Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at Never Mind the Mainstream! ...That's only two of us.

Eat. Drink. Be merry.

P.S. I've been into this song lately. For no real reason.

November 21, 2008 (Playlist)

November 21, 2008 (Playlist):
“Our Eleventh Show: New York vs. Philly Edition!”

The Ramones – Rockaway Beach
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll
Talking Heads – Burning Down The House (Live)
Pattern Is Movement – Peach Trees
Interpol – Narc
Cortez! Cortez!! – Newspapers
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cheated Hearts
Birdie Busch – Go Go Gadget Heart
Blondie – Union City Blue
The A-Sides – Cinematic
Sonic Youth – Teenage Riot

Illinois – Alone Again
New York Dolls – Trash
Good Old War – Coney Island
The Walkmen – Little House Of Savages
Boyz II Men – Mo’ Town Philly
Morningwood – New York Girls
The Roots – The Seed
The Strokes – Juicebox
The Dead Milkmen – Punk Rock Girl
Simon & Garfunkel – The Only Living Boy In New York

*Background music consisted of various songs by artists and bands from the cities of New York or Philadelphia, or songs about the two cities.

**The Winner of the NMTM New York vs. Philadelphia Showdown: PHILADELPHIA!

Wow, what a show. Many people said that this was our most entertaining and energetic show. And it had to be - it was a competition! Luckily for Jim, more people voted for his city, while my city got blown away, losing to Philly by over half the percentage of votes. Oh well, what can you do? Congratulations to Jim and the entire city of Philadelphia - first the World Series, and now, Never Mind the Mainstream! We had a lot of fun doing the show and we hope you had fun tuning, voting, and listening to our bickering. Mark my words, next time, NYC will be on top. We got only two more shows remaining! The NMTMies (our first annual award show) and then a Christmas Special to be aired on Christmas Day! So tune in and always keep it for the latest NMTM news. Thanks again for tuning in!

*Fan made poster by Camilo Gracia. Thanks, Cam!

What a Great Year to be a Philadelphian.

First the Phillies, and now NMTM,; Philadelphia is just winning everything left and right. (Let's not talk about the Eagles).

November 14, 2008 (Playlist)

November 14, 2008 (Playlist):
"Our Tenth Show: Great Beards Edition!"

The Killers – Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
BC Camplight – Couldn’t You Tell?
My Morning Jacket – Gideon
Band Of Horses - Detlef Schrempf
The Good Life - Empty Bed
Built To Spill – Sidewalk
ZZ Top – La Grange
Black Keys – Your Touch
A.A. Bondy – American Hearts
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
Throw Me The Statue – Your Girlfriend's Car

TV On The Radio – Family Tree
Pattern Is Movement – Sylvia
Hold Steady – Lord, I'm Discouraged
Cold War Kids – Every Valley Is Not A Lake
Wilco – Bob Dylan's 49th Beard
David Bazan – Hallelujah
John Frusciante – This Cold
Iron & Wine – Jezebel
The Doors – Love Me Two Times
The Band - I Shall Be Released

*Background music consisted of various Dan Deacon songs.

A big thanks to everyone who tuned in for this special edition of NMTM. This week, Jim honored those artists who create great music, while looking classy with fuzzy faces. The beard makes the man. I unfortunately could not make the show, however, it was still a great one. The following Friday would be the New York vs. Philly show, so keep it here to see the playlist and results! Thanks again!

New York City Vs. Philly - Tonight!

New York and Philadelphia go head-to-head tonight in a music battle for the Never Mind the Mainstream glory!

Only one city can win - your votes decide! Call in at (610)-683-4058 or IM us KURRequest to tell us which city rocks and which city fails miserably. We're taking calls all show long! Tune in @ kur.kutztown.edu.

The playlist is kept a secret to keep up with the competitive atmosphere, so you will not want to miss this! Tell a friend! C-ya at 6!

3 Days From Now...It Goes Down!

Do your worst, cities. Do. Your. Worst.

The Ultimate Battle! This Friday!

More to come later in the week...
As well as last Friday's Playlist!

Never Mind the Mainstream: It is so good.

Number 10...With Hair!

What a grizzly sight.

We've made it to our tenth show. Impressed? I am. Here's what's on the menu: BEARS! Not really, but famous men (women, too?) with great beards. The beard makes the man and the beard makes the men's music awesome. Tune in to hear The Black Keys, The Doors, The Hold Steady, Iron And Wine, and plenty more hairy-faced musicians, rock'n out on Never Mind the Mainstream.

WARNING!: This show is not for the weak at heart. It's Beard-Vember, folks.

Also, I (Mike Pop) will not be in attendance, so Jim, a shadower, and fellow indie rock fan Andrew P. (of the Ralph Flavin Show on KUR) will be in the studio, mixin' up the medicine, and spinnin' the tracks. So be sure to call in at 610-683-4058 (I know I will), or IM them at KURRequest on your instant messenger service. Tune in online, via kur.kutztown.edu. Good lord - this show will be epic.

Philly vs. NYC Show (Pushed Back 1 Week)

VS.

Only one can win. And your votes decide the winner!

Mike Pop will play music only from NYC and Jim Adair will play music only from Philadelphia.

Which is the better city?

THE SHOWDOWN BEGINS NOVEMBER 21st @ 6 PM!

Who Is "Dr. Freem"?

Good question. Well, for this very special profile piece on a very special member of the Never Mind the Mainstream team, you must know a few things about the physician before you can question the "truthyness" behind his doctrine. And the story is told in pictures.

Dr. Freem has worked in the field of Marine Science for many-a-years. Annually, he rescues whales from unsafe habitats and rides them to safe harbor.


Dr. Freem works in chemical labs for many hours during the work week. He has come up with various cures for the world's worst epidemics, however, the FDA disagrees with the "all-detergent" cure for diseases.


Dr. Freem believes that rigorous exercise is not only good for your health, but it is also fun to do, as well. Because of a very early scientific experiment, Dr. Freem now has the ability to age many years in the future on command.


Dr. Freem has received many degrees and a promising future is certainly underway.

Dr. Mike Freem graces Jim & myself every Friday, mainly around 7 PM, for his weekly segment on NMTM: "Freem's Rules". He always has a good health tip brewing and waiting to be relayed to the masses of listeners who tune into NMTM. In recent times, Dr. Freem has been known to do battle with arch-nemesis and NMTM shadower, Enzo, and an on-going war with wannabe nutritionist and frequent caller, Jeff Pop. The "Careem" knows good rock & roll when he hears it and will make a point of emphasizing his joy for the greatness that is heard on NMTM.

Tune in every Friday, 6-8 PM on KUR for Dr. Freem's "Freem's Rules" on Never Mind the Mainstream.

For your health, dumb-dumb!


*For more health tips from Dr. Freem, check out his YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/RaiseQuestions

November 7, 2008 (Playlist)

November 7, 2008 (Playlist):
"Our Ninth Show!"

Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Cold War Kids – Relief
The Helio Sequence – Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Pela – Drop Me Off
The Whigs – Right Hand On My Heart
Bloc Party – Your Visits Are Getting Shorter
The Stone Roses – She Bangs The Drums
Morrissey – I Don’t Mind If You Forget Me
The Libertines – Boys In The Band
Josh Ritter – The Temptation Of Adam

Ben Kweller – Wasted And Ready
Pixies – Monkey Gone To Heaven
The Virgins – Rich Girls
Bon Iver – Creature Fear
Nirvana – Plateau (Meat Puppets Cover)
The Pharcyde – Passing Me By
Common – The People
Hot Chip – Wrestlers
The Teenagers – Love No
The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset
R.E.M. – World Leader Pretend

*Background music consisted of various Joy Division & New Order songs from the following albums: "The Best Of Joy Division", "The Best Of New Order", & "Left Of The Dial: Dispatches From The 80's Underground".

Thank you all for listening to the show last night. It was one of the most fundamentally-sound shows we've ever produced. Also, with a rushed playlist, we got to premiere the latest Bloc Party, as well as plenty of other new cuts. Thanks for calling in to our studio line (610-683-4058) and IMing us on our AOL Instant Messenger (KURRequest). Tune in next week for another great set: The New York vs. Philadelphia Showdown Show! There can only be one winning city...

NMTM #9 Airs Tomorrow!

You heard it right, people. Our ninth edition will be on from 6-8 PM on KUR (kur.kutztown.edu) tomorrow evening. How are we still on the air with all the shenanigans that take place each week? I don't know; maybe we're just very good at censoring our music and our callers.

Anyway, we got some fresh tunes from Bon Iver, The Virgins, Bloc Party, and more! Also, we've lined up some great alternative oldies: Nirvana, The Stone Roses, and others. Furthermore, we're throwing it extremely far back with The Kinks (no Kooks, kids).

Feel free to call in at (610)-683-4058; or IM us at KURRequest. It's always an interesting and fun time when we hear from you guys.

Catch ya then!

"If this was the Cold War, we could keep each other warm..."

So, I met Josh Ritter yesterday.

He was at the Big KU, handing out flyers for his uncle, who was running for the House of Representatives in the district we happen to be located in. He came up to me and said "Hey, I'm just handing these flyers out, see if you might want to give my uncle your vote." My response was "you're Josh Ritter, aren't you?" He seemed genuinely surprised and glad to be recognized and was a really nice guy. We talked about voting and music for about ten minutes before I let him go to hand out more campaign materials for his uncle. But in all, it just reminded me to post this.

Josh Ritter is a fantastic songwriter. His 2007 album The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter was near the top of many year end lists, including my own. But enough talk, I'll give you some evidence. If you watch one video today, let it be the fantastic version of 2007's "The Temptation of Adam", which was in my top 5 songs from that year.

"The Temptation of Adam"


"To The Dogs or Whoever"


Covering Springsteen's "The River" (A Must-See)

This Guy!

I'm down with this. Congratulations to Barack Obama - he's going to make our country kick-ass once again. Eat it France, Venezuela, the Middle East, and China.

*This is Jim, adding onto Mike's simple, yet great Obama victory post. All I gotta say is today was a good day.

Happy Birthday, Green!

R.E.M.'s 1988 album "Green" came out 20 years ago - today! On Election Day! Peter Buck, guitarist, said in an interview after the album was released, that he did not like where the country was headed. 20 years later and look at us - who's really happy now?

Despite his gloomy attitude, this is R.E.M.'s happiest and joyous album. It brought us 4 amazing singles: "Orange Crush", "Stand", "Pop Song 89", and "Get Up". Also, a personal favorite song about change, "World Leader Pretend", straight-up rocking "Turn You Inside-Out" and the provocative and experimental "Untitled (This World Is Big)". And even though I was only 6 months old when this record was released and R.E.M. has only been one of my favorite bands for a year or so, I'm sold on "Green". It is the greatest the four has recorded because it's R.E.M. at it's most beautiful, warmest, and strongest. It's their first record since signing onto Warner Brothers and before "Losing My Religion", so they still had something to gain. Not to mention "Pop Song" is my anthem. Get it? Pop? Last name? Whatever...this record is fun as hell.

In honor of this anniversary, here are the singles from this record, in order, and their music videos. All pretty great. I especially enjoy "Get Up". Enjoy:

"Orange Crush"

"Stand"


"Pop Song 89"


"Get Up"

BONUS!: "Turn You Inside-Out"

Ah, greatness. I'm a fan.

Your Finest Hour

People, citizens, friends: GET OUT AND VOTE!

This is the most important election of your life! No matter what your ideals or values are, you need to lay them on the line TODAY! You will want to remember this day. The future of our country is in your hands. Go forth and vote!

Be a hero. Vote.

October 31, 2008 (Playlist)

October 31, 2008 (Playlist):
"Our Halloween Show!"

Polaris – Waiting For October
Say Hi To Your Mom – Sweet, Sweet Heartkiller
M83 – Graveyard Girl
The National – Murder Me, Rachael
The Cure – Lullaby
Queens Of The Stone Age – Burn The Witch
Interpol – Evil
Ledbelly – Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
Arcade Fire – Black Mirror
Tokyo Police Club – Citizens Of Tomorrow

Bloc Party – Hunting For Witches
Bruce Springsteen – A Night With The Jersey Devil
Talking Heads – Psycho Killer
Warren Zevon – Werewolves Of London
The Cranberries – Zombie
A.A. Bondy – Oh The Vampyre
The Killers – Bones
Ben Gibbard – Thriller (Michael Jackson Cover)
Tegan & Sara – Walking With A Ghost
Band Of Horses – Is There A Ghost?

*Background music consisted of various Halloween-themed songs from various artists and bands.

Thank you to everyone who took a break from treat-or-treating, scaring kids, eating candy, or whatever and tuned in. Our Halloween edition was a big hit, so we may do more specials like this in the future. Also, we had the most calls ever on the show. We couldn't take all of them! So thank you for your calls, and if you didn't dial your phone, be sure to call in next time to (610)-683-4058; or IM us at KURRequest. Tune in next week for another great set and we hope you had a great Halloween.

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies:
World Series Champions.