Ah, March is coming up, which means a boatload of stuff, music-wise — most notably our Austin events during South by Southwest, and the sixth (I think) year of the River’s Family Music Meltdown and Book Bash!

A quick rundown:

• Wednesday, March 18 • 3-7:30 • Pan Am Park, 2100 E. 3rd Street, Austin • Family Music Meltdown • Free!
  • Big Don
  • The Que Pastas
  • Gina Chavez
  • Koo Koo Kanga Roo
  • The Not-Its!
  • The Jellydots
  • Ralph’s World
  • Fun stuff!
• Saturday, March 21 • 3-7:30 • Domain Amphitheater, Austin • Rock Chalk (website coming soon) • Free!
  • Elizabeth McQueen
  • Ralph’s World
  • Koo Koo Kanga Roo
  • Groundwork Music Orchestra
  • The Jellydots
  • Ralph’s World
  • Joe McDermott
  • Chalk art competition!
• Saturday, March 28 • 10:00-4:00 • Smith Voke High School, Northampton, MA • The River’s Family Music Meltdown and Book Bash • Free!
  • Performers
    • The Deedle Deedle Dees
    • Mister G
    • Stacey Peasley Band
    • The Pop Ups
    • The Nields
    • In the Nick of Time
    • JJ Farnham
    • Shiprock & Anchordog
    • Story Laurie
    • The Whirlygigs
    • Vanessa Trien
    • Tom Knight Puppets
    • Talking Hands Theatre
  • Authors
    • Mike Curato
    • Grace Lin
    • Jarrett J. Krosoczka
    • Erica Perl
    • Nick Bruel
  • Other Stuff
    • Smith Voke Petting Zoo
    • River’s Get Down Dance Party
    • Bounce Houses
    • Circus Demonstrations
    • Acrobatics Demonstrations
    • Awesome Local Food

Super excited to have Jacqueline Schimmel of Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players guest host the whole darn show this week!

1st set
They Might Be Giants – It’s Spare the Rock
ID
They Might Be Giants – James K. Polk
Jackie ID
Sweet – Little Willy
ID
Beatles – And Your Bird Can Sing
Aimee Mann – Fifty Years After the Fair
Elvis Costello – Accidents Will Happen
XTC – Earn Enough for Us
Jackie ID
[WJFF: Sippy Cups – I Am a Robot]

2nd set
Bill ID
Jackie ID
Justin Roberts – There’s Always Me and You
Split Single – Fragmented World
David Bowie – Red Sails
Puffy AmiYumi – Puffy’s Rule/Puffy No Rule
Jackie ID

3rd set
Bill ID
Jackie ID
Ron Sexsmith – Michael and his Dad
New Pornographers – Graceland
The Rutles – I Must Be In Love
The Kinks – People Take Pictures of Each Other
Jackie ID
John Linnell – South Carolina
They Might Be Giants – Spare the Rock

With world premiere music from Cat Doorman, plus new music from Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly, They Might Be Giants, and the Doubleclicks. Also Kishi Bashi! Mike Park! Van McCoy! Parliament!

1st set
They Might Be Giants – It’s Spare the Rock
Flans ID
They Might Be Giants – The Other Side of the World
The Doubleclicks – Rainbow Connection (new)
ID
Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly – Count Your Rings (new)
The Bazillions – Candy Garden (in-studio)
ID
Robbi K – Feel the Beat
[WJFF: Baby Loves Jazz: Lullabye]

2nd set
Papa Crow – Daylight in the Swamp
ID/prep to rock
They Might Be Giants – Don’t Spare the Rock!
ID
Cat Doorman – Wake Up (new, premiere)
New York Dolls – Dance Like a Monkey
Mr. Richard bumper
Mr. Richard – Airplane Jane
Mike Park – Bus Driver Gus
Roy Handy & the Moonshot – Socks are Overrated
The Not-Its! – Green Light, Go!
ID (sxsw)

3rd set
Kid Koala – Fruit Belt
Van McCoy – The Hustle
ID
Kishi Bashi – The Ballad of Mr. Steak
Parliament – Party People
ID
Flans Dial-A-Song bumper
They Might Be Giants – Music Jail, Pt. 1 & 2
They Might Be Giants – Spare the Rock

1st set
They Might Be Giants – It’s Spare the Rock
Flans ID
They Might Be Giants – One Everything
The Beatles – Blackbird
ID
Bunny Clogs – Beetle Mania (new)
Caspar Babypants – Everybody’s Got Something to Hide ‘Cept for Me and My Monkey (in-studio)
ID
Bears & Lions – Two is Better
Frances England – You & Me
ID

2nd set
Rachel Loshak – Oh Girl
ID/prep to rock
They Might Be Giants – Don’t Spare the Rock!
ID
REM – Stand
The Board of Education – 8 is a Number
Robbert Bobbert & the Bubble Machine – We R Super Heroes
Rev 105 bumper
Uncle Rock – Rock & Roll Babysitter
Molly Ledford & Billy Kelly – To the Woods (new)
ID

3rd set
Jad Fair – Bingo (in-studio)
Cat & a Bird – Bee Jive
ID
Koo Koo Kanga Roo – Weird Sounds (new)
Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke
ID
Ralph’s World – The Coffee Song
Recess Monkey – Batteries Not Included
ID
Flans Dial-A-Song bumper
They Might Be Giants – Studio Cat (Tesla Remix)
They Might Be Giants – Spare the Rock

Pour out a sippy cup today for Barb Abney, who was unceremoniously let go from The Current today, just a few days after she was a big part of the station’s 10th anniversary celebrations.  I’ve been a sustaining member of the Current since day one, and this hurts.

I’ve known Barb since around 2000 or 2001, not long after we moved to D.C. She was then on the legendary WOXY (source of the “BAM! The future of rock and roll!” drop I use in one of our bumpers).  I listened online in my office as she played great music and emailed me about the Replacements and whatever else was on our respective minds that day.  I learned a lot about music and radio from Barb and WOXY.  After WOXY shut down (one of several times before it did so before its end became final), she was hired by MPR to join The Current.  I take totally undue pride in having been the very first person to email her at her MPR.org address.

Barb is at once a true radio professional and someone who, you know, would be your friend if you just got a chance to hang out.  And, sure enough, I’ve gotten to hang out with Barb a few times, and I’m so glad to have her be my friend.

While at the Current, Barb launched Wonderground Radio, which, like us, mixes in a lot of not-for-kids’ stuff in to the mix.  (I’m glad to have been a small part of advising Barb on it when she was starting it up.)  I hope MPR keeps it going.  It’s a great alternative to other 24-hour services (online or satellite) and I have absolutely stolen playlist ideas from it.

In retrospect, I don’t know if I would have started up Spare the Rock if not for WOXY (and Barb).  In a time when radio frankly sucked, they were a commercial station doing interesting stuff, showing connections between songs, and not just listening to consultants.

I truly hope that Barb ends up somewhere else where I can hear her; I will tune in wherever she is.

1st set
They Might Be Giants – It’s Spare the Rock
Flans ID
They Might Be Giants – Particle Man (Live at Nola Studio)
Elizabeth Mitchell – Winter’s Come and Gone (in-studio)
ID
Lucky Diaz & the Family Jam Band – Orale
Asylum Street Spankers – Sidekick
Not Unusual bumper
Sam Cooke – Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha
ID
Jonathan Richman – Abominable Snowman in the Market
2nd set
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Family – Go Waggaloo
ID/prep to rock
They Might Be Giants – Don’t Spare the Rock!
ID
momandpop – Pizza Party (new)
Shonen Knife – Frogphobia
The Sippy Cups – Springtime Fantastic
WKRP bumper
Madness – Our House
Bill & Karlee Goffrier – Grandpaland
ID
3rd set
Macaroni & Cruise promo
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – PJs All Day (new)
Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky
ID
Loretta Lynn – High on a Mountain Top
White Stripes – We’re Going to be Friends
ID
They Might Be Giants – LMNO
They Might Be Giants – Spare the Rock

Guest hosted by the Belmontes!

Segment 1

TMBG “How Many Planets”

Devour “Millions, Billions, Trillions”

Melodysheep: Carl Sagan ‘A Glorious Dawn’ & Millions, Billions, Trillions

Pogo What I Likes

Ylvis’What Does The Fox Say’

Segment 2

Tonight You Belong To Me

Gregory Brothers ‘Wrecking Ball’

Gregory Brothers /Kid President ‘The World Can Be Better’

KISS ‘Shout It Out Loud’

Rubblebucket ‘Carousel Ride’

Segment 3

Garfunkle and Oates ‘Sports Go Sports’

Ana Tijous Los Peces Gordos No Pueden Volar” (“Fat Fish Can’t Fly”).

Madeline Kahn and Grover ‘Sing After Me’

Annie ‘Hard Knock Life’

TMBG ‘Particle Man’