It’s no secret that I used to consider "John in the Morning" [aka John Richards], KEXP’s vastly overpaid, morning drive time "Star" DJ, an absolute dweeb. Possibly a nice enough guy, but still….
However, after old pal o’ Husker Du Kevin Cole came over from Minneapolis to re-program the station a few years back, it became clear that Mr. Cole was intensely mentoring "Spokane’s Boy Wonder" in The Punk & Postpunk Arts, to such an extent that JR now frequently plays sets like the one below, without any prompting whatever from his "Obi-Wan".
Personally, I say ANY source of The Good Music is to be saluted, no matter from whence it comes, or how late the date!
This set took place while I was in the shower and brushing my teeth on Thursday morn, and jumpstarted the day quite nicely.
In reverse order….
John in the Morning says. . .
The first single from this English band’s fourth studio album.
8:39AM
XTC
Generals and Majors
Black Sea
Released: 1980
(Virgin)
·John in the Morning says. . .
Playing the Crocodile on Mar. 3rd, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. www.tapesntapes.com/
8:36AM
Tapes ‘n Tapes
One in the World
Outside
Released: 2011
(Ibid Records)
·…air break…
·John in the Morning says. . .
Playing Showbox at the Market on Feb. 16th, with Hollerado. www.gangoffour.co.uk/
8:31AM
Gang of Four
You Don’t Have to Be Mad
Content
Released: 2011
(Grönland Records)
8:25AM
Big Black
Kerosene
The Rich Man’s Eight Track Tape
Released: 1987
(Touch & Go)
·John in the Morning says. . .
From Denver, Colorado. Rare Forms is out now! Watch the video: vimeo.com/16400788
8:21AM
Woodsman
Insects
Rare Forms
Released: 2011
(Lefse)
·…air break…
·John in the Morning says. . .
From the band’s 1980 debut album. Bauhaus is generally considered one of the first gothic rock groups.
8:16AM
Bauhaus
In The Flat Field
In The Flat Field
Released: 1980
(4AD)
·John in the Morning says. . .
From the band’s 12th studio album, whcih was released last month. Stay tuned for 2011 tour dates: www.pinkflag.com/
8:12AM
Wire
Moreover
Red Barked Tree
Released: 2011
(Pink Flag)
·…air break…
·John in the Morning says. . .
Championed by John Peel as his all-time favorite song.
8:08AM
The Undertones
Teenage Kicks
The Undertones
Released: 1978
(Good Vibrations)
John in the Morning says. . .
Before The Voidoids, frontman Richard Hell was a member of the Neon Boys, Television, and the Heartbreakers.
8:05AM
Richard Hell & The Voidoids
Blank Generation
Blank Generation
Released: 1977
(Sire)
·John in the Morning says. . .
This track and the song “1969” were relelased as singles from their debut album.
8:02AM
The Stooges
I Wanna Be Your Dog
The Stooges
Released: 1969
(Elektra)
Those first four tracks [8:02 to 8:16am] are quite a "realtime" parlay, in fact it’s difficult to imagine how one might plausibly improve upon them, given the rigidities of even "non-commercial" radio!
And don’t ever forget, this is the very station that banned "dissonant" music during daylight hours in the mid-’90s, and [an even more unforgivable sin] played The Squirrel Nut Zippers incessantly for years! LOL
Anyhow, when credit is due, I do try to bestow it, especially when a formerly-remedial "student" gets wit’ duh program….
Postpunk to the grave,
– Tom Kipp
P.S. For those stuck in offices, streaming KEXP ain’t a bad way to go. www.kexp.org
