Trash-o-matic Garbage A-go-go with Filthy Rotten Wes

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How do you know you need psychoanalysis? Well if you felt compelled to stay tuned in to the records being played on KUCI a couple Sundays ago, you can take that as the first sign. Secondly, you would have come to realize, as I did, that psychoanalysis has never been this fabulous, and being a little bit psycho has never been so fun. Finally, you would recognize that we all have a little psycho running around inside ourselves, and maybe we just need some retro loony tunes to soothe our bouts of moon-induced lunacy.

“How do you know you need psychoanalysis? Well if you were still listening to this record, that should be your first sign.”

The record that DJ Filthy Rotten Wes was referring to, and all the jams following it, offered retro music maniacs a two-hour-long psychosis-producing radio therapy session. DJ Filthy Rotten Wes is the head doctor of the airwaves on Sunday nights from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. PST in the KUCI ward, and he is always ready to slip you the perfect pill of vintage, laced with the ultimate, nostalgic prescription for beatnik hipness. DJ Filthy Rotten Wes hosts Trash-o-matic Garbage A-go-go, an awesome show with a different theme for each episode. On this particular night, his show was based around the twisted theme of psychoanalysis.

This uniquely-themed edition of Trash-o-matic was comprised of a completely psychotic playlist, with songs like “I Hear Voices” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, “Psycho” by the Sonics, and “Psychotic Reaction” by Positively Thirteen O’Clock. DJ Filthy Rotten Wes even played sound samples of the comical Del Close between sets, providing do-it-yourself psychological testing for listeners.

“Just a warning to you…it’s 11 o’clock and the maniacs, including yourself, are on the loose.”

This DJ has been spinning wild tunes for mad goons and beatniks for over seven years now. He offers a late night variety of underground old sounds with genres that include crazy rhythm and blues, wild rockabilly, manic monster music, spooky surf ‘n’ drag, dangerous garage, and even 60′s rock ‘n’ roll in foreign languages.

While listening in on Trash-o-matic alone this night, I heard the maniacal laughter of a mad man getting louder and louder in the background. These are the typical transitions you will hear between songs, vintage PSA’s, sound-samples, and DJ Wes himself, when listening to his show. With such a rad radio personality and psycho theme, it was easy to stay locked in on this show. These eerie sounds even had me questioning my own sanity. Then again, this night’s show theme clearly demonstrated why no DJ is more popular during the Halloween season than DJ Wes, and in my opinion, he should be the DJ of choice for your annual costume party.

Wes clearly puts his time, his thought, and his soul into his playlists, as he welcomed callers but not requests; just the kind of unpredictability RadioFlag listeners love and appreciate about live radio. You want to learn a bit about some of the hippest, coolest music you will likely never hear anywhere else? Tune in to this show and listen to a DJ who truly knows the history of music’s most unique and rare genres.

Little did I know that Trash-O-Matic would reveal my unconscious interests of psychedelic 60’s music and make me slightly aware of my own possible madness. However, now I have the prescription to curb my retro craving mania. One of the basic tenets of psychoanalysis, is that the liberation from the effects of our unconscious material is achieved through bringing this material into the consciousness . So by unleashing my unconscious vintage-loving fantasies every Sunday night, I have discovered a healthy way to keep my little inner, retro monster tamely at bay and purring peacefully.

Tune in to @Trashomatic on RadioFlag.
Trash-o-matic Garbage A-go-go airs Sunday nights from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. PST on KUCI.

By: Rx Queen, Air Ambrosia, and Stella Static

Contact us at RxQueen888@gmail.com or AirAmbrosia@gmail.com or StellaStatic@gmail.com
@RxQueen or @AirAmbrosia or @StellaStatic on RadioFlag
@RxQueen__ or @_StellaStatic on Twitter

Electronic Hi-Jinks with DJ Scrawny

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RadioFlag and DJs are quickly becoming an “interweb” match made in heaven, as more and more masters of the turntable join the “Rebirth of The Radio Star” movement. One DJ in particular is an eclectic and pronounced DJ at Santa Clara University, and has become a power-player on RadioFlag. He calls himself DJ Scrawny. Scrawny plays live and streams fully through the RadioFlag app during his show Electronic Hi-Jinks on Sundays from 5-8pm PST on KSCU. He brings a transfusion of new and old music that he mixes live in the studio, and without the use of a dj mixer. Scrawny’s mixes are composed of beats that put you on an invigorating electronica listening roller coaster, from sweet melodies that relax you to tough beats that make you feel invincible.

There are many DJs that can create a playlist and push play, but there’s a difference when each song is hand selected, can locate your every emotion, and pull it through the music’s rhythm from beginning to end. Whether you’re in your car, at the office, or chillin’ out in your dorm room, DJ Scrawny is what the doctor ordered for this winter season. Every dose must be taken once a week, and must be taken in full, from 5-8pm on. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re “into” this genre in particular; it just takes one listen and you’ll be hooked. It isn’t a type of song that gets you, or selection of beats, but it’s a road trip to the unknown that must be taken at least once, with no inhibitions or preconceived notions. I myself chose to tune in because RadioFlag’s users have been flagging and raving about his mixes, and once I did I didn’t look back. There’s a listener’s intuition that tells you yes or no after the first 10 seconds, and for me, it was a definite yes. DJ Scrawny is versatile in his music choice to say the least. When I heard him for the first time, I caught myself daydreaming about what it’d be like to look out into the universe, and suddenly transitioned to imagining what it would be like jumping around at a rave.

Shauna Mork Photography

From peaceful to raging, from simple to intense, these mixes are anything but “scrawny”. DJ Scrawny’s set will either settle your mood or get you going depending on what YOU, the listener wants, because he himself is logged onto his RadioFlag account as @Scrawny, where he stays interactive, communicating with his listeners. He takes requests, shares his playlist for the night, asks what his listeners want to hear more of, and puts it into action right there on the air in real time. Make sure to keep your ears open for a song called “Chainsaw”, which Scrawny throws into every episode like clockwork.

His actions speak louder than my words, and there’s only one way to find out what I’ve been raving about. Get yourself a free RadioFlag account and find out why I dedicate this Radio Star article to DJ Scrawny; because I want to share this hidden treasure with you. Get #tunedinandtunedup. There’s only one way to find out right?

Shauna Mork Photography

Tune in to @Scrawny can be found on RadioFlag.
Tune in to KSCU every Sunday from 5-8 p.m. PST for Electric Hi-Jinks.

By TranceLation

Want to contact me regarding a review? Find me on RadioFlag @TranceLation

Positive Vibrations with Sister Rue

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On Wednesdays I often find myself tuned into the radio show “Positive Vibrations” with DJ Sister Rue. Sister Rue’s vibrations emanate from the University of California Irvine campus station’s frequency, KUCI 88.9 FM, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. PST. Positive vibrations are exactly what the music Sister Rue plays is made of, as the reggae “riddims” bust through my speakers, spill into my ears, and infiltrate my soul.

In the past, I had caught some of the show’s jams when using the RadioFlag app. This time however was different, as I was able to enjoy the entire show. Sister Rue’s radio show reminds me just how much I enjoy reggae music. Reggae always relaxes me, and seems to encompass that “no worries” feel, so the name “Positive Vibrations” fits the show like a glove. Sister Rue plays a vast variety of reggae and dub music, and is the perfect place to turn if you’re looking to discover unearthed reggae relics. The show I tuned in to revolved around an 80’s theme. It started off with the old-school classic “Pass the Dutchie”, and evolved into a musical expedition with each passing track.

Sister Rue seems to have a laid-back and earthy style, and she stays far away from any form of negativity. One conversation topic in particular on this edition of Positive Vibrations was about the day’s upcoming rally on the UCI campus. The rally was in protest of an 81% tuition fee increase proposed by the UC regents. Students, workers, and faculty were taking a stand and using their voice to fight for a higher quality education. In Sister Rue’s opinion, education is the key to the future, and has been rapidly diminishing with the budget decreases and tuition increases. On air, Sister Rue invited others to join her in the protest. Sister Rue fearlessly and openly believes in the “Power of the People”. It struck me as admirable when the gracious DJ, from behind the mic, told her listeners to “rise up effectively with style and respect.” Sister Rue encouraged people to embrace a protest when necessary, but wisely warned them to never make it about hate and anger. The fact that The Sister urged people to only protest in a manner becoming of style, respect, and positivity implies that she truly walks the walk, as these traits are the true fundamentals of reggae music.

Sister Rue included the song “Irie Ites” by Third World, in one of her sets. This was such a beautiful and fitting song for this specific show. Not only does Sister Rue refer to her listeners as “Irieites,” the show itself is really all about the Irie state of mind, or “to be at peace with yourself.” IRIE stands for “I Respect – I Eternally”, meaning have respect for yourself, and being happy with who you are.

Sister Rue leads a two hour block of Positive Vibrations every week. It’s reggae music with a powerful message. It’s a reminder for me to push away the negativity and to continue moving forward with a peaceful mind.

Tune in to @SisterRue on RadioFlag.
Positive Vibrations is on air Wednesdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. PST on KUCI.

By Gold Dust and Stella Static
Email me with blog suggestions! – GoldDustRadio@gmail.com or StellaStatic@gmail.com
Tune in to me on RadioFlag: @GoldDust and @StellaStatic
Follow me on Twitter: @GoldDust8 @_StellaStatic

Get Frantic! Frantix Jubilee with DJ Flesh Sweat

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The unruly DJ Flesh Sweat is one of the hottest and most high-powered DJs on KSPC. KSPC 88.7 FM “The Space” is a live, student-run college radio station streaming straight from Claremont College in southern California. KSPC provides the greater Los Angeles area with a wide variety of music not available through other channels or mediums, and DJ Flesh Sweat’s show, titled “Frantix Jubilee”, is no exception.

Mercilessly overtaking the airwaves every Monday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST, Flesh Sweat showcases the best in local, punk, hardcore, thrash, and of course pure, unadulterated rock-and-roll music. Regardless of what he’s playing, Flesh Sweat successfully keeps it fresh and ferocious throughout the playlist.

Flesh Sweat started out DJing in a friend’s bedroom on a bootleg radio device they together rigged to pirate the airwaves on a “real” radio frequency. They broadcast whatever they wanted, as true punks do, until their pirate device exploded on them. It’s no mystery that Flesh Sweat would do anything to DJ…even if it means taking an 8 a.m. time slot at the KSPC station.

Not only is the music Flesh Sweat plays sensationally chaotic, his style of interaction and attention to his listeners truly sets him apart when Flagcasting on RadioFlag. You simply can’t ignore flags like:

“Debouched and incoherent spinning madness and corruption @ 8 AM Join me will you”

and

“Open your knees and feel the breeze beat your chest and scream from the trees Listen to Frantix Jubilee on KSPC!”

Flesh Sweat’s passion to educate listeners on excellent music is a staple of his DJing style. If you want to know what’s going down in the local music scene, then Frantix Jubilee is where you must turn. Flesh Sweat plays the coolest new music (including bands on the Burger Records label), has live in-studio performances from local bands like Cab 20, and, best of all, does awesome ticket giveaways. Show ticket giveaways on Frantix Jubilee have included King Khan (of King Khan and the BBQ Show/King Khan and the Shrines), Almighty Defenders, and Ty Segall, to name a few.

I’m telling you, when it comes to music news, the boy knows what’s hot. He was the first DJ on the Flagcast to talk about the sale of the infamous college station, KUSF. He was the first DJ from KSPC on RadioFlag. He has a killer music blog that serves to spotlight local shows.

On top of everything he contributes to the radio community, DJ Flesh Sweat has great advice for new, up-and-coming DJs:

“If you dont DJ in the nude you are doing it wrong.”

Well Flesh Sweat, then I don’t ever want to be wrong!

Find @Fleshsweat on RadioFlag.
Tune in to Frantix Jubilee at KSPC on Monday mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
And check out Fleshsweat’s blog, The Love Stain.

By Stella Static and Baby Dinosaur

For review inquiries, contact us via e-mail: stellastatic@gmail.com babydinosaur333@gmail.com
On RadioFlag: @StellaStatic @BabyDinosaur
On Twitter: @_StellaStatic @BabyDinosaur333

Modern Music With an Old Feel – Nicole Vaughn and Her Lovely Band

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Here I am again, at the House of Blues in Anaheim, the venue that has allowed me to surf crowds to old-time legends and big-named rockers like The New York Dolls, The Buzzcocks, and The Bad Brains. But tonight I’m not about to “bring the mosh”, as they say.

Nicole Vaughn and Her Lovely Band meekly tower over the House of Blues crowd. Nicole is a lovely little lady with radiant golden locks, a flowing white dress, and a large acoustic guitar that she holds as if it were the only weapon of warfare she would ever need in a deadly battle. When Nicole and her band begin to play, the room rushes with vibrant vibrations, and an ethereal sound slips from her lips. You find yourself wondering: “how can such a gentle soul have such powerful command over the music that comes out of her?”

Not only are Nicole’s songs hauntingly beautiful, sending chills up the receiver’s spine, but they are energetic and lively. I promise you, you won’t be tapping your toes to this music—you’ll be stomping your feet and straight-up busting a move. Listening to Nicole makes you feel as though you’ve been transported to a different world…an older, simpler world. A world where people sleep under the stars and pick guitar creek-side. A world where folk and traditional American music is still at the forefront of entertainment culture.

But Nicole Vaughn and Her Lovely Band are anything but old. Quite the contrary. They are on the cutting-edge of the Orange County Americana music scene. Nicole and her band won “Best Folk Act” in the OC Weekly’s Best Of 2011 Reader’s Poll, and were the RadioFlag featured artist of November 3 through November 6, 2011.

Do yourself a huge favor and check out Nicole’s new album, Say It, and tune in to her on RadioFlag @NVaughn.

Learn more about her and the band here: http://www.NicoleVaughn.com

By Stella Static

If you’d like to inquire about reviews, contact me:
StellaStatic@gmail.com
@StellaStatic (on RadioFlag)
@_StellaStatic (on Twitter)

Janet LaBelle: A Voice You Won’t Soon Forget

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I’m always in the mood to hear great new music. You know…something you’ve never heard before, yet when you do, it’s like you have been humming it since the day you were born. Something that transcends terms such as “old” or “new”. It’s rare to find, and when you do it makes you feel very lucky. Well, recently I felt as if I may have hit the jackpot.

I was browsing the flagcast on Radioflag (one of the best places I’ve found to discover great new music), and a DJ from WHCS in New York by the name of Matt Josephson, said he was going to be interviewing singer/songwriter Janet LaBelle. Intrigued, I decided to tune in. I didn’t know what to expect from Janet, but I’ve heard a couple of Matt’s previous interviews on his show, The Warehouse, and just knew I wouldn’t be let down.

When it began I immediately noticed LaBelle had a captivating voice, and a charming personality as well. I soon learned she has been in various other bands in past years such as a punk band called “Avery”, which had a couple of their songs air on the children’s television station Nickelodeon. Honestly, when I heard this, my expectations plummeted. However, soon enough the girl started singing, and let me tell you…she can Sing with a capital “S”.

Suddenly, I felt like I was in a coffee shop in 1960′s Greenwich Village. Yeah, the same place that saw faces like “Mississippi” John Hurt, Dave Van Ronk and Melanie Safka. Being an avid folk fan, I thoroughly enjoyed her entire acoustic set, which included a cover of the old Safka song “Baby Guitar”. Soon enough Matt said he was going to play some of her studio material, which I normally don’t enjoy nearly as much as a live performance. But in the end I truly loved her recordings, which maintain a raw edge while still sounding quite clean. In fact, it’s hard for me to say which I liked better.

If you missed it live, here is a clip of Janet LaBelle’s live in-studio performance on WHCS’s The Warehouse:

No matter what kind of music you dig, do yourself a favor and give this girl a chance. She brings to the table a little folk, rock and blues, and together they form some fantastic tunes.

Find out more about her at www.JanetLaBelle.com and be sure to check out her songs “Heaven Can Burn”, “Without You” and “Apologies” to get a taste of what you’re missing.

Be sure to tune in to DJ Matt Josephson @m2j on RadioFlag.
Tune in to his show, The Warehouse, Mondays 5-7 p.m. EST on iWHCS.

By Fine Tuned
Contact me: f1netun3d@gmail.com
Tune in to me on RadioFlag: @f1netun3d
Follow me on Twitter: @f1netun3d

Save KUSF and Stream KUSF in Exile from Anywhere

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San Francisco California is known for having true diversity and culture. True to the city itself is a radio station from the University of San Francisco called KUSF. This station encompasses all of these cosmopolitan elements. The station KUSF, once found at 90.3, is a free-form local radio station that reflects the city’s “unique heart and soul.” DJ’s play underground music and discuss news and current events in the community. Listeners tune in to hear diverse thoughts, new music, and to enter into their own “cultural oasis.”

Joey Ramone Holding a KUSF Shirt

On Tuesday, January 18, 2011 all the station had to offer terrestrial listeners came to a drastic halt. KUSF was abruptly shut down, and ripped away from these DJs and listeners. It was a true surprise to everyone involved with the station. Later it was found out that through a three-way deal with Entercom, University of Southern California (USC), and the University of San Francisco (USF), KUSF was sold off in secret to L.A.-based Classical Public Radio. At 10 a.m. on January 18th, the student staff and volunteers were pulled out and the server was shut down.

KUSF 90.3 is the only college FM station in SF. KUSF has been a learning tool for USF students and a thriving communications home for San Francisco’s diverse communities for 34 years. It was taken without the consent of the people and they are not about to give in! The DJ’s would not let their audience down, so they created KSUF in Exile, now streaming their broadcasts on the internet only. With the help of New Jersey indie station WFMU they obtained streaming-audio bandwidth and rented studio space. KUSF streams an old lineup of favorite shows and added some new ones.

Friends of KUSF raised $40,000 to fight legal battles to oppose the sale. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating the sale, and has submitted a letter of inquiry to USF and to The Classic Public Radio Network. The FCC has not come to a decision yet, but it is clear they are taking the regulation of non-commercial radio seriously, and are going to use the sale of KUSF as an example.

As legal battles ensue, protesters are also taking a stand. Many of them gathered outside of the Entercom offices in San Francisco waving signs and informing onlookers of what had happened to their beloved community bay area radio station.

This battle is continually being fought on many levels. It is not just about saving KUSF 90.3, but on a greater scale, saving non-commercial radio in general.

KUSF Music Director Irwin Swirnoff and Protesters Outside of San Francisco City Hall

The RadioFlag team was inspired by these events, and has since focused its social media listening platforms on College Radio during the company’s early stages, to do its part to help ensure this does not happen on other college campuses. RadioFlag believes college radio is where some of the best talent and original and interactive radio content can be heard, and it intends to make sure listeners discover it and stay tuned in!

You can now support KUSF in Exile and tune in to them from your iPhone, Android, or the web on RadioFlag at iKUSF: http://www.radioflag.com/stations/1483042#

 

KUSF in Exile, Now Hosted on WFMU

By Gold Dust
Contact me: GoldDustRadio@gmail.com
Tune in to me on RadioFlag: @GoldDust
Follow me on Twitter: @GoldDust8

Rebirth of a Radio Star

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Anyone who thinks Radio is passé is simply mistaken. In fact, “Real Radio” has only been hibernating, enveloped in a “Reconditioning of the Classic” cocoon so to speak. Well that is, until now.

Radio being the original form of electronic social media, has temporarily been shuffled off into the recesses of “what was” and treated like a tired old remnant of the bygone past, overlooked amongst the glitz and dazzle of so many shiny newbies – in the dawning of this new social media age. Naturally the things that glitter most always steal our attention.

"Revenge of the Radio Star"

Real or Traditional Radio has been  taking a back seat for some time now, watching from the sidelines, absorbing all the latest perspectives of the new and  fresh faced social media starlets, while anticipating the perfect moment to re-emerge into the limelight..

RadioFlag is doing its part to set  the stage for this day to arrive. It’s time to recognize that the “Newest Star” on the social media scene is also the “First Star” to grace the electronic social media stage. Sometimes the hardest things to see are the most familiar. We tend to look to the brand spanking newest of things instead of reconditioning the tried and true.

Robert Smith's "Cure FM" Pirate Radio Broadcast

RadioFlag knows that a classic never goes out of style, it just can sometimes lose its luster, and all that is needed is some refurbishing, to regain its shine. RadioFlag’s charge is to give the classic Royalty of Retro, traditional radio, a fresh electronic spin, and crown it once again the King of Social Media. So RadioFlag, its DJs and listeners are happy to announce retro is back, vintage is viable, and real radio is alive. Radio is yet to see its finest power hour. RadioFlag is setting up to accomplish its mission to  renew, and rejuvenate traditional radio and get it ready to rock the mic with electronic vibrancy on this new wave of social media discovery. This classic social media star is being reborn; and setting forth to align the past, the future, and the present.

RadioFlag is hereby happy to introduce The Radio Star Blog, whose goal is to unite real radio lovers of all kinds across the globe, in a forum of live discovery and spontaneous social interaction.

How to Get the Attention of The Radio Star Bloggers:

The Radio Star writers are RadioFlag’s homegrown rising stars. They are unique just like you, in that they started on their own journey on this new Radio frontier, with only their interests in tote. They took a leap into uncharted social media territories, and simply tuned in to some radio waves. Along the way they have encountered unexpected surprises, as they have become socially engaged by the content they have experienced, they may not have ever discovered on their normally travelled path. Now that they have answered the call to become radio explorers, they are prepared to chronicle their discoveries by seeking out the Radio Stars that shine out of the ether. If you burn brightly, they will be attracted to you, and want to shine a spotlight on their new discovery through their writing.

1970s BBC Radio DJ

DJ’s and Talk Hosts can be featured as a Radio Star by standing out, getting their attention on RadioFlag’s flagcast.The Radio Star Blog writers randomly will tune into the flagcast, and will naturally be drawn to broadcasters, who are actively promoting their shows. They look for shows that highlight original content, have unique style,  showcase specific genres, focus on community activism, and talk specialties that are captivating. They seek out  broadcasters who promote and highlight what their show is about,  by flagging a specialized topic, genre, theme, special guest, band interview, live performance etc. Additional ways to get their eyes focused on you is through infusing your shows with elements of community awareness and outreach, engaging listeners with a unique or humorous personality, and or being entertaining in original and unexpected ways. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

The Radio Star bloggers are magnetized to Radio personalities that engage them in their quest to discover current interests, or can captivate them to discover new ones. They look for broadcasters who have a clear passion for what they are doing, and for those they love to entertain. They appreciate  broadcasters who take requests, but prefer ones who are not dependent on them, unless it is part of the theme or entertainment factor.

Artists are the natural stars of RadioFlag. If you are a solo musician, singer or band who would like to be a featured as a Radio Star, you have the best chance of getting these bloggers’ attention and maybe even the attention of potential talent management once they write about you. So consider utilizing RadioFlag to promote yourself.

The Quintessential Radio Song, Queen's "Radio Ga Ga"

This blog will feature a myriad of radio broadcasters and  artists  from around the nation and internationally, whose content you are craving to hear – some without even realizing it yet – until you listen for the first time. Our bloggers will help you discover fresh new entertainment, information and news. They will guide you through a new wave of internet capabilities and social connections, which focuses entirely on your personal interests and self enlightenment, by connecting you with others from around the world who feel and listen the way you do. This is your time to re-discover what  interests you. We hope you find the RadioStar Blog to be an illuminating guide, along the cutting edge of a new frontier of radio driven  discovery and selective listening. So register at  www.RadioFlag.com and Flag On!

Save the Radio Star

By Air Ambrosia
Contact: AirAmbrosia@gmail.com
Tune in to me on RadioFlag: @AirAmbrosia