Monday, June 02, 2008

Fair Game Canceled. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

In one of the biggest media crimes of the decade, Public Radio International has axed Fair Game (I figured something was up when the show was in repeats for way too long on either side of Memorial Day). Read here and here for the details - though interestingly, the cancellation is yet to be acknowledged on the show web site. The podcast is still being updated with old shows and segments.

As it is noted in places on the links, the comedy on the show was mixed at best. All of Faith's cohorts were pretty annoying (the program could feel like a bad imitation of The Daily Show for radio). But Faith herself is/was a fantastic host. Smart, well-informed, asking very pointed, and very substantive questions, especially by public radio standards, she tooks things to a new level. It also helped that she is absolutely cute as a button in every way possible.

As with most good public radio shows, Fair Game provided informative news segments on issues and trends, and it was also a great source for interviews on independent cinema. But most important of all, it was one of the best sources for new Indie music. The bookings were sensational. Even the artists that I personally did not care for, I respected their presence on the show. Except when they ignored my request for the Dirtbombs and kept the CD I sent. But that was under their old music coordinator so who knows.

The entire Fair Game music catalog

Highlights:
Camera Obscura
Heavy Trash
Holly Golightly
Via Audio and Orba Squara
Au Revoir Simone
The National
The Magnetic Fields
Mountain Goats
Norah Jones
Goldfrapp
Clare & The Reasons
Ira Glass (he's not music but he's Ira Glass so there)

:(

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Clare & The Reasons on Fair Game

Fair Game has been in repeats this week and tonight's show is from last September and it's with Clare Muldaur.

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Thursday, May 08, 2008

Goldfrapp on Fair Game; Langhorne Slim on BPP

Goldfrapp was all acoustic and non-disco with Faith

Langhorne was all Langhorne with Alison

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Saturday, May 03, 2008

Faith Salie Meets Ira Glass

It's public radio heaven.

The second season of the This American Life TV show begins tomorrow.

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Thursday, April 03, 2008

Norah Jones Blueberry Movie Madness

El MadmoNoJo (whose run of secret Living Room appearances are probably done forever what with the very public 10th Anniversary celebration) hits Hollywood in the very sketchy-looking My Blueberry Nights, a Wong Kar-wai film that also stars Cat Power, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and David Strathairn, which made an infamous debut at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

However the movie ultimately turns out to be, and however critics find Norah's acting debut, she's taking it in all stride, like she seems to do with everything that happens to her. What a gal.

And what a publicity run!

On Letterman:


On Lopate, with Wong:

(Bonus: Wong also stopped by Soundcheck)

On Fair Game

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Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Mountain Goats on Fair Game

After being postponed from last week, last night's performance by Darnielle was pre-empted on WNYC by the Hillary Comeback Special.

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Stephin Merritt on Fair Game

Listen here.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

The National on Fair Game

It was a packed edition so the band was only on the air for one song but you can hear their full set here.

The band will be at BAM's Opera House this Friday and Saturday and L Magazine says it best:
If we were passengers on Oceanic flight #815 from Sydney to L.A., we would want our time-honored "one CD allowed if stranded on a deserted island" pick to be The National's Boxer.

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Monday, February 18, 2008

The National Coming to Fair Game

Stereogum leaks the news that the Cinci-five have recorded a set for Faith and the gang, to air presumably soon.

Update: tomorrow.

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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Recent Radio Highlights

The Hold Steady and Art Brut live from the 9:30 Club

Tommy Ramone on Soundcheck:


Citizens Band on Soundcheck:


Via Audio on Fair Game

Orba Squara on Fair Game

Looker on Steve Lamacq

Ravens & Chimes on WOXY


Scotland Yard Gospel Choir on WOXY

This is not recent, but the band recently played again, so check this out in the meantime, Pela on KEXP

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Thursday, November 08, 2007

Holly Golightly on Fair Game

YAY!

It's her real name!

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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Fair Game Does It Again: Heavy Trash

It's official. Fair Game is the best national terrestrial radio show for music. After the Black Lips and Camera Obscura (to name but two), tonight (or last night) Faith hosted Heavy Trash, the basically perfect garage rockabilly blues thing by Jon Spencer (he of the Blues Explosion, of course). Listen here.

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Wednesday, September 05, 2007

World's Cutest Band on World's Cutest Radio Show: Camera Obscura on Fair Game

Cute lil' Faith Sailie hosts cute lil' Camera Obscura on Fair Game tonight. Listen here.

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Black Lips on Fair Game; Cat Power Opens for Interpol?

Those poor Black Lips...will they ever get a blog post to call their own?

The cleaned-up boys (though I bet they still don't look bathed) played a smashing set on the cutest show on radio, Fair Game with Faith Sailie. The boys talk about their trip to Israel. When the Vice Records video log of that adventure is up, it'll be posted here. In the meantime...

Cat Power is opening for Interpol. That's just not right. This is not a judgment on Interpol's quality or even a question of whether they musically fit together (they don't really). It's just a question of status. Is Interpol really bigger than Cat Power? Really?

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