The late George C. Scott famously called the Oscars, “a two hour meat parade”, a description that could just as easily apply to this show. And as we’re a day removed from the reveal of nominations for the 95th Academy Awards, this week’s program explores the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ negligence in recognizing “Morbius” (dir - Daniel Espinoza).  Did the studio fail to place the requisite number of “for your consideration” billboards in Hollywood (FFS, even Turnstile know enough to do that) or does the problem lie in the Academy’s failure to specify a category for “Best Performance By An Astonishingly Annoying Seth Rollins Lookalike Who’s Mostly Sucked In Everything He’s Ever Done”?  You wouldn’t think it would take two hours to get to the bottom of this, and you’d be right.  It took closer to two hours and ten minutes.

while we're ringing the bell ten times for Jay Briscoe, let's maybe also considering paying Sade to sing something besides the phone book given she has such a great existing repertoire. When was the last time anyone dropped off the white or yellow pages anyway (and by no longer doing so, is someone trying to mess with Sade's earning power because if that's the case, it strikes me as especially petty).

you know the saying, “The Gerard Cosloy Radio Hour That Feels Like Two Hours Is For The  Children”?  No, I cannot say I have ever heard it before either, but in light of Big Thief’s invitation to educators (BRING KIDS TO SOUNDCHECK - GENIUS STUFF) I am extended a similar invite to school classes, youth groups, church outings, etc. to observe THIS PROGRAM's preparation and production.  I believe it was Al Jourgensen who said "a (creative) mind is terrible thing to taste" though chances are he meant "waste" and no one in his inner circle had the guts to point out the error.  However, my point is rather simple --- by observing the creative process up close, DEMYSTIFYING the podcast machinations (which are so very difficult, hardly anyone can figure it out), I am perhaps ensuring a future generation grows up with some modicum of inspiration.  If I can help just one young person to avoid ending up like Al Jourgensen, it will all have been worth it (though given all the time and hassle, I would really prefer it be at least a half dozen young people avoiding ending up like Al Jourgensen). 

like many of you, I've been throughly enjoying Jim Ruland's exhaustively researched 'Corporate Rock Sucks : The Story Of SST', however I think it's time to take an equally deep dive into another historically neglected subgenre from the same era.  Much the way TKO Posse's, "Daddy's On The Pipe" was the perfect rejoinder to The Dogs' "Mama's On Crack Rock", my forthcoming book, 'Corporate Rock Fucking Rules' is gonna be the ultimate answer-tome to Ruland's SST effort.  Concrete Blonde, Broken Homes, Lone Justice, The Motels, The Call, Wire Train. I mean, the list goes on forever and despite never having seen or met any of the bands in question (or in some instances, ever having heard a note of their music), i'm EXACTLY the right person to chronicle the movement.  If you've ever asked yourself, "when are the blandest artists of that generation gonna get their "My Band Could Bore Your Wife'?", the answer is "however long it takes to write a 300 page book". 

as we knock 2022 on the head, episode 135 is a brief preview of ESPN's efforts this weekend to revive their 2005 telecast of Little Steven's Underground Garage's "New Year's Rockin' Eve".  While the original program (hosted by Little Steven and the late Stuart Scott) featured performances by The Chesterfield Kings and the Moony Suzuki, due to budget considerations all they can afford this year is a prerecorded "content capture" provided by David Koresh Jr.  (much like Frank Sinatra Jr., his set is wildly unappreciated and often poorly attended). The fiery finale might not be to everyone's taste, but trust me, it beats NYE at Hotel Vegas, no matter how it all plays out. 

This week's show will not feature any music by David Koresh Jr. , not because of any rights clearance issues, but rather than entire department has walked on in protest over their xmas bonuses (ie. there weren't any)

good morning and a very Happy Hanukkah to all.  As you’re probably aware, this week marks Yo La Tengo's annual 8 night run at lower manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom and every year there is wild speculation over which artists, old or new, might be invited to appear as one of the surprise openers. 
 
 I’ve been reluctant to weigh in on the selection process — mostly because my calls and texts to the band have been blocked, but this year I was able to use my considerable influence to shoehorn my newest proteges onto one of the 8 nights, but I’ve since been told we’ll have to make other plans :(      anyhow, you’ll soon be learning about 
 
 Burning The Bowery, the tri-state area’s premier Heart Attack/D-Generation / Jesse Malin solo tribute band. Apparently the promoter & venue handling YLT’s Hanukkah run took exception to the project name and no matter how many times I tried to explain it shouldn’t be taken literally, in the wake of the Great White / Station nightclub disaster, I do understand these clubs cannot be too careful. But it’s no big deal, BURNING THE BOWERY will still be doing their thing this coming Thursday night on the back of a flatbed truck parked in front of the Bowery Ballroom. I’ll be there with them in the FFC* making sure everything is running smoothly (ie. I’m gonna Colonel Tom the fuck out of these guys, which is to say I’ll be taking 95% of their income, covering up their sex problems and trying my damnedest to talk them out of calling their first album of originals, ‘We Couldn’t Suck Less (If We Sounded Like Mike Ness’)
 
 (due to rights clearance issues, I am unable to use a photo of Burning The Bowery, so instead here’s an archival shot of the Star Spangles). 

• - FREEZING FUCKING COLD 

Today marks the 3rd anniversary of Aggie, Michael and James Bailey performing their homage to Einsturzende Neubauten on ITV’s “Coronation Street”.  That this performance failed to substantially boost Neubauten’s streaming numbers at the time is unfortunate, but this would not be the first time someone told Blixa he’d just have to take the L and smoke it (with apologies to Azealia Banks).  Or the last time either, maybe.  I can’t say for sure.  Please enjoy episode 133 - it’s on me. 

This week's show is up a little earlier than usual in light of recent events.  

We're lucky we got to share the solar system for a bit with Hamish Kilgour. 

Tomorrow,  December 1 marks the 25th anniversary of Latrell Sprewell's attempted strangulation of coach PJ Carlesimo.  My apologies as I tried to find a good photo of Spree and PJ together but all I found was watermarked / lo-res garbage, so you'll have to settle for a pic of a highly medicated Calvin Klein being separated from Spree at Madison Square Garden some years later.  Though the choking incident is referenced on this week's show, I remain stunned, saddened, really, that Spree and PJ cannot put their animus aside to join forces on a boutique mustard.  They're leaving money (and mustard) on the table.

with the arrival of episode 130, I am reminded that a large percentage of the program's listeners are either in transit today or feverishly preparing a family meal of some sort, and in either instance, I can think of no better musical/conversational accompaniment than 2 + hours of me moaning into your ear about how very difficult my past week was and/or how this show is criminally unappreciated. You know, universal subjects that will captivate you and your entire family, far better than televised sports or binge-watching episodes of "Minder" (though were I forced to pick, I'd opt for the latter). The Elias Koteas Sports Bureau claims Detroit's Thanksgiving day record stands at 37-43-2, however I am pretty sure all of those 37 Lions victories occurred before anyone else reading this were born. 

(above, future Lions GM Matt MIllen punching New England GM Patrick Sullivan in 1984. Though this did not occur on Thanksgiving, we are all very thankful for the excellent photo-journalism)