LIVE LIVE LIVE

There are some days that actually contain a larger rock quotient than others. Today was one of those days. Whew! Where to begin?

Episode 026: Horde of Two, Live!
(Featuring a liver performance by Vancouver, Canada performers Horde of Two.)

Playlist & Footnotes.

It's always such a pleasure to see awesome live music performed by awesome people. Hell yeah. Here's some pictures, too.

Also!

Live In-Studio w/ Guyve
(Featuring a live, in-studio performance by Guyve.)

Playlist

I've run sound for Guyve before, and now that their guitar player is a KPSU volunteer (check out his show, Tune In, Turn On, Rock Out), we did a special, super-secret FM / Internet only show. There's nothing but live rock on this one, but I think I did a pretty decent job on the sound, if I do say so myself. Again, more pictures.

Lastly:

The DJ after me was absent today, so I tried to bring you a repeat of one of the more popular shows I've done this year, Episode 023 ("I Like Short Songs"). However, a little over half-way through the show, there was a technical error that prevented the whole show from being broadcast. After that, the automix computer comes on. Since the complete show is still in the archive, you don't really need this particular episode. For weirdo obsessive completists (like myself), here's the link:

Repeat of Episode 023: I Like Short Songs (Inc.)

As stated in several other places, I won't be in the actual studio next week. However, there will be a very special, Inter-Web-A-Tron only treat for you, available on July 4th. Isn't that a holiday or something?

Until then, take care. See ya in seven!

Summer Reading, 2009

Which Came First:
Art... or The Idea?

After a year of dormancy, Austin Rich returns with a new publication that tackles that very question in a somewhat unconventional way. Is it a 'zine? Mayhaps. 24 pages of exactly what the title suggests, arranged, organized, and categorized, all to get your own brain juices flowin'. Is it Art? Well, only you can make that decision.

At 24 pages and a mere $2.00, this textual tidbit is meant to ask (as well as answers) questions about the relationship between artifacts and the ideas they represent. Available electronically, as well as in the old-fashioned paper and ink form. First edition: 100 Copies. Just drop an e-mail, or use the handy link below.

Ideas. They're not just for thinking anymore.

$2.00 (Includes Shipping)

Photo Parade

Whenever we have an artist play on Blasphuphmus Radio, our photo crew is deployed to snap the usual glamor shots that are required by the riders we receive. However, because of various loopholes our lawyers found in the contracts, nothing was said about how much time we could spend getting the images just so for public consumption. Well, enough time has passed, and we are proud to offer you an array of links from the live performances we have hosted this year. Call it our way of repaying your extremely good patience.

Our first selection comes from 10 April, 2009, when Mortal Engines dropped by for a mind-melting performance. We did our best to capture the music's eerie qualities in film, and hope you are please with the results. You can look at the normal photoset, or check out the slideshow.

On the 9th of May, we had two members of the Battlesnakes Collective storm Blasphuphmus Radio, and took over the station for a record two hours! (It was an effort in endurance as much as it was in showmanship.) Both Nil Admarari and Alpha Protist played together and separately, and managed to really show us what live music is all about. Provided are both the normal photoset, as well as their slideshow.

It was entirely luck that we were able to get Ghost Town Jenny into the station and onto Blasphuphmus Radio on the 13th of June, but I welcome Lady Luck in all her various audio incarnations. But when you've got talent like this at your beck and call, we wouldn't have even needed to rely on luck, had we needed to. Kim has been a pleasure to know as she has spent the last few weeks in town, and I was most excited to bring you this particular live performance. As usual, you can see the regular photoset, or check out the slideshow. (24 June 2009, 11:16 PM Update: The second photographer from this show just forwarded me her shots, which have been added to the photoset.)

And just yesterday, long time friend and musician Honey Vizer made her first ever Portland appearance, and chose Blasphuphmus Radio as her venue of choice. This was a huge honor, and I did my best to try and make her feel as welcome as possible, and in return, she busted out an hour of amazing performances for an intimate radio audience. I've known Honey for over 10 years, but I have to say that she is now in as good a form as ever. Provided for the discriminating viewer are the regular photoset, as well as a slideshow. (24 June 2009, 6:00 PM Update: Our second photographer finally posted his pictures too, and have been added as of now.)

Whew. What a busy year. As we have recently been informed by a local judge, the loophole we were exploiting previously is no longer available to us, so all future photoshoots will most definately be posted in a much more prompt manner. We promise. Honest.

Honey Vizer Rock Explosion

As promised, this week Honey Vizer stormed the KPSU studios and took over for an entire hour. Relive the magic through the miracle of modern technology! Behold!:

Episode 025: Honey Vizer, Live!
(Featuring a Liver performance and interview with Honey Vizer.)

Playlist & Footnotes.

If ever there was a Blasphuphmus Radio podcast you needed to download featuring a Lizard Girl performing human-style country and folk music, this is the one. Seriously.

Next week: Horde Of Two, Live! Can you believe it?

See you in seven.

The Last Of The Naked Trees

It took a while to get them back from the printer, and then get them folded, and then stapled (thanks unpaid, non-existent staff), but the last batch of Naked Trees are finally ready for public consumption. The first edition is only 100 print copies, so if you didn't get one originally, or would like a second for the optimal stereo reading experience, now would be an excellent time. While supplies last, even.

Naked Trees Point To The North Star
by Austin Rich

(collected fiction, available in paper or electronic format $6.00 includes shipping)

And be on the lookout for a pair of short 'zines this summer. Man, we don't get a break 'round here, do we?

And Thus A New Path Was Struck.

Suddenly, in less time than I can accurately measure, everything changed completely.

Honey Vizer LIVE

I just got this cute image to promote Honey's Saturday performance. Sounds like we'll be getting lots of listeners that day. You don't want to miss it. Dude.

A Free Social Program

Night Writing Problem

Well, for some as-yet-unexplained reason, Braille didn't make an appearance at KPSU today. So, don't go digging through the archives for the Lord's Word in rhymes, because it didn't happen, this time.

Perhaps he will reschedule. However, both Honey Vizer and Horde of Two are still on. Tune in, won't you?

Ghost Town Jenny

This week I've only got an hour of radio for you, but this hour is totally worth it, because it features actual live music! Ob-soive:

Episode 024: Ghost Town Jenny, LIVE!
(Featuring a solo acoustic performance by Kimberly Kylland, singer / songwriter of Ghost Town Jenny.)

Playlist and Footnotes.

Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures soon, as I think they came out awesome.

Don't forget: Honey Vizer graces our studios next week! You don't want to miss that one.

See ya in seven.

Another Schedule Change

Blasphuphmus Radio will, unfortunately, not be heard on July 25th. But fear not! That week, we will merely come to you 23 hours late, at 12 Noon on Sunday, July 26th. It's a very special broadcast, where will be addressing family togetherness and other After School Special type themes, in an episode we'll be calling "A Family Affair Part II," featuring Karly & Kyle Rich, my sister and brother, respectively. This sould be a Rich and fantastic show, and I can't wait.

Hopefully there won't be too many other schedule changes this summer, but I may be taking a trip down south for a week, which could interfer at some point. As usual, keep your eyes here for more information. Thank you.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

There was something seriously different about this year at school than there has been in the past. I don't remember feeling so relieved that classes were over (once summer rolled around). Maybe "relieved" isn't the right. Happy to have a break? It's hard to describe, really. This term really got to me, for a number of unrelated reasons, and if you'd asked me last week, I would have told you I was gonna drop out, move to a cabin in the woods, and spend the rest of my days growing a beard and practicing my hambone skills.

Part of it was that there was so much riding on this term (namely, a job). Part of it had to do with a million other things that all went down more or less in the same month, too, but it's easier to blame money and jobs because everyone else is doing it do. I'm just modeling my behavior on theirs, right? Right.

There's still one more thing, looming in my future: Tuesday (it's always a Tuesday, isn't it?), where the fruits of my labors all blossom, and as it has been foretold, I will receive the make-or-break e-mail that will decide my future, forever. But for some reason, it doesn't seem as horrible, because it's out of my hands. Everything is done. All I can do is wait. Fortunately, that seems I've gotten pretty adept at, so I don't mind. So much. (Gimme a cigarette, goddammit!)

Still, I feel like an elephant was sitting on my chest, ready to squeeze the life out of me, and at the last possible moment, got up, as if he wasn't really aware that I was there, or what he was doing to me, and has wandered off to look for something to eat. I feel relieved, somewhat excited, no longer stressed, and curious about what the future holds.

But first I'm going to sleep for seven days and nights. Shut the door as you leave, please?

Upcoming Live Radio

I've got a slew of upcoming live performances in the coming weeks on Blasphuphmus Radio, and I'm also running the board for a hip-hop group that will be featured on the Anti-Apathy show fairly soon. It's all part of the hard work we do to bring you entertainment at the extremely reasonable price of free. All you gotta do is tune in. (It's that easy.) Here's the schedule:

June 13th, 1:00 PM on Blasphuphmus Radio: Kimberly Kylland (of Ghost Town Jenny) is in Portland for a few weeks, and I jumped at the chance to get her to come into the station to play a few songs and show off her awesome guitar / ukulele / vocal skills. This is the first time a ukulele has been featured on Blasphuphmus Radio, and I'm particularly excited because it's being handled by an expert. You won't want to miss this.

June 15th, 6:00 PM on Anti-Apathy (hosted by Rachelle): Coming into the KPSU studios to throw down some live beats and rhymes about Our Lord And Savior is local hip-hop artist, Braille. Having played to some enourmous crowds, it'll be interesting to get him down into the humble KPSU studios to perform intimately for a radio audience. Still, this should be a interesting show no matter how you slice it. For this performance, I'll be merely behind the board, but I always enjoy the chance to try my sound skills on a variety of music, including work praising the ultimate OG.

June 20th, 1:oo PM on Blasphuphmus Radio: Fabled Eugene Oregon chanteuse Honey Vizer will be dropping by to play her particular and peculiar brand of acoustic country awesomeness. As her website proudly proclaims, "Amazing Space Reptile Sings Mammal Style," and it's 100% true. Her "Non-Rock That Actually Rocks," is, in a word, fantastic. I've known Honey for quite some time, but the length of the I-5 corridor has always been a barrier to having her on my show. Fortunately, patience is a virtue, and it will be a real treat to see her play again. I really hope she brings her banjo and accordion, but really, it'll be great no matter how you slice it.

June 27th, 1:00 PM on Blasphuphmus Radio: Horde of Two is actually David Lester (of Mecca Normal) and Wendy Atkinson (of Wendy Atkinson). Wendy stopped by KPSU a while back for a great live performance on Blasphuphmus Radio, and in spite of my disorganized and confused school-addled state, she still included a recording from that session on her fantastic album, Pink Noise. So I am extremely excited to be hosting Horde of Two, which combines David's witty guitar work with Wendy's atmospheric bass lines. I can't believe I'm lucky enough to be hosting this, and I hope that comes through on the air. This one is a keeper, no questions asked.

Lastly: due to a much-needed vacation that I will be taking in July, there will be no new episode of Blasphuphmus Radio on July 4th. For the last six months I've been there for you, every week, and it's been great. But it will also be great to get out of town for a while to see my family, and unfortunately, weekends are the best time for everyone. Hopefully this will be One of only a handful of breaks the show will take in the foreseeable future. But hey, after all this great live music, you'll need a break too, right?

Enjoy.

Does This Make Me A Horrible Person?

Dear Drunk Skater Kids (that decided that 3 AM last night in the lot across the street from me was a good place to shred):

I know I seem old to you, but I swear, I'm totally hip. Not only do I have a skating tattoo (a flaming skull with crossed boards underneath, no less), but I own the complete works of JFA and McRad, too. While my board was knicknamed the "Laz-Y-Boy" by my friends (because I used it mostly for cruising than for tricks), it is adorned with a nice Motörhead sticker, which comforted me when I bruised my tailbone after a skating accident (I was drunk), and was laid up for a couple of days. What I'm saying is, this pretty much rules out any possible doubt of my sk8 cred (or impeccable taste).

However, my ability to sleep at night is iffy at best, and as it is the weekend before finals, it is imperative that I actually get eight hours of sleep. Especially since I've been having trouble sleeping all week given the city's decision to fix the sewer pipes outside my window at 4 AM the other day, and the added reality that I quit drinking this year, and no longer have a pint of whiskey in me every night before bed.

So, when I get on your case about how you need to, "Get the fuck out out my neighborhood so I can get some sleep!" I'm not saying it to be a stuffy old dude who doesn't understand, but rather as someone who has been tossing and turning every night this week, and really needs to be fresh so I can hammer out a pair of papers and finish my portfolio, all due Wednesday. I know you guys were having a good time, and I totally applaud that. Keep up the good work.

Just do it somewhere that isn't right outside my window, please.

(And for the record: your skills aren't that impressive; no, you're the douche, and she had every reason to dump your ass if you talk about her like that; and for Earl's sake, there's better swill than mancans of Icehouse. You're skaters, not assholes.)

Thank you for your time.

I Like Short Songs (And You Do, Too)

This week I've got another quadruple-dose of radio for you, this time with good old Ricardo Wang back in his usual position as DJ for the 12 Noon hour. There's live music, old-time radio, a little bit of experimental, and 121 short songs shoved into the 1 o'clock hour. Can you believe it? Ob-soive:

Episode 023: I Like Short Songs
(Featuring 121 short songs smashed into a 60 Minute hour of radio.)

Playlist & Footnotes.

And, I also ran live sound for Ricardo Wang during the 12 Noon hour.

What's This Called? w/ Million Brazilians, LIVE!
(With a live performance by Local / Chicago group, Million Brazilians.)

Playlist & Footnotes.

AND

(Shhhhh... these two are linked directly off the web stream computer!)

10:00 AM: Internet & 98.1 FM Campus Broadcast, Only
(For those who enjoy real Old-School Radio, I present selections from the classic CD set, The Words And Music of WWII.)

11:00 AM: Internet & 98.1 FM Campus Broadcast, Only
(More selections from, The Words And Music of WWII for the first 34 minutes, then Ricardo Wang takes over with a mini-DJ set of his own experimental picks.)

Whew! What a day. Now I'm ready to spend the rest of it doing homework. Sigh.

See ya in seven.