York Comes Alive

I spend a lot of time talking about all the great things happening in Lancaster, as well as Harrisburg, but I want to make sure I give York its due as well. Because something is definitely happening in York, and some very cool music is coming to the area...but more on that later.

About a year ago a group of concerned citizens formed an ad hoc committee with the goal of bringing fairly prominent regional and national acts to the city, particularly at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center. After several meetings things fizzled, but a few of these folks wouldn't give up. In particular, my friend Sean Kenny had a real vision for what could happen in downtown York if only people could be exposed to some real, quality music. Oh sure there were the occasional bands that came through, but entertainment in York seemed to primarily center around the York Fair and guys in big hats. Sean partnered with the guys from CODO, who also have a very real vision for downtown York.

Developers Bill Swartz and Eric Menzer are the principals behind CODO, which is a group of luxury condos being built in an old factory in downtown York. Swarts and Menzer are smart enough not to buy into the "if you build it they will come" mentality. They realize that just building nice rental units in the downtown area won't attract people. They know that you have to actually give people a reason to move to the city. The first part of that plan was the creation of the Fresh York campaign which seeks to promote the arts and culture in the region. And the campaign was also designed to poke fun at the biggest knock against York, with t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan, "York isn't boring - you are!"

The next step in the campaign was the aforementioned partnering with Kenny and others to actually do something about bringing music to the Strand. The result: CapLive Music. As of last month, the Capitol Theatre at the Strand began hosting some very cool concerts. The first concert was Philly and regional favorite Hoots & Hellmouth.

October also saw a show from Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts. And coming up there are several more great shows including Kathleen Edwards and John Doe with their "Hurtin' and Flurtin' tour" this Saturday, November 8th.

Other shows coming to York and the Strand-Capitol Performing Art Center include:

11/15 - Barleyjuice

12/4 - XPN Welcomes David Byrne

12/27 - XPN Welcomes Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers

...and the guys at Cap Live Music will continue booking these shows, I'm sure.

So if someone ever asks you "What's there to do in York?" just point them to the Cap Live Music site. I love what these guys are doing and how they are going about it, and hopefully more folks in York will get on board and support these efforts to make York come alive.

You can read more about Cap Live Music in the November issue of Fly Magazine.

Some Final Phillies Thoughts...

My sons and I were part of the crowd of about 2-million people who descended on Broad Street yesterday to celebrate the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. An amazing time, and something I hope all of you get to experience at some point. I'm still somewhat in shock, realizing that the team I have cheered on for 46 years or so has won a championship. OK, so it's the second one I've seen, but this one means so much more. And I'm grateful that I was able to share this with my kids. So a few observations as we put this baseball season to rest.

First, I love the fact that this was a team, not just a group of individuals and prima donna superstars. No A-Rods or Jeters. No Mannys. Sure some of them have been MVPs, and you could argue that Jimmy Rollins is the catalyst for the team, but this was a true team effort. Every game produced a different hero, and sometimes that hero was a relatively unknown player coming off the bench. For all that I could see, this was a team that checked their respective egos at the door. As I watched interview with all of the players I was struck by the show of humility. More often than not the player being interviewed would deflect questions about their own contributions and talk about the contributions of the other players or the team as a whole.

Second, as we stood there for hours in a white and red crowd, I noticed something very interesting. Here we were, just four days prior to possibly one of the most hotly contested presidential races featuring boat loads of negativity from both sides, and yet this parade was truly a non-partisan event. As I looked around and marvelled at how we could probably take a serious chunk out of the national debt with the amount of money spent on Phillies gear, there was something I DIDN'T see: political signs/t-shirts/buttons. I specifically looked for signs of the campaign, and outside of a few signs in business windows, I saw no evidence of the campaign. How refreshing! I will be so glad when this election is over, and boy, we certainly could use more events like this championship and parade.

Third, I gained a greater appreciation for the man I consider to be among the greatest announcers in all of baseball, if not in all of sports: Harry Kalas. The coverage that Fox provided was pretty awful. Sure Tim McCarver used to play for the Phils, and at one time was even part of the Phillies' broadcast team, but wow, he sure is bad. Fortunately Joe Buck has a true appreciation for Harry Kalas and on a number of occasions made reference to the Hall of Fame broadcaster. Perhaps being the son of a legend himself, Buck really appreciates the history of the game. Kalas has the best pipes in the business, and is a broadcaster's broadcaster.

Several years ago I moderated a seminar at the Museum of Television & Radio on baseball on the radio. The panel consisted of several broadcasters including Harry Kalas of the Phils, John Sterling of the Yankees (don't even get me started on this guy...), Joe Castiglione of the Red Sox, and a few others. Most of the panelists deferred to Kalas several times during the conversation, but the most telling moment came after the seminar. Joe Castiglione's college aged son and his roommate tentatively walked up to Kalas with a tape recorder and asked him to record something they could use for their answering machine. The man is a legend. Sure he seems to be missing a beat or two these days, but he is still the best voice in the business.

So it's a wrap. The trophy resides in Philadelphia and I can't get this smile off of my face. A great thing to share with my sons, and I hope they can share the same thing with their kids some day. In the words of Charlie Manuel: "Christmas came two months early!"

Best Video from Phillies Victory

After suffering through Fox's announcers, I thought this clip was a nice change, hearing the great Harry Kalas...with the bonus of seeing Chris Wheeler in action...






My boys and I will be at the parade on Friday. Been a long time coming...

World Champion Philadelphia Phillies

How sweet it is.

A Classic video: Early Genesis

Sometimes I just like to look back. So from time to time I may post a classic song or video from my youth. Genesis from the Peter Gabriel era (early to mid 70's) with "I Know What I Like (in Your Wardrobe." Some nice prog-rock with a great performance from Gabriel.

Music You Should Know: Slimfit

Let me just lay my cards out on the table: I’m not a country fan. In fact, I pretty much try to avoid just about any kind of music that even slightly bears any sort of resemblance to either country or bluegrass. Outside of a few alt-country artists, and perhaps some Alison Krauss, I just don’t do it. Yeah, call me a music snob, because I’m sure I’m throwing a lot of babies out with the bathwater. But there it is.

Now having said that, one of my favorite bands here in Central PA is the feisty roots-country/rock band Slimfit out of Lancaster. I love them. I adore them. They put on a great show. And, oh yeah, they make some pretty darn good music, too. But most importantly, the guys in Slimfit put on one heckuva show. Kinda like bluegrass on steroids. A pickin’ and a grinnin’ demolition derby. And the beauty of it is: they’re having fun! These guys know how to enjoy themselves on stage, to the point where it’s a surprise they don’t spend more time in the hospital.

Slimfit is one of the many Central PA bands that has been featured as part of WXPN’s local music initiative. Earlier this month they were one of three area bands featured in the XPN Local Showcase at the Chameleon in Lancaster (along with The Sleeping World and Farewell Flight). And tonight on Philly Local, Slimfit’s set from that Chameleon show will be played in its entirety. So tune in at 9 p.m. (ET) and I think you’ll like what you hear…though remember…without seeing these guys on stage you’re really only getting half of the performance.

Oh, and tonight’s show will also feature an in-studio interview and performance from Philly musician Amos Lee.

Since the World Series is still in a very lengthy rain delay, you probably have nothing better to do, so check out Slimfit on Philly Local on XPN.

Pinch Me Now: Phillies in the World Series!

Those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or even on here, might be of the opinion that I'm a little too Phillies-obsessed. That I eat, breathe, and sleep the Phillies. Well, you'd be right and wrong at the same time. I love my Phillies. They're a beloved group of lunkheads. No real overpaid ego-maniacal superstar prima donnas. Just a bunch of guys who really seem to have fun playing the game. But I'm much more well rounded than just some beer-swilling sports junkie (in fact, I don't even drink. At all.) This is a team of somewhat regular guys. Every game there is a different hero. What's not to love about these guys?

But you have to understand...this World Series is a long time coming. The last time we were in the series was 1993. 15 years ago. And we lost (read: Wild Thing). The last time we won was 1980. 28 years ago. So you'll have to allow me my excitement. I'll rant and rave about the Phillies until the Series is over, hopefully tonight! I'll continue to wear my Phillies gear, along with my lucky moose pants (more on that some other time). But once the Series is over I'll get on with the rest of my life.

So Let's Go Phils! Bring us home a championship!

np: McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now

The MP3 Game for Friday

Rules: Get your MP3 Player/iPod/iTunes or other random music player ready. Hit shuffle/random, etc. List the first ten songs that play - NO SKIPPING. And perhaps tell us a little bit about each song. Here we go!

1. Copeland - There Cannot Be a Close Second - nice laid back indie-pop. I think they are playing in Philly this weekend with Lovedrug.

2. The Mint - Are You - From their newest album, Love is Vapor. Lancaster band that played at Freedom Fest this year, as well as the XPoNential Music Fest. Nice guys. These first two songs mix together nicely.

3. Jeremy Enigk - Abigail Anne - From first solo album by Enigk, formerly of Sunny Day Real Estate, and also in The Fire Theft. Love this guys voice!

4. The Emergency - Theme Song - Downloaded MP3 from a great band that never was. Or something like that. Kind of a Southern Cali indie super group that imploded after being signed by a major label.

5. Brown Feather Sparrow - Catching Rain - Beautiful song from this Dutch group. Nice quiet song featuring one of my favorite female vocalists.

6. The Shackeltons - Tremble - Chambersburg's own! Man I love these guys. Saw them for the first time at the Abbey in Harrisburg back in February. Have gotten some airplay on XPN and Y-Rock. Lead singer Mark Redding is all about the love. He makes me smile.

7. The Czars - Anger - Don't know much about these guys but discovered them when I was working in NYC. Kinda quietly haunting lounge-singerish indie-rock. Yup.

8. U2 - Bad - Just love these guys. 'nuff said.

9. Lampshade - Father of Lead - European band with female lead. Fans of Sigur Ros and Bjork would dig them.

10. Rainer Maria - Terrible - Man I miss this band. Another great female voice.

And...ten more quick ones for the road:

11. Lovedrug - Salt of the Earth
12. Big Country - In a Big Country (woo hoo...oldschool!)
13. Mineral - TheLastWordIsRejoice
14. Hundred Year Storm - All This Time
15. The Myriad - A Clean Shot
16. Lisa Loeb - Waiting for Wednesday
17. Eric Clapton - Cocaine
18. The Welcome Wagon - Sold! To the Nice Rich Man!
19. The Skeleton at the Feast - Answer
20. The Gravity Show - Aching

OK gang...have at it. What's in your musical device?

Your Weekend: Character Counts....

Another Friday and yet another quest for things to do for the weekend. Fortunately, there is a lot going on. Unfortunately, I've got a full weekend on my calendar already and can't avail myself of some of the cool things happening.






One of my favorite places in Lancaster is a place called Building Character on the 300 block of North Queen Street. The store itself is just plain cool. On the surface it is an architectural salvage place. They get things out of old buildings and sell them. Things like old windows, fixtures, pictures, and all sorts of odds and ends. My wife and I have gotten lost in there on a number of occasions. But store owners Tony Niese and Marty Hulse have created an environment that is much more than a store. They are currently in the process of expanding to include performance and gallery space to help nurture the local arts and music community.

Part of this is the relatively new Singer/Songwriter series. From time to time they host performances from local musicians. Tonight from 7 - 9 pm you can go and hear the music of Jason Mundok and Jordan Rast. Then this Sunday, and every Sunday, the parking lot/courtyard area is converted into the Sunday Market from 11 am to 3 pm. The market features local crafters, fresh local food and produce, as well as music and all sorts of other things.

Building Character also plays a big part in the monthly First Friday and Music Friday (3rd Friday of the month) activities in downtown Lancaster. Much of this is due to the vision of owners of the store, who realize the importance of creating new and exciting opportunities for the local community. I've been down there a number of times, and as these activities grow, you can expect much more from these guys. They've even created a weekly Downtown Lancaster events guide email that you can subscribe to from their site.

The store itself is great, but the experience is so much more. And if you go, tell Tony I sent ya!

And for a fun Saturday night, head on over to Quips Pub in Lancaster to an incredibly lively and acrobatic show from Slimfit. These guys put on an amazingly fun show. Again, tell 'em I sent ya.

Of Music and Baseball

Well, first and foremost, the Phillies pulled out a nice win last night, 3-2 over the Rays. It wasn't pretty, but in the end that doesn't matter. A key win on the road.

Secondly, the 885 Essential XPN Songs Countdown is in its final hours, as is the fall fund drive on WXPN. I have really enjoyed the countdown. So far, I think only four of my songs have been played so far. Here's my list:

1. The Swell Season - Falling Slowly (not played yet, but I'm almost certain it will show up)

2. Van Morrison - Into the Mystic (not played yet, but 5 other Van Morrison songs have showed up)

3. Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere (#365 on the list)

4. The Clash - The Magnificent Seven (#618 on the list)

5. Death Cab for Cutie - I will Possess Your Heart (not played yet, but again, I'm pretty sure this will show up.)

6. Bruce Cockburn - If I Had A Rocket Launcher (#265 on the list)

7. B.B. King - Riding with the King (not played yet, and I doubt it will show up)

8. U2 - I Will Follow (not played yet, but 8 other U2 songs were on the list. Probably won't be in the top 50...but ya never know!)

9. Nick Drake - Pink Moon (#75 on the list)

10. Andy Pratt - Avenging Annie (nope. not played...and I doubt it will be played now)

You can access the entire list on the 885 Countdown Page of the XPN Site.

What are your thoughts on the countdown? I've heard so many positive comments from friends and listeners. And by the way, if you are a fan of XPN, and you are on Facebook, why not become a fan of our new XPN Page.

It's World Series Time: Go Phils!

It's been a long time coming. My sons have never seen a championship of any sort from a Philadelphia team. And the Phils last won the Series back in 1980. I was in my 2nd year of college, and boy things have changed...and in some cases...things are much the same.






Last time the Phils won the series:


A gallon of gasoline - $1.19
New house - $68,000
New car - $7,000
Average income - $19,000

News and Culture events:

Who Shot J.R.?
The Reagan Era begins
John Lennon killed
O Canada becomes official National Anthem of Canada (who knew???)
End of Embassy hostage crisis in Iran
HP unveils 1st PC
$1.5 billion government bailout of Chrysler
Mt. Saint Helens erupts
Miracle on Ice

Popular Music

1."Please Don't Go" ... KC & the Sunshine Band
2."Rock With You" ... Michael Jackson
3."Do That to Me One More Time" ... The Captain and Tennille
4."Crazy Little Thing Called Love" ... Queen
5."Another Brick in the Wall" ... Pink Floyd
6."Call Me" ... Blondie
7."Funkytown" ... Lipps, Inc.
8."Coming Up" ... Paul McCartney
9."It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" ... Billy Joel
10."Magic" ... Christopher Cross

Most Popular Television Shows

1. Dallas (CBS)
2. The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)
3. 60 Minutes (CBS)
4. M*A*S*H (CBS)
5. The Love Boat (ABC)
6. The Jeffersons (CBS)
7. Alice (CBS)
8. House Calls (CBS)
9. Three's Company (ABC)
10. Little House on the Prairie (NBC)

Wow. Seems like a LONG time ago. Here's hopin' the Phils can make some NEW history. Go Phils!!

And they say nothing happens in Central PA!

I often hear people moaning about how nothing ever happens here in Central PA, especially in terms of live music. But all you have to do is look. There are a number of venues in the region that are featuring some cool bands and musicians. Here's a quick list of some of the stuff on my radar for the next month or so.

10/24 – Black 47 at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
10/25 – Slimfit at Quips Pub, Lancaster
10/25 - Vinegar Creek Constituency at the Abbey Bar (Appalachian Brewing Co.), Harrisburg
10/28 – Zappa Plays Zappa at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
10/30 – The Ting Tings at the Chameleon, Lancaster
10/31 – Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
11/1 – The Sleeping World at the Lancaster Dispensing Co.
11/5 – Drive By Truckers/Hold Steady at the State Theatre, State College
11/6 - Norma Jean, Haste the Day, The Showdown at the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/7 – XPN Welcomes Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes) to Messiah College, Grantham
11/8 – XPN Welcomes Kathleen Edwards & John Doe to the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center in York
11/8 – The Gin Blossoms at the Pullo Family Center, York
11/8 – William Fitzsimmons at the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/9 – XPN Welcomes The Felice Brothers to the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/10 – XPN Welcomes Arlo Guthrie to Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
11/12 – The Avett Brothers at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
11/13 – XPN Welcomes Denison Witmer to the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/15 – Perkasie at the Abbey Bar (Appalachian Brewing Co.), Harrisburg
11/15 – James McMurtry at the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/16 – Blind Melon at the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/18 – Tea Leaf Green at the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/21 – The Derek Trucks Band at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
11/21 - The Hackensaw Boys at the Abbey Bar (Appalachian Brewing Co.), Harrisburg
11/21 – Laura Love w/ Orville Johnson at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
11/21 – XPN Welcomes Keller Williams to the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/26 – Lotus at the Chameleon, Lancaster
11/28 – Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes at Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
12/4 – XPN Welcomes David Byrne to the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, York
12/6 – XPN Welcomes Iris Dement to Harrisburg Academy, Wormleysburg
12/6 – The Sleeping World at McLeary’s Pub, Marietta
12/10 - Farewell Flight at Messiah College, Grantham

Music You Should Know: Farewell Flight

And yet another great band from Central PA's incredibly active music scene. In a previous post I mentioned WXPN's efforts to reach out to local Central PA bands. Then a few weeks back we hosted our first XPN Local Showcase at Lancaster's legendary Chameleon Club.

One of the bands featured was Farewell Flight, which calls this area its home. Members live in around the Harrisburg/Hershey/Lancaster area, however this is one local band that really isn't local in nature. Farewell Flight has a strong national fan base and is known for the lengthy amount of time they spend on the road. They are a great indie-pop band comparable to the likes of Coldplay or Death Cab for Cutie. Make sure you check out their new album, Sound.Color.Motion.

So tune in tonight for XPN's Philly Local Hour or listen online. You can read more on the XPN All About the Music Blog.

I (heart) Simple Marketing

A lesson in marketing made simple based on a brief overview of my past few days.



Thursday
I went to the Lancaster Chamber's Business Expo, mostly for the purpose of networking and generating ideas that might help me in my job of marketing for WXPN here in Central PA. As usual I took some of my marketing materials with me, including a handful of our new "I Heart XPN" pins. When I registered at the entrance the woman from the Chamber told me she "just LOVED" XPN, and asked if she could have a pin. From that point on I was "the guy from XPN." People kept coming up to me and asking me for pins, and I handed out about 30 of them.



Saturday
XPN was a media sponsor for Lancaster's annual Fall ArtWalk and our volunteers were out in full force, handing out information about the station as well as these popular pins. I was chatting with one of my friends on Twitter who told me that as they were walking around town, her husband (apparently our station's #1 fan) accosted a total stranger and asked her for her XPN Pin! Not sure if this qualifies as a criminal act, but I assume he was more polite than she described, and the woman handed over her pin. (Don't know what Twitter is? You should...)



Sunday
My family and I went to Lancaster for the second day of the Fall ArtWalk and we bumped into Liz Todd Lambert of Lancaster Arts (the sponsor of Art Walk). She told me how a man had come up to her and asked her for her pin. I put two and two together and asked if it was the previously mentioned man from Saturday, and lo and behold...it wasn't! Yet another case of an XPN fan wanting to get their flair! So I took my pin off and replaced the one Liz had given away the previous day, and then pulled another one out of my pocket and put it on my sweatshirt.



Moments later we were browsing through the Christiane David Gallery when I overheard a teenage girl whispering to her mother, "Everyone has those I Heart XPN pins. I want one." I turned to her and said, "You're in luck. Here!" And I gave her my last pin.


"Where did you get it?" she asked.


"Well, I work for the station, so I have more." And I then told the family where they could find the XPN table. As we walked away I heard the mom whispering "Well that was good timing!"


At the end of the day I walked back to our table located at Building Character on the 300 block of North Queen Street. While talking with my musician friend David Green, who was sporting one of our pins, his family came over and his daughter said, "Nice pin, dad!" So of course we gave some more to the whole family, which they promptly put on their jackets and wore proudly the rest of the day.

A pin. A simple pin. Relatively inexpensive, and in some ways it's kind of a pre-digital method of underground or viral marketing. Sure I'd love a huge marketing budget with billboards and TV commercials, or even t-shirts to give out. But we're a non-profit, non-commercial station, and we don't have huge corporate budgets with which to work. But of all the little things we have used, I'm hearing more positive reactions from our "I Heart XPN" Pins. Sometimes its the simple little things that are the most effective. And those who wear the pins usually get one of two reactions:

Reaction One - "Where can I get one??" which we get often from listeners who see us wearing the buttons.


Reaction Two - "What is XPN?" A reaction that opens the door for the person to "evangelize" about their favorite radio station, often getting someone to at least sample the station, and hopefully become a full-time listener.


And we're even taking the campaign digital. If you're on Facebook, all you have to do is add the "Pieces of Flair" application, search for XPN, and add the digital version of the pin to your Facebook page.

The 885: Essential songs, part 5

Been really loving the 885 Essential XPN Songs Countdown on WXPN. What a great mix of tunes. Kinda like an iPod on steroids.

I mentioned previously how difficult it was for me to vote for JUST ten songs. I started with a larger list and argued with myself (out loud at times) to try to whittle it down to ten. I've been sharing my list with you over the past weekd, and admittedly if I had to do it all over again, I might pick a completely different set of ten songs. In fact, I could come up with a new list every day. So with that in mind, there are a few artists who didn't make my final list, but I very easily could have voted for them. For instance, I'm a big R.E.M. fan...and for some reason they didn't make my final cut. Others I coulda/woulda/shoulda voted for include: Johnny Cash, Sufjan Stevens, Ingrid Michaelson, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Beth Orton, T-Bone Burnett, Arcade Fire, Sam Phillips, Over the Rhine...and the list goes on. I even could've voted for some of my favorite local bands, such as The Shackeltons, The Sleeping World, Farewell Flight, the Mint, or Slimfit. Maybe even Philly old-school faves the Hooters or Robert Hazard.

But I could only vote for ten. And my number one song really isn't a "favorite" per se, but I really like it. And if you stay within the parameters of what we were looking for in the countdown, it fits nicely. My #1 song was "Falling Slowly" from The Swell Season (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova).



This just seems to be one of those songs that has found a home at XPN. It is from the soundtrack to the movie Once (which I still haven't seen!!!), and really speaks to me about what XPN is all about. A song from some indie artists featured in an indie film about indie music. Or something like that. The song even won an Oscar for Best Original Song.

This is why I really love working for XPN. I'm in marketing for the station, which means its my job to tell other people about the station. Not a hard job. I'm passionate about what we do at XPN and my friends can tell you, I get really excited when I talk about it. That doesn't mean I like every song or every show that we air. But even when I hear a song that I don't particularly care for, I won't hit the button to switch to another station. Because I know that coming up will be another song that I probably love.

Enough gushing. What are your Essential XPN songs? Or even your top ten songs? I'd love to know. And what do you think of my list? love it? hate it? Let me know.

The 885: Essential Music, part 4

The 885 Essential XPN Song Countdown continues at WXPN, and as I write this, it seems as though only one of my top ten has been played (at this writing we are up to #485). So far only "The Magnificent Seven" from the Clash has made it...but we aren't even half way yet. Still plenty of time. I'm sure some of the songs I voted for won't make it, and I'm certain others WILL show up on the list.

Before I take you to my #2 song, I just wanted to comment on the countdown so far. It's been incredibly interesting, and I'm hearing songs that I've never heard before, or songs that I haven't heard in quite a long time. A great mix of classic tunes from classic bands alongside more obscure songs from artists who are either newer, or long gone. And even a few local bands from the Philly area thrown in for good measure. That's the beauty of XPN. You never know what you will hear. I've even heard a few jazz tunes.

Which bring us to the song I voted #2 - Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic." I'd have to say it's not my favorite Morrison song (not sure how I would pick a favorite), but it sure seemed to fit the criteria of a song that helps to define what WXPN is. I'm a big fan of Van the Man, and I've often said that I believe him to be incapable of putting out a bad album. Sure, some of his albums are more "accessible" than others, but so what? I love the variety. Rock, pop, soul, jazz, blues, standards, etc. Van does it all. And he's just as brilliant when he is covering an old standard as he is with his own songwriting and original pieces. The man is just amazing.




Can't seem to find a video of any of Morrison's performances of the song, but you might be able to hear it over at Last.fm.

Looking forward to the Countdown starting up shortly again on XPN, and continuing throughout the week. Tomorrow I'll tell you the song I voted as #1 for the countdown (and I'll be shocked if it doesn't make the final list), and I think I'll also mention a few of the artists for whom I wanted to vote...but didn't because I could only vote for ten songs.

Did someone say World Series?

So....I've waited a few days to post this because I'm waiting to wake up from this dream. But apparently it is true. The Phillies are going to the World Series. There. I said it. As a Philly native and life-long Phillies fan, this is truly amazing. The only World Series we have won was 1980, but it seems like such a distant memory. More present in my mind is the Great Debacle of 1993. Great team to watch...but....well, Mitch Williams happened.

But here we are. 2008, and this loveable bunch of guys is headed to the Fall Classic. And in typical Philly fashion I am hopeful, but not overly optimistic. But that's who we are. It's what we do. We're Philly sports fans. Low expectations. That way it minimizes the disappointment.

If you're a Yankee fan, or a Braves fan, you might be disappointed this year, but you don't know our pain. Cubs fans are one of the few groups that can relate. If you want to find out more, I highly suggest Joe Queenan's hilarious book: True Believers - The Tragic Inner Life of Sports Fans. Great book.

And maybe I've jinxed it, because I've already told my boys that if the Phils DO win this thing, we'll be headed down to Philly for the parade...which is something Jamie Moyer got to do in 1980, but I didn't.

So let's go Phils!

The 885: Essential Music, part 3

As WXPN continues its countdown of the 885 Essential XPN Songs, here are a few more songs from my list.

4. The Clash - The Magnificent Seven. The Clash, like many of my choices, were a college discovery for me. In fact, the album London Calling continues to be one of the most important albums in my collection. Having said that, I decided NOT to pick a song from that album. I knew The Clash would make my top ten, but I wasn't sure whether to do the obvious "Train in Vain," which was their first big commercial hit, or try something else. The Clash rose up out of the British punk scene in the 70s and while much punk music wasn't very "accessible," the band confounded conventional wisdom by making their mark with a double-album. And then they did the unthinkable: they followed it up with a triple-album, Sandanista. Whereas London Calling was a mix of punk, reggae, ska, and other styles of music, Sandanista threw in some dub and rap. A great album, and a great song.





3. Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere. Full disclosure: I am not now, nor have I have ever been, a Springsteen fan. I grew up in the Philly area in the seventies when Springsteen was sort of a regional legend and everyone I knew played him to death. It wasn't where I was musically at the time, and I think I OD'd on him. And I've never really gotten into his stuff. Which is what makes this selection all the more interesting for me, espeically at #3. But having said that, I do appreciate him and his music. Springsteen is a legend. A true rock star. And yet when his latest album, Magic, was released, radio didn't seem to notice. Actually, they noticed, but commercial radio giant Clear Channel reportedly told its classic rock stations NOT to play the album, but instead to play only the tried and true Springsteen classics that everyone knows. Interesting.



But XPN played the album, and I actually kinda, sorta fell in love with this song. Nice catchy tune, nice lyrics, and it grew on me. YouTube has disabled embedding of this video, but you can view it here.


I'll give you my final two songs on Monday. But stay tuned to XPN, and let me know what your Essential songs are.

The 885: Essential Music, part 2

WXPN is now in the midst of its annual 885 Countdown, featuring the 885 Essential XPN Songs - the songs that define the station from the perspective or our listeners. None of my choices were played during day one of the 885...but I'm sure some will show up. Here are a few more choices from my personal list that I submitted back in June.



7. B.B. King/Eric Clapton - Riding With the King. XPN is one of the few places you can hear the blues, and for purists, there is no better show than The Blues Show with Jonny Meister. But there is something about this collaboration between blues legend King and rock guitar-god Clapton, as they do a classic John Hiatt tune. I've always loved both Clapton and King, and I love how they work together, with Clapton clearly tipping his hat to one of his heroes. This album also won the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues album in 2001.







6. Bruce Cockburn - If I Had a Rocket Launcher. Cockburn is another artist I discovered while working in college radio in the late 70s/early 80s. This was about the time that he had his first big hit with "Wondering Where the Lions Are." I ended up spending a ton of money to import all of his older vinyl from Canada, and then moved forward with him as he continued to release new albums. This isn't my favorite Cockburn song, but I think it exemplifies much of his career: a catchy pop song with an overtly political message, and curiously was Cockburn's only other hit here in the U.S. The song is from 1984's "Stealing Fire," and I think the video even got played on MTV a bit. I haven't followed Cockburn's music as much in recent years, but his music from the 70s and 80s can still get to me.







5. Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart. This was a big song for XPN this year and for some reason it has really grabbed me. I've been aware of Death Cab since their inception, but never really got into them. But this song did it for me. I've never been a big fan of overly repetitive songs, and while some may think of this song in that way, I think of it as hauntingly beautiful. Great video, too.






I'll have a few more of my ten Essential XPN Songs tomorrow. But again, don't forget to listen to the countdown on XPN, and feel free to comment here. What's YOUR essential XPN song?

The 885: Essential Music, part 1

Each year WXPN puts together an 885 countdown of sorts and solicits voting from listeners. This year's countdown, which begins today, is a little different than most, and I'm pretty sure will really make you think. The 885 Essential XPN Songs is an attempt to find the songs that you think define WXPN. Might not be your favorite songs, or the "best" songs...but the songs that make XPN the unique station that it is. I have no clue what the results are, so I'll be listening alongside you over the next week or so as the station counts 'em down.

Before listeners were asked to vote, our programming department solicited responses from the staff. What a painful experience. When I sat down to pick my 10 Essential XPN Songs I quickly realized how difficult a task it was. I started writing down songs and ended up with about 30 songs which I had to pare down. And the debate raged in my head. Which songs would make the cut and which would end up on the cutting room floor.

For those who aren't familiar with WXPN, we're a public radio station with a format generally known as Triple-A (Adult Album Alternative). Not constricted by formulaic computer generated playlists, we probably have one of the largest music libraries in the business. So while you will hear new music from artists you have never heard of...you'll also hear familiar music from the Beatles, Stones, and Springsteen. You'll hear singer/songwriters, Reggae, Blues, and Folk, alongside all sorts of indie-pop/rock and "alternative" rock. No one style of music can define the station.

As the staff began submitting their top-ten lists, they were circulated via all-staff emails and I began to second-guess my own list. And I'm convinced that I could put together a completely different list ever day. But anyway...here is my initial list of my Ten Essential XPN Songs...and why I chose them. I think I'll roll these out over the next several days....

10. Andy Pratt - Avenging Annie. I discovered Andy Pratt while I was working in college radio in 1979. I heard his album "Motives" and immediately fell in love with his music. As is customary for me, when I discover a new artist I run out and soak up their back catalog. Pratt is a master of the great pop song. The closest thing he ever had to a hit was this song, sung from the perspective of a woman, from 1973's self-titled album on Columbia. According to Wikipedia, this particular song took about 500 hours to record due to its complex and wide ranging vocals. XPN could very likely be the only station in the country that ever plays this song.

side note: I've never spoken to our midday host Helen Leicht about this, but in the early 80s, while home from college, I was listening to her show on WIOQ (what a great station at the time!) when I heard her play this song. I flipped out. It was the first time I'd ever heard Pratt played on commercial radio.

second side note: Roger Daltrey of the Who covered this song, but it just doesn't do it justice. I'll stick with the original, thank you.




9. Nick Drake - Pink Moon. British singer/songwriter Nick Drake is one of those artists who never really achieved the fame he deserved while he was alive, though he was a darling of the critics. He died in 1974 at the age of 26, and never really got into the public consciousness until 2000 when this particular song was used in a Volkswagen commercial. Harp all you want about the commercialization of cool music, but we can thank that commercial for bringing Drake's music to a much wider audience. And XPN is one of the few stations that plays Drake's music.




8. U2- I Will Follow. Not much to say here. Big U2 fan, so there had to be one of their songs on this list. Didn't want to go with one of their big, recent hits. So I went with one of their first big songs that I played on college radio when it was new. First song on their first album (Boy). First time I heard this band, I was hooked. I could rave on and on about them, but think about it. This band has been around for nearly 30 years with the same line-up, and they are still putting out good, relevant music. People still look forward to their new music (and a new album is coming out soon!), unlike some bands who are forced to recycle their tried and true hits.




I'll continue the list tomorrow. But in the meantime, tune into XPN to hear the countdown. I know I'll probably hear some old favorites, and discover some new ones! And feel free to comment and let me know your essential XPN songs, or call me an idiot for my personal choices.

Oh, and in the meantime, check out our own little video.

Music You Should Know: The Sleeping World

Earlier this year my radio station, WXPN, began a concerted effort to reach out to the local music community here in Central PA. Helen Leicht, host of Philly Local, has a real passion for local music, and since we extended our signal reach to Central PA, it made sense to put our feelers out and find some of the best music the region had to offer. We partnered with Fly Magazine to encourage artists to submit their music, and the response was great. About 70 artists sent their CDs to the station, and at the same time, I immersed myself in the local music scene. Most of what I found was from Lancaster, a city that has an extremely vibrant arts and culture scene.



Two weeks ago we had our first XPN Local Showcase in the region, featuring three bands at the Chameleon Club. We recorded the showcase and tonight you'll get a chance to hear some of that evening. If you missed it, here's your chance. But if you were there, you know what a great night it was with lots of energy in the room. The Sleeping World, fronted by my friend Jessica Smucker, will be featured on the program between 9 -10pm (ET) tonight on WXPN (88.5 in Philly, or 88.7/99.7 in Central PA...or listen online at http://www.xpn.org/).



The Sleeping World also recently released their debut EP which I would encourage you to check out/purchase. This is an artfully produced selection of songs, from full-on rockers to more introspective tunes. Smucker openly explores the depths of her inner-being, as we get to hear her wrestle with matters of faith and love.



If you're anything like me, you love discovering new music. So tune in tonight to XPN to hear this live set from Lancaster's The Sleeping World. You can thank me later.

The Perils of Late Onset A.D.D.

So sue me. It's been over two months since I last blogged. Not for lack of trying. I WANT to blog. But for some reason, despite the fact that I'm a writer...I just can't seem to write. I have a full-time job which I love, and that keeps me busy. Plus there's that whole family "thing." Wife. Three kids (one in college). Dog. Cat. Oh...and a few carnivorous plants which I'm sure will suffer and meet their maker while under my care.

Anyway...I can't seem to write. But I'll keep trying.

Right now while the economy seems to be fluctuating wildly around me, my thoughts are more on Philadelphia and my beloved sports teams. The Eagles pulled out a wild one yesterday. Penn State (technically not a Philly team, but does anyone really follow Temple football?) is really playing well. But mostly I'm in baseball mode. My Phillies are in the NLCS against the Dodgers, and despite a rough game last night, are still up 2-1 in the series. Tonight will be very telling. Haven't won a championship since 1980. Last saw the World Series in 1993 and we all know how that ended. Here's hoping Brad Lidge can avoid doing a Mitch Williams impersonation.

So as I sit here nursing a nasty cold and drinking coffee (is that a wise thing?) I have thoughts of all the many things I want to write about here. Here's hoping that I can maintain the pace and dedicate myself to writing once again. Unfortunately I think the Internet has contributed to my late onset A.D.D. and I can barely pay attention to anything for more than a fleeting moment. WXPN. Radio. Facebook. Twitter. Blogs. Central PA. Music. Local Music. Books. Sports (both real AND fantasy). Family. Writing. Listening. Reading.

Oh look...a bird!

Escalator of Life: Robert Hazard d. 8/5/08

Got word on Wednesday that Philly rocker Robert Hazard had died the previous day after recently being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I hadn't really listened to Hazard much in recent years as his latest music, which was a bit more rootsy and folky, never really grabbed me, but the news of his death brought back a flood of memories.

Living in the Philly area in the early 80s meant being around to hear the music of two great local bands: The Hooters and Robert Hazard and the Heroes. They were around at the same time, though Hazard's career was overshadowed by the success of the Hooters. While he was best known for writing the Cyndi Lauper hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," (which he recorded himself four years earlier in 1979), Hazard had a string of local hits from his debut self-titled EP. Perhaps the biggest of the songs from the new wavey disc, was the fun, yet somewhat haunting "Escalator of Life," with its poigniant assessment of our materialistic ways...long before critiquing our excesses was in vogue. Other early songs included "Change Reaction," a rather fast-paced cover of Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," and the Philly anthem "Say Yo." (For the uninitiated, "Yo" was...and is...a commonplace greeting for folks from the streets of Philly, long before it was popularized by the hip hop culture. Remember Rocky? "Yo, Adrian!").

Only got one chance to see Robert Hazard and the Heroes was probably in 1982 at Veterans Stadium. My memory is a bit foggy but it was probably sometime around the 4th of July because the band played after the game followed by fireworks. Any place else it would have been just another local concert...but in that particular time and place...Hazard was a big deal. As Philadelphians we were insiders. We were witnessing something big about to happen. These were our guys whom we wanted to share with the world.

Sadly, when Hazard finally got his big break and signed to RCA, his career and music were severely mishandled by the powers that be...and he never received the national fame he deserved. But he continued to plug away playing east coast venues, with Philly always close to his heart. And while I've gotten rid of a huge portion of my vinyl collection, I still have the plain white EP that was released locally (and probably bought at Third Street Jazz)...but the poster that was shrinkwrapped to it is long gone.

And you can hear Hazard's most recent performance on WXPN's Free at Noon from late 2007.

Robert Hazard, you will be missed, but I'm glad I still have my memories.

Nothing ever changes....

Thinking about Media, Radio, Culture, etc.

I'd like to introduce you to a fellow blogger who is definitely worth reading. Last week I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Will Hinton for his podcast over at Good Will Hinton.



When I say friend, I guess I should clarify. Will and I have known OF each other for quite a few years. We have quite a few mutual friends, travel in some of the same circles, and spend time thinking and writing about some of the same things. We also have a common love of music.



I think we first became aware of each other while he was working at Paste Magazine and I was writing for them. But up until this last week we had never met, and I don't believe we had ever really even spoken via email or chat. So what prompted this? While on Facebook (where Will and I ARE friends) I noticed Will's status was a request for podcast interview ideas. I noticed Will was online at the time and used Facebook chat to somewhat jokingly suggest myself as an interview subject. And Will surprised me by NOT jokingly responding, "When do you want to do it?" So a few days later we spoke on the phone to record the podcast. I think you'll find it interesting as we discuss a lot of things that I spend time researching and thinking about: the future of radio. Media, technology, and culture. The Internet and social networking. And, of course, music.



It was a pretty good discussion, and HOW we met is a real testament to the power of technology and social media. Lately I've been telling people that I plan on getting all my news, information, and entertainment from the Facebook Status of my friends. Ok, so not really...but there is a nugget of truth in there, and you'll hear a little about the power of the Facebook status as a marketing tool in the podcast as well. Check out the podcast here.



So check out Good Will Hinton and add him to your list of blogs to read. And come back here often as I plan on fleshing out a lot of the things we discussed in future blog posts.

Writer's Block

Sunday morning. Back porch. Cup of coffee. Doesn't get much better than this.

One of the reasons I got back to blogging was out of a desire to do more writing...but alas...I've been struggling with writer's block...combined with a little bit of busyness. And while I have a vacation coming up soon (and will be out of touch with the Internet world), I really do hope to get a little more active on here.

For one, I have a stack of music that I need to talk about. Some great CDs I need to review....some great local bands I need to talk up...and then there is the world of social networking. Recently I've been forced to spend more time thinking about online social networking, viral marketing, and the ways in which these tools can be used in our everyday lives, as well as in the business world. But more on that later...

Things I'm looking forward to in the next few months:

• A new CD from U2 - I have a feeling it will be amazing. Also anticipating the new Dido CD, hoping she recaptures the energy of No Angel.
• The Local Music Scene - Lancaster's got it going on with several bands poised to kick it up a notch (to borrow a phrase). I think a lot of good things will be happening in the next year.
• The Emergence of York - York, PA gets a bad rap, but there is a group of folks over there looking to revitalize the downtown area and energize the culture and entertainment of the area. It might take time, but I think they will be successful.
• Baseball in September...and hopefully in October. Phils are back in first place but the division is tight. Gonna be an interesting race down the stretch!
• Football season - I always go into the season with high hopes for the Eagles. 'Nuff said.
• The Media Implosion - I have to admit, I love watching the big boys squirm. Commercial radio giants. Major labels. Corporate culture. Can't wait to see how this progresses. Viva la Indie!

And just to give you something interesting to check out...

In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it. Using the original interview recording as the soundtrack, director Josh Raskin has woven a visual narrative which tenderly romances Lennon’s every word in a cascading flood of multipronged animation. Raskin marries the terrifyingly genius pen work of James Braithwaite with masterful digital illustration by Alex Kurina, resulting in a spell-binding vessel for Lennon’s boundless wit, and timeless message.

The MP3looza Festival

It's concert festival season, and so I thought I'd make it interesting and come up with my own festival. The way I see it, if you have an MP3 player, or iTunes on your computer, its probably loaded with a lot of the artists you would love to see at a summer music festival. So play along! Set the iPod or MP3 player on shuffle/random/DJ mode and list the first 10 or 20 artists who come up. No skipping, unless you get a repeat of an artist. Here's the initial lineup for my festival...let me know who's playing at yours>

Bill Withers - on the Septuagenarian Legends Stage

Umbrellas - on the Indie Fun Stage

The Divorce - on the Wish They Were Still Around Stage

FAIR - on the Sprinkle Stage

Brown Feather Sparrow - on the Yummy Northern European Music Stage

Lampshade - also on the Yummy Northern European Music Stage

Joe Jackson - on the Takes Me Back to College Stage

CUSH - on the Man, I Miss Them stage

The Violet Burning - on the Trippy Hipster Stage

Trent Dabbs - on the Ten out of Tenn Stage

The Sleeping World - on the Gonna Make it Big Someday stage

Smoosh - on the Hip Little Kid stage

Pedro the Lion - on the Pithy Poignant Observations Stage

The Spirit that Guides Us - once again, the Yummy Northern European Music Stage (great lineup this year!)

Jeremy Enigk - on the Introspective Seattleite Stage

Van Morrison - on the Irish Legends Stage

The Fire Theft - also on the Introspective Seattleite Stage

Anathallo - on the I Can't Describe it But I Like it Stage

The Myriad - on the Emerging Stars stage

Map - on the SoCal Tripster Stage

Thanks for coming! Your turn!

Beg, Borrow, Barter, Buy...?

I'm still pretty much a CD guy. I like having a physical CD of an album, complete with lyrics and liner notes. But as someone who keeps an eye on the Internet, culture, and new technologies, I'm incredibly interested in newer, more relevant forms of content delivery.


We've been thru the much maligned file sharing/peer-to-peer thing with Napster (both old and new), Frostwire, Limewire, Kazaa, on down to newer, more conventional online retailers, such as iTunes and the like. But really, is there a need for a middle man? While many artists have lamented the theft of their music online (and I fully understand and appreciate their arguments) I've long believed that file-sharing, for the most part, can help artists.

But some artists and digital denizens have come up with an interesting business model that takes care of distribution, offers people music inexpesively (or free!) and, in the long run, works for the artist. While there are a number of websites out there following the same business model, one that bears watching is NoiseTrade.com. And the man behind the concept knows what he's talking about. Two years ago Derek Webb decided to offer his CD as a free download (pre-Radiohead.) Take what you want, pay what you like...even if its nothing. For his part, Webb collected your email address, and as it says on the NoiseTrade site:

In three month's time Webb gave away over 80,000 full downloads of his record and collected valuable information for as many new fans. In addition, Derek has since seen many sold out shows and increased merchandise and record sales, including a curious spike in sales of the very record that was given for free.

Blows many of the arguments against free-downloads out of the water, eh? Now Webb and his partners are offering that service to an ever-growing roster of other indie artists, including Sixpence None the Richer, Katie Herzig, and Micah Dalton. Offer your album on NoiseTrade and give listeners the chance to download the music by either paying whatever they want...or by telling 3 of their friends about the site. Great marketing tool, and while this may not be the next big thing in music distribution, its a model I REALLY like.

And it's a great model for newer local artists. I haven't heard of a large majority of the artists on the site, but you better believe I'm going to be downloading their albums and sampling them. Some I will like, and others....not so much. But among them will be artists, with no publicity machine, no label, and little audience outside of their home region....and they'll have found a new fan in me, and many others who sample their music as well.

Check it out. Get some new music for your MP3 player, and support these musicians. I'll be interested in seeing how this model of distribution works, both for the artists and the consumers...and how it evolves in the near future.

Any other interesting distribution models out there we should be aware of?

Retro Chic

My kids think I'm old. I keep telling them that since I grew up in the 70's, I'm not old...I'm retro! And therefore I'm "in." But they don't seem to believe me. But back in the 70's I began to amass a rather large "media" collection. LP's, 45's, cassettes, and yes...even a few 8-tracks. And while you can still find the occasional 8-track at flea markets and yard sales, I'm almost certain we'll never ever really see a retro 8-track revival. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the more recent resurgence of leisure suits!!

I still have boatloads of cassettes in my basement, and in my garage there is a wooden crate with the vestiges of a once-flourishing vinyl collection. I've slowly gotten rid of a lot of my albums, but these are the ones I can't bear to part with, such as the original True North versions of all the earliest Bruce Cockburn albums that I imported from Canada while in college...only to see them all re-released on CD here in the U.S. a few years later...But alas, I don't even have a turntable, and its really not on the list of priorities for the near future. Things like electricity and food seem to be a little more important at the moment.



But vinyl seems to be making a bit of a comeback, though not on a major scale. While I love music, I'm not an audiophile of the type that can really recognize and appreciate the sonic difference between a needle on vinyl as opposed to a digital recording. My friends who inhabit the world of audio-geekdom use words like "warmth" and "richness" to describe the sound...but I'm not hearing it. To me, vinyl is merely nostalgic, especially as one who spent time as a DJ in radio when you actually had to "cue up" a record on the turntable. But for many, collecting new vinyl has become a sign of indie-cred. Which is why many indie labels and artists have begun putting out more new releases on vinyl, some of which include songs that aren't available on CDs. During a recent visit to CI Records in Lancaster, I spotted vinyl releases from artists like Damien Jurado and Vampire Weekend. And more recently, post-indie hipsters like Coldplay and Radiohead have begun re-issuing their discs on vinyl.



And of course if you have vinyl, you have to have a turntable, and the current models are quite a bit pricier than the "hi-fi" stereo system my family had back in the 70s. But of course we probably wouldn't have this resurgence of vinyl culture if it weren't for the club DJs and the emphasis on DJs in the hip hop realm.



The point? Not sure! But it has me thinking about an area close to my heart as someone involved in the radio and music industries: distribution. So in the next blog or two I'm gonna spend some time thinking out loud about old, new, and potential modes of music distribution, with a look at some interesting business models for the digital age.



Into vinyl? If your my age...let me know what you've kept from your old collection. Or, if you're from a younger generation...are you buying any new vinyl?

Everything's Local

There's a big emphasis here in the Lancaster on "Buy Fresh, Buy Local," and I guess the same could go for music. The local music scene seems like it is on the verge of exploding. Lots of talent in these here parts. And on XPN we have our own Philly Local program hosted by Helen Leicht, featuring some of the top bands and musicians from our listening area.

But I got to thinking, what exactly IS local? Here in the age of Indie music and the Internet, what with the proliferation of social media, it's not uncommon for someone like me in Central PA, to discover the music of some guy making music in his basement in Ronkonkoma (it's a real place...look it up...I just think it's fun to say!) Which of course means that there's no better time to be an indie musician...and no worse time to be a record label, especially one of the Major variety. And no matter how big you get, you'll always still be local to someone. To the folks in Freehold, that Springsteen kid is still just Bruce from around the corner. And in Dublin, U2 are still just those four guys named Paul, Larry, Dave, and Adam.

Yet while I'm busying savoring the "local" music scene here in Lancaster and the rest of Central PA, the fact that I'm discovering so many great artists and bands just serves to make me wonder how many more great bands are out there that I'm missing! (Any cool bands out there that I should know about?) But that's why I love independent public radio stations like WXPN, KCRW, KEXP, WFUV and the like. Because they always seek to give airtime to new artists who might not be hear otherwise. Case in point, a new effort XPN is making with what is being called The Music Exchange. XPN has partnered with a similar station, The Current in Minneapolis, to introduce each others listeners to some great local music. So the folks at XPN have chosen 8 local artists from the Philly area, while the folks at The Current have chosen 8 local artists from the Twin Cities...and those bands will get exposure to a whole new market. Kinda like a Fresh Air fund program for musicians! (You can check out the bands that are part of the "swap" online...no need for me to mention them here, but you're bound to find at least a few of them that you like).

So in the future, I'll be letting you know more about some of the "local" bands I like from this region (and perhaps beyond). And I'd like you to do the same. What music are you digging these days? The beauty of the Internet is its viral nature...how things can spread quickly. And some bands get their big break solely by getting heard and getting mentioned online. So share!

And if you like the kind of stuff you're reading here, don't forget to subscribe and tell your friends. You know...that whole grassroots, viral, word of mouth thing....it works.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Re-emerge...

Well, it's been over a year and after months of toying with the idea of bringing this blog back, or starting a new one, I've finally decided to wade back into the waters. I initially thought about starting a new blog and letting this one just languish out there in the World Wide Wasteland...but I'm too lazy. So I've restructured this one a little and have decided to be ecologically minded and recycle the existing blog. (Where exactly DO old blogs go? Is there a landfill for them? If so, I'm sure it's pretty darn full!)

Regardless, I've been inspired to re-enter the blogosphere because of how I've immersed myself more in the world of music (thanks in part to my job in radio), and I have become aware of an intensely thriving culture, arts, and music scene here in Central PA, and particularly in Lancaster. In fact, this morning I was jotting down some phrases and ideas to help a friend with a bio, and one phrase that popped into my head was extremely well-intentioned, yet ridiculously silly...especially if you were to use it in a band biography. If I were a musician, I think I would be insulted if this sentence were used to describe me:

"rising out of the cultural compost of a very fertile Lancaster music scene"

But there is a lot of truth in that sentence, and that is why I find myself back here, at least in part. As I meet people throughout the area, the conversation invariably turns to me telling them about how great the local music and arts scene is at the moment. There's a fine line between a dung-heap and a compost pile...and what's going on in this area certainly isn't a pile of crap.

So as I move forward, I plan on talking about some great music, some of which is from this area, and I'm always on the lookout for more great music, so don't hesitate to tell me about the bands and musicians who are pleasing your ears these days. I have no clue where this will take me, but along the way, I plan to have some fun, and perhaps make some observations on the world around me. Music. Books. Culture. Sports. and Life in General.

Hope you enjoy this little visit to the compost heap. Tell your friends, and to steal a phrase from my friend Tom Bodett, "We'll leave the light on for you..."

The Short List gets shorter

Awhile back I mentioned the Short List of Music and the sixty nominees who were up for this year's prize. Well, last week the list was shortened to an actual "short list" of ten finalists. Those who are being considered for this award, which will be given out in May are:

Band of Horses
Beirut
Bonnie Prince Billy (Will Oldham)
Cat Power
Girl Talk
Hot Chip
Joanna Newsom
Regina Spektor
Spank Rock
Tom Waits

An interesting and eclectic list and if I were a betting man I would put my money either on Regina Spektor, or the veteran Tom Waits. Band of Horses and Hot Chip are also nice picks, as is folkie Joanna Newsom.

I have to admit I'm kind of disappointed in the elimination of Mute Math, Midlake, Jeremy Enigk, and yes, even Danielson.

Give all the finalists a listen and let me know who you like the most and who you think will win. I'll let you know when the winner is announced.

The Dutch, The Rebels, and some Danish...

Here are two bands that recently found me on MySpace and requested me as a friend, presumably based on my musical interests. Both of them are European and have connections to bands that are among my favorites.

First up is Munich, a Danish band featuring a laid back and dreamy indie-pop sound. The latest records is produced by Johannes of Lampshade.

And second is Dutch band, Canadian Sunset, for fans of This Beautiful Mess and The Spirit That Guides Us.

Also, just a reminder that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has a new album, Baby 81, coming out on May 1st, and it is one of their best CDs in years. The band's last disc, Howl, was a bit of a stylistic departure that led to mixed reviews from critics and fans alike, but this time around the boys are headed back closer to the sound of their earliest work, and the results are pleasing. Head on over to MySpace where the new disc is streaming in its entirety. This is a CD that will get a lot of play on my MP3 player.

Music in the meantime

I've been rather busy these past few days, up to my ears in paint, so I haven't had the time to really put together a blog of any substance. So I thought I would just list a few bands I'm enjoying right now...

First up is The Hourly Radio from Dallas, TX. Interesting indie rock sound featuring the rather high vocals of Aaron Closson, somewhat reminiscent of Lovedrug's Michael Shepard. Check out The Houly Radio's video "Deaf Ears," which is a rather interesting homage to one of my all-time favorite films, Harold and Maude.

Another band to check out is LA's The Bird and the Bee, showcasing the talents of Greg Kurstin and Inara George. The duo create a lush yet vibrant pop sound that reminds me of those late 60s/early 70s films featuring Americans travelling throughout Europe. (I can't even name one of these films, but I remember them from my childhood, particularly the musical scores...). Fans of Dean & Britta, Belle & Sebastian, and Charlotte Gainsbourgh should take note.

And finally, give a listen to Umbrellas. The band is basically an outlet or Oklahoma native Scott Windsor. Beautiful vocals and sweeping musical soundscapes. Enough said.

So check out these bands and enjoy. You can thank me later. Hopefully I'll have a time for a meatier blog post in the next few days.