the Piazza at Schmidt’s for the first time. It is a glossy example of the nu-opulence in architecture, filled with shops that only could have been concocted in the dreams of Richard Florida. “Art gallery” packed with pencil cases made from recycled paper cups, silkscreeners and letterpress galore. Children’s store for the nu-opulence set. Fancy restaurants that aren’t too fancy because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to amble in wearing your Threadless tee or something.

As my friend and I walked away I said, “This is the kind of place where something really bad is going to happen.” An hour later, two people were murdered inside the apartments attached to the retail complex. What terrible, terrible news. My condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims.

2. The jarring news of the Piazza murders somehow triggered a memory: I forgot to lock my backdoor and close a window. Later that evening, armed with a 12″ chef’s knife and a baseball bat, I discovered that I had indeed left a window open.

3. To celebrate that there were no intruders, my friend and I walked over to the Fresh Grocer to pick up some extras for a celebratory drink. When we walked in, there was a film crew and tons PAs, FG staff and people running around, throwing item after item into seemingly endless shopping carts. If I had noticed the gigantic poster with a waiver outside, I would have known that the Food Network was taping a new episode of “Dinner: Impossible“. It was like a warzone, filled with sea bass and heads of lettuce. My friend, who lives in LA and is used to this because her fianceé is in the film business, got the lowdown from the store’s employees: apparently Robert Irvine and his crew just rolled up, all last-minute style, and got them to lock down the place to tape. From what we were told, he was also a total douchehammer to the staff.

You know, any one of these things would have been a big day for me. But all three? That’s when I know it’s time to order a drink.

Looking back, this seems like a good show. But in the thick of it I just couldn’t get my foothold. There is some weird sound issue with the microphones where it sounds like I’m speaking through a cardboard tube, and that just totally threw me off at any mic break. Listening to the “tapes,” the carboardiness was perceptible.

Anyway, the highlight of this show was having my first call-in guest, Idolator’s Maura Johnston (who is a good pal of mine), to talk about the Michael Jackson’s passing. What does it mean for fans, how the story broke, etc. It sounded OK to me — what do you think? Below is the clip of that segment, so enjoy.

06-26-2009 | 1500-1800 | WPRB 103.3 FM

mu – let’s get sick – afro finger and gel
my brightest diamond – freak out (remix) – tear it down
nina nastasia – i’ve been out walking – you follow me
lou reed – vicious – transformer
the nuns – wild – experiments in destiny – C
retribution gospel choir – for her blood – retribution gospel choir – N
april march – some things just stick in your mind – april march & los cincos
————————————
blues control – good morning – local flavor – N
the casual dots – hooded – the casual dots
ron house – where the windows are – new wave as the next guy – N
caUSE co-MOTION! – leave it all – because because because – N
the calamities – toutes les nuits – the calamities
stuart moxham & the original artists – yeah x 3 – signal path
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strange boys – woe is you and me – strange boys and girls club – N
moses williams – which way did my baby go – it came from memphis vol 1 – C
the reducers – closing time – the reducers
dinosaur jr – ocean in the way – faith – N
gogogoairheart – my baby has a gang – exit the uxa
screaming females – treacher collins – power move – N
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tyvek – building burning – tyvek – N
babylon dance band – when i’m home – homework 104 – C
narthex – noise in my pocket – twin cities
yo – bowl of cherries – charm world
bricolage – footsteps – bricolage – N
————————————
Interview with Idolator’s Maura Johnston – 00:15:00

Where I was when The News Broke: at the WPRB offices, frantically trying to fix a problem we had with the on-air DJ’s instant message software. I rushed into the studio to tell Lizbot, who was wrapping up her show, and John, the next DJ. Then came the flurry of searches, twitters, and FB feeds about his passing. At the time TMZ was only reporting his death, which I didn’t think was credible enough of a source. By the time I finished the work day and got into the car, Michael Jackson was gone. Even NPR was all over this shit.

I’m not here to memorialize or pay tribute to him. For most of my life, Michael Jackson has been irrelevant to me. Yes, he did have some wonderful tunes (and the people on my block haven’t let me forget for the past 12 hours), but the Michael Jackson I remember the most is one of ostentatious wealth and financial ruin. He had terrible spending habits that went well into the millions of dollars, only to sell off his possessions in a fire sale. His death during Depression 2.0 or whatever we’re calling it today is uncanny but not surprising. For someone who soared to such great heights, it seems only appropriate to go out when the world has hit the bottom of the barrel.

Detention, “Dead Rock ‘N Rollers” (1983, Rigor Mortis Records)

I can’t believe June is basically over — time really does fly when you’re having fun. WPRB is keeping me busy, as is my thesis.

I taped over the weekend a live performance of The Van Pelt, who reunited all of a sudden this year, and decided to play a few shows. Yes, the 90s are back, but this is the kind of revival I’m more than happy to see. It was a great show and the tapes hold up nicely too. Will be airing next week, I think?

In the meantime, why don’t you tell me how you’re doing in the comments. Always happy to hear from you!

At least that’s what it did for one of my listeners. I can’t think of a higher compliment, and I’m glad — today was a blast. I had an extended show due to the Top Ten not being available yet, so I just brought it on. Of course, how do I even follow up a show as satisfying as this one was?

06-12-2009 | 1500-1800 | WPRB 103.3 FM

wau y los arrrghs!!! – piedras – viven!!! – N
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ida maria – queen of the world – fortress round my heart – N
milky wimpshake – pearshaped – popshaped
debbie leggo – love travels on a tightrope – debbie leggs – N
sore eros – smile on your face – second chants – N
lee ranaldo – time stands still – from here –> infinity
thee headcoats – thief – 7″
the grifters – rats – crappin’ you negative
1.6 band – bullet to the brain – broke up
—————————–
the coathangers – time passing – scramble – N
salem 66 – chinchilla – a ripping spin
dear nora – this is not a test – three states: rarities 1997-2007 – N
butterglory – on a horse – rat tat tat
live skull – cavity – dusted
robert wyatt – at last i am free – 7″
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pigbag – papa’s got a brand new pigbag – pigbag 12″
tussle – here it comes – kling klang – R
polly scattergood – unforgiving arms – polly scattergood – N
intelligence – the beetles – the world’s lousy with ideas vol 8 – N – C
plain wrap! – myron – original music for a generic world
the descendents – can’t go back – i don’t want to grow up
one last wish – loss like a seed – 1986
viza noir – perfect crime – no record
—————————–
the kinks – house in the country – face to face
versus – glitter of love – secret swingers
out hud – it’s for you – it’s for you
country teasers – so lonely – science hat, artistic cube, moral nosebleed empire (expanded)
orthrelm – low pressure system – touchdown
pee chees – genuine article – scented gum 7″
screaming females – i do – split 7″ w/ jeff the brotherhood – N
—————————–
heroes & villians – sdwc – shiftless decay: new sounds of detroit – N – C
snapper – cause of u – snapper
oxford collapse – prop cars – a good ground
sunset – loveshines II – 7″ – N
comet gain – he walked by nite – broken record prayers – N
hulaboy – january 17, 1912 – 7″
vile cherubs – rose garden – the man who eats has no sweats
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the cramps – she said – bad music for bad people
great plains – love to the third power – length of growth
husker du – eight miles high – 7″
loving thunder – magic wand – split 7″ w/ mtn high – N
yoko ono & plastic ono band – don’t worry kyoko – fly
—————————–
magazine – song from underneath the floorboards – the correct use of soap

Originally posted on Twitter.

Originally posted on Twitter.

Originally posted on Twitter.

Originally posted on Twitter.

Hi folks, after many months of inside baseball, the project for my master’s thesis has been approved. Actually, I’m kind of shocked at how quickly I was approved by the university’s review board; I honestly didn’t expect my research to be approved for another month.

Anyway, now I need your help to make this happen. Full details are here; please pass this along to anyone you think may be interested.