Self Help Radio 041624: Providence

(original image of Providence by David Wilson here)

This week's show - which has the theme "providence" - turned out to be more about the town of Providence, Rhode Island, rather than the "providence" that means "divine guidance & care." But of course the founders of Providence, Rhode Island, named it because they felt settling their was part of their god's "merciful providence." Could it be that both meanings apply? Is a show about providence which features mostly songs about Providence still about providence since it was named for that kind of providence?

Does it matter? Naw. It's just something to write about because I got space to fill. I was thinking of counting which songs were about the town & which were about the supernatural stuff. But I didn't. Maybe you can make a game of it?

Listen to the show when you want at the Self Help Radio website. Make sure you use the combo SHR/selfhelp to access. Or you can listen on the KBOO website. Your choice. It's a couple hours long, you can see all the songs & interviews below.

Now I need to go visit Providence again!

Self Help Radio Providence Show

"Providence" King Crimson _Red_

introduction & definitions

"Providence Help The Poor People (with Henry Townsend)" Big Joe Williams _Big Joe Williams & The Stars Of Mississippi Blues_

"Lake Providence Blues" The Harlem Hamfats _Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol. 1_

"A Letter To The People Of Providence (1648)" Wallace House _The Patriot Plan: Growth Of Human Rights In Colonial America_

"Providence" Sonic Youth _Daydream Nation_

"Providence" Morphine _Postcards From America (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)_

interview with Providence mayor Rene Ingersoll

"Providence" Jack Frost _Jack Frost_

"Providence" The Rosemarys _Providence_

"Providence" The Love Language _The Love Language_

"Providence & Bourbon" Girl Haggard _Country & Eastern_

interview with president of the Providence Chamber Of Commerce Robert Insley

"Providence Girls" The RI Love Song Warriors _Rhode Island Girls_

"East Providence Girls" The RI Love Song Warriors _Rhode Island Girls_

"Providence" Buddha On The Moon _The Last Autumn Day_

"Providence" Snoozer _Winter Stops All Sound EP_

"Providence" Earth Heart _Homesick_

interview with Father Richard Icke of the Providence diocese

"Providence" Duchess _Duchess_

"Providence" The Manhattan Love Suicides _The Manhattan Love Suicides_

"Providence" Pujol _United States Of Being_

"Full Faith In Providence" Villagers _Fever Dreams_

interview with my friend Reggie Innes, who's never visited Providence

"Providence, RI" Nickel Eye _The Time Of The Assassins_

"Providence" Cheerleader _Almost Forever_

"Ghost Of Providence Pt. 1" Bike Thief _Ghost Of Providence_

"Providence Portal" Annie Hamilton _The Future Is Here But It Feels Kinda Like The Past_

conclusion & goodbye

"Providence" Harpeth Rising _Shifted_

"Providence" Purple Ivy Shadows _White Electric_

Whither Providence?

(In Providence, they like to set the water on fire. Image from here.)

One of the things I'm very happy about is that no one - seriously no one - cares enough about this show to ask me, "Say, why is that your theme this week?" Even the folks with whom I make the fake interviews, who improvise based on the theme, wonder to me, "Why is the theme this week that?"

Please don't think I'm accusing anyone of being incurious or apathetic - I'm certain outside of a listener accidentally tuning in or my funny friends being funny, & with them even barely that, there are vanishingly few people besides me who even think of Self Help Radio. 

& most certainly I am not complaining. I do my level best to make as good a show as I can every week & if the best attention or interest my best efforts can garner is virtually no one thinking or caring about the show, what else can I do? Luckily I make the show mostly for me.

But also luckily it means that when there are times when I have a theme - like providence - & don't entirely remember why I chose the theme, I know it will frustrate no one because, as I've said, no one really cares. Did I pick a theme because of a city I visited? Or because of the challenge - are there two hours worth of songs I like about providence? Or something else? I simply don't know. & am not worried about saying so because, after all, who gives a shit? Nobody!

& that's about the number of folks who'll tune in tonight from midnight to 3am on 90.7fm in Portland & at kboo dot fm everywhere, even Providence, Rhode Island, where the river is on fire!

Preface To Providence: Hey, I've Been To Providence!

(a snapshot of Providence from Gurgle Merps)

It's true! In the fall of 1997, I accompanied two folks from KVRX to Providence for the NACB conference there. I believe it was November. It was snowing in Providence. We didn't do much sightseeing. I think we walked over to Brown University - it was closed but what were we going to do, sit in on a class?

We were a little bored so I paid for the three of us to go up to Boston to meet some people I knew from a Usenet group. It was cold in Boston but no snow. I enjoyed the train ride up there, & seeing Harvard, but remember virtually nothing about the experience. Here's a picture of me in Boston:

Look at me, clean shaven (ish) with cigarette in hand!

One nice memory of Providence was, the first night there, bar-hopping near the hotel & the places being packed. & asking someone where we could get something to eat & being told there was a late-night pizza place across the highway, which we went to.

A colleague of my wife lived in Province & hated it. But I'd kinda like to go back.

Is that the reason for the show, though? A memory from 27 years ago? Nope!

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Perfume Day!

(found many moons ago on a Tumblr blog somewhere...)

April 14 is "Perfume Day" so tune into the Dickenbock Report on XRAY for information as well as musical reports about those odiferous concoctions.

It's also the XRAY Spring Fund Drive  so expect some reporting about that as well as pleas for financial support. Should you want the Dickenbock Report to remain a trusted independent source for Sunday morning news, you can donate here.

Again, that is tomorrow morning - Sunday April the 14th - on the Dickenbock Report on XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm & online at xray dot fm.

Unfortunately there is no evidence that listening to this show will make you smell better.

This Week In Self Help (April 7 + 9 2024)

(comic from lolein.com)

Here's a brief summary of what I did on the radio this week. It may be helpful with the authorities in coming prosecutions. I'll cop to it! I did it all!

Self Help Radio had the theme "can't wait." The show aired Tuesday morning from midnight to 2am. Here's a direct link to that show. You will need the username SHR & the password selfhelp to access.

If you'd rather listen on the KBOO website, here is that link.

The KBOO link also includes this week's episode of Corporate Standardized Programming (which follows Self Help Radio). On that show, I played an hour of new releases. If you'd prefer to listen to that show on the Self Help Radio website (please remember the username/password combination above), here is the link for that.

Finally - but chronologically first - The Dickenbock Report this week reported on the awkwardly named International Snail Papers Day. I would have preferred it be called International Newspapers Day as what I played was songs about newspapers. Also, no one uses the phrase "snail papers." No one. You can listen to it on the Self Help Radio web page here or if you'd prefer to listen to the XRAY web page, here is the link for that.

Thank you for listening!

Self Help Radio 040924: Can't Wait

The title of the image above, to which I added the Self Help Radio bear, is called "Can't Wait To See What You Turn Out To Be." It seemed appropriate to use for this show.

This show! So many things people can't wait for! In addition to all the songs, I also spoke with four people who told me what they can't wait for. To say that I was expecting something different would be an understatement. People who want to be on the radio are odd.

Listen to the show now or whenever - no need to wait - at the Self Help Radio website or at the KBOO website. You'll need a username & password to listen. Try SHR & selfhelp. Everything that happened on the show is listed below. I can't wait to hear what you think! Actually, I can. Let's just never speak of this show again.

Self Help Radio Can't Wait Show

"Can't You Wait Till You Get Home" Frankie 'Half Pint' Jaxon _The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records 1917-1927, Volume 1_

"I Can't Wait" Ray Stanley _The Chess Rockabilly Story_

"Love Can't Wait" Kim Roberts _Let's Go - Joe Meek's Girls!_

"I Can't Wait" Painted Faces _Anxious Color_

introduction & definitions

"I Can't Wait ('Till I Grow Up)" The Boyd Sisters _Girls Will Be Girls Volume 1_

"I Can't Wait To Love You" Jan & Dean _All The Hits: From Surf City To Drag City_

"I Can't Wait" The Mamas & The Papas _The Mamas & The Papas_

"I Can't Wait" Willy McDougal _Don't Turn Away_

"I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face" Dusty Springfield _Where Am I Going_

what Abel can't wait for

"Can't Wait To See You" Arthur Adams _The Complete Motown Singles, Vol, 10: 1970_

"I Can't Wait Till Summer Comes" Martha Reeves & The Vandellas _50th Anniversary - The Singles Collection 1962-1972_

"I Just Can't Wait To Hold You" Petula Clark _Warm & Tender_

"Can't Wait To See You Again" The Buckeye Politicians _Look At Me Now_

"Memories Can't Wait" Talking Heads _Fear Of Music_

what Chad can't wait for

"I Just Can't Wait" Leon Rosselson & Roy Bailey _That's Not The Way It's Got To Be!_

"I Can't Wait Too Long" Barrington Levy _Poorman Style_

"Just Can't Wait" The J. Geils Band _Flashback: The Best Of J. Geils Band_

"Can't Wait For September" Erl Dalby & Pyramid _Their Music Goes 'Round Our Heads_

what Barb can't wait for

"I Can't Wait That Long" The Brilliant Corners _Somebody Up There Likes Me_

"I Can't Wait" Luna _Lunapark_

"Can't Wait For Summer" The Best Wishes _Shoebox Full Of Love EP_

"I Can't Wait" The Sundays _Static & Silence_

"I Can't Wait" Brassy _Got It Made_

what Dale can't wait for

"I Can't Wait" Johnny Tucker _Seven Day Blues_

"Can't Wait For War" Brodka _Clashes_

"Why Can't It Wait" Lou Barlow _Reason To Live_

"I Can't Wait" Ceramic Animal _Sweet Unknown_

"I Can't Wait" Miesha & The Spanks _Unconditional Love In Hi-Fi_

conclusion & goodbye

"Just Can't Wait (feat. Lumi HD)" Sam Redmore _Universal Vibrations_

"I Can't Wait" Ric Ocasek _Beatitude_

"Methu Aros Tan Haf (Can't Wait Til Summer)" Gorky's Zygotic Mynci _Introducing Gorky's Zygotic Mynci_

"Love I Can't Wait" The Sponsors _Sponsors_

Whither Can't Wait?

(One of my favorite Maakies strips - scanned from a book.)

It bears reminding that I've been doing this dumb radio show for over twenty years now. While I don't have an actual count, I think it's safe to say I explore maybe forty or so new themes a year. That means I've explored at least 800 different themes. Probably more. But let's be conservative.

At some point I realized I might get a little bored if the themes I chose were all nouns - trains, weather, whiskey, kisses. Not that I would always prefer difficult or obscure themes - but that I might not want to limit myself in that way. & at some point, I began to have themes that were phrases. Phrases like "can't wait."

You might think this was a conscious thing, a way to open up the possibilities for the show but not really. It just sorta happened. I don't know when. But it seems like it was early on.

A few weeks ago I was at a place waiting to pick up some food & there was a person outside who was on the phone - I assume they were on the phone, you know, nowadays folks don't hold the phone to their head, they just talk so the person might have been hallucinating or something - but the person kept responding to the caller (or the voice only they could hear) "Can't wait!" They must've said "can't wait" a dozen times. When I came home, I found myself responding to things my wife said with, "Can't wait!" She did not seem to notice that was a weird way to comment in conversation.

& then it became an idea for a radio show. Which will become an actual radio show tonight.

Midnight to 2am on 90.7fm KBOO here in Portland, kboo.fm everywhere.

Preface To Can't Wait: Oh, I Can Wait

(from this Twitter account)

The expression "can't wait" - I guess it's an idiom - according to the Collins Dictionary means - well they put it in a sentence - "If you say that you can't wait to do something or can hardly wait to do it, you are emphasizing that you are very excited about it & eager to do it."

As I thought about writing this, I wondered what there was that I can't wait for. At the moment my wife is out of the country, so I think I can't wait for her to get back. But since she's usually here, I don't often feel that way. I don't think I am often in a situation where I can't wait for something.

You might ask, "Don't you get excited about radio shows?" I do, I get nervous even, but I know they're in my future & I know there's a bit of work that is required for them, so I can wait because I need the time.

Is this something that happens when one gets older? One loses the magic of anticipation? As I kid I couldn't wait for some classes to end, for some movies to come out, for summer to come, for the weekend to come so I didn't have to go to school or wake up early. Except for situations like my wife being away like she is now, I honestly don't think there's anything I can't wait for. I can wait.

Waiting is something that one grows used to, really. Maybe not comfortable with, nor happy with. But it's built in to so many experiences that over time one simply accepts that there's waiting involved.

Wow that's depressing. I won't talk about this during the show. Yikes.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: International Newspaper Day!

The official name of tomorrow's holiday is "International Snail Papers Day," which is baffling because no one calls newspapers "Snail Papers." No one except the person who invented the holiday. This person is also the sort who tried to give themselves a nickname when they were a kid & everyone said, "Nope." So at the Dickenbock Report we'll have reports, including musical ones, about newspapers.

Again, that is tomorrow morning - Sunday April the 7th - on the Dickenbock Report on XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm & online at xray dot fm.

Tune in for the only newsmagazine on XRAY on Sunday mornings! Or read the paper, which is probably more appropriate.

Tired Films

(image from the IMDb)

This week's episode of Self Help Radio had the theme "tired" & our resident cinephile Chuck stopped by to chat about a few films not about people who are tired but things that are tired. He wanted to showcase films with car chases. You can listen to that show at the Self Help Radio website!

Chuck has a series of links that he'd like you to explore.

Here is the Letterboxd list of movies he watched for the show.

Here is the YouTube playlists of films & trailers. (This is just part one, the other parts are linked to this however.)

Here is the IMDb page from which the list was sourced.

Here is the IMDb list of films available to stream for free elsewhere. He notes, "There is duplication with of some on YouTube but quality is usually better, & their availability may be for limited time."

Chuck posts about the films on his social media sites: Twitter,  Bluesky, & Substack. If you follow him, he'll almost certainly follow back.

With all the films Chuck watches, how is he not tired all the time?!?

This Week In Self Help (March 31 + April 2 2024)

Although I no longer do three shows on three stations, I currently do three shows on two stations. In case you've missed what I've been up to this past week, here are the most current of those shows.

Self Help Radio had the theme "tired." The show aired Tuesday morning from midnight to 2am. Here's a direct link to that show. You will need the username SHR & the password selfhelp to access.

If you'd rather listen on the KBOO website, here is that link.

The KBOO link also includes this week's episode of Corporate Standardized Programming (which follows Self Help Radio). On that show, I played twelve songs by twelve artists we've lost recently. If you'd prefer to listen to that show on the Self Help Radio website (please remember the username/password combination above), here is the link for that.

Finally - but chronologically first - The Dickenbock Report this week reported on Eiffel Tower Day with songs & information about that famous structure. You can listen to it on the Self Help Radio web page here or if you'd prefer to listen to the XRAY web page, here is the link for that.

Thank you for listening!

Self Help Radio 040224: Tired

Does a show about being tired make one less tired? It does not. Being tired is not something that decreases with more awareness. It's exhausting hearing about exhaustion. Tired should lead to rest, to sleep, to some kind of relaxation or repose. Unfortunately we don't always have that luxury. Which means that a show about being tired is probably the last thing you'll want to listen to if you're tired. & I'm always tired. Are you always tired?

You can listen to this tiresome show at the Self Help Radio website. Please use the login SHR & the password selfhelp to access the file. Luckily the songs & the guests were excellent so they'll not tire you out. Everything that happens on the show is noted below.

Now I need a nap.

Self Help Radio Tired Show

"Tired As I Can Be" Bessie Jackson _Them Dirty Blues_

"Too Tired" Fats Waller & His Rhythm _1939-1940_

"I'm Tired" Bright Light Quartet _Southern Journey Volume 8: Velvet Voices - Eastern Shores Choirs, Quartets, & Colonial Era Music_

introduction & definitions

"Tired & Sleepy" The Cochran Brothers _Somethin' Else: The Fine Lookin' Hits Of Eddie Cochran_

"Too Tired" Johnny Guitar Watson _30th Birthday Celebration - Blues & R&B_

"Morgens Bin Ich Immer Müde" Trude Herr _Ich Will Keine Schokolade_

"I'm So Tired (Esher Demo)" The Beatles _The Beatles (White Album) (Deluxe)_

interview with herbalist Martin Lerner

"Tired Of Waking Up Tired" The Diodes _Tired Of Waking Up Tired: The Best Of The Diodes_

"I've Been Tired" Pixies _Come On Pilgrim_

"So Tired" Slowdive _Outside Your Room EP_

"Why Am I So Tired All The Time?" Eggs _Eggs Teenbeat 96 Exploder_

our resident cinephile Chuck stops by

"Too Tired" Postal Blue _Weather Sensitive EP_

"Too Tired" DeVotchKa _How It Ends_

"Tired" Guards Of Metropolis _Alligator_

"Tired All The Time" Simon I _Simon I_

interview with blogger Melanie Lowe

"Tired" LCD Soundsystem _LCD Soundsystem_

"Dog Tired" The Tash Mints _Antipodean Screams, Vol. 2_

"Too Tired" Meat Market _Too Tired_

"I'm Always Tired" Joyce Manor _Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired_

"Tired Of Being Tired" Descendents _9th & Walnut_

interview with kinesiologist & author Mike Ladd

"Sleep When I'm Tired" Poetica _Poetica_

"I'm So Tired" Deserta _Every Moment, Everything You Need_

"I'm So Tired" Lala Lala _Fader & Friends Vol. 1_

"Wired & Tired" The Speed Of Sound _Museum Of Tomorrow_

conclusion & goodbye

"So Tired In The Morning" Erland & The Carnival _Nightingale_

"Too Tired" Kali _Circles_

Whither Tired?

(a screenshot from the film Umberto D.)

One thing I've not been shy about mentioning is how tired I've been. It's why I recently made a change - why Self Help Radio is back on KBOO now. It's also the reason why I'm doing a show with the theme "tired." If it weren't so obvious.

While going through all the songs I had about tired, I noticed that there was a subset of tired songs which might be considered "tired of" songs. I moved those to another folder - that seems like that could be another show. As well as the songs about being "sick & tired." Those things don't seem to be the same as "exhausted," which is what I have been. Also: drained, fatigued, sleepy, beat, collapsing, consumed, drooping, enervated, flagging, & finished.

But not too tired to go up to KBOO tonight to do a radio show about being tired! It's on midnight to 2am on 90.7fm in town & online at kboo dot fm. You might be too tired to stay up & listen. & I completely understand.

Preface To Tired: Self-Explanatory

My cat Boone is always tired. So am I. Actually, that's not true. I will often wake after being asleep for some ridiculously short amount of time - like four hours - & be wide-awake. This morning I woke at 3am & realized how dumb it would be to stay awake so I forced myself to go back to sleep - which meant lying in the dark for thirty minutes until my brain gave in.

Therefore it's safe to say that I'm not always tired but that I am almost always tired. I will confess, though, it feels like I've been more tired this past year than before. & of course that's why that's this week's theme but you know I'm supposed to explain that tomorrow instead of today so hey! look at the lovely orange cat! just be quiet! If he doesn't get his 22 hours of sleep a day, he's a grump!

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Eiffel Tower Day!

Tomorrow morning on the Dickenbock Report on XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm & online at xray dot fm, we're reporting on the Eiffel Tower, which was completed March 31, 1889. From 9-10am you'll hear musical reports about the Eiffel Tower, plus a live remote from the Report's Travel Reporter.

Tune in for the only newsmagazine on XRAY on Sunday mornings!

The picture above is a young couple who were very, very tired, in front of the Tower in early 2005. They didn't quite make it to the top.