April 2, 2010 (Playlist)

April 2, 2010 (Playlist):
"Our Forty-Second Show!"

The Replacements – Bastards Of Young
Free Energy – Dream City
Fang Island – Daisy
Happy Birthday – Girls FM
Pavement – Range Life
Tape The Radio – Stay Inside
Wilco – Poor Places (Live)
*"The Mighty Mighty Boss-Tune": Bruce Springsteen – Radio Nowhere
Iron & Wine & Calexico – He Lays In The Reins
MGMT – Flash Delirium
Billy Bragg – Walt Whitman's Niece

The Sundays – Here's Where The Story Ends
*"Punk Trunk!": The Thermals – I Let It Go
*"Punk Trunk!": Fugazi – Waiting Room
Elliott Smith – Amity
Nirvana – Serve The Servants
Okkervil River – Pop Lie
Dum Dum Girls – Jail La La
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – If You Leave
Pinback – How We Breathe
Big Star – In The Street
*"Allen Reed Memorial Cover Of The Week": Streetlight Manifesto (The Dead Milkmen Cover)

*This show was prerecorded due to a time conflict, so no background music was used.

Tune in next week for another great set.

The Replacements - "Bastards Of Young"


MGMT - "Flash Delirium"


Dum Dum Girls - "Jail La La"

Running Playlists

Indie rockers love running.

Any time of year is a great time to begin a commitment, especially a healthy one. It just so happens that once the new year hits, it's all about resolutions. One of mine this year was to get back into solid running shape (like, to run 4-5 miles at a good pace and not be winded). For those who don't know me that well, I was a pretty serious runner for a number of years; I ran cross country and track in high school and reminiscent about it constantly. It's tough to stay dedicated to the regiment in college, with the demanding schedule, workload, and ... the beer. But I'm going to reach my goal, that's for certain. Running long distances is very soothing, once you build your base. It's mostly a love/hate relationship for me, but the euphoric feeling you get from finishing a long run is like none other. Runner's high, baby. So how does this correlate with music?

Each day this past week, I listened to a different band's album each time I hopped on the treadmill (f.y.i, I have a 30-day membership at a gym owned by some variation-of-Christianity Church and they blast Christian rock like Jesus is watching). Here are some bands that got me pumped up while racking up the miles. Give them a listen next time you lace up and hit the road.

Monday: Nirvana - Live At Reading Festival
Started the week off with some live, grunge fury. The band opens with "Breed", and then goes into "Drain You", "Aneurysm", "School", "Sliver" and "In Bloom". That's as far as I got, but other notable tracks from this '92 show are "Come As You Are", "All Apologies", "Dumb", and "Stay Away".

Tuesday: Alice In Chains - The Essential Alice In Chains
I needed some hard rock on the most unattractive day of the week. Songs like "Man In The Box", "Would?" and "Rooster" helped me out during a run that felt to have lasted 6 miles, not 2 and a half. Layne's painful moaning let me know I wasn't the only one doing something hard. A great "Essential" compilation.

Wednesday: The Replacements - Last Show Ever! (Bootleg)
Something about live recordings really gets me moving. The Mats bring out the rockin' guitars on their final gig, opening with "I Will Dare". Then it's on to "Bent Out Of Shape", "Achin' To Be", "Merry Go Round" and others. At this point, I'm a sweaty mess, but it feels good. A must-own bootleg for the serious Westerberg fan.

Thursday: The Clash - Live At Shea Stadium
Punk rock running. Recorded when they opened for The Who back in the early 80s. I will admit that some of their reggae tunes made me want to slow down and take a breather, but tracks like "London Calling" and "Rock The Casbah" got my legs revved up. Also, I daydreamed a bit during "Police On My Back" about being chased by cherry-tops.

Friday: Day off. (What? I needed it.).

Saturday: Say Anything - ...Is A Real Boy
Their only good album, which was also their first studio record. And good album - I mean great. One of my favorites of the decade. It had a bite to it upon first listen and it still does. Standouts on this Saturday afternoon jog were "Belt", "Woe", and "Spidersong". I should've listened to "Admit It!!!", a song about arrogant hipsters lights my fire.

Sunday: Well I'm writing this, isn't that enough of a strain?

The Clash - "Police On My Back"

For more information on running and working out, visit CoachPopFitness.com. That's my brother's site, which he should update more frequently. Maybe that will be his resolution. Oh, and check this out for more information regarding the benefits of music and fitness.

NMTM Nominated For AIR Award

That's right: Jim and I, with our show Never Mind the Mainstream, have been nominated for Best On-Air Personalities at the Philadelphia Achievement In Radio Awards (AIR Awards). That's a mouthful. But it is exciting. We'll be heading to the Hilton on City Avenue in Philly on November 5th for a banquet and some other award festivities. We're up against 3 other shows from 3 other schools, but we're optimistic. If you've listened to our show (which we hope you have), we're confident in our product being top dollar for college radio. When you're proud of your work, you're allowed to feel lucky. We'll cross our fingers and hope for the best.

We're not entirely sure what it means win this award at this event. Or what we'll win (if anything), but we're pumped to find out. We'll let all of you know how it goes. This nomination isn't just for us, but for all our listeners and supporters who make NMTM the mighty show it's become. Award or not, our goal remains simply this: to play the best alternative and indie rock on college radio.

For more information on The AIR Awards and it's work with The March Of Dimes, check out their website, here.

Paul Westerberg - "Left Of The Dial"

'Mats Chat With A Great DJ

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to get in contact with a great New York City DJ on the one-and-only 101.9 WRXP ("The Rock Experience"; by now, you know this is my favorite FM station). His name is Rich Russo and he hosts "Anything Anything", a show that plays obscure and underground alternative rock that spans decades and sub-genres, which airs on Sundays at 9 PM. We talked via e-mail about favorite bands, the direction of college radio, and future aspirations. It's always cool to hear professional disc jockeys talk about your favorite bands. This guy is awesome for being so connected with his audience and it's a rare characteristic I try to emulate with our show (remember our show?).

Here's what I said to him:

"Dear Rich Russo,

Excellent program, sir. The show makes my Sunday nights. You really do playing anything AND anything. I'm very impressed. And The Replacements - that band is my everything."

I said more, but do you really want to read about me gushing? No. You don't. Here's the response from the man himself (who also would love to have Paul Westerberg on his program in the future):

"the replacements are a special band and it's sad they couldn't get their act together, when i watch bands like wilco finally start to get recognition and get bigger and bigger, i just realize how big the mats could have been and even 20 years later, they'd be playing 5 nights at the garden...

thank for the kind words about the show and i have the best gig in commercial radio and i realize that, playing whatever i want on the airwaves in NYC."

I agree: the 'Mats at MSG!? It'd be bliss. And we'll just see how Wilco does with their fame; although, I don't think they had the edginess that Westerberg & Co. had which made them a classic alternative rock band (a good thing to an extent?) Tune into "Anything Anything", every Sunday on 101.9 WRXP, starting at 9 PM.

The Replacements - "I'll Be You"

The Replacements I'll Be You
Uploaded by Celtiemama. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Three.

The ones who love us best, are the ones we'll lay to rest.
The ones that love us least, are the ones we'll die to please.
3 DAYS UNTIL NMTM AIRS!!!

Paul Westerberg. Before he wrote great guitar rock about love and growing older for his solo records, he wrote punk and later post-punk alternative anthems for a generation of rough and tumble kids in the 80's. As lead singer and guitarist of The Replacements, Paul and co. are regarded as one of the most influential alternative bands of the era (if not for The 'Mats, you could guarentee there wouldn't be a Green Day...well, old Green Day. New Green Day is the worst unpatriotic and annoying band I've heard all decade long. Slight exaggeration...). The Replacements were at their best when they realized that punk rock was not their breed and that the best music came from their most vulnerable states (and once they put down the booze, but they were fun wasted, too). They're mid 80's records foreshadow grunge rock and every angsty but heartfelt genre to follow. Foo Fighters? Paul Westerberg: an excellent musician, an experienced drinker, and one hell of a showman. Kudos on growing up, Paul, but we'll always love your immature antics. They will remain timeless.

Paul Westerberg - World Class Fad