15th Anniversary Blas-Travaganza Part XI: The Gordon Taylor!

Gordon Taylor
Gordon Taylor

15th Anniversary Blas-Travaganza Part XI: The Gordon Taylor!

Composed of many of my friends, and members of other bands I’ve loved over the years, Gordon Taylor – or, THE Gordon Taylor, according to their drummer – might be my favorite band of all time.  It is hard to tell exactly what it is about them that really makes me love them so much.  They have a quality to their earnestness, and a sense of wonder that captures my intellectual interests, as well as my libidinal desire to rock.  Each of them has a skill with their instrument of choice that really allows themselves to cut loose in ways they don’t normally.  Every time I’ve been able to see them is a moment that I treasure to this day, and when I heard that they would play as part of the Blas-Travaganza, I knew they would be the perfect headliners for Day 2.

Day 2
Day 2

The Gordon Taylor is one of those things that defies description, and instead just begs you to dance.  While no official document of their work has ever been released, the two times they played on my show, and the time I was allowed to join them on tour, are some of the most important moments of my life.  They have always been honest with me, in every way, and the fact that they were willing to join me for this show means the world to me.

I love them, and I can only hope that you love them as much as I do, too.

Enjoy!

MyFacester+ Photos

Gordon Taylor Setlist
Gordon Taylor Setlist

signal-to-noise ratio w/ Enemies of Carlotta, LIVE!

Enemies of Carlotta on signal-to-noise ratio!
Enemies of Carlotta on signal-to-noise ratio!

signal-to-noise ratio w/ Enemies of Carlotta, LIVE!

Flickr Photoset.

Not one to turn down a favor for Ranger Mike, I was more than happy to render my sound services for an up-and-coming math-metal group comprised of a number of KPSU alum.

Both Sean and Johnny have made a number of appearances on KPSU in a variety of incarnations and permutations, so it was really excellent to see them in their latest form. Hopefully you’ll be seeing these guys around town more often, but for the time being you can enjoy them via this incredible on-air performance. Honest: you need to hear this one. It’s pretty much one of the best bands I’ve gotten to record.

Enemies of Carlotta
Enemies of Carlotta

I’ll be appearing on the last two episodes of signal-to-noise ratio in two different capacities, and the episode on the 31st is a two-hour show (extending into All 7″). Ranger Mike will be leaving KPSU to pursue a wife and a job, and we hate to see him go. But life goes on, and we’ll have to enjoy the precious little time we have left with him. Honestly, all of radio will be suffering with his absence. I will do my best to work double-time in an effort to fill the void he will leave behind, but there really isn’t anything like the real thing. Good luck, where ever you end up.

See ya soon.

Episode 027: Live From An Actual 4th of July Bar-B-Que (2007 Retrocast)

To Infinity And Beyond
To Infinity And Beyond

Episode 027: Retrocast: “Live From An Actual 4th of July Bar-B-Que” 2007
(Featuring phone interviews with Johnny & Tom, each present at an actual 4th of July Celebration.)

Even though I was out of town for my usual show this week, there was a two-fold treat for those who just can’t get enough Blasphuphmus Radio. Live, in the studio, Ricardo Wang did a special two-hour version of No Skinny Ties in honor of our Nation’s most important celebration. Those of you who tuned in live got to experience that. However, there is also an internet-only treat for the truly dedicated listener.

This is one of my all-time favorite shows, and now it can be yours, too, with a mere Inter-Web-A-Tron download. Can you believe it?

Tune in next week, when I actually DJ an hour of radio for a change of pace. What will happen? Who can say? Tune in and find out.

See ya in seven.

The Defstar Remix Show

Jonathan Savoie
Jonathan Savoie

The Defstar Remix Show (KPSU Phase I Episode 145)

Whew! This is quite possibly the longest playlist I’ve EVERY posted. My good friend Mr. Jonathan Savoie (Defstar) prepared two great mixes, and wanted a chance to debut them for all the world to hear. His Defstar project is… unusual, no doubt about it, but almost instantly he got my ass shaking. Exactly how, I’m not sure. I mean, from Yes to Don Lonie, to Zappa, Man Is The Bastard, & The Beatles on 45? If I had to sum it up in a word, I’d say: incredible. Check it out, if you dare!

Defstar Playlist:

01.) Tanguedia * Astor Piazzolla * Luna
02.) Wake Up [Excerpt] * NoMeansNo
03.) Wake Up [Excerpt] * Richard Simmons
04.) Lovely Hula Hands [Excerpt] * feat. The Maile Serenaders * “Let’s Hula”
05.) Our Earth’s Blood pt. 2 [Excerpt] * Man Is The Bastard
06.) Skeletor’s Revenge [Excerpt] * Masters Of The Universe
07.) Bus Stop [Excerpt] * Rah Bras
08.) Good Morning Portland [Re-Mix] * Austin Rich
09.) D * The Electric Company
10.) Mortality [Excerpt] * Radio Lab
11.) Damn That’s Smooth [Excerpt] * The Mayonnaise vs. Venn Jazz Ensemble
12.) Jelly Roll Gumdrop [Excerpt] * The Mothers Of Invention
13.) Economy Lunch [Excerpt] * Bob Booker And Earle Doud * The First Family
14.) Sesame Street Fever [Excerpt] * Irwin The Disco Duck and the Wibble Wabble Singers
15.) I Smell Almonds [Excerpt] * Dabney Coleman Knife Fight
16.) Chopsticks [Excerpt] * Living Guitars Play…
17.) Used Log Truck [Excerpt] * Buzz Martin
18.) Stock Cars [Excerpt] * The Big Sounds Of The Drags
19.) Sound As Touch [Excerpt] * Radio Lab
20.) Introduction [Excerpt] * Sharon Jones And The Drag Kings
21.) Dead Bass Thing * Rah Bras
22.) Jim, The Spelunker * Rah Bras
23.) Oui Oui Oui * Rah Bras
24.) Sunset In The Antipodes [Excerpt] * Carney And Thomas

25.) Sex-Tet * Astor Piazzolla * Luna
26.) [Excerpt] * Frank Zappa * Lumpy Gravy
27.) La Golondrina [Excerpt] * Johnny Johnson
28.) [Excerpt] * Don Lonie * Don Lonie Speaks Again
29.) Tico Tico [Excerpt] * Joanne Castle
30.) Heart Of The Sunshine * yes
31.) Tumbling Tumbleweeds Deep In The Heart Of Texas [Excerpt] * Billy Arnold & His Rangers
32.) Raindance [Excerpt] * Herbie Handcock
33.) The Bullit Theme [Excerpt] * Lalo Schifrin
34.) [Excerpt] * Don Lonie * Talks To Teenagers
35.) [Excerpt] * Peter Appleyard And Orchestra
36.) [Excerpt] * Uncle Moishi And The Mitzvah Men
37.) [Excerpt] * Danny Gould * Let’s Play Bongos
38.) ?? * ?? * ??
39.) Garden Of Eden [Excerpt] * Kids Bible Club
40.) [Excerpt] * Apolo 11 Flight To The Moon
41.) Silver Apples To The Moon [Excerpt] * Morton Subotnik
42.) [Excerpt] * Ukie Sherin
43.) Opretta [Excerpt] * Dabney Coleman Knife Fight
44.) Hey Jude [Excerpt] * The Beatles
45.) Luna * Astor Piazzolla * Luna

KPSU Playlist

The Mayonnaise Vs. Venn, LIVE!

The Mayonnaise Vs. Venn
The Mayonnaise Vs. Venn

The Mayonnaise Vs. Venn, LIVE! (Live Friday 051)

“Eating Solid Foods Since 1981.”  Born on a napkin at the Alibi Family Restaurant and Tiki Lounge, The Mayonnaise has run rampant through the streets, stealing ears from our heads and dollars from our wallets with little or no repercussions.  But now, Radicchio and Arugula Venn have taken it upon themselves to wage unending battle against the omnipresent Mayonnaise to protect the rest of us from being emulsified into mediocrity. With love, support and musical contributions from the rest of Venn family, they labor day and night so that you may rest assured that the world is, and always will be, a safe and harmonious place to listen. And now, you can do so, here on Live Friday.

Gordon Taylor, LIVE!

A Gordon Taylor
A Gordon Taylor

Gordon Taylor, LIVE! (Live Friday 041)

Gordon Taylor are four protein-derived life-forms that play songs about science, history and medical oddities. Having only been around a short period of time, they’ve already formed quite a name for themselves with the few blow-out performances they’ve allowed us to witness. An upstanding bunch of young striplings, they wax melodic and rock geodesic. Formed out of the smoldering chunks of Rise Over Run (formerly Lina Alba) and assisted by Johnny-Cat on drums, Gordon Taylor are on their way to taking Portland by storm that will leave you soaked and satisfied as you trudge through our streets. If they were a body part, it’d be the pancreas. A chord? F-sharp. A Max Stop? Ruby Junction… Playing on KPSU? Right now…

Gordon Taylor, LIVE!

A Gordon Taylor
A Gordon Taylor

Gordon Taylor, Live! (Phase I Episode 077)

“Special Two-Week Christmas Gift To Portland”

As part of my Christmas Gift to the city of Portland, I’ve lined up two weeks of music on my show guaranteed to knock your socks off. This week, I have the up-and-coming rock outfit, Gordon Taylor, risen out of the ashes of Rise Over Run and The Mayonaise vs. Venn Demonstrational. With beautiful lyrics and a slight wink-and-nod to some of the emo greats of the past, they have fantastic songs that will draw you in and make you want to dance.  (This show aired from 5 P.M. – 6 P.M.)

Robert Deeble AND Radiccio & Tet Soi Venn, LIVE!

Robert Deeble
Robert Deeble

Robert Deeble AND Radiccio & Tet Soi Venn, LIVE! (Live Friday 020)

Robert Deeble / Radicchio & Tet Soy (Of The Mayonaise Vs. Venn Demonstrational)

Robert Deeble’s music has been described as “Wistful folk-pop, sparsely arranged, gracefully performed, and achingly beautiful to behold.” Robert’s fourth record, “This Bar Has No One Left” was recorded Spring ’05 at the famed Type Foundry studios in Portland, Oregon with Adam Sezler (Norfolk and Western).

Also, to fill out the hour we’ll be presenting a repeat broadcast of some of our favorite songs performed by Radicchio & Tet Soy of The Mayonaise Vs. Venn Demonstrational, who played on KPSU as part of our Pledge Drive ’05 in May. While the set was mostly covers (as this was a call-in show where listeners requested their favorite songs for them to play), you’ll also hear a couple Demonstrational originals guaranteed to please.