A Slight Hiatus (probably)

If you've already heard the last show of the year, you heard me say that we're going on a brief hiatus. We're off the two holiday weekends, which is nothing stark, but we may be off for a few more weekends after that. Upcoming playoffs may have something to do with it but more immediate is that Sonic Parthenon Headquarters is moving.

Brooklyn is still home to Elwood's franchise but we've decided it's time to leave the confines of southern Brooklyn. The perfume is getting to be too much. Too much house music. It may be a seamless move and we'll pick right up where we left off or we may be out of commission for awhile as the boys in IT figure out how to rejigger the radio tower in more northern climes.

But there may be a prize for your patience: The show may come back in a new format - LIVE. ON TAPE. We'll see. Stay tuned.

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 33: “Pennypacker’s Top 25 Songs of 2011”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 33: “Pennypacker’s Top 25 Songs of 2011”

SPS33.mp3

Intro “Countdown” by the Black Keys

Set 1 25. “Eating Paper” by David Bazan
24. “King of Diamonds” by Motopony
23. “Ten-Twenty-Ten” by Generationals
22. “Pineapple Girl” by Mister Heavenly
21. “Down by the Water” by the Decemberists

Set 2
20. “My Mistakes” by Eleanor Friedburger
19. “Through the Floor” by Crystal Stilts
18. “Just Saying” by the Hold Steady
17. “Highway Down” by I See Hawks in L.A.
16. “I Don’t Care” by TV Girl

Set 3
“Another Girl, Another Planet” by the Replacements
“New Pleasure” by Richard Hell & the Voidoids
“Where Was My Brain?” by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists

Set 4
15. “Money and Run” UNKLE featuring Nick Cave
14. “These Times” by Stag
13. “Guilty Girls” by Buffalo Tom
12. “Little White Doves” by Dirty Vegas
11. “Romance” by Wild Flag

Set 5
“Bad as Me” by Tom Waits
“Woe is Me…I am Ruined” by the Lonely Forest
“Just a Creep” by Dum Dum Girls
“Philadelphia (the City of Brotherly Love)” by We Are Augustines

Set 6
10. “Blue Door” by Two Habors
9. “Dressed Sharply by An Horse
8. “Caffeinated Consciousness” by TV on the Radio
7. “Boeing 737” by the Low Anthem
6. “Record Store” by Gold Bears

Set 7 5. “Mine Smell Like Honey” by R.E.M.
4. “These Days” by Sea Monsters
3. “Jericho” by Jamaica
2. “Under Cover of Darkness” by the Strokes

Outro
1. “Belong” by the Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Sonic Parthenon Year in Music: 2011 (or Part 2 in an On-going Joke of How Elwood Is No Longer With It)

2011 marked something of a notable change in the music mission of this blog. By the end of last year, I assessed the change was already a done deal but there was a chance to make things the way they used to be. It was clear however in 2011 that the relevant scenesterism perused by Elwood D Pennypacker was a bell graph. So in 2011, it was decided that generally speaking, Sonic Parthenon could not actively, constantly, look forward. It was now time to look back.

A mere 13 concert reviews in 2011 reveals part of the story (and a telling word from an old SP friend points out that old man Elwood started referring to 'concerts' instead of 'shows'). And of the 13, only a couple could be considered a trending, "the place the tastemakers are at tonight" style of show (such as the Joy Formidable and Lonely Forest). The others either spoke to my ongoing love affairs (the Dirtbombs, the National, the Thermals), making rites of passage (Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt, the Blasters), or celebrations of recent appreciations (Deniz Tek and Ivan Julian, Tommy Stinson, Ted Leo).

The bigger story in 2011 was of course the birth of the Sonic Parthenon Show. Yours truly refocused his energies, cast himself in the Orson Welles vein as your "obedient servant", and joined up with the online forces of Thor Radio in order to share audibly with the world what music has meant to him over the last 30 years. A lot of episodes have devoted time to new songs, much of which was noted in the playlists (Editor's Truthful Note: I forgot to put R.E.M. in the Playlist for Early 2011 and grandfathered them into it now. Maybe this is why they broke up a couple of months ago - lack of recognition). But the general schematic for each episode so far has been a review and revue of all things Elwood Rock n Roll. And annoying impersonations of old stars of the Yiddish theater.

Some have said it may be time for Elwood to hang up the rock n roll mantle and give up all pre-tense of having a relevant blog (many read the tea leaves in the official demise of the White Stripes at the beginning of the year). That apart from the show and the occasional nostalgia concert, it's all over, happenin'-wise. As Grampa Simpson once said, "I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too".

Now may be the time to focus on being a "foodie". Indeed, the treat of many Sonic Parthenon Shows so far as been the accompanying show meal, usually involving rocambole garlic, purple cauliflower, and some apricot-infused chorizo. We'll see where 2012 leads us. This indeed may be the future.

But you never know. Some young buck may be working his way up in the ranks of rock n roll, dazzling the hipster crowds, making them shut up, put away the cell phones, and tone down their style of dress. A prospect hell bent on shaking things up, making it all about the music again, and not economy-defying lushing-about. In fact, Elwood thinks he has seen the future and is fully prepared to write in 2012 about the leader of this vanguard that will make rock n roll (and this blog) relevant again. This brash rook is named Tom Waits. And I think you're going to hear a lot from him real soon.

The Playlists

Early 2011, Vol 1

Early 2011, Vol 2

Spring 2011, Vol 1

Spring 2011, Vol 2

Summer 2011, Vol 1

Summer 2011, Vol 2

Autumn and Late 2011

The Shows (or Concerts if you prefer)

Shwa and Bryan Dunn @ Rockwood

Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt @ Beacon

The Blasters @ Bell House

The Joy Formidable and Lonely Forest @ Webster

The Thermals @ le Poisson Rouge

The Dirtbombs and Dennis Coffey @ Bell House

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists and Screaming Females @ the Seaport

Joan Jett @ Coney Island

U2 @ the Meadowlands

Cheap Trick @ Coney Island

Tommy Stinson @ Bowery Electric

Deniz Tek and Ivan Julian @ Bell House

The National @ Beacon

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 32: “A Pennypacker Festivus…or…Why We Should Celebrate the Winter Harvest and the Revolution of the Earth Around th

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 32: “A Pennypacker Festivus…or…Why We Should Celebrate the Winter Harvest and the Revolution of the Earth Around the Sun”

SPS32.mp3



Intro
“Rock and Roll Christmas” by George Thorogood & the Destroyers

Set 1
“Fuck Christmas” by Fear
“The Christmas Song” by the Raveonettes
“The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole
“Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” by the Ramones
“Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)” by the Darkness

Set 2
“Santa’s on His Way” by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
“Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan
“Dear Santa” by Amy Gore
“Santa Claus” by Thee Headcoatees
“Father Christmas” by the Kinks

Set 3
“Christmas with the Devil” by Spinal Tap
“Mistress for Christmas” by AC/DC
“Fruitcake” by the Superions
“O Tannenbaum” by Vincent Guaraldi

Set 4
“Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis” by Tom Waits
“Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl
“Annunciation Day/Born on Christmas Day” by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
“I Wish It Was Christmas Today” by Julian Casablancas

Set 5
“Christmas All Over” by Tom Petty
“Merry Christmas Baby” by Elvis Presley
“Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses
“Everything is One Big Christmas Tree” by the Magnetic Fields
“The Blizzard” by Camera Obscura

Set 6
“Candy Cane Children” by the White Stripes
“Tell the Lord (What Santa’s Done)” by Goober & the Peas
“Don’t Forget to Feed the Reindeer” by the Come Ons
“My Last Christmas” by the Dirtbombs

Set 7
“Future is in the Future” by Electric Six
“2012” by Box Elders
“2012 Blues” by Thomas Function
“New Year’s Eve” by Tom Waits

Outro
“Auld Lang Syne” by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 31: “This is Dedicated to Those I Am Moderately Fond of…Or…Hard Times Thanksgiving Blues”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 31: “This is Dedicated to Those I Am Moderately Fond of…Or…Hard Times Thanksgiving Blues”

SPS31.mp3



Intro
“Dedicated to the One I Love” by the Temprees

Set 1
“Hallelujah, I’m a Bum” by Harry “Mac” McClintock
“Gimme Some Money” by Spinal Tap
“Livin’ in the Red” by War
“Broke in Detroit (Again)” by the Dirtbombs
“Hard Times in New York Town” by Bob Dylan

Set 2
“Money Changes Everything” by the Brains
“No Money No Luck Blues” by B.B. King
“Debt Collector” by the Deadly Snakes
“There’s a Starbucks Where the Starbucks Used to Be” by John Wesley Harding
“Headlong Into the Abyss” by We Are Augustines

Set 3
“Blue Door” by Two Harbors
“Wild Window” by Fool’s Gold
“Big Baby” by Spectrals
“Pineapple Girl” by Mister Heavenly*

Set 4
“Satisfied” by Tom Waits
“Methamphetamine Blues” by Mark Lanegan
“Job’s Coffin” by Tori Amos
“The Hula Hula Boys” by Warren Zevon

Set 5
“Everlong” by Foo Fighters
“Breed” by Nirvana
“When She Begins” by Social Distortion
“I Don’t Wanna Go Down to the Basement” by the Ramones
“Suzanne Beware of the Devil” by Nicky Thomas

Set 6
“I Can’t Hardly Wait (The Tim Version)” by the Replacements
“Not Fade Away” by Buddy Holly
“The Rat” by the Walkmen
“Stone Free” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience

Outro
“Rubber Biscuit” by the Blues Brothers

*Post-Show Note: It would have been nice if I had something to say about Mister Heavenly during the program. The band is made up of members of Islands, Modest Mouse, and Man Man, and Michael Cera used to be the touring bass player.

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 30: “Ode to the Auteur”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 30: “Ode to the Auteur”

SPS30.mp3



Intro
“Hooray for Hollywood” featuring Benny Goodman and various artists

Set 1
“Blank Generation” by Richard Hell & the Voidoids
“I Wanna Be Your Dog” by the Stooges
“You’re Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl)” by the White Stripes
“There’s An End” by Holly Golightly & the Greenhornes

Set 2
“Down, Down, Down” by Tom Waits
“Mystery Train” by Elvis Presley
“Tommy Gun (Live)” by Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
“I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

Set 3
“Misirlou” by Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
“Rumble” by Link Wray & His Ray Men
“Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
“Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) by Nancy Sinatra
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Santa Esmerelda
“Goodnight Moon” by Shivaree

Set 4
“Who’s That Knocking?” by the Genies
“Layla” by Derrick & the Dominoes
“Breakaway” by Sidney Stripling

Set 5
“I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys
“Sail on Sailors” by the Beach Boys
“Like a Rolling Stone (Live Version)” by Bob Dylan
“Devil Got My Woman” by Skip James

Set 6
“Judy is a Punk” by the Ramones
“Everyone” by Van Morrison
“Mongoloid” by Devo
“Ooh La La” by the Faces

Set 7
“Chains of Love” by the Dirtbombs
“Don’t Kiss Me Goodbye” by Ultra Orange & Emmanuel
“24 Hour Party People” by Happy Mondays
“True Faith” by New Order
“I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” by Kenny Rogers & First Edition
“In the Jailhouse Now” by the Soggy Bottom Boys
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder

Outro
“I’ll See You in My Dreams” by Woody Allen

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 29: “All The Love That’s Fit to Print”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 29: “All The Love That’s Fit to Print”

SPS29.mp3



Intro
“Love Stinks” by J. Geils Band

Set 1
“My Love for You” by the Dirtbombs
“Love Bomb” by Grinderman
“I Hate Myself for Loving You” by Joan Jett
“Ever Fallen in Love” by the Buzzcocks

Set 2
“Oh Oh I Love Her So” by the Ramones
“I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” by the Rubinoos
“Honey in the Sun” by Camera Obscura
“Second, Minute, or Hour” by Jack Penate
“What a Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke

Set 3
“Say No to Love” by the Pains of Being Pure at Heart
“Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams
“Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” by Bob Dylan
“That Was Yesterday” by Wynonna Judd

Set 4
“Obsessed With You” by the Orion Experience
“The Seed 2.0” by The Roots (with Cody Chestnutt)
“Come on Over (Turn Me On” by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
“We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” by Jermaine Stewart

Set 5
“High Fidelity” by Elvis Costello
“Lovers Who Wander” by Dion
“Thinking About You” by Norah Jones
“My Lover’s Prayer” by Otis Redding
“Love That Girl” by Raphael Saadiq

Set 6
“Palaces of Montezuma” by Grinderman
“Encrypted” by the Dirtbombs
“Be My Wife” by David Bowie
“All I Want Is You” by U2

Outro
“I Love You, Suzanne” by Lou Reed
“Goodnight Irene” by Leadbelly

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 28: “The Pennypacker Shuffle, Vol II”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 28: “The Pennypacker Shuffle, Vol II”

SPS28.mp3



Intro
“Sunshine” by Regina Spektor

Set 1
“Mood Indigo” by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
“Twistin’ the Night Away” by Sam Cooke
“The Great Communicator” by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
“Dance with Me” by the Modern Lovers
“Smoke and Mirrors” by the Gentlemen Callers

Set 2
“I Think I Smell a Rat” by the White Stripes
“Stadium Love” by Metric
“(Baby) I’m Your Fool” by the Black Hollies
“Be My Somebody” by Norah Jones
“I Hate You, I Love You” by the Dead Milkmen

Set 3
“Primal Scream” by Motley Crue
“Perfectly Good Guitar” by John Hiatt
“Temptation” by Elvis Costello
“Going to California” by Led Zeppelin
“Tiny Dancer” by Elton John

Set 4
“Acony Bell” by Gillian Welch
“Now, Right Now” by Reverend Horton Heat
“Like a Secret” by Sam Champion
“By My Side” by the Gentleman Callers
“She Put the Hurt on Me” by Otis Redding

Set 5
“Sex Objects” by the Briefs
“Riding With Mary” by X
“Come in Alone” by My Bloody Valentine
“Children of the Grave” by Black Sabbath
“Girls” by Marina & the Diamonds

Set 6
“Freedom” by Jimi Hendrix
“A New Day Yesterday” by Jethro Tull
“A-Tisket A-Tasket” by Ella Fitzgerald
“Broken” by the Love Me Nots

Outro
“Race for the Prize” by the Flaming Lips

The Sonic Parthenon Show : Episode 27 – “Bands A-Z, Vol. 2: No Good Lousy Punks”

The Sonic Parthenon Show : Episode 27 – “Bands A-Z, Vol. 2: No Good Lousy Punks”

SPS27.mp3



Intro
“Woo Hoo” by 5.6.7.8’s

Set 1
“Chinese Takeaway” by The Adicts
“X Offender” by Blondie
“I Don’t Mind” by the Buzzcocks
“White Riot” by the Clash
“Uranium Rock” by the Cramps

Set 2
“New Rose” by the Damned
“Sonic Reducer” by the Dead Boys
“Rock and Roll Evacuation” by Electric Six
“Modern Kicks” by the Exploding Hearts
“Let’s Have a War” by Fear
“Swagger” by Flogging Molly

Set 3
“Ready Steady Go” by Generation X
“Hey Hey, We’re the Gories” by the Gories
“Get off the Phone” by Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers
“Declare Guerre Nucleaire” by the Hives
“Sailor Itch” by the Intelligence
“In the City” by the Jam

Set 4
“Dock It #8” by the King Khan & BBQ Show
“No Love Lost” by LCD Soundsystem
“Corona” by Minutemen
“(You Must Fight to Live) on the Planet of the Apes” by the Mummies

Set 5
“Trash” by the New York Dolls
“Something for Nothing” by the Oblivians
“Boys from County Hell” by the Pogues
“Punk Rock Girls” by the Queers

Set 6
“Havana Affair” by the Ramones
“Fuck School” by the Replacements
“Holidays in the Sun” by the Sex Pistols
“If the Kids are United” by Sham 69

Set 7
“Paper” by Talking Heads
“See No Evil” by Television
“Teenage Kicks” by the Undertones
“Love Comes in Spurts” by Richard Hell & the Voidoids

Set 8
“Red Bowling Ball Ruth” by the White Stripes
“Ex Lion Tamer” by Wire
“Sex and Dying in High Society” by X
“Oh! Bondage up Yours!” by X-Ray Spex
“Date with the Night” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Outro
“Inergy” by Zero Boys

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 26: “Alliances: Holy and Unholy Alike”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 26: “Alliances: Holy and Unholy Alike”


SPS26.mp3




Intro
“Walk This Way” by Run D.M.C. with Aerosmith

Set 1
“Common People” by William Shatner with Joe Jackson
“I’m Waiting for the Man” by David Bowie and Lou Reed
“Strange Overtones” by David Byrne and Brian Eno
“Disorder in the House” by Warren Zevon with Bruce Springsteen
“When Love Comes to Town” by U2 with B.B. King

Set 2
“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
“Hootchie Cootchie Man” by Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones
“The Weight” by the Band with the Staples Singers
“Ball & Biscuit” by Bob Dylan and Jack White

Set 3
“Date to Church” by the Replacements with Tom Waits
“Dear John” by Ryan Adams & the Cardinals with Norah Jones
“I’ll Fly Away” by Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch

Set 4
“Tramp” by Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
“It’s a Natural Fact” by Billy Childish & Holly Golightly
“Post Modern Girls” by the Strokes & Regina Spektor
“Ode to L.A.” by the Raveonettes with Roni Spector

Set 5
“La Di Da Di” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick
“The Girl from Ipanema” by Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
“U Got the Look” by Prince with Sheena Easton
“Where the Wild Roses Grow” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds & Kylie Minogue

Set 6
“Carpetbaggers” by Jenny Lewis with Elvis Costello
“You’re Never Alone in New York” by Mark Mallman
“Mama Told Me Not to Come” by Tom Jones & Stereophonics
“History Repeating” by Propellerheads with Shirley Bassey

Outro
“My Sweet Hunk o’ Trash” by Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong

The Sonic Parthenon Show: Episode 25 – “Paging Dr. Rock… or…The Show Must Go On…”

The Sonic Parthenon Show: Episode 25 – “Paging Dr. Rock… or…The Show Must Go On…”

SPS25.mp3

Intro
“The Show Must Go On” by Pink Floyd

Set 1
“Dr. Rock” by Ween
“Girl You Have No Faith in Medicine” by the White Stripes
“Planet Health” by Chairlift
“I’m Sick Y’All” by Otis Redding
“The Sick Bed of Cuchulain” by the Pogues

Set 2
“Miracle Man” by Elvis Costello
“If You Don’t Start Drinking (I’m Gonna Leave)” by George Thorogood & the Destroyers
“In the Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett
“Sunday Papers” by Joe Jackson

Set 3
“Younger Us” by Japandroids
“When You Go Down” by Gross Relations
“Why Can’t We” by Asa
“Palomino” by Mates of State
“East Harlem” by Beirut

Set 4
“Banquet” by Bloc Party
“Being Here” by the Stills
“Them or Me” by Finding Fiction
“It’s Casual” by Maritime
“The Runout” by Maps of Norway

Set 5
“Kids in America” by Kim Wilde
“Say What You Want” by Texas
“Red, White, and Blue” by Cast of Thousands
“Rebellion (Lies)” by Arcade Fire
“What is Life” by George Harrison

Set 6
“Waterloo” by ABBA
“Working on a Building” by Elvis Presley
“Career Opportunities” by the Clash
“1 2 3 4” by Feist
“Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show

Outro
“Coming Down” by Dum Dum Girls

The Sonic Parthenon Show: Episode 24 – "Party"

The Sonic Parthenon Show: Episode 24 – "Party"

SPS24.mp3



Intro
“Party Hard” by Andrew W.K.

Set 1
“Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung
“Improper Dancing” by Electric Six
“Are You Ready?” by AC/DC
“Do You Wanna Dance” by the Ramones

Set 2
“Party at Ground Zero” by Fishbone
“Burning Down the House” by Talking Heads
“The Party” by the Star Spangles
“Big Fuckin Party (Part 1)” by Devil Dogs

Set 3
“Burn It All Down” by VHS or Beta
“Whoo! Alright Yeah…Uh Huh” by the Rapture
“Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” by the Jacksons
“Dashboard” by Modest Mouse

Set 4
“Dancing with Myself” by Billy Idol
“Dance Little Sister” by the Rolling Stones
“The Neutron Dance” by the Pointer Sisters
“Eau d’Bedroom Dancing” by Le Tigre

Set 5
“Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand
“Listen Up!” by the Gossip
“Seven Days a Week” by the Sounds
“The Queen of White Lies” by the Orion Experience

Set 6
“Carwars” by Funeral Party
“Such a Scene” by the Changes
“Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt” by We Are Scientists
“Over & Over” by Hot Chip

Set 7
“Word Up” by Cameo
“Heads are Gonna Roll” by Rocket from the Crypt
“Livin’ for the Weekend” by the Dirtbombs
“Massive Nights” by the Hold Steady

Outro
“Living After Midnight” by Judas Priest

The Sonic Parthenon Show: Episode 23 – “What I’ve Learned”

The Sonic Parthenon Show: Episode 23 – “What I’ve Learned”

SPS23.mp3


If there's one thing I've learned in the last ten years, it is that happiness is a warm puppy.

Intro
“Rock n Roll” by the Velvet Underground

Set 1
“My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
“Beyond Beautiful” by Aerosmith
“Mansion on the Hill” by Bruce Springsteen
“Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2

Set 2
“Hotel Yorba” by the White Stripes
“Poison Heart” by the Ramones
“Monster Hospital” by Metric
“She’s a Rebel” by Green Day
“See How We Are” by X
“Hurt” by Johnny Cash

Set 3
“The Modern Age” by the Strokes
“Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“City Middle” by the National
“You, South Dakota” by Bryan Dunn

Set 4
“Stuck Between Stations” by the Hold Steady
“Talent Show” by the Replacements
“These Days” by Sea Monsters
“Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?” by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists

Set 5
“God is in the House” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
“God’s Away on Business” by Tom Waits
“Graduated” by John Hiatt
“Mutineer” by Warren Zevon

Set 6
“Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison
“Life is Beautiful” by Ryan Adams & the Cardinals
“Bye & Bye” by Bob Dylan
“Not Too Late” by Norah Jones

Outro
“F.I.D.O.” by the Dirtbombs

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 22: “On My Mind”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 22: “On My Mind”

SPS22.mp3



Intro
“Romance” by Wild Flag

Set 1
“Color Me Impressed” by the Replacements
“Dyslexic Heart” by Paul Westerberg
“Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill” by Husker Du
“I’m Sorry, Baby, But You Can’t Stand in My Light Anymore” by Bob Mould

Set 2
“Radioactive” by Kings of Leon
“Taken for a Fool” by the Strokes
“Julius” by Phish
“Spasticus (Autisticus)” by Ian Dury & the Blockheads

Set 3
“My Mistakes” by Eleanor Friedburger
“Ten-Twenty-Ten” by Generationals
“King of Diamonds” by Motopony
“Dressed Sharply” by An Horse

Set 4
“Scent of a Woman” by Cheap Trick
“What Do I Get?” by the Buzzcocks
“Sick to Move” by Superchunk
“I’m Gonna Change Your Life” by the Thermals

Set 5
“This Ain’t No Picnic” by Minutemen
“3 Dimes Down” by Drive-in Truckers
“Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’” by Loretta Lynn
“Fallin’ & Flying” by Jeff Bridges

Set 6
“50’s” by Pomegranates
“Collide” by Elks*
“Butch” by Saint Motel
“Albatross” by Besnard Lakes

Set 7
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
“Pop Song 89” by R.E.M.
“Excitable Boy” by Warren Zevon
“We Started Nothing” by the Ting Tings

Outro
“Rock and Roll Babe” by Cocktail Slippers

*(Update on August 30, 2011: It turns out indeed that the Elks band I mention performing in September at Union Pool is quite NOT the Elks band I played on this particular program. The Elks band that is playing is in fact a hardcore thrash band - to wit).

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 21: “Elwood’s Blues”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 21: “Elwood’s Blues”

SPS21.mp3




Intro
“Early in the Morning” by the Gories

Set 1
“Stop Breakin’ Down Blues” by Robert Johnson
“Stop Breakin’ Down (Live, at Maida Vale)” by the White Stripes
“Stack O’ Lee Blues” by Mississippi John Hurt
“Stagger Lee” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Set 2
“Low Down Mojo Blues” by Blind Lemon Jefferson
“What is a Soul of a Man?” by Blind Willie Johnson
“Broke Down Angel” by Blind Willie McTell
“Blind Man Blues” by Muddy Waters

Set 3
“Boogie at Russian Hill” by John Lee Hooker
“Madison Blues” by George Thorogood & the Destroyers
“Midnight Special” by Leadbelly
“Bluebird” by Howlin’ Wolf

Set 4
“T’aint Nobody’s Bizness If I Do” by Bessie Smith
“Foreclose on the House of Love” by Marcia Ball
“What am I to You?” by Norah Jones
“Black Cat Bone” by Mr. Airplane Man

Set 5
“John the Revelator” by Son House
“Bundle Up & Go” by Dooley Wilson
“Goin’ Back to Memphis” by Soledad Brothers
“Birdsnest” by Mr. David Viner

Set 6
“Red House” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience
“Pride and Joy” by Stevie Ray Vaughan
“Shotgun Blues” by Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
“Are You Gonna Go My Way? (MTV Unplugged) by Lenny Kravitz

Set 7
“Statesboro Blues” by the Allman Brothers Band
“If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day” by Eric Clapton
“Spoonful’” by Scott H. Biram
“Hey, Hey (What Can I Do)” by Chris Thomas King

Set 8
“The Thrill is Gone” by B.B. King
“You Gonna Need Somebody When You Die” by Charly Patton
“Way Down in the Hole” by the Blind Boys of Alabama
“Sweet Home Chicago” by the Blues Brothers

Outro
“Ride On” by AC/DC

The Sonic Parthenon Show: Episode 20 - "Don't Panic"

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 20: “Don’t Panic”

SPS20.mp3



Intro
“Just Like Honey” by the Jesus and Mary Chain

Set 1
“Lord I’m Discouraged” by the Hold Steady
“Fight Test” by the Flaming Lips
“Fall Down Lightly” by VHS or Beta
“Cold Hands, Warm Heart” by Brendan Benson
“Collect Call” by Metric

Set 2
“Fix You” by Coldplay
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
“Life is Beautiful” by Vega4
“Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” by U2

Set 3
“Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch
“Pink Moon” by Nick Drake
“The Wind” by Cat Stevens
“Tomorrow is a Long Time” by Bob Dylan

Set 4
“Pet Sematary” by the Ramones
“The Only Living Boy in New York” by Simon & Garfunkel
“Manhattan” by Kings of Leon
“Pale Blue Eyes” by the Velvet Underground

Set 5
“Sometime Around Midnight” by the Airborne Toxic Event
“Wrapped in My Memory” by Shawn Smith
“Spirit” by the Caesars
“I Don’t Want It” by Ween

Set 6
“Thru and Thru” by the Rolling Stones
“The Lengths” by the Black Keys
“Nothin’ Left to Say” by Erica Cashman
“More News from Nowhere” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Outro
“Stay Positive” by the Hold Steady

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 19: “Chain Gang, Volume 1”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 19: “Chain Gang, Volume 1”

SPS.mp3



Intro
“Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke

Set 1
“When My Baby’s Beside Me” by Big Star
“Alex Chilton” by the Replacements
“The Replacements” by Art Brut

Set 2
“Keys to Your Heart” by the 101’ers
“White Riot” by the Clash
“The News” by Carbon/Silicon

Set 3
“Every Day I Have To Cry” by the Valentines
“Rockin’ in the Parlor” by AC/DC
“Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones

Set 4
“Memphis, Tennessee” by Chuck Berry
“Tennessee” by Gillian Welch
“Tennessee” by Arrested Development

Set 5
“Fish Fight” by the King Khan & BBQ Show
“Land of the Freak” by King Khan & the Shrines
“Burn This Town” by BBQ
“Can’t Fool With Me” by the Spaceshits

Set 6
“To Live and Die in the Airport Lounge” by My Teenage Stride
“Bonerack” by Teenage Head
“Starlett Johansson” by the Teenagers
“Summertime” by Scarlett Johansson

Set 7
“Sentimental Heart” by She & Him
“Chinese Translation” by M. Ward
“Four Winds” by Bright Eyes
“Say Please” by Monsters of Folk

Set 8
“The Only Ones” by Lookbook
“Another Girl, Another Planet” by the Only Ones

Set 9
“Apache” by Sugarhill Gang
“Apache” by Michael Viner’s Incredible Bongo Band
“Good Times” by Chic

Outro
“Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang

WRXP 101.9 Signs Off Today

And that's it. The three year saga of RXP comes to an end today. Despite my rantings, complaints, etc, etc, I'm a little sad. In fact, I'm very sad. What could have been? It's more than just the station itself. It's radio. This was rock n roll radio's last stand on terrestrial airwaves. It's really all over and it's been over since the Internet took shape into what it is today.

WFMU, KEXP, WFUV, KCRW, the Current in Minneapolis, and other stations are keeping the spirit alive but what's the best way to hear these stations? The internet. Streaming or podcasting. The last of the rock n roll personalities who teach and share music, instead of just playing the music, can be found on at these stations. And when the day comes that terrestrial rock radio is finished forever everywhere (and that day is coming, in fact all of terrestrial radio may be gone in the coming couple of decades, save for a right wing talk network, a disco/hip hop/dance network, and maybe a suburban white boy/girl downer arena rock network which doesn't count as rock n roll).

My complaining about RXP was pointless because this was inevitable. The future of my music listening is as it has been. On my own time. But when RXP was good, at the beginning, it reminded me of why my first media love is radio. The power of the voice and the ability to shape a narrative around anything, including rock n roll. This is why I'm a Public Radio man above all, but those first 18 months or so of WRXP (along with Little Steven's Underground Garage syndicated on 104.3) really sewed the seeds of my now hap-hazard weekly "radio" show. And where is my haphazard "radio" show? On the internet of course.

They're playing "Fell in Love with the Girl" by the White Stripes right now...this is what it was all about.

A brief word on the personalities: Rich Russo's "Anything, Anything" was great. A WFMU show on the big dial. It was great to hear Matt Pinfield again. He gave out tickets to see the Dirtbombs. He really did. Paul Cavalconte was so deceptively cool, such sublime taste when he controlled his playlist, he still kept the original mantle of RXP alive when he was on. Brian Schock, the original curator of the station, his vision and idea was so fantastical, it was like he came up with the station JUST FOR ME.

And finally there was Steve Craig. The friend of the punks. The man who played The Damned. Who played his friend Mike Ness and Social Distortion. The man who introduced me to Split Endz. Wheel of Ramones! The man who most personified the kind of rock that SHOULD be played in these last throes of rock n roll radio. Above all, he was the guy who introduced me to a song called "Alex Chilton" by a band called the Replacements. For that reason alone, I thank him and wish him all the best. Rock n roll, and Rock n roll radio is not really a place that has heroes (except Joey Ramone), but damned if Steve and these folks didn't give it their best shot in this ridiculous little slice of life.

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 18: Almost Live/Mea Culpa

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 18: Almost Live/Mea Culpa

SPS18.mp3



Intro
“News of the World” by the Jam

Set 1
“Pretty in Pink” by the Psychedelic Furs
“Banditos” by the Refreshments
“Living Stone” by Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars
“Raleigh & Spencer” by Pert’ Near Sandstone
“Crazy Beat” by Blur

Set 2
“The Wanderer” by Dion
“Gilt Complex” by Sons & Daughters
“TKO” by le Tigre
“Jesus & Tequila” by 2 Star Tabernacle
“Rebel Side of Heaven” by Langhorne Slim

Set 3
“I’m Gonna Smash Your Face In” by Grudge
“Work-a-day World” by The (Paul Collins) Beat
“Metal on Metal” by Anvil
“Bitch School” by Spinal Tap
“Fox on the Run” by Sweet

Set 4
“Carpetbaggers” by Jenny Lewis (with Elvis Costello)
“Walking the Cow” by Daniel Johnston
“Tell Me Why” by Neil Young
“Sheep” by Screaming Females
“The Mighty Sparrow” by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists

Set 5
“Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett
“Last Train to Clarksville” by the Monkees
“Rubber Band Man” by the Spinners
“How You Like Me Now” by the Heavy
“Money Grabber” by Fitz & the Tantrums

Set 6
“Blank Generation” by Richard Hell & the Voidoids
“Born to Lose” by Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers
“Born Toulouse-Lautrec” by New Bomb Turks
“My Sharona” by the Knack
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

Set 7
“Through the Floor” by Crystal Stilts
“Eating Paper” by David Bazan
“Don’t Worry” by About Group

Outro
“Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment” by the Ramones

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 17: “Summer Night Dance Party 2011”

The Sonic Parthenon Show – Episode 17: “Summer Night Dance Party 2011”

SPS17.mp3

Intro
“Constructive Summer” by the Hold Steady

Set 1
“Summer is Almost Here” by Pas/Cal
“Celebrate Summer” by the Paybacks
“Celebrated Summer” by Husker Du
“Summertime” by Billie Holiday

Set 2
“King of the Beach” by Wavves
“Dance Commander” by Electric Six
“Dance, Dance, Dance” by the Beach Boys
“Electric Feel” by MGMT”

Set 3
“Rockaway Beach” by the Ramones
“Cedar Point ‘76” by the Dirtbombs
“Coney Island Baby” by Tom Waits
“Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night” by the Hold Steady
“Rock n’ America” by the Catholic Girls

Set 4
“American Slang” by the Gaslight Anthem
“American Names” by Sebastian Grainger & the Mountains
“The Body of an American” by the Pogues
“4th of July” by X
“True Patriot Love” by the Joel Plaskett Emergency

Set 5
“I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” by Ida Maria
“Girls in Their Summer Clothes” by Bruce Springsteen
“The Girls in Their Summer Dresses” by the Airborne Toxic Event
“September Gurls” by Big Star

Set 6
“Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran
“Summer Days” by Bob Dylan
“Another Lost Summer” by Blanche
“Cruel Summer” by Bananarama
“Pain Killer (Summer Rain”) by Turin Brakes

Outro
“Diablo Rojo” by Rodrigo y Gabriela