Episode 002: It’s Alive Part I (Mini-Cast #1) 
(Featuring Live Music performed by Tea For Julie & Derek M. Johnson, PLUS: “A Tribute To Ron Asheton” Minicast)

As a long-time contributor to KPSU, one of the many skills I’ve picked up is that of running live sound. Between running Live Friday for two years, hosting bands on my own show – in addition to helping out other DJs with their bands – has given my a rather large musical portfolio that the Way-Back Machine gives me access to. I’ve always felt it was unfair to leave these recordings to lie in their musty storage bins, so I’ve decided to occasionally feature my best live recordings on this very show.

This week we have recordings by Tea For Julie & Derek M. Johnson. Tea For Julie is a new-ish indie-pop group that came into KPSU to perform on Rachelle’s “Anti-Apathy” show on November 24th, 2008. (Two days before Thanksgiving.) Normally they’re a full ensemble, but for this performance, they appeared as a two-piece for a spooky, reverb-drenched sound. Fans of the group will be excited to hear their songs stripped-down, and to hear their casual and friendly interview clips afterward. For more information, check out their page at http://www.myspace.com/teaforjulie.

Derek M. Johnson, however, is another matter entirely. As a solo experimental cellist, Derek skirts a much less mainstream sound that involves looping pedals, effects of all shapes and kinds, and when appropriate, actual cello sounds, too. Derek came to PDX on December 7th, 2008 (Pearl Harbor Day) to promote his show that evening, and to play a live set on Ricardo Wang’s “What’s This Called?” Program. Sadly, Ricardo could not appear on his own show (due to the all-encompassing financial crisis), and so I stepped in, not only to host but to run live sound as well. Derek performed three “pieces”: two short covers, prefaced by a longer (and awesome) improvised bit. While there wasn’t much of an interview, I included a few snippets of us talking that day, too. For more information about him, you can check him out at: http://www.myspace.com/derekmjohnson.

Incidental music and sounds in this episode provided by Man… Or Astro-Man?, Last Exit & found sounds from the public library.

PLUS!

“A Tribute To Ron Asheton Minicast”

As a huge Stooges fan, I couldn’t pass up the chance to do a small tribute to Ron, in honor of his unfortunate death. I was able to see them once in the Spring of 2007 at SxSW, and they were as good as advertised on stage, if not better. So I close the show with a “minicast” talking about my interest as a fan, will “Real Cool Time” & “1970” play on. I’ll be including occasional “minicasts” as they are appropriate or fit the show, and I will always try to draw attention to them for interested listeners.

Thanks again! See ya next week!