While I finish up the last bits of my year end lists for you, here’s a present. I really loved doing this show even though I was totally plagued with bronchitis (and still am). Hope you do too.

Listen | Playlist

Always a bummer when you hear about these things, so it’s nice to see people stepping up to the plate and helping out.

Reuniting to help roadie, Adam Gerhart, through medical and financial hardship The Jazz June will play their first show in 3 years. The New Bruises (ex-Mid Carson July) from Tampa, FL and Marigold (members of Zolof the Rock Destroyer) from Philadelphia/Kutztown, PA are also on the bill.

Gerhart faces a lifetime struggle with stage 4-glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Fortunately, Gerhart does not see it as a struggle but rather a challenge to overcome. Diagnosed only 5 weeks ago, Gerhart informed his close friends in The Jazz June of his situation and the band members scrambled to book a benefit show. All ticket sales proceeds generated from the show will be donated to the Adam Gerhart Fund.

“We are going to make music again to help raise money for Adam so he can purchase medicine, pay bills, and most of all, eat. The reality of the situation is that cancer can find its way into any of our lives at anytime, so please come out and show some support. If you are a fan or a friend of Adam, we need your help,” said Justin Max, drummer for The Jazz June.

In conjunction with the benefit show, a punk rock raffle will be held to raise additional money. CD’s donated by indie-rock record labels Doghouse, Polyvinyl, Workshop, Buddyhead and Jade Tree will be raffled off during the January 13 show. Ian Mackeye, from Fugazi and now the Evens, will donate signed Evens records and Dischord box sets for the raffle. Siren Records from Doylestown, PA will donate gift cards as well. All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Gerhart Fund.

Local indie record label Universal Warning from Royersford, PA will release a live DVD/CD of the The Jazz June set from the January 13 show. The DVD will also contain retrospective footage from the past ten years of Jazz June history. Proceeds generated from DVD/CD sales will be donated to the Adam Gerhart Fund.

Details:

Saturday 1/13/2007
At the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar Street)
7PM, 12$

I hate New Years Eve (for serious, least favorite holiday _ever_) but this year I’m determined to find something fun to do. Making Time? That Madonna/Michael/Prince thing at the Bellevue? Where’s My Pager? Is anyone having a fucking house party? Serious. Hit me up with invites and suggestions.

Here is what I _don’t_ want to do: drink, cry or be around people who’ll drive me to do either. Also, if I can avoid CoupleFests (which is like, _all_ my friends these days [sorry]), the better.

If only I could build a time machine and go back to the magical warehouse party Making Time threw at 5th & Cecil B. Moore in 2001, that would be awesome.

Scrawl, “11:59 It’s January”

I know I keep putting this blog off and off and off — I’m just feeling a bit burnt out from it all. End-of-year exhaustion and laid up in bed for the last week with bronchitis will do that to you. But in the meantime, some linkage for you:

» Baby’s First Critic’s Poll: Even after all the hours I spent researching records that came out in 2006, I still managed to miss a few that I liked (Jennifer O’Connor, Uzeda for starters). Oh well. I am still pleased with my list — interesting to note that there are many records made by women (only 2-3 are strictly dude rock) and weigh in on political themes (5-6). And while I still lament the lack of women in rock, it was a year where quality, not quantity, ruled the roost. Anyway, I contributed writing to the #5 pick.

» Phillyist has an excellent feature on Megan & Mason Wendell of Canary Promo. Those folks do hard work and don’t get much recognition for it, so kudos to them.

» Did you have a good Christmas/Hanukkah? While mine was enjoyable, all this non-wintry weather made it feel most un-holidaylike. Maybe this is the source of my blahs.

My last radio show of the year! Of course I’m going to do a “Best Of” show. Last year I did one as well, but went in order. This year, I just threw my favorites together. I had lots of fun, despite being sick. (I was so sick I hadn’t left bed in 48 hours, save for a trip to the doctor.)

It was also nice to be there at the start of Jon’s 24-Hour Holiday Marathon, though I am bummed I wasn’t able to attempt my live, on-air karaoke version of “Jingle Bell Rock”. There’s always next year, I suppose.

the long blondes - giddy stratospheres - someone to drive you home

delta 5 - journey - singles 1979-1981 - C
eleventh dream day - insincere inspiration - zeroes and ones
cat power - lived in bars - the greatest
espers - widows weed - II
les folkloristas - vals y corridita - mexico 2
Jennifer O’Connor - sister - s/t
technically released a couple years ago, though the song appears on her brand new 2006 album. just couldn’t find the record!
portastatic - sour shores - be still please - N

oneida - the adversary - happy new year
the gossip - standing in the way of control - standing in the way of control
clockcleaner - by the door - 7″ - N
chavez - unreal is here - better days will haunt you - N
cynthia g mason - fits & starts - quitters claim - N
the evens - no money - get evens
matmos - solo buttons for joe meek - the rose has teeth in the mouth of a beast

scott solter/patternismovement - in tape grass - …plays patternismovement - N
the rapture - get myself into it - pieces of the people we love - N
them two - am i a good man - eccentric soul: the deep city label - C
sonic youth - jams run free - rather ripped
cause co-motion - falling again - 7″ - N
parts & labor - springtime hibernation - stay afraid

destroyer - painter in your pocket - destroyer’s rubies
nina nastasia - brad haunts a party - on leaving. - N
john cale - andalucia - paris 1919
joanna newsom - cosmia - ys - N

dragon city - track 2 - s/t - N R

I am still on a self-imposed blogging vacation, mainly because I’ve begun my final descent into finishing off grad school applications. Don’t worry though, I still plan to share my top whatevers of 2006 with you all next week. This won’t make much sense to anyone until my Idolator ballot goes public, but found it very apropos of where I am thought-wise right now:

One is tempted to heed Rodney King’s plaintive cry of “Can’t we just get along?” Yet there is something almost charming about a musical style that commands so much devotion among its performers, critics, and fans that they are ready to joust with opponents of their views. — Dick Weissman, Which Side Are You On: An Inside History of the Folk Music Revival in America, p. 8

» In other news, my first piece for the City Paper can be found here. Rumblings on the internet seemed to indicate that Home Blitz would not be able to pull it off live, but I’m proud to report otherwise. They played a great set last night — it’s a shame Tritone and I didn’t mix very well last night (me: totally sick, tritone: totally smoky), otherwise I would have stuck around for much longer.

Sara Sherr is a lover of cute dogs and babies, smeared lipstick & diaper afficionado, go-go boots & beehive all-star, best record store employee ever, an extraordinarily talented writer, but most of all, an incredible friend. I do not understand how you got mixed up with me, but I’m glad you did — without you, I am nothing!

Looking back, I can’t even begin to understand how I managed to get up and do my radio show, considering how sick I felt. (I felt so ill that I wound up leaving work — which is something I _never_ do.) My body was a mess of mucus and germs, which explains my half of the show. Thank heavens Chris came in and guested. His set knocked me on my ass — I’m sure you’ll agree. Italics are his notes, of course. Tex-Mex border-vibe king, heh heh heh.

shark quest - the rosetta barrage - gods & devils

feathers - skara brain - synchronomy - N
henry badowski - my face - IRS greatest hits vol 1
red lorry yellow lorry - only dreaming (wide awake) - 12″
celebration - war - s/t
oh OK - brother - the complete recordings
electrelane - im on fire - on parade 7″
dsico - smells like electro - mp3

new order - blue monday - retro
lee ranaldo - florida power - no age: a compilation of SST instrumental music
hot snakes - think about carbs - audit in progress
the warmers - snake charmer - s/t
joanna newsom - only skin - ys

Special Guest DJ: Mr. Mental Feelings
david allen coe - what can i do - spectrum VII
turid - sometimes i think age is a treasure - i return
70s swedish pop/folk goddess
clive palmer - girl from the north country - just me
dylan cover off off clive’s 1981 solo. clive founded the incredible string band and is the man.
wizz jones - which of them you love the best - right now
brit guitar hero and buddy of clive, ramblin’ jack. inspiration to many. wizz rules.

jesse colin young - sugar babe - live
live ‘75, band cooks.
before the sun goes down - banana and the bunch - mid mountain ranch
member of the youngbloods
sir douglas quintet - stoned faces don’t lie - 1+1+1=4
the legend doug sahm gets introspective. tex mex border-vibe king.
new riders of the purple sage - louisiana lady - S/T
nothing beats a truckin’ song. marmaduke can sing ‘em right.
terry reid - faith to arise - seed of memory
the man who would be king - terry was orig intended to be led zep’s singer. killer guitar player, too. just imagine…

terry melcher - rebecca - royal flush
producer, son of doris day, seeker of happiness, owner of the mansion manson fam killed tate in and a personal hero of mine.
gene clark - set you free this time - live boot from ‘75
gene in the middle of a heavy drug run. sad that it indeed resulted in some riveting performances. dig the backing vox.
dion - your own backyard - mp3
dion reflecting on his own drug problem. song was dedicated to pat robertson. 1970s dion is crucial.

DJ Mental Feelings from Espers (Drag City) is going to lay down a pre-lunch set of his favorites on tomorrow’s installment of Her Jazz. It’s the last show of the year (and the end of my first semester at WQHS), so I strongly urge you to check it out.

Tune to WQHS at 11AM EST for the audio goodness.

OK, this playlist looks alright — so why do I remember this show feeling like a total trainwreck?

martha & the vandellas - never leave your baby’s side - the complete motown singles volume 6 - 1966

demetri martin - some jokes - these are jokes
demetri martin - the remix - these are jokes
rodney dangerfield - rappin rodney - 12″
bananarama - cruel summer - bustin loose 12″
casper & the cookies - sid from central park - the optimists club - N
racetrack babies - summer salt - summer salt santiago
constantines - goodbye baby & amen - shine a light
red stars theory - combinations & complications - life in a bubble can be beautiful

caetano veloso - sou voce - orfeu
sugar minott - dont know why i love you - sugar & spice
this moment in black history - economy of line - it takes a nation - N
royal trux - the inside game - radio video ep
the decemberists - o valencia! - the crane wife - N

kinski - the party which you will know be heavy - alpine static
roky erickson - haunt - don’t slander me
angry samoans - staring at the sun - stp not lsd
the capitol years - revolutions - dance away the terror - N
amy ray - pennies on the track - prom
sufjan stevens - get behind me santa - songs for christmas - N

the lyres - never met a girl like you before - live 1983: let’s have a party
versus - shangri-la - shangri-la ep
live skull - fort belvedere - cloud one
hot chip - laws of salvation - remixes & rarities - N
tocotronic - gehen die leute - the hamburg years
everything but the girl - dont leave me behind - 12″

sonic youth - fire engine dream - the destroyed room: b-sides & rarities - N