Whither Petals?

Spring lasts longer in Portland than anywhere else I've lived. Or maybe Winter lasts longer & Spring takes its time getting started. In my neighborhood there are so many people with gardens & so many flowers & so many trees that blossom & get their blossom petals everywhere. They will literally litter the sidewalk. Cars will be covered in them. Frankly they make a mess.

Luckily I guess they're organic.

Someone I know asked me to take some pictures of the flowers this spring to send to her, so I did, & she made a comment about the petals of a particular bloom. The word "petal" got stuck in my head. I know I've done a show about flowers before (where each song was the name of a different flower). (Turns out I've actually done that twice.) I've done shows about roses. About daffodils & sunflowers. & maybe some I can't recall. But have I ever done a show about petals? I have not!

Hopefully there are still some petals around to enjoy it.

It's happening tonight! Midnight to 2am. On KBOO - 90.7fm in Portland, kboo dot fm everywhere.

Preface To Petals: Petaluma

(found on Wikipedia)

So yeah, the show this week is about petals. Looking for songs about petals, I sometimes find songs about Petaluma. Which Wikipedia tells me is "a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area." (I don't think I've ever visited.)

Does the name of the town have anything to do with petals? No, sir. The Wikipedia tells us, "Petaluma's name comes from the Miwok village named Péta Lúuma that was located on the banks of the Petaluma River."

But surely there's someone in that town who may want to make a pun on the "petal" in Petaluma - like maybe having a "Petaluma Petal Festival" or something like that? Nope.

What I did find in my very limited search was a business called Petal Town Flowers. That would be cool, calling Petaluma "Petal Town." I also found an Instagram user called Petaluma Petals whose page announces "I am learning to photograph plants (& other things) in Petaluma, CA & anywhere else life takes me." I don't have an Instagram account so I can't access this page but I applaud this obvious pun. I will almost certainly use it in the show.

But sadly no songs about Petaluma. The town's name has nothing to do with petals, & that's what this week's show is about.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Subways

(image from here)

On August 2, 1870, the Tower Subway, the world's first underground tube railway, opened in London. It wasn't the first underground railway - that was the London Underground, opened in 1863. & it wasn't successful, either - it had closed by the end of the year. But we at the Dickenbock Report are using this anniversary to explore subways for a couple of hours. Because we can.

Tomorrow, August 2, from 11am to 1pm. On XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere. Maybe even in subways. In the fancy ones, with wi-fi. Possibly.

This Week In Self Help: July 24 26 + 28

Strangely that was a busy week, mainly because I had some free moments to make a couple "sub shows," which I generally don't have the time for these days for whatever reason.

Early in the morning July 24 on KBOO I played three hours of new releases. You can listen to that show here.

Later that afternoon July 24 on XRAY I played two hours of new releases (so there was some overlap between the two shows tho of course on two different stations so I don't feel bad or anything). You can listen to that show here.

At my regular time July 26 on XRAY (11am to 1pm) the Dickenbock Report was a show about National Aunts & Uncles Day. You can listen to that show here.

At my regular time July 26 on KBOO (midnight to 2am) Self Help Radio was a show with the theme alibis. You can listen to that show here. Or you can listen to that show here.

& right after Self Help Radio at its regular time July 26 on KBOO (2 to 3am) Corporate Standardized Programming played lots of music from artists we lost in late February of this year. You can listen to that show here (after Self Help Radio). Or you can listen to that show here.

That's what I did this week in my little corner of the radio.

Self Help Radio 072826: Alibis

Here is Self Help Radio's show about alibis. It's not an alibi. I guess it could be an alibi. You could say, "I didn't do it, I was listening to Self Help Radio!" But who would believe that?

The show has lots of songs about alibis, a talk with a fellow who runs a business called Alibis Inc., a talk with a person who owns a club called Alibis, & a telephone interruptions. Among other things. It's a two hour radio show! Maybe something of interest happens!

You can listen to the show over at the KBOO web page & also at the Self Help Radio web page. The things that happen on the show are listed below.

Hm, it seems to me now that the alibi show could probably only be a good alibi for me...

Self Help Radio Alibis Show

"Baby What's Your Alibi" Nellie Lutcher _The Best Of Nellie Lutcher_

"Bye, Bye, Alibi Baby" The Delta Rhythm Boys _Jump & Jive 'Til One O'Clock - Anthology - Volume 2 (1947 - 1950)_

"Alibi" Annette Bard _Carol Connors 1960-1965_

introduction & definitions

"Alibi" Tompall & The Glaser Brothers _This Land_

"Your Alibi Called Today" Norma Jean _Jackson Ain't A Very Big Town_

"I Need Money (Keep Your Alibis)" Slim Harpo _The Best Of Slim Harpo_

"Alibis" The Bards _Fort Worth Teen Scene Volume Two_

"You Don't Have To Alibi" Rodd Keith _My Pipe Yellow Dream_

interview with entrepreneur Troy Warren

"Has Anybody Got An Alibi" The Professionals _I Didn't See It Coming_

"Alibi" The Fools _Heavy Mental_

"The Alibi (The Station's Full Of Pipes)" Fun Boy Three _The Complete Fun Boy Three_

"Alibi Room" Martha & The Muffins _Mystery Walk_

"No Alibi" Eric Clapton _Journeyman_

interview with club owner Sidney Queen

a caller interrupts!

"Alibi" Elvis Costello _When I Was Cruel_

"My Alibi" Lloyd Cole _Music In A Foreign Language_

"I'll Be Your Alibi" Darren Hayman & The Secondary Modern _Essex Arms_

"Alibi" Mecca Normal _Sitting On Snaps_

"An Alibi" Wire _Silver/Lead_

interview with club owner Sidney Queen

"Signals & Alibis" Curve _The New Adventures Of Curve_

"Alibi" Lowtide _Southern Mind_

"Brahm's Alibi" Spike Jones _Dinner Music (For People Who Aren't Very Hungry)_

"Lies & Alibis" Lovage _Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By_

"No Alibi" The Roots _Illadelph Halflife_

conclusion & goodbye

"Alibi" Robert Francis _Strangers In The First Place_

"Alibi" Hurray For The Riff Raff _The Past Is Still Alive_

Whither Alibis?

(There will be not discussion about the 1931 film. Title card found here.)

So yeah I kinda sorta gave away the reason for this theme yesterday, when I talked about the Kinsey Millhone series of detective books by Sue Grafton, the first of which is A Is For Alibi. I was so charmed by the series that I read the first four books in succession, stopping only because I thought I should read some other books in-between. But looking at the cover of the first installment one day I wondered to myself if there were enough songs about alibis to do a radio show about them. & boy were there!

In my own experience, I don't think I've ever really had to establish an alibi for something - or had to have an alibi to prove I was innocent. The closest I probably came was when I spoke to fire inspectors for the KOOP fire of 2008, which was arson. I never thought I had to establish an alibi because I didn't do it, & anyway, they never asked me about my whereabouts on the night in question nor did they (as far as I know) do any investigating related to me. From what I understand, they asked questions of everyone about the space & they had four or five facts that only the arsonist would have known, & I didn't know any of them. I didn't need an alibi!

Also you don't need an alibi when you forget to listen - I understand! The show is on quite late! It's happening tonight from midnight to 2am on 90.7fm in Portland & everywhere at kboo dot fm. & if, as many believe, the show is a crime, I have no alibi - I'm there every damn week.

Preface To Alibis: A Is For Alibi

(image from Goodreads)

This is a book I recently read. I have been trying to read more women writers (it's my goal to only read women writers this year) but was missing reading mystery books. I'm a big fan of mystery books even though I honestly have no interest in solving mysteries. I just want to like the person who solves the mystery. I adored Sherlock Holmes & Ellery Queen. I fucking love Columbo. I am charmed by Ellsbeth & the character Natasha Lyonne plays in Poker Face. It's fun to watch them gather clues but I am easily distracted & am not doing the same. So I am unsure whether Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books are good mystery books.

What I do love is the character, & especially the way she goes about solving her mysteries. She interacts with people in a very specific way - including lots of women, which doesn't happen in many of the mystery books I've read. I had to stop to read something else after I tore through the first four books of the series. I was sad to discover that Grafton kept the series in the 1980s where she started them - I would have wanted to see Kinsey grow older.

My sister Karin, who is much more of a connoisseur of mystery books than I am, said she couldn't get into this series. But she told me my older sister Pat, who also loved these kinds of books & whom we lost over a decade ago, read them all. Maybe I will get a chance to do that too.

Is the book the reason for this week's theme? I'll tell you tomorrow.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: National Aunt & Uncle Day

The picture above is of my mother with my oldest brother, she's on the right, with her sister, my aunt, on the left with her son. Both women are aunts. Only one of them was my aunt.

Dick Dickenbock has many nephews & nieces, but did not get a picture of them in time for me to post for this blog entry. "Google them!" he bellowed at me, although I did tell him it's very difficult to find usable photos when one of the terms in the search engine is "Dick."

Sunday, July 26, is National Aunt & Uncle Day. We'll report on those familial roles, have commentary, film recommendations, & of course musical reports.

That tomorrow only on XRAY. 11am to 1pm, 91.1+107.1fm in town, xray dot fm everywhere.

This Week In Self Help: July 17 19 + 21

A slightly busier than usual week.

July 17 the Songcircle on KBOO. New releases. Listen here.

July 19 the Dickenbock Report on XRAY. A show about 1926. Listen here.

July 21 Self Help Radio on KBOO. A show about corruption. Listen here. Or listen here.

July 21 Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO. New releases. Listen here (after Self Help Radio). Or listen here.

Not gonna make a big deal of it, anyway.

Self Help Radio 072126: Corruption

Inspired by actual events! I don't get to do that much these days. I mean, my shows are inspired by things I myself come across, but not necessarily by an entire political party looking the other way while its leader loots his followers & his country with impunity. Well, with impunity for now. It's hard to believe justice will be served on these jackals but hope springs eternal.

The show had lots of songs about corruption that predate our current situation. Though in many cases it sounds the same. The stench of corruption had always been particularly awful & hasn't varied much. I can't wait for the songs about this horrifying era.

If you can handle it, you can listen to the show at the KBOO web page or at the Self Help Radio web page. Most of what happens on the show is listed below. Listening to the show won't affect you - anyway, I know you're incorruptible.

Self Help Radio Corruption Show

"Corruption" Illusion Of Safety _Inside Agitator_

"Corrupt & Immoral" Headphonics _Evolution Of Funk_

"Age Of Corruption" Alan Klein _Gathered From Coincidence: The British Folk-Pop Sound Of 1965-66_

"Small Town Editor: Corrupt Mayor" Bob & Ray _Classic Bob & Ray, Volume Two - Selections From A Career: 1946-1976_

"Corruption Is The Thing" Creations Unlimited _Eccentric Funk_

"Corruption (Man's Self Destruction)" The Escorts _3 Down 4 To Go_

"Corruption" The Charades _Corruption_

our resident cinephile Chuck stops by!

"Money & Corruption" The Kinks _Preservation Act 1_

"Corruption" Iggy Pop _Avenue B_

"You're Corrupt" Modern English _Take Me To The Trees_

"Corrupt (Knuckle Up)" Dälek _Abandoned Language_

"Capital Corruption" Mad Dukez + Fresh Kils _Gettin' Gatsby_

a phone call with a request interrupts the show!

"Ecstasy" New Order _Power, Corruption, & Lies_

"The Corruption Of Granola" Jim Gaffigan _The Last Supper_

"Corruption" Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited _Corruption_

"Stop Corruption (Gyae Corruption)" Aaron Bebe Sukura & The Local Dimension Palm Wine Band _N'Yong Acoustic Ghanaian Highlife_

"You Can't Fight Corruption With Corruption" Femi Kuti _Stop The Hate_

interview with the Rev K. N. Usher

"Corrupted Man" Pablo Moses _Revolutionary Dream_

"Corruption" Aswad _Hulet_

"World So Corrupt" Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers _Joy & Blues_

"Corrupt Cop" The Mighty Diamonds _Speak The Truth_

"Crime & Corruption" Lucky Dube _The Way It Is_

conclusion & goodbye

"Corrupt (Studio Session)" Depeche Mode _Sounds Of The Universe: Re-Alinged Version_

"My Fetish's Called Corruption" G.D. Luxxe _Between Zero & Eternity_

Whither Corruption?

(image found here)

As tempted as I am to be sarcastic - "I can't for the life of me imagine what is happening in this world that would make me think the theme 'corruption' would come to me at this time." - it's pretty obvious why anyone is talking about corruption these days. It used to be something we needed to have organizations, task forces, some kind of group - in the government & out - to root out, to discover, to bring from the back rooms where the deals were made into the light of day. But now it's happening in plain sight. Everyone knows it & sees it, & it's defended or condemned on a partisan basis. It's terrifying & concerning.

& please don't think this dumb radio show will offer any real insights or solutions. Mainly I'll be playing songs where the subject matter is corruption - & none of the songs will be recent enough to address the current situation. It's just that the word "corruption" is literally spoken or written dozens of time a day (if not hundreds) & how could I not pull that theme out of the air & make a radio show about it?

So I shall. Tonight, Self Help Radio's theme is "corruption." The show on from midnight to 2am on 90.7fm in Portland, kboo dot fm everywhere.

Or maybe it won't be. If, you know, you wanna make an offer I can't refuse...

Preface To Corruption: Stickers

Dang I like the design of that sticker. The orange one. That recognizable silhouette. The implication & message is undeniable.

Corruption is a complicated thing (perhaps) but there are some stickers that have a way of finding the essence of something & elegantly, with surprising simplicity, expresses it while stuck to a surface. A wall, a street sign, a door.

There's no chance he has seen that sticker but I suspect it might enrage him. Just because his head looks as fucking big as it is in real life.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: 1926

(image found here)

Every year on The Dickenbock Report, we look back one hundred years to see what the world was like then. Dick Dickenbock insists we tell you that no, he wasn't alive then, he's not that old! In any event, we talk about & hear musical reports from 1926 on this special episode.

That's tomorrow, Sunday, July 19, on XRAY FM - which is on the air in Portland at 91.1+107.1fm & online everywhere at xray dot fm. Don't worry, unlike 1926, Prohibition will not be enforced; however, like 1926, there's Nazis lurking everywhere.

This Week In Self Help: July 12 +14

Silver clouds are all covered by silver lining. I think I took that at the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh?

This week:

The Dickenbock Report on XRAY was about New Conversations Day. That was July 12.

Listen to the show here.

Self Help Radio on KBOO had the theme "silver linings." That was July 14,

Listen to the show here. Or listen to the show here.

Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO played music by artists we lost in February of this year. That was also on July 14.

Listen to the show here (after Self Help Radio). Or listen to the show here.

All caught up!

Self Help Radio 071426: Silver Linings

That was a radio show about silver linings. I don't know if I have much more to say about silver linings. Let me check my notes. I mentioned John Milton. Did I mention the Union song? Probably. I mean, what the hell else is there to talk about? I had guests. I played songs. I'm genuinely surprised there were so many songs & I probably didn't even get close to finding or listening to many of them. I guess the silver lining in that is that it isn't a four hour show about silver linings.

Wanna listen to it? Really? Okay, it's at the KBOO website. & it's at the Self Help Radio website. & the list of songs & stuff is below. & I really have nothing else to say about this very specific & weird theme.

You do get that the Self Help Radio logo up there has a silver lining, right? That makes sense, doesn't it? Oh well.

Self Help Radio Silver Linings Show

"Look For The Silver Lining" Marion Harris _20 # 1 Hits Of The 20's_

"There Must Be A Silver Lining" Lee Morse _Anthology: The Deluxe Collection_

"Wear A Hat With A Silver Lining" Ted Lewis & His Orchestra _Ted Lewis & His Orchestra_

introduction & definitions

"Hi-Ho Silver Lining" Jeff Beck _Beckology_

"Silver Lining Love" Leo Unger _Run To The Sunshine_

"Silver Lining" Zen _Again_

"Silver Lining" Chris Andrews _The Best Of Chris Andrews_

"Silver Lining" Rikki Ililonga _Dread Eyes_

interview with Kathleen & Leo Harrison of Silver Linings

"Silver Lining" Stiff Little Fingers _Go For It_

"Silver Lining" Gang Of Four _Hard_

"Silver Lining" Band Of Susans _The Word & The Flesh_

"Silver Lining" Freddie McGregor _Freddie McGregor_

"Silver Lining" Avo-8 _Out Of My Mind_

interview with Lester Tucker, "The King Of The Silver Linings"

"Silver Lining" Stretford _Crossing The Line_

"Silver Lining" Beulah _The Coast Is Never Clear_

"My Silver Lining" Kelley Stoltz _Antique Glow_

"No Silver Lining" The Seamonsters _The Seamonsters_

"Silver Lining" Kitty Craft _Catskills_

Ned Dry talks about the film "Silver Linings Playbook"

"Silver Lining" Rilo Kiley _Under The Blacklight_

"Silver Lining" Garfunkel & Oates _Music Songs_

"Silver Lining" The Silent Boys _Wishing Well Eyes_

"Silver Lining" Guards _In Guards We Trust_

"Silver Lining" Las Rosas _Everyone Gets Exactly What They Want_

conclusion & goodbye

"Silver Lining Lead Balloons" Gruff Rhys _Sadness Sets Me Free_

"A Torn Jacket With Silver Lining" Bedouin Soundclash _We Will Meet In A Hurricane_