Hope You Weren't Too Disappointed...

...if you tuned in today to hear a live set by Levator. Due to vehicular problems, Levator was broken-down in Longview, WA during the time they were supposed to be on the air. Such is life. These things happen, and hopefully we can set up a fill-in show to make up for it. If you've heard them before, then you know how important it would be to make that happen.

So, instead, just listen to the awesome mix of tunes that Ricardo Wang played instead on What's This Called? (which, includes a song by Levator from a pervious live KPSU performance, from a few years back). It was a pretty rad set - just like it is every week - and imagine me in the background, desperately on the phone with the band, trying to figure out a way to make it fly.

The World Elephant

When I first came to Portland, I remember being absolutely in love with this mural. It seemed so strange to me, so random and wonderful and amazing, that I used to navigate using it as a reference for the first few months. (In a way, my vision of PDX still has this at the center of town.)

One of my favorite details of this mural was the ledge about 1/5 of the way up from the bottom. (In this image, its subtly noticeable, just above my head.) There were a few different bird's nests that have been made there, and if you were willing to stop and watch for a few minutes, you would invariably see the birds walking along it, getting read to take off, or feeding it's young. It was really wonderful to watch, and it always reminded me of the symbiotic birds that live on (and clean) elephants in the wild. Like a weird, symbolic nature scene for the city folk who never got to see the real thing.

I used to talk about taking a picture of this mural all the time, but over the years my technological backwardness (combined with poor planning on my part) never managed to resolve themselves in time. Recently, they began construction or this building, remolding and expanding it, and ultimately cutting a bunch of windows through this mural, making it difficult to look at.

For a while I was totally pissed that I'd missed my chance, that this particular element of the city was now forever locked away in my memory, where it would slowly fade to a nostalgic feeling every so often, one that tugs at the heartstrings but fails to register completely in the conscious mind. It was sort of a bummer, when you get right down to it.

And then I got an e-mail from my roommate, The Ramen City Kid. "Did I ever send this to you?" was all the accompanying message said, and suddenly it hit me: quite a while ago, as we were wandering around town one day, I was talking about wanting to take a picture of it. Again. And in one of the coolest and most meaningful moments of our friendship, he pulled out his camera and said, "Okay. Let's do it."

It was so casual and of-the-moment that I didn't think anything of it when he took the picture. And, since he forgot about it, I forgot about it. And since construction began shortly afterward, the sight of the mural actually being destroyed a little every day began to eliminate it's presence in my mind, too. I was convinced I would never see it again, even though in the back of my mind I imagined that I could probably track down a picture of it somewhere, someday, somehow.

I just had no idea I would only have to look inside my own house. Thanks man. You are the greatest roommate, ever.

Check Out A New Pair Of Batteries...

...cause you'll need them for The Vibrarians!

Last night, on Ranger Mike's signal-to-noise ratio, The Vibrarians stopped by for a live set, and I was lucky enough to run sound and catch their awesome live set. Rumor has it that they're playing at Rotture (with Hornet Leg, Wallpaper, & Lake), so if you like what you hear, you should totally check 'em out:

The Vibrarians, Live, on signal-to-noise ratio (hosted by Ranger Mike).

(Photo to the right by Ricardo Wang, on May 3rd, 2008, as they appeared on What's This Called?)

Inter-Web-A-Tron Linkorium!

Behold!

Episode 004: Blasphuphmus Radio Theater Presents! The Adventures of Superman, Part I
(Featuring the first four episodes of the 1940 classic radio serial: "Baby From Krypton," "Clark Kent, Mild Mannered Reporter," "Keno's Landslide," & "Clark Kent - Captured By The Wolfe.")

Playlist & Footnotes

This one was a lot of fun, and I can't wait for Part II, airing on February 17th! Stay tuned, patient listeners!

More Live Music

This week I've got two on-air sound gigs that I'll be engineering, and of course, they'll be on KPSU (1450 AM, 98.1 FM, kpsu.org).

This Wednesday, January 28th at 8 PM, tune in for a live performance by The Vibrarians on signal-to-noise ratio (hosted by Ranger Mike & Andy Z). The Vibrarians are from Olympia, and fall into that beautiful Garage Punk / Psychedelic vein that is akin to Spider & The Webs. You should totally tune in. What else are you gonna do on a Wednesday Night?

Then, this Saturday, January 31st at 12 Noon, tune in for a live performance by Levator on What's This Called? (hosted by Ricardo Wang). I've practically become his co-host in recent months with all the times I've been helping Ricardo out lately, but I'm particularly excited about helping run sound for Levator, a band I've hosted three times previously on my old show. Imagine a band who's reference points are Galaxie 500, Velvet Underground, and touring constantly. Oh, and they're fronted by Sky, who has a wonderfully haunting voice that I can't wait to get a microphone on.

Both will be available for download mere minutes after all is said and done. How's that for instant gratification?

Oh... and tune in tomorrow for The Adventures of Superman. Really. You'll love the way it makes you feel.

Human Machines Links!

For those who are curious to hear the live performance by Mortal Engines that I ran sound for, you can easily do so here:

Mortal Engines Live on What's This Called?

More about: the performance or Mortal Engines (for your reading pleasure).

(01/28/09 Update. Thanks Don!) And while I'm at it: don't forget to pick up Mortal Engines album, Sugar Skull. It contains four tracks recorded live on "What's This Called?" from April 14th, 2007, which I helped engineer and record. Thanks again!

Mortal Engines Live on What's This Called?

This is sort of last minute, but I'm running sound tomorrow for the Mortal Engines live performance on KPSU. That's at noon on January 24th, 2009. The podcast will be available for download a few minutes after one.

Here's Ricardo Wang's press release about tomorrow's show:

Saturday, January 24th from Noon to 1 PM Pacific time, your host Ricardo Wang is pleased to present an encore live performance on What's This Called? by Portland's own electronic experimenter Mortal Engines!

Citing influences including Throbbing Gristle, Coil, Bill Laswell, the Hafler Trio, Zoviet France, Nocturnal Emissions, and Skinny Puppy among others, Mortal Engines last played at the KPSU studio for What's This Called? on April 14th, 2007. Portions of the recordings that engineer Austin Rich made of those sessions appear on Mortal Engines' self released album from 2008 called Sugar Skull. He'll be debuting brand new material on this upcoming session that is sure to be haunting and entrancing!

STREAMING FROM KPSU WEBSITE HERE!

Or in Portland on the "Mortal Engines" of old fashioned radio:

1450 AM in the Portland OR/Vancouver WA metropolitan area.
98.1 FM on the Portland State University campus.



image: Mortal Engines live on WTC in April, 2007

That Guy

I became That Guy so gradually that it's really hard to say when, exactly, the transformation began. My question always becomes: which warning signs predate the others? In Cathead, we used to play a song called "Old Man Blues." But then there's reading about Grandpa Punk in Ramen City U.S.A., and my High School-aged Grumpy Old Man impersonations... when I was 13 my favorite song was "Kids" from Bye Bye Birdie.

It just goes on and on like that.

Anyway, now that the change is complete, I can at least help you with some of the tell-tale signs that you have become That Guy:

1.) Carries possessions in a cloth grocery bag instead of something more useful.

2.) Apparel includes: frayed fingerless gloves, bow ties, used-car-salesman jacket & bowling shoes one size too big.

3.) Oftentimes, primary mission on errands seems to involve the Public Library or buying fruits & vegetables. (Double Points if I combine them into one, unnecesarily elaborate mission.)

4.) iPod playlist includes: Miles Davis, Old-Time Radio recordings from the 40's, & NPR Podcasts.

5.) Can generally be found (during the daytime) waiting for a bus and complaining in a sort of Yosemite Sam kind of way about The Weather and The Traffic. Or both.

Political Music For Political Times

Here's the links for today's show. I thought it went really well, but ultimately, you're the judge:

Episode 003: Inauguration Day Special, 2009!

Obama-Rama! Political Music For Political Times! Etc.!

Playlist & Footnotes

Thanks again for everyone who tuned in. Next week, get ready for the premiere episode of "Blasphuphmus Radio Theater Presents," which begins retrocasting the 1940 classic radio serial, "The Adventures Of Superman!" Audience Participation could be really, really promising on this one...

Election Day Special, 2009!

I couldn't believe it when I looked at the calendar and realized that I would be on the air January 20th. It's pretty rad. To celebrate Obama-Rama (and all things American, Political, or Forward-Thinking), I'm going to be playing some of my favorite songs about those very subjects. This should be an unusual show, overall, as it is hard to find upbeat political songs, or even ones that aren't negatively slanted, but I will do my best.

Audience Participation: 503-725-5945 during the show (or austinrich [at] gmail [dot] com any time)

Tune in at 3 PM at 98.1 FM on the PSU campus, or at kpsu.org. It should rock.