brothers in audio

Funniest moment of the debate last night: After the festivities, on PBS, they were showing the commentators talking in the studio about how the debate went. Then they put up this shot of these two scruffy-looking guys. The guys were standing outside. They looked like brothers, maybe middle-aged farmers who'd been pulled aside on their way out of the auditorium to give their opinions on the candidates.

Yeah...it was Don Gonyea and Scott Horsley. Talk about a face made for radio.

amateur media criticism

If I may? This story is stupid. I get it - green speed dating sounded like a good story. He saw an ad, he went to check it out. But when it turned out there were only 16 "or so" people, many of whom had driven there in Land Rover-like cars, it was time to declare the story dead. Or if not then, when he got back to the office and told his editor about it. It turned out to be a story about two boring things: speed dating and people who don't know what "green" means. I personally would be happy never to hear another speed dating story. (Seriously, how long has it been around? It's hardly news.)

tinariwen again

Tinariwen was on Weekend Edition Saturday today - listen online!

public radio

It's pledge time on my local public radio station. I'm finally going to get around to giving them money this time. (I know, I know, I know. I let my parents give the money the last few years, although I have supported stations in other places I've lived.)

But here's my dilemma: which show to support? I'm most thankful that they picked up Prairie Home Companion and Traditions when the other public radio station unceremoniously dropped both shows in a format change last winter.

The awesomest show they carry, although I only listen to it when I happen to be driving home on a Sunday evening, is The Big Broadcast, in which the guy plays episodes of old radio shows like Dragnet and Gunsmoke.

I probably spend more time listening to Morning Edition than any other show, but (a) Steve Inskeep annoys the living crap out of me and (b) plenty of people support Morning Edition already. In fact, I'm thinking about setting my alarm earlier so I can wake up to the Writer's Almanac instead of Steve Inskeep. (I don't know him personally - he may be a lovely person - but golly his host persona is irritating.)

So what do I do? Thank them for preserving popular shows? Recognize the awesomeness of old-time radio? Or vote where my ears spend the most time?

I even thought about pledging during Calling All Pets this morning, because it's on so early I bet nobody ever pledges for it. And I like the dog-training tips, although I do not now and probably never will own a dog.

polyphonic spree

Tonight was the Polyphonic Spree concert, and it was just as awesome as I'd hoped it would be. NPR played the show live online and maybe they'll put it on the website eventually? I hope so, because it was pretty awesome, and you particularly wouldn't want to miss their cover of Nirvana's Lithium. I tell you, you just have not heard that song until you have heard it performed by eight singers with a trombone, two trumpets, a harp, a flute, two violins, a cello, various guitars and basses, two full drum sets, and sundry keyboards. And a theramin. All played by people wearing white robes. (They've got weird new black uniforms for the main show, but they switch into the ol' robes for the encore.)

And while you're taking my musical advice, go check out the website of Jesca Hoop, who opened for them - we missed her set (public transportation disasters all around) but I'd listened to her songs online before going and really liked the sound of them, so I bought her little CD. I particularly recommend "Havoc in Heaven." Also, she's very nice - she signed my CD and told me I hadn't missed much, because the audience talked all the way through her set. Which they did for the Polyphonic Spree, too, particularly the idiots right behind us, so she shouldn't feel bad.

UPDATE, 7/1: Yep, the show is there now! Go listen! Lithium starts at one hour and 15 minutes.