oh messy life

Oh Messy Life – April 27, 2023 Show Notes

Track 1: Dania – I Lied

From the KZSU A-File

Track 2: Cicada – Birds and Moist Pine Needles

I think I heard about this one over on Mastodon.

Track 3: Angel Olsen – Time Bandits

I found her previous album, Big Time, via the KZSU A-File. This is from a four song release, Forever Means, apparently of tracks from the Big Time recording sessions.

Track 4: Issei Herr – Prelude (An Eternity of Light)

I found this one via the Foxy Digitalis online music zine.

Track 5: yaz lancaster – of neither water nor land

From the AmethYst release from this New York based artist.

Track 6: Michael Baird & Ton van Dort – Banana Login

Found via BandCamp promo email.

Track 7: Coco Bryce – Kohaku

I first heard Coco Bryce by way of an Australian drum’n’bass fan I started following on Mastodon

Track 8: Pekodjinn – Tektheb

Another track from the Dharba ablum from Pekodjinn.

Track 9: Goat – Under No Nation (12″ Extended Dance Mix by John Mark Lapham)

The groove on this one just caught my ear.

Track 10: 3Phaz – Sharayet

Can’t remember where I found this one.

Track 11: Xiu Xiu – Maybae Baeby

From their Ignore Grief album.

Track 12: Lucrecia Dalt – La Desmesura

Another track off of my favorite release of 2022, ¡Ay!

Track 13: Ritmos Tropicosmos – La Mujer del Agua

A slightly more downtempo track from this local psychedelic cumbia band.

Track 14: Papercuts – Sinister Smile

Another local artist, with a track from their Past Life Regression release on Slubmerland Records.

Track 15: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – Dooley’s Farm

One more from the KZSU A-File.

Oh Messy Life – April 21, 2023 Show Notes

Today’s radio show is dedicated to the memory of former KZSU DJ Gilbert Giron, known on the airwaves as Theresa the Freakboy. All the music I played was inspired by the sounds of Gilbert’s radio program, The Freakshow.

My first memory of Gilbert is from just before I became a KZSU DJ. I had finished college in Ohio and moved in with my Grandma in Redwood City, who had a whole house to herself and always welcomed guests. I started working a random temp job in Foster City, taking Caltrain back and forth. One morning, on my way to the train station, I saw that someone had put up fliers on every single telephone pole all the way around Sequoia High School for a show in Palo Alto featuring a band called The Donnas.

Admiring the unknown promoters dedication, I decided to go to the show. It turned out to be in a community center auditorium, I think an indoor basketball court with a stage at one end? Most of the crowd seemed to be high school kids. Over to the side I spotted two older guys, one with shorter blond hair and another wearing a long coat with long black hair. I didn’t know who they were at the time, but that was going to change.

At the end of the show I took a flier from a high-school girl / KZSU DJ who was trying to organize a 924 Gilman Street style collective for the West Bay, which eventually led to me applying for a radio show at KZSU, but that’s another story for another time. Jumping ahead to the Summer of 1997, I started my first show at the station, Saturday nights at midnight.

Back then the station had weekly staff meetings and I soon met a whole cast of characters. Among them was a tall, soft spoken DJ with super long hair who filled the late night airwaves with an amazing mix of psyche, punk, and noise all jumbled together. If a song had a certain quirky attitude, distortion, or messed up vibe, Gilbert would work it into his radio show.

Back then, before the first dot com boom, the peninsula was a different place. It was possible for someone to make do working a record store or book store job, get an apartment with two other radio DJs, and spend their spare time going to shows and hanging out at the radio station, playing weird music all night until the sun came up.

Along with with fellow DJ and roommate The Big Chief, Gilbert used to record the weekly concert calendar, back when that meant reel-to-reel tape and cart machines. I have memories of the two of them spending hours in Studio B announcing upcoming shows and editing tapes. For extra flair they had a voice changing toy and would add a third “voice” to the concert calendar, “The Little Man.” On days where there weren’t any local concerts to announce they’d throw in a fictional show “On Thursday, Tony plays with himself” a running gag at the expense of their third roommate. (Rest In Peace Big Ant.)

Then times changed. The music industry changed with the rise of mp3s and digital downloads. The West Bay changed with wave after wave of tech company start ups gobbling up everything. And the radio station changed as DJs came and went. Eventually Gilbert was one of the DJs who left. And now comes the news that he has passed away. Rest in peace Gilbert, and thank you for all the amazing radio shows and good times.

Track 1: Sun Ra – Heliocentric

Starting of with a classic track from one of Gilbert’s favorite artists.

Track 2: Lee Perry – Megaton Dub

Adding a bit of space with the magic dub stylings of Lee ‘Scracth’ Perry.

Track 3: Spiritualized – Electricity

Then amping up for the blissed out rock sounds of Spiritualized.

Track 4: Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band – Electricity

Making things weirder with none other than Captain Beefheart himself, I always loved the intensity of this live version.

Track 5: Brentwoods – Everybody Buri Buri

One of the most distinctive sounding bands from that 90s garage rock revival, this one is stuck in my memory as definitive of that era down at KZSU.

Track 6: the Dukes of Hamburg – Que Sera

A Russel Quan band featuring another one of Gilbert’s KZSU DJ pals, Dr Sauce!

Track 7: Ragady Anne – Freakshow

Straight out of Palo Alto, from their first 7″ put out by KZSU DJ Johnny Mags.

Track 8: Monster Magnet – Snake Dance

Big Chief passed along a list of a few of Gilbert’s bands and this was one I managed to work into the show.

Track 9: Unsane – Slag

Another recommendation from Big Chief.

Track 10: Spazz – Loach

It’s Spazz. Nuff said!

Track 11: High Rise – Wipe Out

So many noisy Japanese psyche rock bands to try and choose from, I ended up going with High Rise.

Track 12: Butthole Surfers – Dust Devil

Hard to beat the Butthole Surfers for all around messed up sounding vibes.

Track 13: Dopestyle 1231 – BuildDestroy

Something fun and noisy from another KZSU contemporary of Gilbert’s, MC Dopestyle.

Trak 14: Shizuo – Sweat

I was looking for a track to continue the energy of the Dopestyle cut and this came to mind.

Track 15: Sun Ra – Where Pathways Meet

A little more Sun Ra for good measure.

Track 16: Spacemen 3 – Honey

And closing things out with the Spacemen 3.

Oh Messy Life – April 14, 2023 Show Notes

Track 1: Jake Xerxes Fussell – What Did the Hen Duck Say to the Drake?

This one went through the KZSU A-File a little while ago, but I didn’t manage to work it into the show until now.

Track 2: Suss – Heat Haze

From the KZSU A-File

Track 3: WB Presents the Carnival Kids with certone – Ken Ho

A collaboration with former KZSU DJ Pig In A Blanket on guitar and certone on tape loops, found on the 02 release from certone.

Track 4: YOLE BOYS – FADANGLA’S LAST PRAYER

From the new release, Saran Twister Bump Tape, out on Megakut records.

Track 5: Japhy Riddle – Middle Beast

According to the liner notes, this was created using a software called JamLoopy running on an Atari 2600.

Track 6: Kilynn Lunsford – No Disabuse

Another track from the Custodians Of Human Succession release, which I first heard over on Creamo Coyl’s show on WFMU.

Track 7: CCCRRCCSSLLRRKKRRSSS – GIRL MIAMI (LATENT VOCAL)

The full release is available from Megakut, with a shorter version on cassete out via Spareorgan.

Track 8: Roughneck Jihad & DJ Pnutz – Female Circumcision ft.cuts by Waxsmith

I really dug their previous collaboration, General Jihad & Prime Minister P​-​Nutz, so I was stoked to hear they had a new release out, titled Fresh Becomes Her.

Track 9: Dur-Dur Band. Int. – Riyo

Something fun from the KZSU A-File.

Track 10: The Bombay Royale – You Me Bullets Love

Found this one via a recommendation on Mastodon.

Track 11: Grex – KD

From their Everything You Said Was Wrong release.

Track 12: Rent Romus’ Actual/Actual – in the middle of it all

From a session recorded at radio station WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Track 13: Leon In The Wild – Fade

From their self titled EP out on Recorded Psychic Readings.

Track 14: Advance Base – Love at the Five & Dime

A Nancy Griffith cover.

Oh Messy Life – April 7, 2023 Show Notes

Track 1: Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru – Tenkou! Why Feel Sorry?

Emahot Tsege Mariam Gebru passed away recently at the age of 99. The Guardian ran an article a few years ago about meeting Emahoy.

Track 2: Wendy Eisenberg – little doggy

I can’t remember where I found this charming little song.

Track 3: The A’s – Why I’m Grieving

I found this one via WFMU’s Heavy Airplay list. And who can resist a cover of the DeZurik Sisters?

Track 4: People Like Us – Soggy Style (w/ Ergo Phizmiz)

From an upcoming release, Sharity! Selected Works of People Like Us, the first retrospective for People Like Us since 2002.

Track 5: Early Fern – Radiant Mist

Found via the Foxy Digitalis online music magazine.

Track 6: 4mación – Monzogranite

4mación is a Los Angeles based composer and computer music performer.

Track 7: Flock – In C (Short Version)

Found this via Bandcamp promo email.

Track 8: Frankie Rose – DOA

From the new album, Love As Projection, out on Slumberland. It took me a little bit to warm up to this one, but eventually the 80s synth vibes started working for me, reminding me slightly of the soundtrack for Desperately Seeking Susan.

Track 9: Kraus – Into the Mirror

Another find via WFMU’s Heavily Played list.

Track 10: Amir Yaghmai – Training Montague

Not quite sure where I found this one either.

Track 11: A Certain Ratio – Samo

Another Bandcamp promo email find.

Track 12: Langendorf United – Langendorf Arena

Played them a few shows ago and went back for another track.

Track 13: Nyati Mayi & The Astral Synth Transmitters – Jungle Dwarf

The Les Disques Bongo Joe record label continues to have my number.

Track 14: Lucrecia Dalt – No Tiempo

Another track from my favorite album of 2022, ¡Ay!

Oh Messy Life – March 31, 2023 Show Notes

Note: Only the first half of this show aired on KZSU.

Track 1 – The Lost Days – Gonna Have To Tell You

From the album, In The Store. The Lost Days are Tony Molina and Sarah Rose Janko.

Track 2: Tony Molina – Leave This Town

Another track from the In The Fade album. Possibly of interest, the latest issue of Dan Lactose’s zine, 36 Crazy Fists, is all about one of Tony’s other bands, The Ovens.

Track 3: First Aid Kit – Fallen Snow

From the KZSU A-File.

Track 4: Elisapie – Uummati Attanarsimat (Heart of Glass)

I saw someone on Mastodon saying they were in love with this Blondie cover sung in Inuktitut, and after checking it out, I agreed.

Track 5: Citron Citron – Le feu marche avec toi

One of the drawbacks to doing a weekly radio show is the way it cuts into my time for listening to other people’s radio shows. To catch up on what I might have been missing, I took a spin through WFMU’s Heavy Airplay lists and found some gems.

Track 6: Alice – Pense à moi

I played a pre-release track from their L’Oiseau Magnifique album a while back, it looks like the whole thing is available now.

Track 7: Cecile McLorin Salvant – Dame Iseut

From the new album, Mélusine. According to the notes on Bandcamp, this track was translated from Occitan into Haitian Kreyol.

Track 8: Rully Djohan – Bubuj Bulan

I think I found this one via Bandcamp promo email.

Track 9: Chouk Bwa & The Ångstromers – Sala

Another Bandcamp Promo find. The Les Disques Bongo Joe label seems to really have my number lately.

Track 10: Pekodjinn – Khaf

Can’t remember how I found this one, I need to up my note-taking game.

Track 11: YUNIS – Hajar El-Sha’yan

Another discovery via WFMU’s Heavily Played list.

Track 12: Cambodian Space Project – Dance Twist

I saw someone on Mastodon mentioning this.

Track 13: S.G. Goodman – Work Until I Die

From the KZSU A-File, I dig a good song about the evils of capitalism.

Track 14: Sprints – Little Fix

I saw someone on Mastodon mentioning their track Manifesto, so I listened to some more of their back catalog and found this cut.

Track 15: Los Huaycos – Circo de Terror

Off of the new release, Huaycal Descuageringeition, from this Oakland band.

Track 16: Aninoko – Buraot

Another track from their Ugat LP

Track 17: Frisk – Talk

From their split with Last Affront Split on Iron Lung Records.

Track 18: Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – It Hit Me

Another track from the KZSU A File. I was thinking I would try and play something a little closer to dance music to segue into Scott’s radio show, but it turns out the sports schedule meant that only the first half of this show would end up airing on KZSU.

Oh Messy Life – March 17, Show Notes

Only the first half of this show was broadcast on KSZU. Here is the show in its entirety.

Track 1: Rent Romus, Heikki Koskinen, Life’s Blood Ensemble featuring Heikki Laitinen – Itkust iloon (Lament to Joy)

A track from the upcoming Itkuja Suite, invocations on lament, a combination of jazz music with Finish lament songs.

Track 2: Site Nonsite – A Different Kind of Light

From a series of EPs mixing field recordings from Japan with electronic music.

Track 3: Arushi Jain – Look How Far We Have Come

From the KZSU A-File.

Track 4: aún no hija – Achotillo, Pt. 1

I found this one via a recommendation on Mastodon.

Track 5: Zonetech – Artless Ring

From the Passing Shadows EP, brought to you by two thirds of The Vanishing.

Track 6: Rob Mazurek – Future Shaman

Performed by members of the Exploding Star Orchestra.

Track 7: BarryRStock – Vacation Bible School

Another find via Mastodon.

Track 8: San Kazakgascar – Meditations Crushed

More fun stuff from this Sacramento based band.

Track 9: Faun Fables – Hiawatha

The first time I saw Faun Fables perform was at a small basement venue just south of Market street that KZSU’s The Voice of Doom had invited me to. I think Moe!Staiano also played and during his performance poured a garbage can of styrofoam packing peanuts all over the floor, so that anytime anyone in the audience took a step there was the sound of styrofoam crunching. Dawn’s singing was amazing, and mid performance someone from the back of the room began signing along. She looked up for a moment, wondering who it was, and they saw that it was Nils and smiled.

Oh Messy Life – March 17, 2023 Show Notes

Track 1: Bill Orcutt – A Natural Death

A pre-release track from a new album, Jump On It, out in April.

Track 2: Jon Hassell – Adedara Rising (The Living City)

I think I meant to play a live recording of this I saw linked to from Mastodon, but when I went back to look this was the version I could find.

Track 3: Drahla – Lip Sync

New track from a band played regularly by Michele with one L over on WFMU.

Track 4: Jeweled Snakes – Who Do You Think You Are?

Jeweled Snakes are an Oakland band featuring an ex-member of the Phantom Limbs.

Track 5: GHOULA – Drum & Gasba

Checking out another track from this Paris based musician.

Track 6: Lalalar – Simülasyon Terk

From a benefit compilation of Turkish musicians, Solidarity With February 2023 Earthquake Victims, put out by Les Disques Bongo Joe, with proceeds going to benefit the victims of the February Earthquakes.

Track 7: Bakarin Flow – Nani Boy

Another find via the “Afro Jams of the Week” feature over on Passion of the Weiss.

Track 8: Dax Pierson – Keflex

From the Nerve Bumps (A Queer Divine Dissatisfaction) album, which I found via Ratskin records.

Track 9: Dry Cleaning – Sombre Two

An interesting instrumental from a band known for their dry spoken vocals.

Track 10: Cowboy Junkies – Highway Kind

The previous track reminded me of Cowboy Junkies a little bit, so I dug around and found this Townes Van Zandt cover.

Track 11: Dos Santos – Alma Cósmica

Found this one via Bandcamp promotional email.

Track 12: BKO – Maya

Another release from Les Disques Bongo Joe.

Track 13: Brontez Purnell – Forgive Me, Philip

From a long term stalwart of the bay area punk scene.

Track 14: Jenny Scheinman – Run Run Run

Checking out some more songs from Jenny’s back catalog.

Show Notes – Oh Messy Life February 17, 2023

Track 1: Love – My Little Red Book

I fell in love with this song via the soundtrack to Almost Famous. I played it here in honor of it’s composer, Burt Bacharach.

Track 2: Abbie from Mars – Tap Dance Interlude

I saw that Abbie from Mars was playing an event hosted by Stanford’s CCRMA, so I checked out some of her music. Those tap dance classes I took in elementary school meant I had to play this one.

Track 3: Abbie from Mars – Travel

The previous track from this album blended so nicely into this one I decided to play both.

Track 4: Dorothy Ashby – By the Time I Get to Phoenix

My two favorite Dorthy Ashby albums are Afro-Harping and The Rubáiyát Of Dorothy Ashby, so I took a look to see what else she had recorded around that time period and found the amazing Dorothy’s Harp album.

Track 5: Lola Martin – Femme Martinique Dou

I think I found this one via Bandcamp promo email.

Track 6: Orti, Mayorga y Chiriboga – Muñequita Blanca

Another Bandcamp find.

Track 7: Cumbias En Moog – Cumbia Del Sal

I tried to make a history of Cumbia mix a little while ago and came across this mind blowing gem.

Track 8: Real Cumbia Activa – Cumbia Nocturna

One more Bandcamp promo find.

Track 9: Vic Spencer & Small Professor – Pitfall Music (feat. Flee Lord & DJ Revolution)

Someone I follow over on Mastodon went on a big shopping spree last Bandcamp friday, and posted links to all their purchases. This one caught my ear.

Track 10: Sister Nancy – Bam Bam

I saw taht Sister Nancy was touring and had to pull out this all time classic. Still sounds so amazing, some 41 years after it was recorded.

Track 11: YaM – Window

Improvised guitar via this demo from Alex Yeung, guitarist for many many bands including These Bastards, Say Bok Gwai, VOCO, Conquest For Death, Morbid Life Society…

Track 12: Life Without Buildings – The Leanover

I never heard this band when they came out, but I saw some folks on Mastodon chatting about off-kilter lyrics and it caught my ear.

Track 13: Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupul – Esperanto

From the KZSU A-File. Unrelated to this song, I have memories of hearing many many years ago that Mike Lucas from the Phantom Surfers was taking Esperanto classes.

Track 14: Hawaiian T-Shirt – Degradation

Something about the previous track made me think about the Hawaiian T-Shirt song where they yell “Chantelle” over and over, so I went back and listened to more of their stuff.

Track 15: Dumb – 77

Another one from the KZSU A-File

Track 17: The Messthetics – Serpent Tongue

From their earlier release on Discord.

Track 18: Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp – We Can Can We

I’m still very much in love with this band so I dug up another track for this show.

Track 19: Avail – March

Jen Angel, an Ohio zinester and organizer turned publisher turned bay area cupcake baker, recently passed away, and her loss is greatly felt. Many folks have written amazing things about Jen, including this piece from Sam Levin in the Guardian.

My first memory of Jen was attending the 1996 More then Music fest in Columbus which she helped organize. True to the festival name, in between the many bands that played, attendees from the event took a brief ride to join a nearby union picket line, which I always thought was a pretty cool bit of organizing.

Years later, when Jen was publishing Clamor magazine, she came by my day job to talk about the publishing biz. At the end, the conversation turned to music and we both reminisced about that magical time in the 90s where it seemed for a brief moment like all of the strife in the punk/hard-core scene might be solved by a near universal love for the band Avail. So I thought I’d play a track of theirs in her memory.