The Recluse Show Blog

radioenigma.ca

2011-09-16T18:32:00.001-06:00

radioenigma.ca has officially opened and as a result, The Recluse Show Blog will go into archive mode. For all readers of the blog since 2007, thank you and I hope you follow me over to the new site (and new station feed) to see and hear pretty much what you've expected here for the last 4 years.

Thanks again, and I'll let my man John Daker take it away:

"Lay Me Down (Live in Spokane, WA)"- The Swell Season

2011-09-13T00:02:00.000-06:00

Hypnotic:

"Route 66"- Bobby Troup

2011-09-02T01:02:00.000-06:00

This is how you play it smooth and hip, kids:

"We're All Boat People"- ART

2011-08-30T00:00:00.000-06:00

I bought a copy of this on the advice of a nameless record store clerk in Cleveland in 1983:

"Pretty Close to the Truth"- Jim Lauderdale

2011-08-29T23:57:00.000-06:00

Way underrated songwriter, and the best thing he's ever done:

Jack Layton (1950-2011)

2011-08-23T00:22:00.000-06:00

Safe Passage, Jack:

"A Better Place"- The Setters

2011-08-20T02:52:00.000-06:00

The best moment off The Setters, w/ words to live by:

"What I've Found"- Red Heart The Ticker

2011-08-19T00:43:00.000-06:00

One beautiful Yes:

"Hear The Birds Cry"- Varnaline

2011-08-17T00:33:00.000-06:00

Anders Parker's greatest song:

Recording Of "Teenage Kicks"- The Undertones

2011-08-16T00:12:00.001-06:00

It's not often that you see a classic song being recorded for the first time.

EDIT: I spoke too soon; see the comments:

"Elegy for Gump Worsley"- The Weakerthans

2011-08-13T02:35:00.001-06:00

Gump Worsley was the last goalie in the NHL to play without a mask, and his face was as lived-in and told as many stories as Charles Bukowki's:

"The Calvary Cross"- Peter Laughner

2011-08-10T23:50:00.000-06:00

Yes:

"Confession" - Richard Buckner

2011-08-09T18:14:00.001-06:00

Richard Buckner's new album Our Blood is a maasterpiece, all shadows, melancholy, and layered emotions as w/ his best work.

"Confession" is brilliant:

The Collins Kids - Like A Rolling Stone (Shindig! 1965)

2011-08-04T00:35:00.000-06:00

The Collins Kids have had a fascinating 50+ years in music, and this sidetrack is it's most interesting:

Heavenly Bodies - 1920

2011-08-03T22:54:00.000-06:00

Trance-like and utterly fascinating:

"Do The Jellyfish" Sting Of Death (1966)

2011-08-01T21:44:00.000-06:00

Neil Sedaka's hilariously over the top song fits the Mondo feel of this Grade Z camp classic quite nicely:

"Talk About The Passion"- R.E.M.

2011-08-01T02:50:00.001-06:00

The IRS-era R.E.M. really were The Beatles of College Rock and in it's history arc, "Talk About The Passion" is "All My Loving":

"Wipe The Clock"- Uncle Tupelo

2011-07-25T00:41:00.000-06:00

"And everything comes in threes/but your face shows two..":

"Burn In Hell"- Junior Kimbrough

2011-07-19T00:53:00.000-06:00

One of my eternal regrets is that I never had an ice-cold Mickey's Malt Liquor at Junior's Juke Joint and watched his pulverizing blues drone in person:

"I Want To Go Where Things Are Beautiful"- Nimrod Workman

2011-07-18T01:19:00.000-06:00

Pure grain tenor and a union man:

"The Blues Are Brewin"- Billie Holiday And Louis Armstrong

2011-07-14T01:23:00.000-06:00

History:

Afghan Whigs - Mr Superlove

2011-07-09T02:45:00.001-06:00

The best version of The Ass Ponys' classic, and even Chuck Cleaver agrees:

A Short Vision (1956)

2011-07-06T00:48:00.000-06:00

Brilliant, sombre, and melancholy genius:

Bob Crane KNX Interview With Rod Serling (1961)

2011-07-05T01:21:00.006-06:00

In his pre- "Hogan's Heroes" days, Bob Crane had a gig at KNX AM in Los Angeles in the morning drive slot and interviewed any number of guestsbetween spinning the platters of the day; this snippet of an interview Crane did w/ Rod Serling, where they talk about the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Shelter" is fascinating:

You can listen to the interview in it's entirety HERE.

It's still powerful 50 years later:

"Let Me Dream Of The High Country"- Willy Vlautin

2011-06-30T00:36:00.001-06:00

Richmond Fontaine has a new album coming out sone called "The High Country" and Willy's in good form here singing the title track:

"Sway"- Catherine Irvin

2011-06-28T00:53:00.000-06:00

Catherine Irwin's voice is the grain of the soul:

"I Was A Teenage Mummy"- The A-Bones

2011-06-27T18:21:00.001-06:00

Very underappreciated band:

"Sank"- Concealer

2011-06-23T01:31:00.000-06:00

Mark Davis is Edmonton's best songwriter and his side project, the electro-folk Concealer is one of Edmonton's best bands:

"Fan Letter"- Charles Bukowski

2011-06-22T00:46:00.000-06:00

He hated these things of course, and he's absolutely smashed and chippy w/ the hecklers and adoring crowd. But he's Bukowski:

HB3's "From The Laboratory"

2011-06-20T14:27:00.001-06:00

Radio Enigma will be premiering a brand new From The Laboratory Saturday June 25 at 8pm ET/5pm PT w/ my brother HB3 to coincide w/ the release of his multimedia (CD/Book) "Magic Circles".

You can listen to Radio Enigma HERE; until then here's some HB3:

"String Me Out a Line"- Viva Saturn

2011-06-17T01:07:00.000-06:00

Steven Roback's work going back to The Rain Parade (one of the best bands ever to come out of LA) has been full of bittersweet lyrics and melancholy chord changes that hit the proverbial sweet spot of the soul, and his band Viva Saturn carried on w/ that model:

HB3 Live At The Folly Bowl June 25th

2011-06-13T21:55:00.003-06:00

My brother HB3 is playing June 25th at The Folly Bowl in Altadena, CA in support of his brand-new multimedia (CD and book) release, "Magic Circles".

Besides being one helluva writer he's also one of the best (and most slyly innovative) musicians out there, and the music he creates is just as expressive as his prose:

Eliminate The Toxins- Mark Davis (2011)

2011-06-08T22:39:00.000-06:00

Former Old Reliable co-frontman (and Edmonton's best songwriter) Mark Davis has a new CD called Eliminate The Toxins, a controlled, electric set of songs that snake through Folk, Downtown, and a pinch of Electronica that's as compelling as arresting:

"The Rough South of Harry Crews Part Two" (1992)

2011-06-07T00:10:00.001-06:00

Harry Crews is a goddamn genius:

"America"- Vigilantes Of Love

2011-06-06T00:09:00.000-06:00

Bill Malonee is one of the greatest songwriters alive:

"Just Like Heaven"- The Watson Twins

2011-06-03T01:02:00.000-06:00

Up there w/ Dinosaur Jr.'s awesome cover:

Randy Ferbey To Coach Russian Men's Curling Program?

2011-05-31T21:30:00.000-06:00

Wow, I never saw this one coming.

My friend Al Cameron of the Calgary Herald has a story up on his excellent curling blog saying that Randy Ferbey is in talks to coach the Russian Curling Program w/ an eye on whipping them into shape just in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
given the fiasco of Jason Gunnlaugson trip to Russia last year as a hired gun, I don't think this will end well. Watch out, Ferbs!

And just for the hell of it, here's some vintage Ferbey riffing at the 2007 Continental Cup:

British Woman Braving Fukushima Radiation Zone To Save Abandoned Quake Dogs

2011-05-29T03:57:00.000-06:00

A Hero.

Leonora Carrington (1917-2011)

2011-05-27T00:12:00.000-06:00

Safe passage, Miss Carrington:

"Say Goodbye"- Falcon

2011-05-25T22:52:00.001-06:00

The excellent Brooklyn band Falcon have a new record out, and it's the best album of 2011 so far:

"Jimmy Reeves"- Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra

2011-05-23T18:18:00.000-06:00

Classic Edmonton music:

"Shake Some Action"- The Flamin' Groovies

2011-05-22T23:38:00.000-06:00

The greatest power-pop song ever, and it's not close:

"The Union"- Matewan (1987)

2011-05-22T23:07:00.000-06:00

My favorite scene from one of my favorite films:

"The Main"- Grant Hart

2011-05-22T02:00:00.000-06:00

Grant Hart is a fucking genius, and I'll stand on Bob Mould's Flying V in my Chuck Taylor's and speak it proudly:

"Monday Monday"- Mrs. Miller

2011-05-20T00:15:00.000-06:00

There's never been anyone like Mrs. Miller:

"Pay To Cum"- Bad Brains with Leonard Nimoy

2011-05-19T23:38:00.000-06:00

This is taking me away to a wonderful place:

"Alabama Blues"- Jeffery Lee Pierce

2011-05-17T00:47:00.000-06:00

Yes:

Slave Lake, AB Wildfires (5-15-2011)

2011-05-17T00:44:00.000-06:00

The horrible wildfires that destroyed 40 percent of Slave Lake, AB Sunday is a disaster that we here in Alberta (and all of Canada) are still trying to process:

"Taking Away the Fire"- Dos

2011-05-10T23:37:00.000-06:00

Hypnotic:

"It's the Sun"- Polyphonic Spree

2011-05-07T01:35:00.000-06:00

I guess I could do a pithy line about how Polyphonic Spree sounds like Pet Sounds-era Brian Wilson fronting Up With People, but it's to be experienced to be believed.

"It's The Sun" is glorious:

"Super-High Moon" - The Thousand Pities

2011-05-04T23:54:00.001-06:00

Some beautiful baroque-pop from The Thousand Pities, featuring ex-members of Winter Hours and The Vestrymen:

"Be On The Lookout"(Demo For "Little Know It All")- Josh Rouse

2011-05-01T01:38:00.001-06:00

A fine demo of one of my favorite Josh Rouse songs:

Oscar Wilde Takes On Jersey Shore, Hilarity Ensues

2011-04-29T12:54:00.000-06:00

The Onion AV Club does it again.

Brilliant and Hilarious:

"Countdown To Revolution!"- The New Creation

2011-04-28T02:05:00.000-06:00

The Velvet Underground of insane 1970's Christian Rock bands:

"I'm Movin' On"- Hank Snow

2011-04-22T00:29:00.000-06:00

The greatest country artist to ever come out of Canada:

"Tigress"- Songs:Ohia

2011-04-21T18:36:00.000-06:00

Jason Molina is a genius:

"Screen Test For Union City(1979)"- Deborah Harry

2011-04-19T23:40:00.001-06:00

Yeah, I had an enormous crush on Deborah Harry, too:

K-tel "Mood Ring" commercial

2011-04-19T01:00:00.000-06:00

Yes yes, I bought one, too:

"Ending Scene"- City Lights (1931)

2011-04-17T23:55:00.001-06:00

One of the great scenes ever in Film:

"Subdivisions"- Rush Cleveland 4/15/2011

2011-04-16T21:37:00.000-06:00

Hot off the presses:

"Avenues"- Whiskeytown

2011-04-12T23:56:00.000-06:00

Ryan Adams never anything as good as Whiskeytown's "Strangers Alamanac", and he knows it, too.

What a beautiful, wistful song:

"UFO's And The Supernatural"- Peter Cook And Dudley Moore

2011-04-12T12:02:00.000-06:00

Classic Pete And Dud:

"Baby Please Dont Go"- Lightnin' Hopkins

2011-04-07T00:43:00.000-06:00

Pure country blues from the best that ever was:

"T.V. (girl on fire)"- The Perfect Disaster

2011-04-05T23:43:00.001-06:00

Phil Parfitt is an underrated songwriter:

"In Your Eyes"- The Reivers

2011-04-03T02:26:00.000-06:00

Boy, this is a memory grenade. Kim Longacre's catch in her voice on this always takes me to a wonderful place:

"Bad Day (P.S.A.) Demo 1986"- R.E.M.

2011-04-02T01:25:00.000-06:00

Miles better than the (much) later version:

"Western Skyline"- Richmond Fontaine

2011-03-31T00:33:00.002-06:00

Willy Vlautin is a genius, too:

There was glass and blood everywhere
And I held him in my arms
And theres no one around for miles.
No one around for miles.

And the sky was cloudy,
it was near dark,
you said "I cant see, can you tell me, where are we?"

"well, there's a western skyline
And i swear that i can see
a golden light that shine down upon everything
We would walk down the street
under coloured lights.
We would walk down the street,
and beautiful women would walk on by. Beautiful women:
just so beautiful and kind.
And there are western skylines
I swear you will be
a golden light,
that shines down upon everything
We will walk down the street under colored lights.
We will walk on and on.
Beautiful women, would walk on by.
beautiful women:
just so gentle and kind.
There are western skylines
Oh, I swear you will be, and you will
you'll be set free..

"I Was Drunk"- Alejandro Escovedo And David Pulkingham

2011-03-29T00:47:00.000-06:00

Alejandro is a genius:

"Final Solution"- Pere Ubu

2011-03-26T00:47:00.000-06:00

A well-loved blast from my past:

"Moscow Nights"- The Feelies

2011-03-25T00:26:00.000-06:00

Yes:

"Song To The Siren"- John Frusciante

2011-03-24T00:49:00.000-06:00

A Tim Buckley Yes:

"Jordan, Minnesota"- Big Black

2011-03-23T22:17:00.000-06:00

The loudest band I've ever heard live:

HB3 Live At Farnsworth Park Music And Arts Community Festival, Altadena, CA March 26

2011-03-22T21:44:00.004-06:00

My brother HB3 will be playing The Farnsworth Park Music & Arts Community Festival in Altadena, CA in So Cal this Saturday March 26; be there so you you can see and hear some of the best (and most original) music like this:

"Reason To Believe"- Camper Van Chadbourne

2011-03-19T00:04:00.001-06:00

Eugene does it relatively straight w/ members of Camper Van Beetohven as Camper Van Chadbourne here and I bet if Tim Hardin were still alive, he would have liked this version way, way better than Rod Stewart's:

"Rhoda"- Slint

2011-03-18T23:16:00.000-06:00

Yes:

"Backstreet Girl"- Golden Smog

2011-03-18T00:38:00.000-06:00

They do it justice:

"Desperados Waiting for a Train"- The Rise of Science

2011-03-15T01:07:00.000-06:00

Improbably, this is wonderful:

2011 Brier Final Preview

2011-03-13T15:04:00.002-06:00

A much better (and more fun) than expected bronze medal game between NL and Alberta just ended w/ a 10-5 victory for NL after 8 so it's onto the final; I'll be tweeting the match HERE if your so inclined.

My pick? I think Jeff Stoughton wins his 3rd Brier over Glenn Howard tonight; we'll see if I'm wrong.

Here's some Stoughton and Howard from the recent past:

"Burning Love"- The Residents

2011-03-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

Going to see them in 10 days for the first time and I can't wait:

2011 Brier: Page Playoff Preview

2011-03-10T21:25:00.004-07:00

The page playoff are here; it's Brad Gushue/NL (who finished on top thanks to beating Manitoba and Alberta) against Manitoba/Stoughton in the 1-2, and Alberta/Martin facing Ontario/Glenn Howard in the 3-4, with Martin having the hammer in the first end.

Murray McCormick has the details as always and this should be a fun playoff.

My picks:

NL-Manitoba: After a semi-shaky start NL has been cruising along w/ some impressive wins and some excellent shooting by 3rd Mark Nichols as well as Gushue. Manitoba has been at the top all week until tonight and are at the top of their games. Have to go w/ Stoughton here; he dearly wants to win another Brier and nothing's going to stand in his way.

Alberta-Ontario: Kevin Martin has owned Glenn Howard, winning the last 7 games between them but the streak (like KMart's 30 game winning Brier streak) has to end sometime, and I think it's here.

Today's scrums are here:

"Commodore Peter"- The Silos

2011-03-10T00:50:00.000-07:00

One of Walter's best songs:

4th Annual Water For Life Festival March 22-27 2011 Edmonton

2011-03-08T22:29:00.003-07:00

My good friend Rainer Bronner at Raindance Rubberboots asked if we would like to once again be involved w/ this year's Water For Life Festival here in Edmonton this March 22-27, and of course we said yes.

Science, recreation, and sports activities during the festival, a number of local musicians including John Spearn, Ma Fletcher, Nick Guiton, Paula Kirman, Dave Martin and Pam Urquhart. I'll be there on Friday, And I hope you will be there, too.

"White Vinyl"- The Silos

2011-03-08T12:29:00.001-07:00

Brand new song from The Silos' new album "Florizona" that will be released April 20; enjoy:

2011 Canada Winter Games MB vs ON Curling - Shot of the Game

2011-03-08T00:19:00.001-07:00

Since we're in Curling mode this week I had to show this unbelieveable triple take-out runback by Manitoba skip Kyle Doering that is all kinda of awesome:

2011 Brier: Day 3

2011-03-07T19:51:00.009-07:00

The big story of course is NL's 9-4 dismantling of Alberta to end Alberta's 30 game win streak at The Brier. Ontario, Alberta, and NL in a 3 way tie for 2nd place in the standings after 8 draws, with Manitoba cruising along undefeated at the top.

Random thoughts:

After a bumpy first 3 draws, Ontario is clicking on all cylinders. Their 12-4 rout against Quebec left Quebec pretty demoralized in the latter half of the match.

Jeff Stoughton really, really wants to win this Brier, and right now he's the odds on favorite. Jon Mead as 3rd has done wonders to the cohesiveness of the rink and has made them looser on the ice.

Alberta losing to NL isn't the end of the world of course; if anything, it takes the focus off The Streak and back onto taking care of business. Alberta plays Nova Scotia tomorrow morning and odds on it's a bloodbath against Shawn Adams and the rest of Team NS.

But wow, KMart shooting 69 percent? When's the last time that happened?

Maybe the best thing to ever happen to Brad Gushue is Randy Ferbey leaving the team during the cashspiel season and calling into question Gushue's leadership and skipping style; they've looked great so far and played confidently again a juggernaut Alberta team and their win was no fluke.

10 years ago when I first came to Canada, Curling wasn't on my sports radar; now it's arguably become my favorite sport, and The Brier my favorite sporting event bar none. Watching it has become a passion of mine (w/ a Tim Hortons double-double in my hand, natch) and it shows zero signs of abating.

As always, you can follow me on twitter for live game blogging..

Here's the Day 3 scrums/interviews from the CCA:

"Transcendental Blues"- Steve Earle And The Dukes

2011-03-07T01:28:00.000-07:00

Yes:

2011 Brier: Day 2

2011-03-06T22:25:00.005-07:00

More of the same on day 2 of The Brier and while Team Ontario got itself back on track (3rd Richard Hart's double raise in the match against Saskatchewan was a thing of beauty), Manitoba kept firing on all cylinders, and Alberta remained undefeated, NL's first chink in their armor came from BC, who escaped w/ a 6-5 win.

Random Thoughts:

How cool was it to see Scott Howard getting tagged in to the game to play against Saskatchewan?

Northern Ontario's Ryan Harndon looks like he could body-slam Andre The Giant if needed..

The crowd (at least from my couch potato perspective, anyway) seems to be into the games and having alot of fun. Love the Province rooting sections..

Hacking away at ice dams on my roof really, really sucks..

Tomorrow morning's feature game on TSN is Saskatchewan against NL; both teams can't afford to lose and I want to see if Brad Gushue can put the brain fart in the BC game behind him and get back on track. I'll be commenting on twitter as always while I try to put in an honest days station work; as the kids say, we'll see how that rolls..

Day 2 scrums are here:

"An Honest Job [Live]"- Treat Her Right

2011-03-06T01:01:00.000-07:00

I really miss Mark Sandman:

2011 Brier: Day One

2011-03-05T23:54:00.005-07:00

The biggest story on opening day of The Brier wasn't the matches themselves (though Glenn Howard's too light draw to the button in Team Ontario's opening match against Team New Brunswick was a tad shocking), but the frost on the ice because of temperature changes due to the rainy weather outside The John Labatt Centre.

Other than Team New Brunswick's upset of Team Ontario in Draw 1 the matches went pretty much as expected, with Team Manitoba cruising along in wins against Team B.C. and New Brunswick and Team Alberta grinding out a 6-2 win against Team N. Ontario.

I'm looking forward both to the N. Ontario-Newfoundland match in Draw 4 and the Ontario-Sasktachewan (with 3rd Steve Laycock now calling the game) match in Draw 5 should be a good one, too.

Here's the scrums from Day 1:

The 2011 Tim Hortons Brier Is Here!

2011-03-04T21:48:00.004-07:00

My year long wait for my favorite sporting event is over; The Tim Hortons Brier is here. My friend Al Cameron will be covering it on his must-read curling blog, as well as Murray McCormick from The Regina Leader-Post; This is going to be alot of fun to watch play out this week and I can't wait.

My playoff picks aren't too shocking:

Team Alberta/Kevin Martin- KMart's the king of the hill, and everybody else is going to have a hard time knocking them off their perch. In the Final.

Team Ontario/Glenn Howard- Hasn't been of of their better seasons but it's Glenn Howard, and Richard Hart is the most underrated 3rd in Curling.

Team Manitoba/Jeff Stoughton- Still playing at a high level, and Jon Mead at 3rd makes more sense then Kevin Park.

Team Northern Ontario/Brad Jacobs- The best young team in Curling and I have a suspicion that they will make their mark this year and give N. Ontario it's first legit shot at The Brier since Al Hackner.

And I can't sign off w/o Twitter's latest sensation, @fakekevinmartin and improbably @HecGervaisGhost; this should be fun..

"I Don't Want To Start The World On Fire"- Smokey

2011-03-02T23:05:00.000-07:00

Yes:

"Dark and Lonely Water"

2011-03-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

Creepy PSA from Britain:

"I'm Just Dreaming"- Fred Eaglesmith

2011-03-02T00:29:00.001-07:00

A wonderful "early" performance of one of Fred's greatest songs. I miss Willie P:

"Throwin' Rocks At Windows"- Human Skab

2011-03-01T00:45:00.001-07:00

I was lucky to pick up this masterpiece in my too hip to live music hipster days and fell in love w/ the absurd dada-esque mayhem. He's still around, too:

"Der Kommissar"- Falco

2011-02-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

HATED this song when it was released.....but I always secretly liked the guitar riff. Now that I'm older and not so much a music snob, this always puts a smile on my face:

"Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Eddie's Attic 1/30/2011)"- Alejandro Escovedo

2011-02-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

Beautiful:

"Do You Realize??"- The Flaming Lips

2011-02-21T02:47:00.001-07:00

Majestic:

Do You Realize, that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize, we're floating in space
Do You Realize, that happiness makes you cry
Do You Realize, that everyone you know someday will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do You Realize, Oh Oh Oh
Do You Realize, that everyone, you know,
Someday, will die

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Do You Realize, that you have the most beautiful face
Do You Realize..

"I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night"- Billy Bragg

2011-02-21T01:51:00.000-07:00

I've been playing alot of Phil's stuff lately in light of the protests across The Middle East and Madison, WI, and remembered this moving tribute by Billy Bragg:

Traffic Sound "Sky Pilot"

2011-02-17T00:40:00.000-07:00

Traffic Sound was a Peruvian Garage Rock/Psychedelic band of some note in their homeland; while their version of Eric Burdon's "Sky Pilot" doesn't reach classic level, it's interesting nonetheless:

"Hey Jealousy & Found Out About You"- Gin Blossoms

2011-02-15T02:37:00.000-07:00

I miss you, Doug: