Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Near Miss Day

(image from here)

March 23 is Near Miss Day - according to National Today dot com, "People around the world celebrate this day to be grateful that [an] asteroid didn't wipe us out!"

Perhaps that was written before the current political situation, but even if that's the case, we at the Dickenbock Report still feel we can report dispassionately about asteroids & meteors coming at us, threatening our destruction.

So we shall, tomorrow, noon to 1pm, on 91.1+ 107.1fm in Portland, online at xray dot fm.

Although if I were an asteroid, landing on Earth on Near Miss Day would be pretty cool.

This Week In Self Help (March 16 18 + 20)

A dumb announcement. I was on the radio a bit more than regularly this week. What happened? I'll tell you. But remember: if you click on any link for the Self Help Radio website, you may be asked for a username & password - try SHR & selfhelp.

The Dickenbock Report reported on Lips Appreciation Day. Listen on XRAY. Listen at Self Help Radio.

Self Help Radio was my eighth episode of the chronological appearances of Howard Gently on the show. Listen on KBOO. Listen at Self Help Radio.

Corporate Standardized Programming featured more artists we lost. It's on the KBOO file above. Listen to the show by itself at Self Help Radio.

Finally yesterday I helped my pal DJ Pete Rose (Not That Pete Rose) do a show on Freeform. Eclectic like they do. Listen over at Spinitron (for a couple weeks). Listen at Self Help Radio.

& I'll be hosting the Songcircle today but I'll post that next week.

Current radio fundraisers:
KBOO's All Thrills No Frills 4   +   Freeform Portland's Spring Fundraiser

Please help if you can.

Self Help Radio 031825: Howard Gently Year Four

Here it is, the eighth collection of improvised radio interviews performed by my friend Russell as "the Rev Dr Howard Gently" & me as "the mark." It's a very strange experience listening to these because I haven't since pretty much we recorded them - eight years ago! - & because of course I am hearing the voice of a friend I miss very much. Over & over I am impressed with how quick Russ is on his feet - when I bring up a collections agency calling me, he does not miss a beat - he confirms he's hired someone to collect my delinquent "donations." He was magnificent.

We had a lot of fun with what a weasel Howard Gently was. When he talks up a "Fates Ahoy!" cruise, I keep bringing it up in subsequent weeks, & his story changes every time. Poor me! I am trying to book a room on the cruise & the dates change even within the same conversation. I actually sound disappointed when he tells me I missed the cruise!

As you can see below, the segments are from 2017. I paired a song from the original show with the interview so it wouldn't be too talky. & I tried myself to talk as little as possible in-between. I am sad that one day I'll run out of these interviews. But I am glad we have a few more years to cover before that happens.

Listen to the show at the KBOO website or at the Self Help Radio website. For the latter, username SHR & password selfhelp may be helpful. The list of songs + bits is below. I truly hope you find this as funny & brilliant as I do.

Self Help Radio Howard Gently Year Four

"Human Race" Russell Miles _Human Race_ (Self-Released, 1986)

"Apple Scruffs" George Harrison _All Things Must Pass_ (Apple, 1970)

Howard Gently on the theme "Apples"

"Sweetheart Darling" Rose Batiste _Ladies Of Detroit Sound Vol. 1_ (Bar, 1997)

Howard Gently on the theme "Valentine's Day 2017"

"The Killing Moon" Echo & The Bunnymen _Ocean Rain_ (Sire, 1984)

Howard Gently on the theme "Fate"

"Spirit In The Sky" Norman Greenbaum _Super Hits Of The '70s - Have A Nice Day, Vol. 2_ (Rhino, 1990)

Howard Gently on the theme "In The Sky"

"Maybe You're Right" Cat Stevens _Mona Bone Jakon_ (A&M, 1970)

Howard Gently on the theme "Maybe"

"Ferris Wheel" Barbara Keith _Barbara Keith_ (Verve Forecast, 1969)

Howard Gently on the theme "Ferris Wheels"

"We Had A Really Smashing Time" The Hangovers _Slow Dirty Tears_ (Kill Rock Stars, 1998)

Howard Gently on the theme "Smash"

"Whales Tails" Cocteau Twins _Victorialand_ (4AD, 1986)

Howard Gently on the theme "Tails"

"Future Legend/Diamond Dogs" David Bowie _Diamond Dogs_ (RCA Victor, 1974)

Howard Gently on the theme "Diamonds"

"Bus Stop" The Hollies _Bus Stop_ (Imperial, 1966)

Howard Gently on the theme "Umbrellas"

"Johnny" Suicide _Suicide_ (Red Star, 1977)

Howard Gently on the theme "Johnny"

Howard Gently on the theme "Firsts"

"One Of These Things First" Nick Drake _Bryter Layter_ (Island, 1971)

Whither Howard Gently Year Four?

Tonight on the program I continue a tribute to a dear friend whom we lost almost two years ago. His name was Russell & he was very funny & for years he appeared on Self Help Radio on my "spiritual mentor" the Rev Dr Howard Gently. These bits were improvised around the show's theme, of course, & since Russell's death I've been playing them about every three months in chronological order.

This time around we'll begin with his 79th appearance on the show, which aired February 1, 2017. & I'll play a song from that show as well - one I hope Russell would approve of. & I'll talk a bit & hopefully not start crying & hope instead you'll focus on how funny he was, & how utterly committed he was to the bit.

That's tonight from midnight to 2am on KBOO. Which is on 90.7fm in Portland, & at kboo dot fm everywhere.

Here's a reminder that we're in our fundraising campaign & there are lots of specials so click here to listen to what's already happened & see what's coming up - & to donate of course. Thank you!

Preface To Howard Gently Year Four: Big Country

(image from Discogs)

This week on the show I am continuing my remembrance/celebration of my dear friend Russell whom we lost nearly two years ago. He appeared for years on Self Help Radio in improvised bits as my "spiritual mentor" The Rev Dr Howard Gently. I have almost finished his first three years as the character - he always felt we would run out of funnies with him but we never did.

& it's funny when you think about a person & their obsessions & what delighted them. Russ was utterly blown away by the debut album by Big Country. When it came out he was in his sophomore year in high school & I in my freshman year. & he all but made me go out & buy it. He talked about it endlessly, saw the band when they made it through Dallas, & followed them up until lead singer/songwriter Stuart Adamson's death.

What made me think about them is the song I'll play at the beginning of the show, a Russell original which has a Big Country-like guitar sound. I have so many memories of Russell talking about the album & its songs - there's one song where Adamson sings something like "aay yee yi yo" & Russell would joke about how educational the song was, seeing as it taught you all the vowels, & he would jokingly sing "aay yee yi yo yu sometimes y."

But perhaps the most poignant memory is what he wrote in my high school yearbook that year. I don't have the yearbook in front of me but I can remember it pretty clearly. He probably referred to me as "Dicker-bud," which was a kind of nickname he gave me, but almost certainly he wrote something like, "Remember, in the words of Big Country, 'stay alive.'"

Gosh I miss him so much.