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!

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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"

"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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

^^^^^^^ 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

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!)