I Threw a Brick through a Window

Floyd Gibbons: Early Radio's Answer to Indiana Jones

2010-01-06T16:13:00.015-05:00

He was a cross between Edward R. Murrow and Indiana Jones. And he was one of radio's first newsmen. Like most of radio's earliest news reporters and anchors, Floyd Gibbons was originally a newspaper reporter.

My fascination with Gibbons began when I was working as the Radio Curator at the Museum of Television & Radio in NYC. I was going through some boxes in our warehouse when I found some rather interesting items. In addition to books, notes, letters, and other items, there was a small bag filled with what I later discovered were eye-patches. This put me in research mode and I discovered Floyd Gibbons, who would quickly become one of my heroes of early radio.

As a newspaper writer for the Chicago Tribune, Gibbons was known for an amazingly descriptive style...something that would carry over into his radio work.

His life is well documented in other places, but here are a few highlights:

As a young newspaper reporter, Gibbons covered 1916 Mexican Expedition (also known as the Pancho Villa Expedition), even though Pancho Villa declared that any "gringos" found on Mexican soil would be killed on sight. As a reporter, he gained Villa's trust and accompanied him on several battles and was able to bring important news back to the states.
In 1917, he was a passenger on the armed merchant cruiser (converted from an ocean liner) the RMS Laconia on it's final voyage across the Atlantic. On that voyage on February 25, 1917, the Laconia was torpedoed by the Germans. The boat sank and 12 of the 75 people on board were killed. Gibbons survived the attack and gained fame for his reports about the event. He later wrote a book about WWI called "And They Thought We Wouldn't Fight," which begins with the sinking of the Laconia.
Despite that, perhaps his most famous episode came in 1918 as he covered the Battle of Belleau Wood in France. During the battle, Gibbons was right up front as the American troops advanced. Gibbons was shot three times, the third bullet ripping out his left eye. Gibbons even refused treatment until injured soldiers were treated. It was that injury that gave Gibbons his trademark eye patch for which he would be known in later years. You can read Gibbons' own account of the event here.

Later on, Gibbons made the transition to radio as both a newsman and commentator. His fast-talking and descriptive approach to the news was as interesting as his writing. Here is a clip from his reporting on the devastating flooding in the Connecticut River Valley in 1936, which he observed during a 300 mile flight up and down both sides of the river:

Gibbons even had a book series called the Floyd Gibbons School of Broadcast (of which I thankfully have a set), and also wrote The Red Knight of Germany, a biography of the Red Baron.

Gibbons was also a very popular voice on newsreels during the 20s and 30s, including the Oscar winning "With Byrd at the South Pole," and he eventually received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Sadly, Gibbons died at his Pennsylvania home in 1939 at the age of only 53. I was fortunate to have had the chance to listen to much of his work, and still have copies of each of his books. They sure don't make reporters like they used to!

56 Years Before 9/11: B-25 Bomber Crashes into Empire State Building

2010-01-06T16:10:00.009-05:00

On the morning of 9/11 I stepped off the train from CT in Grand Central at approximately the time the first plane was flown into the World Trade Center, though I wasn't aware of the incident until I got to my office about 15 minutes later. Like the rest of the world, I was riveted to my TV, watching coverage of what we later learned was a terrorist attack, not an accident.

What many of us don't realize, is that something somewhat similar happened in NYC more than a half century before. Not a terrorist attack, but an accident, as a B-25 bomber flew into the side of the Empire State Building.

Long story short, on July 28, 1945, Lt. Col. William Smith was piloting a B-25 Bomber through New York City on his way to Newark when he got lost in the fog. Rather than land at LaGuardia, Smith continued his flight, and at 9:49 a.m. the plane crashed into the 79th floor of the north side of the Empire State Building. Fourteen people, including Smith and his crew, were killed in the incident.

Like 9/11, there were those who jumped to their death as they sought to escape the wreckage and fire. Two women were in an elevator that plunged 75 floors, and one of them survived.

All three major radio networks (CBS, NBC, and Mutual) covered the event, including interviews with witnesses and survivors.

My friend Joe Richman, producer of NPR's "Radio Diaries" put an amazing audio piece together two years ago, which includes interviews with some of the survivors, and some amazing archival audio material, including a recording of the actual incident as it occurred, as recorded by a dictation machine. Listen in to The Day A Bomber Hit The Empire State Building.

This was an amazing event with some incredible radio coverage. Coming out of World War II, radio news had grown up and was well prepared to cover events of this stature. Good radio is described as that which paints a "word picture." Not only did the radio of the time paint some amazing word pictures as reporters described the situation, but the Radio Diaries piece that Joe and his team put together gives you a great sense of what went on.

Listen to this piece, and I'm convinced you'll be fascinated.

"Oh, the humanity!..."

2010-01-02T16:59:00.007-05:00

It is one of the most famous and most memorable broadcasts in history: the Hindenburg disaster. You've probably heard excerpts of the radio broadcast and seen the newsreel footage on television. But there are a few interesting facts about this broadcast/event from May6, 1937 that make it even more interesting. But first, here is the text of a portion of Herbert W. Morrison's coverage of the event, during which he breaks down in tears:

It's practically standing still now. They've dropped ropes out of the nose of the ship; and they've been taken ahold of down on the field by a number of men. It's starting to rain again; it's... the rain had slacked up a little bit. The back motors of the ship are just holding it just enough to keep it from...It's burst into flames! It burst into flames, and it's falling, it's crashing! Watch it! Watch it! Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Get this, Charlie; get this, Charlie! It's fire... and it's crashing! It's crashing terrible! Oh, my! Get out of the way, please! It's burning and bursting into flames and the... and it's falling on the mooring mast. And all the folks agree that this is terrible; this is the one of the worst catastrophes in the world. [indecipherable] its flames... Crashing, oh! Four- or five-hundred feet into the sky and it... it's a terrific crash, ladies and gentlemen. It's smoke, and it's in flames now; and the frame is crashing to the ground, not quite to the mooring mast. Oh, the humanity! and all the passengers screaming around here. I told you; it—I can't even talk to people Their friends are out there! Ah! It's... it... it's a... ah! I... I can't talk, ladies and gentlemen. Honest: it's just laying there, mass of smoking wreckage. Ah! And everybody can hardly breathe and talk and the screaming. Lady, I... I... I'm sorry. Honest: I... I can hardly breathe. I... I'm going to step inside, where I cannot see it. Charlie, that's terrible. Ah, ah... I can't. Listen, folks; I... I'm gonna have to stop for a minute because [indecipherable] I've lost my voice. This is the worst thing I've ever witnessed.

And here is some of that recording which was later married to some newsreel footage:

One of the most interesting things about this broadcast, of which most people aren't aware, is that it wasn't aired live on radio...and almost didn't make it on the air at all. The Hindenburg began it's journeys from Germany to Lakehurst, NJ in March of 1936. Reporters provided live coverage of a number of those voyages during its inaugural season, but by 1937 it was old hat, so no one was on hand in Lakehurst to provide live coverage. Compare this to coverage of the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Coverage of shuttle missions had become so commonplace, that by the time of the Challenger launch, none of the broadcast networks were providing live coverage, leaving CNN as the only source for coverage of that historic event from the beginning. The other networks obviously broke in after the fact, but missed those first crucial moments.

Enter Herbert W. Morrison, reporter for WLS out of Chicago. Morrison was an airship enthusiast who implored the station to allow him to go and record the landing on transcription discs, along with engineer Charlie Nielsen. (Transcription discs were the recording medium of the time; looking like vinyl albums, yet generally 16" in diameter. Most of them were aluminum based, covered in acetate).

The two main radio networks of the time, NBC and CBS, had strict policies against airing recorded material (outside of recorded sound effects). It just wasn't done, and, in fact, the Mutual Broadcasting System was seen as a lesser network because it did broadcast some pre-recorded material in year end retrospective shows. (CBS had an interesting way of handling this. In their weekly news retrospective program The March of Time, rather than use recordings of newsmakers, they would use actors and impersonators and recreate famous events. It was on programs like this that Orson Welles got his start in radio.)

As a result, it took nearly 24 hours for NBC to agree to actually air the recordings of this dramatic event, and they only did so in conjunction with an on-air interview with Morrison. This is the first time a major network allowed pre-recorded news on the air.

It is also important to remember that radio news really didn't exist at this point, with the exception of live coverage of events. For the most part, regularly scheduled newscasts did not exist; they wouldn't really come along until more than a year later when CBS's coverage of the Munich Crisis gave rise to the much heralded World News Roundup (which is the prototype for the way broadcasters cover news to this day). For the most part, news was on the air only with the occurrence of major events.

Because of this, Morrison's coverage of the Hindenburg explosion was a major resource and source of inspiration for a young Orson Welles and writer Howard Koch, as they prepared and presented the famous 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast. They tried to emulate the passion and emotion from Morrison's recordings as they described the landing of Martians (also in New Jersey!).

Finally, audio experts have listened to the recordings of Morrison and believe that they were recorded at a slightly slower than normal speed, meaning that when played back, his voice is actually faster and at a higher pitch, adding to the sense of urgency and emotion. Engineers have also examined the original transcription discs and have noted deeper grooves at the actual times of the explosion. With that sort of primitive technology (advanced for the time!) it is truly a miracle that these recordings exist at all.

History Does Not Exist In A Vacuum

2010-01-02T16:03:00.003-05:00

History does not exist in a vacuum. The media that record history, also shape that history.

As someone who works in Social Media, and as a historian of sorts, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how media itself is a part of history: a shaper of history that is often ignored. My background is in radio and I’ve read plenty of books about both history and radio (and the history of radio!) to know that it’s rare for historians to give media its proper place.

Recent events have spurred me on to revive this blog and, for at least a while, look at specific events in our history as delivered to us via various media. In most cases I’ll be talking about radio, since I spent a good many years studying and analyzing the history of radio and its place in history.

In many cases, the media that records our history is an important player in that history.

So stay tuned...I hope you enjoy the ride. This blog, as it takes a new shape, is mostly for me, as I research a number of ongoing projects and use this space to give voice to some of that research. I'll be writing about a lot of topics: advertising, sports, aviation, war, disaster, life in general...but all in relation to the media that reported on and influenced them. And hopefully you'll find it interesting and learn something along the way.

New Website and Blog

2009-09-13T08:26:00.003-04:00

In case you missed it, I've launched my new blog and website. That's not to say I won't be blogging here again, but if I do, it will be much less frequently.

Check my new site and blog out at: Inkling Media

To Blog or Not To Blog

2009-08-26T15:25:00.002-04:00

I've been asked by a few people to update my blog. A fair request, and one I would love to favor.
So why haven't I blogged as much lately? Several months ago I moved and at the same time went through a few other changes, including a bit of employment upheaval. I found that having more free time on my hands didn't translate into more time for blogging. On the contrary, I find that when my day is more structured it is much easier for me to sit down and write.

Fast forward a few months and I'm in a different state of employment upheaval, albeit more on the good side. I'm working more, yet the circumstances behind the lack of blogging is different.

So here's the deal. Very soon I will be "officially" launching my new website, where I'll be blogging more, but mostly about social media. Additionally, I'll also be contributing to two other blogs, writing about music, all things local...and if you mash the two up....local music!

Herein lies my dilemma: do I keep this blog, and if I do...what do I blog about? Do I use it as an aggregator of my writings at other blogs? I certainly don't think I'll have too much time to write for this blog AND three other blogs.

Help? Input? Guidance? Thank you!

Weekend Music Game: June!

2009-05-29T08:39:00.002-04:00

Well, for some people, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer...but for me there is something special about the start of June. It just feels more like summer, and June is just around the corner. So why not a June themed weekend music game? This one is a little trickier. Put your music player on shuffle/random and let it fly. Just keep hitting skip until you find a song that fits the criteria. Here's what we're looking for:

Song 1: J - First song or artist that starts with J
Song 2: U - First song title that includes the word "You" (or any variation, i.e. "your," etc)
Song 3: N - First song or artist that begins with N
Song 4: E - First song or artist that begins with E
Song 5: A song that comes up that REALLY reminds you of summer.

And of course we'd love some comments and explanations on these songs.

And be creative...you always are. Doesn't matter if it's the first or last name that begins with the letter. We're all about creative license here on the porch! Oh, and feel free to do them out of order, because this one takes a little time. Just put them in order when you post them.

So I'll go first...here's what I came up with...

J - Jimmy Jazz by The Clash - from one of my all time favorite albums. Great way to start!

U - Thank You by Dido - I met Dido when she was doing a private show at my workplace when she was touring in support of this CD. I'm still hooked. This album stands up well.

N - Numbered Lithograph by John Vanderslice - Not an artist I consciously choose to listen to, but every time he comes up on my mp3 player I really enjoy it.

E - The Envy Corps performing Keys to Good Living - Great indie rock band that you all should check out. Love their sound. I think my friend Lori turned me on to them.

Summer Song - And It Stoned Me by Van Morrison. I was just commenting the other day that Van Morrison's greatest hits compilation is the perfect summer driving CD...great for a road trip.

Alright then...your turn! Have fun with this.

I'm On A Porch...

2009-05-20T08:11:00.002-04:00

In case you haven't heard...I have a porch.

We moved to Lancaster city nearly two months ago, and the one thing this new house has that I've never really had before is a front porch. Not a stoop. A porch. About 8 feet above street level, set back from the road, with a railing, and two glider benches.

I've joked about the fact that I have a porch, and spend a lot of time on it, and this fact has pretty much gone viral. But it's more than just a joke or a diversion. The fact is, I love my porch. Because I work out of my home and have wireless, I can just as easily work on my porch. Just yesterday my friend Joel came over with his laptop, sat on the porch, and we both worked while we chatted. It was very relaxing. I can even have clients stop by for business. Much better than meeting inside in a stuffy office.

I can sit on my porch with my dog and relax. I can watch people as they pass by, figure out who my neighbors are (some might call that being nosey), and check on the steady flow of traffic. And of course, for those who follow me on Twitter, I can comment on what's going on around me.

Like at this very moment an ambulance is speeding by with it's sirens blaring...and my dog is howling. In his five years of live he has never howled until we moved to the city. Now it is a daily occurrence with the steady stream of sirens.

I also have a nice back yard with a deck...and lots of sun. I could spend my time there soaking up the warmth, but then I wouldn't be able to interact with Lancaster and its residents. I wouldn't see my friends as they drove by and honked at me. I'd miss out on a lot.

But for me, the porch is more than all of this. It is a symbol of community. For the five years that I lived in the suburbia that is Elizabethtown, I barely ever saw or got to know my neighbors. And not for lack of trying. But at the end of the day, they would drive home from work, the garage door would open, and they would drive in and close the door behind them...never to be seen again until the following morning when they left for work again. Here in Lancaster, in the two short months that I've lived here I've met quite a few of my neighbors. The couple two doors down made a point of coming over and introducing themselves. They told me that they really desire that our little slice of Lancaster would feel like a neighborhood. Like the kind of neighborhood I grew up in. Everyone knew everyone else. We played together. We worked together. We had cookouts together. I miss that.

So for me, my porch is really all about community. Or as one friend said, a "safe place." A place where friends can stop by and relax and chat. We can get to know one another over a cup of coffee or a glass of my home brewed sweet tea. Sure they have to deal with my over-exuberant dog until he calms down, but that's part of the charm as well. It's a place for both individuals and families. Grown-ups and children. To read one of my favorite authors, Wendell Berry, you will learn that community implies both "membership" and "interdependency." What I do has an impact on my neighbors. In his book, The Long-Legged House, Berry notes:

A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is
shared, and that the people who share the place define and limit the
possibilities of each other's lives.

That is how I view my porch. It may be MY porch, but I want to share it with others. With you. It is a sanctuary of public solitude, and a refuge. At times it can be noisy because of all the traffic, but when I sit out here alone, I am in a place of silence. And when I sit here with friends, despite the chaos around us, it is a place of relaxed conversation.

So...with that, I invite you to my porch. Yes, you too can be a part of Porchapalooza 2009. And if you can't make it, enjoy your own porch, your own community...and be welcoming to your friends and neighbors.

Weekend Music Game: Summer's almost here!

2009-05-15T10:06:00.002-04:00

Today is Music Friday in Lancaster and my family and I will be hanging out at Building Character on the 300 Block of North Queen Street, checking out the music of Katie Becker and Trash & Glory. Hope to see you there.

And since I'm bringing back the Weekend Music Game, let's look forward to summer. All of the big summer festivals are announcing their lineups. So I thought we could do our own festivals. Put your music player on shuffle/random and play the first ten songs...no skipping. Jot 'em down for us here and let us know what your personal summer festival would be like.

So now, here's the lineup for my Porch-a-palooza 2009.

1. R.E.M. performing "It's the End of the World as We Know It" on the Aging, but still very Hip, Rockers Stage.

2. Bruce Cockburn performing "Wondering Where the Lions Are" on the Straight from Canada, eh? Stage.

3. Mark Heard performing "It's Not Your Fault" on the Gone, but Defnitely Not Forgotten Stage.

4. Chatterbox performing "Fallen" on the Industrial Porch Stage.

5. Brandston performing "Breaking Ground" on the Back When Emo Didn't Suck Stage.

6. Eric Clapton performing "Let it Rain" on the Guitar Hero Stage.

7. Fleming & John performing "Don't Let it Fade Away" on the UberCool Married Couples Stage

8. Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash performing "Careless Love" on the Dead & Alive Stage

9. The Dingees performing "The World's Last Night" on Where Did All the Cool Punkers Go? Stage

10. Starflyer 59 performing "No New Kinda Story" on the Gaze at Your Shoes Stage

And ten more performers who MIGHT make surprise appearances:

The Lassie Foundation
The Vigilantes of Love
Lovedrug
764-HERO
Andy Pratt
Pigeon John
The Fire Theft
The Promise Ring
Pony Express
Dolour

Alright. Now it's your turn. If your music player programmed a festival for you, who would be performing?

The Shackeltons: An Inspirational Story

2009-05-09T11:09:00.002-04:00

Been awhile since I've blogged and I know I need to get back into it, so when I read this story over at NPR, I figured this was as good a reason as any, since Mother's Day is tomorrow.

The Shackeltons are one of the coolest bands to come out of Central PA, and lead singer Mark Redding and the guys put everything into all of their shows. This story from NPR really shines a light on what Mark and his band are all about, and really gave me a new appreciation for their music and live performances. Read and enjoy...and make sure you get out and see them live. Can't wait to hear some new recorded music from them in the near future.

And make sure you do wonderful things for your mother (and the mother of your children) on this Mother's Day weekend.

Harry Kalas - 1936 - 2009

2009-04-13T14:38:00.004-04:00

I was stunned this afternoon when my son yelled down the stairs to me: "Harry Kalas died!" The words didn't sink in quite so fast, but then I started getting messages on Twitter and Facebook, as well as text messages. Harry Kalas passed away this afternoon after collapsing in the broadcast booth just hours before today's Phillies game in Washington against the Nationals.

Harry Kalas, was in my opinion, the greatest voice ever to call the game of baseball. The Hall of Fame announcer of the Philadelphia Phillies was "it." He had the goods. The best pipes in the business. His voice is embedded in my head, with Kalas and his trademark "Outta here!" home-run call. His voice uttering the name "Michael Jack Schmidt" every time Schmitty hit one out of the park. And most importantly, his voice calling the final out of the Phillies' World Series victory last season.

Kalas joined the Phils as an announcer in 1971, and was the voice of the Phillies for all but the first nine years of my life. You can look back at all the great players who have donned a Phillies uniform over the past 38 years. Schmidt. Luzinski. Carlton. McGraw. Utley. Rollins. Howard. But players, and certainly managers, come and go. Even the broadcast booth saw a bit of a revolving door, but for the past 38 years, Harry Kalas has been there, and in some ways, defined the Phillies. He was the constant...through all the lean years, as well as through the World Series Championship seasons of 1980 and 2008, and of course the "almost" seasons of 1983 and 1993.

I still get chills listening to his voice, and some of his trademark calls. I was fortunate enough to have met him on three separate occasions, one of which was a seminar called "Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Baseball on the Radio," which I moderated at the Museum of Television & Radio in NYC. The seminar featured legends, and local NY announcers, but Kalas was clearly the star of the panel, with the other announcers recognizing the talent in their midst.

As I write this, the fans at Nationals Park in Washington are observing a moment of silence for Harry. I'm merely a fan, and there is an empty feeling inside. I can't imagine what it must be like for Harry's colleagues to have to call today's game...or for the players to play the game. All I know is...Harry, you will be missed.

Welcoming Spring: The Weekend Music Game

2009-03-20T08:55:00.003-04:00

First off, I apologize for not updating the blog lately, but things have been very busy and will hopefully settle down over the next two weeks.

But...I can't neglect the weekend music game for too long! I didn't have time to really come up with a theme, so we'll stick to the basics. Music player on random/shuffle, and list the first ten songs you come up with. Perhaps comment on them. And, as always, no skipping! And see if anything comes up that reminds you of Spring, because today IS the first day of Spring.

Here's my list for the weekend:

1. John Vanderslice - Parade - this is from a live Daytrotter Session. I love this song. Just really got into Vanderslice within the past year after seeing him at the Chameleon. VERY small audience, but a great intimate show.

2. Lovedrug - Happy Apple Poison - another band I saw for the first time at the Chameleon a few years ago. Quirky voice, but I like it.

3. Copeland - May I Have This Dance - whoa...I'm sensing a theme. Saw these guys at the Chameleon for the first time...and I think it was on the same bill as Lovedrug! Really pretty vocals and music.

4. T-Bone Burnett - Stunned - OK, I've never seen T-Bone live...let alone at the Chameleon. But I've been a fan of his music since about 1980. Great producer, but I love his solo discs.

5. The Lassie Foundation - We Are Kings - nice Southern Cali indie-pop band featuring the talents of Wayne Everett and Eric Campuzano, among others. Now this is the kind of music that would be fun to listen to in the car on a warm Spring day.

6. U2 - I Will Follow - this is the live version from Under A Blood Red Sky. 'Nuff said.

7. Always Sunday - Let You Down - One of my favorite songs from this band that is no longer together, featuring one of my favorite singers, Trent Dabbs. I've loved all of his projects and his solo stuff is great.

8. The Gloria Record - Grace the Snow is Here - Well...I guess this is NOT the kind of thing you want to hear on the first day of Spring. I'm not interested in any more snow, thank you.

9. The Violet Burning - More - I'm partial to earlier Violet Burning stuff, but this is still good stuff from the album Drop Dead. Love Michael Pritzl's voice.

10. Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused - Going REALLY old school here. Gotta love me some Zep.

And ten more quick ones for the road:

11. Future of Forestry - All I Want

12. Michael Knott - Deaf and Dumb

13. Mute Math - Picture

14. Mark Heard - She Don't Have a Clue

15. Fly Eagles Fly - Philadelphia Eagle's fight song - hmm. Wish I had a Phillies song!

16. Serene - Autumn

17. U2 - Shadows and Tall Trees

18. Robert Deeble - Blue

19. Van Morrison - Steppin' Out Queen

20. Yes - Starship Trooper

OK, now it's your turn. Add a comment with your ten songs for the weekend. And have a happy first day of Spring. And don't forget, that means it's Free Rita's Day!

Weekend Music Game

2009-03-06T07:26:00.002-05:00

Well, due to the fact that I'm really busy, I didn't put a lot of thought into this edition of the Weekend Music Game. So really quick...down and dirty old school version. Music player on random/shuffle and list the first 10 songs you hear...no skipping! See what surprises you come up with.

Here's my list:

1. Brandtson - As You Wish - one of their older songs. Still enjoy this stuff.

2. Woven Hand - The Good Hand - I think this is from the first Woven Hand album (post 16 Horsepower), and I really love this song.

3. Bob Dylan - Jokerman - nice song from Infidels.

4. Glorybox - Sonic Ocean

5. Mute Math - Control - can't wait to hear more from these guys

6. The Juliana Theory - Love - has a bit of a Joe Jackson feel to it...

7. Brown Feather Sparrow - Sleep Well Child - nice and quiet beautiful song.

8. The Bird and the Bee - Because

9. Always Sunday - Great - another great project involving Trent Dabbs. Love his music and his voice.

10. Elvis Costello - Clubland - seriously catchy tune.

Ok...your turn!

Your Weekend Musix Fix

2009-03-05T12:14:00.000-05:00

Once again, Central PA is bustin' at the seams with all kinds of great music (and other entertainment) throughout the area, so don't come whining to me if you can't find anything to do.

Ken's Picks o' the Week:

Pick #1: 3/6 - It's First Friday in Lancaster, and while the focus is on art, there is still plenty of music to be found throughout the city. You can check out 8-Track Radio at Building Character, or hop across the street to the new Progressive Galleries featuring music from The Greatest Funeral Ever. There is sure to be other music at other venues throughout the city as well. And don't forget the First Friday After Party in the Lizard Lounge at 10 p.m.

Pick #2: 3/8 - Local favorites Slimfit and Perkasie rock the house at the Chameleon Sunday night, along with former local Madi Diaz. A great showcase of what Central PA is able to produce in terms of music. This is an XPN Welcomes event.

Friday, March 6:

Adam and the Weight (Adam Kowalczyk of Live) at the Chameleon, Lancaster

The Thrives, Flatbed Ford, and Girls Like Cigarettes at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Irishfest featuring Wyndfall in the Brewpub at ABC, Harrisburg

The Irish Rovers at the Hershey Theatre

Carl Peterson at the Ten Thousand Villages Cafe, Ephrata

Saturday, March 7:

XPN Welcomes Penn's Mask & Wig Club to Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster

Irishfest featuring Fire in the Glen in the Brewpub at ABC, Harrisburg

Dakini w/ FDR & the New Deal at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Josh Blue (Last Comic Standing season 4 winner) at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

Capitol Bandstand - A showcase for undiscovered local bands at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, York

Spring Doo Wop Cavalcade at the American Music Theatre, Lancaster

Adam Blessing at McCleary's Pub, Marietta

The Reese Project and Indian Summer Jars at Bube's Brewery, Mount Joy

Stinging Nettles & 8-Track Radio at Quip's Pub, Lancaster

Sunday, March 8:

The Peking Acrobats at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

And that's what's going on. Feel free to comment with other events of interest.

New Harrisburg Venue: The Midtown Arts Center

2009-03-04T08:19:00.006-05:00

In my last post I blogged about Jonas Hair and his new Progressive Galleries space in Lancaster. So I thought I would keep the blog love coming for Jonas because of another project with which he is involved: The Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center.

The Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center is the newest venue in Harrisburg, and has the potential to be the coolest venue in the city. HMAC has a little bit of something for everyone. The space boasts two performance areas. The Stage on Herr space has an intimate club feel with a capacity of about 300, and the ability to feature smaller bands and performances. The 10,000 square foot Playhouse features a stage and seating for upwards of 600 people. This space can accommodate larger bands and other performances as well as lectures.

Additionally, several thousand square feet of gallery space will allow HMAC to showcase the work of local and regional artists. The space also boasts Cafe Sip, a small eatery being operated by Mangia Qui, as well as a private spa club featuring a pool in the basement of the building.

HMAC will have a sneak peak opening this weekend (March 7th and 8th) with the opening of a portion of Stage on Herr. According to their press release:

Both evening events, held at the HMAC building located at 1110 North Third Street in Midtown Harrisburg, include food by Mangia Qui, a full cash bar, table and bar seating. Attendees will be directed to the separate entrance to the cozy and intimate Stage on Herr, located on the Herr Streetside of the center. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 headlining the Tim Warfield Band; NYC comedian Joe DeRosa, DJ Geoffro and Projectionist Justin Ayala. Tickets to the March 7 event are $35 per person.
Then, on Sunday, March 8^th the doors open at 6:00 p.m. to present a different mix of entertainment with Washington D.C. flamenco guitarist Richard Barry with Polish violinist Katarzyna Bryla performing as a duo from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. OBA OBA, the area’s favorite Brasilian band takes the stage at 9:00 p.m. and is sure to get everyone on their feet. Tickets to the March 8 event are $15 per person.

The opening of HMAC has the potential to really bring some new energy to Harrisburg, as they seek to attract a wide variety of musical performers and visual artists. HMAC is also at the center of a new push to bring a First Friday program to Harrisburg, and will also be seeking to promote Harrisburg as a destination for film companies.

I'm pretty excited about the facility and look forward to seeing how things progress as they continue to open more of the space over the next few months. HMAC is located at 111o North Third Street in the heart of Midtown Harrisburg. Check it out!

This is Not Your Mother's Art Gallery: The Progressive Galleries

2009-03-02T07:53:00.007-05:00

There's a new gallery on the scene in downtown Lancaster. While it has been open a bit for the past few weeks, the Progressive Galleries will have it's grand opening "Art Explosion" this Friday night, March 6th, as part of Lancaster's First Friday events.

The Progressive Galleries isn't your mom's art gallery. This isn't just a space for art to hang on walls. For the past two years the Gallery has had a presence in Harrisburg and is more event driven. Art installations combined with music and projections have been happening up there on about a monthly basis. The Gallery also has a presence in York with the White Rose Gallery Project. But they have never really had a home to call their own. Now all that is about to change. Partners Jonas Hair and Walter Diehl are opening over 2000 square feet of space at 323 North Queen Street (in the Keppel Building, or Candy Factory) which will serve as the flagship space for their tri-county operation.

This Friday's "Art Explosion" will feature artwork from local Central PA artists, as well as music from New Cumberland-based band, The Greatest Funeral Ever. There will also be projections by Justin Ayala and live painting throughout the evening by Sean Poole.

Normal hours for the new gallery are: Tues - Thurs, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., though they will be open later on First Fridays.

Hope to see you all there this Friday night for the grand opening, as a bunch of us will be converging on the Keppel Building. And don't forget to join the Progressive Galleries Facebook group.

Weekend Music Game: Getting Ready for March

2009-02-27T07:31:00.004-05:00

They say that when March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb...and vice versa. So with March around the corner, let's find the lambs and lions in your music collection. This will be a test of musical diversity of sorts. The lambs are the quieter, softer, perhaps slower, tunes, while the lions are the roaring, hard rockin', faster and louder tunes.

So start shuffling through your music collection randomly and tell us about at least the first two lions and the first two lambs you come across. Just keep it random. This could be interesting. I'll probably do a few more than two.

My Lambs:

T0morrow - U2 - one of the quieter tunes from October, and a song that doesn't get much mention when people talk about U2. "Won't you be back tomorrow?" Good song.

Set the Scene - Umbrellas - I love the sound of these guys. This is a laid back tune that isn't super quiet, but is definitely more lamb than lion. If you haven't heard them, check 'em out.

All Things End in Water - At the Close of Every Day - great indie rock band from the Netherlands, and most of their songs are more on the lamb side, nice quiet ambient, acoustic alt-rock.

Damien Dreams - Jeremy Enigk - beautiful quiet song from Enigk's last solo disc. Really showcases his amazing voice.

Can't Cry Hard Enough - Julie Miller - a very sweet and quiet lamb. Beautiful song. I can't get enough of her voice. She has a new album out with her husband, Buddy, but I'd love to get another solo record out of her.

My Lions:

Not I - Demonhunter - yeah, kick in the hardcore. I definitely have a loud side, too. This definitely isn't for everyone.

Bodyrock - Moby - wasn't sure where to put this, but it is more upbeat, so I'm calling it a lion. Great danceable, groovin' tune.

Here We Go - Brandtson - Not really all that loud, and certainly not their most lion-like tune, but they can kick up a nice beat.

Wild Wild West - Kool Moe Dee - oh yeah. This brings back some memories. Not really loud, but hey, I can't really call this a lamb, even though it is kinda laid back.

This is the Sound - Party People - distorted vocals, driving drum beat, and it builds to a nice hard rockin' tune. I need more music from these guys.

OK, so there's my five lions and five lambs. I had to skip a lot to get some of the lions, so I definitely have more lamb-like music in my collection. Now it's your turn! Comment here with your lions and lambs.

The Weekend in Music

2009-02-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick rundown of some of the better shows happening around Central PA over the next several days.

Ken's Pick o' the Week:

Saturday night, 2/28, you should head on over to Building Character in Lancaster for a great evening of music. Headlining will be former Vigilantes of Love frontman, and singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee. Opening for Bill will be Lancaster-based St. Narcissus, showcasing the talents of Keith Wilson, formerly of Movies With Heroes. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and there is an $8 cover charge.

Friday, February 27

Cephas & Wiggins at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

Emily Long & Friends at Building Character, Lancaster

The Man in Black: Johnny Cash Tribute at American Music Theatre, Lancaster

The Green Onions & Aaron Daniel Gaul at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Thriving Ivory at the Chameleon, Lancaster

Mark DeRose Duo at the Harp & Fiddle Irish Pub, York

Landing Lane at The Art & Soul Cafe benefit show for local food banks, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Mountville

Saturday, February 28

Biodiesel and The Greatest Funeral Ever at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Slimfit in the Lizard Lounge at the Chameleon Club, Lancaster

Fire in the Glen at the ABC Brewpub, Harrisburg

The Buskers at ABC - Camp Hill

Alex Brubaker at Juice and Java, Mechanicsburg

They Blinded Me With Science!

2009-02-25T08:52:00.003-05:00

More often than not I blog about music, but there are plenty of great non-music venues and events throughout Central PA. Here's a quick rundown of what you can see and do, with something for the whole family.

In Lancaster this weekend you might want to check out the North Museum of Natural Science & History. This Sunday, March 1st, is Family Science Sunday at the North, featuring Jack Hubley, the host of WGAL-TV's "Wild Moments." Hubley will be giving presentations on how to tell the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes.

The North Museum is also currently featuring an exhibit called Arctic Adventure (through May 15th), and interactive and artifact-based exhibit about the unique nature of the earth's polar regions. Permanent exhibits include a dinosaur gallery, the Hall of the Cosmos, and a live animal room. And don't forget they have some pretty cool planetarium shows as well.

Newer to Lancaster is the Lancaster Science Factory, a hands-on, interactive museum that is especially appropriate if you have younger kids. Through April 14th they have a pretty cool exhibit called K'NEX: Building Thrill Rides.

And don't forget the Harsco Science Center at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg. This is the largest science center/museum in the area and has a great selection of temporary and permanent exhibits. Currently running is How People Make Things, as well as Forces of Nature. There are also plenty of permanent exhibits as well as the Select Medical IMAX Theatre.

Always something to do in Central PA, so take the family out this weekend and get your science on!

Music You Should Know: Perkasie

2009-02-24T09:46:00.000-05:00

I often ask my friend Jeff Royer at Fly Magazine to fill me in on any local bands that he's discovered and is really enjoying. About a year ago he mentioned the band Perkasie, and had them send me a copy of their EP. I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard from this Lancaster-based band. And I was hooked.

Now the band has a full-length CD out and I can't believe I've waited this long to review it. The self-titled disc, Perkasie, is, as the kids used to say, "all that and more." But that's just part of the equation. To really get a feel for this band, you MUST see them live. A Perkasie show is a high energy show characterized by a frenetic cacophony of ear-pleasing, foot-stomping "old timey" music. For a group of college kids they sure now how to perform; from Kate Foust's sassily sultry lead vocals to Alex Wash's devil-may-care assault on the piano (that guy can flat out play!), this is a band that loves to perform, and it shows. The live interaction and energy of their performance means Fun with a capital F. The band is rounded out by drummer/vocalist Dominic Billett, bassist Danny Sadler, and guitarist Ben Roth, all of whom contribute mightily to the whole known as Perkasie. Throw in some friends (Matt Kelly and Dillon Reichel) on washboard, mandolin, and a few other instruments, and you've got a musical melange that just won't quit.

The CD is characterized by music that sounds as if it were from another time and another place, but still very fresh and relevant. Foust and Wash sound great on the slow-burning lead track, "Barstowe Station," as two young lovers rekindle an old romance. The band honky-tonks along with "Ginger Sobs," a musically happy tune that relates an ironic tale of loss.

Foust then plays the pleading chanteuse on "Girl Upon Your Arm,"

To be the girl upon your arm, to be the one that gets to claim your love I'm so addicted to your charms, I'm so impossible, emotional.

Foust and Wash again trade lines on the steamy, "Down By the Riverside," with vocals that match up well. Then comes the wry and laid back "Beers and Grills," which sounds like something being sung from a front porch rocking chair.

The pace picks up again with the period-piece "The Fightin' 13th," with it's tale of young love and wartime loss. This is not the kind of music or lyrical content you would expect from a bunch of college students.

Oh poor girl you're all alone with no big man to call your own but backpacking he'll come back home and you'll sing glory hallelujah that day (AMEN!) but romance is a poison drop, and when those tears from your eyes stop, then down the drain the ring will drop, disgracing his memory.

Things slow down again with "The Dead Man's Prayer," on into the beautiful "Silly Girl!" displaying the bands versatility, both vocally and thematically:

love is the salt, it is the wound
and you burn me like you do
though i'm hurting, i'm still holding on to you

A bit of slow-moving old-school piano driven country emerges in "The Politeness Song," and the album then closes out with the duet, "Old Designs," a song of memory and regret.

This collection of music could easily be the soundtrack to a Coen Brothers film. It's difficult to make comparisons here, but perhaps the best I can do is that the "feel" of the music is akin to the Decemberists, but with more energy and less pretension. And even that doesn't even come close to hititng the mark. Thoughtful, yet playful lyrics, firmly nestled on a bed of well-crafted music. You might think that a disc recorded in a college studio (Millersville University's CRIS Studio) might lack quality, but this CD is a testament to both the talent of the musicians involved, and the music recording program at MU. A very professional recording from start to finish.

So contact the band and get this disc and enjoy it, but mostly you need to get out and see this band live. Your next chance will be on March 8th at the Chameleon, along with Slimfit and Madi Diaz. Hope to see you there!

The Mint: Local Music, Global Thinking

2009-02-23T11:36:00.005-05:00

It's been quite some time since we've heard from The Mint, the Lancaster-based band that released Love is Vapor in 2007. Now it seems as though they are starting to surface again with a few interesting items.

First off, the band has put together an interesting lineup for a show at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster on March 21st. In addition to The Mint, the show will also feature Philly indie rock outfit Jealousy Curve, an acoustic performance from D.C's Army of Me, and Ephrata-based Receiving the Ghost. (I recently received a copy of Receiving the Ghost's EP and I love their sound. I'll be reviewing it on here in the near future). All of these bands have gotten airplay on either XPN or Y-Rock (or both) and deserve a listen.

But this is more than just another concert at the Chameleon. It is a benefit for an organization called Love 146, that seeks to put an end to child sex slavery and exploitation. The Mint's Jonathan Decker tells me how and why the band got involved with this organization:

A few years ago we played a show for them not really knowing much about them, and I was pretty blown away by what they do. Fast forward to this year when I became a Dad, and it made the issue of child sex slavery a bit more realistic in terms of comprehension. I see my daughter and her innocence, and then imagine children as young as her sold to the sex trade. Little kids sold to be violated for money, traded as a commodity, and have their entire lives be taken through hell. I'm by no means an expert on Love146, but I can't look my little girl and not get reminded of these children who are marginalized and abused.

Decker says the hope to raise at least $3000 for the organization, whose president will be on hand for the show to tell about the work they do. He also says that the band has been quietly donating to causes like Love 146 and the 1000 Wells Project, but he feels that now he needs to do something more:

Being in a band can be a cool thing, but at the end of the day it's music. If you can use a platform, however small it may be, to help change someones life for the better, that's what matters.

What a refreshing perspective on what it means to be a local musician in a world filled with pain and hurt. I hope to make it to this event, and hope to see you there. The concert begins at 7p.m. on March 21st. Tickets are $8 in advance, and $10 at the door. Let's pack the place out!

In other Mint, news, the band has been recording with John Wagoner at XAM Studios in Ephrata. Decker says they have a bunch of songs and hope to get some music out to radio and the public in the near future. He is feeling really good about the new material, saying they have had the time and resources to really experiment a bit more with sounds and lush arrangements, which he doesn't feel they were really able to do with Love is Vapor. I'm really looking forward to hearing their newest music.

Changing the Central PA Media Landscape: Daniel Victor

2009-02-22T10:37:00.008-05:00

I grew up in a world where the media landscape consisted primarily of radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. When the Internet came along, it was something I had to "learn." I feel fortunate that I've been able to embrace and spend time with new media, and have spent a lot of time researching the relationship between old and new media. Sadly, the aforementioned "old media" have been slow to embrace "new media." In fact, it's not just a slowness that characterizes the attitude of traditional mainstream media; it is often a fear. And it is a fear, coupled with the opinion that the new media landscape (Internet, social media, texting, etc.) is a flash in the pan. I've heard more than one old-school newspaper/tv/radio person talking about things like Twitter or Facebook as "just a fad." It's 2009, folks. Get with it. I'm pretty sure the Internet isn't going anywhere.

One of the biggest factors leading to a fear of the new is the issue of monetization. If you want a newspaper, you go out and buy it at the local Turkey Hill, or subscribe and have it delivered to your home. Money changes hands, and you get your news in return. But traditional media has worried about just giving content away for free. While people are willing to shell out money for a hard copy of the paper...they generally expect to get things for free on the Internet. Traditional media is in bad shape, and they need to embrace new media and create innovative business models that allow for convergence and cross-platform content. Radio, Television, and magazines have all followed suit in this fear and slowness to embrace new media, and as a result, they are all hemorrhaging audience, revenue, and jobs. I'm convinced that those in the traditional media that DO embrace the new media ("new" being a relative term), will be the ones that survive and even flourish in this new cultural/economic/technological world.

Having said that, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Daniel Victor, a reporter for the Harrisburg Patriot-News who is trying to take his old media background into a new media world. A quick aside: when I call Daniel my friend, I need to disclose that he and I have only really met once. The majority of our interaction has been online via Twitter. He is a part of my social media community, and in the same way media is being redefined by the Internet, so is the concept of "friends." While we don't hang out and socialize in "real life" on a regular basis, Daniel and I are a part of an online community of people that I would describe as friends. And I'm confident that if there comes the time when we DO get together, we'd be very comfortable in each other's company. Besides, we share a love of all the same sports teams, particularly the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. (Forgive me. That phrase still makes me giddy.)

Daniel Victor has been thinking out loud for some time about how to incorporate his use of social media, particularly his blog and Twitter, into the reporting process. And a big part of this concept is the democratization of the journalistic process. Daniel will be including his readers in the editorial selection of the stories he decides to cover. Back in January he blogged about his ideas for this type of reporting. Since then he has been given the go-ahead to move forward with his "community-direct" mojo reporting experiment. In effect, Daniel has been able to do what all of us dream about: he created and defined his own job. But you can bet he'll be under a lot of scrutiny from his superiors. I have no idea how this will turn out for Daniel, but while I'm sure he has some old-school colleagues that expect him to fail, I really would love to see this succeed. And I want to see it succeed to the point where newspapers around the country take notice.

So WHY is Daniel doing this? The bottom line, he tells me, is that he wants to "see better stories in the paper, or stories that would have otherwise never made it." But that's just the immediate goal. In the long run, Daniel says, there is a lot more at stake:

There's a lot I want to accomplish or prove on the periphery, too. There are a lot of principles at stake here, things that are really going to determine what role a professional news organization will play in the future. Can a news organization really connect with readers on a genuine level? Can it not only acknowledge that readers have a lot to offer, but also gather, curate and present that value to other readers? Are we willing to do that?

If this works, it's a compelling case that readers can be an important part of the production of the newspaper, in a way that aids journalists, not threatens them. We could use that knowledge in a variety of ways in the future. And even if it doesn't work, we'll learn a lot from this.

Daniel is now on this journey, and I can't wait to see where it takes him. His latest discussion of what he is doing is in the Sunday Harrisburg Patriot-News and on PennLive.com under the title "My New Assignment Editor? You, the Community."

If you are in Central PA and want to follow him on this journey, make sure you check out Daniel's blog on a regular basis, and follow him on Twitter (@bydanielvictor). Social media and blogging are central to this whole process (he'll soon be creating a new blog on PennLive.com specifically for this task), so hopefully you will become a part of the editorial process and have Daniel work for YOU, all the while helping him prove that this concept can work. I'll let you know when the new blog is up and running.

The Weekend Music Game: The Album Edition

2009-02-20T07:56:00.003-05:00

There's a meme going around Facebook that I thought I would steal and use here for the latest edition of the Weekend Music Game. And you don't need your music player for this one, unless, like me, it helps jog your memory.

List 25 (or 5 or 10...I don't really care...whatever you have time for) albums that you would consider to be life changing in some way or form. The albums that stick with you and you never get tired of. Maybe they meant something to you at a particular time in your life, or in most cases for me, they changed the way you think about music. I know that my list certainly won't be exhaustive, but this exercise gives you insight into who I am, and might also give you some ideas of music to check out.

So here's my list, in no particular order:

1. U2 - Boy - Not my favorite U2 album, but their first one and the one that got me hooked. Still love listening to this. Amazing how well it stands up nearly three decades later. I could probably pick a handful of albums from U2 that were important to me.

2. 16 Horsepower - Low Estate - this album introduced me to the band and is still my favorite. Solid, minor key, apocalyptic rock from David Eugene Edwards. Now I love all his stuff.

3. Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary - From first listen I was hooked and now I can't get enough of anything that Jeremy Enigk records.

4. The Fire Theft - The Fire Theft - speaking of Jeremy Enigk, this is a post-SDRE project that is just an amazingly listenable album.

5. The Clash - London Calling - one of my favorite albums of all-time. These guys showed that you can be punk and be relevant, all the while producing melodic rock with attitude.

6. Mark Heard - Second Hand - Hard to narrow down my choices here, but Heard was a genius. So sad that he left us "All Too Soon." His influence opened me up to a whole world of new artists.

7. Vigilantes of Love - The Killing Floor - speaking of Heard, he co-produced this album (with Peter Buck of R.E.M), which is why I checked this out in the first place. Folk-punk with a southern gothic flair. Still my favorite album from a band that was my favorite band at one time.

8. Dire Straits - Communique - This album is passed over by many, but I love the seriously laid back, mellow sound of this disc. And some seriously great songwriting.

9. Bruce Cockburn - Humans - I discovered Cockburn a few years before this album, but this one really struck a chord. Came at an important time in my life while I was in college. I still think this is his best effort; great songwriting and mostly acoustic, right before he started going a bit more electric. I'm not sure I've heard another album with lyrics that touch me as deeply.

10. Tonio K. - Rome Unchained - Not many people know this guy, but his music is amazing. This is a collection of some of the most witty and biting love songs, and all very catchy and singable.

11. Andy Pratt - Motives - I discovered this guy/album while listening to my college radio station. The first time I heard it I was sucked in. Quirky piano pop with some great songwriting. I think he was at the top of his game on this one.

12. T-Bone Burnett - Proof Thru the Night - First discovered T-Bone when he was with the Alpha Band. This is my favorite of his solo albums, and he proves that he is a brilliant storyteller.

13. Johnny Cash - American Recordings - I'm cheating here, because this is actually several albums, but I'd never really given Cash a chance until I heard this series of discs. I saw him in a whole new light and then went back and listened to his entire catalog. Wow.

14. The Violet Burning - The Violet Burning - Dark and dreamy with lots of guitars. Another album that just sucked me in from the first song.

15. Victoria Williams - Loose - For many, Vic's voice is an acquired taste, but I love it. And the cast she surrounded herself with for this album is amazing. I need to pull this one out more often.

Others:

16. R.E.M. - Document

17. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

18. Yes - Fragile

19. Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!

20. The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta

21. Moby - Play

22. MuteMath - MuteMath

23. The Spirit That Guides Us - The Sand, The Barrier

24. Kelly Wingate - Are You Sleeping, Love?

25. Sufjan Stevens - Come On, Feel the Illinoise

26. Leslie/Sam Phillips - The Turning

27. Pedro the Lion - Control

And I could go on and on....

Post your list here. Feel free to tell us a little bit about some (or all) of them. And have fun!

The Weekend in Music

2009-02-19T09:05:00.001-05:00

Ah yes, another weekend looms, and, as always...music is on the horizon.

Plenty for you to check out on the local music scene, so don't even think about telling me you're bored!

Ken's Pick o' the Week #1: Music Friday

Since this is the third weekend of the month we have Music Friday in Lancaster. Lot's of great stuff around town. If I am able to make it down, I'll most likely be hanging at my usual spot, Building Character, where the Main Street Mystics will be belting out their jazzy sounds with my buddy Randy Bucksner on sax.

Other highlights from Music Friday include a nice lineup at the Ad Lib Cafe hosted by Music For Everyone. Meanwhile talented young singer/songwriter Jordan Rast will be playing at Carmen & David's Creamery on Prince Street. (Haven't eaten their yet but have heard rave reviews from friends!). Meanwhile, The Cultivators will be at the Lancaster Dispensing Company, while The Reese Project plays at the Lancaster Arts Hotel.

And the biggest show of the night is over at the Chameleon, featuring Lovedrug, along with York-based Kingsfoil.

You can get a full lineup for Music Friday over at Downtown Lancaster.

Ken's Pick o' the Week #2:

If you've been wondering where The Sleeping World has been, they've been holed up in a rehearsal space, breaking in a new line-up that I hear is going to be amazing. While the new version of the band won't be ready until April, Jessica Smucker will be performing with Jeff Bryson of the Vinegar Creek Constituency on Sunday, February 22nd at the Chestnut Hill Cafe in Lancaster. They'll be doing acoustic versions of songs from both of their bands, as well as some pretty cool covers.

And now here's the rest of the weekend lineup throughout Central PA. Not exhaustive, but a good slice of what's going on.

Thursday, February 19th

XPN Welcomes the Neville Brothers & Dr. John to the American Music Theatre in Lancaster

The Sketties at Quips Pub in Lancaster

Friday, February 20th

The Two Man Gentleman Band at the Abbey Bar in Harrisburg

Midnight Spaghetti & the Chocolate G-Strings at Bube's Brewery in Mount Joy

And if you want to check out what else is going on in the area, or at your favorite haunt, check out the calendars at Fly Magazine, Spotobe, or PennLive, or my friend Sara Bozich's blog.

In the Studio: August Burns Red

2009-02-18T08:03:00.003-05:00

Perhaps the biggest name in local music these days, at least in terms of national and international reach, is Lancaster's August Burns Red. This hardcore band came up through CI Records and has been on Solid State for several years. The guys are back in the studio recording their next album, and they've added an interactive element to the process. You can watch them live online, and even chat with them, by going here.

Meanwhile, their latest EP, Lost Messengers: The Outtakes, will be released next week, on February 24th.

If you like hard music, check these guys out. They're the real deal, and they always put on a great show. Hopefully we'll be able to see them at the Chameleon again soon, or perhaps Purple Door.

More new U2: No Line on the Horizon title track

2009-02-15T17:10:00.002-05:00

A friend alerted me to the fact that another song from U2's upcoming CD, No Line on the Horizon, has surfaced on the Internet. This time it's the title track. You can listen here.

Like the first single, "Get On Your Boots," this isn't a great song, but is a very good, solid song that has the makings of a hit. It's a catchy, funky little pop tune with lots of guitar, and if I had randomly heard this, I'm not sure if I would have known it was U2. Bono's vocals are different throughout most of the song, and is only easily recognizable as Bono in parts of the chorus. In fact, I think part of what draws me to this song is that it IS different.

And, as has been reported widely, U2 will be David Letterman's musical guests for an unprecedented five nights the week of March 2nd. The new album will be released here in the States on March 3rd. Really looking forward to getting the whole disc in my hands and working through it, listening to both the music and lyrics...as U2's songs always require much more than a cursory listen.

If you are a fan of U2 and want a better understanding of their musical canon, I would highly suggest the book Walk On by Steve Stockman.

Weekend Music Game: The Funky Friday Version

2009-02-13T09:02:00.001-05:00

Since today is Funky Friday here in Central PA (and I hope to see you all at the Abbey Bar in Harrisburg tonight from 5 pm 'til whenever...) I thought we could have a Funky Friday music game. Now I realize that may not have any funk loaded into your music player, but there's a lot of music out there that is very danceable, regardless of whether or not it is "funky."

So put your music player on random/shuffle and give us the first five or ten songs you have that might be, even remotely, danceable. And this time you can skip until you find good ones. So let us know which tunes make up your personal funky dance party...

Here's my list:

1. The Alpha Band - You Angel You - T-Bone Burnett and the boys with their semi-funky, rockabilly version of the Dylan tune. I could definitely move to this one...

2. Umbrellas - Again and Again - definitely a funky beat with a touch of 80s techno/new wave flavor. Begins with the lyrics, "So where's the piano, and the big bass drum? And the clashing of cymbals?" Didn't even know I had this song on my MP3 player.

3. Further Seems Forever - The Bradley - I guess you could dance to this, kind of a shuffle and mosh tune. Yeah, close your eyes and bob your head a little. This is Chris Carrabba era FSF.

4. The Police - Driven to Tears - Another danceable tune, but this time maybe we do the Pogo.

5. The Clash - Guns of Brixton - The Clash always had an element of funk in their earlier music. This is a slow, smokin', reggae groove. It would be fun to dance to this one in a room full of people.

6. Over the Rhine - Daddy Untwisted - From my favorite OTR album, Eve. This is just about the only OTR album that actually rocks out and funks out. A quite funky choice!

7. 16 Horsepower - Hang My Teeth on Your Door - Well, this switches it up a bit...maybe a clog dance? A reel? Definitely something 19th century.

8. Van Morrison - Domino - Yeah, there's a touch of funk here. Definitely a danceable tune. I think a lot of Van's stuff would be good for groovin'.

9. The Clash - Hitsville U.K. - More Clash! This one from Sandinista. Ellen Foley joins the band on this tune in a bit of an homage to Motown. A nice choice for this list.

10. Duraluxe - Please Be Cool - Some laid back indie rock for some laid back indie rock club dancing. Works for me!

Your turn!

Music This Weekend, part 2: Out and About in Central PA

2009-02-12T09:54:00.001-05:00

Here's a look at some of the cooler shows this weekend throughout Central PA.

Friday, February 13th

Hiram Ring at Ten Thousand Villages, Ephrata

Spyro Gyra at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, York

Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel at the American Music Theater, Lancaster

Maryjo Mattea and Tiny Purple Fishes at Building Character, Lancaster

Hoots & Hellmouth w/ Good Old War, The Slackwater News, and The Major Leagues at the Chameleon, Lancaster

Saturday, February 14th

Mae at Messiah College, Grantham

And of course don't forget all the bands playing this weekend at the MMC in Harrisburg.

Music This Weekend, part 1: The Millennium Music Conference

2009-02-11T09:28:00.008-05:00

This weekend brings us the 13th Annual Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg. The conference features seminars aimed at helping musicians get their careers on track and on to the next level. But for most of us, the conference merely means that hundreds of bands will be playing at dozens of venues throughout the Harrisburg area.

You can see a complete list of venues and bands here, but I thought I would highlight a few of the ones that interest me the most.

First off, WXPN will be in town for another visit this Friday night, February 13th. The night kicks off with a Funky Friday Dance Party at the Abbey Bar, with David Dye spinning the funk from 5 - 9 p.m. Last time around there were over 500 people at the Abbey and the place was hopping. Expect more of the same this time, so get there early. You can RSVP for the event here. Then immediately following, the funk continues with Philly band, The Hustle, featuring Nora Whitaker and Kuf Knotz. Definitely an evening of music and dancing you won't want to miss.

A few other highlights from this year's MMC:

Thursday, February 12th

All ages show at the Radisson Penn Harris Convention Center starting at 8 pm. This show features 8 bands, including Kingsfoil at 1o, and the Shackeltons at 11.

Friday, February 13th

Adam Blessing at the Appalachian Brewing Company (Camp Hill) - 9 pm

The Sketties at the Cathedral Room at Der Maennerchor - 9 pm

Perkasie at the Cathedral Room at Der Maennerchor - 11 pm

Flatbed Ford at the Double K Tavern - 11 pm

The Jellybricks at Molly Brannigan's - 11:30 pm

Saint Narcissus in the Bridges Lounge at the Radisson - 10:15 pm

Kilego Vert at The Quarter - 12 midnight

Also an all ages show at the Radisson starting at 8:15 featuring 6 bands, including the Tamboureens at 10:30.

Saturday, February 14th

Josh Albright at the Appalachian Brewing Company (Camp Hill) - 9:45 pm

Mycenea Worley at the Cornerstone Coffeehouse (Camp Hill) - 9 pm

Lakeherst at the Double K Tavern - 11 pm

Puffer Fish at Tara Station - 1 am

Sunday, February 15th

House Exit and FDR & The New Deal at the Championship in Lemoyne - 8 pm

And that's just a small sample of the many bands playing around town. You can also check out the Spotoblog from the fine folks at Spotobe.com for some more information on bands to check out.

And, if you can't make it to the MMC, there is a lot of other good music throughout Central PA this weekend that I'll highlight in tomorrow's blog.

Weekend Music Game - By Popular Demand

2009-02-07T10:03:00.003-05:00

I was kind of busy yesterday so I never got around to doing the Weekend Music Game...but enough of you have questioned me about this, so I thought I would post one today. Better late than never! (and this is why it is now called the Weekend Music Game and not just the Friday Music Game)

Rules: music device, etc. set on random/shuffle/dj - First ten songs, no skipping. List them here and comment on them. Just a great way to get to know other people and maybe discover some new (or old) music!

Here we go!

1. U2 - City of Blinding Lights - no secret that this is my favorite band. Just a really solid song from a solid album. Can't wait for the new album in less than a month!

2. T-Bone Burnett - Hold On Tight - Haven't listened to enough T-Bone lately. Really wish he didn't wait so long between CDs...and I need to get his most recent release still.

3. Chris Taylor - The River - really cool singer/songwriter from Texas. Interviewed him for an article a number of years ago. Used to be the lead singer of Love Coma (which also featured Matt Slocum of Sixpence). He has a nice sound.

4. Mute Math - Plan B - These guys are amazing musicians, and great live. I would love to get them around here some time. Really looking forward to their new CD. If you ever get a chance to check out their live DVD, do it!

5. Bob Dylan - I and I - I love this song from Infidels, an often overlooked Dylan album. This guy continues to put out great stuff.

6. Appleseed Cast - Moment #72 - Been following these guys from their earliest days on Deep Elm records. Still like what I hear. Just this morning I heard they had a new album coming out, so I'll be anxious to hear what it's like. They began in the old-school emo tradition. Curious what they sound like now.

7. 764-Hero - Photographic Evidence - This is a really solid song, probably my favorite from the album. I think this was from their last album. I'd love to hear more of their stuff.

8. The Smoking Pokes -Pretty Pathetic - this is the live version from the combo cd/dvd. The audience just sings along nicely. Check these guys out. Josh Caterer has a beautiful voice.

9. Play Radio Play - 1-2-3 Entertain - Pretty cool music, especially when you realize it is basically the product of one guy...a teenager, recorded in his home. Missed them when they came to the Chameleon last year.

10. The National - Lucky You - I like what I hear from this band, but need to try more of their stuff. I like the lead singer's voice.

10 more for the road:

11. Perkasie - Old Designs

12. 16 Horsepower - Poor Mouth

13. Soul Junk - Lifeless Things

14. U2 - I Fall Down

15. Soul Junk - Forever and Ever Amen Alright

16. Headlights - TV

17. Deepspace 5 - Ziontific

18. The Juliana Theory - P.S. We'll Call You...

19. Anathallo - To Gary and Marcus...

20. Vigilantes of Love - Losin' It

Ok...now it's your turn!

Music You Should Know: Hiram Ring - Breathe Deep

2009-02-06T08:13:00.004-05:00

I've long been touting Lancaster as a city with a vibrant and growing music scene. There are so many talented musicians and bands in the area, and as a result I have hopes that the local music scene is going to really blow up someday. When I first began working in Central PA, one of the first musicians I met was Hiram Ring. In addition to being an incredibly nice guy, Hiram is an unassuming, yet extremely talented singer/songwriter.

This Saturday night Hiram will be releasing his first full-length CD, Breathe Deep, at a special CD release party at Building Character in Lancaster (details below). The new disc is distinctly Hiram, but features a wide variety of styles and sounds. His song writing has matured and there are some really sweet tunes on here, as the disc explores humanity and our pilgrimage here on earth.

On Breathe Deep, Hiram takes us on a journey, one both personal and universal. He leads off with the laid back, "Go From Here," a nice introduction to Hiram and his talents, with his unique voice leading the way over an understated instrumental backdrop. You can almost picture yourself sitting by a campfire while Hiram strums his guitar across from you, raising the specter of uncertainty, "I don't know where I go from here, there's a feeling in me it's not very clear."

One of the most endearing traits of Hiram's music is his voice. Sweet, yet slightly gravelly, with a touch of frailty. You know you are listening to someone very well aware of his humanity, and not interested in putting on airs and pretensions.

Next up is perhaps my favorite tune on the disc, the more upbeat "Play Switch," featuring the African rhythms Hiram would've heard growing up in Ghana. Various African drums and percussion instruments provide the beat, while an accordion and distant trumpet round out the sound, all layered underneath his guitar. Lyrically, the song speaks of his search for home, with references to his time both in Africa and here in the states.

Hiram also adds a touch of understated funk to his music; more subtly on "Chasing Shadows" with harmonica dancing around his voice and guitar, while the sweet, unmistakable sounds of a Hammond B3 provide the backdrop for "Living Water," heading into "Voices." Here he continues giving voice to that gnawing inside of all of us: "I've got voices crawling round in my head, I've got skeletons lying in my bed, under the sheets - they won't leave me."

One song that is sure to garner attention, and melt the hearts of female listeners, is "One Girl For Me," a love song to his future wife, whom he has yet to meet. There is already a music video for this song, shot locally by Ryan Mast of Unitheo:

Hiram hits a jazzier, loungey note with the title track, "Breathe Deep," a perfect song for these cold winter days, showing off the talents of his jazz trio, featuring Mike Bitts on upright bass and pianist Matt Monticchio. Then on "Eternity," Hiram mines the depths of life and relationships, and the always intertwined realms of faith and love.

In "I am Not a Thief," a song born out of his time in Afghanistan, Ring looks in the mirror for a period of self-examination, coming to grips with his humanity and need for something more than this life offers: "I'm a thief, I'm a murderer, I'm a blind man, I'm diseased."

A journey in a car provides the backdrop for his next examination of life in "Steer Into the Curve," one of the more straightforward singer/songwriter tunes on the disc.

Hiram rounds the corner and nears the finish line with the quiet and ethereal "Will I Ever," then heads right into the closing song, "I'm On a Journey," which pretty much sums up the overriding theme of the album.

Hiram Ring is equally comfortable with just an acoustic guitar or performing with a full band, and this CD provides a nice mix of his many sounds. At times, his music reminds me of Pierce Pettis, or even another friend of mine, Jason Gray (two artists you should definitely checkout). You can hear several of the songs on Hiram's website, which also hosts a few videos. You can also become a fan of Hiram on Facebook.

While I've discussed the music on this CD, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the incredible artwork and packaging created for Hiram by Ned Bustard of World's End Images.

Hope to see you all at the CD release party, this Saturday night (February 7th) on the 300 block of North Queen Street in Lancaster at Building Character. Local indie-rock band, Trash and Glory will be opening at 7pm. There is a $15 cover charge that includes a copy of the new CD (though $5 for those entering who don't want to purchase the CD.) And if you can't make it, you can purchase the CD from Hiram or download it on iTunes.

Weekend Music Game: Family, Friends, and those other people

2009-01-30T07:30:00.001-05:00

And now for something completely different....the Weekend Music Game....this time our idea comes courtesy of my friend Jeff McCloud.

Put your MP3 player or other music device/software on shuffle/random and play the first ten songs, without skipping any of them. Then relate each song, in order, to the following list:

Song #1: Your Mom

Song #2: Your Dad

Song #3: A sibling

Song #4: Your spouse (or potential future spouse)

Song #5: Your boss

Song #6: Your pet

Song #7: Next door neighbor

Song #8: Teacher you hated most growing up

Song #9: Best friend

Song #1o: Children (or future/potential children)

They won't all fit, but occasionally you'll get something that is dead on...or even funny...or both!

Alright then, here goes my list:

1. My Mom - "So Much Trouble" by Matt Pond PA - haha. Hope she doesn't read this...but the lines "You're in so much trouble, can't hide in your covers" is something I'm sure she told me as a kid.

2. My Dad - "Above a Whisper" by Andy Zipf - well, he did have a booming voice.

3. Sibling - "Rainmaker" by John Austin - hmmm. not sure what that means...

4. My Wife - "Listen" by Dignan. Oh, you better believe I listen to her!

5. My Boss - "Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash. Ha, pretty funny, but...no. I've never worked for anyone like the guy in the song.

6. My Pet - "Hammer and Nails" by Mark Heard. Oh, I'd like to take a hammer and nails to him some times...

7. Neighbor - "Epignosis" by Chatterbox. Had to look this one up. Apparently it's the Greek word for "full knowledge or discernment." Still doesn't really apply...

8. Least favorite teacher - "Sweeter Than Me" by Aaron Sprinkle. I don't think so...

9. Best Friend - "The Joke is Over" by Damien Jurado. Well, I guess best friends share a lot of jokes. The line "Laughing with you, not at you" should apply, but I think my friends do their fair share of laughing AT me.

10. My Children - "Snowbirds and Townies" by Further Seems Forever. Ha. I have no clue what that means in terms of my kids...but ok.

Well, a few of those were OK I guess. Now it's your turn...

Weekend Music Game - Life According to MP3s

2009-01-22T22:51:00.001-05:00

It's Friday! Once again time for the Weekend Music Game or "TMGFKATFMG" (The Music Game Formerly Known as the Friday Music Game).

Gonna shake it up a bit again this week. Rules are still the same: put your music player on random/shuffle and list the first seven songs that play...with no skipping. This time around, the first seven songs will correspond with seven milestones in your life, as follows.

Song 1: song title relates to the day you were born.

Song 2: describes your childhood

Song 3: describes your high school years

Song 4: describes your college years

Song 5: describes your career

Song 6: describes your marriage

Song 7: applies to your death, perhaps the song to play at your funeral.

So the key here is the song title and how it applies to those events. A lot of them won't really fit, but you'll be surprised. Some of them could end up being rather funny. And remember...no cheating. I don't want you skipping ahead just to find something appropriate. Got it?

Here's my entry for the Weekend Music Game:

1. Birth - "Two of a Million" by Chris Taylor - hmmm. but I wasn't twins...

2. Childhood - "Downside" by Klank

3. High School - "Endurance" by EDL - possibly appropriate...

4. College - "Redemption" by Johnny Cash

5. Career - "U Can't Touch This" by M. C. Hammer - hehe. nice

6. Marriage - "With or Without You" by U2 - I swear this is what came up. Wow.

7. Death - "Molotov" by Dead Poetic - yeesh.....

Well there you have it. Some interesting ones there (and some of my louder stuff came up this time around).

Now it's your turn to tell us your life story...as told by your MP3 player...go for it.

Your Weekend Music Fix

2009-01-22T09:26:00.007-05:00

The weekend is just around the corner, and once again we have another weekend of great music for you, beginning with several cool shows tonight. And, as always, there are plenty of great local bands and musicians on the bill. Some of these show are free, so if you are interested in more details on cost or times, just click on the link. And I'm pretty sure you all know how to use Google...

Last weekend I went to see Slimfit, Perkasie, and the Shackeltons at the Abbey, and had such a great time that I'm revisiting one of these bands for one of my weekend picks. But the selection is so prime this time around...I'm forced to make THREE picks.

Ken's Pick o' the Week #1:

Friday, 1/23 - Perkasie, The Sketties, Ivan Swangren Trio, Tin Leaves, & St. Narcissus at the Chameleon in Lancaster. Several great local bands, and if you have never seen Perkasie live, you are missing out on one of the most energetic and amazing shows. Seriously, you need to be there. (and if you can't make that show, head on over to Clipper Stadium in Lancaster earlier in the evening will Perkasie will be performing a shorter set).

Ken's Pick o' the Week #2:

Sunday, 1/25 - The Fiction Family at Messiah College. If you haven't heard of this band, you soon will. Lots o' buzz surrounding this project featuring Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek. WXPN and other indie stations have been playing this band's music lately. Good stuff.

Ken's Pick o' the Week # 2:

Tuesday, 1/27 - Moviate.org presents Frightened Rabbit at the Abbey Bar in Harrisburg. Frightened Rabbit is a great indie band that's getting a lot of buzz these days. Plus, this is a free show! If you know anything about this band you know that this is a serious bargain.

Here's the rest of the calendar.

Thursday, 1/22

Steve Winwood at the American Music Theater, Lancaster

International Guitar Night at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

Friday, 1/23

Davisson Brothers at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Adam Blessing at Fenicci's, Hershey

Tamboreens at McCleary's Pub, Marietta

Main Street Mystics at Building Character, Lancaster

Saturday, 1/24

Vinegar Creek Constituency at McCleary's Pub, Marietta

Tom Hamilton's American Babies & Wissahickon Chicken Shack at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Reason Left Town, Flatbed Ford, The Suburban Sound, The CCL at the Chameleon, Lancaster

Again, this is far from an exhaustive list of the music you can hear around Central PA this weekend. Check out the websites for your favorite venue or band, or even one of the great local events websites, but most importantly, Support Local Music!

New U2: Get On Your Boots

2009-01-19T08:48:00.003-05:00

The new U2 song, "Get On Your Boots," debuted today and I just heard it for the first time a few minutes ago on XPN. I think it's a very different sound for the band, as they continue to explore new territory.

The song is streaming here, at least for a short time. You can also read details about the full album, No Line On The Horizon, at that site. And you can read the lyrics here.

The song is a bit of a rocker for U2 and has a funky edge. Lots of rhythm section going on. I think it bodes well for the new album, which will be released on March 3rd.

I find that U2 songs and albums are often like puzzles that need to be figured out, so it will take me a little while to digest this song, as well as the album once it is released. But so far I really like what I hear. There has been so much talk about this album that I have worried that it won't live up to the hype. But I'm pretty sure U2 won't dissapoint.

Let me know what you think of this song, and if you comment, give us at least the context as to whether you are a U2 fan or not.

Let's Go Eagles!

2009-01-18T13:32:00.003-05:00

Fly Eagles Fly.

On the road to victory.

Fight Eagles Fight.

Score a touchdown.

1,2,3.

Hit'em low. Hit'em high.

And watch our eagles fly.

Fly Eagles Fly.

On the road to victory.

E-A-G-L-E-S

EAGLES!

Friday Music Game: The Way Back Machine

2009-01-16T10:10:00.007-05:00

Wasn't it just Friday, like...oh...a week ago? Well it's time for the Friday Music Game once again. A Twitter discussion with a few folks the other day has inspired me to head in a different, and potentially more embarrassing direction. So let's all hop in our Way Back Machines and think back to when we were kids. Today's edition of the game is to tell us about the first 45/LP/8-Track/cassette/CD, etc. that you can remember getting/purchasing. If you can't remember the very first one, just try to do the best you can. Oh, and if you are too young to know what a 45 or LP or even 8-track or cassette is....I hate you. And you can look them up on Wikipedia.

As for me, I can't be sure which was the very first, but for the sake of argument I'm going to say that my very first 45 was the song "Mandy" by Barry Manilow. Yup. I admit it. I was in 6th grade and it was 1975. (I'll save you the pain of doing the math...I'm just about 47 years old). I actually purchased a number of 45s around that time including another Manilow song, "It's A Miracle," as well as The Doobie Brothers - "Black Water" and America - "Tin Man."

As for Manilow, what can I say? This was early in his career when he was making the transition from successful jingle song writer to pop star, and before he went the lounge singer route. I was only 13 at the time and I was just getting into music and taking my cues from Philly top 40 music stations like WIFI 92 and WFIL/WIP. Plus, there was a cute girl in my 6th grade class at Jarrettown Elementary School by the name of Mandy (couldn't remember her last name if my life depended on it...). I'm sure she doesn't remember me! Anyway, that's my song!

Here's a video of the song from Midnight Special, a great rock program from that time period.

Now it's your turn! Step into the Way Back Machine and tell us the first song/album you can remember buying/receiving when you were younger.

A Musictacular Weekend

2009-01-14T18:53:00.011-05:00

Did ya hear that? That was the sound of a thousand jaws dropping when they found out that there was so much great music happening this weekend throughout Central Pennsylvania. So here we go!

Ken's Picks o' the Weekend:

#1 - XPN Welcomes Music Friday to Downtown Lancaster - Friday, Jan. 16th. Third Friday of every month is Music Friday in Lancaster. The 300 block of N. Queen Street is ground zero for this event, particularly Building Character. You should especially stop by BC at 9 p.m. to hear my good friend Alex Brubaker and his fingerstyle guitar playing.

#2 - XPN Welcomes The Shackeltons, Slimfit, & Perkasie to the Abbey Bar in Harrisburg. Friday, Jan 16th. After Music Friday head on up to Harrisburg to hear three great Central PA XPN Local bands. The Shackeltons (Chambersburg) produced one of my favorite albums of 2008 and I can't wait to hear their next CD. Slimfit (Lancaster) puts on one of the most energetic and crazy shows you have ever seen. And Perkasie (Lancaster) is set to have a breakout year in 2009. Doesn't get any better than this. And there is no cover charge!

And, the rest of the weekend:

Thursday, January 15

XPN Welcomes James Hunter & Ryan Shaw to Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

Friday, January 16

The Sketties at Creations Cafe, Lititz

Celtic Crossroads at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg

Saturday, January 17

Zen Tricksters at the Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Adam Blessing at Annie Bailey's Irish Pub, Lancaster

So don't bother listening to the weather forecast for the weekend. Cold is just a state of mind. And music is like a heating pad for the soul. Or something like that...

Sweet New Video: Neil Young - Fork in the Road

2009-01-13T17:32:00.007-05:00

Sheer brilliance. That's all I can say after seeing the video for the latest Neil Young song, "Fork in the Road."

For the most part I've loved Young's music, with a few minor burps along the way. He has a way of being disarmingly biting while making you laugh. And in this video he certainly plays the part well of the curmudgeonly veteran rocker...all the while making socio-political commentary, with a few well placed jabs at the world of new media. You can almost hear the "nudge, nudge, wink, wink." But beyond that, the beauty here is the wry simplicity with which Young shot this video. One camera, one shot, one take. And musically it's quite the gem as well. I have a feeling this is one of those videos where I'll catch something new with each subsequent viewing.

Enjoy!

Who Am I? Getting to Know Ken

2009-01-10T10:40:00.006-05:00

My friend Aaron Aiken (@aaronaiken) who blogs over at Where Are You Now? started a thread or "meme" whereby we're supposed to introduce ourselves a bit and tell seven weird or random things about ourselves, and then tag seven more people to keep it going. So...why not?

Here's some interesting things you should know about Ken:

1. I love music, but have ZERO musical ability. Any time I have ever tried to take lessons, I have failed. I guess I'm too A.D.D. to stick to it. I seriously wish I could play piano or guitar, but...I can't. I can't even sing. I always tell people that I'm "biotone" - I only know two notes...and neither of them have ever been used in a song. So I live vicariously through the music I listen to, as well as my drum/piano/guitar playing kids. Oh, and I have no rhythm. And since I don't drink, you'll never see me dancing in public. Unless of course it's a small crowd of close friends and I'm seriously trying to embarrass my kids.

2. Food, glorious Food! It's a surprise I don't weigh 300 pounds. I love food. And I'll try anything once. I think that if a Dr. ever tells me I need to cut back on certain things due to cholesterol/blood pressure/other malady, I'll just have to look him in the eye and say "Are you stupid?" And I love meat too much to ever consider being a vegetarian. I'll go to a buffet and get back to my table and realize that I have a plate piled high with meat. Sometimes the closest thing I ever get to a veggie in those places would be mashed potatoes or French fries.

As a kid, I once as a joke made an apple butter and liverwurst sandwich (yes, i know, "ewwwww.") And as gross as it may sound, it actually tasted quite good. So I actually made those sandwiches from time to time. I've even eaten cold calves brains at a Moroccan meal. Won't ever eat them again, but I tried it! And yes, I do like scrapple. For me, it's all about taste. I don't give a rip about what it looks like or "presentation." I'm from the school of thought that it's all going to the same place...so strange combinations generally don't bother me. If it tastes good, I'm in!

3. My hair is completely gray and has been for a long time. I don't remember when the process started, but I was definitely in my mid- to late-30s. I've never even considered coloring it, but for those of you who know me only as a gray-haired gent, my original hair color was a light-ish brown. I think there are some pictures of that on Facebook. Fortunately I've been told that gray looks good on me. Some might say "dignified" but then they must not really know me!

4. While I'm not an innovator or a true early adopter, I'm a supreme multi-tasker when it comes to technology. As a kid I would do my homework while sitting in front of the TV and listening to music. Now, as I approach my 47th birthday, I find myself well ahead of the tech curve, having been on Facebook and MySpace well before my kids were even there. Part of that is due to the fact that some of my jobs have involved researching and writing/speaking on social media/Internet/new media. I'm obviously blog, I'm on Twitter (@kmueller62) as well as a number of other social media sites. It is not uncommon to find me online, listening to music, on AIM, on Twitter, and on my cell (either texting or speaking), all at the same time. Somehow this works for me and I flourish. Sometimes in the evening I'll even be doing all these while watching TV.

As a result, many of my friends are people I first met online via social media. These are the friends with whom I can truly connect on a regular basis, and I enjoy meeting them in person.

But the one area where I'm technologically stupid is video games. My kids love playing me in Halo or other games because I'm like a guy with a bulls eye on him. They've killed me ten times before I even SEE them the first time. And don't even ask me about Guitar Hero. Apparently my musical inabilities carry over to virtual music.

5. Fears. I don't really have many. Not afraid of dying. I guess my biggest phobia would be a weird fear of medium heights. High heights don't bother me. I figure if I fall, I'm dead. But if I'm on the edge of the roof...or perhaps 20 feet up...then I might get a little scared...because if I fall, I'm maimed. I think I'd rather die than be seriously maimed. Not afraid of snakes, or spiders, or crowds, or small spaces. And certainly not superstitious at all. I go out of my way to use the number 13, walk under ladders, walk passed black cats. I'd break more mirrors on purpose, but my wife would be ticked, and that habit would get kind of expensive.

6. Coffee. I love coffee. With cream and sugar. Coffee stirs up fond memories for me. I can remember coming downstairs in the morning as a kid and smelling my dad's coffee, and even smelling it on his breath as he hugged me to go to work. Couldn't stand it back then, and didn't really learn to drink it until college. Now, I used to say that there is no such thing as a bad cup of coffee. That's because when I really started drinking it heavily I was working overnights in small town radio. You never knew when that pot of coffee had been brewed, and I'm sure when it was emptied it never really got cleaned well. My main caveat with coffee is that I want just regular old coffee. No lattes or espresso or double mochasomethingorothers for me. No flavors. Just coffee. And my preferred brand is Dunkin Donuts. I just think it tastes best and goes down really smooth. Starbucks is overpriced swill. I would LOVE to get into all the different blends from different countries, etc., but sometimes they are too strong for me. So if you are buying me a cup of coffee, I'll take regular ol' Joe with some cream and sugar...and DD is the best choice. If you do that, you'll make me very happy.

7. Oh wow...my last one. What to talk about? How about that fact that I'm seriously boring! I'm a homebody and I don't go out much. With few exceptions, I'd rather stay home at night and on the weekends and just chill. I have no real hobbies (other than reading, music, and Internet), no cool special skills, and I've never really travelled extensively. Only been out of the country twice (both times to Canada...yawn), and have never been to any of the really cool places in this country. Never seen the Grand Canyon or Mount Rushmore or Alaska or Hawaii. I prefer white bread to wheat bread. Yep...I'm boring.

And now time to tag my friends and see what they come up with:

THE RULES ARE:
Link your original tagger(s) and leave a comment on this blog posting when you’ve “memed”.

List these rules on your blog.

Share seven facts about yourself in the post - some random, some weird.

Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.

Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs and/or Twitter.

Final Reminder: Hannah Garman Benefit

2009-01-10T09:35:00.003-05:00

So far the predictions of a crazy snow storm haven't materialised, so I'm hoping there will be a great turnout for tonight's Hannah Garman benefit at Bube's Brewery in Mount Joy.

I blogged about this benefit earlier in the week, but thought I'd remind you in case you were still looking for something to do tonight. Meanwhile, here are links to a few other blogs that have discussed the benefit:

Daniel Klotz

Change 101

Hope to see you all there!

It's Back! The Friday Music Game!!!

2009-01-09T09:13:00.008-05:00

Took some time off, but now it's time for the Friday Music Game. And we'll just do it the old-school, traditional way. If you're new, feel free to play along. It's fun AND 4 out of 5 doctors say it will help relieve your stress before the weekend.

Rules: Put your iPod/MP3 player/iTunes, etc on shuffle/random and hit Play. Then list the first ten songs that play, in order, no skipping (even if that embarrassing Michael Bolton song comes up...). And feel free to tell us something about the songs if you want.

And here we go....

1. Julie Miller - All My Tears - love this song. She has a new album out with husband Buddy, but wish she would do another solo album.

2. The Hooters - Time After Time (live) - always liked Cyndi Lauper's version of this song, but while she made it famous, these are the guys that wrote it. This live version is pretty nice.

3. Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash - I Still Miss Someone - I recently found a whole bunch of Dylan/Cash performances online. Two great tastes that taste great together!

4. The Juliana Theory - 10,000 Questions - really like these guys, but this isn't one of my faves...

5. Soul Junk - 3PO Soul - my favorite lo-fi/punk/hip hop/jazz outfit. Prefer their oldest stuff, but this really like this song in all of it's electronic deliciousness.

6. The Fray - She Is - newer song from these guys. They are hit and miss with me, but I like this song. Really like this dude's voice.

7. Damien Jurado - Hell and Highwater - nice quietly dark tune from Jurado's debut album, Water Avenue S, on Subpop. Still a great album 12 years later...

8. Land of a Thousand Rappers - Water Displacement - Don't know much about this band but I really like their sound...and they are on Asthmatic Kitty Records...which counts for something!

9. Dean & Britta - Threw it Away - beautiful song from a seriously beautiful album. Love it.

10. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife 1 & 2 - Really like this album, though again this isn't the best song. Still, it's good.

And....ten more to keep you warm over the weekend during the supposed snowstorm...

11. Vigilantes of Love - It's Not Bothering Me

12. Mark Heard - Shaky Situation

13. Pedro the Lion - I'm Always The One Who Calls

14. Andy Pratt - That's When Miracles Occur

15. Lisa Loeb - Taffy

16. Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire

17. The Violet Burning - There is Nowhere Else

18. John Vanderslice - Numbered Lithograph

19. Hiram Ring - Breath Deep

20. Moby - Find My Baby

Cool Band, Cool Video: Frightened Rabbit

2009-01-08T19:17:00.006-05:00

One of the newer bands out there that is getting a lot of buzz is Frightened Rabbit out of Scotland. The band is primarily a project of Scott Hutchison and his brother Grant, and they are really starting to catch on over on this side of the big pond.

Frightened Rabbit is now touring the U.S. and some of their shows are even selling out. The really cool news in all of this is that they will be playing a FREE show at the Abbey Bar in Harrisburg on January 27th, in a show being promoted by the folks at Moviate.org.

Here's the latest video from the band...which I happen to think is pretty darn cool.

Also on the bill at the Abbey that night are Lancaster's 8-Track Radio and Harrisburg's Bigmouth Strikes Again.

If you're not in Central PA or can't catch this show, other area Frightened Rabbit shows include a stop at Johnny Brenda's in Philly on 1/16, the Talking Head in Baltimore on 1/20, Rangos Ballroom at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh on 1/26, and then back in Philly on 1/29 for a free acoustic show at Reward Boutique.

Definitely check these guys out...and enjoy!

This Weekend in Music

2009-01-08T09:04:00.001-05:00

Things were a little slow around the holiday, but wow...the music scene really picks up this weekend. Unless there are tornadoes, blizzards, or swarms of locusts, you have no excuse for staying home and missing out on great local music.

Pick of the weekend:

Saturday, 1/10 - Hannah Garman Benefit Concert at Bube's Brewery in Mount Joy. I blogged about this the other day, so no need to rehash all that. You can read the details here.

The rest of the weekend's festivities:

Friday, 1/9

Gregg Allman at Whitaker Center in Harrisburg

Vinegar Creek Constituency at Lancaster Dispensing Company

The Sketties at the Dutch Maid in Ephrata

Hexbelt, Barrel of Wolves, and High Falootin' at the Chameleon in Lancaster

Indian Summer Jars at the Abbey Bar in Harrisburg

Mark DeRose Duo at the Harp & Fiddle Irish Pub in York

8-Track Radio at Building Character in Lancaster

Saturday 1/10

Katie Becker w/ Castle Worries & We Were Skeletons at Senorita Burrita in Lancaster

Anberlin at the Chameleon (also appearing are Madina Lake & Between the Trees)

Jay & the Americans at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster

Perkasie at First Cap Dispensing Company in York

Japhey Ryder, New Madrid Faults and Carlon at the Abbey Bar in Harrisburg

Capitol Bandstand (showcase of local bands) at the Strand-Capitol in York

Blogs You Should Read: Change 101

2009-01-07T08:21:00.005-05:00

I have a lot of friends in the blogosphere and from time to time I like to give them a shout out so that more people will check them out.

One such friend is Jess Bair, a writer for the Central Penn Business Journal. But on the side she has a blog called Change 101. Here is the concept for the blog in her own words:

I feel challenged to help initiate change. This blog is my first step, small as it may be. At least once a week I will try to post some information about a cause, what it does and how you can help. I hope the information will help you to speak up, reach out and take our world and our desire for change seriously.

In recent weeks, Jess has covered local issues such as helping the homeless in Harrisburg and urban poverty in Central PA. She has also covered more global issues like the Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign and efforts to improve the situation in Darfur.

Check out Change 101 and it might inspire you to do something, no matter how small. You can also join her Facebook group.

Community At It's Best: Hannah Garman Benefit

2009-01-06T08:22:00.000-05:00

I love it when communities join together for a good cause. In this case, it's a great cause. This Saturday night, January 10th, a number of bands and others will be performing at a benefit concert for 4-year old Hannah Garman at Bube's Brewery in Mount Joy.

Back in October, Hannah was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancerous brain tumor. Since that time, the young Lititz girl has undergone several operations and been given numerous treatments including chemotherapy. Several years ago Hannah's mother passed away from cancer, leaving her father, Darin, to care for her and her two siblings. You can read more about Hannah at Caring Bridge. You can also watch a news story about her from WGAL-TV.

The benefit will be held this Saturday at 9pm in the Bottling Works at Bube's.

Featured performers include:

Randy Z. of Tropical Soul

The Dreamscapes Project

Ripe

The Dogs of Lust

Pete & Keith of Shame

There will also be a number of prizes raffled off, and DJ Kerry Deim will be the MC.

If you are on Facebook you can find more information about the event here.

If you are looking for some great music this weekend, this is the place to be, and you'll be helping out a great cause. Let's all band together to help this beautiful little girl and her family.

And even if you can't make it, tell your friends. Spread the word any way you can. Wouldn't it be great if the venue was so packed that people had to wait to get in?

Also, if you have anything you'd like to donate for the raffle, please contact Todd Johnston at 717-468-8807 or todd@ksoundstudios.com .

Now THIS is what community is all about.

Buy Local, Buy...Handmade!

2009-01-05T08:50:00.007-05:00

There's a big push here in Central PA to "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" and now a relatively new website/blog can help you with that task, at least in terms of local Pennsylvania artisans and crafters. Handmade in PA (HiP) features the work of those in Pennsylvania who are creating all sort of handmade goods, from jewelry and clothing to the fine arts and pottery. If it's handmade, and from Pennsylvania, this is the site to check out.

The site features a small but growing directory of PA artisans, and you can help her grow that list! If you are an artisan, drop Tara Gentile a line (tara@handmadeinpa.net) and she'll add you to her list. You can also follow her on Twitter (@handmadeinpa)

The site features write-ups of different crafters, as well as giveaways. This is a great resource that I'm sure will grow exponentially in the weeks and months to come. While Tara is a crafter herself, she is more of a hobbyist, but more importantly is a real fan of homemade goods. She operates the site out of her home in Reading.

I love these types of blogs/sites/organizations that promote local goods and entities. Keep up the good work, Tara! And the rest of you should check it out, bookmark it, and add it to your blog feeds. And remember: Buy Local, Buy Handmade!

XPN Year in Review - Top 50 Albums of 2008

2009-01-01T09:27:00.006-05:00

To end 2008, WXPN counted down the Top Ten Albums of 2008 as part of the XPN Year in Review. These were voted on by listeners. Here are the top 50. If you tune in today from 10a to 7p you can hear Jim McGuinn (on his last day at XPN) count down the top 100 songs of the year!

#1. Vampire Weekend - Self Titled
#2. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
#3. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
#4. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
#5. The Fleet Foxes - Self Titled
#6. Duffy - Rockferry
#7. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
#8. Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night
#9. Mgmt - Oracular Spectacular
#10. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
#11 TV On The Radio - Dear Science
#12 Amos Lee - Last Days At The Lodge
#13 Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
#14 Ray Lamontagne - Gossip In The Grain
#15 Beck - Modern Guilt
#16 The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing
#17 REM - Accelerate
#18 Joe Jackson - RAIN
#19 Brian Eno & David Byrne - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
#20 Lucinda Williams - Little Honey
#21 Dr Dog - Fate
#22 Santogold - Santogold
#23 Ben Folds - Way To Normal
#24 The B-52s - Funplex
#25 Ryan Adams And The Cardinals - Cardinology
#26 Old 97s - Blame It On Gravity
#27 The Felice Brothers - The Felice Brothers
#28 The Pretenders - Break Up The Concrete
#29 The Raconteurs - The Consolers Of The Lonely
#30 Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static
#31 Counting Crows - Saturday Nights And Sunday Mornings
#32 Adele - Nineteen
#33 Aimee Mann - Smilers
#34 Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
#35 Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin'
#36 She And Him - Volume 1
#37 Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
#38 Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs
#39 Conor Oberst - Self Titled
#40 Joan Osborne - Little Wild One
#41 Drive By Truckers - Brighter Than Creations Dark
#42 Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago
#43 The Black Keys - Attack Release
#44 The Killers - Day And Age
#45 Ryan Bingham - Mescalito
#46 Delta Spirit - Ode To Sunshine
#47 Flight Of The Conchords - Self Titled
#48 Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks
#49 Snow Patrol - One Hundred Million Suns
#50 Jonatha Brooke - The Works

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T18:06:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

Ring Out the Old and Ring in the New

2008-12-30T08:36:00.004-05:00

Every year there is that last minute soul-searching as we ask ourselves the all-important question...."What the heck are we gonna do for New Year's Eve??"

Well, look no further. Lots of great stuff going on. Some of which don't involve dropping strange objects at midnight. From bologna to pickles to a wrench to a giant M&M, Pennsylvania seems to be the king of strange New Year's traditions.

But if you are looking for something to do, here are a few options. You can find a larger list of local options from the fine folks at Spotobe.

Lancaster

Lancaster has a city-wide NYEve celebration, but my pick for the evening is the celebration at Building Character featuring a CD release party for local jazz band, The Faux Minx. Cover charge for the BYOB event is just $5 and they'll be taking a break just before midnight so they can all stop outside and enjoy the fireworks. More details here.

If you want to partake in the city celebration, Countdown Lancaster 2009, by purchasing a badge for just $5 and gaining access to all sort of entertainment and family activities at over 25 locations.

Harrisburg

If you are in the Harrisburg area, there are plenty of events to keep you busy. The main event is the M&T Bank Harrisburg New Year's Eve Celebration featuring music and entertainment throughout the downtown area.

But of all the events in Harrisburg, my choice is the ABC New Year's Eve Bash at the Abbey Bar featuring live music from Hexbelt. And if you are ambitious, special VIP tickets are available featuring a four course meal.

York

And if you are looking for fun in the White Rose city, York has their New Year's Eve Revolution celebration. You can buy admission buttons to gain entrance to entertainment events at over 20 locations throughout the city. The culminating event will take place at Sovereign Bank Stadium, featuring music, fireworks, and the white rose drop. Make sure you check out the music of Mark DeRose at this event.

Or, if you are looking for something a bit on the edgy side, you can watch the film of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, complete with live performers on stage to help out with the interactive parts.

I still haven't made my final plans yet, so let me know how you are spending your NY Eve. Going out? Staying home? How do you ring in the New Year?

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Concerts After Christmas

2008-12-24T09:32:00.003-05:00

Once Christmas has passed and you are done returning things to the mall, I'm sure you'll be wanting some good music. So here is a list of a few shows happening in Central PA this weekend.

Ken's Pick o' the Week #1:

Saturday, 12/27

XPN Welcomes Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers to the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center in York. Another great offering from the folks at CapLive Music. The opening band is York's own Kingsfoil. You'll love 'em!

Ken's Pick O' The Week #2:

Sunday, 12/28

August Burns Red at the Chameleon in Lancaster. This is the annual CI Records Christmas show at the Chameleon, featuring the biggest thing to come outta Lancaster County since Shoofly Pie. August Burns Red is a hugely talented hardcore band. Their version of "Carol of the Bells" has been featured in some of the trailers for the upcoming movie, The Spirit.

Also featured are Circus Circus, Texas in July, An Early Ending, Rest Among Ruins, Lucy, and We Were Skeletons.

Now for the rest of the schedule:

12/26 - The Sharks at the Chameleon

12/27 - Wu Tang Clan at the Chameleon

12/28 - XPN Welcomes The Francis Dunnery Band to Gullifty's Underground, Camp Hill.

And that's pretty much what's going on throughout the area. Enjoy and have a marvelous holiday! I'll catch you on the other side.

For Your Holiday Listening Pleasure...

2008-12-23T16:26:00.006-05:00

WXPN has got some pretty groovy stuff going on over the holidays, so I thought I would fill you in so you know what to listen for....

Starting at midnight tonight it's the Night Before on XPN with Robert Drake. 24 hours of Holiday music and madness featuring XPN's Robert Drake. That's right...Midnight tonight to midnight tomorrow night. You can listen on-air or online, and even check in to see how Robert is doing via the Jingle Cam and the special Holiday Chat Room.

Then on Christmas day we have a full day of great programming:

Echoes Sonic Seasonings 12-2 AM
World Cafe 2-3 AM
XPN holiday music mix – perfect for late night toy assembly! 3-6 AM
Chuck Elliot Sleepy Hollow Christmas Morning 6 AM – 12 PM
Echoes Sonic Seasonings 12-2 PM
World Cafe Christmas show – Top 25 Rock & Roll Christmas songs & Julian Koster – The Singing Saw At Christmas 2-4 PM
World Cafe Christmas Eve show – BELA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES AND MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER 4-6PM
MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER Christmas radio special 6-7 PM
XPN’s first annual “Elf Boogie Rock & Roll Gifts Are Unwrapped Shuffle” – four hours of upbeat rock & roll including some holiday songs 7-11 PM

There will be some great stuff happening for the new year as well, but we'll have those details next week. Happy Holidays and enjoy listening!

Christmas Lights on Steroids

2008-12-23T11:35:00.003-05:00

This is an oldie but goodie Internet favorite...but I thought it was worth posting for those who might not have seen it (or perhaps haven't seen it in awhile.) This is a real house in Ohio with Christmas lights synced up to music. You can verify the reality of this by entries on Snopes and Wikipedia.

And you can find more videos like this here. Sadly, the man behind this had to stop doing the light show a few years ago due to traffic congestion, etc. Though I imagine the cost of electricity has to be a deterrent as well!

Cool Music Videos I Like

2008-12-21T09:34:00.004-05:00

For a cold, lazy Sunday afternoon, how about one of my favorite videos from last year? This is from French groovesters, Justice. The video is for the song "D.A.N.C.E." Just a fun and rather creative video.

Worst Band Names....Ever

2008-12-20T11:14:00.004-05:00

Every day I read a lot of other blogs, mostly having to do with music, entertainment, or social media. And every once in awhile I find one that I just have to pass on to you folks.

The A.V. Club blog does a great job of covering music. And they just put up their 2008: Year in Band Names post. 6 pages of ridiculously funny (and scary) band names. Do yourself a favor and head on over there and read the whole thing. I sat here laughing out loud for quite a while.

The Friday Music Game: Listener's Choice

2008-12-19T09:14:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, another Friday, and therefore another day for the Friday Music Game. Trying to switch things up a bit and find variations to keep it fresh. So here is your assignment for today. Put your iPod/MP3 player/music player, etc. on random/shuffle. Write down the first ten songs that play, in order, with no skipping. Then tell us which of those ten is your favorite song of the bunch, and why. Here's my list.

1. Laura Cantrell - Big Wheel

2. Johnny Cash (w. Joe Strummer) - Redemption Song

3. Charlie Peacock - No Place Closer to Heaven

4. Soul Junk - Set You Free

5. Woven Hand - Bleary Eyed Duty

6. Kelly Wingate - Thousand Circles

7. The Clash - Brand New Cadillac

8. The Violet Burning - I'm No Superman

9. Demon Hunter - Fire to My Soul

10. Damien Jurado - Big Deal

Wow, tougher than I thought. I could pick 3 or 4 of those as my favorite of the group, but I think I'll go with #2. I love Johnny Cash, and a pairing with the Clash's Joe Strummer is too hard to resist, especially on a classic song like Redemption Song. What a great sound.

Runner-up would probably go to #6, because Kelly Wingate was one of my favorite bands from the Oxford, MS music scene, and "Thousand Circles" is one of my favorite songs from their only full CD release. Wonderful slo-core kinda sound. Hard to find CD, but find it if you can.

Your turn. Hit me with your list and which is your favorite and why...

A Musical Weekend: Where to Go...What to Hear

2008-12-18T09:18:00.000-05:00

This weekend's music landscape is pretty darn sweet. Here are my three "Picks o' the Week" followed by a more complete schedule of what's going down.

Pick o' the Week #1: XPN Welcomes Music Friday to Downtown Lancaster - Tomorrow night (12/19). The city goes music crazy with all types of music at local venues, stores and galleries. Literally something for every musical taste from jazz to classical to indie rock. This is a monthly event that ought to be on your calendar as a regular stop. Check out the Faux Minx at Building Character, Share the Bread at the Annex 24 Gallery, Maryjo Mattea at Veleska Jewelry, Mike Butera at the Infantree, and many more. Music music everywhere!

Pick o' the Week #2: Love >>> Begotten Concert at Wheatland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster - Saturday, 12/20. Hiram Ring, Matt Monticchio, David Green, and others perform music from this year's Christmas CD release of Love >>> Begotten. A great way to usher in the Christmas holiday.

Pick o' the Week #3: XPN Welcomes Hoots & Hellmouth with Slimfit & Perkasie to the Chameleon. Two of Lancaster's hottest bands open up for Philly sensation Hoots & Hellmouth.

Now here's the rest of what's happening around Central PA:

Thursday, 12/18

Alt-rockers Red are playing upstairs at the Chameleon in Lancaster, while York native Adam Kowalczyk (of the band Live) will be performing downstairs in the Lizard Lounge.

Friday, 12/19

If you're in Lancaster for Music Friday, check out Vinegar Creek Constituency at Lancaster Dispensing Co., and the Sketties, along with Daniel Herr, at Isaac's on Queen Street.

If you're more of a "classical" kinda person, check out the Susquehanna Chorale's Candlelight Christmas at Whitaker Center, featuring a performance of Handel's Messiah.

Saturday, 12/20

If you miss the Sketties on Friday night you can catch them Saturday at Sparky & Clarke's in York. Meanwhile, three great local bands, The Mint, Kheris, and The April Skies will be up in Harrisburg at the Abbey Bar.

And again on the more classical side, Whitaker Center offers The Harrisburg Choral Society's Fresh & Evergreen.

Sunday, 12/21

The highlight this night is Love Came Down at Christmas, a Christmas pageant at Whitaker Center featuring Jars of Clay, Leeland, Sixpence None the Richer, and Sara Groves.

Monday, 12/22

For a more intimate and quiet evening, check out Matt Brown & friends at the Prince Street Cafe in Lancaster.

If you know of any other cool music events in Central PA over the next few days, feel free to throw them in the comments section here. Share the love!

Rock 'n' Roll Heaven...or is it?

2008-12-17T07:18:00.001-05:00

Last week I got into a Twitter discussion about the 28th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon. One friend, Justin Kunkle of Spotobe, mused about what/where Lennon would be today if he hadn't been killed. One thing led to another and we began discussing similar fates for other musicians who died before their time: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, the guys from Skynyrd, and so on. So with that in mind, here's my take on it, and I'll admit that some of the ideas here came from Justin and others as we discussed the situation on Twitter.

Let me just preface by saying that my gut feeling is that most of these people have had their reputations cemented for posterity as the result of their untimely deaths. I have a feeling that none of them would have transitioned well into the culture and music industry as we know it today. Despite that, also please remember, as is often the case, my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek on some of this...this is merely an exercise in fun.

Here we are, 2008.

John Lennon, now 68 years old, has not aged well. He has continued to release albums over the years, most of which feature the unlistenable vocals of Yoko Ono. He has been a recluse in the Dakota and most of his friends are lawyers. During the past two decades he has sued all three of the other Beatles, their spouses, their offspring, Michael Jackson, May Pang, several record labels, Ford, Nike, Johnson & Johnson, numerous other corporations, and several non-profit causes for whom he was a spokesman. He has become increasingly difficult to deal with and even the folks at Amnesty International won't go near him for fear of having shoes hurled in their direction. John no longer speaks with any of his kids, and hasn't been seen in public since 1993, leading some to speculate that he is in the midst of a private 15-year "bed-in," protesting pretty much everything under the sun. The few missives that have made their way out of his compound show that he is clearly resentful of Paul McCartney's career. Rumor has it that he even invited Heather Mills to join him at the Dakota as part of the "bed-in." Lennon's most recent CD was a spoken word effort that many confused to be a recording of Ozzy Osborne yelling at his kids.

Guitar god Jimi Hendrix, now 66, survived a 1970 drug overdose and continued making music through the seventies, each album featuring a different cast of musicians. By the 80s Hendrix found it difficult to continue making the same unbelievable guitar music, and settled for a more manageable pop career like many of his Woodstock peers. As The Jefferson Airplane morphed into The Jefferson Starship (and "built this city on rock 'n' roll), Hendrix reformed the Jimi Hendrix Experience as the Jimi Hendrix Ordeal, flaunting three chords and lots of harmonies. By the mid-90s Hendrix realized that no one was interested in getting any new music from him so he began touring the amusement park and state fair circuit, once again opening for the reformed Monkees, with pared down versions of his hits. Hendrix is also a staple of summer music festivals, being asked to open them with his version of the "Star-Spangled Banner," even adding a version of "God Bless America" to his repertoire, which he plays during 7th inning stretches at minor league baseball games.

65-year old Jim Morrison has a regular gig at the Mirage in Las Vegas (thanks to his good friends Wayne Newton). After The Doors fired him in 1973, Morrison unsuccessfully sued the remaining members of the band, who to this day continue to tour under that name. Morrison put on a lot of weight and began wearing stretchy pants as he revived his career as a lounge singer. He was rumored to have died in 1985 from a drug overdose but actually went into hiding, working as a doo-wop singing waiter at a Johnny Rockets restaurant in Myrtle Beach. A few years later he was "discovered" by record producer and brought out of hiding. The low point of his career came in 1997 when he came in third place in a Jim Morrison impersonator competition. In 1998 Morrison became the opening act for Siegfried and Roy, an engagement that ended in 2003 when Roy Horn was attacked by one of his tigers. Morrison took to the road with gigs in Atlantic City and Branson, Missouri, but has just signed on to return to the Mirage in 2009 as the opener for ventriloquist Terry Fator. He also moonlights as the lead singer in a Doors tribute band, The Artist Formerly Known as The Doors (TAFKATD). Morrison told MTV's Kurt Loder that he would love to quit performing, but numerous paternity claims have forced him to keep going.

Janis Joplin, now 65, gave up on her career as singer in 1980 when people stopped buying her records and coming to her shows. After years of serious drug-abuse, friends and family staged an intervention and Joplin admitted herself to the Betty Ford clinic in 1984, for the first of five visits. Today, Joplin is a motivational speaker and celebrity spokesperson on numerous cable infomercials. In 2003 she briefly came out of retirement to take the lead in a touring show of "The Rose." It became clear fairly quickly that a clean and sober Joplin clearly didn't have the voice of the drug-addled version, and she quietly bowed out, blaming her departure on vocal chord nodules.

Kurt Cobain, now 41, celebrated his 40th birthday by signing a long-term deal with VH-1 productions, for a reality show titled "Smells like Mid-Life Crisis." Cobain and wife Courtney Love divorced in 1996, and engaged in a very bitter custody battle over daughter, Frances Bean. The judge in the case was loathe to give custody to either parent, but ended up tossing a coin. Cobain called "heads...no...tails!" but it landed "heads" and Love was granted full custody with Cobain getting visitation rights. Nirvana broke up at about the same time as Cobain's marriage, and his solo career never really materialized, with Cobain going in and out of "retirement" at least four times. In his new reality show, Cobain lives in a furniture-less Seattle mansion with 15 flannel-clad twenty-somethings, trying to create a band that will usher in the "next big" musical fad...a grunge-influenced boy band. He has also been pursuing a lawsuit against the makers of Guitar Hero for NOT including more of his songs on the video game. In a brief filed in Federal Court, Cobain's lawyer stated, "Just because my client wants to be left alone and wants people to think he doesn't exist anymore, doesn't mean he isn't entitled to make millions by being recognized as an important icon in American music. Even if they don't use his music in their game, they owe him money because, after all, he IS Kurt Cobain." In 2005 he also came out of "retirement" for a celebrity boxing match against "that punk" Scott Stapp. The fight was stopped when it became clear that both opponents were more interested in slapping then punching.

Elvis Presley, the "King," actually did die in 1977 at the age of 42 while sitting on his "throne." Sometimes, folks, the truth is better than fiction. You just can't make some things up...

Hope you enjoyed all that. Pretty much my attempt to say that, had they lived, the above rock "superstars" might not have fared well. What about others? There's always John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. I figure that band would have broken up eventually and would have had several reunions by now. Not sure where they would have gone musically, though. I kind of like Led Zep frozen in time. I think if Duane Allman had lived, the Allman Brothers would be pretty much where they are today, working hard to walk the tightrope between being taken seriously and being a parody of themselves. I think Lynyrd Skynyrd would have continued in that same vein had all the members survived.

Those whom I think would still be taken seriously and would still be making relevant music include Bob Marley, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, and Jeff Buckley. I think the latter three would have eventually received the fame they were due as the indie music scene has grown and embraced these types of artists. I think the same might have happened to Gram Parsons and his career might have paralleled that of Neil Young, mostly great music with a few less than stellar moments. And of course those who self-destructed might only have lived a bit longer, only to self-destruct later on down the road. And what about rappers like Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur? You could also speculate about the fates of other celebs like James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, John Belushi, or even Bruce Lee. The list goes on...

Any others I've missed? Care to share your own speculative fiction on any of the above? Agree or disagree on my assessments? Let me know! And speculate to your heart's content. And remember...it's all in fun!

What's Goin' On?

2008-12-16T07:49:00.000-05:00

Living and working in Central PA has shown me that there is definitely a lot going on in this region. But the problem is...keeping up with everything and knowing what is happening when. Over the past few months I've discovered a number of blogs, web sites, and email lists that do a great job of keeping me informed of local events. So I thought I would share! This is probably not an exhaustive list, so feel free to comment and add any other blogs or email lists you think should be on here.

Spotobe.com - This events driven website also boasts a blog and a monthly e-news called "The Spot List." A great source for Central PA events, weighted a bit toward the Harrisburg region.

Central Penn Business Journal - While this print and online journal is known for covering the area's business news, they also boast an informative weekly e-newsletter called "Ten Things to Do This Weekend."

Also covering the entire region is Central PA's best music and nightlife publication, Fly Magazine. With print issues free each month in each market (York, Lancaster, Harrisburg), Fly also has a nice online presence with concert and restaurant listings, and much more.

If you're interested specifically in what is going on in Harrisburg, you should subscribe to Harrisburg Hello, a weekly e-newsletter from the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District.

For Harrisburg related news and events, a great place to start is blogHarrisburg. Some of the best blogs you can find there include Midstate Mantra and HarrisburgNightlife. Also of note are a few blogs from friends Sara Bozich and Jersey Mike. Sara does a great job of covering area events and keeping you up to date on new restaurants and shopping opportunities. Mike, on the other hand, likes to cover some of the political goings on in the region, but you can also find out whom he's booking into the Abbey Bar on a regular basis.

And then there is always RSVPa, the event calendar of WITF, which is one of the newest additions to the event calendar pool in the region.

If Lancaster is your beat, then there are a number of organizations you need to check out. Lancaster Arts has a great website covering the art beat, along with a nice weekly e-newsletter and info on Lancaster's vibrant First Friday program.

Also in Lancaster you can subscribe to the weekly Downtown Lancaster Events Guide put out by the fine folks at Building Character. They not only cover their own events (including the artMarket) but also do a great job of keeping you up to date on everything going on downtown.

And also in Lancaster you can check out the Downtown Lancaster website and subscribe to their monthly e-news. This site is put together by the James Street Improvement District and the Downtown Lancaster Improvement District. The site even has a special section devoted to the rapidly growing Music Friday program in Lancaster.

And across the river in York, your best bet is to subscribe to the Fresh York e-newsletter published by the folks from Codo and CapLive Music. The group not only covers York's cultural and entertainment life, but also gives you a nice taste of what's going on within a day's driving distance.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, so feel free to chime in with your favorite "go to" places for what's going on in Central PA. I visit all these blogs and subscribe to all of the above free e-newsletters, and I think you should too. That way you'll never be wondering what's going on in the area. If you know of others, let me know!

Christmas Rapping: Run-DMC Style

2008-12-14T09:01:00.005-05:00

This one will take you back over 20 years to possibly the first Christmas rap tune. Complete with a creepy elf dude. Run-DMC breaks it down for you with "Christmas in Hollis." The song was from the first volume in the Very Special Christmas series.

Five years later they put out another Christmas song which wasn't as big a hit, and in fact has been forgotten by most. But it had a more timely message that continues to resonate during these difficult times. AND...more elves! The song, "Christmas Is..." is from the Very Special Christmas 2 CD, and is actually my favorite song of the two.

Have a merry, merry, merry!

Christmas Video Fun: Band Aid

2008-12-13T09:01:00.007-05:00

This is the one that started it all...the whole "let's play music and raise money for good causes" thing. Interesting song. Way too many close-ups of a blow-dryed George Michael. Lots of footage of rock stars who have since had run-ins with the law. And hair. Lots of hair. But it still gives us all something to think about at the holidays.

You can read more about the video and all the participants over at Wikipedia.

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid

Friday Music Game: One Song and Out

2008-12-12T09:03:00.006-05:00

I woke up expecting snow and the possibility of having to reschedule some business meetings, but...no snow. It was cold and kinda rainy, but NOW the sun is out! So only time for a quick hit.

Go to your MP3 player/iPod/or other music device/program and put it on shuffle. Skip thru 10 songs, and the next one you land on....tell us what it is, and something about that song. No cheating!

The song I came up with was:

Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers - I've always been a big Gabriel fan from his Genesis days, and this song is from his THIRD self-titled album. Still probably my three favorite Gabriel albums. The message holds up today, and the lyrics are rather clever. You can see the video for it here.

So pick a song and tell us about it.

New Christmas Music: Love>>>Begotten

2008-12-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Now that we’re in the Christmas season I have officially lifted the moratorium on playing Christmas music. The moratorium is generally in effect from Jan 1 through Thanksgiving. I’m particularly concerned about those who insist on listening to Christmas music in the weeks prior to Thanksgiving. One holiday at a time, thank you.

One new Christmas CD that I have really been enjoying is Love>>>Begotten produced by local music collaborative Pageant Music. Singer/songwriter Hiram Ring is at the center of this project, similar to last year’s Word>>>Flesh. Both of these CDs are worth adding to your Christmas music collection, and both feature a great group of Lancaster based musicians.

Love>>>Begotten begins with the original song “Just a Single Season” which will soon be offered as a free My Morning Download from WXPN. Songs like this are perfect for Ring whose strength is in the accessibility of his voice. There is a sense of vulnerability in the way Ring presents these songs. He teams up with pianist Matt Monticchio and bassist David Green for traditional carols “Good Christian Men Rejoice,” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

17^th Century carol “The Burning Babe” is up next with the unique presentation and arrangement of Cliff Lewis’ band, Trash and Glory, featuring some Dylanesque harmonica. Claire Battle then brings us a mellow, jazzy version of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” followed by Hiram and gang on an upbeat instrumental version of “I Saw Three Ships” complete with some interesting percussion and sax. Next up is “O Little Town of Bethlehem” performed beautifully by Bethany Brooks on piano. Brooks is a local native with a Master's Degree in Piano Performance from the Royal Academy of Music in London. This is a slightly different arrangement of the familiar carol, so it might throw you a little bit.

Hiram, Matt, and David return with “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and a very jazzed up, loungy version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Loungy, but without the cheese. Then it’s the pleasantly organic sound of Trash and Glory again with “Christmas Pines.” “The Coventry Carol” is up next from Clair Battle. “The First Noel” is a real treat from Katie Becker, who probably should have been featured a bit more here. Pianist Matt Monticchio then offers a short interlude on piano with “The Genealogy.”

The CD closes out as the entire group joins together for “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” from which the album gets its name. Katie Becker’s lilting vocals are at the forefront of this wonderful song which is one of my favorites on this very strong collection.

Head on over to Hiram's website to purchase this CD, and pick up a copy of last year’s release, Word>>>Flesh while you’re at it. Copies of the CD are available at a few local/Central PA retailers, including Central PA Borders locations, and will soon be available for download on iTunes (hopefully by the end of this week, so check back often!)

And if you want, Hiram will be playing some of his music and promoting the CD around the area over the next few weeks. He'll be at the Borders in Harrisburg on Sat., 12/13 at 1pm, and then at the York Borders that same day at 4pm.

Then on Saturday, December 20th, there will be a full Love >>> Begotten concert at Wheatland Presbyterian Church in Lancaster at 7pm. A great way to prepare yourself for Christmas!

Central PA Music FTW! (For the Weekend)

2008-12-10T15:13:00.006-05:00

Yup, it's that time again. Some of my picks for the best music events and destinations throughout Central PA over the next few days.

If you are in to last minute decisions, head on over to Messiah College tonight for a free 10pm show with local indie darlings, Farewell Flight.

But now here are your choices for the next few days. You can thank me later.

Thursday, 12/11

York performer Mark DeRose at Annie Bailey's Irish Pub in Lancaster

Friday, 12/12

XPN Welcomes John Eddie & Darcie Miner to Gullifty's Underground, Camp Hill

Maryjo Mattea at Building Character, Lancaster

The Sketties and The Blahs at The Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

Perkasie at the Human Rights Day Concert, Cocalico H.S., Denver

Mark DeRose at Harp & Fiddle Pub, York

Saturday, 12/13

Slimfit at Quips Pub, Lancaster

Herbie at The Abbey Bar, Harrisburg

The Sketties and The Blahs at Smalls, York

House Exit at Sugar Mama's, Camp Hill

So grab a date, gas up the car (prices are down!), and head on out to a few shows. There ain't nuthin' like local music. And I personally guarantee a good time!

Batman: The Not-So Dark Knight

2008-12-10T07:37:00.002-05:00

Been a lot of buzz this week about the release of The Dark Knight on DVD and it's bound to be a top seller for Christmas. I have to admit, I still haven't seen it. My boys saw it when it first came out and loved it. In fact they're hoping one of them gets the DVD for Christmas. I've liked some of the Batman movies over the years, and I'm sure I'll love The Dark Knight, but there is still something about the old sixties TV series. Nostalgia is a rather potent force. The one thing that boggles my mind is that while many TV series are huge sellers on DVD, the old Batman series has yet to be released. I'm assuming there must be some sort of lawsuit or legal restriction, because I've looked high and low and can't find it.

So if you missed out on the classic series, here's a classic scene. The Dark Knight has nothing on THIS Caped Crusader!

New Video: Damien Jurado - Caskets

2008-12-09T17:14:00.005-05:00

Big Damien Jurado fan here and found this new video for the song Caskets over at MBV. Kind of a creepy video, and if you are the squeamish type, you might not wanna watch. But...it's a great video. The song is from his new Secretly Canadian release Caught in The Trees.

Favorite Christmas Movies

2008-12-09T08:05:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I blogged about my favorite Christmas TV specials, but what about movies? In our home we have a bin of videos and DVDs of Christmas movies that we drag out each December and there are several movies that are in the "must see" category each year. So here are my favorites, again in no particular order:

Classics

White Christmas - Bing and Danny Kaye help out the ol' General, and while the story is rather formulaic and predictable, it's still a great movie, with some great performances and songs. This movie features the song of the same name which also appeared in the earlier film, Holiday Inn, which is another movie we pull out at the holidays.

It's A Wonderful Life - I love Jimmy Stewart. He has a way of portraying characters that are lovable and somewhat morbid at the same time. Must be all those Hitchcock flicks. But here you have a timeless story that seems to fit in well with our hard economic times. Frank Capra did a great job on this story of salvation and redemption.

Miracle on 34th Street - The original version of this movie with the precocious Natalie Wood is a great story tying together the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and building on the annual tradition of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I love when movies use cultural icons as part of the plot. We also watch and enjoy the newer version from 1994, but it isn't quite the same when "Cole's" replaces Gimbels. Thought the courtroom twist at the end featuring a one-dollar bill is an interesting variation on the original.

Babes in Toyland - A bizarre yet funny Laurel and Hardy classic from the thirties that was later reissued under the title March of the Wooden Soldiers. It's a seriously twisted plot line that makes you wonder if the writers were under the influence at the time. If you can find it, check it out.

A Christmas Story - "You'll shoot yer eye out!" Need I say more? I swear that one day I will mortify my wife and purchase a leg lamp. This is one of those movies that only the men in our household watch. For some reason my wife and daughter find it unappealing. We watch the DVD of this Jean Shepherd classic (I'm a radio geek, so Shepherd has a special place in my heart) every year, but also try to watch it during the annual 24-hour marathon on TBS (from Christmas Eve to Christmas night). This is a newer film (1983) but nicely bridges the gap from "classics" to more contemporary holiday fare.

Contemporary Movies

A Muppet Christmas Carol - I've always loved the Muppets and I've always loved this Dicken's classic. And the mash-up of the two does not disappoint. The beauty of this movie is how it stays true to the original tale, while also staying true to the Muppet sensibility. The writers for the Muppets are adept at creating stories that appeal to both kids as well as adults, with all sorts of cultural references and....attitude. This is a laugh out loud funny movie. I'm also a big fan of Muppet Treasure Island, which you need to watch if you have never seen it. But save that one for after Christmas.

Elf - I'm not a Will Ferrell fan. I think most of his movies are seriously inane...nay, just plain stupid. But, I love this movie, and I think he plays the part well. Plus, it features Zooey Deschanel. Need I say more? If you have never seen this, take the time to walk through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, then past the twirly swirly gumdrops, then through the Lincoln Tunnel. You won't regret it.

The Santa Clause - I keep feeling like I shouldn't like this movie, but it's funny and I think the plot is well developed. Some great stuff in here. One of those movies where you find something new every time you watch it. The sequels were so-so, but the original is a good one. They do a great job of explaining some of the "mysteries" surrounding Santa Claus.

So there's my list. I'm sure I'll think of others. What are your favorites?

Favorite Christmas TV Specials

2008-12-08T10:09:00.001-05:00

I'm big on Christmas traditions, and one in our house is that each December we pull out our rather large collection of Christmas movie/TV Special videos and DVDs. So here, in no particular order are my favorite Christmas TV specials.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - while I'm not really ranking these, if I were, this would definitely be number one. Lovable cartoon icon, innocence, great message. It's all there. Linus pretty much rocks, and seriously...what would Christmas be without the whole Peanuts gang doing their dance? No Christmas season is complete without this one.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Rankin-Bass broke new ground with their "animagic" animation technique and produced quite a few Christmas specials. But I think this one is the cream of the crop. Gotta love the Island of Misfit Toys (with it's Charlie-in-the-box) and "Hermey wants to be a dentist!" And of course, don't forget the Bumble. Other Rankin-Bass productions worth mentioning include Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and The Year Without A Santa Claus. All are worthy of being on this list.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - What's not to like about this one? A classic story with a timeless message of redemption. (And while this TV special is worth watching every year, feel free to skip the Jim Carrey movie of the same name. Just awful.) Watching the denizens of Whoville confound the Grinch is just priceless.

Dave & Goliath Christmas - OK, so this one is a bit cheesy, but I have fond memories of watching Davey & Goliath as a kid. In this Christmas episode, Davey can't find the "Christmas spirit," despite all of Goliath's best efforts. Just a nice, heartwarming episode.

Then of course there are Christmas episodes of regular TV series. Love the Christmas episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond (second only to the classic Thanksgiving episodes!). Christmas episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati also stand out in my memory, as well as Newhart.

So what are your favorites. Remember, I'm looking for television specials and shows here. Not the movies that repeatedly show up on television. We'll discuss those in a future blog.

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