by Tom Neal on November 21st, 2008
The countless loyal fans of my Thursday night radio show Roundtrip (WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau) are accustomed, I think, to a fairly aggressive, high-energy musical lineup. Not screaming, but certainly with pep. “Pep” … who says that anymore! But, last night’s show was sedate by comparison. Lots of acoustic stuff, lots of introspective stuff. Also, much more contemporary (i.e. college station) than my usual dependence on vintage product. I thank Martin James (fellow DJ) and my son Ian for their contributions. Quite a nice sidetrip for Roundtrip actually. Here ’tis:
The Strokes, 12:51
Midlake, Roscoe
The Decembrists, July July
Conor Oberst, Sausalito
Counting Crows, Holiday in Spain
Steve Winwood, Spanish Dancer … keeping with the theme
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Spanish Castle Magic … I’ve never been to Spain
Paul McCartney, How Kind of You
Wall of Voodoo, Lost Weekend … desolately haunting and sad
Radiohead, I Might Be Wrong
Great Lake Swimmers, Your Rocky Spine … I need to learn more about these Canadians
Family, My Friend the Sun
Josh Rouse, Saturday
Simple Kid, Lil’ King Kong
Colin Hay, I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You … former Men at Work frontman
Jim Noir, Computer Song
The National, Start a War
Foo Fighters, Still
The Decembrists, The Crane Wife 3
The Panderers, Come On … google these guys
The Shout Out Louds, Wish I Was Dead Pt. 2
TV on the Radio, Wolf Like Me
LCD Soundsystem, Someone Great
Kings of Leon, Crawl
M. Ward, Chinese Translation
by Tom Neal on November 20th, 2008
Another Thursday night … another show (Roundtrip, 7-9 pm, WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau) … another two hours of music that dares:
1. To go against the grain at times
2. To span numerous decades
3. To defy pigeon-holing
4. To explore the depths and heights of emotion
5. To spurn commercialization
6. To acknowledge those who deserve recognition
7. To lay it on the line
As I sit alone and lonely in my cramped studio room, sending art and energy out into the air, not knowing where it goes or on whose ears it falls, I hope you’ll join me. There could be something in it for you.
by Tom Neal on November 18th, 2008
I’ve posted a couple / few comments in the past here about how WNRB-LP (93.3 FM, Wausau) has open time slots for programs. I’ve had some responses, but there remains plenty of space on the grid for people who would want to host a show (maybe once-a-week). There are particularly openings during daytime Monday-Friday and Saturday morning and afternoon are pretty available. You could present a music program. Or a specialty topic show. You need no previous experience. And it’s easy to do.
It’s a non-commercial station, so you can’t promote your business or anything like that. But you can present alternative viewpoints, fresh entertainment options, valuable community news, and such.
We are also pursuing Web streaming asap, so you could end up going worldwide. Aunt June in Wallawalla can catch your show.
There’s no pay … all volunteer. But it’s a gas. If you’re interested, contact me here. I can let you know everything you need to get started.
by Tom Neal on November 14th, 2008
So good to be back on the air after 2 weeks away. Last night’s Roundtrip show (WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau) had a nice feel to it, with a mix of old / new, and several Hendrix tunes to honor drummer Mitch Mitchell who passed away this week.
LCD Soundsystem, Some Great … kind of Euro / techno / art whatever. Catchy!
Sparks, Angst in My Pants … we’re chair dancing now
Cream, World of Pain
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Manic Depression … Mitch Mitchell in full sweat mode
Kings of Leon, Red Morning Light … Elmer Fudd on vocals?
Small Faces, I Feel Much Better … “shoop-shoop, do-waddy-waddy”
Bob Dylan, Lonesome Day Blues … saw him do this last week in Milw.
Wilco, Misunderstood … talk about angst!
Chris Whitley, From a Photograph
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Little Miss Lover
The Stranglers, Something Better Change … post-election message
Them, Here Comes the Night … Van the man when he was Van the teenager
The New Pornographers, Mutiny, I Promise You
Rolling Stones, We Love You … penned when Mick & Keith got out of the slammer back in the day
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Little Miss Strange … Noel & Mitch on vocals here
Johnny Cash, Hurt … this just hurts
Wallflowers, From the Bottom of My Heart … Dylan’s boy Jakob
Steve Miller Band, Journey from Eden
Jim Noir, My Patch … ear hook
The Kinks, Picture Book
Son Volt, Catching On
King Crimson, Formentera Lady
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced?
by Tom Neal on November 13th, 2008
It’s been 2 weeks. There’s been a presidential election. A climate change. I’ve seen Bob Dylan, David Crosby, Graham Nash … and Freedown. Enjoyed Indian Food. Visited my hometown. Been a pirate. Used my log-splitter. But … no radio show!
Tonight, I’m back on the airwaves at 7pm for 2 hours of eclectic musical bliss (WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau). Maybe turn off your TV. Maybe break out your candles, incense and tatami mat. Maybe get naked. Maybe pour a wee dram or roll a fatty. Maybe join me to hear music you may not normally encounter in your usual daily and nightly life. Let’s do this together.
And you can call in … 842.8390, ext. 210 … to shake me out of my stupor.
by Tom Neal on October 24th, 2008
Greetings. Last Thursday night’s radio show (WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau) was a 2-man effort where I was joined by Martin James (Monday night host) for a 4-hour special. No way could I keep up with that song list!
Last night, it was back to solo Neal at the Wheel and the show (Roundtrip) was quite satisfying. As a loose conceptual thread, I sprinkled in the occasional homage to the Rolling Stones (why not!). Here’s how it went down:
Bryan Ferry, Positively 4th Street … interesting take on the Dylan number; quiet start for the show
Rolling Stones, Melody … Mick & the boys slide in with a sort of understated groove
Steve Winwood, Raging Sea … former Traffic and Blind Faith frontman from his 2008 release
MGMT, Kids … alt-tech fun
Love, No Matter What You Do … vintage West Coast psych-folk-rock
Bobby Womack, It’s All Over Now … Stones’ cover
Rolling Stones, Down Home Girl
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Baltimore
The Kinks, Did Ya
Elbow, Grounds for Divorce … I like this number from their 2008 release
Beatles, Hey Bulldog … r-r-r-ruff, woof-woof!
Roxy Music, Mother of Pearl … Bryan Ferry again
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Up From the Skies
Dale Hawkins, Susie Q … tune the Stones eventually borrowed
Stooges, I Wanna Be Your Dog … Iggy Pop croons a tender love song
Tom Waits, I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You
Nick Drake, Road
Alexi Murdoch, All of My Days
Alvin “Youngblood” Hart, Moonlight Mile … faithful rendition of the Stones’ number
Randy Newman, Baltimore … no relation to the Stephen Malkmus number earlier
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Long Time Gone … catching two-thirds of the group next week at the Grand Theater
Weezer, The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)
Thee Shams, Love Me All the Time
Eric Burdon & War, Spill the Wine … “needless to say, this really blew my mind!”
Join me next week, and be sure to vote!
by Tom Neal on October 10th, 2008
What’s with all the “Hello World” blogs this morning? Smells like a porn barrage.
Last night on my Roundtrip radio show (WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau) I did a second installment of the political music theme … two hours of tunes about politics, issues, revolution and such. I hpe you’re registered and plan to vote. Here’s last night’s show (can you find the one tune that I really didn’t play?):
Jimi Hendrix, The Star Spangled Banner … fitting opener from the closer at Woodstock
Canned Heat, So Sad (The World’s in a Tangle)
REM. World Leader Pretend
They Might Be Giants, Particle Man
Joe Jackson, Obvious Song … “You don’t have to be a hippie to believe in peace”
Jefferson Airplane, Volunteers … morning reveille at Woodstock “Look what’s happenin’ out in the street”
Elvin Bishop, What the Hell is GOing On
Todd Rundgren, Liar
Kate Bush, Experiment IV … “and they told us what they wanted was a sound that could kill someone from a distance”
Peter Gabriel, San Jacinto … “I’ll hold the line”
David Crosby, What Are Their Names
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Ohio
Ray Davies, Peace in Our Time
The Clash, Revolution Rock
John Prine, Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore
Wilco, All You Fascists … Woodie Guthrie’s words, Billy Bragg’s voice, Wilco’s music
Ry Cooder, Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All
Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks, Moody Richard (The Innocent Bystander) … dedicated to the non-voters out there
Wilco, Christ for President … Woodie Guthrie’s words, Billy Bragg’s voice, Wilco’s music
Jimmy Cliff, The Harder They Come
Mothers of Invention, Who Are the Brain Police? … “What would you do if the people you knew were the plastic that melted and the chromium too?”
Donovan, The Universal Soldier
Bob Dylan, It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
Bob Dylan, Song to Woodie
I hope to do another one of these before election day … but I need to scrounge around for more material.
by Tom Neal on October 9th, 2008
Thanks, Martin James, for filling in for my radio time slot last Thursday night. Tonight, I will reprise the show theme of political tunes (protest songs if you will). I did this a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. Tonight, I’ll surely replay some of the heavy hitters from that show, and will mix it up with other things.
I’m a long-time fan of music that goes on the offensive, challenging leaders and their followers to deal differently with issues of social and global consequence. Some tunes are subtle and others are as overt as hell. If you feel an affinity for those who rally against injustice, violence or corruption … if people like Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, John Lennon and Country Joe are the kind of folks you’d like to have over for dinner, then tune in tonight 7-9 on WNRB-LP (93.3 FM, Wausau).
And, be sure to register if you haven’t and vote.
by Tom Neal on October 2nd, 2008
Tonight, from 7-9, my program slot on WNRB-LP (93.3 FM, Wausau) will be filled by Martin James (Monday night DJ at WNRB-LP). I know it’s a crushing blow for the many loyal fans of Roundtrip with Neal at the Wheel, but Martin’s countless legions will be glad to know of this bonus show.
If you are among the few who have not yet heard one of Martin’s shows, you owe it to yourself to tune in. Maybe put on the VP debate on TV, but with the sound turned off, and just watch while you listen to the radio. An MJ show is a rare chance to catch up with what’s happening on the current alternative / indie music scene and the musical underground in general. Be sure to take notes.
Catch you next Thursday … probably with Political Music Show #2.
by Tom Neal on September 30th, 2008
I’ve been remiss, fuddle-brained, in logging in with my playlist from last week’s radio show (Roundtrip) on WNRB-LP (93.3 FM, Wausau). Just in case there are any avid archivists struggling with this omission, here’s what went down during those 2 hours of alternative music Thursday night (7-9):
10cc, Dreadlock Holiday … “I don’t like reggae, uh, I love it!”
Beach Boys, Do It Again … ok, it was real warm last Thursday and I was feeling summery
REM, Lightnin’ Hopkins
Okkervil River, Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe
Elbow, Grounds for Divorce
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Little Wing
Cat Power, I Believe In You … Stones’ vibe
Rolling Stones, Rough Justice
Dandy Warhols, Bohemian Like You … Stones’ vibe again
Weezer, Hash Pipe
Country Joe & the Fish, Flying High … speaking of hash pipes
The Kinks, He’s Evil
New Pornographers, Mutiny, I Promise You
The Pogues, Wild Cats of Kilkenny
Warren Zevon, I Was in The House When the House Burned Down
Conor Oberst, Sausalito
Thee Shams, Want You So Bad
Captain Beefheart, Clear Spot … “Mr. Zoot Horn Rollo, hit that long lean note, and let it float”
Alexi Murdoch, Orange Sky
Wilco, Muzzle of Bees
MGMT, Kids
Radiohead, You
Mose Allison, If You Live … “… Your Time Will Come”
Savoy Brown, When I Was a Young Boy
Ben Harper, Get It Like You Want It
Pink Floyd, The Narrow Way (Pts 1,2,3)
Listen to music … it’s good for your soul. Listen to good music … it’s better for your soul.
