They Might Be Giants In-Studio

Jun 26

We’ll air most of this on the weekend of July 11-12, but if you want to hear the full TMBG in-studio, it’s below.  Note that I am editing out part of the history quiz for brevity (and because John Linnell says “bastard”) for airplay, so, I guess, parental advisory?

I also chatted with the Johns for KUTX’s “This Song” podcast; you can listen to that episode here.

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2015-06-27 Playlist & Stream

Jun 26

1st set
They Might Be Giants – It’s Spare the Rock
ID
They Might Be Giants – I Am Not Your Broom
Gustafer Yellowgold in-studio
 
[KUTX – Parliament – Mothership Connection (Star Child)]
 
[WJFF/KCMJ – Jonathan Richman – El UFO Man]
 
2nd set
Quiet Company – At the First Sonogram (new)
ID/prep to Rock
TMBG – Don’t Spare the Rock!
ID
The Fastbacks – One of These Things
Quiet Ones – Ultrafoot
Lazy Bones bumper
Ozomatli – Balloon Fest
Fishbone – Everyday Sunshine
ID
 
[WJFF/KCMJ -Lunch Money – You Were a Basket of Flowers]
 
3rd set
Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem – If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out
Brandi Carlile – Have You Ever
ID
The Que Pastas – First Day of Summer
fiREHOSE – For the Singer of REM
Bag of Hammers bumper
REM – Shiny Happy People/Furry Happy Monsters
ID
Flans Dial-A-Song
They Might Be Giants – Hello Mrs. Wheelyke
They Might Be Giants – Spare the Rock

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Charleston

Jun 19

We’re traveling and so we recorded a few shows ahead of time.  So I can’t do anything on the radio about Charleston, and I don’t know that I would or should anyway.

But I do want to write a little bit here before our day in London starts.

When a person of color, or a person of a non-Christian faith, does something horrific, the narrative is about the group or groups to which they belong.  And just as often, when a white or (nominally) Christian person does a similar act, the narrative shifts to being about mental illness, and how surprising the act was.

Of course we have to talk about mental illness, and of course a fully healthy person doesn’t do these things (though lets steer clear of making this yet another chance to stigmatize those with mental illness).

But we can’t end the conversation there.  I think we have to think about how children are raised — with love or with hate, and with active conversations about race and class and differences and privilege.  And about guns.  When those conversations are not part of our culture, it’s not at all surprising that these killings keep happening.

I don’t know anything about the Charleston killer’s childhood beyond what has been reported, and I don’t know if that’s all been accurate. I’m not saying a thing about his parents.

But I do know that he walked into a place that welcomed him and sat down next to people who were raised to welcome visitors with open arms and open hearts and open minds.  He at least pretended to pray with these loving people, and then he stood up, looked around at them, these people who had welcomed him and prayed with him, and he shot them to death.  With a gun given to him by his parents.

It’s reasonable to ask why I’m posting about this on the website for a children’s radio show.  Jessica Luther, an Austin mom, posted this on Twitter yesterday:

“A 5yo black girl survived last night by playing dead. Surely my 6yo white son can survive a conversation about why she matters.”

Maybe naively, I think part of that conversation can be started and facilitated through music.  Music that celebrates love and difference and play and fun and history and the future.  Music that gets kids dancing together, spinning together, singing together, holding hands together.  Music that asks interesting questions and hopefully gives parents a chance to talk about some possible answers.

So, put on some music, hold your kids, and, if the time is right, have a hard conversation about what happened.  It can only help.

Love you all.

As usual, Elizabeth Mitchell (here with Dan Zanes) is a great place to start.  Hopefully the embedding will work:

P.S. Please don’t make the narrative be just about the South, either. South Carolina has some amazingly wonderful and loving people, and every state has its problems. Certainly there are regional issues but these are not issues unique to anyone or any state.

 

 

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2015-06-20 Playlist & Stream

Jun 17

Lots of fun with Lucky Diaz in-studio!

1st set
They Might Be Giants – It’s Spare the Rock
ID
They Might Be Giants – Electric Car
Lucky Diaz in-studio

[WJFF/KCMJ/KUTX – I’m From Barcelona – Collection of Stamps]

2nd set
Nick Drake – Pink Moon
ID/prep to Rock
TMBG – Don’t Spare the Rock!
ID
Dick Dale – Miserlou
Yellow Whale – Mr. Tinkly Pants (new)
The Not-Its! – Raise Your Hand
Electric Company bumper
Mike Doughty – 27 Jennifers
Todd McHatton – Ooh Shiny
ID
[KUTX – The Travoltas – Public Skool]
[WJFF/KCMJ – Eric Herman – Time Machine]

3rd set
Red Yarn – Ain’t Gonna Rain (new)
ID
Earth Wind & Fire – Shining Star
Us 3 – Cantaloup
Lazy Bones bumper
Dog on Fleas – Do You Wanna Know My New Dance Step?
ID
They Might Be Giants – The Guitar
They Might Be Giants – Spare the Rock

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2015-06-13 Playlist & Stream

Jun 10

1st set
They Might Be Giants – It’s Spare the Rock
ID
They Might Be Giants – I Am Not Your Broom
Lunch Money – Somehow a Frog Finds a Pond
ID (frog bed)
The Impressions – It’s All Right
Barenaked Ladies – Things
Recess Monkey – Lighter than Air (new)
ID
Fountains of Wayne – Trucks
[WJFF/KCMJ/KUTX – Zee Avi – Don’t Worry, Be Happy]

2nd set
Walter Martin – Sing to Me (feat. Karen O)
ID/prep to Rock
TMBG – Don’t Spare the Rock!
ID
XTC – Do What You Do
The Bazillions – Super Hero Rock Band (new)
1977 bumper
Play Date – Cardboard Box (new)
Matthew Sweet – Scooby Doo
ID
[KUTX – Lucky Diaz – Tres Ratones]
[WJFF/KCMJ – Primate Fiasco – Doggy in the Window]

3rd set
the Good Miss Padgett – Mommy’s Lips
Alastair Moock – You Might Be a Girl (premiere) (playing Northampton’s Parlor Room 6/27) (All Kinds of You And Me)
ID
Red Yarn – Grizzly Bear (new)
Ratboy Jr. – What Does the Farm Do? (new)
Talking Heads – Stay Up Late
ID
They Might Be Giants – Computer Assisted Design
They Might Be Giants – Spare the Rock

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