Le Blog du ZBC

2010-05-10T13:04:00.000-04:00

Two former WZBC DJs and Program Directors from the 80's will be spinning at River Gods this Saturday, May 15th. The featured DJs will be Peter Connolly and Andrew Herman. Many other WZBC DJs from the 80's and early 90's will also be in attendance. Peter and Andrew DO NOT plan to play oldies sets featuring nothing but ZBC hits from the 80's - they plan to play music that they like including some old music and some new music. (But we might spin some 80's ZBC hits between their sets since both of them want to spend more time with old friends than up in the booth.)

The night is open to the public like any other night at River Gods. No cover. DJs start at 9. Kitchen closes at 10. Bar closes at 1.

Total Fail, Julian: Post by Sam!

2010-04-29T19:47:00.002-04:00

MOBLEY VIDEO

Julian and I shot this film, albeit the not so outstanding audio, on a decently cold evening in March. Mobley, hailing all the way from Austin, Texas, were awesome enough to give ZBC an entire evening of their time so we could film them in their natural environment!

Check out Mobley at www.mobleytheband.com and make sure you get to see them live next time they are in the area... sources say maybe in the fall. And just so you know what you're getting into- these guys are packin' their live set complete with multiple tvs ON stage, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful LED lights and more that is all synced to their performance.

Bottom line: you can dance your heart out when you aren't mesmerized by what their doing on stage!
We're giving their creativity an A+

If you like it, let us know- there ARE more videos to come!

LOVE,

DJs Julian and Sam

Review: Greg Hawkes @ The Magic Room Gallery

2010-04-07T23:40:00.003-04:00

Progressive psychedelic and experimental aren’t words usually associated with ukulele songs, but Greg Hawkes’ gig at the Magic Room Gallery on Saturday night was exactly that. Hawkes was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd who lapped up the eclectic set that included renditions of songs by The Cars, mesmerizing synthpop numbers and tunes from his latest CD ‘The Beatles Uke.’ Hawkes also performed some experimental poetry with opening act Casey Desmond, to the crowd’s delight, before being joined on stage by two fellow ukulele players and launching into covers of his favorite Beatles classics. Ever the professional, Greg gave a spirited performance that was sure to please all in attendance.

Stay tuned for more WZBC sponsored gigs!

-- Alice

Interview With Greg Hawkes

2010-04-03T19:10:00.000-04:00

WZBC's very own Gavin Frome of Mass Ave and Beyond (WZBC Fridays from 5-7PM) had the pleasure of interviewing Greg Hawkes of the Cars. Check out the interview by clicking here and scrolling down to Mass Ave and Beyond under "Friday April 2nd 2010." The interview starts at 3:55.
ENJOY!

WZBC Sponsors GREG HAWKES Tomorrow Night April 3rd @ The Magic Room Gallery

2010-04-02T23:33:00.002-04:00

Greg Hawkes will be performing with Casey Desmond at The Magic Room Gallery TOMORROW NIGHT!

Greg Hawkes, the famed keyboardist and co-founder of the Cars, is a large part of the Boston "experimental music" scene... specifically, the "experimental ukulele" scene. After collaborating with longtime friend Perry Geyer, Hawkes put out an album of 15 Beatles songs covered on... you guessed it... the ukulele. His album, "The Beatles Uke" was released on Solid Air Records in 2008. For more information about Hawkes' work and recordings, click here.

Check out his timeless cover of Eleanor Rigby and COME SEE HIM LIVE TOMORROW NIGHT!

Announcing: WZBC Spring Show 2010

2010-03-30T17:53:00.000-04:00

REJOICE! WZBC SPRING SHOW IS LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY!

Maps & Atlases
Drink Up Buttercup
Datus
Magic Man
Coralcola

April 14th at Great Scott
Tickets: $10
7PM Door

BE THERE

Check out these cool videos of Maps & Atlases and Drink Up Buttercup:

Maps & Atlases - Ted Zancha (Live @ AEMMP Records Industry Night 2009) from The Belmont Sessions on Vimeo.

Drink Up Buttercup // Seasickness Pills from Drink Up Buttercup on Vimeo.

Flyweight - 2009 Retrospective

2009-12-28T12:31:00.003-05:00

This Thursday (New Years Eve) Flyweight reviews all of this year's releases. Based on an intricate playlist algorithm, we have scientifically selected the 25 most played new artists of 2009. This wont be a top-to-bottom countdown- we dont believe in hierarchy. We just want to celebrate the amazing music released this past year.

2009 featured artists from Boston, Scotland, LA, Australia, SF, Sweden, Brooklyn, Peru, Philadelphia, Atlanta, London, Minneapolis, Singapore, and Denmark.

Tune in this Thursday, 12/31/2009 from 5:00-7:00 PM on WZBC 90.3 FM in Boston or online at www.wzbc.org.

WZBC Studio 2009 (Part 2)

2009-08-10T10:06:00.000-04:00

Local photographer and guitarist Christy Romanick revisits WZBC (July 30, 2009) with her camera and playlist (Schema, She Sir, Halcyon High, The Longest Day, Elika, Aarktica, Soundpool, Amp, Echostar, Bowery Electric)

For more information:
http://autumn-lull.livejournal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/christyromanickmusic
http://www.myspace.com/space30a

Her pics:

Test Pattern tonight - Iridite Productions

2009-07-24T08:17:00.000-04:00

Tonight's Test Pattern will focus on Glasgow label Iridite Productions. From their press package:

"It’s all about the music"

Iridite was founded on this principle in the summer of 1999. Dedicated to producing quality electronic dance music, and acting as a platform for both established and new artists whose work was yet to be heard. This music would be unified not strictly by genre but by its quality, the styles ranging from down tempo to Detroit inspired Techno, Dub and House. Initially the aim was to bring together different artists on each release, each track being the strongest possible selection by that artist for the EP at that time, creating a fluid mix of high quality music without trying to hard to be overtly "eclectic".

From Matt:

I will be playing tracks from Iridite's entire 10-year history (well, most of it). If time permits, I will also present some unreleased, untitled tracks by unnamed artists coming up on future Iridite releases.

Listen in tonight at 6PM on 90.3 FM or www.wzbc.org

WZBC Studio 2009

2009-06-18T23:28:00.000-04:00

Local photographer and guitarist Christy Romanick stopped by WZBC studios on June 11, 2009. She not only snapped a few pics but also produced and hosted an entire episode of Flyweight - with just 30 seconds of training. Here are some of her pix.

For more information:
http://autumn-lull.livejournal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/christyromanickmusic
http://www.myspace.com/space30a

And for the record, here is her stunning playlist:

Helium “Baby's Going Underground” from The Dirt of Luck CD
Destroyalldreamers “Wish I Was All Dreams” from Wish I Was All Flames CD
The Depreciation Guild “A Room, A Canvas” from In Her Gentle Jaws CD
Moscow Olympics “Ocean Sign” from Ocean Sign CD
Air Formation “In Formation” from Ends In Light CD
My Bloody Valentine “Drive It All Over Me” from You Made Me Realise CD
Jessamine “Corrupted Endeavor” from Don't Stay Too Long CD

Bowery Electric “Out Of Phase” from Bowery Electric CD
All in The Golden Afternoon “All In The Golden Afternoon” from All In The Golden Afternoon CD
Jessica Bailiff “Crush (version 2)” from Old Things CD
Low/Piano Magic/ Transient Waves “Sleep At The Bottom” 7"

The Lily's “Coby” CD Single
South Pacific “Built To Last” from 33 CD
Monoland “Motel Fumatore” from Cooning CD
LSD and The Search for God “This Time” from LSD and The Search For God EP
Hammock “The Air Betweeen Us” from Kenotic CD

Amp “So Hot (wash away all my tears)” from Tribute To Spacemen 3 CD
Hood “September Brings The Autumn Dawn” from The Cycle of Days and Seasons
Clear Horizon “For Days” from Clear Horizon
The Longest Day “Silver” from Slumber CD
Cloudsound “Asteroid Harbor Lullaby” from Cloudsound

Thisquietarmy “Radio-Galaxy Quasar” from Transmissions
Windy & Carl “Smeared” from Introspections
Landing “Blue (for Rav)” from Centrifuge
Snow In Mexico “Velvet” from Snow in Mexico CD
Auburn Lull “Finland Station” from Alone I Admire CD

Test Pattern : Too Pure Records

2009-06-10T17:06:00.001-04:00

Every Friday at 6PM, WZBC presents Test Pattern - a one hour spotlight on a band, label, genre, or theme as hosted by a different ZBC DJ each week. This Friday, Flyweight host, Ravioli features a retrospective of the (sadly) defunct Too Pure Records.

Formed in London in 1990, Too Pure became an instant super-indie giving the world PJ Harvey, Stereolab, Moonshake, Th Faith Healers, Mouse on Mars, Electrelane, Laika, Seefeel, McClusky, Pram, Long Fin Killie, Hefner, Seely, Scout Niblett, Voodoo Queens and more. The label was ultimately absorbed by 4AD Records last year, though they still operate a singles club. We'll try to squeeze many songs as we focus on the early days of the label.

Tune in this Friday June 12 at 6PM on WZBC 90.3 FM in the Boston area or online at www.wzbc.org and on iTunes.

Test Pattern: FM3's "Buddha Machine"

2009-05-22T13:53:00.000-04:00

"Sometimes a product comes along that is so poorly made, so awkwardly packaged, so undermarketed, so bereft of features and so technologically backward that the initial reaction of most customers is: 'Give me two.' It highlights our still-uneasy relationship with technology."
-Jeremy Wagstaff, The Wall Street Journal

Of all the possible explanations for The Buddha Machine's strange allure, this is probably the most cynical. After all, you wouldn't expect the Wall Street Journal to have much patience for a $20 plastic box that plays drone music. But then again, you might not expect them to mention it at all.

Since its release in 2005, The Buddha Machine has garnered a truly remarkable amount of buzz. It has received glowing reviews in Wire, Pitchfork ("8.2"), The New Yorker, and a variety of music blogs. Tens of thousands of units have been sold so far, and Buddha Machines have been used as instruments in dozens of musical projects, including works by Robert Henke and Sunn O))). The New York Times calls it a "weird, mesmerizing, beautifully useless thing," and Sasha Frere-Jones thinks of it as "a receiver of transmissions from a place you will never see."

Whatever your interpretation of this cryptic little box may be, there's no denying its musical value. The Buddha Machine's loops are tense, elliptical, and hypnotic. Each loop is as much a finished product as it is a creative tool, and users are encouraged to experiment with different combinations of loops (as I'll be doing on this week's Test Pattern). And if you're not ready to shell out $20 (plus the cost of AA batteries), all the loops are available for free download on the Buddha Machine's official website. You can also play around with a wall of twenty Buddha Machines on a website called Zendesk, or download the iPhone app ($3.99).

For my Test Pattern on FM3's Buddha Machine, I'll be using the original product itself, as well as the individual loops in WAV and mp3 format. Check it out live the on air today (Friday, May 22nd) at 6:00pm, and look here for an archived version of the show later tonight...

-Will Lynch

Octave One Test Pattern Friday March 20

2009-03-19T12:53:00.000-04:00

This coming Friday's Test Pattern will feature the music of Octave One along with an exclusive interview with Lawrence Burden in which he talks about his live experiences; the history of his label, 430 West; his band's new album; and his favorite remix project.

Friday March 20, 6PM on WZBC 90.3 FM

Test Pattern schedule for Spring 2009

2009-01-21T16:29:00.001-05:00

Test Pattern airs every Friday from 6 to 7pm on WZBC, 90.3FM. Each week, a different WZBC DJ hosts a one hour show featuring the music of a particular artist, band, label, or scene of his or her choice. Here is the schedule from not until early June.

Jan 23 - Stephen - Situation Two
Jan 30 - Rob - The Strawbs
Feb 6 - James - Long Fin Killie
Feb 13 - Pip - LSD Acronym Songs
Feb 20 - Matt - Subject TBD
Feb 27 - Jim - Editions Brokenresearch
Mar 6 - Andrew - Ghost Box
Mar 13 - John - SXSW Music Preview
Mar 20 - MKB - Octave One
Mar 27 - James - Subject TBD
April 3 - Carrigan - Subject TBD
April 10 - James - Subject TBD
April 17 - Nick - Pulp B-sides and Rarities
April 24 - Tom - Subject TBD
May 1 - Peter - The Blake Babies
May 8 - Carrigan - Subject TBD
May 15 - Ryan - Flowers for Reagan
May 22 - Sarah - TBD
May 29 - MKB - TBD
June 5 - Susanna - Raster-noton

Test Pattern : Situation Two Records

2009-01-21T13:48:00.000-05:00

Tune in this Friday at 6:00 pm as WZBC's weekly Test Pattern focuses on Situation Two Records.

Situation existed as an indie-boutique to its more prominent mother label, Beggars Banquet. Spanning just over a decade (1981-1992) it featured releases by Tones on Tail, The Fall, The Associates, Loop, Darkside, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Main, Hair and Skin Trading Company, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Bolshoi, Fields of the Nephilim, Death Cult, Go-Betweens and more.

Hosted by Ravioli.

Final WZBC Countdown at River Gods on Thursday, January 8th

2009-01-07T01:16:00.000-05:00

After many years (we're not even sure anymore how many!) WZBC is going to stop presenting monthly countdowns at River Gods. The final countdown will be on Thursday, January 8th.

The final countdown will run from 10-11 p.m. as usual, but it will feature a WZBC "Best of 2008" rather than our favorites from just the previous month.

WZBC DJ's Raviolli and John Straub will be spinning before and after the countdown. They will be featuring WZBC favorites from years-gone-by, personal favorites from 2008, and whatever else strikes their fancies.

It would be great to see as many ZBC fans as possible to send the series off in style!

21+, no cover
125 River Street near Central Square
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1

www.RiverGodsOnline.com

Flyweight Top 10 of 2008

2008-12-24T19:04:00.000-05:00

every Thursday evening from 5:00-7:00pm spinning shoegaze, spacerock, psych, post-punk, paisley underground, C86, dreampop, early post rock and other fuzzed out bliss...

10. Crystal Stilts
Crystal Stilts (EP)
Woodsist Records
Track: "Converging in the Quiet"

09. Vivian Girls
Vivian Girls (CD)
In the Red Records
Track: "Tell The World"

08. Portishead
Three (CD)
Mercury Records
Track: "Machine Gun"

07. Wire
Object 47 (EP/CD)
Pink Flag Records
Track: "One of Us"

06. Atlas Sound
Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel (CD)
Kranky Records
Track: "Another Bedroom"

05. All The Saints
Fire On Corridor X (CD)
Killer Pimp Records
Track: "Farmacia"

04. Deerhunter
Microcastles (CD)
Kranky
Track: "Nothing Ever Happened"

03. Raveonettes
Lust Lust Lust (CD)
Vice Records
Track: "Ally Walk With Me"

02. Black Angels
Directions To See A Ghost (CD)
Light In The Attic Records
Track: "Doves"

01. December Sound
December Sound aka The Silver Album (CD)
self released
Track: "Drone Refusenik"

Other artists with 2008 releases:
Air France, School of Seven Bells, Sun Kil Moon, M83, Milling Gowns, Boat Club, Christy Romanick, Exit Calm, Pacific UV, Spiritualized, Magnetic Fields, Beach House, Sigur Ros, Wedding Present, Stereolab, Monade, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Four Tet, Studio, Warlocks, No Age, Kontake, Hammock, Duke Spirit, Clinic, Darker My Love, Daysleepers, Piano Magic, Antony and The Johnsons

For more information:
http://www.myspace.com/wzbcflyweight

Animal Collective Boston Listening Party!

2008-12-11T14:37:00.000-05:00

WZBC was asked by Animal Collective and Domino Records to host the Boston listening party for Animal Collective's upcoming 9th studio release, Merriweather Post Pavillion, on January 6th, 2009. Anticipation has been ridiculously high since the album was announced way back in October, and we at WZBC are stoked to be working with the band to celebrate the release. Keep your eyes and ears open for free giveaways, prizes, and more secret goodies as we get closer to the date.

We'll be announcing more information in the very near future on a location and event details on air, so keep listening to WZBC 90.3fm or stream us online at www.wzbc.org.

Read Domino Records' press release here.

And for more cryptic information about the record, check out their website.

WZBC Fundraiser Update!

2008-10-15T13:14:00.000-04:00

^^^^^^^ Check out the tees! ^^^^^^^^^

WZBC is hosting its biennial fundraiser this year. Since 'zbc is a non-commercial station, we rely heavily on the wonderful support of our listeners to keep things running in our end of town. We understand that economic times are tough right now, but any amount that you can spare is greatly appreciated.

If you've ever been kicked off of our online stream, you can understand the frustration with not having enough stream slots for the station. With your pledges, we'll look to increase the slot numbers.

If you've ever been to one of our "WZBC welcomes..." concerts, you also know that we look to bring in the best and most exciting acts from the past and present. Just last week, WZBC welcomed Wire to Boston in support of their new album.

Additionally, we have a ton of great gifts to give for certain donation amounts.

Station Premiums:
Bottle Openers
Mugs
Tee Shirts
Hoodies
Tote bags
Grab bags

We have a bunch of cds available including:

Stereolab- Chemical Chords
Tapes 'n Tapes- Walk It Off
Jaguar Love- Take Me To The Sea
Shearwater- Rook
Friendly Fires- S/T
Sigur Ros- Med Suf Ieyrum Vit Spilum Endalaust (2008)

Vinyl Records:

Stereolab- 7" single (2008)
Cat Power- Moon Pix
Vampire Weekend- S/T
British Sea Power- The Decline of British Sea Power
The Libertines- Up The Bracket

Persuasion at The Speaker Project

2008-10-14T17:28:00.000-04:00

Hey Z-sters,

Just wanted to give you a quick heads up about a really cool exhibit going on right now at the Stephen D. Paine Gallery at MassArt. The Speaker Project is a "sculptural sound project" by Chicago artist Juan Angel Chavez. The exhibit runs until November 22. Even more good news: FREE ENTRY!

WZBC's own Sarah Joy and Will Lynch of Persuasion (Thursday NCP II) will be doing a DJ set for the exhibit this Saturday, October 18, from 12p-2p. The set they're planning is a little more spacey than Persuasion's usual gamut of deep house and minimal techno. Instead, to showcase the installation's unique soundscape, Will and SJ will be focusing on more atmospheric, avant-garde, echoing electronic tracks (e.g., Gas, Deepchord, Robert Henke, Klimek, etc.)

If you can't make it out this Saturday, be sure to check out this awesome exhibit before it closes in November. Check out the website above for a full schedule of performances.

(And don't forget... this week is our biennial fundraiser! So call 617-552-4686 to share some love with WZBC!)

"Make it New" @ Middlesex Lounge, 9/25/2008

2008-09-24T16:12:00.001-04:00

Hey Z Peeps,

Just a late heads up that this Thursday, WZBC's Will Lynch (co-host of "Persuasion" on Thursday NCP2) will be DJing at the Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge, opening for Shed, a critically acclaimed producer from Berlin. Shed is a regular at the infamous Berghain/Panoramabar, and released his debut album earlier this month on Ostgut-Ton, one of the most provocative and influential house/techno labels running. This will be his first performance ever in the US, and its only $5. So, if you're the type that parties on Thursday nights, and you find yourself jonesing for a bit of untz untz, come on down, and feel free to say hi. I'll be the guy trying not to wet his pants behind the DJ booth from 9pm-10pm, and 10:45-11:30. Hope to see some of you there!

Thursday, August 7th: WZBC Countdown + 2 Featured DJs at River Gods

2008-08-04T13:03:00.000-04:00

This Thursday is the first Thursday of the month, so it's time for another WZBC night at River Gods.
Monthly Countdown as usual from 10-11 p.m.
And 2 featured WZBC DJs before and after the countdown.
DJs this month are Justin Grotelueschen and Nick van der Kolk (aka DJ Sailor Pants) - co-hosts (along with John Purcell) of WZBC's Cafe of Shame every Sunday night from 10 p.m. to midnight (CafeofShame.org).

Justin will be spinning somewhat familiar, somewhat mellowed, somewhat ambient beat-oriented electronic musics that will gently massage your ear drums.

DJ Sailor Pants will bring you on an underwater adventure of delight. Meet dreamy-eyed naïve dolphins, mean old octopuses, frightening krakens, and the bumbling sea wizard Syd Barrett, and still get home in time for your mother to tuck you in. Your mother who loves you very much.

And by the way, Justin and Nick are also helping to organize a WZBC-sponsored event at the Dilboy VFW in Davis Square on Friday, August 15th:

Paradosaurus Wreck
featuring fashions on the catwalk from local designers
Stormcloud, Bring Rainbows, Joy Adams, BECKY, Julia Ramsey, and Karovan.
Plus live rock from The Flaming Fire, Deer Tick, and Andre Obin, and
dance partying with DJ Phil.

WZBC's Top-14 of July 2008
No. 14: Emeralds, "The Quaking Mess (edit)," Solar Bridge (Hanson)
No. 13: Silver Jews, "Suffering Jukebox," Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Drag City)
No. 12: The Chap, "Caution Me," Mega Breakfast (Ghostly International)
No. 11: Love Is All, "Make Out Fall Out Make Up," Mixed Up (EMI)
No. 10: Awesome Color, "Eyes of Light," Electric Aborigines (American Dust)
No. 9: Gang, "Squatters, Inc." Zero Hits (Absolutely Kosher)
No. 8: The Notwist, "On Planet Off," Me, You + The Devil (Domino)
No. 7: Bernard Bonnier, "Italian Junk Food," Casse-tete (Oral)
No. 6: Endless Boogie, "Low-lifes," Focus Level (No Quarter)
No. 5: Fleet Foxes, "Ragged Wood," Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)
No. 4: Wolf Parade, "California Dreamer," At Mount Zoomer (Sub Pop)
No. 3: No Age, "Teen Creeps," Nouns (Sub Pop)
No. 2: Sic Alps, "Mater," U.S. EZ (Siltbreeze)
No. 1: Low Motion Disco, "The Low Murderer Is Out Tonight," Keep It Slow (Eskimo)

2008-07-02T21:13:00.000-04:00

This Thursday is the first Thursday of the month so it's time for
WZBC's Monthly Countdown at River Gods.
Countdown runs from 10-11 p.m.
- Our favorite tracks from our favorite discs of June.

Plus 2 featured WZBC DJs
(Re-scheduled from last month since they were pre-empted by the Celtics):

Matt Crook – host of WZBC's Space-Mind Continuum every Wednesday from
6-7 p.m. This Matt will be spinning soundwaves from late 60's British
psychedelia. Close your eyes and be transported to the ethereal time
that was swinging London. Good vibes will be had by all!

Matt Kane – host of WZBC's Hydrogen Economy alternate Fridays from 10
p.m. – 1 a.m. This Matt will be playing all kinds of dubby techno –
new, old, and older.

21+, no cover
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1
125 River Street near Central Square

WZBC's: Top-13 of June 2008:

No. 13: Simply Saucer, "Illegal Bodies," Half Human/Half Live (Sonic Unyon)
No. 12: Groupo de Totoko Francois, "Bololo O Kolilo," Victrola
Favorites: Artifacts from Bygone Days (Dust-to-Digital)
No. 11: Fuck Buttons, "Sweet Love for Planet Earth," Street Horrrsing (ATP)
No. 10. Excepter, "Entrance 08," Debt Dept. (Cak)
No. 9: Animal Collective, "Street Flash," Water Curses (Domino)
No. 8: Retribution Gospel Choir, "What She Turned Into," Retribution
Gospel Choir (Caldo Verde)
No. 7: The Wedding Present, "I Lost the Monkey," El Rey (Vibrant)
No. 6: Sic Alps, "Mater," U.S. EZ (Siltbreeze)
No. 5: The Notwist, "On Planet Off," The Devil, You + Me (Domino)
No. 4: Portishead, "We Carry On," Third (Mercury/Island)
No. 3: Free Kitten, "Erected Girl," Inherit (Ecstatic Peace)
No. 2: All the Saints, "Hornett," All the Saints (Killer Pimp)
No. 1: Spiritualized, "Soul on Fire," Songs in A&E (Fontana/Universal)

another blog? is that completely necessary?

2008-07-02T10:41:00.000-04:00

I've started another music blog, in addition to all the ones already out there. As of right now, by my estimations, it is amongst the top 5 blogs currently in existence within the internet tubes. You should get on that and check it out. I'll be writing about new music I hear, and shows I see, and other musings which may or may not be about music.

Help me celebrate the body electric!

-Brian G

2008-06-03T23:23:00.001-04:00

This Thursday is the first Thursday of the month, so it's WZBC's monthly night at River Gods.

Countdown from 10-11 p.m.

Plus 2 featured WZBC DJs:

Matt Crook – host of WZBC’s Space-Mind Continuum every Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. This Matt will be spinning tunes from the American underground covering the sixties to the present.

Matt Kane – host of WZBC’s Hydrogen Economy alternate Fridays from 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. This Matt will be playing some classic dub, bollywood, belly dancing music, and other thrift store gems. He will also preview a Basic Channel feature which he will air on WZBC tomorrow from 6-7 p.m.

Each DJ will spin a "dinner set" before the countdown and a "bar set" after the countdown.

WZBC's: Top-16 of May 2008:
No. 16: Matmos, “,” Supreme Balloon (Matador)
No. 15: Cut Copy, “Out There on the Ice,” In Ghost Colours (Modular Interscope)
No. 14: Mountain Goats, “Autoclave,” Heretic Pride (4AD)

No. 13: Mission of Burma, “Devotion,” Signals, Calls and Marches: The Definitive Edition (Matador)
No. 12: Dodos, “Jodi,” Visiter (French Kiss)
No. 11: Thalia Zedek Band, “Come Undone,” Liars and Prayers (Thrill Jockey)
No. 10. The Mae Shi, “Lamb and Lion,” HLLLYH (Team Shi)
No. 9: The French Kicks, “Abandon,” Swimming (Vagrant)
No. 8: All the Saints, “Sheffield,” All the Saints (Killer Pimp)
No. 7: Sun Kil Moon, “Heron Blue,” April (Caldo Verde)
No. 6: Clinic, “Memories,” Do It! (Domino)
No. 5: Portishead, “Small,” Third (Mercury/Island)
No. 4: December Sound, “Drone Refusnik,” The Silver Album (MySpace.com/TheDecemberSound)
No. 3: Animal Collective, “Water Curses,” Water Curses (Domino)
No. 2: Neptune, “Red Sea/Ebbing,” Gong Lake (Radium/Table of the Elements)

No. 1: No Age, “Eraser,” Nouns (Sub Pop)

21+, no cover
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1
125 River Street near Central Square

Mesmerization Eclipse presents Love Is All at Great Scott

2008-05-28T15:31:00.000-04:00

Love Is All
Mean Creek
Big Digits

at Great Scott in Allston
Sunday June 15 2008
Show starts at 9 pm

Facts about Love Is All:

1. They're awesome.
2. They're from Sweden.
3. Their second album, A Hundred Things That Keep Me Up At Night, comes out later this year on What's Your Rupture?
4. This'll be their very first show in Boston.
5. They hardly ever tour the States, so who knows when you'll get a chance to see 'em again.

Listen to Mesmerization Eclipse on Friday June 13 from 3 to 5 pm from tickets and Love Is All t-shirts.

Test Pattern Schedule for (part of) Summer 2008

2008-05-23T12:27:00.000-04:00

May 30 - Jim - Wierd Records
June 6 - Matt - Basic Channel
June 13 - Andrew - Kevin Martin
June 20 - Jessica - Easy Tempo
June 27 - Rob - Nocturnal Emissions
July 4 - Carrigan and David Day - The Field
July 11 - Patrick - Gary Mcfarland
July 18 - Matt - Underworld
July 25 - Andrew - Adaadat Records
August 1 - Carrigan and David Day - The Knife
August 8 - James - Ed Keupper

Friday, May 23: Thalia Zedek on WZBC

2008-05-23T01:25:00.000-04:00

Thalia Zedek will be the special guest co-host for part of the afternoon on Friday, May 23rd. Thalia's not completely sure what time she'll be able to arrive, but she will be joining WZBC DJ John Straub by 3:30 at the latest, and sticking around until 4:30 or so.

Thalia's new album, Liars and Prayers, came out last month on Thrill Jockey Records. She's also playing Friday night at The Middle East Upstairs on a bill with Joe Lally (of Fugazi), Glorytellers (feat. members of Karate), and Drew O'Doherty.

Thalia and John will be featuring some stuff from Thalia's new album, some of her older material, and some music by other artists. They will probably also be giving away a pair of tickets to Thalia's show at The Middle East.

Hope you can listen in!

Flyweight presents 28 Degrees Taurus & December Sound at Great Scott

2008-05-07T14:05:00.000-04:00

28 Degrees Taurus
The December Sound
Screen Vinyl Image
Static of the Gods

at Great Scott in Allston
Saturday May 17, 2008
9:00pm show

Event Links:
28 Degrees Taurus
http://www.myspace.com/28degreestaurus

The December Sound
http://www.thedecembersound.com/home.html

Screen Vinyl Image
http://www.myspace.com/screenvinylimage

Static of the Gods
http://staticofthegods.delverano.com/

Great Scott in Allston
http://www.greatscottboston.com/

Listen to Flyweight on Thursday May 15th to win tickets to the show and CDs from the bands.

WZBC Studio Line: 617-552-4686
WZBC Flyweight: wzbcflyweight@gmail.com

We're Growing...

2008-05-07T02:09:00.000-04:00

ZBC's blog has expanded... ever so slightly. If you check out the sidebar to your right you'll find a number of links that will whisk you away to various sites associated with the station. This list will grow in time, but for now there's a couple of links to shows broadcast on WZBC as well as links to friends of the station/former DJs. You can find free mp3s, various musings on new and old music, photographs, news concerning upcoming shows in the Boston area, and lots of other fun things on those sites. If you think you know of a link or two that should be added to this list, just leave us a comment and we'll eventually check it out.

You might also be interested in the fact that Brainwashed is currently putting together and preparing for a huge three-day music festival called BRAINWAVES 2008. You can bet that WZBC will be increasingly involved in this festival as its time draws nearer, but for now you can check out the website, linked here. Lots of bands featured on ZBC will be there and some of them are playing in the United States for the first time. Check it out.

Thanks for stopping by and continuing to support us.

ZBC

WZBC 35TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY and Neptune Reviewed in Pitchfork

2008-04-29T11:04:00.001-04:00

For those of you who live under rocks or with overly protective parents, we are in fact turning 35 and are planning on celebrating our encroaching middle age with a balls out rock fest at TT the Bears this Saturday.

Doors at 8:30
No Age
Neptune
Big Digits
The Big Disappointments

Get there early kids, this shit is sure to sell out. Or listen in all this week to ZBC as we give away tickets!

There will also be an exclusive, sexy party afterwards, but we aren't releasing those details just yet. Keep your ear to the ground.

In conjunction with drumming up some noise about our 35th anniversary show this Saturday at TT's, I thought it might be nice to post a review of Neptune's new record Gong Lakefrom today's issue of Pitchforkmedia.

Check it out: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/49975-gong-lake

Finally, That Long Awaited Times New Viking Session

2008-04-19T12:17:00.000-04:00

So, you may recall a couple months ago we had Times New Viking in the studio to record some songs especially for ZBC. You may then recall how we promised to make those tracks available on the blog. And then you waited. And waited some more. Maybe you went out to lunch, read a book, or listened to some Todd Rundgren. Still no tracks. You started to give up hope, you began to frequent the ERS site, these were dark times...

Well I am happy to announce that we have finally made the whole session available to our listeners. Just peep the Mediafire link below, download and unpack the .zip file, and you'll be able to have the whole thing in MP3 format. Depending on if we really get our act together, there may even be some footage too (don't hold your breath). You see? We would never break our commitment to you. Never.

Times New Viking at WZBC Studios, 2/23

Eternally Yours,

Nick (Spectra Sonic Sound)

WZBC now in iTunes

2008-04-08T13:48:00.000-04:00

It's official: WZBC is now in the iTunes radio directory under the new College Radio category. All of our streams (128/56/24) are there, which means WZBC can be heard in multiple formats anywhere iTunes can be downloaded in the free and not-so-free worlds. Undoubtedly this means more unsuspecting listeners will happen upon WZBC's eclectic awesomeness.

So tell all your friends and relatives how they can easily listen to WZBC because of our new exclusive relationship with Apple computers and Steve Jobs (yeah it's a fib, but sometimes fibs are necessary for great things to happen).

Doug (Pinwheels of Your Mind, Wed. 7-10pm) and Judy (WZBC's adviser) and I have worked on this for a while -- thanks to them for willing this to happen.

Justin
Cafe of Shame
Sundays 10p-midnight

Derrick May Test Pattern this Friday

2008-04-07T16:51:00.000-04:00

As many of you may know, every Friday night, WZBC does a one hour focus on a single artist or label or scene or category or maybe some other constraint that hasn't yet been imagined. One poor DJ gets stuck in the studio for an hour racking his or her brain for the best or rarest of what-have-you.

On April 11 at 6PM, Test Pattern presents the ever-pugnacious innovator; head of the Metroplex subsidiary Transmat Records; two-time organizer of Movement: Detroit Electronic Music Festival; resident DJ at The Music Institute in Detroit; and former radio host: the one and only Derrick May!*

God, I can barely fit the marketing hype into an hour!

Anyway, there will be music from across Mr. May's long career from 1987 on up to the present (well the past year anyway); including both classics and rarities; co-productions, originals, and remixes. If anyone has footage of Mr. May at Movement 2004, riding around on a golf cart, asking for donations through his megaphone, feel free to send that to me and I'll play that too :)

So anyway, listen Friday at 6PM to 90.3 FM or wzbc.org!

* There may be other people named Derrick May.

(presented by Matt K from Friday NCP2)

WZBC Countdown at River Gods on Thursday, April 3rd

2008-03-31T23:47:00.001-04:00

This Thursday (the 3rd of April) is the first Thursday of the month, so it's time for WZBC's monthly countdown at River Gods.
The Countdown runs from 10-11 p.m. and features selections from WZBC's favorite releases of the previous month.
Two WZBC DJs will also be spinning before and after the countdown.
The DJs start at 8:30, and this month they will be:

Nick Feeley, host of WZBC’s Spectra Sonic Sound every Tuesday from 10 a.m. - noon.
Nick will be spinning ’70s Samba/Bossanova/Tropicalia while you eat before the countdown and loud booty jamz while you drink after 11.

Melissa Komadina - a WZBC alumna
Melissa will continue the funk with classic female soul singers and finish with the best of groovy and upbeat modern tracks.

21+, no cover
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1
125 River Street near Central Square

WZBC's Top-19 of March 2008
No. 19: DeVotchKa, “Undone,” A Mad and Faithful Telling (Anti-)
No. 18: Atlas Sound, “Quarantined,” Let the Blind Lead Those Who … (Kranky)
No. 17: The Dodos, “Fools,” Visiter (French Kiss)
No. 16: Yeasayer, “Forgivness,” All Hour Cymbals (We Are Free)
No. 15: Rafter, “Chances,” Sex Death Cassette (Asthmatic Kitty)
No. 14: Xiu Xiu, “I Do What I Want, When I Want,” Women as Lovers (Kill Rock Stars)
No. 13: Mahjongg, “Problems,” Kontpab (K)
No. 12: Working for a Nuclear Free City, “Troubled Son,” Businessmen & Ghosts (Deaf, Dumb & Blind)
No. 11: Beach House, “Gila,” Devotion (Carpark)
No. 10. December Sound, “Drone Refusenik,” The Silver Album (MySpace.com/TheDecemberSound)
No. 9: Raveonettes, “Aly, Walk with Me,” Lust Lust Lust (Vice)
No. 8: Excepter, “Kill People,” Dept Dept (Cak)
No. 7: Crystal Castles, “Untrust Us,” Crystal Castles (Last Gang)
No. 6: Mountain Goats, “Sax Rohmer, Pt. 1,” Heretic Pride (4AD)
No. 5: Pacific UV, “If So,” Longplay, Vol. 2 (Warm)
No. 4: No Age, “Every Artist Needs a Tragedy,” Weirdo Rippers (Fat Cat)
No. 3: The Mae Shi, “Run to Your Grave,” HLLLYH (Team Shi)
No. 2: Times New Viking, “Times New Viking vs. Yo La Tengo,” Rip it Off (Matador)
No. 1: Neptune, “Grey Shallows,” Gong Lake (Radium/Table of the Elements)

Wednesday NCP Steps Out!

2008-03-26T22:22:00.000-04:00

Join NCP hosts Doug of Pinwheels of Your Mind, and Ghostdad of Mofo Radio, live and in person this Friday at the Channel Cafe as they put the FUN back in Fort Point! Here's the official write up. Spread the word!

Z Night at the Channel Cafe

This Friday, March 28, Fort Point artist and radio DJ Doug Urbank--host of WZBC's No Commercial Potential program "The Pinwheels of Your Mind"--will play music accompanied by video projection by multi-media artist, John Gayle, from about 7 to 9 PM. From 9 to 11 PM DJ Ghostdad of WZBC's "Mofo Radio" will bring the usual mix of back alley funk and uproot dance music from vinyl's forgotten past and the digital music underground.

http://www.channel-cafe.com/

edit: actually ends at 10 so get there early! Posted by Ghostdad. Holler!

This Week's TP: Go-Go from DC

2008-03-24T17:48:00.000-04:00

There's a reason there aren't a lot of MC's that rep Washington, D.C., and that reason is Go-Go. While other cities were nurturing hip-hop and rap scenes during the early to mid-1980s, D.C. was nurturing Go-Go. Funk with a highly syncopated back-beat and heady call and response vocals, it's the party music of choice for D.C. While it's pretty much unheard of outside of D.C./MD/VA (though thanks to some mentions on "The Wire" that seems to be changing), Go-Go remains one of the most popular styles of music in D.C.

I'll be playing a bunch of Go-Go records this Friday. It's by no means meant to be exhaustive, but hopefully it will get people interested in a style of music that doesn't make it out past the 'burbs of D.C. all that often.

-Nick

The Junkyard Band @ Showplace Photo

Tim Haslett : 1966 - 2008

2008-03-20T19:57:00.000-04:00

DJ Brian Coleman revisits: "Funk to the Folks"
and "Back to the Old School" aka"School Beats"
live on the air on WZBC 90.3 FM
streaming at http://www.wzbc.org
Monday March 24, 2008
5 - 7PM

"Music in the Spirit of Tim" Beat Research
with DJ Flack, Wax and Wayne & Brian Coleman
Enormous Room 567 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Monday, March 24, 2008 9PM - 1AM 21+ Free
[If you’re a DJ type who knew him, come on out & bring a few rekkids Tim woulda liked.]

Tim Haslett 1966-2008: some WZBC shows archived:http://blancodisco.com/blancoBlog/archives/000080.html

Tim Haslett joined WZBC in the summer of 1990. He hosted "Funk to the Folks", "Back to the Old School"a.k.a. "School Beats", "Hard Wired" and "Tranquility Bass." He contributed to CMJ New Music Monthly and New Music Report, Rockpool, Streetsound Magazine. He was associated with local record stores Boston Beat, Biscuithead, Other Music, and Twisted Village. We will miss him.

WZBC Tributes: call-ins welcome at 617-552-4686
or instant message at "wzbcdj"

DJs pay tribute, live on the air at 90.3FM WZBC
streaming at
http://www.wzbc.org

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Flyweight (6-7pm)
with DJ Ravioli and Petrina
an hour tribute to Tim Haslett
followed by Susanna at 7pm, also paying tribute

Saturday March 22, 2008

The QE2 Show on Saturday 1am -6am is having a special show
on Detroit Tech. and Old School Hip Hop
Dedicated to the life of Tim Haslett a.k.a. "The Professor"
with Victor a.k.a. 'The Captain,' DJ Duo & 'The Navigator' Carlos B.

DJ Brian Coleman revisits:
"Funk to the Folks" "Back to the Old School" aka"School Beats"
live on the air on WZBC 90.3 FM
streaming at http://www.wzbc.org
Monday, March 24, 2008
5 - 7PM

Music in the Spirit of Tim
Beat Research w/ DJ Flack, Wax and Wayne & Brian Coleman
Enormous Room
567 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
(above Central Kitchen)
Monday, March 24, 2008
9PM - 1AM 21+
Free
If you’re a local DJ type who knew him, come on out and bring a few rekkids Tim woulda liked.

Memorial Service
Friday March 21, 2008
3PM
Friends Meeting House
5 Longfellow Park (off Brattle Street near Harvard Square)
http://www.fmcquaker.org/

Links to tributes and articles:

Pernice Brothers:
http://pernicebrothers.com/

Friendster Profile:
http://profiles.friendster.com/298943
Negrophonic:
http://www.negrophonic.com/2008/here-today/

Michigan State University Newspaper:
http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2008/03/msu_graduate_student_found_dead_friday

Weekly Dig Tribute:
http://www.weeklydig.com/blogs/dayvidday/tim-haslett-rip

Lemmingtrail Boards:
http://board.lemmingtrail.com/t.php?id=123431

Hua Hsu:
http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~hhsu/blog.html

Beat Research Tribute:
http://wayneandwax.com/?p=298
Mashit:
http://www.mashit.com/2008/03/19/rip-tim-haslett/

Moodmat:
http://www.moodmat.com/?p=692

Squar3.com
http://squar3.com/2008/03/20/tim-haslett/

Boston Magazine:
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/blogs/boston/2008/03/19/tim-haslett-found-dead/

Changs Place:
http://chang3002.livejournal.com/121359.html

Universal Hub:
http://www.universalhub.com/node/13522

The Circus Comes to ZBC

2008-03-13T23:30:00.000-04:00

Friday (ahem, tomorrow) on ZBC's Friday night Test Pattern, I'll be featuring furiously fabulous Parisian house label CIRCUS COMPANY.

This is not your standard brand of French House. That is to say, the releases CC has to offer are a far, far cry from the electro-house bug that bit after last summer's Daft Punk Alive 2007 tour. But there's no reason for an elitist alarm-- this stuff isn't only for the ever-more-pretentious "mnml" community. (RE: the label's myspace quote: "MINIMAL MY ASS.")

Will Lynch and I first found out about Circus Company from reading Philip Sherburne's adorations, but we really fell in love with them when we found some of their 12"s (Le K's Hurluberlu, Jean Nipon and Ai's With All Your Power, and Audio Werner's Flatfunk) on our second trip Berlin's famous Hardwax record store, home of the most life-changing and mind-blowing selection of records I've ever had the honor to browse. In my fast and furious education in electronic dance music, this label is still one of my favorite discoveries. I can't emphasize enough how unique and awesome these sounds are.

So if you want to start your Friday night with some incredible funky French beats, tune in from 6-7pm and shake your butt. If this can't put a smile on your face and a groove in your feet, maybe you should get yourself and analyst. Or a louder stereo.

(If you like it, I'll be posting an mp3 of the live mix after the fact.)

Cheers,

Sarah Joy (of Future Daze -- bi-weekly Fridays from 10p-1a, with Lynch, on your very own WZBC)

Charts 3/4!!!

2008-03-04T14:10:00.000-05:00

So it's been a while since the charts have been posted, but I figure now is as good a time as ever to do it and why not on the official WZBC blog? Enjoy and keep listening...

love,
brian

WZBC Radio 200 Adds 3/4:

1 DODOS Visiter Frenchkiss
2 THESE NEW PURITANS Beat Pyramid Domino
3 RUBY SUNS Sea Lion
4 MURDER BY DEATH Red Of Tooth And Claw Vagrant
5 A FAULTY CHROMOSOME As An Ex-Anorexic's Six Sicks Exit Self-Released

WZBC Radio 200 3/4:

1 BEACH HOUSE Devotion Carpark
2 NEPTUNE Gong Lake golden lab
3 HOT CHIP Made In The Dark DFA-Astralwerks
4 TIMES NEW VIKING Rip It Off Matador
5 DEVOTCHKA A Mad And Faithful Telling Anti
6 MONADE Monstre Cosmic Too Pure
7 VAMPIRE WEEKEND Vampire Weekend XL
8 BLACK MOUNTAIN In The Future Jagjaguwar
9 BON IVER For Emma, Forever Ago Jagjaguwar
10 BORN RUFFIANS Red, Yellow And Blue Warp
11 DEVASTATIONS Yes, U Beggars Banquet
12 HELIO SEQUENCE Keep Your Eyes Ahead SUB POP
13 MAGNETIC FIELDS Distortion Nonesuch
14 MAHJONGG Kontpab K
15 MOUNTAIN GOATS Heretic Pride 4AD
16 NO AGE Weirdo Rippers FatCat
17 SUPER FURRY ANIMALS Hey Venus! Rough Trade
18 VALET Naked Acid Kranky
19 YEASAYER All Hour Cymbals We Are Free
20 BLACK LIPS Good Bad Not Evil Vice
21 BLOOD ON THE WALL Liferz Social Registry
22 BRITISH SEA POWER Do You Like Rock Music? Rough Trade
23 DEAD MEADOW Old Growth Matador
24 DEERHUNTER Cryptograms Kranky
25 AKRON/FAMILY Love Is Simple Young God
26 DIE! DIE! DIE! Promises, Promises S.A.F.
27 DIRTY PROJECTORS Rise Above Dead Oceans
28 EVANGELICALS Evening Descends Dead Oceans
29 EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT Third Transmission Graveface
30 FRENCH HORN REBELLION French Horn Rebellion Vurse

2008-02-26T15:56:00.000-05:00

A huge thanks to Times New Viking for coming in and recording some songs at ZBC this past weekend!

If you didn't hear it today, we'll be posting those tracks right here on the blog. There may also be some YouTube worthy video as well. Be sure to keep your eyes on the blog!

Times New Viking at WZBC!!!

2008-02-18T14:45:00.001-05:00

I'm absolutely obsessed with Times New Viking. You can ask any of the friends, roommates, ex-girlfriends, current girlfriends, concerned family members, and perfect strangers who I have attempted to convert to Times New Viking fandom. Really, Rip It Off is an awesome record and the band is an awesome live show.

Anyway, now that I've gotten all that out of the way I'll get to my point. Times New Viking will be doing a radio session at WZBC this Saturday before their show at the Paradise with Super Furry Animals. We'll be recording it and playing it the following Tuesday on Spectra Sonic Sound (10 AM - 12 PM). Who knows, they may also do an interview and tell me personal stuff. We just don't know and you'll have to tune. Also be sure to check here in the coming week for exclusive mp3's of the tracks they play. Maybe even some Youtube worthy video? You'll just have to wait and see!
-Nick

Friday 2/15, 6-10 p.m.: Karlheinz Stockhausen Special

2008-02-13T23:41:00.000-05:00

This Friday, WZBC will be airing a special 4-hour Test Pattern devoted to the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen. The program will be hosted by John Straub (host of WZBC's Kraft-o-Matic Bed o' Nails, every other Friday, 3-5 p.m.)

It's hard to imagine very many people wanting to listen to this many different Stockhausen pieces in a row for 4 straight hours. So here is an annotated list of approximately when different pieces will be aired. That way interested listeners can "pick their battles."

The program will focus on Stockhausen's recordings from the 1960's, with just a couple earlier pieces from the '50's and one later piece from the 1990's.

Annotated program from John:

6:00: I'm going to start with a 23-minute excerpt from Kurzwellen, recorded in 1969. This is a personal favorite. Stockhausen's own liner notes for the recording also put the piece into context by looking back at a few of his earlier pieces that I'll also be featuring, so I thought I'd read some of those notes as an introduction.

~6:30: Gesang der Junglinge (1956) An early classic mixing synthetic sounds with the recording of a boy's voice singing a Biblical passage, "Chant of the Adolescents in the Fiery Furnace"

~6:45: Kontakte (1958-1960) - piano & percussion playing along with pre-recorded sounds on tape. I'll play the 1st 12 minutes.

~7:00: Momente (1962-1964) Side 1 of the mid-60's vinyl release on Nonesuch. A cantata for soprano, choir, brass, percussion and electric organs. A lot of commentators emphasize how this piece was about "existence in the moment and ignoring the past," which is seen as a hallmark of Stockhausen's most famous work.

~7:30: Mixture (1964): Electronics with Orchestra. I'll play the 2nd half of this piece which is a mirror image of itself.

Stockhausen spent a lot of time in Japan in 1966, which had a big influence on his late '60's work. The next few things tend to be less complex and seem to be striving towards some kind of electronic world music.

~8:00: Telemusik (1966)

~8:20: Hymnen (1966-1967) - Electronic stew of various national anthems.

~8:30: Holger Czukay's "Boat Woman Song". This was my introduction to Stockhausen. Czukay was a student of Stockhausen's in the early 60's before he co-founded Can in 1968. This early solo recording from 1968 mixes shortwave radio signals from all over the world and recordings of traditional Vietnamese and Cambodian singing. Obviously influenced by Stockhausen's "electronic world music" especially Kurzwellen (Short Waves). My interest in Can led me to this beautiful solo recording, which led me to Stockhausen's Kurzwellen.

~8:40 Kurzwellen (1968) Here I'm going to play an excerpt from the 2nd half of a 1968 recording. I will open the show at 6:00 with the first half of a 1969 recording of the same piece. Performance of the piece involves musicians responding to random short wave radio broadcasts. The same timpani motif (a BBC station ID) happened to come over the shortwaves during these two different performances. The different reactions by the musicians to that identical stimulus is something that intrigued Stockhausen about these two recordings of Kurzwellen.

~9:05: Helicopter String Quartet (1995) - Beginning in 1977, Stockhausen spent most the rest of his life working on a 7-part operatic opus called Licht. The 7 parts corresponded to the 7 days of the week. Wednesday was one of the last pieces he completed in the mid-1990's. His Helicopter String Quartet is part of that piece of Licht. The Helicopter String Quartet involves each member of a string quartet playing in a different helicopter with independent flight paths. The musicians stay synchronized by wearing headphones in which they all hear the same click track. The 1995 premier was performed by the Arditti String Quartet. Here's a YouTube clip of a 2003 performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th_FUqsbaxo

~9:35: Talk about Stockhausen's controversial quote on September 16, 2001. The excerpt from the quote that stirred up the controversy was that the 9/11 attacks were, "... the greatest work of art that exists for the whole Cosmos."

I will read the full quote and discuss the context.

~9:45: I will sign off and play an excerpt of the new recording of Stimung (1968).

Neptune on the Z mk. II

2008-02-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

So remember a few days ago, when I told you all that Neptune was coming to the Z but we didn't know when? Well, now we do. Check it:

Time: 10AM - 12PM, Feb 12.

Be sure to tune in suckers.

xoxo
Nick

dj ning nong hosts a Test Pattern on The Shadow Ring

2008-01-27T21:49:00.000-05:00

Friday, February 1 at 6PM EST dj ning nong will host a one hour special on the music of The Shadow Ring, as part of WZBC's weekly Test Pattern series. After early 90's releases on various labels, such as Siltbreeze and Corpus Hermeticum, the trio hit their stride with three albums released on Scott Foust's Swill Radio label. The program will include tracks from all phases of the band's career (1993-2003), including an unreleased live track or two. ning nong's regular weekly program, ning nong radio, is switching to Thursday nights this semester; same time: 10PM-1AM (NCP2).

Neptune on the Z

2008-01-27T16:46:00.000-05:00

On a date yet to be confirmed, the two representatives of Neptune (LTD) will be joining me (Nick) on my show. More than likely there will be girly giggling, noisy machines, and fun for all ages. They'll be talking about their new record, Gong Lake, which is coming out on February 19. Keep checking here to find out when I'll have an actual date and time set up for this.

Flex Your Head with ZBC DJ Pete Ireland

2008-01-14T17:17:00.000-05:00

Alternate title: It's the Economy Stupid!

ZBC DJ Pete Ireland (of Monday Rock 1 "Love and Mathematics") explains why we will more than likely have a recession in America soon. Meanwhile, the rest of the world continues to flood the U.S. with their precious, precious Euros.

WZBC Counts Down Favorite Releases of 2007 at River Gods on Thursday, January 10th

2008-01-07T15:45:00.000-05:00

Thursday, January 10th is the 2nd Thursday of the month - so it's time for WZBC's monthly night at River Gods. As usual there will be a countdown from 10-11 p.m., but instead of a regular monthly countdown, this time we will count down WZBC's Top-15 for 2007. WZBC DJs John Straub (Friday rock 1-3 p.m.) and Saul Jacobowitz (Thursday No Commercial Potential 10 p.m. - 1 a.m.) will be spinning other personal faves from 2007 before and after the countdown.

21+, no cover
125 River Street, near Central Square
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1

Top-15 of 2007
No. 15: Black Lips, “Veni Vidi Vici,” Good Bad Not Evil (Vice)
No. 14: Hallelujah the Hills, “Hallelujah the Hills,” Collective Psychosis Begone (Misra)
No. 13: Black Dice, “Gore,” Load Blown (Paw Tracks)
No. 12: Apparat, “Not a Number,” Walls (Shitkatapult Strike)
No. 11: Wooden Shjips, “Blue Sky Bends,” Wooden Shjips (Holy Mountain)
No. 10: Blonde Redhead, “23,” 23 (4AD)
No. 9: Reports, “Yr Honor,” Mosquito Nets (The Paper Cities)
No. 8: Do Make Say Think, “In Mind,” You, You’re a History in Rust (Constellation)
No. 7: M.I.A., “20 Dollar,” Kala,” (Interscope)
No. 6: LCD Soundsystem, “North American Scum,” Sound of Silver (DFA)
No. 5: !!!, “A New Name,” Myth Takes (Warp)
No. 4: Low, “Breaker,” Drums and Guns (Sub Pop)
No. 3: Panda Bear, “Comfy in Nautica,” Person Pitch (Paw Tracks)
No. 2: Trans Am, “Conspiracy of the Gods,” Sex Change (Thrill Jockey)
No. 1: Deerhunter, “intro/Cryptograms,” Cryptograms (Kranky)

Flyweight : Top Ten Releases of 2007

2007-12-28T00:15:00.000-05:00

Flyweight airs every Thursday evening 5:00- 7:00 pm. An expanded playlist of the 2007 retrospective show can be viewed here. This year's Top 10 in alphabetical order.
- Ravioli

A Place To Bury Strangers
"A Place To Bury Strangers"
(Killer Pimp)
Total Sonic Annihilation - a phrase attributed to their pedals and live shows.

Flyweight Track: "Ocean"
http://www.myspace.com/aplacetoburystrangers

Deerhunter
"Cryptograms"
(Kranky)
"Cryptograms" became an instant hit at the Z. The follow up "Flourescent Grey" EP and a Daytrotter Session rounded off a busy recording year for the beloved band.

Flyweight Track: "Octet"
http://www.myspace.com/deerhunter

Duke Spirit
"Cuts Across the Land"
(Startime)
The Duke Spirit evokes a sultry psychedelia crossed with The Gun Club, Nick Cave, Gallon Drunk & early PJ Harvey.

Flyweight Track: "Love Is An Unfamiliar Name"
http://www.myspace.com/thedukespirit

Film School
"Hideout"
(Beggars Banquet)
"Hideout" sounds like a lost recording from the classic shoegaze era sitting comfortably among MBV, Ride, and The Swirlies. Flyweight sponsored the Boston stop on their 2007 tour.

Flyweight Track: "Lectric"
http://www.myspace.com/filmschool

Loose Salute
"Tuned To Love"
(Graveface)
Dream country? They use terms like "sunny days", "mellow waves" and "bright stars" to describe their sound. The song "Mutineer" makes good on that. Features Ian McCutcheon of Mojave 3.

Flyweight Track: "Mutineer"
http://www.myspace.com/therealloosesalut

Sunny Day In Glasgow
"Scribble Mural Comic Journal"
(Notenuf)
A core of 3 siblings from Philadelphia, Sunny Day released a lysergic-laced, kaleidoscopic, psych- pop album.

Flyweight Track: "5:15 Train"
http://www.myspace.com/sunnydayinglasgow

Trembling Blue Stars
"The Last Holy Writer"
(Elefant)
Bobby Wratten may be the last holy dream popper. Fitting alongside the releases of his past projects, The Field Mice and Northern Picture Library, this album is a breezy, jangly, experimental pop album.

Flyweight Track: "Colder Darker Slower"
http://www.myspace.com/tremblingbluestars

Twilight Sad
"14 Autumns and 15 Winters "
(Fat Cat)
Oppressive. Intense. Dramatic. Album of the Year.

Flyweight Track: "Cold Days From The Birdhouse"
http://www.myspace.com/thetwilightsad

Wooden Shjips
"Wooden Shjips EP"
(Holy Mountain)
Hallucinatory, garagey, druggy, jammy, fuzzy, noisy, spacey, heady, psyche. Hooray!

Flyweight Track: "Losin Time"
http://www.myspace.com/woodenshjips

Working For A Nuclear Free City
"Businesmen and Ghosts"
(Deaf, Dumb and Blind)
A Manchester band pulling in elements of Stone Roses, Air, Beta Band, shoegaze, dub, Krautrock, 70's soundtracks, and more. Their US debut is an impressive 29 song release.

Flyweight Track: "Quiet Place"
http://www.myspace.com/wfanfc

Other releases this year:
A Northern Chorus - "The Millions Too Many"
Caribou - "Andorra"
Do Make Say Think - "You, You're A History In Rust"
Electrelane - "No Shouts, No Calls"
Explosions in The Sky - "All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone"
Flowers of Hell - "Flowers of Hell"
Fridge - "The Sun"
His Name Is Alive - "XMMER"
Hotel Alexis - "Goliath, I'm On Your Side"
Brad Laner - "Neighbor Singing"
Low - "Drums and Guns"
M83 - "Digital Shades Vol.1"
Mogwai - "Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait"
Mum - "Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy"
Pram - "The Moving Frontier"
Seefeel - "Quique (Redux)"
Siouxsie Sioux - "Mantaray"
The The - "Mrs Mac"
Thurston Moore - "Trees Outside The Academy"
Ulrich Schnauss - "Quicksand Memory EP"

And Yet Another Top Ten List!

2007-12-27T18:38:00.000-05:00

Behold, we have two top ten lists for you today. First comes from Peter of Love and Mathematics (Monday Rock I) with Chris of Electric Blue Watermelon (Wed Rock 4) bringing up the rear.

1. Tristan Da Cunha, Instanter
2. Reports, Mosquito Nets
3. Big Disappointments, Big Disappointments
4. Prime Movers, Back in Line
5. Pernice Brothers, Live a Little
6. A.K.A.C.O.D., Happiness
7. Polyethylene, What Goes on Inside Houses
8. Frank Smith, Heavy Handed Peace and Love
9. Area C, Haunt
10. Jessica Rylan, Interior Designs

Other

1. Dirty Projectors, Rise Above
2. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
3. Panda Bear, Person/Pitch
4. The Field, From Here We Go Sublime
5. Animal Collective, Strawberry Jam
6. Wooden Shjips, Wooden Shjips
7. Apparat, Walls
8. Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
9. Burial, Untrue
10. Charalambides, Likeness

and now for Chris' list.

1 panda bear -person pith
2 !!! -myth takes
3 justice -cross
4 animal collective -strawberry jam
5 black dice -load blown
6 peter bjorn and john -writer's block
7 architecture in helsinki -places like this
8 dungen -tio bitar
9 no age -weirdo rippers
10 lcd soundsystem -sound of silver
11 devendra banhart -smokey rolls down thunder canyon
12 akron/family -love is simple
13 old time relijun -catharsis in crisis
14 battles -mirrored
15 health -s/t
16 chromeo -fancy footwork
17 deerhunter -cryptograms
18 rodrigo y gabriela -s/t
19 jose gonzalez -in our nature
20 black moth super rainbow -dandelion gum

woot woot.

Top Ten Madness Continues with Nick of Spectra Sonic Sound!

2007-12-24T17:54:00.001-05:00

So every year, I sit down to come up with a list of records I've really like from the past year. And every year I find that my list never even comes close to hitting ten. Are my standards so high and lofty that few artists are capable of hitting the peak? Or am I really just a lazy fan and find myself listening to the same six records that I've been listening to since sophomore year of high school?

More than likely, it's the latter. But this year, I did it! I managed to come across ten records that actually held my attention for a calender year, and now I'm gonna list them here, complete with navel-gazing WTITYB mini-reviews too! A Christmas Miracle indeed.

10)
Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

It's absolutely insane to think that the last new record we had from Les Savy Fav was also when I was a sophomore in high school (2002's Go Forth). Inches notwithstanding, it was far too long for me to go without a new record from Les Savy Fav. They've reigned in some of their more aggro tendencies, such as on the beautiful slow build of "Pots&Pans" and the meditative "Brace Yourself," which features some of Seth Jabber's most restrained playing to date. But that doesn't mean they still forgot how to shove a bag full of rocks down your throat. "The Equestrian", "Raging in the Plague Age", and "Slugs in the Shrubs" are all candidates for the LSF hall of fame of ragers.

9)
Health - Health

Heavy as shit without being metal. This is what My War-era Black Flag would sound like if they were still around today. Did I mention it's fucking heavy?

8)
No Age - Weirdo Rippers

What Damaged-era Black Flag would sound like if they were still around today.

7)
Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab

People may disagree and say it should be the new Wu-Tang record, but I haven't heard it yet (remember what I said about being a lazy listener?). Anyway, It's pretty hard for Ghostface to do anything wrong. And while Fishscale remains the gold standard he's set for the next few years, it's pretty hard to find anything remotely worth complaining about on The Big Doe Rehab, except maybe when that cunt-mop from Fall Out Boy bleats all over "The Prayer." Still though, it's Ghostface, you know it's gonna be good. And that's why it's number seven here.

6)
A Place to Bury Strangers - A Place to Bury Strangers

Well I say it's about goddamn time we had a shoegaze revival. Chapterhouse have some debts they need to pay off. And this is the perfect soundtrack to the nascent "nu-gaze" movement (you saw it here first folks). Best played at spirit crushing volume.

5)
Magik Markers - Boss

Now that we know they can play their instruments, they can start making albums that are just as arresting and powerful as Boss.

4)
Lil' Wayne - Services Rendered

Does Lil' Wayne sleep at night? I can't imagine that he does. The man is the hardest working rapper on the scene to day, even beating out Tupac (whose output has begun to look less like a geyser and more like a manageable stream). The fact is he's not even that great on the mic when you first hear him! He doesn't have the charisma of a Jay-Z or Snoop Dogg, and his albums are typically mixed bag affairs. So why is he number 4? I have no idea, except that he's managed to lodge onto my brain this year like a fucking STD.

3)
Times New Viking - Present the Paisley Reich

Times New Viking like to get beer thrown on them as they play. Times New Viking sound as though they were recorded in a tin can or in a Perfect Sound Forever afterthought. Times New Viking wrote the best song about being a teenager ever, which pretty much ensures their greatness for all time.

2)
Black Dice - Load Blown

Art school white boy funk for art school white boy people.

1)
Beirut - Fly Club Cup

:Fap fap fap: (Hey, Fuck you. It's good. He's like the indie Michael MacDonald or something.)

Top Records of the Year Continue

2007-12-22T03:10:00.000-05:00

But first...

Celebrate the birth of your lord and savior in style this Christmas with JFK of Kick Out the James! He'll be rocking "Jesus" songs all day so be sure to check it out.

And now for Jess Kelly of Say Goodbye to the Ground and her favorite records of the year. You will notice that aside from number one, Jess has dispensed with any sort of numerical hierarchy. A bold statement that says something about our reliance on quantification and ranking? We can only hope so.

#1 to the Max:
Do Make Say Think – You, You’re a History In Rust

The following tie for “Totally Sweet Highlights of 2k7, but Not #1, Nope, No Way”:
Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam
LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
Halleljuah the Hills – Collective Pyschosis Begone
Bread and Roses – Deep River Day
The Lucksmiths – Spring a Leak
Trans Am – Sex Change
Feist – The Reminder
Jason Anderson - Tonight

Top Ten of 2007 Part II

2007-12-21T00:32:00.000-05:00

Here's Rock DJ Mike Mulhall's Best of '07 list. You'll note the list was compiled in the standard 1-N format, not that ridiculous N-1 style that has caused so much trouble for so many. When all the other lists are posted you'll probably agree that this list is objectively better than all the other lists, and maybe even all the other lists combined.

1. Stars of the Lid- And their Refinement of the Decline

2. Sir Richard Bishop- While my Guitar Violently Bleeds

3. Blank Dogs- All those EPs if you Compile them Together and Pretend it was an LP

4. Glenn Mercer- Wheels in Motion

5. Carbonas- S/T

6. Liars- S/T

7. King Khan & the Shrines- What Is?!

8. Grinderman- S/T

9. Psychedelic Horseshit- Magic Flowers Droned

10. No Age- Weirdo Rippers

And So it Begins...

2007-12-20T02:16:00.001-05:00

As 2007 sputters to a close, we here at the ZBC have been waxing nostalgic over the records we've heard this year. Yes, I will truly never forget the exact moment I heard the Jans Lekman record and thought, "Wow, this is really boring. Christ, did we really add this shit?"

Questionable adds aside, 2007 was a great year for music. For the next couple days, we'll be devoting blog space to our favorites of the year list and (probably) long-winded year end overviews. We promise that ours won't suck as hard as Pitchfork's though. Honest.

Today we have Court Hillman '07, former ZBC Rock DJ and resident computer dudes list. Stay tuned for more throughout the week!

Full Lengths

Panda Bear's Person Pitch
LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver
Zeitkratzer's take on Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music
Daft Punk's Alive 2007 live recording from Paris
Ricardo Villalobos' Fabric 36 mix
Rhys Chatham's A Crimson Grail (for 400 Electric Guitars)
Animal Collective's Strawberry Jam
Trans Am's Sex Change
Black Dice's Load Blown
Boredoms' Super Roots 8
Justice's †
Ellen Allien's Fabric 34 mix
Battles' Mirrored
Radiohead's In Rainbows
Aa's gAame
Pantha du Prince's This Bliss
MIA's Kala
Boris and Merzbow's live collaborative Rock Dream in Tokyo
HEALTH's self titled release
Deerhunter's Cryptogram's

EPs

- EYE's remixes of OOIOO (OOEYEOO)

- Gang Gang Dance's RAWWAR

- Free Blood's debut EP1

Thursday, December 13th: WZBC Countdown + 2 Featured DJs at River Gods

2007-12-12T20:00:00.001-05:00

December 13th is the 2nd Thursday of the month, so:

Countdown from 10-11:
WZBC's favorite tracks from our favorite discs of November

Plus 2 Featured DJs:
8:30 - 10: Tracey Stark (host of WZBC’s Mass Ave & Beyond every Friday from 5-6 pm) spinning some of her favorite local holiday and non-holiday tunes. Bands are invited to come with their own CDs to play on the spot.

11-1: Linda (host of WZBC's Shadowbox every Sunday from 6-8 pm) embracing the frigid darkness of December by indulging in some of the most deliciously listenable goth-tinged tracks of the last 25 years.

21+, no cover
125 River Street near Central Square
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1.

WZBC's Top-14 of November 2007:
No. 14: Prints, “Too Much Water,” Prints (Temporary Residence)
No. 13: Gravenhurst, “Trust,” The Western Lands (Warp)
No. 12: We Are Wolves, “Fight & Kiss,” Total Magique (Dare to Care Canada)
No. 11: Grizzly Bear/CSS, “Knife” (covered by CSS), Friend (Warp)
No. 10: Kinski, “Alcohol and Passwords,” Down Below It’s Chaos,” (Sub Pop)
No. 9: Six Organs of Admittance, “Coming to Get You,” Shelter from the Ash (Drag City)
No. 8: Yea Big and Kid Static, “Joining Forces,” Yea Big and Kid Static (Jib Door)
No. 7: Caribou, “Sandy,” Andorra,” (Merge)
No. 6: Christina Kubisch, “Homage with Minimal Disinformation," Five Electrical Walks (Important)
No. 5: Bear in Heaven, “Bag of Bags,” Red Bloom of the Boom (Exile on Mainstream)
No. 4: A Place to Bury Strangers, “To Fix the Gash in Your Head," A Place to Bury Strangers (Killer Pimp)
No. 3: Wooden Shijps, “Blue Sky Bends,” Wooden Shijps (Holy Mountain)
No. 2: Black Dice, “Gore,” Load Blown (Paw Tracks)

No. 1: M.I.A., “20 Dollar,” Kala (Interscope)

Well, What ZBC Wants to Know is Whatever Happened to the OLD Pornographers.

2007-12-05T16:28:00.000-05:00

Hey folks, be sure to tune in next week as we will be giving away three passes to the New Pornographers show at the Berklee Performance Center next Wednesday (Dec. 12)!

A pair of tickets will be given away during Rock II (10AM-12pm) on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week, so make sure to listen in for your chance to see one of the best goddamn AM Pop bands since the DeFranco Family! Will all 47 members turn out? Only by listening in and winning can you find out!

Updatezzzz

2007-12-01T17:56:00.000-05:00

For those of our listeners who don't notice every little development at WZBC (I'm talking about you Creepy Guy and the Democracy Now! audience), I'm happy to announce that we are now fully linked from our main web site wzbc.org! This means you don't have to go digging around through Google or scratch your head in confusion when someone mentions the WZBC Blog. It's right there, in all its hyperlinked glory.

In other news, we'll be posting individual DJs favorite records of 2007 lists here, so keep an eye out for those as the month goes on.

Also, thanks to everyone who tuned in for my Emo Sob Fest yesterday. You may notice on the program schedule listed on wzbc.org that Pip was scheduled to do a Test Pattern of "Good Vibrations" sessions. Well, I fucked up, and forgot that I was scheduled for next week, not yesterday. So those of you who tuned in to hear Brian Wilson shouting incomprehensible commands as grizzled session musicians only to hear poorly recorded ruminations on girls that don't exist and sunsets, I apologize. Pip will be doing his Test Pattern next Friday from 6pm - 7pm.

That's all for now!

This Week on Test Pattern: Super Mid 90s Emo Sob Fest with DJ Nick

2007-11-26T20:48:00.000-05:00

Dust off those old Gloria Record 7" and revisit a simpler time - a time when college age boys wrote near incomprehensible lyrics about Illinois and maps; a time when looking "spock-like" was considered the height of fashion, and when telling a girl, "You know, Tim Kinsella and I used to play youth league soccer together" was a sure fire way into her tight fitting corduroys.

That's right, it's the first annual Super Mid-90s Emo Sob Fest!!!!

Call in, make requests, do whatever. But be sure to tune in whatever you do!

This Friday from 6-7pm EST.

CMJ Charts 11/20

2007-11-20T22:51:00.000-05:00

Radio 200

1 NO AGE Weirdo Rippers FatCat
2 WOODEN SHJIPS Wooden Shjips Holy Mountain
3 M.I.A. Kala Interscope
4 GRIZZLY BEAR Friend [EP] Warp
5 SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE Shelter From The Ash Drag City
6 KINSKI Down Below It's Chaos SUB POP
7 BONNIE PRINCE BILLY Ask Forgiveness Drag City
8 A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS A Place To Bury Strangers Killer Pimp
9 BLACK DICE Load Blown Paw Tracks
10 HEALTH Health Lovepump United
11 JOSE GONZALEZ In Our Nature Mute
12 GRAVENHURST Western Lands Warp
13 CARIBOU Andorra Merge
14 PRINTS Prints Temporary Residence Limited
15 MODESELEKTOR Happy Birthday! Bpitch Control
16 TRISTAN DA CUNHA Instanter
17 SIGUR ROS Hvarf-Heim XL
18 PEOPLE Misbegotten Man I And Ear
19 MUM Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy Fat Cat
20 LONEY, DEAR Sologne Rebel Group
21 GALACTIC From The Corner To The Block Anti
22 FEU THERESE Ca Va Congner Constellation
23 MARTIN ATKINS' CHINA DUB SOUNDSYSTEM Made In China Bloodshot
24 MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS You In Honey Friendly Noise
25 M83 Digital Shades, Vol. 1 Mute
26 CHARALAMBIDES Likeness Kranky
27 BASSNECTAR Underground Communication Om
28 BEAR IN HEAVEN Red Bloom Of The Boom Hometapes
29 STARS In Our Bedroom After The War Arts And Crafts
30 GLASS SET Couples Therapy [EP] Plant Music

2007-11-15T13:54:00.001-05:00

Radio 200 Charts

1 BLACK DICE Load Blown Paw Tracks
2 A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS A Place To Bury Strangers Killer Pimp
3 HALLELUJAH THE HILLS Collective Psychosis Begone Misra
4 WE ARE WOLVES Total Magique Dare To Care
5 BEAR IN HEAVEN Red Bloom Of The Boom Hometapes
6 BOYS NOIZE Oi Oi Oi Last Gang-Turbo
7 WOODEN SHJIPS Wooden Shjips Holy Mountain
8 CARIBOU Andorra Merge
9 ANGELS OF LIGHT We Are Him Young God
10 DIAL 168K Cede
11 I BROKE MY ROBOT Tomorrow Does Not Exist broken fader cartel
12 FEU THERESE Ca Va Congner Constellation
13 FLYING LOTUS Reset [EP] Warp
14 KINSKI Down Below It's Chaos SUB POP
15 LES SAVY FAV Let's Stay Friends Frenchkiss
16 PRINTS Prints Temporary Residence Limited
17 M.I.A. Kala Interscope
18 JOY DIVISION Still Rhino
19 OLD TIME RELIJUN Catharsis In Crisis K
20 BEAR CLAW Slow Speed: Deep Owls Sick Room
21 DEGENERATE ART ENSEMBLE Cuckoo Crow Tellous
22 FRIGHTENED RABBIT Sing The Greys Hits The Fan
23 GANG GANG DANCE Rawwar Social Registry
24 ELECTRONICAT Chez Toi Disko B
25 IRON AND WINE The Shepherd's Dog SUB POP
26 LETTERS LETTERS* Letters Letters Type
27 SIGUR ROS Hvarf-Heim XL
28 AHLEUCHATISTAS Even In The Midst Cuneiform
29 3/4 HAD BEEN ELIMINATED Theology Soleilmoon
30 MAGIK MARKERS Boss Ecstatic Peace

Radio 200 Adds

1 JOY DIVISION Closer Rhino
2 I BROKE MY ROBOT Tomorrow Does Not Exist broken fader cartel
3 BOYS NOIZE Oi Oi Oi Last Gang-Turbo
4 DEGENERATE ART ENSEMBLE Cuckoo Crow Tellous
5 FRIGHTENED RABBIT Sing The Greys Hits The Fan

Thursday, Nov. 16: WZBC Night at River Gods

2007-11-14T02:19:00.000-05:00

Normally happens on the 2nd Thursday of the month, but we spent an extra week getting this one ready, so you know it's going to be extra special!

This Thursday, Nov. 16th WZBC Presents:

Monthly Countdown Plus 2 featured DJs

Countdown runs from 10-11 p.m.
Our favorite tracks from our favorite discs of October

This month's Featured WZBC DJs:
8:30 - 10: Joe Conran riding the line between rock and electronic, as heard every Monday from 1-3 p.m. on WZBC's Cheval Noir.

11-1: Matt Kane (host of WZBC's Hydrogen Economy every Friday from 11 p.m. - 1 a.m.) Matt's set at River Gods will feature messed-up fuzzy-brained electronics - new and old.

21+, no cover
125 River Street near Central Square
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1

A Place to Bury Strangers at WZBC!!!

2007-11-06T20:35:00.001-05:00

Apologies for the short notice, but I am very excited to announce that NYC noise-pop band A Place to Bury Strangers will be stopping by WZBC this Thursday before their show at the Middle East Upstairs with the Black Angels and will be laying down a couple tracks! The songs will be played this Friday during my show Spectra Sonic Sound (from 1pm to 3pm).

Be sure to tune in this Friday to hear these sick tracks!

Nick over and out.

Happy Halloween! (and R.I.P. Robert Goulet)

2007-10-31T11:19:00.000-04:00

Today at 3pm, several student DJs will be getting together to do a series of dramatic readings of one of the most profound and well-known gothic poets of our age - Glenn Danzig. Join us TODAY on "The Electric Blue Watermelon" for a poetry reading that will with out a doubt be sinister in nature and questionable in content.

--------------------

Robert Gerard Goulet, 1933 - 2007.

This isn't some winking irony bit. This is legitimate. I really liked Robert Goulet. He always seemed really nice, funny, and most importantly, self-deprecating. He was a man who could make retired grandma's forget about menopause and scream like prepubescent girls. He was also a man who could, with one well-hit note, make panthers purr. Seriously, the guys voice was like melted sex. White sex, sure, but sex just the same.

In his later years, he played engagements in Vegas, private parties for wealthy retirees, spoke out about prostate cancer, casted himself in some now classic commercials ("The two sweetest words in the English language after chorus girl — college hoops,") , played himself on "The Simpsons," and was immortalized by a now overly quoted Will Farrell impression.

Anyway, without getting too ridiculous here (because I know no one is going to take the seriously, which is fine), the thing that I always really liked about Robert Goulet is that he didn't care what you thought about him. And that, I guess, makes him pretty cool in my book.

2007-10-29T18:05:00.000-04:00

Radio 200

1 BLACK DICE Load Blown Paw Tracks
2 FILM SCHOOL Hideout Beggars Banquet
3 OLD TIME RELIJUN Catharsis In Crisis K
4 GANG GANG DANCE Rawwar Social Registry
5 CARIBOU Andorra Merge
6 M83 Digital Shades, Vol. 1 Mute
7 CHARALAMBIDES Likeness Kranky
8 MUM Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy Fat Cat
9 MAGIK MARKERS Boss Ecstatic Peace
10 PREFUSE 73 Preparations Warp
11 MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS you in honey friendly noise
12 STUDIO Yearbook 1 Information
13 THE MAYBELLES leavin' town little red hen
14 BIRD NAMES wooden lake/sexual diner unsound records
15 BLACK LIPS Good Bad Not Evil Vice
16 AKRON/FAMILY Love Is Simple Young God
17 OM Pilgrimage Southern Lord
18 WOODEN SHJIPS Wooden Shjips Holy Mountain
19 LES SAVY FAV Let's Stay Friends Frenchkiss
20 GRAVENHURST Western Lands Warp
21 JAPANTHER Skuffed Up My Huffy Tapes
22 SIC ALPS Description Of The Harbour awesome vistas
23 MV AND EE WITH THE GOLDEN ROAD Gettin Gone Ecstatic Peace
24 AFROMOTIVE Scare Tactics Harmonized
25 DEVENDRA BANHART Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon XL-Beggars
26 YASUSHI MIURA STEPS Karidome
27 VAGIANT public display of infection self-released
28 HAUNTED GEORGE Pile O'Meat Hook Or Crook
29 SCOUT NIBLETT This Fool Can Die Now Beggars
30 COPAL eso terra copal

Radio 200 Adds

1 BLACK DICE Load Blown Paw Tracks
2 GANG GANG DANCE Rawwar Social Registry
3 THESE ARE POWERS Terrific Seasons Hoss
4 WHITE RABBITS Fort Nightly Say Hey
5 LONEY, DEAR Sologne Rebel Group
6 MUSCLES Guns Babes Lemonade Modular

ZBC Charts 10/22

2007-10-23T17:58:00.000-04:00

Radio 200

1 WOODEN SHJIPS Wooden Shjips Holy Mountain
2 FILM SCHOOL Hideout Beggars Banquet
3 CIRCLE Katapult No Quarter
4 MODESELEKTOR Happy Birthday! Bpitch Control
5 MUM Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy Fat Cat
6 APPARAT Walls Shitkatapult
7 PSYCHIC TV Hell Is Invisible... Heaven Is Here
8 SIGNAL TO TRUST Golden Armour Modern Radio
9 HEALTH Health Lovepump United
10 ATHLETIC AUTOMATON A JOURNEY THROUGH ROMAN'S EMPIRE Skin Graft
11 PRINTS Prints Temporary Residence Limited
12 CLIPD BEAKS Horse Lords lovepump
13 JAPANTHER Skuffed Up My Huffy Tapes
14 GRAVENHURST Western Lands Warp
15 YASUSHI MIURA Eternal Clash Karidome
16 ANGELS OF LIGHT We Are Him Young God
17 KINSKI Down Below It's Chaos SUB POP
18 BLACK LIPS Good Bad Not Evil Vice
19 FEU THERESE Constellation
20 VAMPIRE HANDS Virgin Dust/American Lips
21 PREFUSE 73 Preparations Warp
22 YIKES Whoa Comas/Blood Bomb Kill Shaman
23 STRINGS OF CONSCIOUSNESS Our Moon Is Full Central Control
24 M83 Digital Shades, Vol. 1 Mute
25 DIRTY PROJECTORS Rise Above Dead Oceans
26 GULF Chinatown self released
27 BRING BACK THE GUNS Dry Futures Feow
28 HEAVY That Kind Of Man Counter
29 PEOPLE Misbegotten Man I And Ear
30 M.I.A. Kala Interscope

No Adds this week -hey man it happpens, get over it
but the new prints, black dice, and gang gang dance CDs are pretty delicious

WZBC is Singularity Stupid

2007-10-19T13:44:00.000-04:00

Recently, WZBC has received several phone calls from "Dr." Gene Ray, master electrician, marbles enthusiast, and founder of the Time Cube theory of life. During our conversations, Dr. Gene Ray has contended that we, WZBC, have hacked his website and have redirected all the traffic to YouTube. He has also threatened legal action.

He states on his website:

"Now, Boston College WZBC
has a link on my Time Cube
Site - highjacking it to the
YouTube Site - doing great
harm to a site I have nutured
over 10 years on the web, and
at a personal cost of several
hundred thousands of dollars."

Given that the last time WZBC had any contact with Dr. Gene Ray was when one of our DJs conducted an interview with him in the fall of 2005, this claim is highly dubious, and in reality, flat out false. But should there be any further doubt as to our hand in the matter, let me help kill those doubts.

WZBC DID NOT HIJACK GENE RAY'S SITE. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO DID IT. OK GENE RAY? JUST LEAVE US ALONE YOU BIG JERK.

Concert Report

2007-10-17T23:38:00.002-04:00

Until the link at wzbc.org is fixed, the WZBC concert report can be accessed directly by clicking here.

Charts 10/8

2007-10-10T12:53:00.000-04:00

Radio 200

1 MUM Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy Fat Cat
2 VARIOUS ARTISTS Boston Underground 1979-1982 Moulty
3 IRON AND WINE The Shepherd's Dog SUB POP
4 FENNESZ/SAKAMOTO CENDRE Touh
5 AKRON/FAMILY Love Is Simple Young God
6 SIR RICHARD BISHOP Polytheistic Fragments Drag City
7 LETTERS LETTERS* Letters Letters Type
8 WOODEN SHJIPS Wooden Shjips Holy Mountain
9 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE Strawberry Jam Domino
10 CARIBOU Andorra Merge
11 GHOST In Stormy Nights Drag City
12 POLYETHYLENE What Goes On Inside Houses Optimistic
13 MAGIK MARKERS Boss Ecstatic Peace
14 UZ JSME DOMA Cod Liver Oil SKODA
15 KINSKI Down Below It's Chaos SUB POP
16 SIC ALPS Description Of The Harbour awesome vistas
17 YASUSHI MIURA Eternal Clash Karidome
18 GNAC The Arrival Of The Fog LTM
19 YO-YO MA/KATHRYN STOTT La Belle Epoque
20 FRIDGE The Sun Temporary Residence
21 TRISTAN DA CUNHA Instanter
22 VARIOUS The Portable Supersound Smalltown Supersound
23 MICKEY HART AND ZAKIR HUSSAIN Global Drum Project Shout! Factory
24 ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI Places Like This Polyvinyl
25 DEVENDRA BANHART Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon XL-Beggars
26 FIRE ENGINES Hungry Beat Acute
27 GRAND OLE PARTY Humanimals DH
28 BLACK LIPS Good Bad Not Evil Vice
29 HEALTH Health Lovepump United
30 HRSTA Ghosts Will Come And Kiss Our Eyes Constellation

Radio 200 Adds

1 LETTERS LETTERS* Letters Letters Type
2 SIR RICHARD BISHOP Polytheistic Fragments Drag City
3 HEALTH Health Lovepump United
4 YASUSHI MIURA Eternal Clash Karidome
5 IRON AND WINE The Shepherd's Dog SUB POP

WZBC Presents: Countdown + 2 Featured DJs at River Gods

2007-10-10T11:22:00.000-04:00

This Thursday, October 10 - and the 2nd Thursday of every month
WZBC Presents a monthly countdown + 2 featured DJs at River Gods
Countdown from 10-11 p.m. - WZBC's favorite tracks from our favorite discs of the previous month
Featured DJs this Thursday:
8:30 - 10: DJ Phader Playing chopped up bits that provoke whiskey soaked lips to
mutter, " I remember when..."

Jess: Close your eyes and imagine an "80s Night"...if you're thinking
"gag me with a spoon!" then get stoked. She will be spinning her
favorite punk rock, post-punk, and only-slightly-cliche nostaglia from
1979-1990. Hot pants are discouraged.

21+, no cover
kitchen closes at 10, bar closes at 1
125 River Street near Central Square

Upcoming Live In-Studio

2007-10-04T12:47:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, October 21, three members of local music collective Euphony Groove will be stopping by ...it came from the east from 4-5 p.m. The band will be playing a live set featuring the ney, guitar, percussion, and bouzouki, talking about their modern use of ancient instruments, and upcoming shows in the region. Tune in for original and improvised sounds of the near & far east. For more info, contact itcamefromtheeast [at] gmail.com.

Welcome to the WZBC Blog!

2007-10-03T15:16:00.000-04:00

Hey folks,

This is our new blog. We're pretty excited about it. Hopefully there will be some sick content up here soon. In the meantime, allow me to show you the cover of our Fall 2007 program guides, which was lovingly crafted by our Publicity Director David Dekeyser, with special help from SaxHorse.

Test Post

2007-10-03T14:45:00.000-04:00

Test Post.

- Nick