Summer Reading

Because you care so much...

Sound (Whitechapel: Documents of Contemporary Art) by Caleb Kelly

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe

Chris Knox Tribute Album

It's out in NZ and will be released in the States in Feb. 2010 by Merge. Check it out on the new Chris Knox website. You can also upload your own version of a CK song to the site for the world to enjoy.

Chris Knox

Just found out that Chris Knox suffered a stroke back in June and is still recovering. Updates here: http://chrisknox.blogtown.co.nz/ Can't begin to express how important his work has been to me over the years, especially the Tall Dwarfs records and his solo stuff. I was lucky to meet him when he played at Trinity back in the early 90's (in the Cave (!) with Barbara Manning and Yo La Tengo--yes, there were real shows at Trinity!!). There's a benefit album coming together to help with his recovery, tons of amazing bands covering his songs.

Mentaltown

The crew from my hometown represents...
http://mentaltown.blogspot.com/

Colin McEnroe removed from WTIC, 1080 am

I think this is a bigger issue than just having Colin on the air. Heck, if Mr. McEnroe wants to be on the air next week, I can likely get him a slot on WRTC (89.3, the Trinity College station). (Of course, we can't pay him, but...) WTIC used to be a true giant among broadcasters on the east coast--and not just because of its 50,000 watts and Red Sox baseball. I grew up listening to Bob Steel and his contemporaries—classy, smart, witty folks who cared about what radio could and should be. They were local folks, and their only agenda was to be the best broadcasters they could be, and provide necessary information and entertainment for their audience. I don’t have to tell anyone that this era has now, completely and totally, vanished from the airwaves at 1080 am.

So, sure, let’s get Colin a show somewhere. Many folks (including the man himself) have suggested WNPR, Connecticut public radio. Frankly, they are their own little evil empire--they'd love to swallow up WRTC and make it some sort of snobbish jazz-only station for the cultural elite. Hey, Colin will find a home, somewhere.

But let’s also let the powers that be at WTIC (CBS Radio in Hartford [sic]!) know how truly slimy they are. Hit them in the pocket book—let their sponsors know you will not support a business that supports WTIC! If money is all that matters, let’s speak the language they understand. Some of my earliest memories are of waking up to WTIC. This is personal. The last decent talent on the station has been removed. I don’t even agree with Colin on all matters, but I despise the decision to remove his show from the air. He speaks the truth as he understands it (whether I agree or not). To my mind, that’s the duty of anyone who turns on a microphone (or spins a record, disc, or plays a file) and broadcasts their ideas across the public airwaves-- Colin was the last of his kind on Hartford radio. (I’ll spare you a rant on Vicevich, Davis, and even Dunaway…)

I’ve contacted WTIC directly for a sponsor list—it may be FCC regulation that they supply it. I’m also compiling a list via air check. Too bad a once worthy organization is now driven by only greed and hate.

Hello again...

Through an unlikely series of events, I find myself affiliated with WRTC Radio once again. Due to my presence on the Trinity College campus in my full time role as Learning Space Manager, I have been asked to share broadcast engineering duties starting this fall.

In case you're keeping score, the personal chaos alluded to in my last post has not gone away--in fact it has escalated. Regardless, I will attempt to keep WRTC on the air and operating smoothly, whether I'm in front of, under, or inside the board.

More later...

done...

I've resigned as a regular on the airwaves at WRTC Radio. Too many other commitments, and too much personal turmoil to put something decent together each week.

Not sure if I'll use this site in the future for some other music-related activity. I'm currently selling off my record collection (many thousands of titles) to Mystery Train in Amherst, MA. They are nice folks, so if you'd like to pick up a few jems...

Thanks for stopping by this site, and thanks for listening.

Later Days,
John