WRFL 88.1 FM Alumni Show, 16 October 2018


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WRFL 88.1 FM Alumni Show, 16 October 2018

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Kerosene by Big Black
Just Too Bloody Stupid by Close Lobsters
Planet Of Sound by Pixies
Digital Meltdown by Pop Will Eat Itself
Ambition by Velvet Elvis
Misinformed by Overhead
Somewhere by Scissor Sisters
Fait Accompli (Single Version) by Curve
The Upstairs Room by The Cure
Pity For The Self by Poesie Noire
Control I’m Here by Nitzer Ebb
If You Want by Depeche Mode
This Boy’s In Love by The Presets
Hot Doggie by Colourbox
Give Me Back My Man by The B-52’s
The Big Sky by Kate Bush
Feurio! by Einsturzende Neubauten
Now, An Explosive New Movie by Severed Heads
Love’s Secret Domain by Coil
This Corrosion (Single Version) by The Sisters Of Mercy
You Often Forget (Benign) by Revolting Cocks
Rise by Public Image Limited
Academic by New Order
September Song by The Young Gods

“I was born in this town, lived here my whole life…”

During a recent trip to my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, I had the opportunity to go back on the air at WRFL 88.1 FM for an alumni show. Co-host Brian Manke joined me for two hours of classic college rock (with a few new things thrown in), and reminiscing about my time at the station.

(Full disclosure: I didn’t mention this on the air, but I was in the band Overhead. The song Misinformed was written by Brian Fifield and myself, recorded and self-released in 1995. Brian is singing lead.)


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The Beat Bash – 15 May 2014


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The Beat Bash – 15 May 2014

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Head Like A Hole by Nine Inch Nails
Quite Unusual by Front 242
Breakaway by Big Pig
Join In The Chant by Nitzer Ebb
Strangelove by Depeche Mode
Keep On by Cabaret Voltaire
Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
So In Love by OMD
The Promise by When In Rome
Hooked On Love by Dead Or Alive

“Omina, doke doe ominea…”

At one time I’d found an article on the web where the members of Big Pig gave the translation of that phrase, but for the life of me I can’t find it. Maybe it was Aboriginal in origin?

This week’s mix is back to basics. Sometimes I tend to over-think the tracks, but really, this is what a typical episode of the show sounded like. This is why we had an audience.

The Beat Bash – 3 April 2014


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The Beat Bash – 3 April 2014

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I Don’t Need God by Greater Than One
Touched By The Hand Of God by New Order
God O.D. by Meat Beat Manifesto
Skeletons By Nature by Dessau
Godlike by KMFDM
Kaleid by Depeche Mode
Hallucination Generation by The Gruesome Twosome
Salvation! Have You Said Your Prayers Today by The Hood
No Devotion by Revolting Cocks
Pity For The Self by Poésie Noire

“Building it up just to tear it down again / Tearing it down just to build it up again”

This one turned out to be a theme show.

I grew up in an evangelical Christian household, and was still quite active in both my faith and the church at the time I started my involvement with The Beat Bash. When I first heard songs like I Don’t Need God and No Devotion they were quite shocking to me. Within a couple of years I would come out, and, well, I won’t go into my current religious views, but I think I’ve provided more than enough clues in this week’s track selection.

This isn’t even the show I’d planned to do – My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and Jane Child among others – but I’ve been laid up with a nasty cold all week, and I’ve been cranky. I’m much happier with this show instead.

Greater Than One was the performance art husband/wife duo of Michael Wells and Lee Newman (RIP 1995). Their work was released via Wax Trax in North America, and was remastered and reissued in 2008 via the Brainwashed Archives. Dessau was an industrial band from Nashville that got Al Jourgensen to produce and remix a few of their tracks.

This week also features a couple of my personal favorites – Kaleid, which is the B-Side to Depeche Mode’s Policy Of Truth, and one of the last stomping dance tracks they produced during their imperial phase; and Pity For The Self by Belgian goths Poésie Noire.

The Beat Bash – 2 January 2014


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The Beat Bash – 2 January 2014

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Lover Come Back To Me by Dead Or Alive
I Need A Man by Eurythmics
Kooler Than Jesus by My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
Fine Time by New Order
Get Real by Paul Rutherford
Behind The Wheel by Depeche Mode
Helter Skelter by Meat Beat Manifesto
Jetlag by Severed Heads
Freemason by Boxcar
Left To My Own Devices by Pet Shop Boys

“I was faced with a choice at a difficult age…”

And so we begin. The story of The Beat Bash runs parallel to my coming out, in that I had some inkling, but didn’t fully understand things until I got to college, where some slightly older and more experienced friends gave me guidance. My eyes (and ears) were opened to a whole new world, and I embraced it fully.

In this first episode I tried to sum up what The Beat Bash was really like. Dead Or Alive was (original co-host) Brian Parker’s favorite band, so they appeared in almost every show. New Order and Depeche Mode were the biggest names in alternative dance music at college radio, and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult was representative of the typical Wax Trax! Records sound. The Beat Bash is where I first heard Severed Heads and Meat Beat Manifesto, who became hugely influential on my own music (I have a Severed Heads tattoo on my left forearm). There’s also my beloved Pet Shop Boys, who were wildly successful everywhere in the world but the US, where they were beginning to move back underground.

Electronic Music Bears EMB 57 – Summer Of ’83 – Reupload

In August 2010 I recorded an exclusive new mix for the Electronic Music Bears podcast titled Summer Of ’83.

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Intro
Civic Transit (Anoraak LAX Remix) by Keenhouse
Love Saves The Day (Mario Basanov Vocal Remake) by Kaine featuring Kathy Diamond
Eagle by Bottin
Count Your Lucky Stars (The Diogenes Club Remix) by Casio Social Club
Dr. Funk by Sidechains
Autodrive (50 Pound Note Re-edit) by Herbie Hancock
Confusion by New Order
Baby I’m Yours (Aeroplane Remix) by Breakbot
121 In Luv by Casio Social Club
Survivor (Keenhouse Remix) by Fare Soldi

I wanted to build it around a specific feel, focusing on new artists who are using older analog sounds, but also throw in a couple of tracks that actually are from 1983. Summertime in San Francisco is usually cold and foggy, so this is one last warm farewell to a summer that didn’t really happen.

Pride 2012 – The 50 Pound Note Mix

Pride 2012 – The 50 Pound Note Mix

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Around The World by Daft Punk
Theme From Videodrome Discothèque by Sean Drinkwater
It’s Not Over (Dimitri From Paris EroDiscoMix) by Holy Ghost!
Work (Oliver $ Remix) by The 2 Bears
Let’s Have A Kiki (50 Pound Note Quick ‘n’ Dirty Pride Edit) by Scissor Sisters
Jetstream (Richard X Remix) by New Order
God Save The Queer by Klatsch!
Feel So Close (Extended Mix) by Calvin Harris
Timebomb (George M. Extended Mix) by Kylie
Party All The Time by Aubrey O’Day and Shannell SnL
What A Feeling (Featuring Kelly Rowland) (Henry John Morgan Remix) by Alex Gaudino
Proud (Peter Presta QAF V Mix) by Heather Small

“Give in, get happy!”

This was my 4th consecutive year serving as the DJ on Virgin America’s Pride float, and once again we were honored to have recording artist, reality show star, and hometown girl Aubrey O’Day on board, along with a contingent of my colorful co-workers.

San Francisco Pride’s theme for 2012 was Global Equality, and the theme for Virgin’s float was The World Is Your Runway. To that end I tried to flavor the music just a bit with travel themes.

Please enjoy and share this souvenir mix of my set from the float.

Cover star: me!

Kiss The Future Vol. 15

Kiss The Future Vol. 15
(Original upload date 19 October 2007)

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The Creeps (Fonzerelli Mix) by Camille Jones vs. Fedde Le Grand
Bring The Noise (Ferry Corsten Mix) by Public Enemy
Burnin’ by Daft Punk
Yeah Yeah (D. Ramirez Vocal Club Mix) by Bodyrox
Kinda New (Dirty South 07 Remix) by Spektrum
Confusion 2007 (Dirty South Electrofried Remix) by New Order
Soul Heaven (Fonzerelli Remix) by Henrik B.
Get On The Dancefloor (Vandalism Vocal Remix) by Freaks
Computer Love (No Recip Mix) by NSA Featuring RuPaul
With Every Heartbeat (Corenell Remix) by Robyn With Kleerup

“It’s a beautiful, beautiful scene; it’s a soul, soul heaven”

Fonzerelli is turning into one of my favorite artists. His track Spirit from KTFv14 is something I can listen to over and over again, along with his remix of Soul Heaven presented here. I know it’s GAYGAYGAY but I can’t help being moved by it – and I hate divas. The big surprise is Ferry Corsten’s mix of Bring The Noise, which kicks ass. I lived with a copy of Public Enemy’s Fear Of A Black Planet all during my freshman year of college, and I can still rap almost the entire track from memory. As soon as I heard the remix I started hearing Daft Punk’s Burnin’ paired with it. Dirty South has been remixing everyone and I love their bootleg mix of Confusion, one of New Order’s most reworked tracks (’83, ’90, ’95, ’02, and now ’07). Finally, NSA and RuPaul will have you laughing with Computer Love, the title of which is a nod to Kraftwerk and with lyrics taken from dirty personal ads on Craigslist (NSFW).

New Order Vol. 3 – The 50 Pound Note Mix

New Order Vol. 3 – The 50 Pound Note Mix
(Original upload date 21 April 2006)

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Run 2 (Extended Version)
Vanishing Point (Instrumental Making Out Mix)
Subculture (Sarm West Mix)
Best & Marsh
Soundtrack (Chronovisor Edit)
Round & Round (12″ Version)
MTO (Minus Mix)
True Faith (Morel’s Pink Noise Mix)
Paradise (Robert Racic Mix)
Guilt Is A Useless Emotion (DJ Dan Club Mix)
The Happy One (50 Pound Note Mix)

Past>Forward Vol. 2 – The 50 Pound Note Retro Mix – The Metro, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Past>Forward Vol. 2 – The 50 Pound Note Retro Mix – The Metro, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
(Original upload date 18 April 2007)

DOWNLOAD (77.3 MB, 192kbps, 56:12)

Walking Away (SMD Mix) by Information Society
Bizarre Love Triangle (12″ Version) by New Order
True Faith (Morning Sun Remix) by New Order
The Different Story (Razormaid! Mix) by Peter Schilling
Losing My Mind (Disco Mix) by Pet Shop Boys
Das Omen (Razormaid! Mix) by Mysterious Art
Strangelove (Pain Mix) by Depeche Mode
Join In The Chant (Burn!) by Nitzer Ebb
Theme From S-Express (US 12″ Mix) by S-Express
Crucified (The Nuzak Remix) by Army Of Lovers
I Sit On Acid (Mixin’ Up The Acid) by Lords Of Acid
Welcome To Paradise/Headhunter (Razormaid! Mix) by Front 242

“DROP THAT GHETTOBLASTER!”

Located at 156 W Main Street in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, The Metro was in operation from roughly 1990 to 1993. It came third a succession of gay-owned bars (Cafe LMNOP, Great Moments) that appealed to a mixed crowd, and played alternative dance music. During regular hours it was a lesbian bar but on Friday and Saturday nights from 1:30 to 4:00 a.m. DJs Chad and Joe would spin bands like Depeche Mode and New Order for an 18-and-up crowd that was a mixture of gay/straight/male/female/white/black/young/old. During the fall of 1990 it became the first gay club I’d ever set foot in, a full year before I turned 21.

I was already DJing a dance music show on the college radio station, which then approached the bar to have me do an industrial music night on Thursdays. I got to know Joe and Chad and within a year I was regularly filling in for them on Saturdays, too.

This is the first of two mixes that capture the sound of those nights. By the tail-end of 1991 James Brown Is Dead came along and suddenly techno wiped away melodic, song-based dance music. I started DJing at The Bar in May of 1992 so my Metro days came to an end.

I hope someone from the old crowd finds this mix; I’ve not seen any of them in many years.

As a side note I’d like to add that I had a lot of trouble recording this mix. I had to do it five or six times due to repeated technical difficulties, and it made me laugh because these are the songs I learned how to DJ with, and it was like my skills had reverted to that beginner level all over again. I should have left a great big train wreck right in the middle of it for old time’s sake.

Live In London

Show #61 – Live In London
(Original upload date 11 November 2006)

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(Not) Proud To Be An American (intro) by Lee Greenwood
Superlangalang! (M.I.A. vs. Super Mario) by Cry On My Console
Give Me Every Little Thing by The Juan Maclean
Voodoo Shake (Kelis vs. A Guy Called Gerald)
Bizarre Love Triangle (Richard X Remix) by New Order
Zero Return by 50 Pound Note
No Scrub Girls (TLC vs. Prodigy vs. Rex The Dog) by Soundhog
Girl And The Sea (Cut Copy Remix) by The Presets
Shout (Fashion) (Solaris Mix) by David Bowie
Controversy (Housetrap Dub Remix) by Prince
Work On You by MSTRKRFT
Silent Shout (Williams Acidic Circuits Remix) by The Knife
Drop The Pressure (Rex The Dog Remix) by Mylo
Teachers by Soulwax
Everything’s Gone Green (Martin Buttrich Remix) by New Order
Option by 50 Pound Note
Whoo! Alright – Yeah… Uh Huh by The Rapture
Hallelujah (Club Mix) by Happy Mondays
That’s All, Folks!

My thought was originally to split this into two different podcasts, but as I was trying to replicate my set as originally played that just didn’t make sense. I know it’s a long show. There’s no show intro to keep from making it any longer.

This serves as a “Best Of 50 Pound Note” up to now, incorporating tracks from the Kiss The Future series with tracks that have appeared in various podcasts.

The introduction is meant to be very tongue in cheek, while the outro is an addition – I’d intended to close out my set with it, but I didn’t want any of the crowd to think I was signalling the end of the night since the Cartel Communique guys were going on after me.

The two original songs were recorded in real-time, live, as I mixed this set. In that regard I don’t think the vocals are too bad. ;)

You may recognize Zero Return as the theme music to the show. In addition to singing I played a melodica and some cowbell toward the end. Option has lyrics by LD Beghtol (New Criticism/Moth Wranglers/Magnetic Fields) and the addition of shakers.