Revolution Rock: The 2023 Interviews & Show # 1020

In 2023, Revolution had seven interviews featured on the program. Five audio interviews were done and two email based interviews specifically for this website. As we have done in recent years, we did an episode containing highlights (or clips) from each of the audio interviews that we did and played some music/music relating to each of those artists. Below you will find some info about these interviews in addition to the playlist and download/streaming links to the episode.

An Interview with Jose Contreras (of By Divine Right) (February 2023):

Otto Motto is the latest album released by Toronto’s By Divine Right. A now legendary proto-indie rock band, By Divine Right is fronted by Jose Contreras and the band has seen many lineup changes throughout the years, in their previous lineups they featured Feist, Brendan Canning (of Broken Social Scene) and Brian Borcherdt (of Holy Fuck). The lineup of Jose Contreras (guitar/vocals), Geordie Dynes (drums) and Alysha Haugen (bass) had been together since 2010 (the lineup changed slightly in mid 2023). In 2016, the band recorded a full album cover of Depeche Mode’s Speak & Spell album in their rehearsal space, calling it Speak & Spell U.S. Otto Motto is a sprawling double album containing 14 tracks and features haunting psychedelic pop textures to the songs as the lyrics dig deep and are contemplative. We spoke with Jose covering the making of Otto Motto and a bit of the band’s history for Revolution Rock’s theme month based programming in February.

Listen to the full interview here:

Read the original post here.

An Interview with Chris Jack (of The Routes) (February 2023):

The Routes have been releasing music since 2007, but lately they have been putting out two, or sometimes more releases a year. The band is lead by multi-instrumentalist/main songwriter Christopher Jack and currently features drummer Bryan Styles. In 2022, they released The Twang Machine, a surf tribute to Kraftwerk that works so well, in 2021 two instrumental albums (Instrumentals II and Shake Five) were released in addition to Mesmerised, a psych, reverb doused collection of tracks with vocals. While they are a garage punk band, they often blur the lines of that title pulling other influences creating something different each time. At the end of 2022, the instrumental album Get Past Go! was released and in February 2023, the garage-psych album that pulls in post-punk influences titled Lead Lined Clouds was released. Later in 2023 they released the all surf tribute to Buzzcocks titled Reverberation Addict. We spoke with Chris about The Routes history and making their recent albums as part of Revolution Rock’s annual theme month based programming in February.

Listen to the full interview here:

Read the original post here.

An Interview with Evan Uschenko (of Ghost Woman) (May 2023):

Ghost Woman’s Anne, If was released in January 2023 on the Full Time Hobby label. Following 2022’s critically acclaimed self-titled debut, Anne, If picks up where that album left off. The music was written/recorded/performed by multi-instrumentalist Evan Uschenko on a Tascam 388 tape recorder in a large, expansive house. The press release states that when recording the album there was not much to do “except record music, watch old VHS movies, and cook meals over an open fire in the backyard.” Recording songs at different times of day also influenced the sounds and nuances present on Anne, If. Influences such as songs from 60s garage Nuggets compilation, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Love, Safe As Milk-era Captain Beefheart, Can, Neu!, and 60s Kinks/The Creation all float around in the musical atmosphere of these songs, however, these all add to the chemistry of the songs to expand Ghost Woman’s sound. In November 2023, Ghost Woman released Hindsight is 50/50. This album was recorded in a studio in France adding a moodier live feel, this time in collaboration with drummer for the group Ille van Dessel. We did a short interview with Evan for the website about Anne, If.

Read the interview here.

An Interview with Mononegatives (June 2023):

Crossing Visual Field is the second full-length album by London, Ontario’s Mononegatives. Their sound has been described as “raw punk meets new wave” and with 2021’s fast selling and critically acclaimed Apparatus Division, Mononegatives set themselves apart as a band experimenting with the punk meets new wave genre. Featuring Rob Brake on guitar/synth/vocals, Aaron Wallis bass and David Cereghini on drums, Crossing Visual Field was recorded once again with producer Preston Lobzun, but this time at a home studio in Scarborough. The band spent two years writing, recording and preparing for this record. With extra sonic details this time around, Crossing Visual Field brings a new atmosphere and broader scope to Mononegatives previous anxious nervous energy dynamic. We spoke with the members of Mononegatives for this website and covered the making of the album and a bit of the band’s history.

Read the full interview here.

An Interview with Don Pyle (of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet) (July 2023):

In 1993, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet released their third full-length album titled Sport Fishin’: The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook. Prior to recording the album the band was quite busy. Whether it was touring, rehearsing, recording music for the Kids In The Hall TV Series or recording singles, it was a whirlwind of activity for the band. Before the recording of Sport Fishin’, SMOASP recorded some singles with Steve Albini at his home studio. Some of these tracks would wind up on a few different releases such as the Dog & Squeegie single released in 1992 on the Estrus label and the Take Outs single released on the Derivative label in August of 1993. Just before Christmas of 1992 however, they recorded and mixed over a five-day period with Steve Albini at the Chicago Recording Company studio. The results would be the Sport Fishin’ album. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the album’s release we played the album in full on the program (in July) and also spoke with drummer Don Pyle about recording the album during that time period.

Listen to the full interview here:

Read the original post here.

An Interview with Bry Webb (September 2023):

“Thunder Bay” was the first single released by Canadian singer/songwriter Bry Webb from his album Run With Me. Inspired by a desire to sing and play music again after not releasing music for quite a few years, the songs that make up Run With Me are made up with inspiration to play again and the connections/contributions from different musicians over Webb’s career. Also known for being the lead vocalist in Constantines, Webb’s album Run With Me is his third full-length release and his first new album since 2014’s Free Will (there was also a live album, Live at Massey Hall in 2015). We spoke with Bry Webb about making the album Run With Me and the challenges that came along with it, we spoke of The Constantines, his early bands, and Webb’s earlier solo albums.

Find the original post here.

Listen to the full interview here:

An Interview with Tommy Stinson (October 2023):

Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire released their debut album Wronger in June 2023. The album collects a mix of alt-country, rockabilly, folk songs and features musicians Tommy Stinson and Chip Roberts. Stinson and Roberts’ history goes back many years, he even helped co-write a song on Stinson’s Bash & Pop album Anything Could Happen in 2007. But, for those of you who don’t know Tommy got his start playing bass in the Minneapolis band The Replacements, then went on to play in numerous groups such as Perfect, Guns n’ Roses, Soul Asylum, Bash & Pop. Wronger got its start with some sessions recorded in Texas with Christine Smith around 2016/2017 with John Doe on bass, the rest were recorded in Stinson’s New York studio. There are several different musicians on this album that all add to its makeup, but overall it comes off as a stripped down collection of songs that flows together so naturally. Revolution Rock spoke with Tommy Stinson about Wronger's creation, a bit of his musical history with Perfect, The Replacements Let It Be reissue and more.

Listen to the full interview here:

Find the original post here.

Show 1020 (Originally Aired On January 6th, 2023)(The 2023 Interviews Playlist):

1.  By Divine Right - I Climb (Demo) (OTTO MOTTO DEMO - 2023)
2.  By Divine Right - East Side Anthem (OTTO MOTTO - Fortune Stellar Records - 2022)

JOSE CONTRERAS (OF BY DIVINE RIGHT) INTERVIEW CLIP

 
3.  By Divine Right - It's Not Over (OTTO MOTTO - Fortune Stellar Records - 2022)
4.  The Routes - Opinions (Lead Lined Clouds - Ottis Media Records - 2023)
5.  The Routes - In A Rut (Get Past Go! - Ottis Media Records - 2022)

CHRIS JACK (OF THE ROUTES) INTERVIEW CLIP

 
6.  The Routes - Fast Cars (Reverberation Addict - Topsy Turvy Records - 2023)
7.  Ghost Woman - Street Meet (Anne, If - Full-Time Hobby - 2023)
8.  Ghost Woman - Broke (Anne, If - Full-Time Hobby - 2023)
9.  Mononegatives - Living in the Future  (Crossing Visual Field - Dowd Records - 2023)
10. Mononegatives - Disappearing Architecture (Crossing Visual Field - Dowd Records - 2023)
11. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - (Relax) You Will Think You Are A Chicken (Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook - Cargo Records - 1993)
12. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Peas Porridge Rock (Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook - Cargo Records - 1993)

DON PYLE (OF SHADOWY MEN ON A SHADOWY PLANET) INTERVIEW CLIP

 
13. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Plastic for 500, Bob (Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook - Cargo Records - 1993)
14. Bry Webb - AM Blues (Free Will - Idee Fix Records - 2014)

BRY WEBB INTERVIEW CLIP

15. Bry Webb - Outbound Only, No Return (Run With Me - Indee Fix Records - 2023)
16. Bry Webb - Modern Mind (Run With Me - Idee Fix Records - 2023)
17. Tommy Stinson's Cowboys in the Campfire - We Ain't (Wronger - Done To Death Music, Inc. - 2023)

TOMMY STINSON INTERVIEW CLIP

 
18. Tommy Stinson's Cowboys in the Campfire - Mr. Wrong (Wronger - Done To Death Music, Inc. - 2023)
19. The Replacements - Kiss Me on the Bus (Demo) (Tim: Let It Bleed Edition - Rhino Records - 2023)

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the January 6 file to download/stream the episode. 

For those keeping track episode 1019 (which aired on December 30th) was a repeat of Revolution Rock's Shane MacGowan special for Joe Strummer day.  You can hear that episode here and the playlist here.

Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook: An Interview with Don Pyle & Shows # 994, 993, 992

In 1993, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet released their third full-length album titled Sport Fishin’: The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook. Prior to recording the album the band was quite busy. Whether it was touring, rehearsing, recording music for the Kids In The Hall TV Series or recording singles, it was a whirlwind of activity for the band. Before the recording of Sport Fishin’, SMOASP recorded some singles with Steve Albini at his home studio. Some of these tracks would wind up on a few different releases such as the Dog & Squeegie single released in 1992 on the Estrus label and the Take Outs single released on the Derivative label in August of 1993. Just before Christmas of 1992 however, they recorded and mixed over a five-day period with Steve Albini at the Chicago Recording Company studio. The results would be the Sport Fishin’ album.

The album starts off with the track “Unwatchable,” a short eleven-second reverb driven surf influenced track, but don’t let that description fool you, this album is many things at once. “Spend A Night, Not A Fortune” is a musical interplay with the lead bass rhythms of Reid Diamond, as Brian Connelly’s masterful guitar work floats in-between and Don Pyle holds down everything with sparse, inventive drumming. The band starts off here with a slow build before the rich tapestry and chemistry of the band is revealed. It doesn’t take long for that to take effect as “Three Piece Suit” comes in as track three on Sport Fishin’. With Connelly’s rolling reverb saturated guitar riffs that lead the song and bass that builds tension with the drums in the background, the pace slows down briefly before the chorus of the song arrives again. It evokes something that Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet do so well, suck you into their musical orbit. The combination of all this on this track (and throughout this record) has a familiar, nostalgic feeling, yet it is something all of its own. “Fortune Telling Chicken” arrives a cappella before fiery surf and 50s influenced instrumental riffs lead the way into “(Relax) You Will Think You Are A Chicken,” which begins with another introduction and a hypnotizing piano backing. Musically the song kicks in with slithery basslines, marching, yet steady drumbeats and intense guitar, blending surf and that unnamable chemistry. The song ends with Pyle playing a series of toms on the drums, driving bass and spirited guitars.

“Plastics For 500, Bob” features smooth, twangy bass, bold guitars and energetic drums. “That Wuz Ear Me Callin’ A Horse” an example of a loud song that captures what the band must have sound like live at the time with a song title that, like many of their song titles, plays into their own irreverent sense of humour. “Singing Cowboy” is a short countrified track featuring Diamond on lead vocals singing of “Wide open spaces/Wide open skies” that comes off as both tongue in cheek and heartfelt, “Farbs” features stabbing guitar swells, propelling bass and drums and several false endings before the song finally concludes, but far be it from me to criticize this. It sounds like the band are in their element here. “Spy School Graduation Theme” features plotting basslines, drums filled with intrigue and guitar from Brian Connelly that despite the lack of lyrics conjures up an ominous, yet peering narrative. “Cheese in the Fridge” is one of the longest tracks found on Sport Fishin’ featuring frosty basslines, chilling drums and atmospheric guitars, “Mecca” is track thirteen on the album. When originally released it was not listed on the album’s track list, with the clang of an elevator door opening and someone saying “thirteen” many assumed that was the name of the track, when it is actually a SMOASP version of Gene Pitney’s “Mecca.”

“Algoma Reflections” branches out into jazz, “We’re Not A Fucking Surf Band” splinters into jagged post punk, sounding influenced by The Minutemen, “Honey, You’re Wasting Ammo” is a Pixies informed, alternative rock sounding track, while one of the album singles “They Don’t Call Them Chihuahuas Anymore” moves its way into Latin rhythms. There are many great moments on this record where you can hear the band really lock in and play in that great in the pocket groove moment. This track also shows how versatile, subtle and effective Don Pyle’s drumming can be, Connelly’s guitar and Diamond’s bass also prosper at just the right moments here. “What I Like About Grease” features dirtier guitar as bass and drums burn the musical oil, “Memories of Gay Paree” is primarily driven by its 60s organ sounds mixing in garage rock elements, while “Babywetsitself” ends Sport Fishin’ in cinematic noir reverberations mixed with jazz. There is a gap of no sound before a hidden track appears, a brief live version of “Shakin’ All Over” followed by crowd noises.

When recording Sport Fishin’, it was the only time that the band recorded in an uninterrupted fashion for a record. Recorded and mixed over five days, all of their previous work was recorded at different times and then gradually pieced together. The results are cohesive here. The band is in top form and seamlessly jump genres on songs throughout the record. The sound is bolder with a heavier sound and combines elements of surf, jazz, rock, punk and western-styled music, in addition to their other influences. Albini captured Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, very in-the-moment and there is a certain intensity found throughout the songs. With Sport Fishin’: The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet cast their musical net out into the water and come back with that elusive sound that they create so well.

Listen to an interview that Revolution Rock did with Don Pyle of Revolution Rock here:
 

Show 994 Sport Fishin' 30th Anniversary Playlist (Don Pyle of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet Interview) (Originally Aired On July 1st, 2023) :

1.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Unwatchable (I)
2.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Spend A Night, Not A Fortune
3.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Three Piece Suit
4.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Fortune Tellin' Chicken
5.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (Relax) You Will Think You Are A Chicken
6.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - " Plastics For 500, Bob"
7.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - That Wuz Ear Me Callin' A Horse

DON PYLE INTERVIEW PT. 1

8.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - The Singing Cowboy
9.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Farbs
10. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Spy School Graduation Theme
11. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Cheese In The Fridge

DON PYLE INTERVIEW PT.2

12. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Unwatchable (II)
13. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Haig Earl
14. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Algoma Reflections
15. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - We're Not A Fucking Surf Band
16. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Peas Porridge Rock
17. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Honey You're Wasting Ammo

DON PYLE INTERIVEW PT.3

18. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - They Don't Call Them Chihuahuas Anymore
19. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Off Our Back Conrad Black
20. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - We'll Be Right Back!
21. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - What I Like About Grease
22. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Memories Of Gay Paree
23. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Babywetsitself

DON PYLE INTERVIEW PT.4

24. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (W/Fred Schneider) - Lick
25. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Song of the Lobster
26. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - That Wuz Ear Me Callin' A Horse (Live)
27. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - (Relax) You Will Think You Are A Chicken (Live)
28. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - The Last of my Hiccups
29. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - The Jehrney

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the July 1 file to download/stream the episode. 

 
Show 993 Playlist (Liz Phair, Global Citizens, Yo La Tengo) (Originally Aired On June 24th, 2023):

1.  Water From Your Eyes - True Life 
2.  Model/Actriz - Mosquito 
3.  Swans - Los Angeles: City of Death 
4.  The Pop Group - Kiss the Book (1978 BBC Session) 
5.  Butthole Surfers - Ricky
6.  Spiderbite - Smashed Glass
7.  Psychic Void - The Man
8.  Liz Phair - 6’1” 
9.  Liz Phair - Soap Star Joe 
10. Liz Phair - Clean 
11. Packs - Laughing Till I Cry 
12. La Securite - Le Kick 
13. Joe Meek and The Blue Men - Orbit Around the Moon (Take 1) 
14. Global Citizens - Fireball 
15. Global Citizens - Happiness Ain’t Green Grass 
16. The Courettes Time is Ticking 
17. Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire - That’s It
18. Galen & Paul - Sea Shanty
19. Yo La Tengo - Tonight’s Episode 
20. Yo La Tengo - Moby Octopad 
21. Yo La Tengo - Serpentine
22. Yo La Tengo - Big Day Coming 
23. Teke::Teke - Hoppe 
24. Neither Could Dylan - Skeleton 
25. Wax Mannequin - Wrong About You
26. Tough Age - Paradise By Another Name 

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the June 24 file to download/stream the episode. 

Show 992 Playlist (John McGeoch, The Police Synchronicity, Violent Femmes) (Originally Aired On June 17th, 2023):

1.  Weird Nightmare - She’s the One
2.  Wrong War - The Call 
3.  Tricky Woo - Rock & Roll Vs. the World 
4.  Ex Ox - It’s Your Faul the World is Ending
5.  Universal Cleaner - Psychosocial Mother Matrix
6.  The Police - Synchronicity I 
7.  The Police - Miss Gradenko 
8.  Juliana Hatfield - Murder By Numbers
9.  Violent Femmes - Every Breath You Take 
10. Visage - Visage 
11. Gen X - Poison
12. The Armoury Show - Castles in Spain 
13. Public Image Ltd. - Seattle 
14. Bob Dylan - Wicked Messenger
15. Bonny Doon - Crooked Creek 
16. Deer Tick - Forgiving Ties 
17. Charlotte Cornfield - You and Me 
18. Shotgun Jimmie - Tumbleweed 
19. Love Interest - Midwinter, Violent Air 
20. Osees - Goon 
21. Zoon - Gaagige 
22. OMBIIGIZI - Back at Me 
23. Home Front - Real Eyes 
24. Frankiie - Cruel 
25. The Hives - Countdown to Shutdown
26. Jay Reatard - Paint It Shut

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the June 17 file to download/stream the episode. 

It's A Wonderful Record & Shows # 914 & 913

Released in 1994, It’s A Wonderful Record is an EP that was originally released on vinyl by Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet. This Christmas and holiday themed release featured SMOASP playing different holiday songs in addition to some originals. When it was originally released the album featured one side that was recorded at 45 RPM while the other side (side two) was recorded at 33 1/3 RPM. Side one, the 45 RPM side featured the instrumental track “Winterfresh” with its shuffle beats and frosty rhythms that are complimented with jingle bells towards the songs close and a choir. Track two on side A is actually a track by New Orleans band M.O.T.O (Masters of the Obvious). “Christmas is Coming” is a short garage pop track that is also jangly and catchy.

Track three starts side two. It is SMOASP’s take on the Christmas classic “Deck the Halls.” It is brief and also features the Vienna Boys Choir (as mentioned in the song). This coupled with the band’s trademark instrumental rhythms makes for a brief, but fuzzy feeling atmosphere that is captured on this holiday classic. It’s a Wonderful Record ends with longer track “The 12 Answering Machine Messages of Christmas.” This track is made up of both spoken word and musical parts. It is both hilarious and festive. The band launches through phone machine messages, brief instrumental tracks and even a message from Joey Ramone in twelve separate segments all composed into one collage of sounds. This track is one of the highlights of this release. It shows the band in all with their irreverent humour and instrumental prowess all in one track. It’s A Wonderful Record ends with the band’s take on “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” Following the release of this EP, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet did the soundtrack to the film Double Happiness (released in 1995) and are featured on three tracks of Fred Schneider’s Just Fred album (released in 1996). Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet did a reissue campaign of their albums in 2016, along with a reunion, not all tracks from their releases were present. It’s A Wonderful Record was also one of the last releases by the band before their original split in 1996. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet has a myriad of different, unique and cool releases in their catalogue. This is just another example. 

I wrote about SMOASP’s K Records EP Music For Pets recently. You can read about that here.

For more info about Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet visit:
Shadowy Site on a Shadowy Web
SMOASP Facebook Page

Show 914 Playlist (Originally Aired On December 25th, 2021)(2021 Holiday Episode):

1. James White - Christmas With Satan
2. Suicide - Hey Lord
3. Cristina - Things Fall Apart
4. Boris - Last Christmas
5. The Residents - Santa Dog '78
6. El Vez - Santa Claus Is Sometimes Brown
7. Iggy Pop - White Christmas
8. Arcade Fire - Jingle Bell Rock
9. King Khan & Friends - Christmas Time
10. The Galaxies - Please Come Home For Christmas
11. Mark Malibu & The Wasagas - Canadian Christmas
12. Surf Hermits - Santa's Rant
13. Low - Just Like Christmas
14. Descendants - Christmas Vacation
15. Duotang - Old Man Davie's Christmas Kingdom
16. The Ramblin' Ambassadors - Don't Fear the Reindeer
17. The Pointed Sticks - Power Pop Santa
18. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Faster Santa Claus, Ho Ho Ho
19. The Damned - There Ain't No Sainty Claus
20. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Santa's Compromise
21. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Winterfresh
22. Thee Dundrells - Green Christmas
23. The Bell Peppers - I Can't Wait For Xmas
24. Deja Voodoo - Bugs For Christmas
25. Reigning Sound - If Christmas Can't Bring You Home
26. The Cosmonauts - It's Christmas Day
27. Quintron & Miss Pussycat - Jingle Bell Rock
28. Psychic Ills - Run Rudolph Run
29. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - The 12 Answering Machine Messages of Christmas

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the December 25 file to download/stream the episode.

Show 913 Playlist (Originally Aired On December 18th, 2021)(The Scarlet Drops, Radiohead Kid A Mnesiac, The Beatles Let It Be):

1. Squid - Clapping Music
2. Ducks LTD - As Big As All Outside
3. Yoo Doo Right - The Moral Compass of a Self-Driving Car
4. Look Blue Go Purple - Cactus Cat
5. The Scarlet Drops - Dogma Self
6. The Scarlet Drops - Strain
7. The Adam Brown Band - Spirit Tacos
8. Ex~Po - Constant Commuter
9. Dean Marino - Pieces
10. Teke::Teke - Corpse Pose
11. Courtney Barnett - Turning Green
12. Casper Skulls - Thesis
13. Daniel Romano - Novus
14. Brown Hornet - Atomic Wasteland
15. Obits - Talkin' To The Dog (Live)
16. James Sullivan - Get Our Sense Away
17. Atomic 7 - Loving Not Goughing
18. Bloodshot Bill - Guess What
19. La Luz - Metal Man
20. Radiohead - The National Anthem
21. Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong
22. Radiohead - If You Say The Word
23. Radiohead - Trans-Atlantic Drawl
24. The Beatles - For You Blue (Take 4)
25. The Beatles - One After 909 (1969 Glyn Johns Mix)
26. The Beatles - I Got A Feeling (Take 10)

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the December 18 file to download/stream the episode.

Nevermind, Albums of 1991 and a Surf Music Special - Shows # 903, 902, 901, 900, 899 & 898

Here are the playlists for the six most recent episodes of Revolution Rock. You will find the playlists below, some of the episodes were special episodes such as one focusing on the 30th anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind, a show devoted to albums released in 1991 and a September surf special that we did. Here is some info about some of the music featured on these shows:

Nirvana: Nevermind at 30

Recorded at both Sound City in California and Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin between May and June of 1991, Nevermind originally had the working title of Sheep. It even went as far as Kurt Cobain making up a fake advertisement for an album of this title, however, they eventually settled on the title Nevermind. It has been said that this was chosen because it reflected a metaphor for Cobain’s attitude on life and because it was spelled grammatically incorrect on purpose. When recording was completed, and the rough mixes were done by producer Butch Vig (these can now be found on the 20th anniversary edition of Nevermind), the band were unhappy with the initial mixes. These mixes were rougher sounding than how Nevermind would be presented when Andy Wallace was brought in to add his touch to the mixes. Chosen due to the fact that he had worked with Slayer, Wallace’s mixes made considerable changes to the sound of the drums and guitars of the album. Cobain stated himself that the sound Nevermind was going for was “The Knack and the Bay City Rollers getting molested by Black Flag and Black Sabbath.”

Lyrically, the songs are dark, satirical, funny, powerful and unpredictable. It has been said that a lot of the songs on this album were influenced by a relationship that Cobain had been in that had ended, but a lot of songs were written way before any of them were recorded. The lyrics also were subversive, contrasting and criticizing the lyrical conventions of that time period. This was the first album to feature drummer Dave Grohl, who provided a power behind the kit that when combined with Novoselic’s melodic basslines and Cobain’s guitar/vocals created a unique chemistry. When the first single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released it got a combination of mainstream radio airplay and heavy rotation on MTV (when they still played music videos) that caused a stir. There are many reasons why it became an unexpected success. The music from the underground that was building in the decades prior to this, the time it was released. Although it has been written about many times, Nirvana’s 1991 Nevermind album really did have an impact on music in the mainstream and in general. In our 30th anniversary Nevermind episode (playlist/links are below) we played the album made up of alternate versions of songs to show a different side of the songs that would make up Nevermind.

Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet: Music For Pets EP (1991)

In 1991, Toronto instrumental band Shadowy Men On Shadowy Planet released Dim The Lights, Chill The Ham their debut album. Produced by Coyote Shivers, it is one of their best, however, in 1991 they also released an EP on K Records called Music For Pets. Only containing five tracks, the EP was recorded by Ormond Jobin & Alley at Reaction Studios. The EP opens with “Rover & Rusty” that begins with someone shaking their keys and then saying “Here boy.” This track like many of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet is an instrumental track that ties in elements of surf with other genres. A music video for this song was made by bassist Reid Diamond for this track as well while the band was in Olympia, Washington for the International Pop Underground Convention in 1991. Buying a used Super 8 camera at a Goodwill store, Diamond shot footage of a pet parade that was occurring in town that weekend and well, it became the music video.

“Here Kitty” is a short interlude of someone shaking a box of cat food and shouting the song title before “The Cat Came Back” begins and dips into jazz contrasted with Brian Connelly’s surf/jazz inflected sounds. We hear the sounds of cats meowing come in towards the middle of the song, in fact there are animal/pet sounds throughout the EP. “Baby Elephant Walk" is a spruced up version of the Henry Mancini track, while “That Wuz Me Callin’ A Horse” ends the EP. This slower reverb drenched track is a track that has a title based on a joke about Slade’s 1972 live album, Slade Alive! As for the general EP’s title, it is possible that the band really was making music for their pets. On the EPs cover there is a cat in a basket with a Fender guitar amplifier in the background. The cat was apparently bassist Reid Diamond’s cat Pud (as in “Puddin’”) according to Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Web. While they are known for providing the theme song to the Kids In The Hall TV show, in addition to all the music found on it (and are rumoured to be involved with the new KITH reboot in the music department), Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet have many cool releases in their discography. This is one of many.

Show 903 (Originally Aired On October 9th, 2021) (Love, Andy Shauf, albums from 1981, Mononegatives, Billy Childish):

1.  Love - Emotions
2.  Courtney Barnett - Rae Street
3.  Buck Owens & His Buckaroos - You’ll Never Miss The Water (Till The Well Runs Dry)
4.  John Dwyer - No Flutter
5.  Chad VanGaalen - Changing River
6.  Andy Shauf - Jaywalker
7.  Foxwarren - In Another Life
8.  Ashley Shadow - For Love
9.  JP Lancaster - Southern Cross
10. Destination Lonely - I Want You
11. Trixie and The Trainwrecks - Too Good To Be Blue
12. Hot Garbage - Sometimes I Go Down
13. Huron Lines - Lost In Sarnia
14. Dogo Suicide - Ostrava
15. Visibly Choked - Mother Tongue
16. Slam Dunk - In Hell
17. Television Personalities - Look Back In Anger
18. The dB's - Tearjerkin'
19. Joy Division - Walked In Line
20. New Order - Dreams Never End
21. King Crimson - Thela Hun Ginjeet
22. Siouxsie & the Banshees - Monitor
23. The Police - Hungry For You
24. The Police-  Invisible Son
25. Mononegatives - Monoclonic
26. The Milkshakes - For She
27. The Mighty Caesars - All Night Worker
28. The Delmonas - I Feel Alright

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the October 9 file to download/stream the episode.

Show 902 (Originally Aired On October 2nd, 2021)(T.Rex Electric Warrior, Bob Dylan, The Liverbirds, Holly Golightly, The Delmonas, Amyl & The Sniffers):

1. Julie Doiron - You Gave Me The Key
2. Johnny West - Knee-Jerk Howl
3. The Garrys - In The Dawn
4. Shannon and The Clams - Leaves Fall Again
5. Bob Dylan - Too Late (Band Version)
6. Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell
7. Daniel Romano's Outfit - Sweetheart Like You
8. T.Rex - Rip Off
9. T.Rex - The Motivator
10. T.Rex - Monolith
11. T.Rex - Planet Queen
12. The Adam Brown - Indie Rock Has-Beens
13. Actors - Cold Eyes
14. Wine Lips - Eyes
15. A Place To Bury Strangers - Playing The Part
16. Dion Lunadon - Speed
17. Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs - Poison Ivy
18. The Liverbirds - Why Do You Hang Around Me
19. Holly Golightly - Run Cold
20. Thee Headcoatees - Stolen Love
21. The Delmonas - Dangerous Charms
22. Daniel Romano's Outfit - Animals Above Our Town
23. Motorists - Go Back
24. Sofa - Stress
25. Bad Waitress - Manners
26. Amyl & The Sniffers - Maggots
27. Amyl & The Sniffers - Knifey

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the October 2 file to download/stream the episode.

Show 901 (Originally Aired On September 25th, 2021) (Nirvana Nevermind 30th Anniversary Special):

1.  Dive (1989 Demo) (With The Lights Out - DGC - 2004)
2.  Token Eastern Song (1989 Demo) (With The Lights Out - DGC - 2004)
3.  Sappy (Smart Sessions) (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DGC/Sub Pop - 2011)
4.  Here She Comes Now (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DGC/Sub Pop - 2011)
5.  Smells Like Teen Spirit (Live) (From The Muddy Banks of the Wishkah - DGC - 1996)
6.  In Bloom (Smart Studio Sessions) (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DGC/Sub Pop - 2011)
7.  Come As You Are (Live) (Live At Reading - DGC - 2009)
8.  Breed (Devonshire Mix) (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DGC/Sub Pop - 2011)
9.  Lithium (Smart Studio Sessions) (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DCG/Sub Pop - 2011)
10. [New Wave] Polly (Incesticide - DGC/Sub Pop - 1992)
11. Territorial Pissings (Boombox Rehearsals) (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DGC/Sub Pop - 2011)
12. Drain You (4-Track Demo) (With The Lights Out - DGC - 2004)
13. Lounge Act (Live) (Live At Reading - DGC - 2009)
14. Pay To Play (DGC Rarities: Volume 1 - DGC - 1994)
15. On A Plain (Live) (Live At The Paramount - DGC - 2011)
16. Something In The Way (BBC Session) (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DGC/Sub Pop - 2011)
17. Curmudgeon (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DGC/Sub Pop - 2011)
18. Even In His Youth (Nevermind Deluxe Edition - DGC/Sub Pop - 2011)
19. Verse Chorus Verse (Outtake) (With The Lights Out - DGC - 2004)
20. Old Age (Outtake) (With The Lights Out - DGC - 2004)
21. Molly's Lips (Hormoaning EP - DGC/Sub Pop - 1992)
22. Turn Around (Hormoaning EP - DGC/Sub Pop - 1992)
23. Anuerysm (Hormoaning EP - DGC/Sub Pop - 1992)
24. Endless, Nameless (Live) (Live At The Paramount - DGC - 2011)

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the September 25 file to download/stream the episode.

Show 900 (Originally Aired On September 18th, 2021)(Albums of 1991 Special):

1.  My Bloody Valentine - When You Sleep (Loveless - Creation Records/Sire/Warner Bros. Records - 1991)
2.  Slint - Nosferatu Man (Spiderland - Touch And Go - 1991)
3.  Jesus Lizard - Mouth Breather (Goat - Touch And Go - 1991)
4.  Drive Like Jehu - Atom Jack (Drive Like Jehu - Headhunter Records - 1991)
5.  Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Hey, Hey, My My (Into The Black) (Weld - Reprise Records - 1991)
6.  Soundgarden - Somewhere (Badmotorfinger - A&M - 1991)
7.  Eric's Trip - Warm Girl (Warmgirl - Derivative Records - 1991 - recorded & mixed in 1991)
8.  13 Engines - Abandoned (A Blur To Me Now - Capitol Records/EMI Records Canada - 1991)
9.  Pixies - Alec Eiffel (Trompe Le Monde - 4AD - 1991)
10. Teenage Fanclub - What Do You Want Me To Do (Bandwagonesque - Creation Records/DGC Records - 1991)
11. Matthew Sweet - I've Been Waiting (Girlfriend - Zoo Entertainment/BMG Music - 1991)
12. R.E.M. - Near Wild Heaven (Out of Time - Warner Bros. Records - 1991)
13. Copyright - Dust (Circle C - Geffen Records - 1991)
14. Throwing Muses - Golden Thing (The Real Ramona - 4AD - 1991)
15. Julian Cope - Promised Land (Peggy Suicide - Island Records - 1991)
16. Eric's Trip - Too Perfect (Catepillars EP - Self Released - 1991)
17. Dinosaur Jr. - Blowing It (Green Mind - Sire - 1991)
18. Mercury Rev - Coney Island Cyclone (Yerself is Steam - Rough Trade - 1991)
19. Rheostatics - Chanson les Ruelles (Melville - Intrepid Records - 1991)
20. Sebadoh - Kath (III - Homestead Records - 1991)
21. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Exit From Vince Lombardi High School (Dim The Lights Chill The Ham - Cargo Records - 1991)
22. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Rover & Rusty (Music For Pets EP - K - 1991)
23. Spacemen 3 - Just To See You Smile (Ochestral Mix) (Recurring - Fire Records/RCA - 1991)
24. Fugazi - Long Division (Steady Diet of Nothing - Dischord Records - 1991)
25. The Tragically Hip - The Last of the Unplucked Gems (Road Apples - MCA Records - 1991)
26. Swans - Blind (White Light From The Mouth of Infinity - Young God Records - 1991)
27. Vampire Rodents - Friktion (War Music - Dossier - 1991)
28. Slowdive - Brighter (Just for a Day - Creation Records - 1991)
29. Nomeansno -Valley of the Blind (0 + 2 = 1 - Alternative Tentacles - 1991)
30. The Smashing Pumpkins - Crush (Gish - Caroline Records - 1991)

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the September 18 file to download/stream the episode.

Show 899 (Originally Aired On September 11th, 2021)(Charlie Watts & Lee "Scratch" Perry Tribute):

1.  The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash (Live)
2.  The Rolling Stones - Shake Your Hips
3.  The Rolling Stones - Little By Little
4.  The Rolling Stones - Can't You Hear Me Knocking
5.  Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters - Kojak
6.  Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters - Return of Django
7.  Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters - Three In One
8.  Lee "Scratch" Perry - Big Neck Police
9. Gemstones - Perfect
10. Breeze - Our Scene
11. Slim Twig - Stone Rollin'
12. U.S. Girls - Jack
13. Colleen Green - It's Nice To Be Nice
14. Low - More
15. John Lennon - It's So Hard
16. John Lennon - Crippled Inside
17. Generation X - Gimme Some Truth
18. Patti Smith (feat. Tony Shanahan) - Oh Yoko (Live)
19. Willie Dunn - Pontiac
20. Willie Thrasher - Eskimo Named Johnny
21. Ron Leary - I Was Born
22. Jesse Fellows - Dead Gone Parade
23. Anxious Pleasers - Errand Boy
24. Mononegatives - Circuits In View
25. Mononegatives - Trauma
26. Knoxville Girls - That's Alright With Me
27. Sloks - A Knife In Your Hand

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the September 11 file to download/stream the episode.

Show 898 (Originally Aired On September 4th, 2021)(September Surf Special):

1.  The Chantays - Wayward Nile
2.  The Astronauts - Hot Doggin'
3.  The Pastel Six - Hot Dogger
4.  Wes Dakus & The Rebels - Dog Food
5.  Wes Dakus & The Rebels - Surf's U Rite
6.  Messer Chups - Dolphin Hill
7.  Bloodshot Bill - Gaggle Waggle
8.  New Shaker Sex Addicts - Too Early For Breakfast
9.  La Luz - Sunstroke
10. Shoobies - Dare
11. The Kilaueas & Surfer Joe - Surf Party
12. Huevos Rancheros - Jezebel
13. Makeout Videotape - Slush Puppy Love
14. Charlie and The Moonhearts - Thunderbeast
15. The Reverb Syndicate - Better Dancing Through Technology
16. The Langhorns - In Your Fez
17. The Centurians - Bullwinkle
18. The Centurions - Bullwinkle Pt II
19. Link Wray - Summer Dream
20. Baby Giant - High Tide
21. James O-L & The Villians - Kill The Devil
22. The Gories - Nautiloid Reef
23. Stereo Donkey - Tune From The Rangoon
24. The Gnarly Ones - The Storm Catcher
25. The Calrizians - Card Player, Gambler
26. Los Straitjackets - Hombre
27. Swami John Reis and the Blind Shake - Sets of Fire
28. Stereophonic Space - Unlimited Just Wastin' Time
29. The Mel-Tones - In Praise of Lime
30. Mark Malibu & The Wasagas - Boogie Board
31. Atomicos - Left Coast
32. Chuck (Big Guitar) Ernest with the Satellite Band - Blue Oasis
33. The Akulas - L'amour Chaud
34. The Bell Peppers - Bell Pepper Hop

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the September 4 file to download/stream the episode.

An Interview With Don Pyle of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet & Show # 656

At some point in the mid-90s, I have a memory of watching television. It was later at night and the show, which had a strange and edgy comedy style was on CBC television. This show was The Kids In The Hall. Aside from the KITH comedy stylings, I remember experiencing the music on this show. I later found out that an instrumental rock band did the music for this show from Canada called Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet. The theme song of this show was another story. “Having An Average Weekend” has its own effect within the context of the show. It has a nostalgic feeling. It tapped into a sense of boredom and a sense of excitement, despite being recorded in 1985 way before the KITH TV show. Perhaps it was the style of bass playing on the song or the way the guitar weaved in-between the drums and bass. Whatever it was, it worked well.

Shadowy Men On A Shadow Planet got their start in Calgary. The band had its origins in punk. Both bassist Reid Diamond and guitarist Brian Connelly were in a band called Buick McKane. They reconnected with future drummer Don Pyle after moving to Toronto and played briefly in his Toronto punk act, Crash Kills Five. This band split in 1981 after releasing the What Do You Do At Night? EP. It’s also interesting to note that Don was the singer in this band and when Pyle, Diamond and Connelly started playing together as a band, Don hadn’t really played drums before. Regardless, the band started playing as an instrumental rock band after their intended singer stopped playing with them. With neither member wanting to take the lead vocal role, the band adapted, continuing as a three-piece and started playing instrumentally. Their sound is often hard to describe since they combined multiple styles at once to keep things interesting. However, in the process the chemistry of the band created something unplanned and totally unique.

The band adopted a DIY aesthetic and released several singles and EPs starting with 1985’s appropriately titled, Love Without Words EP. The band was also featured on numerous compilation albums, which in part helped them connect to a burgeoning underground network of independent music during the mid-80s/early 90s time period. The band toured extensively in North America and were one of the first Canadian bands to record for BBC DJ John Peel’s radio program. Their first album, Savvy Show Stoppers was itself a compilation album. Compiled of early singles from the band, it was originally released in 1988 by Glass Records in the UK. The band’s next album, Dim The Lights Chill The Ham was released in 1991 via Cargo Records. This was the band’s first proper album (since Savvy Show Stoppers was a collection of earlier singles). It was produced by Coyote Shivers and showed the Shadowy Men stepping out from the shadow cast by reviewers claiming that they were just a surf band. This album brought forth, a collection of quirky song titles and a potent mixture of styles.

In 1993, the band released Sport Fishin’: The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Bait, an album recorded by Steve Albini in Chicago. This would wind up being the last full-length album from Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet.  This album found the band beefing up their production, with a heavier sound and combining elements of surf, jazz, rock and western-styled music, in addition to their other influences. The band split in 1996 and the various members went on to perform in other groups/projects. Among them were Atomic 7 and Phonocomb (a band that also featured Dallas Good of The Sadies). In 2001, bassist Reid Diamond passed away after a battle with cancer. In 2012, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet reunited to celebrate the reissue of their 1988 album, Savvy Show Stoppers. Dallas Good filled in for Reid Diamond on bass. The band continues to play live sporadically. Yep Roc Records re-issued all three of Shadowy Men On A Shadow Planet’s albums in 2016, which followed the 2016 box set, Oh, I Guess We’re A Fucking Surf Band After All…

What Wave magazine featured an early article on the band in 1986: “Their trebly, over reverbed riffs may be borrowed from early 60's surf bands, but the delivery certainly is not. No, the songs are aggressive, just meat on the bones delivery that is influenced by the late 70's punk movement.” Regardless of how you want to describe them, this instrumental rock band is still being talked about more than thirty years after their formation. Their music is still like a great late night TV discovery. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet found clarity among fans in the static waves of the mid 80s/early 90s and today still find themselves drifting through the digital waves of modern music with that same sense of nostalgia, excitement and chemistry that made us love them in the first place.

Check out my interview with Don Pyle here:



An Instrumental Playlist:

1. La Luz - Phantom Feelings
2. The Gories - Nautiloid Reef (Live on CJAM 1989)
3. The Challengers - Red River Rock

SURFPHONY OF DERSTRUCTION 2000 SEGMENT WITH DERK BRIGANTE

4. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Tired Of Waking Up Tired
5. The Ramblin' Ambassadors - Standoff At Calf Robe Bridge
6. Stories From Shamehill - Kahuna Haha
7. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Egypt Texas
8. The Tsunamibots - Robots Improving Robots
9. Toxic Mutants - Surf Machine

10. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Big Saxophone Lie
11. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Big Baby

DON PYLE INTERVIEW PT 1

12. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Three Piece Suit
13. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Hunter S. Thompson's Younger Brother

DON PYLE INTERVIEW PT 2

14. Phono-comb - The Crass and The Switchblade
19. The Sadies - Clam Chowder
16. The Pistolrays - Long Way From Silver City
17. Minutemen - Cohesion
18. The 427's - Tijuana Sunset
19. The Cramps - I’m Cramped (Original Mix)
20. The Rumblers - Boss
21. The Bell Peppers - Doin’ The Moon Freak

To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for February 25.

Coming Up On Revolution Rock in 2017!

It’s February which means that throughout this month Revolution Rock will devote each episode that airs in February to theme based programming. Dave and co-host Adam have special programming lined up ranging from folk to blues, soul, punk and surf. This year’s themed month programming starts off on February 4th with a program focusing on Windsor born artist, Skip Spence. Revolution Rock airs every Saturday from 7-9 PM on CJAM 99.1 FM in Windsor/Detroit. It can be streamed via cjam.ca and be downloaded via the very same website afterwards.

Here is the scheduled line up:

Skip’s Song: The Music of Alexander Lee “Skip” Spence
February 4th, 2016
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

Alexander Lee “Skip” Spence was born in Windsor, Ontario on April 14th, 1946. In the late 1950s, Spence’s family relocated to San Jose, California. In the 60s, Skip Spence became involved in the San Francisco psychedelic music scene. He was an early member of the Quicksilver Messenger Service and despite being a guitarist, was asked to be the drummer in pioneering psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane. Although he played on the band’s 1966 debut album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off and had a few writing credits with the band, he was not in the band long. Shortly after he returned to guitar and co-founded Moby Grape. Despite the attraction and interest in the three-guitar driven psychedelia that was Moby Grape, the band never really took off in the mainstream. Following a mix of drugs, bad trips and an incident with a fire ax, Skip Spence was committed to Bellevue. He was diagnosed as a Schizophrenic and six months later he drove to Nashville on his motorcycle to record what was to become his only solo album, Oar. On Oar he wrote and performed all of the music. This episode will focus on the music of Oar, which is primarily folk and country driven, along with outtakes, covers and selections from Moby Grape and Jefferson Airplane.

On Campus with John Lee Hooker: Revolution Rock Celebrates Black History Month
February 11th, 2016
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

Born in Mississippi in 1912, John Lee Hooker was an American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter. After working a variety of factory jobs during World War II, John Lee Hooker moved to Detroit when he got a job at the Ford Motor Company. He became immersed in the Detroit music scene, playing bars and blues clubs. Hooker would record a large amount of music during his long career, often recording under different names for different labels and reworking his songs. With a song style based on the Delta blues, he incorporated elements of North Mississippi Hill country blues, talking blues and piano driven boogie-woogie music. As a result, Hooker came up with his own rhythmic style. In 1963, he released On Campus. Recorded in Chicago over two sessions, the album was comprised of originals that were made to sound like a live recording. Also released under two other titles (I Want To Shout The Blues and Big Band Blues) on different labels, On Campus is an example of one of the perhaps lesser known recordings that John Lee Hooker produced. Revolution Rock will feature selections from this 1963 release along with selections from other artists to celebrate Black History Month. Also featured on the program will be guest host Graeme Sylvio of CJAM FM’s Sylvio & Soul program.

L.A.M.F.: Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers Radio Special
February 18th, 2016
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers were formed following the demise of the New York Dolls by Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan. Originally a three-piece band with Richard Hell, the band became a four-piece when Hell left the band and they added guitarist Walter Lure and bassist Billy Rath. They released L.A.M.F. in October of 1977 on Track Records after taking part in the infamous Anarchy Tour in 1976. However, by the time the album was released, the band had broken up. The album itself was plagued by a muddy sound causing it to not receive the recognition it should have at the time. While some thought that maybe it could be the mixing of the album that caused this, it was later revealed that the mastering process of the album muddied up the sound. As a result drummer Jerry Nolan quit the band and for many years, the greatness of one of the most raw rock albums from this era lay hidden underneath waves of muddy sound. In 1994, after going through multiple mixes created on master reels, Jungle Records released L.A.M.F.: The Lost 77 Mixes, a version of the album that restored not only the sound of the album’s intent, but also one that matched up to the band’s live status. In 2012, Jungle Records released L.A.M.F.: The Definitive Edition, a box set compiling demos, the original mix of L.A.M.F. (with the muddiness removed) and alternate mixes. This episode will feature demos dating back to the Heartbreakers days when Richard Hell was still in the band, differing versions of the album, alternate mixes and other rarities focusing on the album that would be known as L.A.M.F.

Revolution Surf: The 11th Edition: An Interview with Don Pyle of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet
February 25th, 2016
7-9 PM
CJAM 99.1 FM (www.cjam.ca)

This year marks the 11th edition of Revolution Surf, a program made up entirely of surf and instrumental music. This year’s episode will feature an exclusive interview with Don Pyle of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet. Beginning in 1984, this band released several DIY singles, were on several compilation albums, soundtracks and would provide their song “Having An Average Weekend” as the theme song to the Canadian sketch comedy show The Kids In The Hall. The band also provided music for each episode of the show and released three full-length albums before their split in 1996. Tune in for this very special episode of Revolution Rock, as we talk with Don Pyle and play a selection of surf and instrumental music from the past and present. Also, featured on this episode will be another guest segment from Derk of The Surfphony of Derstruction 2000, which airs on surfrockradio.com!

Savvy Show Stoppers...The Story of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet...Show # 185 (Surf Show)

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet were a Canadian band that formed in 1984. The group had three members Reid Diamond on bass, Brian connelly on guitar, and Don Pyle on drums. The group mixed styles of surf, punk, and were an instrumental group. Throughout the 1980's the group released a series of EP's and in 1989 one of their songs "Having An Average Weekend" was used for the Canadian TV comedy show Kids in the Hall. In 1990, Savvy Show Stoppers was released, it was a collection of their early singles. In 1991 the band released their second full length album Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham. It offered more variety than the bands previous releases. In 1993 Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook came out. The album was also produced by Steve Albini and once again took the band into another direction, while still having elements of surf. The album had a more diverse sound than the bands previous releases.

In 1996, the group split up and went into different directions. Diamond and Pyle went on to form another instrumental group called Phono-Comb, while Connelly went on to play with Atomic 7 and the garage rock trio The Heatseekers. The group are known for being a great Canadian (from Toronto) surf/instrumental rock band, they are identified as doing the theme song for the TV show Kids in the Hall, but were much more than that. In 1992, the group also won a Juno Award for Instrumental artist of the year. In 2001, Reid Diamond passed away due to cancer. For more information on Shadowy Men, Atomic 7, Phono-Comb, and all their side/after projects visit The Shadowy Site on a Shadowy Web.

This week I did a show consisting entirely of Surf rock style songs. It was the fourth week of the I Am Collecting Beautiful Things variety challenge, which means for four weeks, I was not to play the same artist twice; The host of the show will not play the same artist all year! I previously did a surf rock and garage rock show last February and this February it was entirely surf and surf influenced material. I would also like to mention that I have a new banner that was excellently designed by Greg Maxwell, he has a website called The Ugly Vision. 

Surf Play List:

1. Ventures - Walk Don't Run '64
2. Beach Boys - Moon Dawg
3. The Vistas - Moon Relay
4. Avengers VI - Heartbeat
5. The Phantoms - XL-3
6. Chevells - Riptide
7. New Dimensions - Cat on a Hot Foam Board
8. Goldtones - Strike
9. Tommy & The Hustlers - Diggin' Out
10. April March - Chick Habit
11. Torpedoes - Bustin' Surfboards
12. Spring Break Shark Attack! - Blood Ocean
13. Shadowy Men On a Shadowy Planet - Our weapons are Useless
15. The Beans - Surfs Up
16. Metalunas - Balistic Bikini
17. Atomic 7 - Chock Full O' Notes
18. Ramonetures - Rockaway Beach
19. The Cocktail Preachers - Rudie Can't Fail
20. The Glasgow Tiki Shakers - Garageland
21. Rna - Spanish Bombs
22. Urban Surf Kings - Clampdown
23. The Anacondas - Guns of Brixton
24. The 5.6.7.8’s - Cat Fight Run
25. Challengers - Our Man Flint
26. Bobby Fuller - Our Favorite Martian
27. Lively Ones - Surf Rider
28. Surf Trio - Beach Genius
29. Mach Kung-Fu - Singapore
30. The Chantays - Pipeline
31. Dick Dale & His Del-Tones - Banzi Wash Out