On Monday, November 8th: The Incredible Cinematical Musical Morricone Birthday Bash! (11am-Noon, Pacific)

Monday, November 8th, A Special FUNd Drive Broadcast of The Freak Power Ticket:

On Wednesday, November 10th, Italian film composer and conductor Ennio Morricone turns 82. On the Monday, November 8th, broadcast of my radio show, The Freak Power Ticket, I’ll honor the maestro with an on-air birthday celebration, and try to raise funds for KCSB-FM!

Best known for his work with legendary Spaghetti Western auteur Sergio Leone (especially his classic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly), Morricone, who has produced over 500 film scores since the late 1950s, was (re)introduced to a whole new audience thanks to the inclusion of his work in Quentin Tarantino's brilliant Inglourious Basterds. On my FUNd Drive edition, we’ll sample Morricone originals from both lesser-known films and non-cinematic works, including more mod-inflected numbers. We’ll also be playing covers, tribute songs, and remixes, while bringing in expert voices for celebratory testimonials.

My featured guest will be author, film scholar, moviemaker, and Video Watchdog founder Tim Lucas.

Along with subscriptions to Video Watchdog, we’ll be offering Mike Patton’s incredible Italian pop-music fantasia Mondo Cane as a key thank-you gift (the CD includes orchestral interpretations of numerous works in Italian, including Morricone’s “Deep Down,” from the “fumetti”-inspired cult classic Danger: Diabolik).

What’s more, it's the time of year for you to give, give, give and support, support, support the Tri-Counties' Source for News, Sports, Music, Public Affairs, & Cultural Arts, KCSB 91.9 FM Community Radio! Help keep shows like mine alive and thriving!

CALL & PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT (805) 893-2424, November 3rd-12th, or donate online here, anytime.

Thank-You Gifts: $25 Students, $50 Non-Students

Freak Power Ticket Radio Program: 09/13/2010 -- Santa Barbara's First Ever 'Bicycle Film Festival' (BFF10)

On Monday, September 13th, I invited Jim Cadenhead of Cranky's Bike Shop to be my guest on my KCSB-FM radio program, "The Freak Power Ticket." Jim is the driving force behind Santa Barbara's first ever Bicycle Film Festival, a weekend of events including races, stunts, a barbecue and/or libations (at Elsie's on Friday and the Mercury Lounge on Sunday), a bike swap meet, and an afternoon and evening at The Marjorie Luke Theater filled with motion pictures about the varied global phenomenon that is bicycle culture.

I've posted a podcast of the show that has edited out copyrighted music. Jim was such a terrific guest -- so knowledgeable, entertaining, and quite spirited -- I wanted to make sure that our conversation is available to a larger audience. Jim mentions over the course of the interview that Santa Barbara could quite easily become a world-class cycling community with just a bit of work, and this film festival (marking its 10th anniversary year overall) could play a pivotal part in that development.

It's my pleasure to bring you this podcast: all you need to do is click here to listen.

As a somewhat recent convert to the cult of cycling (and, no, I have not yet attempted to dress like Lance Armstrong during any of my bike rides), I was also tickled to weave the following bicycle-themed playlist around my interview with Jim.

It always seems a shame to have to edit out all the great music I like to share with listeners, so this week I've decided to experiment with making youtube clips or other links to this music available for your perusal, if available.

Freak Power Ticket playlist: 05/24/2010 -- A Love Song to My Mom.

My mother is very very ill right now. I was just home for a week and will be back there again soon... This was my tribute to her today on my first broadcast since the 10th. The woman is all that, and has been such a huge influence on me!

Stayin' positive!

T.

Freak Power Ticket (Eclectic) with Ted C. 05/24/2010 11:00AM to 12:00PM

Nina Simone “Here Comes the Sun” from Here Comes the Sun (Album) on RCA Bluebird/BMG Heritage

Francis Lai “A Man and a Woman” from Original Motion Picture Sound Track: A Man and a Woman (Album) on United Artists Records

Moody Blues “THE AFTERNOON: Forever Afternoon (Tuesday?)” from Days of Future Passed on London

Willie Nelson “Don't Give Up” from Across the Borderline (Album) on Sony BMG Entertainment Music Inc. — With Sinead O'Connor

Ennio Morricone “Once Upon a Time In the West” from Film Music: Volume 1 (Album) on Virgin Records America

Die 12 Cellisten Der Berliner Philharmoniker & Juliane Banse “South American Getaway (arr. Walter Depalj)” from South American Getaway (Album) on EMI Classic — Import release. Song composed by Burt Bacharach for Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid.

Murder By Death “Good Morning, Magpie” from Good Morning, Magpie (Album) on Vagrant

John Cale “Heartbreak Hotel (Live)” from John Cale Comes Alive (Album) on ZE Records

St. Christopher's Gregorian Choir “Suspicious Minds” from The Very Best of Gregorian Chant (Album) on Big Eye

Elvis Presley “Blue Hawaii (Live)” from Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite (Live) (Album) on BMG/Elvis

Cave Country Live on "The Freak Power Ticket": Podcast Now Online

Guest artists Cave Country, a Los Angeles-based group that blends country, indie rock, and folk music, joined me on Monday, January 25th on "The Freak Power Ticket" (my program on KCSB 91.9 FM) for a live performance, interview, and DJ set.

An edited version of that broadcast is now available below.

Here's the playlist for the entire broadcast:

11:03am The Fishtank Ensemble “The Last Shamisen Master” from Super Raoul (Web of Mimicry 2005)

11:07am Tall Tales & the Silver Lining “My New New Song” from The Understanding (Beehouse Records 2009)
11:09am

11:09am Cave Country “Constant Arrival” from Cave Country (Cave Country 2009)

11:14am Cave Country “Huff Ray" (aka "Huff Rag") (Live) — Live in Studio at KCSB

11:20am Cave Country “The One in E (Live)” — Live in Studio at KCSB

11:26am Cave Country “Travel Carrot (Live)” — Live in Studio at KCSB

11:29am Devendra Banhart “Lover” from Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (XL 2007)

11:33am Freaky Mountain “Woodland Creatures” (unreleased - myspace.com/freakymountain) (n/a 2010)

11:43am Cave Country “Laurel Canyon (Live)” — Live in Studio at KCSB

11:50am Cave Country “Cave Art (Live)” — Live in Studio at KCSB

(Thanks to Trevor Beld-Jimenez (aka Tall Tales) for facilitating the appearance.)

The Raven V's Genealogy of Mod & Garage Rock on "The Freak Power Ticket" (Monday, 09/21/09, from 10am-Noon PDT)

On the Monday, September 21st, 2009 broadcast of “The Freak Power Ticket," host Ted Coe is joined by guest DJs Phil Gonsalves & Dammit Dave from The Raven V, a newly formed garage-rock band from Santa Barbara. The two are experts on mod and garage rock & vintage rock'n'roll, & give a guided tour of “The Roots of The Raven V” (complete with two Raven V demo tracks!). "It's total freakbeat from 10am-noon PDT on KCSB 91.9 fm (kcsb.org)"

"Freak Power Ticket" Fund Drive Edition with Guests Danny Boyle, Michael Franti, & Ted Mills

"The Freak Power Ticket" Special Fund-Drive Edition

(First Aired: Monday, February 2nd, 2009):

1) Oscar-nominee Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “Trainspotting,” “28 Days Later”) Discusses Zombie Films and the Punk Subculture in the UK (Recorded Monday, January 26th, Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara International Film Festival);

2) Writer/Filmmaker Ted Mills Introduces the Work of Media Critic Charlie Brooker (“Screen Wipe”/The Guardian) and his Acclaimed UK Zombie TV Series, “Dead Set”;

3) Excerpt of Interview with Michael Franti (of Michael Franti & Spearhead), Co-Anchored by KCSB Host Nat Pyle (Recorded Friday, January 30th, Ventura Theater, Ventura).

Producer/Host: Ted Coe. Donate to KCSB! Call 805.893.2424 to pledge, or go to kcsb.org.

To Listen to the Program, Click Here!

(Photo: Danny Boyle & Roger Durling at the SBIFF)

My Interview with "Gonzo" Director Alex Gibney Airs Nov. 24th on KCSB-FM

On this week’s edition of "The Freak Power Ticket" (Monday, 11am-noon PST, on KCSB 91.9 FM [kcsb.org]): my interview with Alex Gibney, the Academy Award-winning director of Taxi to the Dark Side -- about the US’s post-9/11 torture policies -- and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. We discuss the 2008 documentary, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Gibney's biography of the celebrated journalist (and patron saint of my blogs and radio show). Gonzo was just released on DVD by Magnolia Home Entertainment. (To access my conversation with Gibney, click here.)

Monday’s complete broadcast also features further excerpts from a recorded dramatization of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” snippets from “The Gonzo Tapes” CD box set, readings from Thompson’s works, selections of music, and more in the way of audio séance magic.

My CHICAGO 10 "Freak Power Ticket" Radio Special

Brett Morgen’s Chicago 10 is an unique cinematic mashup: one part deadly-serious political documentary, another part trippy and iconoclastic animated docudrama. Throw in an anachronistic soundtrack -- ranging from symphonic movie music to Rage Against the Machine, Billy Preston to Eminem, Black Sabbath to the Beastie Boys -- and you’d think the filmmakers would have had a hit on their hands on the college/midnight movie circuit. But for various reasons an Opening-Night Premiere at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival didn’t translate into theatrical success: the film largely came and went upon its release in the spring of 2008.

The DVD market gives some quality movies a second life, however. Perhaps the late-August release of Chicago 10 on video will help it find new audiences around the country. What’s more, Chicago 10 is scheduled for a free-TV debut on PBS’s Independent Lens documentary series this October 22nd. Its story revisits the events surrounding the Democratic National Convention of 1968 in Chicago -- a site of mass demonstrations against the Vietnam War and violence caused by police and state officials -- and the subsequent trial of 8 dissident organizers on charges of conspiracy to incite riot across state lines and violations of the 1968 anti-riot act.

George A. Romero and Me

Back in mid-February, I conducted an interview with legendary horror-film creator George A. Romero, on my KCSB 91.9 FM radio show, "The Freak Power Ticket," discussing the 40 years of zombie cinema that he pioneered. This year, Romero's movie, "Diary of the Dead" (his fifth "Living Dead" work), received a select theatrical release, and it is now available as part of The Weinstein Company's Dimension Extreme line of DVDs. 2008 also marks the 40th anniversary of Romero's first feature, the all-time classic, "Night of the Living Dead." Our conversation focuses on the topicality and impact of Romero's works. Tune in here.

I've been obsessed with Romero since, ...oh, I don't know, I was about 14 or so. I remember hearing about "Dawn of the Dead" during the long nighttime drive back from a "field" trip that my Babe Ruth League baseball team (the Cardinals of East Sacramento) took to Marriott's Great America in Santa Clara, California: an older kid in the van described that crazy movie in some detail, and I was from that very moment dying to see it. I finally got a chance a year or 2 later with my brother and his then-girlfriend at a packed & rowdy midnight screening at Sacramento's now-defunct Capitol Theater. It definitely changed my life. Have seen it dozens of times since, and I also went on to watch all of his Dead flicks repeatedly. I even got to meet the man in person at an industry preview screening of "Land of the Dead" in 2005 in Los Angeles (for more on that encounter, read this and this). His studio handlers wouldn't let him do any interviews at that point, though, so I guess you can say I've been chasing this one for a few years (25+ years, perhaps?). Romero's a big fish, clearly. My white whale, maybe?

It was a real pleasure being such a big fanboy with him (off mic) and getting to gush appreciatively about his influence on me, at the end of the interview. Sorry I didn't share that moment with you in the recording I posted online. But the rest is worth it too, I believe. Here's hoping you enjoy listening to it half as much as I loved the chance to do it!

coming soon: "the world/inferno friendship society" (a documentary)

hallowmas is our time.

the punk/soul cabaret orchestra, world/inferno friendship society, released a great new album over the summer -- a rock opera about the character actor originally from austria, peter lorre: "addicted to bad ideas: peter lorre's 20th century." it's really a brilliant project.

anyways, i'm supa-busy right now. but my thoughts now take me to new york city in the autumn. dreaming of the infernos around us...

(this clip is from a documentary work in progress courtesy of someone named anniesays over on youtube.)

david cronenberg is the new alfred hitchcock

i had the pleasure of seeing the brilliant canadian director david cronenberg in person just this weekend.



roger durling, creative director of the santa barbara international film festival (sbiff), interviews cronenberg after a screening at u.c. santa barbara of his excellent new crime drama, eastern promises, with viggo mortensen, a special joint presentation of the ucsb arts & lectures' film series, the student-oriented magic lantern film program, and the sbiff's cinema society. (above)

here's what j. hoberman, of the village voice, wrote of cronenberg in his review of eastern promises:

"I've said it before and hope to again: David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation... neither Scorsese nor Spielberg, and not even David Lynch, has enjoyed a comparable run."

i happen personally to agree with hoberman. & in honor of cronenberg's newfound "acceptability" (which includes 2 oscar nominations for his previous film, the history of violence), i went back to scrutinize his unforgettable debut,

shivers (aka, they came from within) (1975).

brrrrr...

i had a few words to say about shivers, 'round about this time of year a couple of years ago; and this other segment, below, is from filmfour in the uk, with cronenberg himself talking about his nightmarish plague tale.



all hail the new king of suspense! long live the new flesh!!!

"rainin' in paradize"

manu chao and the radio bemba sound system in the prospect park bandshell, in park slope, brooklyn, nyc: tuesday, june 26th, 2007. (photo by yours truly.)

"rainin' in paradize" by manu chao

Welcome to paradise (2x)
Today it's raining (4x) (Welcome to paradise)
Today It's raining (Welcome to paradise) (4x)

In Zaire, Was no good place to be
Free world go crazy, it’s an atrocity

In Congo, Still no good place to be
They killed Mibali, it’s a calamity

Go Maasai go Maasai be mellow, Go Maasai go Maasai be sharp (2x)

In Monrovia, this no good place to be
Weapon go crazy, it’s an atrocity

In Palestina, too much hypocrisy
This world go crazy, it's no fatality

Go Maasai go Maasai be mellow, Go Maasai go Maasai be sharp (2x)

Today it’s raining (4x), in paradise
Today it’s raining (4x)

In Baghdad, it's no democracy
That’s just because, it’s a US Country

In Fallujah, too much calamity
This world go crazy, it's no fatality

Go Maasai go Maasai be mellow, Go Maasai go Maasai be sharp (2x)

Today it’s raining (4x)

In Jerusalem, in Monrovia, Guinea-Bissau, today it's raining (3x)

Welcome to paradise, Come to the fairy lies
Welcome to paradise
Today it's raining (4x)

Our Housewarming Party at The @nt Farm

"a jam session at our housewarming party on saturday, october 21st, 2006.

nick's on violin, colter's on tenor sax. david's on standup bass. other area musicians too joining in are gary and max on guitars.

the song, 'donna lee,' was composed by charlie parker.

my housemate, rebecca (aka, pussywillow sparks, of clitorectomy & the mutilators) is also on camera here."

Dishwasher Pete's on Late Show with David Letterman Tonight! (Friday, July 20) =D

back in the latter part of may, i interviewed, & then got to meet up with an old college chum, the underground legend & literary icon, "dishwasher pete" jordan, who i hadn't seen in about 12 years. pete was on a tour for his first book, dishwasher: one man's quest to wash dishes in all 50 states, which is out now on harper perennial.

dishwasher pete & i got to hang out for a bit on friday night, may 25th, in los angeles. i went to his reading at book soup that night, and then onto the cat & fiddle on sunset boulevard, with a friend of mine & some of pete's chums from the city of angels, including pete's fellow dishdog from his little rock, arkansas days, jim (pictured, above left, at book soup, with pete).

the turnout at pete's appearance at book soup was the weakest of his entire tour. i was a little disappointed by that. but, still, it was on a friday night, on the sunset strip -- where there's not a lot of parking and NO good mass transit (haha... this is LA, are you kidding?!) -- on the first night of a holiday weekend, no less. (& it seemed like just another event for book soup to get through, to be honest: sandwiched in between don rickles and some other "real" celebrity author... bleh. : / )

what's more, i couldn't help but think of the stereotype of angelenos as being shallow, and all of that, however much i didn't really want to go there... i dunno. i don't live in that megalopolis...

anyways: the book is terrific. pete's writing always has been -- some of y'all may be familiar with his legendary zine, dishwasher, & with his contributions to the classic non-fiction radio program, this american life.

(the night of our reunion was memorable, too, because it was also the only occasion i've had so far to meet up with fellow blogger & buzznet heartbreaker, desiree, the dvl... sigh... ;)

anyways. i'm finally getting around to posting this photo from book soup because TONIGHT, friday, july 20th, dishwasher pete is going to be making an appearance on late show with david letterman, on cbs television here.

a ways back, in the late '90s, pete & his friend jess hilliard perpetrated a hoax on letterman & his staff. then pete exposed it far & wide...

so, with that in mind, here's how pete himself is setting up tonight's appearance:

"Hey,

The last time I was invited to appear on the David Letterman show, I sent my friend Jess to go on in my place (see the video of that on my home page). With the publication of my book DISHWASHER, the question was: Would they have me back to promote it?

Turned out that the producers weren't so hot on having a guest who had already duped them once. But apparently, after reading my book, Dave himself wanted me on the show. When I got word of this a few days ago, all I could think was that they would try to pull something over on me, like by having a Letterman impersonator interview me.

Tune in Friday night to find out..."



(here's pete's appearance on "late show" last year -- but there were running gags about him all night.)

cult legend Dishwasher Pete on Monday's broadcast of "the freak power ticket" on kcsb 91.9 fm

on monday, may 21st, from 9-10am PDT, author & cult hero "Dishwasher Pete" Jordan (an old college friend) joins me on "the freak power ticket" to discuss his 1st book, Dishwasher: One Man's Quest to Wash Dishes in all 50 States (harper perennial 2007). just 2 days after his return as a contributor to the acclaimed radio magazine, "this american life," Jordan will talk on kcsb 91.9 fm about his 12-year career as the most celebrated dishwasher of his time, the result of kerouacian road journals that Jordan distributed in the underground "Dishwasher" 'zine, one of the most popular do-it-yourself publications from the heyday of the pre-blogging "generation x"-era 1990s.

(go to kcsb.org for a live webcast of this monday's program.)

KCSB Presents Jeremy Scahill Event Discussing Corporate Mercenaries 'Blackwater USA' - 7pm Thursday, April 26th, 2007, Isla Vista Theater

Investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill, of The Nation magazine and a correspondent/producer for Democracy Now!, will discuss his explosive new bestselling book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army, an exposé of Blackwater USA, the Bush administration’s shadow soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and inside the U.S. (in places like post-Katrina New Orleans). KCSB is very proud to be hosting Scahill’s first West Coast appearance on this important topic, on Thursday, April 26th, 2007, starting at 7pm, at the Isla Vista Theater (960 Embarcadero Del Norte). A Q&A will follow Mr. Scahill’s lecture.

Proceeds from this event will benefit KCSB. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for general admission; tickets are on sale now at the A.S. ticket office at UCSB, available by phone at (805) 893-2064, and at the door. We hope to see you there!

There is limited free parking available in Isla Vista. Campus parking permits will also be available at the entrance of the Lot 23 parking structure for the discounted price of $1.50. A full campus map can be found here.

Free Ian Svenonius & Calvin Johnson Events in Ventura & Goleta, CA, This Thursday

This Thursday, March 15, starting at 6:00 p.m. at Buffalo Records in Ventura, Ian Svenonius (of Drag City recording artists Weird War, formerly of The Make-Up, and Nation Of Ulysses) will be conducting a multi-media presentation inspired by his new book, The Psychic Soviet - and Other Works (out now on Drag City Books). Currently in its second printing, this collections of essays on music, culture, and radical politics will be for sale at the event, and Mr. Svenonius will also sign your copy if you ask him nicely.

After this free, all-ages, Buffalo Records in-store appearance, DJs Name Names (Ian Svenonius) and Selector Dub Narcotic (K Records founder Calvin Johnson, of Beat Happening and Dub Narcotic Sound System) will be spinning records at The Mercury Lounge in Goleta starting at about 9:00 p.m. 21+ only.

Both events are sponsored by KCSB 91.9 FM.

Thanks for supporting independent music and all that it entails...

agent ribbons on kcsb-fm, 9-10am PST, & at the biko co-op in isla vista 2nite, 7-10pm

sacramento's agent ribbons will be in-studio later today (monday, march 5th, from 9-10am PST) for a live performance/interview/DJ gig on "the freak power ticket" on kcsb 91.9 fm,

listen online

agent ribbons, watercolor paintings, & clitorectomy & the mutilators (both from santa barbara, ca): monday, march 5th, 2007, 7-10pm: @ the biko co-op showspace, 6612 sueño rd., isla vista, ca.

donations accepted for the touring band at the door. sponsored by kcsb 91.9 fm.

coming soon: CHICAGO 10

i am so excited about the animated docudrama, chicago 10, directed by brett morgen, co-director of the kid stays in the picture.




it was the opening night film at the sundance film festival in utah. somewhat not surprisingly it wasn't subject to the same sort of bidding war by studios as other movies at the fest: i mean, what do the suits know, anyway?



my friend dee dee says that it's smart and powerful, & that's good enough for me (the reviews so far have been quite good, too). the scene i've included seems very cool, too. contemporary music, to give it some ooomph, & a you-are-there effect that is difficult to achieve in onscreen recreations of this hugely important past.

i've been inspired by the case of the chicago 7 (& bobby seale) as long as i've known about it.

take the hill!
take the hill!
take the hill!

my radio show, "the freak power ticket," returns to kcsb on MONDAY

the freak power ticket returns to kcsb every monday starting this january 15th, 9-10am, PST, kcsb 91.9 fm in santa barbara, california.

listen online

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