How many more years of CMJ do I have to endure until everyone gets the point that it doesn’t matter? Now if I could just get annoying publicists to understand that, maybe they’d stop emailing me their party invites. I know, boo fucking hoo, but the percentage of the invites in my email account is staggering.

Instead I will be in the wilds of Vermont, inhaling the endless view of foliage and buying my weight’s worth in maple syrup. I will be thankful to be here, instead of some dingy bar, as the music press swirls around attempting to anoint some pasty-faced dudes as The New Great Thing.

I’ve really kind of had it music these days, and articles such as this not only reinforce those feelings but also depress the fuck out of me because the quality is so lowest common denominator. I mean really, what new information is this writing bringing to the table? And why the failure to account for artists that create, in some sense, rhythm-oriented music? (Does half the musical world just instantly fall off the map because it negates the writer’s so-called thesis?)

I spent my weekend reviewing an academic journal article for class (J.W. Rinks’ “Higher Education in Radio 1922 - 1934″), and while I think there’s plenty of flaws in the peer-review process, this particular piece was way more fascinating than any half-assed rumination on the Arcade Fire’s whiteness could ever be. Find an interesting way to talk to me about how white folks of the middle-class milieu cater to that particular audience, I guess, or find something new and actually interesting to write about, instead continuing to reinforce the rock crit hegemony.

Maybe I’m just sad and cranky CAMP WPRB is over, maybe I’m annoyed that I keep getting passed over jobs (and watch them go to undeserving twits), maybe I hate my outfit today, whatever. Here are some things to share:

» Did I tell you guys my ipod was stolen 3 weekends ago? I was rushing to return my carshare reservation (amongst other things) and accidentally left it in the car. When I returned, it was gone. Not the worst thing in the world but sucks nonetheless.

» My neighborhood coffee shop played Helium’s The Magic City the other day — and this was not my doing. It was kind of amazing.

» I wrote up the Austin band White Denim for the City Paper last week. Hopefully someone went to this show, because I was stuck writing a paper.

If you haven’t figured it out, based on the sheer amount of posting this blog’s seen in the past week, there is a membership drive going on at WPRB. In a super last-minute change of plans, I was offered the 6-8 PM slot yesterday and I’m really glad I took it. Was worth every minute of sitting in traffic on I-95.

Because of the nature of this week’s programming, DJ’s were asked to treat their sets like a “Best Of”, so keeping that in mind it’s not a groundbreaking one. Style issues aside, there were practical reasons to approach the set in this manner, the main one being that — and perhaps you may not realize this on the opposite end — this week, the station has been absolutely B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Usually when one does a show, there might be at best 3-4 other station members around, making the process of DJing a fairly solitary (and sometimes lonely) act. During the drive, however, the place has been crawling with countless folks from WPRB’s extended family, and it’s turned into this gigantic party, or what I like to call, “CAMP WPRB”. I really wish every week was like this week at the station — it’s so much FUN. Having a tried-and-true set makes it waaaay easier to cope with the station’s high energy.

Not that I made it through my set flawlessly, and yet, that’s exactly why I love radio (and why I think our listeners love WPRB, too). I definitely made the timeless mistake of setting the turntables to the wrong speed and blanked out on-air. But it was fun and I hope everyone who tuned in enjoyed it.

Big thanks to Lizbot of Doubleplusgood for co-hosting the show with me. I love that girl to pieces, and had a total blast gabbing it up with her. Here’s the short list of premium items that were available on my show:

- Signed copy of No Wave by Marc Masters;
- Custom mix tape/cd/mp3, curated by yours truly (and congrats to WPRB alum Matt R who took me up on this!);
- One year of free admission to Making Time;
- A copy of the Daydream Nation 4xLP box set, signed by Thurston Moore & Steve Shelley;
- Rio 2GB MP3 player (Have I mentioned that my ipod was stolen 2 weeks ago?);
- Copies of The Evens & Get Even, signed by Ian Mackaye & Amy Farina

That’s a really nice list of stuff. Congrats to those who donated during my show — I helped raise 400$ for WPRB! Given the last-minute nature of my slot and not being currently on the schedule, that’s really good.

And while I’ve got your attention, if you haven’t donated yet, why not? There’s only a couple days left and we’re more than happy to accept what you can give. Keep WPRB alive; we’re all better for it.

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Found this quote from my journal about the very first radio show I ever did:

oh gosh, what a frightening experience of a radio show today. too many PSAs, not enough time to pick out records - but the rush! so good.

Today. 6-8PM. WPRB.com or 103.3 FM. Listen today and make a donation — support the good cause that is WPRB!

This Thursday 6-8PM EST, instead of being “on-air talent”, I’ll be DJing a show on WPRB. Very excited about this! If you missed out on donating today, you’ve got a second chance.

In addition to WPRB’s incredible pledge gifts, I have a specialty thank you for becoming a member: donate 103.30$, you can receive your very own custom “mixtape”. You specify the format (cassette/CD/mp3), I’ll provide 30 minutes of exclusively curated tunes… just for you.

» Fun Vampires interview with yrs truly is right here.

I’ll be helping out with WPRB’s pledge drive on Tuesday 10/9, from 11AM-3PM EST. I’m what they call “on-air talent” — I’m not doing an actual radio show, but you’ll be hearing from me throughout those hours on how you can make a pledge, and whatnot.

Please consider tuning in (103.3 FM or wprb.com) and making a donation during my hours!

To borrow from the James McNew/Dump album, a plea for tenderness, folks: WPRB is quickly approaching on its inaugural membership drive, and please, I hope you’ll consider making a pledge.

Read on for details!

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