OK, here's the scoop as we hang on the edge of June. I seem to be developing a case of "graduation goggles". All of a sudden, I'm feeling wistful about Christmas music (still can't make out the letters on the damn keyboard). I've had readers of the blog and some bands, too, offer to pay to keep the domain active, even if I never post another word. Man, I can't take your money. That ain't right. So I'd already decided to keep the domain paid up myself--at least for a year. And, much as I hate to keep closing and then staying open, there will almost certainly be some music I get excited about. Do not expect anything approaching my usual presence. My posts are likely to be few and far between. I'll do a half-assed job of a list and I'm not going to go out of my way to find the free stuff. I don't plan on buying much of anything and I don't plan on doing any thorough reviews. The P.O. Box is closed, so you can't send me anything and that, at least, is final. I suppose I'll get some digital tracks, but that doesn't mean I'll do anything with them. We'll just see how it goes. If I find myself drowning again, I'll quit...again. Just sayin'. Merry effing Christmas, ya filthy animals. I know I'm going to regret this.
Ah, there's big news tonight.... I forget where that sentence comes from. It was a comedy bit on an LP...possibly Bill Cosby. Anyway...
Some bad news that doesn't affect me in the least and some good news that might.
Rodney Bingenheimer is out at KROQ. His last show will be June 5. Rodney's been holding down the fort of far out music on the Modern Rock L.A. outlet for 41 years...all the way back to 1976. Once upon a time, free form radio ruled the FM airwaves. Tough to find so much as a college station doing it anymore. But a few individuals have had such established cred that stations have given them the freedom to play what they will. Rodney was one of the last of these. He launched more rock acts than you can count. Never mind focus groups and market research, if Rodney liked a record, he'd play it. And while some of these acts might have broken through regardless, its worth noting that Rodney always seems to pop up in their lists of thank you's when they're inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. The Ramones, Blondie, No Doubt, the Bangles, Dramarama, the Regrettes, Barb Wire Dolls, the Atomics--New Wave, Punk, Club, English Disco, Glitter, Glam, Psych, Surf. And Rodney was one of the few, anywhere in the country, who would play a small regional release record, whether the group was local or thousands of miles away.
It's sad that Rodney on the ROQ is coming to an end. But I don't live in California so my life ain't changing in the least.
Some bad news that doesn't affect me in the least and some good news that might.
Rodney Bingenheimer is out at KROQ. His last show will be June 5. Rodney's been holding down the fort of far out music on the Modern Rock L.A. outlet for 41 years...all the way back to 1976. Once upon a time, free form radio ruled the FM airwaves. Tough to find so much as a college station doing it anymore. But a few individuals have had such established cred that stations have given them the freedom to play what they will. Rodney was one of the last of these. He launched more rock acts than you can count. Never mind focus groups and market research, if Rodney liked a record, he'd play it. And while some of these acts might have broken through regardless, its worth noting that Rodney always seems to pop up in their lists of thank you's when they're inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. The Ramones, Blondie, No Doubt, the Bangles, Dramarama, the Regrettes, Barb Wire Dolls, the Atomics--New Wave, Punk, Club, English Disco, Glitter, Glam, Psych, Surf. And Rodney was one of the few, anywhere in the country, who would play a small regional release record, whether the group was local or thousands of miles away.
It's sad that Rodney on the ROQ is coming to an end. But I don't live in California so my life ain't changing in the least.
BUT.... we obsessive Christmas music collectors know Rodney mostly from the late 90s collection, "Santa's Got A GTO". Truthfully, I bought the CD exclusively because it included Wednesday Week's "Christmas Here", one of my all time favorite Christmas tunes I first heard on the original Midnight collection. I'd worn through the grooves of the record on that one and was happy to find it on a CD. A lot of the rest of that CD I also already owned (in one format or another). But, for other's who started a bit later than I did, "Santa's Got A GTO" became a staple of their Alt Rock holiday library. Even a couple of great Hanukkah tunes on that CD...like Velouria's "Til Next Hanukkah". Jigsaw Seen's indispensable version of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is on there. So are the Ramonas, Redd Kross, the Boss Martians and the wonderful Wondermints.
And, now that Rodney is out at ROQ, he's got lots of pots cooking on the stove, most of which he can't or won't talk about yet. But one that he does feel free to mention is "Santa's Got A GTO, Vol. 2"! Let me say that again, but bigger...
And, now that Rodney is out at ROQ, he's got lots of pots cooking on the stove, most of which he can't or won't talk about yet. But one that he does feel free to mention is "Santa's Got A GTO, Vol. 2"! Let me say that again, but bigger...
"SANTA'S GOT A GTO: RODNEY ON THE ROQ'S FAV X-MAS SONGS, VOL. 2"
I mean, it's been 20 years. I think we were about due. It's early, so we don't have a lot of details. We don't know for sure that it will drop this year, at this point, but I'd think it likely since he brought it up. And, so far, we only know for sure that the album will include The Donnas and The Dolly Rots (ooh, lots of good potential picks, there, though I hereby put in my vote for "Because I'm Santa". Love that tune.). But you cruise the Rodney on the ROQ playlists at the KROQ website and get an idea of what he's been playing at Christmas lately. I've tossed up a few tunes for a taste, here, if you don't want to click through, though you shouldn't presume that I would know what's going to be on the CD. Gotta say, though, if you were trying to shoehorn your way on there, it probably doesn't hurt to include the dude in the song title, as the Barbarellatones did...
UPDATE (6/1/17): A more recent interview with Rodney confirms that the Woolly Bandits (above) will be on the record. He also mentions C.J. Ramone and Franky & The Studs. The album will be released on Gearhead Records.
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