I was attempting to unearth something by frenchman Bruno Chapoutot/Dorian Feller of the wonderful home recording projects Brodé Tango & Rock Feller when I came up with something else... something... Croatian.



So, not quite the quirkily crafted, screw-wave material I was looking for, which you can find so nicely archived at Continuo's Weblog, complete with shots of the beautiful original Rock Feller's sole 12".

Me + Auf der Maur in Auf der MODE. This 82nd edition of M+Y features our favorite flame-haired, bass-playing 90s alt-crush turned 00s indie queen in the studio for a charming and passionate interview/performance.

Boldly thrusting herself into a new configuration tailored for a more stripped down setting, she and her sideman Jeff a.k.a. "The Scorpion" whipped up a zesty bass + synth concoction that went down smoothly with a tangy aftertaste. Being a natural performer, the radiant Auf der Maur brought a strong and expressive voice to the songs that didn't outdo the instrumentation but rather sat nicely in the middle of the mix, or in the eye of the hurricane.

Showcasing songs from her new LP Out Of Our Minds (+1 from her solo, s/t debut), the very title track is the first taste that we got in this session. Interestingly enough, the LP is only one portion of the many that make up the OOOM conceptual package. With an accompanying comic book and "mini-epic" short film, the underlying story pertains to a Viking theme, touching on the Norse discovery of America.

Overall, the tracks are somewhat bleak and yearning (particularly "Rabbithole"), providing a stark contrast to MAdM's - pronounced as you'd expect it to be - outward and engaging nature. Still, her personality confirms that she is truly involved and immersed in her music. And our personality, Tedward, was loving it - hear the two of them meshing real nice like on Monday July 28 @ noon!










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AA has always been a strong advocate for the gay community and their rights. Viva Radio has always been a fervent supporter of all things musically inspiring, stimulating, and extraordinary. Combining these two vested interests, we bring you special Gay Pride DJ sets at the AA Chelsea + Bleecker St. locations (right by the parade) featuring some of our best NYC-based contributors. Come by and say hi:

Fri. 6/25 - Chelsea
181 8th Ave. (between 19th & 20th St.)

2 - 5 PM - Adam (Art Decade)
5 - 8 PM - Brian Shimkovitz (Awesome Tapes From Africa)

Sat. 6/26 - Chelsea
181 8th Ave. (between 19th & 20th St.)

2 - 5 PM - Ryan Creed (120 Minutes)
5 - 8 PM - Dave Renard (Deadheat)

Sun. 6/27 - Bleecker St. (Gay Pride Parade)
205 Bleecker St. (at Ave. of the Americas)

2 - 5 PM - Dan Selzer (Pyjamarama)
5 - 8 PM - Cat Hartwell (Closet Jams)

... Closet Jams? Doubtful ;-)

No Strange were/are an Italian group from turin active during the 80s/early 90s, although they apparently perform quite infrequently these days.

I find them to be quite relative to another Italian group whose own cred post is gathering dust in my drafts dump: Sensations' Fix, one of the finest homespun progressive groups of the 70s. They're equally self-(under)produced and just as beautifully, dramatically psyched out. Yet, like many groups who attempted to recapture/reinterpret melodic and sonic notions of the 60s during the post-punk/new wave years, innovation and proficiency took a bit of backseat for No Strange while new perspectives and attitudes were pushed to the forefront, not to mention, many liberties were taken with the emancipated touch of the home studio and its colorful limitations.

While I'm not crazy about Paisley Underground bands or revivalists and the bowl cuts they sported, there is a type of psychedelic rock from the 1980s that resonates quite loudly with me. A pretty obvious reference point would be Spacemen 3, whose version of 60s music favors minimalism, primalism, and the original blues-based tenets of rock 'n roll. Not that I'm really into or up on the latter, but it was vital the first time around, while the Spacemen proved that a punk-infused, detached and noisier update could reinstate its power 20 or so years later.

That being said, the term post-Velvets is something I like to throw around a lot and project onto groups who valued "less is more" approaches as well as unconventional/subpar production values. Additional qualifications include displaying an extraordinary ability to indulge themselves lyrically and musically yet still connect with the listener, even if attempting to create a distance or risking a loss of interest. The musicians who fall under this category usually have some sort of outcast bent, evoking a darker side of pop/rock music and life in general. Case in point, Phantom Payn a.k.a Jurgen Gleue formerly of Hanover's 39 Clocks, whose love for all things psychedelic represents a more ephemeral/fetishized version of the first acid generation's culture complete with drug references abound, gratuitous drones, and op art record sleeves. On the other side of the coin, you've got NZ's Roy Montgomery, whose own velvet vision was rooted in a post-punk drive and (d)evolved into layered, rugged guitar shimmerscapes.



No Strange don't particularly fall under this category as they seem to draw a bit more from the 13th Floor Elevators; there's a heat haze all over their sound that causes the imaginary image to blur and makes all of their songs sound that much more desperate. Certain throwback signatures are present, such as a sitar fixation and a load of tambourine, however electronic pulse percussion and aggressive basslines that are more out of the pocket than in would indicate a new dimension of energy and coldness not present in the psych jams of 1960s Austin, TX.

It's important to note that I'm applying this to the group's most monumental releases, Trasparenze E Suoni (1985) + L'Universo (1987). These two albums contain some fantastic songs, some sung in English ("Let Me Play The Sitar" + "Talkin' To The Chlld" are great), some in Italian, but hard to find titles as some of these recordings are mini-suites of sorts. Of course, this entails some lovely spacey segues. A visit to their myspace leads you further down the rabbit hole with offerings from their pre-Strange days as No Strani, a more warped, electronic technopunk/darkwave band. Nice to hear this material since it somehow reinforces the inkling I had that these fellows were fully aware of their contemporaneous palette but chose to express themselves through haunting sounds of a bygone era, which could only be reached through a very particular & idealized fantasy both then and now.

Skate. Rock. Skate Rock!

Not quite what “Surfin Bird” was for surfing, not necessarily what "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" is for baseball, the Skate Rock genre stands alone. Borderline Punk, borderline Speed Metal, and mixed with the energy of the then newborn Hardcore scene, the genre catered to the live-fast-have-fun mentality of skate punks. Simply put, Skate Rock was music for skating by skaters. And although a handful of recognized acts emerged from the scene (Agent Orange, Suicidal Tendencies), Skate Rock heads credit Jodie Foster’s Army, JFA for short, as the true pioneers.

Legend has it that the band's original name was The Breakers, a tribute to surf influence and mayhem, but it changed after the more popular Jodie Foster's Army, the title of one of the band’s songs, surfaced. According to founding member, Brian Brannon, JFA was a play on the story about John Hinckley writing to actress Jodie Foster and attempting to assassinate president Ronald Reagan. The name stuck after a wild show with Black Flag in 1981.

JFA, originally composed of Brian Brannon on vocals, Don Pendleton on guitar, Michael Cornelius on bass, and Mike Sversvold on drums, resides from Arizona, and despite numerous lineup changes, still plays to this very day!

Here’s to boards, thrashing, macho-surf-dude-bashing, and a good ol’ empty pool!

JFA - Beach Blanket Bongout


JFA - Walk Don’t Run


JFA - Preppy


Walking, Not Running,

- The Rainster

Me + You Pt. 81: Tom Wilson Weinberg by Viva Radio

A lovely 81st installment here in the Me + You series, one wherein fan and artist are familiarized. Tedward and special co-host Jeffrey Jensen of Earles & Jensen fame have a sit-down with Tom Wilson Weinberg. A sensitive, gay songwriter with a wry sense of humor and a small pop culture phenomenon to his name.

Indeed, somewhat of a crazy turn of events for TWW and his tune "Lesbian Seagull", which until its inclusion in Beavis & Butthead Do America remained quite obscure. Legend has it that B&B creator Mike Judge was watching Letterman one night when a segment involving Dave's record collection highlighted the song (most likely for comical effect); Judge was so compelled he not only tracked down Wilson to ask for permission of its use in his film but he even sings it in the context of one the film's characters AND commissioned Engelbert Humperdinck to re-record it!

All that aside, said song and the rest of Wilson's oeuvre is a little naive but incredibly perceptive and expressive, offering a clear window into this person's thoughts on his life and the world around him. This is not the archetypal village person gay man of the 70s that people might imagine when the decade's sexual climate is brought to mind - rather, this is an ordinary guy with everyday conflicts and curious musings.

Tedward and Jeff seem to appreciate both sides of the story. This duo's love for the obscurd (obscure absurd) and artifacts of the commonplace is married with their affinity for masterful songwriting through Tom's legacy. And they couldn't be happier! Happy to discuss the details, down to the pressing of the first record and how Tom brought home 200 copies even though it was arduous and potentially unnecessary, or the rationale behind his basement-recorded second record All-American Boy.

But with a simple piano accompaniment beneath two gentle yet hearty voices, the set of songs performed say everything. "I'll Call You Lover in particular sees Wilson and additional vocalist Keith Kaczoroski's (they practically share an equal amount of the vocal duties in this session) complimenting each other quite smoothly while simultaneously tackling a rocky subject matter: putting a label on your significant other. They really do pull it off gracefully, though as Keith says, "It's easy to sing a Tom song."

Amen, men.

Tom Wilson - He Likes Me (From All-American Boy)


Tom Wilson - Brief Encounter (From All-American Boy)


Tom Wilson - 1:00 AM (From Gay Name Game)

Naked Fridays Pt. 49: Horse Meat Disco by Viva Radio

Horse Meat Disco have been referred to as "without doubt the most important disco club night in the world." Right, someone actually wrote this, and not just anyone - Steven Titmus of Resident Advisor wrote those words. When a team of DJs set out to promote acceptance of all types of dance music-lovers with an emphasis on alternative lifestyles and homosexuality, while doing so in a major city like London, they could expect a large crowd. Keeping that crowd pleased is another thing; judging from the reputation that precedes them and the growing fanbase, it seems that they've succeeded.

And how have they kept the people dancing? Through fine selections of electronic music ranging from italo to balearic, but chiefly the funkier, more colorful side of disco, which has become their calling card and the foundation for their acclaimed albums. Well, Vol. I has been around for a year, garnering the praises of the aforementioned R'Advisor, while Vol. II just dropped.

Compiled by Jim Stanton, Luke Howard (Filthy Luka), Severino, & James Hillard, the latter 2 of the crew came into provide us with a mix that samples both the taste of their club night but also their newest release. Included on both Vol. II and this here 49th edition of Naked Fridays are tracks by Cyclades, El Coco, Bravo, and more.

Although Tedward tries to pry some stories out of the boys relating to the legendary UK summer raves of the late 80s/early 90s (Sunrise, Castlemorton...) these advances are quickly dismissed as the Horses rush out of the gates to trot along at an exhilarating and steady pace.

Cyclades - Fire To Desire
Set The Tone - Dance Suckah
Ian Dury - Reasons To Be Cheerful (AC edit)
El Coco - Afrodesia
Cage & Aviary - Pay For Love
Lourett Russel Grant - Hot To Trot
Electra ft. Tara Butler - Feels Good
Mongolian Jetset - Interplanetary Space Race
Diana Ross - The Runner (Wild Geese Re-Edit)
Bravo - Touch Me Now
Macho - I'm A Man
Gregg Diamond - Danger

Psychobuildings... what to say. One man? Three men? The sound, the motion, the colors - a nimble assault on your senses and sensibilities.

Although you should be on the listenout for an upcoming Me + You session, for now you should be aware of the 21 Jumpsuit party brought to you by JF & Son, a forward-thinking and socially conscious clothing company which boasts our very own Lindsay Mound as an associate.

Psychobuildings will be performing at the JF&S storefront in Nolita to usher in this new series of jumpsuits and other garments - more details below:

June 19th from 5-7pm
21 JUMPSUIT PARTY with PSYCHOBUILDINGS
Ices and Bellinis served by People's Pops.
JF & SON STOREFRONT
19 Kenmare (at Elizabeth St.)

Maybe Hanson will actually get down this time. Tom Hanson, that is.

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I've always been a fan of songs based on street names, landmarks, and cruising destinations. In fact, I'm working on my own masterpiece entitled Northern Boulevard, an ode to all of the great car dealerships, strip malls, and shady auto detail shops on this nefarious strip of Queens, New York.

WildQard comes to us from Miami with an ultimate summer homage to one of America's classic cruising locales, Ocean Drive in South Beach, Florida. The 26 year old MC has been dubbed a "reluctant superstar". One thing he's not reluctant about is having a little brunch at the Atlantic Grill, as he opens the first verse in this song simply titled "The O.D.E (Ocean Drive Experience)".

The song vibe is slow rides, clear skies, and foreign ladies as WildQard takes us on a virtual journey down the eternally sunny streets of Miami Beach. Get the sub woofer pumping this summer with this installment of What You Need Wednesdays. Only on Viva Radio.

WildQard - "The O.D.E (Ocean Drive Experience)"

(The) Tony Castles might come across to some as a warped outer borough evolution of late 90s Farfisa huxters Jonathan Fire*Eater. Not only do the Castles prominently employ the charmingly antiquated compact consumer organ in most of the sprawling four minute plus songs of their debut EP, they also share J. Fire*Eater's soulful vocal swagger (though Castles' Paul Sicilian's falsetto registers quite a bit higher), a tendency for sudden atmospheric song shifts, and a certain gospel propelling the music forward.

The Tonies admitted some trepidation coming into their Me + You session. Replacing the Farfio with a Casio and losing the backbeat bombast of drummer Gabriel Wurzel's, the trio stripped down to a tastefully effected electric guitar, bass, and reverb soaked tambourine to keep distant time on four songs improvised into 6 and 7 minute pieces. Despite the "waves of paranoia", the trio held their heads high - evidenced in Sicilian's pitch perfect vocal drills - and their hands steady - evidenced in Willie Miesmer's cyclical, shimmering guitar patterns.

A slightly stoned Tedward keeps the boys sedate between songs discussing Wurzel's odd job serving coffee at the ubiquitous NYC Mud Truck, using a bio diesel engine for "greener" touring, and Sicilian's pitch for more spoken word in the TC's repertoire. All said and done, another intimate portrait of the artist as a young band. Tune in today, Mon. June 14th, at 12 PM for the full picture.

If you're in NYC, catch (The) Tony Castles at the Brooklyn Bowl on June 26th as part of this year's Northside Festival before they head out on Northeast tour with Fool's Gold.






Photos by Anthony DiCapua.

It's taken a little time to recover but I'm (somehow) alive and ready to tell the tale of the last two days in Copenhagen for the 2010 Distortion Festival. Day three's events start off a little after 7 PM with a curbside four star dinner hosted by the festival organizers. Traditional Danish drinking music tinkers through the self-powered PA while the pork chop n' gravy, red cabbage, and boiled potato meal cements and safeguards the dinner guests stomachs against hours of merciless drinking to follow.

From the civilized dinner setting into the cantankerous street celebration, NYC buddy Julianne, festival planner Heidi Hardgrove, and I make our way through the streets of Vesterbro, Copenhagen's western and more recently (of the last 10 - 15 years) gentrified neighborhood. Passing the customary clusters of mobile bike sound systems, writhing revelers in animal costumes, skate borders catapulting through fire rings, and senior citizens getting their freak on to heavy metal, we settle at some park benches and collect ourselves before it really / actually gets crazy at the Carlsberg beer factory that night.

A surreal setting for the Friday and Saturday night parties, Distortion has posted seven separate event areas, a "chill-out" zone with dubious orange camping tents, and two raver buses throughout the factory parking lots, between buildings, and even in a cafeteria area. The last of which is where I spend a good part of the night watching the Danish crowd go disco deviant to an extended set from D-I-R-T-Y Soundsystem's Guillaume Sorge and a live performance from UK dancefloor warblers Mock & Toof. Other highlights of the night include a two ton techno dub live set by Basic Channel's Mark Ernestus and Tikiman, the inimitable Booka Shade, and an angel guardian cab driver who scooped me up to my hotel whilst wandering the dusk streets.








I spend a good part of Saturday making my way to and through Christiana, the large self-governed commune surrounded by the serene Øresund Straight, and then head to the Knippelsboro Bridge (site of the 2009 Viva Radio party w/ CFCF) for another sit down dinner (Danish hospitality is tops) and the infamous Two Minute Rave. On said bridge, the festival parks one of its raverbuses, fills the bridge with a couple thousand party storm troopers inherently shutting down traffic, and waits for the bridge to raise at 10 PM before unleashing two minutes of raging techno. I can't help but feel this the pinnacle moment of two consecutive years at Distortion for me, especially when Thomas Fleurquin, the festival founder, stage dives from the raver bus and crowd surfs atop ecstatic hands.

Still, there's more ecstasy to be had and we board the Kompakt rave bus en route to the scene of last night's crime. As we're chauffeured to the Carlsberg factory, it feels fitting that Michael Mayer and Superpitcher are co-headlining the final night but I'll only have a few pictures to prove I was there. Instead, memorable moments include an engaging live electro set on the Roskilde stage from Spleen United, a hypnosis session with the Giana Factory (who would fit in perfectly on a bill with Au Revoir Simone), and deeply dug sets from Tomas Barfod aka TomBoy (another festival organizer and drummer of Whomadewho) and Hugo Capablanca of Berlin's Broken Hearts Club.

The party didn't end in the morning shadows of the Carlsberg buildings but the end of my rope did. Cheers to Distortion for keeping tens of thousands of people peaceful til the break of dawn night after night for so many years. Here's to many more. Sorry, brain.

Our most recent Me + You brought a mellow yellow California hue to the Viva Radio studio by way of Dawes. Formed by brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith just over a year ago, the four piece have already inked a deal with ATO Records to re-release their analog rich debut album, North Hills, and toured the country several times over, culminating this summer with an Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros tour and appearances at this week's Bonnaroo festival and later dates at Sasquatch! and Lollapalooza.

Already emanating a refreshingly stripped down sound through the murky 2K10 sample n' effects soundcloud, the band came to the studio with just an acoustic guitar strapped to their back and three throats coated in gold. Dawes' "Love Is All I Am" is the antithetical intimacy anthem to Stephen Stills "Love the One You're With" and "Give Me Time" is a page from the sheet music for American Beauty. The band freely admits their kinship with these Cali torchbearers but don't concede to the same rock n' roll lifestyle that sent some of their heroes spiraling. These are good ol' boys from Malibu who live for the road life and connecting their music gospel to any fan with an open heart for harmony and hope.

Tune in to an earnest edition of Me + You from the archives and check out the killer video cut for "Give Me Time". Only on Viva Radio.

Day two of Distortion crosses the bridge from center city Copenhagen to the Nørreboro neighborhood. Superhang Julianne and I sweep away the first night's brain confetti and navigate to Nørreboro through the eerily vacant early evening streets by following strains of dance music hovering in the air. Turning a bend onto the Peblingesø Canal, it becomes apparent the festival activity hasn't crossed the Dronning Louises bridge, it's consumed the bridge. One of Copenhagen's busiest traffic points, Distortion has once again wielded it's party en masse power over the city and scored a stunning setting for it's second day soirée.

What festival is complete without a 30 foot public wall for drug inspired doodles and profanities? Stopping for some Jamaican grub and a stereo feed of cyborg reggae from the right and mutant techno from the left, we continue along a stretch of Nørrebrogade street past some unforgiving Bay Area hip hop, around the Klashy Tank (an actual war tank parked in the middle of the street) panda bear pile up (not actual bears), and eventually into a cement tile soccer field where it appears the entire cool teenage population of Copenhagen has assembled under the sun bleach to drink beer, smoke hash, and listen to dubstep. Do their parents know they listen to dubstep?!

The sun finally starts setting around 10 PM and we follow the zombie festival express to the Korsgadehallen venue (a gymnasium built into the side of a hill) where the Red Bull Music Academy has assembled a Tropical Bass Night. Red Bull was just recently legalized in Denmark causing "problems" as described by a party pedestrian and a new world of marketing opportunities as witnessed here. Beat junky J Rocc warms up a crowd slowly filling the gym floor under uncontrollable bright lights. Once the lights go down, the vibe is set for a tongue-in-freak DJ set by Madlib and a monster dub head charge by Kode9. Rattled to its core, my head is done for and no match for J Wow. I walk with the street sweepers and early sleepers (3:30 AM) back to the hotel.








Day party photos by Lasse Telling

Back in Copenhagen for the 2010 Distortion Festival. Notably and naturally different from last year is the sun. With favorable weather, double the attendance of last year's first day festivities mobbed the City Center streets. Thomas Fleurquin (pictured below), Distortion's founder and spirit (party) animal, anticipates 40,000 revelers during the four day event and attributes this development to the word of social networking mouth, municipal cooperation, and six years of straight grinding.

The day parties - which happen in a different neighborhood each day of the festival - maintain an unusual degree of civility considering the voluminous crowds, techno, and beer consumption. Yesterday's afternoon jarred into the evening Club Clash with Danish art collective Snow Leopard serenading party hoppers from atop town hall with cosmic mating calls and guitar shredding. Copenhagen natives Whomadewho tightly coiled around a ruddy and ready audience with their AC/DC via The Associates serpent strut before a shit-kicking DJ set by James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco.

Here's a look at what transpired during last Friday's FREESTYLE show featuring Chico Mann and pioneer/legend Noel:

Chico Mann doing it's thing on stage


Check out that crowd. Pumped!


Noel still dancing like when he first came on the scene. Nothing but respect for that authenticity.


More crowd.


Tkat (of Chico Mann) alongside the Wax Poetic homies that made the night possible.


And you know I couldn't leave without an epic one...


Big shout to the homies over at Wax Poetics for putting this together and giving tribute to a real NYC gem of a genre.

Let's bring Freestyle back!

Dancing on an Upper East Side rooftop,

-The Rainster