Transmusic Airwaves

Today on TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#238) you'll hear several songs by THE BEATLES (some by the band and some 'covered' by others), a couple of JOHN CALE melodies (one 'covered' as well), CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN'S 'cover' of 'Interstellar Overdrive,' and a lullaby rendition of a FLAMING LIPS song. You might say that this covers just about everything but wait, there's more! There's more NEW releases includi...

Today's edition of TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (Episode #236) begins with a NEW song from BRUCE COCKBURN'S latest, 'Bone On Bone,' and finishes with a NEW piece by HALF CLEVELAND called 'The Fence.' There's plenty of variety in between to keep your ears happy for another three full hours. For example, there's acoustic based melodies from YUSEF (CAT STEVENS), DAEVID ALLEN, AUDIENCE, and JOHN PHILLIPS in th...

Another musical adventure awaits your ears on this edition of TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (Episode #235). Today's selections include nineteen tracks from NEW releases including songs by BRAND X, YUSEF (CAT STEVENS), GRIZZLY BEAR, TEMPLES, and AU REVOIR SIMONE (from the latest Twin Peaks Series soundtrack). The 'vault' is fully loaded with more tidbits from SILVER APPLES, ALICE COOPER, VANGELIS, DON CHERRY...

On this installment of TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (Episode #234) there's several songs with water as a theme to begin the program. TAJ MAHAL sings 'Water Water Everywhere' from the American Epic release, GILLI SMYTH plays 'Water' from She Made the World, and ROBERT FRIPP (with PETER GABRIEL) does 'Water Music' and 'Here Comes the Flood' from Exposure. In addition to those pieces there's GEOFFREY ORYEMA,...

It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of HOLGAR CZUKAY, founding member of the highly influential German band CAN this past week so on today's TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (Episode #233) I'll play selections from various parts of his career throughout the program. The first set will start off with the title track from Holgar's “Good Morning Story” album, and later on you'll hear Holgar w...

It's time to tinker away and make another TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES come to life. On this program (Episode #231) you'll hear surf guitar featured in the first set with music from DON GERE, THE MAGNETIC FIELDS, THE CRAMPS, 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS, and Akron's premiere “surfers,” BEYONDERERS. Yeah Baby Yeah! I'll even throw in THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION singing “It Can't Happen here” for good measure. Get out...

Got a hankering for the latest from THE FEELIES, or something by THE PLASTIC PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSE, or maybe an acoustic interpretation of HARRY PARTCH'S music? Yeah I've got all of those lined up for you in the first set on this week's TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (Episode #228). How about LOL COXHILL'S “cover” of "I Am the Walrus,” and CHROME'S version of King Crimson's “Moon Child,” perhaps a sailor's...

On today's TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (Episode #227) I'll start off with Bjork, followed by The Residents (from the Subterranean Modern LP), then play the Golden Palamino's, R. Stevie Moore, some vintage Rolling Stones, another cut from the latest album by Tinariwen, and finish up with a “live” rendition of Van Der Graaf Generator's “Sphinx in the Face.” Excited yet? You should be. The second set begins...

It was 50 years ago today that “Sgt. Peppers brought the band to play.” And did they ever! The Beatles transformed the musical landscape with their legendary album, “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” in the summer of 1967 so on this edition of TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (Episode #219) I'll do my small part in remembering that moment by dedicating the first set to that amazing recording as interpreted...

I've added a new twist to this week's TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#203) and during the fourth set you'll hear a combination of spoken word pieces (from William S. Burroughs, Bob Neuwirth & John Cale, Daevid Allen, and Ken Nordine) blended in with several contemporary composers (Phillip Glass, Terry Riley, Harry Partch, and Steve Reich). There's also music from Robbie Robertson, Pink Martini & Sao...

Today’s TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#189) marks the return of a segment called a “Character Study,” with a new format and a slightly different twist. I’ll be joined by JACK KIDNEY for a special interview and utilize him in the role of guest DJ during the final half of the show. Jack has been a member of the group 15-60-75 (The Numbers Band) for the past four decades. The band blends original material int...

Welcome to another special re-broadcast from my radio archives. Today's program is from my original "Free Form Radio" series on SFCR/KUSF-in-Exile, "Vicotin Popsicles" and is actually the fourth show which originally aired on May 18, 2012 and ran in a two hour time slot. On it you'll hear music in the first set dedicated to trains (Including Hendrix's version of "Hear My Train A Comin'," plus new...

Today's program represents my first in a series of earlier programs to air as I take a look back on nearly four years at SFCR. The show I've chosen is from my first free form radio program, VICOTIN POPSICLES (#15) which originally aired on August 3, 2012. It also marks the first time my show went to it's current three hour length. Below is the original description for this program and the show's p...

“The present day composer refuses to die” – Edgard Varese Today on TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#154) it’s time once again for my special in depth feature, a “Character Study,” where I look at an individual whose had a significant impact on contemporary music. On this program I’ve chosen the monumental task of looking at the life and music of Frank Zappa. More than anyone I can think of Zappa has created...

Ornette Coleman is remembered today during a show that includes some songs about the beach and others about space. It’s another smorgasbord of free form radio packed with a tasty variety of musical selections on this week’s program. Music from Kevin Ayers, Dilon Djindi, and Gorillaz add to the lively “beach” theme while XTC, The Doors, Thurston Moore, and Camper Van Beethoven bring the subject of...

On today’s program it’s time once again for another special feature “Character Study.” A “Character Study” is a two hour in depth look at individuals and groups that have had a significant impact on contemporary music. I’ve chosen the bands HENRY COW, SLAPP HAPPY, the spin off band THE ART BEARS, and solo works from their individual members as the latest subject matter. HENRY COW was formed by uni...

This week marks the 45th anniversary of what was one of the darkest days in modern American history as four students were killed and nine others wounded by Ohio National Guard troops at Kent State University while protesting the escalation of the Vietnam war into Cambodia on May 4, 1970. On today’s TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#115) I’ll play various Kent, Akron, and Cleveland bands who played locally and...

DAEVID ALLEN – JANUARY 13, 1938 to MARCH 13, 2015 Please join me today on this special edition of TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#109) over SFCR, San Francisco Community Radio, KUSF-in-Exile in celebrating the life of DAEVID ALLEN. As founding member of the band GONG and the band The Soft Machine, Daevid remained at the forefront of the Psychedelic and Progressive Rock movements for over four decades, bring...

It’s time once again for a special “Character Study” on today's edition of TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES. A “Character Study” is a look at an artist or group that’s had a significant impact on contemporary music and today I’ve chosen to look at the life and career of ROBERT WYATT. Wyatt was the co-founder of the legendary Canterbury band The Soft Machine and as an artist his prolific output and influence ha...

“ENO IS GOD.“ “Those three words appeared everywhere. Bars. Telephone Booths. Subway Billboards.”* * David Bowman (author) describing Brian Eno’s emerging influence on New York’s vibrant “new wave” scene in 1978 from his book “This Must Be The Place.” On this week’s TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#84), my special “Character Study” feature returns in the final two hours with an in depth look at the life and...

“Warning, Warning...Danger Will Robinson” “Ohhh the pain...the Pain!” Those phrases have been engrained into every baby boomers psyche since the TV sci-fi series “Lost in Space” first aired in 1965. On today’s edition of TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#71) I’ll take bits of that show’s dialogue and surround it with the appropriate “space” songs from such artists as Hawkwind, Devo, Aimee Mann, Wooden Shjips,...

After a lengthy sabbatical, I'm releasing more vintage programming from my very first program on SFCR/KUSF-in-Exile, VICOTIN POPSICLES. On this episode(#29), which originally aired on November 9, 2012 there is music that is somehow related to the posted photo...a full hour of things inspired by "THE MOON,THE STARS (Trek?), AND OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES". Dialogue from television (take a wide guess wh...

Zero the Hero and Captain Capricorn are just two of the alter egos of legendary guitarist DAEVID ALLEN’S persona as founding member of the British psychedelic band GONG and as principle protagonist in it’s other worldly mythology. On today’s special installment, the bi-monthly “Character Study” on TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES(#58), the final two hours of the show will be devoted to his and the bands impact...

On this week’s TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#49), my special “Character Study,” an in depth look at an artist/group that’s had a significant impact on contemporary music, returns with a look at the career of PETER HAMMILL and the legendary band, VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR. Beginning with the bands first single in 1967 (“People You Were Going To”) today’s feature will include some rare “live” recordings of th...

On this weeks TRANSMUSIC AIRWAVES (#32), it’s time for another installment of the monthly series, “Character Study,” a look at an individual or band that has had an important influence on modern music. The legendary “Avant-garage” band, PERE UBU, and their founder, DAVID THOMAS are the focus of today’s feature. Beginning as Cleveland’s unabashedly unique punk pioneers ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS, PERE U...