Capital City Radio

I remember the exact moment:  Riding in my dad’s pickup, 8 years old, and hearing the Beatles for the first time.  It was a cassette called “Reel Music”– a compilation of Beatles songs–and Yellow Submarine blew my little mind.  It was unique feeling, because I’d never gotten excited for music like that before.  More than that, I felt somehow CONNECTED to the sound.  Like it was a part of me…  That lead to the Beach Boys, Nirvana, the Kinks, CCR, and on and on.  It doesn’t happen as much anymore, but when it does it’s just as exciting as when I was 8.  The last record to hit me like that is a local release, and I am STOKED to feature some tracks and an interview with Joey Hebdo this week.  So tune it in, then turn it up.

-Eric

Local bluesman Jack Via stopped by recently to play some songs and chat about about his life, music, and adventures…  Jack played a few songs in-studio and told some stories.  One of his stories began with, “So, I was on the stage when Hendrix played Woodstock…”  See the video below.  When the camera zooms in on Hendrix’s face you can see Jack pretty clearly.  He’s the long hair with the red ringed t-shirt.

Jack Via–I Never Cried live at WOSU

Woodstock 1969

On stage with Hendrix

Live at WOSU:

Update: The Takeaway reports on Karzai Leads in Early Election Results.

Today The World posted political cartoons from around the globe. NPR reported that, while unlikely, the results of the election could be announced as early as tomorrow. Listen (MP3) to The World on Capital City Radio M-F at 5pm.

-Jamison

Today on the Takeaway, Amy Holmes takes on the topic of Gardasil, the HPV vaccine. I’ve been fascinated with this topic not just because I’m a woman, but because the makers of Gardasil executed an incredible three year, advertising campaign, called One Less. The concept is that your daughter won’t be added to the ranks of victims who get cervical cancer every year. When I saw the first commercial, I literally stopped what I was doing to pay attention because it was so affective; great imagery of powerful young women living life to the fullest and a direct message to moms: you can control your daughter’s future.

That’s why today’s report struck a chord with me; is the vaccine really an anti-cancer product? Is every woman at equal risk? Amy reports on these questions and the concerns of marketing this product tied to a new disturbing study on the vaccine’s serious side effects. Hear from Dr. Diane Harper, author of the clinical trials who reveals troubling information about the ultimate effectiveness of this vaccine. Listen to Should Your Daughter Get the HPV Vaccine.

-Jamison

So the other night my husband and I were enjoying some adult time at the cultural hub of the midwest when a series of Pixies songs came on the jukebox. Ahhh, The Pixies. And all the songs were from Doolittle. Coincidence? Probably. What coincidence, you ask?

The Pixies are in the middle of a second come back tour playing the greatest hits, more specifically, the songs of Doolittle to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the album’s original release. (Raise your hand if you feel old!).

It was the Pixies that put the celebration of subculture on the map, and it was Doolittle, with the popular song, “Here Comes Your Man” that made the Pixies more than an underground band.

But as my husband and I reminisced on Saturday night, “Monkey Gone to Heaven” came on the juke box. As the song started, a bar patron yelled, “then God is seven!” as I said to my husband, “rock me joe.” He had never really heard that lyric before. I imagine compared to the insane yelling of “then God is seven,” yah, why would ya?

But I love that line. I love it because I imagine the band in the studio all hyped up to record this awesome song and just loving the moment and each other. While the Pixies ultimately had to part ways before the rest of us were ready that tiny, unscripted line is a window into their camaraderie that bonds Frank, Kim, Joey, and David even 20 years later.

While the Pixies won’t be coming through Columbus, driving past the Newport the other day, I saw that the Breeders are making their way to town on August 23. And who knows, maybe the Pixies will get inspired and do a 20th of Bassonova or Trompe Le Monde? It’s OK if they don’t. I have the music and the momeories of seeing the band that defined my youth.

Here’s the band playing Monkey Gone to Heaven on Lettermen nealry 20 years later.

And here’s my favorite from Doolittle, Gouge Away.

-Jamison

A few Fridays a month I host a program called “Open Line Weekend” on WOSU 820AM. Usually we discuss movies, food, the arts, books, etc. But on Friday, July 31, 2009, I had the opportunity to try something new – producing a show on Columbus’s Local Music Scene.

Joining me in the studio for the hour (from 11am – Noon) were: Chris DeVille, Columbus Alive Music Critic and Reporter; Bob Breithaupt, Executive Director of the Columbus Jazz Arts Group;Heidi Palermo-Wagner, Local Music Fan and ComFest Music Committee Member

We discussed local musicians and bands, a few of the guests favorite local artists, venues to hear music in Columbus and much more.

Listen to the show below:

But, for just a taste of what you will hear…

This is a section of the show featuring local musician Matt Munhall:

We had a very informed called named “Fred” who really added to the show. Earlier in the broadcast a man named “Jim” called in and asked the panel for a respectable place to hear country and western music in Columbus. Our panel was stumped until Fred called in, check it out:

Or if you are a fan of the local group Terribly Empty Pockets and a song called “Sweet When You Were Young.”

And one last section of the show I will share with you is about a band chosen for the show by Chris DeVille of Columbus Alive, the group is called Tin Armor.

If you want to know more – you will have to listen to the whole show – which again is available above.

-Amy

Musician Joey Hebdo (of “Hebdo”) joins WOSU’s Eric French in the studio during a taping of Groundswell Columbus.

From Hebdo’s MySpace site: i’ve made my way through the dust and fog to deliver to you ‘Prosciutto’ !!!!!! my debut album, released independently and not on time like i promised !!

I’m thrilled with the way it turned out and i think i really struck some sort of magic chord with my inner freeform.

I recorded the whole album in Athens, OH @ 3 Elliot Studio w/ Josh Antonuccio who doesnt even know i have the hard copies back yet, on 2-inch tape to give it that warmth you all sooo desire.

it has a real summer-night warm-evening vibe to it. every track has its own character. every track was written while i was living out west.

i only have them available at shows right now and online at CDBaby.com and soon iTunes and all those other big namesakes.

On the Air:

Columbus native Corey Fry of the band “Monolithic Cloud Parade” joins WOSU’s Eric French in the studio during a taping of Groundswell Columbus.

From their MySpace site: A debut album, “Children With Wolf Heads” is being released in the summer of 2009. It’s a re-imagining of the earliest songs written by Corey, who was in the process of finishing the recording of this album when the band came together. He decided to go ahead with the album, writing and recording one final song for the full band, as a good intro to what Monolithic Cloud Parade once was and a hint of what they have become.

– Scott Gowans

Have you been to Schiller Park lately?

I have.

Watching the opening scene of "The Tempest" while having a picnic. Photo Courtesy of: Amy Parrish

The cast of "The Tempest" from The Actors' Theatre take a bow at the end of the show. Photo Courtesy of: Amy Parrish

I was lucky enough to catch a great production of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” not too long ago.

Shakespeare in the Park is a great way to expose yourself to a little Shakespeare without spending a lot of money. In fact, it is free! The Actors’ Theatre Company performs several productions every summer in Schiller Park. At intermission a few of the actors walk around and ask for donations.

“The Tempest” was a great play to see preformed live. This particular play is not one I studied in high school or college, so I sat down in Schiller Park knowing absolutely nothing about what I was about to watch. I have to admit, I had a little trouble following a few of the monologues but the dialogue was easier to pick up on and understand. “The Tempest” was a great introduction to Shakespeare for a friend of mine who is not a big fan. The play is a comedy and no one dies during it – which is rare or Shakespeare!

All the shows start at 8pm but my friends and I arrived around 7:15. We wanted to get there early to claim a good spot for our picnic blankets. We ate dinner, drank wine, and chatted for a while before the play began. Most people bring blankets and food and turn the evening into a picnic. If you prefer to sit in a lawn chair, there is a slight incline behind the blanket area where you are allowed to set up chairs to watch the production.

And I recommended bringing bug spray too! You are sitting on grass in a park after all!

As you read this, it is unfortunately too late to see “The Tempest” but you do have a chance to catch their next production. “As You Like It,” opens August 6, 2009 and runs on weekends through September 6, 2009.

-Amy

For more information visit:

www.theactorstheatre.org/