In a surprise show thrown together on short notice, Bombast cleans out the "junk drawer," unleashing a host of tunes that were scheduled for airplay at some point in the past but were shelved for various reasons. Listen, and you will hear little difference between this and a "real" Bombast program. Whether that demonstrates that even the "overflow" music is great or that my "regular" selection isn't that good is something you can decide for yourself. The introductory sound file at the top of the program does...
In a surprise show thrown together on short notice, Bombast cleans out the "junk drawer," unleashing a host of tunes that were scheduled for airplay at some point in the past but were shelved for various reasons. Listen, and you will hear little difference between this and a "real" Bombast program. Whether that demonstrates that even the "overflow" music is great or that my "regular" selection isn't that good is something you can decide for yourself. The introductory sound file at the top of the program does something I don't expect it to do, which actually turns out to be a blessing--like a pitcher who gives up a base hit in the first at bat, I no longer feel the pressure to throw a perfect game, and I settle in.
Yes, Billy Bragg was in town a couple of weeks ago, and no, we did not get to see him--no money and no time. Months and months ago I had big plans for his arrival, but did not expect back then that I would become a "management type" and be saddled with "responsibilities." So things kind of fell through the cracks. Then, my sporadic, unofficial "Bombast v. iTunes" feature intervened--I'm not in charge of when records are released, I just "answer the call"--and even my minimal nod to Mr. Bragg had to be deferred. It was weird and disappointing that no one asked us whether WRFI was "doing anything" related to Billy Bragg's concert at the State; maybe I overestimated the number of people who care. I had deemed Billy Bragg too well-appreciated for the Bombast Hall of Legends, but I will have to re-think that. At any rate, as it always was with my heroes at Factory Records (this would be a non-sequitur, right here), all my "big ideas" wind up being several days late and several dollars short.
Lately the word "pathology" has repeatedly surfaced in our online and in-person radio discourse, and thankfully, that has referred to other people--at least it has when I've been party to the discussions. My experiences in radio past and present demonstrate that it brings out the weirdness in people, and I don't put myself above that. My involvement in WRFI is a kind of therapy for me, and therapy is not meant to be easy. I am learning a good deal about my own pettiness, insecurity, and jealousy. Some days I do a pretty good job managing it; some days I feel as though the bad stuff is being triggered. I had some "triggering" experiences Tuesday night but, listening to the program, I think I hid it well.
Anyway, speaking of pathologies--did you know that I have a cyber-stalker? It's true. A few weeks ago I posted a notice about a programming change on someone's Facebook page--not even the station's, mind you--and an individual unknown to me shared that post with one of my colleagues. I actually received an incoherent and minor scolding for it. I'm not trying to make light of stalking--I was once stalked in real life, by someone dangerous enough to be institutionalized--but it does amuse me that someone feels compelled to follow and report on my volunteer-community-radio-station moves on the Internet, as if there are real stakes, and it strikes me that that's appropriate punishment in and of itself. Anyway, say hello to the mole, everyone--I'm sure that person is among us here.
It is "true" that our schedule is supposed to change in the next few weeks. I have an idea of where I'm hoping Bombast will fit into the week, but we're getting ahead of ourselves.
BOMBAST playlist, 2013 May 7, 2100-2300:
- Fugazi: "Steady Diet" [Dischord]
- Janka Nabay & Bubu Gang: "En Yay Sah" [Luaka Bop]
- Toby Tobias: "Running Away (Homeboy Dub)" [Burek]
- Billy Bragg: "Strange Things Happen" [Dutch East India Trading] / "Physical Evidence"
- Wild Billy Chyldish and the Spartan Dreggs: "The Sir John Hawkins Memorial Car Park" [Damaged Goods]
- Burning Spear: "Institution Dub" [Mango UK]
- The Evens: "Wonder Why" [Dischord]
- Dawda Jobarteh: "Tama Silo" [Stern's Africa]
- Girls Against Boys: "Kitty-Yo" [Slate / Adult Swim]
- Billy Bragg: "Love Gets Dangerous" [Dutch East India Trading] / "Physical Evidence"
- Kiasmos: "Thrown (FaltyDL remix)" [Erased Tapes]
- Billy Bragg: "A New England" [Dutch East India Trading] / "Physical Evidence"
- Fallou Dieng: "Jog Leen" [Stern's Africa]
- Withered Hand: "Heart Heart" [Brother & Dad]
- Bad Brains: "Riot Squad / The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth" [PVC]
- Cassegrain: "The Rain is a Spilling Lake" [Prologue]
- Half Man Half Biscuit: "The Coroner's Footnote" [Probe Plus]
- Billy Bragg: "Fear is a Man's Best Friend" [Dutch East India Trading] / "Physical Evidence"
- Ablaye Thiossane: "Talene Lampe Yi" [Stern's Africa]
- John Talabot: "Zanzibar (80s tapemix)" [Permanent Vacation]
- Billy Bragg: "A13, Trunk Road to the Sea" [Dutch East India Trading] / "Physical Evidence"
- Scream: "Still Screaming" [Sixth Int'l / Dischord]
- Gabriel Ananda: "Short Story" [Basmati]
Next time: some pieces for moms. Enjoy the music! --kid catharsis
