Self Help Radio 102726: Halloween 2026 - Spooky!

Here is Self Help Radio's Halloween show for 2026 - hopefully sufficiently spooky.

There's not much else to add - if you wanna listen, go to either the KBOO website or to the Self Help Radio website. Most everything that happened on the show is below.

There are lots of Halloween shows on the website - I might share those links tomorrow. But if not - Happy Halloween!

Self Help Radio Spooky Halloween 2026

"Halloween Spooks" Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross with the Ike Isaacs Trio _High Flying With Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross_

"Spooky" Count Stephen _The House Of Horrors (27 Spooky Tales For Your Halloween Party)_

"Spooksville" The Nu-Trends _These Ghoulish Things: Horror Hits For Hallowe'en_

introduction & definitions

"Spooky Movies" Ron Barrett _Bomp In The Night_

"Run Spook Run" Rodd Keith _The American Song-Poem Anthology_

"Spooks In Space" Perrey & Kingsley _The In Sound From Way Out!_

"Spooky, Spooky, Lend Me Your Tomb" Spike Jones _Go Crazy With Spike Jones_

"Spooky Lady On Death Avenue" Barnes & Barnes _Spazchow_

"Spooky" Lydia Lunch _Queen Of Siam_

interview with spooky trolls Bartholomew & Itchy

"It's Spooky" Jad Fair & Daniel Johnston _Jad Fair & Daniel Johnston_

"Sure Is Kinda Spooky" Portion Control _I Staggered Mentally_

"Spooky Room" 9353 _We Are Absolutely Sure There's No God_

"Spook Opera" The Hawaiian Pups _Spook Opera_

"Spooks In Space (Discomix)" Aural Exciters _Mutant Disco Volume II: A Subtle Discolation Of The Norm_

"Ain't Nuthin' Spooky" Rudy Love & The Love Family _Rudy Love & The Love Family_

our resident cinephile Chuck stops by

"Positively Spooked" Band Of Holy Joy _Positively Spooked_

"Spooky Scary Skeletons" Andrew Gold _Andrew Gold's Halloween Howls_

"Spooks Night Out_ The Legendary Invisible Men _Halloween Hootenanny_

"Spooky (Diabolo's Theme)" The Ghastly Ones _Unearthed_

"Spook-O-Rama" Circus Contraption _The Half-Wit's Descent_

"Spooky Hollywood" Jackie B & The Mini Band _Spooky Hollywood_

interview with Josh Simpson, who makes spooky music

"Spooky Song" Lung Leg _Maid To Minx_

"Spooky Girlfriend" Elvis Costello _When I Was Cruel_

"Spooky Rhodes" Laika _Sounds Of The Satellites_

"Spooky Kabuki" Momus _Oskar Tennis Champion_

"Ménage À Trois, Spooky Scat" Dominique Cravic & Les Primitifs Du Futur _Tribal Musette_

conclusion & goodbye

"The Spooky Wheer" Martha Wentworth As The Old Sea Hag _Terror Tales_

Whither Spooky? (Halloween 2026)

Every year on Halloween, I like to explore a different, specific theme. My previous Halloween shows have included ghosts & vampires, zombies & werewolves, witches & wizards, mummies & monsters in general & Frankenstein in particular.  There have been shows about haunted houses, graveyards, ghost towns, even hell.  Other scary things I have explored are black cats or spiders or clowns or scarecrows or all kinds of horrible things attacking. Also things like voodoo & nightmares & death. (Most of those links will take you to a place where you can listen to those shows, too, by the way.)

What this means is I have to get a little creative when it comes to Halloween shows. This year I just decided to focus on a word: spooky. How is spooky used in songs? What things are identified as spooky in a song? That's what tonight's show is about. Some of the spooky songs will be Halloween-ish. Some probably not. But it will be someone's idea of spooky in many cases.

Tonight from midnight to 2am on KBOO - 90.7fm in Portland, kboo dot fm everywhere. & don't be afraid of me. I am not the least bit spooky.

Preface To Halloween 2026 - Spooky! The Tuff Little Ghost

Spooky The Tuff Little Ghost was a character from Harvey Comics who was a cousin to the more famous Caspar. Judging from the panel above - which I took from a scanned copy I have of Tuff Ghosts Starring Spooky, from 1964, he wasn't as friendly as his cousin. I don't recall much about this particular ghost except he talked like a tough Brooklyn kid from a 1940s movie, & he was in love with a girl - who was also a ghost - named Poil. Not Pearl. Everyone called her Poil like Spooky did.

Gosh I read a lot of Harvey Comics when I was a kid.

Let's think of Spooky as the mascot of this show, which will feature songs about spooky things, but which will probably not be all that spooky. Who knows? I haven't finished it yet!

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Visit A Cemetery Day

October 25 is Visit A Cemetery Day! Just in time for Halloween! The Dickenbock Report reports on cemeteries, graveyards, & the like.

Remember! XRAY's Fall Fund Drive is happening right now!
Go here to support the station!
Go here to support the Dickenbock Report!*
(* supporting the Report is supporting XRAY!)

Listen to our eerie Halloween cemetery/graveyard show tomorrow from 11am to 1pm - probably the safest time to be in one of those places - on 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere.

& stay tuned for an important announcement at the end of the show.

This Week In Self Help: October 16 18 + 20

Some time ago I took a picture of a newly slaughtered tree. I think I thought I'd count the rings & see how old it was when it was murdered. But I never did. Maybe you can do it & tell me. Hey something else depressing is all the radio I did this past week.

A week ago October 16 on The Songcircle on KBOO I played a lot of my favorite Halloween music. You can listen to that show here.

Then on Sunday October 18 on The Dickenbock Report on XRAY I played lots of Sunday songs on National Sunday Day. You can listen to that show here.

Then on Tuesday October 20 on Self Help Radio on KBOO I had a radio show about violins. You can listen to that show here. & you can download that show here.

Finally (thank god) on Tuesday October 20 on Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO I played a buncha new releases. You can listen to that show here (after Self Help Radio). & you can download that show here.

On second thought don't tell me how old the tree was when some asshole killed it. It was too young in any case.

Self Help Radio 102026: Violins

Thousands of tiny violins played as I ended my violin show because I really wasn't all that sad. Isn't that what the idiom is? The Wiktionary tells us "world's smallest violin" means "a notional violin that plays tragic music for the afflicted; used in dismissive responses to oversensitive complaining." Fun fact: Oversensitive Complaining was one of the names I had to choose from before I picked Self Help Radio!

In any event there were a fair number of violins on the show about violins so anyone who is pro-violin can't complain too much altho pro-violin people would probably not listen to this show. If you want to listen, you can at at the KBOO website or at the Self Help Radio website. The stuff that happened is below. You know the drill.

Seriously tho I should've called this show Oversensitive Complaining!

Self Help Radio Violins Show

"The Ragtime Violin" American Quartet _1912: 'Waitin' On The Levee'_

"Violin Blues" Johnson Boys _Violin, Sing The Blues For Me (African-American Fiddlers 1926-1949)_

"An Old Violin (Olive Grooves, vocals)" Alfredo Campoli _Salon Music Of The Thirties_

introduction & definitions

"A Thousand Violins" Patti Page _The Singles 1946-1952_

"I Love A Violin" Petula Clark _Petula Clark In Hollywood_

"The Violin Lesson - Part 1" Jack Benny _The Jack Benny Album_

"Violin Shop" The Alan Bown! _Outward Bown... Plus_

"You're The Violin" Rosey Grier _Munich City Nights - Vol. 20_

"The Older The Violin, The Sweeter The Music" Hank Thompson _Kindly Keep It Country_

interview with Tina Smith & Carlyle Goblockser part I

"Violin" Kate Bush _Never For Ever_

"Violins" Marc Riley with The Creepers _Cull (The Singles Mid '83 - Mid '84)_

"The Violin Lesson - Part 2" Jack Benny _The Jack Benny Album_

"Like 1000 Violins" 1000 Violins _Like One Thousand Violins_

"Trains & Violins" Black Cillas _Step Outside Love_

"Violin" East Village _Hotrod Hotel_

interview with Tina Smith & Carlyle Goblockser part I

"Violin Sherbet" Blurt _Pagan Strings_

"Sax & Violins" Talking Heads _Popular Favorites 1976-1992: Sand In The Vaseline_

"The Violin & The Princess" Joan Gerber _The Story Lady_

"One-String Violin" Heidi Berry _Heidi Berry_

"The Violin In Winter" Jon Rose _Art Bears - The Art Box_

"Violin" They Might Be Giants _No!_

Joseph Cooper & The Sinfonia Of London explain The Violin from A Child's Introduction To The Instruments Of The Orchestra

"Senseless Violins" Sparks _Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins_

"When You Play The Violin" The Gothic Archies _The Tragic Treasury: Songs From 'A Series Of Unfortunate Events'_

"Trumpets & Violins" Suburban Kids With Biblical Names _# 3_

"The Loudest Violin" The Bug Club _Rare Birds: Hour Of Song_

"The Piano & The Violin" Polo & Pan _22:22_

"Love Without Violins" The Gift _Altar_

conclusion & goodbye

"Violins" I'm From Barcelona _Growing Up Is For Trees_

"Gazillions Of Minature Violins" The Crimea _Tragedy Rocks_

Whither Violins?

There's one thing you need to know about Self Help Radio shows about musical instruments: they don't necessarily feature in every song that particular musical instrument. Because the songs are about the instrument, you might not hear that instrument in the song. That was probably true in the show I did about drums. & in the show I did about guitars. & in other shows about musical instruments which I may have done but have now forgotten about.

As for why the show is about violins, well. It shouldn't surprise you that I am a fan of the violin. I wish I had had a parent who forced me to learn how to play the violin. I was happy once to kiss a girl who could play the violin. But this show is because of a pun. Someone was using the old pun "sax & violins" in a call to me at KBOO. Then they said, "Have you ever done a show about sax & violins?" I said, "I can do a show about violins if you want." & that's how it all started.

Sorry I didn't get the name of the person who suggested the show. But glad I could do it!

Self Help Radio's show about violins is on tonight from midnight to 2am on KBOO - 90.7fm in town, kboo dot fm everywhere.

& don't fret! Some of the songs about violins will have a violin in them.

Preface To Violins: Peanuts April 8, 1963

This is a very famous Peanuts strip from 1963 - April 8 to be precise. The first panel is used all over the place, in particular for Record Store Day. I also feel like there are some panels where a different record - like perhaps a Smiths record - is placed in Schroeder's hand in the first panel.

My computer image search found this because the word "violin" is in the second panel, but obviously the strip isn't about violins. This week's Self Help Radio will in fact be about violins. But like this strip might not have actually have many violins in it.

By the way I scanned this strip myself from the Fantagraphics Complete Peanuts collection. Obviously the rights do not belong to me.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: National Sunday Day

Even though it would seem logical that every Sunday, being Sunday, would be by definition Sunday Day, it turns out that October 18 is National Sunday Day. So we at the Dickenbock Report, rather than being closed on Sunday, will celebrate Sunday.

It's also the XRAY Fall Fund Drive so if you're able, visit this website to donate to the station that keeps this hard-hitting news program on the air. If you'd like to support The Dickenbock Report directly, you can do so at this particular link. The money goes to XRAY, of course, but it gives the show bragging rights.

Listen to the Sunday show tomorrow, October 18, from 11am to 1pm on 91.1+107.1fm here in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere.

This Week In Self Help: October 11 13 + 15

(image found here)

What did I do on the radio this week? Who wants to know?

Sunday October 11. It's My Party Day on The Dickenbock Report on XRAY.
Listen to the show here.

Tuesday October 13. A show about chariots on Self Help Radio on KBOO.
Listen to the show here. Or download the show here.

Tuesday October 13. Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO. More artists we lost this year celebrated.
Listen to the show here (after Self Help Radio). Or download the show here.

Thursday October 15. Welcome To Your Good Day on XRAY. I sub one more time.

Listen to the show here.

Also I did a show on KBOO today but I'll mention it next week.

Self Help Radio 101326: Chariots

(original image found here)

Here is my show about chariots. Listening to the show, I realized I have never ridden in a chariot. I don't know if I'd want to, but I kinda wish someone would have at some point offered me a ride in a chariot. I've actually only ridden a horse once, & it wasn't that much fun. But a chariot - especially as a passenger - might have been exciting. Oh well.

Listen to the show if you wanna at the Self Help Radio website or at the KBOO website. Most everything that happened on the show is listed below.

Seriously, if you have a chariot, invite me along, willya?

Self Help Radio Chariots Show

"Swingin' At The Chariot" Anthony & The Sophomores _Play Our Oldies Mr. D.J._

"Some Trust In Chariots" Rod McKuen _The Loner & 13 Other Rod McKuen Songs Of Love & Loneliness_

"Horses & Chariots" The Open Mind _The Open Mind_

introduction & definitions

"Chariots Of Silk" Tyrannosaurus Rex _Unicorn_

"Painted Chariot" The Incredible String Band _Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air_

"Roll The Old Chariot (feat. Mary Benson)" Louis Killen, Stan Hugill, & The X-Seamen's Institute _Sea Songs_

"General Chariot Corp." Bob Newhart _The Button-Down Mind On TV_

"Broken Chariot" CocoRosie _Tales Of A GrassWidow_

interview with Ben Howard, who was a chariot maker in his past lives

"Chariots Of The Gods" The Stampeders _From The Fire_

"Chariots Of The Gods" Russell Miles _Archaeology_

"The Chariot" Janis King _Tarot Mastery: Decoding The Tarot With Definitive Card Meanings_

"Chariot" Beach House _B-Sides & Rarities_

"Chariots" Horse Jumper Of Love _Natural Part_

interview with Buddy Howard, who owns a chariot

"Chariot" Aoife Nessa Frances _Protector_

"Chariot" Babehoven _Water's Here In You_

"The Chariot Race" Ben Blur _The Chariot Race_

"The Chariot" The Cat Empire _The Cat Empire_

"Chariot Rock (feat. Genesis Blu)" Free Radicals _White Power Outage Volume 1_

a discussion about the most famous chariot song of all

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" Paul Robeson _On My Journey: Paul Robeson's Independent Recordings_

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" Langston Hughes _The Glory Of Negro History_

"Let Me Ride (Swing Down Chariot)" The Staple Singers _Chicago Hit Factory - The Vee Jay Story 1953-1966_

"Good News (Chariot's Comin')" The Four Tunes _The Complete Jubilee Sessions_

"Sweet Chariots" Bid _The Monochrome Set: Volume, Contrast, Brilliance... (Sessions & Singles Vol. 1)_

conclusion & goodbye

"Chariots On Fire" Rocket From The Crypt _All Systems Go III_

"Chariot" Knife & Fork _The Higher You Get, The Rarer The Vegetation_

"Chariot" Professor & Maryann _Runaway Favorite_

"Charioteers" Social Studies _Wind Up Wooden Heart_

Whither Chariots?

(photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto from Wikipedia)

Why do a show about chariots, you might wonder. Is it because of having heard one of the literally hundreds of versions of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" out there? No. Is it because I either watched the film or heard the soundtrack recently for Chariots Of Fire? No. Oh no Gary is it because you someone found yourself reading the pseudoscientific book Chariots Of The Gods? Is that it? Oh say it isn't so!

In case you have never heard of that book, which came out the year I was born, let me tell you, it was written by a Swiss author named Erich Von Däniken & Wikipedia adds the delightful fact that "The book was extensively rewritten by its editor, Wilhelm Roggersdorf," Ouch,

Here's the thesis, courtesy of the Wikipedia: "The main thesis of Chariots Of The Gods is that extraterrestrial beings influenced ancient technology. Von Däniken suggests that some ancient structures & artifacts appear to reflect more sophisticated technological knowledge than is known or presumed to have existed at the times they were manufactured. Von Däniken maintains that these artifacts were produced either by extraterrestrial visitors or by humans who learned the necessary knowledge from extraterrestrials."

So, you're thinking, it's also a little racist? Yeah.

But no, I wasn't reading the book. It was one of the books my friend Russell was fascinated by as a kid - the sort of thing his character Howard Gently would later make fun of. Before I did the last Howard Gently show a month ago, I re-listened to Russell's album from 1984 called Archaeology on which he has a song called (you guessed it) "Chariot Of The Gods." I wanted to play it on the radio & thought I might find more songs about chariots. & so I have.

The chariots show airs tonight on KBOO - 90.7fm in town, kboo dot fm everywhere - from midnight to 2am. Thankfully my show is so amateurish no one has ever suspected aliens are actually behind it!

Preface To Chariots: Chariot Racing

(Still from Ben Hur grabbed at the link I mention in the post.)

At some point in the childhood of the average American kid in the 1970s, you got to watch Ben Hur on television. We were poor so didn't have a color television so the first time I saw it - probably in a very edited version chock full of commercials - I didn't see it in glorious color. & by the time I saw it, the movie had been around for almost twenty years, so all the elements of the race had been parodied many times over - especially in cartoons. Still, I do recall being thrilled by the race & looking forward to it when I saw it again. You can watch all of it on You Tube.

It's not the reason I'm doing a show about chariots - I'll talk about that tomorrow - but it's one of the first things I think about when I hear the word "chariot" - & maybe it is for you, too.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: It's My Party Day

October 11 is "It's My Party Day" & although Dick Dickenbock has been uninvited to more parties than any other human alive, he still thinks the Report should report on parties - including interviewing a party planner. He knows that if he plans the party, the staff & crew of the Report will feel obligated to come.

Find out all about parties on Sunday, October 11, from 11am to 1pm, on XRAY FM - on the air at 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, but available everywhere at xray dot fm.

This Week In Self Help: October 4 6 + 8

You can tell by the unopened packages of individually sliced vegan cheeses that it's time for me to tell you the dumb radio I made this past week. Why are they stored by the window tho?

Sunday 10/4 Dickenbock Report XRAY. National Vodka Day. Listen here.

Tuesday 10/6 Self Help Radio KBOO. Anniversary show! The theme "cheese" revisited. Listen here. Or you can download the show here.

Tuesday 10/6 Corporate Standardized Programming KBOO. New releases. Listen here (after Self Help Radio). Or you can download the show here.

Thursday 10/8 Welcome To Your Good Day XRAY. A sub show. Listen here.

Maybe I'm trying to see if vegan cheese can melt?

Self Help Radio 100626: Cheese Revisited - The 24th Anniversary Show

24 years! That's a lot of cheese.

Luckily I keep myself very busy or else it might be weird to ponder twenty-four years of this nonsense. When I was a kid, I could never finish anything - I had dozens of home-made comics I started but never go to the end - & these were just four pages! (One piece of paper folder in half.) (I liked making the cover most of all.) So doing this one thing for 24 years - who the hell knows how many episodes - it's something like an achievement I guess.

Anyway, if you wanna listen to this show you can visit the show's page at KBOO or visit the Self Help Radio website. Most everything that happened on the show is below.

Fingers crossed I won't be doing this twenty-four more years. Eeek.

Self Help Radio Cheese Anniversary Show

"I Like Stinky Cheese" Dick 'Two Ton' Baker _The Music Maker Of Chicago_

"(I Got A Disease) I'm Addicted To Cheese" Evaporators _Ripple Rock_

"I Like Cheese" The Cheese Band _Party Fun With Recorders Volume 1_

introduction & old audio clip - featuring Kim & Phillip

"The Cheese Song" Kirk Moore _Top Hits_

"Cheese" Cyril Ornadel & Hal Shaper _Treasure Island_

"The Cheese Song" Mick Kolassa _Americana Essentials_

"Cheese Shop" Monty Python _The Monty Python Matching Tie & Handkerchief_

"Cheese & Crackers" The Two Man Gentlemen Band _Two At A Time_

"Cheese & Crackers" Rosco Gordon _Rosco's Rhythm_

interview with Maxine & Stewart, former Cheese Kids

"Limburger Lover" Leona Anderson _Music To Suffer By_

"The Cheese Song" Bubboon's Tunes _The Kids Corner: 20th Anniversary Celebration_

"Cheese, Peas, Pickles, & Bananas" Nora O'Connor & Steve Frisbie _The Bottle Let Me Down (Songs For Bumpy Wagon Rides)_

"Bunnyrabbits, Satan, Cheese, & Milk" Stark Effect _Mic In Track_

"(Ooey Gooey) Green Cheese" Freddie Montell _Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)_

"Green Cheese" Merle Travis _Guitar Rags & A Too Fast Past_

our favorite librarian Carole stops by!

"The Cheese Boogie Deluxe" The Oosik Music Company _Slow Musicians Playing_

"Cheese & Wine" Waste Of Aces _Perfect Day_

"Cheese & Onions" Galaxie 500 _Rutles Highway Revisited (A Tribute To The Rutles)_

"The Cheese Alarm" Robyn Hitchcock _Jewels For Sophia_

"Grilled Cheese" Cherry Glazerr _Haxel Princess_

"Crackers & Cheese" The Jangleberries _Top Of The Pops With Murray Walker_

interview with farmer Don Conelly

"Rats Been On My Cheese" Walter Vincson _Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order (1928-1941)_

"Cheese All Week Long" Oscar Boyd _Cheese All Week Long_

"Welfare Cheese" Emanual Laskey _Shakin' Fit_

"Cheesies & Gum" Martha & The Muffins _Metro Music_

"Cheese" Jim Gaffigan _The Last Supper_

"American Cheese" Electric Six _Zodiac_

conclusion & goodbye

"Cheese & Toast" BMX Bandits _My Chain_

"Chips & Cheese, Pint Of Wine" MJ Hibbett _A Million Ukeleles_

"People Are Asleep, Dreaming Of Cheese" Cornell Hurd Band _A Stagecoach Named Desire_

"All-American Cheesecake" Super _Seven Summers (International Pop Volume Two)_

Whither Cheese Revisited (The 24th Anniversary Show)?

The answer to the question "why is this week's theme 'cheese'?" is answered in the parenthetical remark: it's an anniversary show.

At some point, when it became obvious I might be doing Self Help Radio for a while, I decided to revisit themes on my anniversary shows. My first anniversary show - meaning, the first show where I revisited a theme, not the show's first anniversary - happened in 2008, when the show was but six years old. I guess I had really wanted to revisit a theme. Or commemorate the show somehow - after all, I did not know I would still be doing it after even six years.

This year I decided to revisit a theme I explored in April of 2008. It was the first of the last four shows I did on KOOP, the station where the show originated. Though I did in fact stay in Austin for another year due to a change of plans, I didn't return to KOOP that last year. I did the show as a "podcast" which no one really listened to. The show wouldn't return to the air until the summer of 2009 when it premiered on WMUL in Huntington, Virginia.

Back in 2008, I did eat cheese made from dairy. I no longer do that. I am very lucky to live in Portland where non-dairy cheeses can be found almost everywhere - especially on pizza. The pizza game in Portland is strong. I don't feel weird about doing a show that is mostly about something I no longer eat because I have very fond memories of cheese. I don't miss it - I don't have to! - but I do know when I did the show in 2008 my diet was probably 65% cheese.

& yes, the first Self Help Radio aired around this time in Austin in 2002. So it is indeed the 24th anniversary show. Maybe I'm hoping for pictures? & someone will tell me, "Say cheese!"

It happens tonight on KBOO from midnight to 2am. That's 90.7fm in town, kboo dot fm everywhere. Come for the cheese, stay for the music.

Preface To Cheese Revisited (The 24th Anniversary Show): Swissland Cheese Co.

On September 20, 2015 - almost exactly eleven years ago - we were driving home from Fort Wayne, Indiana (home then was Lexington, Kentucky) down state highway 27 - I wanted to see more of the state, so we didn't go back the way we came, up I-75 in Ohio - & I snapped this picture. We didn't stop because I'm certain the Swissland Cheese Co. had only dairy cheeses, & neither me or my wife ate those anymore.

On April 4, 2008, from 4:30 to 6pm, I was on the air on KOOP in Austin, hosting the the fourth-to-the-last episode of Self Help Radio that would air on the station - the station where it originated almost six years earlier. At the time, I thought I'd be leaving Austin in mere months - it turns out it took a little longer.

Self Help Radio premiered on October 9, 2002. Almost exactly twenty-four years ago. I have written about how I didn't know I'd still be doing the show so many years later. My only previous radio experience on KVRX lasted barely five years. But though I left Austin in 2009, I brought Self Help Radio with me, & of course I still do it here in Portland duh,

On my anniversary shows, I like to repeat old themes. On April 4, 2008, the theme was "cheese." It seemed a nice idea to return to that theme. & so I shall.

Some more thoughts on anniversaries & the like tomorrow.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: National Vodka Day

October 4 is National Vodka Day. While The Dickenbock Report does not encourage drinking, & in fact will show you are the horrific facts of how alcohol ruins lives, we also have an obligation to report the news. So don't blame us for anything bad happening relating to vodka, okay? You didn't blame Walter Cronkite for the Vietnam War, did you? Sheesh.

It's happening Sunday, October 4, from 11am to 1pm on XRAY - 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere. Please. Listen responsibly.

This Week In Self Help: September 27 + 29 & October 1

Not sure where I found that photo - reverse image search is not being helpful - but there's some information about the Globe Of Death motorcycle act here. Here's what my radio week was like:

September 27 was National Scarf Day. I did a show about scarves on The Dickenbock Report on XRAY. You can listen to that show here.

September 29 on Self Help Radio I did a show with the theme "globes" on KBOO. You can listen to that show here. Or you can listen to that show here.

Also on September 29 on KBOO I had an episode of Corporate Standardized Programming featuring artists we lost in April of this year. You can listen to that show here (after Self Help Radio). Or you can listen to that show here.

Finally, on October 1 I subbed Welcome To Your Good Day on XRAY. You can listen to that show here.

Anyway, if you need me, I'll probably be spinning round the globe of death.

Self Help Radio 092926: Globes

In a radio show about globes, there's lots of music plus silly interviews. It's an episode of Self Help Radio. I found that globe one day on someone's lawn. & took a picture of it. Now I wish I had turned it over or something but at the time I liked that it had Antarctica at the top. The Self Help Radio logo is covering a hole, so it obviously was once on the bottom. There's sure a lot of water on this planet of ours.

You can listen while spinning your own globe now at either the KBOO web page or the Self Help Radio web page. Everything that happened on the show is listed below. Or mostly everything.

Guess I don't have much more to say about globes!

Self Help Radio Globes Show

"The Globe" Big Audio Dynamite II _The Globe_

"Mental Floss For The Globe" Urban Dance Squad _Mental Floss For The Globe_

"Digital Globe" Richard H. Kirk _Earlier/Later (Unreleased Projects Anthology 74-89)_

introduction & definitions

"Dark Globe" Syd Barrett _The Madcap Laughs_

"Globe Of Frogs" Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians _Luminous Groove_

"Roads Girdle The Globe" XTC _Drums & Wires_

"The Inflatable Globe" Theodore Spencer _An Album Of Modern Poetry British & American: An Anthology Read By The Poets_

"Sheet Metal Globe Stand" Nel Aspinal _The Romans' Map To Heaven_

interview with geomancer Chase Lassiter

"Travelling The Face Of The Globe" Oi Va Voi _Travelling The Face Of The Globe_

"Globetrotter" Kiala & The Afroblaster _Money_

"Roun' The Globe" Nappy Roots _Wooden Leather_

"One Of The Fairest Portions Of The Globe" Adam Arkin _Lewis & Clark: The Journey Of The Corps Of Discovery (Original Soundtrack Recording)_

"Bright Green Globe" Down By Law _Punkrockacademyfightsong_ 

interview with globetrotter Trick Hooper

"Snow Globe" Crayon _Brick Factory_

"Snowglobe" Secret Shine _There Is Only Now_

"Snow Globe World" Spinning Cat & Anthony Fonseca _Random Acts: Poems & Musical Interludes_

"Snowglobe" Ada Lea _When I Paint My Masterpiece_

"Snow Globes" Black Country, New Road _Ants From Up There_

interview with globemaker Noah Cruise

"Glimmer Globe" Shampoo _We Are Shampoo_

"Globe Alone" Blur _The Great Escape_

"Holding All The Globes" Boat _50 Sweaty Boat Fans Can't Be Wrong: The Early Recordings Volume 1_

"Queen Of Globes & Mirrors" Sharp Pins _Balloon Balloon Balloon_

"Globe Spinning" The Church _Further/Deeper_

conclusion/goodbye

"You're My Globe" Colleen & Paul _Colleen & Paul_

"The Globe" Ben Sollee _Inclusions_

"The Globe" Ruby Goon _Brand New Power_

Whither Globes?

(image by Marc Johns)

A show about globes was in the works for a while (I was actually mainly thinking of the word "global"), but it was given a push by the recent death of Tim Curry. On a dog walk after his death, I asked my wife if she had ever seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show in a theater with the audience participating. I described some of the things one might expect - approaching someone who had never been there & when they admitted it, calling them "virgin!"; the "say it!" when Frank N. Furter is saying "anticipation"; "Damn it, Janet, you're a slut!"; & one of the most charming things I saw when I first watched the movie in the theater when I was all of 17 years old - the bit at the beginning with the globe where members of the audience in unison help start the globe moving on the screen.

If you've seen it, you know what I mean, & if you haven't, & I am describing it poorly, it doesn't matter. There's a globe in the movie, it spins, it caused me to think about doing a show about globes, & that's how tonight's show came about.

There'll probably be no mention of Rocky Horror tho. Tune in tonight at midnight as Self Help Radio explores the theme "globes." It's on 12-2am on 90.7fm in Portland & everywhere at kboo dot fm. Tell me where, I'll find you on a globe.

Also RIP Tim Curry. What a talent.

Preface To Globes: The Pleasure Of Globes

A confession: I do not know where that image comes from. I downloaded it probably on Tumblr many moons ago. I do know it was taken by George W. Gardner & was apparently in a documentary at some point. But looking at that picture made me remember being a child & loving to look at globes.

Mainly in the library at school - we didn't have a globe at home. Staring at the globe, spinning it, tracing a line - an arc I guess - from where I was in Texas down past the equator to end up - where? Africa? The middle of the Atlantic Ocean? Australia? Then back up to China!

It's probably obvious I was a pretty dumb kid but I did love to pretend & even now my brain can't wrap itself around the idea we're on a round planet that rotates & as it does circles a star that's so huge but so far away it doesn't appear huge to us. A globe helps my brain. That's why they're such a joy.

& why don't I have a globe as big as the one in that picture? I don't have any room to put it in my house but boy do I want a globe that large!

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: National Scarf Day

September 27 is National Scarf Day & not a moment too soon! It's getting cold in Portland & you're not allowed to wear scarves around here under after National Scarf Day. & just speaking for the Dickenbock Report staff, there was been some very cold necks these past few weeks - especially those of us who ride our bikes to work! Brrrr!

Listen to musical reports & more about scarves tomorrow, Sunday, September 27, from 11am to 1pm on XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere. & then go wild with the scarves!

This Week In Self Help: September 18 20 + 22

Above is the collage of releases I played on the Songcircle last week. I didn't get it made in time for the show. I seem to be constantly falling behind these days.

But the past week?

9/18 The Songcircle on KBOO. Lots of new releases. Listen here.

9/20 The Dickenbock Report on XRAY. National Punch Day. Listen here.

9/22 Self Help Radio on KBOO. The theme was "masterpiece." Listen here. Or listen here.

9/22 Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO. Lots more new releases. Listen here (after Self Help Radio). Or listen here.

Hope I can catch up someday. Know I won't. But hope I can.

Self Help Radio 092226: Masterpiece

(clip art frame found here)

When is a radio show with the theme "masterpiece" almost certain not to be a masterpiece? Why, when that show is Self Help Radio of course!

To be fair, a song about a masterpiece is not necessarily a masterpiece. Although I suppose someone did try that once with a television show featuring plays, so....

You can listen to the show at the KBOO website & at the Self Help Radio website. Nearly everything that happened at the show is listed below.

I think I am done realizing I will never make a masterpiece now. Stupid show themes!

Self Help Radio Masterpiece Show

"Masterpiece" The Temptations _Masterpiece_

introduction & definitions

"Meister's Musical Masterpiece" Len Spencer _Greatest Hits_

"The Devil Made A Masterpiece" Johnny Horton _The Fantastic Johnny Horton_

"The Masterpiece" Johnny Cash _From Sea To Shining Sea_

"When I Paint My Masterpiece (Demo)" Bob Dylan _Another Self Portrait (1969-1971)_

"Masterpiece" Big Thief _Masterpiece_

interview with blogger Walter Cunningham

"Everbody's A Masterpiece" Rasputin Stash _Hidden Stash_

"Masterpiece" Leda Grace _Amazing_

"Portrait Of A Master Piece" The D.O.C. _No One Can Do It Better_

"The Masterpiece (Trailer)" David F. Friedman _The Best Of David F. Friedman_

"A Masterpiece" Stephen Tin Tin Duffy _The Ups & Downs_

interview with director Margo Powers & actor Jeff Heck

"Masterpiece" Jon Langford _Four Lost Souls_

"I Am A Masterpiece" James Vincent McMorrow _The Less I Knew_

"Masterpiece" Ben Harper _Wide Open Light_

"Masterpiece" Old 97's _American Primitive_

"Masterpiece" Janiva Magness _Back For Me_

interview with my art teacher Mr. Krueger

"Little Masterpiece" Mitch Friedman _Game Show Teeth_

"Pop Magic Fantastical Masterpiece" Canadian Invasion _Three Cheers For The Invisible_

"Genetic Masterpiece" Roland Blinn _Chocolates In The Box_

"Speedline Miracle Masterpiece" Tunde Adebimpe _Welcome To Los Santos_

"No Masterpiece Policy" Adam Green _Aladdin_

"They Provide The Paint For The Picture-Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint On The Insides Of Your Eyelids" Streetlight Manifesto _99 Songs Of Revolution: Volume One_

conclusion & goodbye

"Olav Heggland's Masterpiece (with Hallvard T. Bjorgum)" David Lindley & Henry Kaiser _The Sweet Sunny North_

"No True Masterpiece Will Ever Be Complete" Kaki King _Glow_

"Masterpiece" Flap _World Of Visions_

Whither Masterpiece?

(image found here)

At the risk of being boring (I know, too late!), I remind you that most of the ideas for themes for Self Help Radio come because I am always listening to music. Different kinds of music. Sometimes I want to relisten to something I haven't heard for a while. Sometimes something I read or see online sends me down a rabbit hole. This show starts with this album:

(image found at Discogs)

The album Masterpiece by The Temptations. I don't think I had listened to it all the way through before. & I thought as I listened to the almost fourteen-minute-long (!) title track, "Might there be lots of songs called or using the word 'masterpiece'?"

The answer to that is tonight's show. & yeah, I'll play that Temptations song in its entirety.

One this is sure tho - the show won't be a masterpiece. It'll just be another episode of Self Help Radio. Happening at midnight tonight on 90.7fm in town, kboo dot fm everywhere.

Preface To Masterpiece: A Peanuts Cartoon

When I thought about the theme "masterpiece," I had a vague recollection of this Peanuts strip from December 11, 1955. It took some time to find it! It was scanned by me from the Fantagraphics collection. I think you can find the colored version here. Please enjoy.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: National Punch Day

(image found here)

September 20 is National Punch Day. Not that the United States has a "national punch." Perhaps it's best understood as a "National Day Of Punch." You get to choose the punch you want to consume on this day. & to spike it if you so choose. & with whatever delicious spirit as well.

Certainly we'll all be a little punchy tomorrow, Sunday. from 11am to 1pm. That's on XRAY FM, which is on 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, online everywhere at xray dot fm.

Let's hope Dick Dickenbock made enough for everyone!

This Week In Self Help: September 13 + 15

No biggie, just two shows this week. Enjoy this picture of a sunset taken in Texas many years ago.

The Dickenbock Report on XRAY FM reported on National Bald Is Beautiful Day.
Listen to that show here.

Self Help Radio on KBOO had the theme Howard Gently To Infinity.

Listen to that show here. Or listen to that show here.

More radio shows this week tho (sorry).

Self Help Radio 091526: Howard Gently To Infinity

(original outer space image by NASA found here)

My friend Russell would have turned 60 years old today. It's a bittersweet birthday present I am giving him: the very last times he appeared on Self Help Radio as the Rev Dr Howard Gently.

These shows - he was on SHR so many times that it took fourteen episodes to share every appearance - have been both difficult & comforting - how often do we get the chance after a loss to spend so much time with the person when they were being creative, funny, clever - all the things we admired about them? I wish it could've gone on forever.

But all things end & tonight's show features the last bits Russell & I made together. I did play a song from the show before each bit so it wouldn't get too monotonous for the listener. You can be that listener at either the KBOO web site or the Self Help Radio website.

Howard Gently appeared on the show at least 166 times. In the early days, Russell worried that he couldn't find enough material to keep the character funny. Despite all he was going through, he was magnificent until the very last appearance. Which was almost certainly true about him in real life too.

Love & gratitude forever. To infinity.

Self Help Radio Howard Gently To Infinity Show

"Seven African Powers" Russell Miles _Six Tunes By 'Russ'_

"Golden Ring (with Tammy Wynette)" George Jones _The Essential George Jones: The Spirit Of Country_

Howard Gently on the theme "Rings"

"Address Unknown" Marty Robbins _Country 1960-1966_

Howard Gently on the theme "Unknown"

"So Glamorous" Sam Cooke _The Complete Singles 1956-1962_

Howard Gently on the theme "Glamour"

"Birthday" Caspar Babypants _Baby Beatles!_

Howard Gently on the theme "Biorhythms"

"Alexander The Swoose (Half Swan-Half Goose)" Kay Kyser & His Orchestra _The Best Of Kay Kyser & His Orchestra_

Howard Gently on the theme "Geese"

Howard Gently on the theme "Christmas 2020"

"Private Plane" Hüsker Dü _Flip Your Wig_

Howard Gently on the theme "Privacy"

"Glow In The Dark" Iggy Pop _Free_

Howard Gently on the theme "Auras"

"Souvenirs" John Prine _Diamonds In The Rough_

Howard Gently on the theme "Souvenirs"

"Victory" Curtis Mayfield _Heartbeat_

Howard Gently on the theme "Victory"

"Sally Cinnamon" Stone Roses _The Complete Stone Roses_

Howard Gently on the theme "Cinnamon"

"Stones For Avalon" Tyrannosaurus Rex _Unicorn_

Howard Gently on the theme "Stones"

"Wally Ballou: Disaster Prone" Bob & Ray _Classic Bob & Ray: Volume 2_

Howard Gently on the theme "Disaster"

"Kids" Bill Hicks _Salvation (Oxford November 11, 1992)_

Howard Gently on the theme "Kids"

"TVC15" David Bowie _Station To Station_

Howard Gently on the theme "Holograms"

"One Night Stand" Bryan Ferry _Avonmore_

Howard Gently on the theme "One Night Only"

Howard Gently's Anniversary Message # 1

Howard Gently's Anniversary Message # 2

"Solea" Miles Davis _Sketches Of Spain_

Whither Howard Gently To Infinity?

From 2014 to 2021, my friend Russell appeared on Self Help Radio in improvised bits based on the show's theme as my spiritual mentor The Rev Dr Howard Gently. Russell left us in 2023. It was very hard, he was one of my best friends & someone I had known since I was 12 or 13. He was also the funniest person I've ever known.

Though my count is probably off, I am estimating one-hundred sixty five appearances of Howard Gently in interviews over those seven years, plus a final pair of messages he made for my twentieth anniversary show in 2022. Since his death, I have played those appearances in chronological order every three months on Self Help Radio. Tonight's episode will be the last.

You can listen tonight starting at midnight on KBOO: 90.7fm in Portland, kboo dot fm everywhere. One last time for Russell as Dr Gently to improve my show with his creativity, quick thinking, & humor.

Preface To Howard Gently To Infinity: There's Always A Last Time

This week is probably the last installment of my Howard Gently collection. My dear friend Russell appeared on many shows - nearly 170 of them - as my "spiritual mentor" in improvised bits. We lost Russell just over three years ago & I've played his appearances in chronological order every three months since then.

Since we're nearing the end of these appearances, I was thinking about the last time I saw him in person. I think it was about a month before I left for Portland. My wife & I visited with him & his wife in Dallas to say goodbye. I did return to Dallas only once before he died, but it was during my mother's memorial, & I didn't imagine I had the time to visit him - & it was deep in the pandemic & he was a germaphobe. Once I repeated something someone said about the pandemic - "We're all going to get Covid eventually." He responded, "I don't think I'll get it." & I don't think he ever did.

Russell & I as kids spent most of our time together on the phone, & as adults, since we lived far apart, we spent most of our time together chatting on the computer. We did occasionally see each when we were both living in the Dallas area, but going away was not a big barrier to our friendship.

However, I didn't think it would be the last time I'd ever seen him, but I guess most of the time we don't know it's going to be the last time. We spoke pretty regularly once I moved to Portland until the last year of his life - but I've talked about that. It makes me sad to think about that.

But I kinda wish we had said goodbye at one of our favorite places to eat, Kalachandji's in Dallas. We did eat together there probably in 2018. & that was a last time, too. Sigh.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: National Bald Is Beautiful Day

(oh no! image from here)

Ahem. We have to tell you from the outset that, though we support & are reporting on National Bald Is Beautiful Day tomorrow on the Dickenbock Report, this is in no way stating that Dick Dickenbock is bald. He is not bald. Not that there's anything wrong with being bald. He's just not. Anyone who tells you he is bald is woefully misinformed. That's his real hair.

Understanding that, join us tomorrow, Sunday, September 13, from 11am to 1pm Portland time, to hear musical reports about baldness, as well as movie recommendations, commentary, & an investigative report. Only on XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere.

Also Dick Dickenbock is not bald.

This Week In Self Help: September 6 & 8

Because I have no images of seaweed I dug up this picture I took in Astoria of old pilings right off the pier. Please enjoy.

My regular three shows this week went like this:
The Dickenbock Report on XRAY FM 9/6. It was Roger Waters' birthday. I played lots of covers of Pink Floyd songs, mainly from their early singles & first three albums. Listen to that show here.
Self Help Radio on KBOO 9/8. The theme was seaweed. Listen to that show here. Or. Listen to that show here.

Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO 9/8. Music by artists we lost in April of this year. Listen to that show here (after Self Help Radio). Or. Listen to that show here.

That wasn't too painful now was it?

Self Help Radio 090826: Seaweed

When I confessed a couple days ago that I had never eaten seaweed, I didn't know that I actually had, & had seaweed in the house, like the sheet above which I unceremoniously stamped with the Self Help Radio logo. & though I have never had sushi with animal products in it, my wife has reminded me that vegan sushi places use nori which is of course seaweed. & I've eaten lots of nori. Oops.

Luckily I made a show that celebrates all kinds of seaweed so I don't seem like a hater.

You can listen to it now & whenever at both the KBOO website & the Self Help Radio website. Most everything that happened on the show is below. & that's all I really have to say about it!

Self Help Radio Seaweed Show

"Seaweed" Freddy Mitchell _Destination Beach (30 Tunes For Dancing In The Sand)_

"Seaweed" Quincy Jones _Golden Boy_

"Seaweed" Tipsy _Uh-Oh!_

introduction & definitions

"The Seaweed Song" Bob Pyle _Apples & Oranges_

"Seaweed" Fruit Bats _Mouthfuls_

"Seaweed Jam" Sarah Pirtle _Two Hands Hold The Earth_

"Dúlamán" Clannad _Dúlamán_

"Les Goémons" Serge Gainsbourg _Les Goémons_

interview with seaweed recorded Robert Wooder

"Just Another Seaweed" Millie Esperson _The Soul Of Texas Blues Women_

"Seaweed Avenue" Moon Williams _Sticks & Stones_

"Seaweed" Saul Williams _Saul Williams_

"In A Kelp Bed" Babyfat _Dragons Go Away_ 

"Seaweed" Cinnamon _Summer Meditation_

interview with spectral presence Eva

"Seaweed Shovelling Song" Mike Scott _Lion Of Love_

"Seaweed" Bilders _Cut_

"Seaweed" House Of Large Sizes _House Of Large Sizes_

"Cape Of Seaweed" The Shadow Ring _City Lights_

"Seaweed" Mount Eerie _A Crow Looked At Me_

interview with writer Gustav Bright

"Seaweedhead" Katie Lass _Hypnopomp_

"Seaweed" Hockey Dad _Dreamin'_

"Teen Dreams Of Seaweed" Tannhauser Orchestra _Low Tide_

"Seaweed" Please _1968-1969_

"Seaweed In Gears" Digital Leather _The Death Of Real_

conclusion & goodbye

"The Seaweed" Suckdog _Little Flowers Dying_

"Seaweed Men Stomp" Washington Dead Cats _Go Loco! Or Gore Away!_

"The Seaweed Song" Gnarly Love _The Long & Gnarly Road_

Whither Seaweed?

(imaged by Peter Woodard, found here)

When my friend Mark found out that the theme this week would be seaweed, he said, "Ah! The pride of Tacoma!" But I didn't find a song about or even called "Seaweed" by Seaweed so you probably won't hear a song by Seaweed on a show about seaweed.

You won't even hear the word "seaweed" in the song that inspired the show about seaweed. That's because the song that inspired the show is the song "Les Goémons" by Serge Gainsbourg. I first heard the song in translation by Mick Harvey as "Black Seaweed" but the word just means "seaweed." I was in a Gainsbourg mood a while back. Spent some time with him. Wondered if there were enough songs about seaweed to justify it as a theme for Self Help Radio.

Find out how I did tonight. From midnight to 2am. On 90.7 fm here in Portland. kboo dot fm everywhere. Maybe even under the sea.

Preface To Seaweed: Never Eaten Seaweed

Not that I know of, anyway.
As Costco this past week I saw not one but two kinds of seaweed snacks.
(The one that looked tastiest had fish flavor, & I don't eat fish.)
Come to think of it there may have been a seaweed salad in another area.
When I past the selection above, I thought I might try some seaweed.
Just for the show.
But passed on it.
Couldn't make up my mind.
& forgot something on my list & had to go back.
& didn't return to that aisle.
So. Maybe I've had seaweed like in Japanese food before.
But never on purpose.
Never have I said, "You know what? I'll have the seaweed."
You'd think someone doing a show about seaweed would have at least tried it.

Coming Up Tomorrow On The Dickenbock Report: Roger Waters' Birthday

(photo by John Rettie from here)

Roger Waters, one of the founders of rock & roll superstars Pink Floyd, was born on September 6, 1943. In honor of his 83rd birthday, the staff of the Report will celebrate him by playing lots of covers of Pink Floyd songs - all from their early singles & their first three albums. The staff of the Report are music snobs. Dick Dickenbock will just read what they write for him.

That's Sunday, from 11am to 1pm, on XRAY FM - 91.1+107.1fm in Portland, xray dot fm everywhere. Set your radio controls to the heart of PDX.

This Week In Self Help: August 30 + September 1

Those upside-down drinking vessels invite you to a useless list of the radio shows I did this week.

Sunday August 30 was International Bat Night so I played bat songs on The Dickenbock Report on XRAY FM. You can listen to that show here.

September 1 I explored the theme "vessel" on Self Help Radio on KBOO. You can listen to that show here. Or you can listen to that show here.

Also September 1 I played a lot of new releases on Corporate Standardized Programming on KBOO. You can listen to that show here (after Self Help Radio). Or you can listen to that show here.

That was pretty painless right? Have a drink from your favorite vessel.