RADIO HANNIBAL

Midwest Reggaefest

My great friend, Packy Malley, is readying his 17th annual Midwest Reggaefest.  For the second year at it's new home, Nelson Ledges, the show has been expanded to a 3 day happening. Obviously, this means camping, cookouts, drum circles, chillin' by the campfire, oh, and lots of great roots reggae. 
I was talking with him last night and he informs me that this years version is shaping up to be one of the three top reggae events of the summer in the US.
And, as always, the poster is way cool.

 

Pork And Beans is yummy

Just released.  The video for Weezer's new single Pork And Beans.  Both the song and video are brilliant. 
What better way to head into a holiday weekend than with this uplifting musical event.

The Sun Machine

I just had to relay this post from a music centric message board I belong to.  The thread asks to relay mind altering experiences you've had in your life.  Here's the story this particular boarder had to tell.

I used to smoke a bit on my way home from work everyday.

I had just picked up Bowie's Space Oddity and had it among a handful of CDs on random play. I had never heard most of the album before and when "Memory of a Free Festival" came on I was completely absorbed in it. Blown away. The last 2-3 minutes of the track is this beautiful repeating chorus of "THE SUN MACHINE IS COMING DOWN AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PARTY."

You know those moments when the song, the buzz, the weather and whatever else is just perfect? It was one of those. I was floored. Head over heels in love with this song. Instantly.

Anyway, I get home, throw a leash on the dog and head out for a walk. The whole time, that chorus is circling in my head, "THE SUN MACHINE IS COMING DOWN . . . . "

A couple of the neighborhood kids are playing in a front yard as we walk. They ask if they can pet the dog so we stop. One little boy is drawing on the sidewalk with colored chalk. "Look what I drew!" he says.

"Cool," i say.  "what is it?"

"A sun machine."

A Great story, huh?  The question...is this serendipity or some intentional cosmic happening?  Who knows.  Suffice to say it's these type of things that make life so grand.

New Show 5.15.08

A new show, 5.15.08 is available and this time you don't even need to unzip it.  Simply download the file and it'll show up as one rather long mp3 file.  Then listen on your computer, download it to your iPod or mp3 player or burn it to a CD.  The main thing...discover some new music and enjoy! (Note: There are some drop outs in the right channel.  An RCA connection was shorting out.  Sorry.)
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
Prefab Sprout - When Love Breaks Down
Clinic - Free Not Free
Dusty Springfield - The Look Of Love
Scarlett Johansson - Falling Down
Blondie - Fade Away And Radiate
Flight Of The Conchords - Foux Du Fafa
Lindsey Buckingham - Under The Skin
Devotchka - Transliterator
David Bowie- TVC15
Lykke Li - Little Bit
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Fuck Buttons - Bright Tomorrow
New Order - Your Silent Face
Moby - South Side (live)

Radio Hannibal 5.15.08

Kiski Headmaster Passes Away

On Monday evening, Jack Pidgeon, the retired headmaster of Kiski, my prep school alma mater, passed away.  His death has left me reminiscing and contemplating the things he taught me. 
To say that he was an amazing man is actually an understatement.  Ask any Kiski Boy (a term he used for any and all of us who attended) and they will back up my words. 
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a superb story on the man today.  I encourage all to read it and to, perhaps, learn a bit of what I was taught.
Thanks Jack.

NASA Altitude Wind Tunnel

I have a good friend who's a music geek like myself.  Well, maybe not to my extreme but he is a source for new discoveries once in awhile.  In his day job he works for the NASA Glenn Research Center here in Cleveland.  Specifically he is a curator for the center. 
Well, he just finished this cool website for the Altitude Wind Tunnel located here.  It is quite an in depth look at the facility and if you're a fan of this sort of thing you'll find it interesting and entertaining.
Nice work Bob!

Neil Young...How I Love You

So, any big Neil Young fan knows that we've been waiting ages for a massive CD box set of unreleased material he's been promising for years.  So many years, in fact, that technology has changed to suit his desires. 
The Neil Young archives are coming to us via Blu-Ray and a PS3.  This means quality audio and amazing navigation. 
Here's a story and a video of his presentation on it.  Just amazing. Neil Young CNET Story  

The Coolest Web Site I've Seen In Some Time

So, I just heard about this site, Animoto, yesterday while listening to Net At Nite with Leo LaPorte and Amber MacArthur.  It's the coolest site I've seen in some time. 
It allows you to create slick slide shows in minutes.  And it's unbelievably simple. 
You can make 30 second shows for free but I think I'll be investing $30 for a year long account enabling me to make lengthier ones. 

The Coolest Web Site I've Seen In Some Time

Jack in Washington DC

In defense of my shows

In defense of my shows...not that anyone has complained...I'd like to explain some things.  Rationale as it were.

I have made radio shows like this going back to the days of cassettes.  I'd pass them around to friends.  It's fun to hear one from the 80's that someone will come across in their basement or whatever. 

I've had notoriety  on these sessions in the past from the PD, The Sun, etc.  I will end up posting copies of these stories at some point.

Anyway, the idea has always been to point out the glaring lack of good music programming here in Cleveland.  I realize that elsewhere things might not be so dire, and in fact, NYC has recently seen two new rock formats stations emerge.  They meld old classic and indie.  A step in the right direction. 

Alas, here in Cleveland, the rock and roll capital, the airwaves reek of crap thanks to unimaginative programming from Clear Channel and CBS Radio, the two main players here.  I do think that things may improve soon.  Terrestrial radio realizes that in order to compete with satellite and the emergence of "on the go" internet they need to reinvent themselves. 

And, if anyone from CC or CBS need my help, I'm here for ya'.

My show's are recorded live in my studio, just as if on air.  Thus, when I record and upload, it is one long track.  This way the creative segues, long missing in radio these days,  can be done.  The offshoot is that it becomes really  impossible to capture a single song.  Meaning there's no fear of lost sales.

In fact, in my DJ banter, I often encourage to go out out pick up the music.  Search further.  Discover all of the great new music that is out there. 

Anyway, thanks for the comments and compliments.  Pass it on.