Hobo Gauntlet Radio - November 2016

On this episode I'll discuss my complete ineptness for the silly, simple things in life most people can do quite easily, like replacing stupid Flanders cabinet shelf support clips. I'll reveal the surest bet I've ever made, and tell you why to avoid Pickering at all costs. Here's a list of tunes which are fantastic, regardless of what you think.

1. Icona Pop - I Love It
2.Cage The Elephant - Mess Around
3.Simple Minds - New Gold Dream
4.Kasabian - Lost Souls Forever
5. Flock of Seagulls - Telecommunication
6.Young Rival - Interior Light
7. Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drum
8. Kate Nash - Foundations
9. Vital Sines - Collage
10. Front 242 - Headhunter
11. Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough
12. Snow Patrol - Run
13. Wintersleep - Weighty Ghost 

Hobo Gauntlet Radio - Episode 29

1. Radiohead - No Surprises
2. Cabaret Voltaire - Sensoria
3. Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole
4. INXS - New Sensation
5. Omi - Cheerleader
6. Kon Kan - I Beg Your Pardon
7. Saint Motel - My Type
8. Korn - A.D.I.D.A.S.
9. Icona Pop - I Love It
10.Chvrches - Leave a Trace
11. R.E.M. - What's the frequency, Kenneth?
12. The Doors - The End
13. The Crystal Method - Get Busy Child
14. Echo & The Bunnymen - The Promise

Hobo Gauntlet Radio - Episode 18

Ok so this shit show is a bit of an experiment. It's the first episode recorded from the Girth Radio booth, as part of our Open DJ nights Mondays. Here's the music, with playlist below.

1. Iggy Pop - The Passenger
2. MGMT - Kids
3. Daft Punk - Funk Phenomena
4. Capital Cities - Safe and Sound
5. The Doors - Lover Her Madly
6. Style Council - Long Hot Summer
7. The Charlatans - My Beautiful Friend
8. James - Say Something
9. Coldplay - Adventure of a Lifetime
10.  Arrested Development - Mr Wendall
11. Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy
12. Cheryl Lynn - Got to be Real
13. Nothing But Thieves - Trip Switch
14. Michael Jackson - Thriller
15. Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf
16. Daft Punk - Get Lucky
17. Coeur De Pirate - Oublie - Moi
18. Young Rival - Interior Light

Hobo Gauntlet Radio - Episode 15

Coming in at exactly 1 hour and 1 minute, HGR Episode 15 once again sucks you into a sonic adventure, with chills, spills and pills...lots and lots of pills.

Track Listing:
1. Radiohead - The Witch
2. National Velvet - Flesh Under Skin
3. Blur - Parklife
4. Tragically Hip - Fifty Mission Cap - FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT GD!
5. Divine - Native Love
6. Silversun Pickups - Circadian Rhythm
7. The Cure - In Between Days
8. The Mission - Tower of Strength
9. Foals - Mountain at My Gates
10. Abecedarians - Smiling Monarchs
11. Electronic - Getting Away With It
12. Sidney Samson - Riverside
13. Chemical Brothers - Believe
14. Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

The Giant

I was sitting outside at home recently when I noticed a few ants had gathered on the patio furniture, milling about, discussing some ant-related matter. There were about 5 of them just chillin' and chattin'.

It was at this precise moment that I briskly stood up and hovered directly above them menacingly, and I do believe I even growled a bit. See, I wondered if I'd get any reaction whatsoever from the tiny creatures as they went about their business. From there perspective, I would think that I'd be seen as a horrifying giant mutant that has just invaded their little world.

But, I got nothing. They didn't look up or shrink in fear or run. They completely ignored me, which either means they didn't see me, or they just don't give a fuck. Either way, the ants just carried on with their lives despite a potentially murderous presence.

I like their attitude.
  

Of Metamorphisis and B-lists

1. Inherently there is trepidation in change, but as the old saying goes, the sweetest fruit is always way out on the limb.  After 18 years with the same employer, I am about to venture off into a new direction, a new culture and a new job - it's exhilarating and a little scary all at the same time, which is how I know I'm on the right path. The feelings of uncertainty are a result of one coming out of one's routine, shedding an old skin and starting anew. In short if it freaks you out a bit - keep doing it..the exception of course being stuff like killing a guy.

2. Coincidentally, I took Hobo Gauntlet Radio on the road somewhat this past Saturday, and  I had a blast. I was fortunate enough to be invited to DJ at a cozy cavernous nightclub called Nocturne in Queen West. I was the "front room" DJ, which meant I was not the main draw. This is completely fine of course as I play music purely for fun. Sure a few extra bucks and comped beers is nice but I DJ as a creative outlet only. But what was special about this gig was that I played music that I have never really played at a club, bar or party before, and the folks there ate it up. It was obscure classic alternative like Killing Joke and Front 242, and deeper cuts from bands like New Order and Depeche Mode. People danced to the very last note, which by the way, came courtesy of the Violent Femmes.

Hobo Gauntlet Radio Episode 13

This go round it's a marginally less annoying episode of Hobo Gauntlet Radio because I've chosen to speak so little, I don't speak at all.

Instead, we'll hear from bands including Future Islands, The Stranglers, Stars, Arcade Fire, Love and Rockets and one of my favourite new'ish tracks from a band called Young Rival(which is at 33:20 to be precise).  This episode of HGR is exactly fifty one minutes and eight seconds.

Chinese tourists at buffet in Thailand

https://streamable.com/lsb6

Tim

About six months ago at work I saw a friend's brother, Tim, around the office. I had only met him a couple of times, but after chatting with him it turned out he had gotten a job in another department. Every couple of days since then I'd see him around here and there, just saying "hey Tim, how are you man? "...you know.. that sort of small talk. He was always friendly, saying hello back, and then we'd go our separate ways. About two weeks ago I was having lunch with colleagues in the work cafeteria when TIm walked by, so he stopped to say hello, and I introduced Tim to the group..we chatted a bit and then he walked away.

Last night I bumped into my friend, Tim's brother. I said "ya I didn't know your brother had gotten a job at the same company - small world". "Ya", he said, "Scott seems to be enjoying it there".

A Indie 'n Retro mix

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2cxeTh4K3olOG1sb3hvU2czWlk/view?usp=sharing

Let's not all start %#&^% each other's #@%^&.....

I find Canadian media coverage of Trudeau's visit to DC embarrassing. It just makes us appear so desperately wanting approval from the coolest kid in the class. I get it - it's all largely symbolic and no real "talks" went down, and I suppose if it helps this country in some shape or form, such as reminding American tourists to come here, then I guess that's a good thing, but I just had to step away from CBC's nauseating coverage yesterday.

On a related note, Mike Myers looks pretty damn good for 78.

New Ghost Added To Keg Mansion Lineup

Add one part Darwin Award and mix with an ounce of Rooftopping and/or Burglary and you have a fresh faced ghost now adorning the fabled haunted hallways of The Keg Mansion on Toronto's Jarvis street.

Nobody wants to see a person shuffle off this mortal coil prematurely, but when you rattle the cage of the Grim Reaper, he (or she) will certainly listen when you come-a-knockin'.

So, next time the pretty hostess at the Keg Mansion tells you  that it will be a 2 hour wait before you can suck down those Mushrooms Neptune followed by a 12 ounce Baseball Sirloin, instead of sitting in the lobby and staring at the precise spot that young man met his maker, go the fuck upstairs and toast a cocktail to people like him who make us feel just a little bit better about our life choices today.

The Phantom Menace

I've got this pair of boots that I'm quite fond of. They are a quality make, and originally priced at $175. That price point is a little rich for my blood, so I got them on sale for about half that.

Then, about six months of delightfully walking around in my fantastic boots, the stinkin' heel came off the left one. As a result, I sounded like a tap-dancing fool everytime I'd walk on pavement or ceramic floors.  What made it even more embarrasing was the fact that it was only the one boot that made the noise. And, the heel missing meant that I was, in effect, an inch or so shorter on the left side which over time certainly would have made me a Quasi Modo of some sort. 

After some degree of procrastination, I decided that I should have the heel repaired. Of course, the decision to have it repaired and actually repairing it are two different things. So, two months later, after walking around as a lopsided clickety clackin' motherfucker, I finally got it fixed. But now, everytime I put on my boots and walk around, in my mind I still sort of feel like I'm missing that heel and sometimes over compensate for it when walking. It's sort of like the reverse of when a guy has gotten his arm cut off. For years he still feels like it's there, and this phenomenon is often referred to as having a phantom arm.

So what I'm saying is that if you've had a limb cut off, I know exactly how you feel.

To Hell in a Handbasket

Only white people were nominated for acting Oscars, Joseph Fiennes is going to play Michael Jackson in an upcoming movie, and now Sting is the halftime singer at the NBA All Star game.

Just what the hell is going on exactly?

The Grass Is Whiter On The Other Side

Well, us crackers lie on beaches to get dark, so I guess this makes sense...

Anyone Can DJ

In association with Girth Radio, be sure to join us at Pacific Junction Hotel (King and Sherbourne, Toronto) Mondays for our weekly open DJ night, where local creative folks with our without any technical skill play whatever the fuck they want.

Because that's exactly the point.

Tonight I'll take a break from spinning as we have a new DJ coming in, but I'll be streaming live video from the DJ booth through Periscope, so download the app, look up Hobo Gauntlet and tune in just after 7pm.

We'll spin one for Ziggy Stardust as well...

Progress

The Gaping Maw

Around this time of year, the songs and the spirit of the season encourage us to strive towards peace on earth and goodwill towards all who we share this planet with - the exception of course being turkeys. It comes with a massive degree of irony then that Christmas often brings out the worst in us. In malls, on the roads and on the streets, folks are stressed and fuses are short.

It all seems to begin with the so-called Black Friday sales. People in the US lose their shit as they step on each other's throats to save fifty bucks on a TV, and this is now creeping into Canada, although the antics here are tame by comparison.

Some people on this planet have to walk thirty
miles to get clean drinking water.  

Earlier this month my wife and I were on vacation at a Caribbean resort. As an all inclusive you can eat and drink as much as you desire and a lot of people take that designation quite literally. It appears that some feel short-changed if they don't take advantage of every possible thing offered, even if they normally wouldn't. At the breakfast buffet I saw folks gorging on chicken fajitas, which of course is the first type of food that comes to my mind at 8 in the morning. And everyday around 11 you'd see people walking around drinking some kind of rum concoction in giant coconuts, which apparently were prepared on the beach each morning. What was interesting was the sheer despair on the faces of people who missed out on getting their very own coconuts because the guy on the beach only had a limited amount. Several people were genuinely upset, with their sense of calm only returning when they finally got one the next day. (aka..give baby the tit)

The other day I saw someone put out a giant bowl of food for a dog, which the dog greedily hoovered in about nineteen seconds. Perhaps I'm over reacting, but this reminded me of the human condition. Whether it's global warming or world war 3, it's no secret that if we don't all slow the hell down and show a little discipline with our unquenchable consumption of all things, we may very well exit this planet sooner rather than later. Don't want to be a Debbie Downer (cuz I am not one) but i'm just sayin' is all...just slow down a bit & ease off on the maniacal quest to consume everything, immediately...I'm guessing you might a slightly longer life.. 

Radio Killed The Video Star

I find it fascinating just how wrong not only people can be, but an entire industry.

MTV smugly declared itself the new bad ass in town circa 1982 when it launched in the US with The Buggles' one hit wonder, Video Killed The Radio Star.  It suggested of course that video would crush radio's proverbial head and push out it's eyes with it's thumbs, sort of like that scene with the Mountain in Game of Thrones. 

MTV nowadays is just horrifyingly bad reality tv, and the once hip and thriving MuchMusic in Canada has been reduced to two aging technicians who punch things into a computer for an unending sequence of videos on a few linear channels watched by absolutely nobody, mostly still in operation so Bell won't lose their broadcast license.

On the other hand, terrestrial radio seems, in some ways anyway, stronger than ever. I've personally never subscribed to satellite services like Sirius, but I imagine some do as it's still alive. Spotify and other streaming audio services are ok, and I do have a subscription to the latter only because it came as part of my package with Rogers. I listen sometimes, but what it doesn't have is the live, local content, and radio personalities that help bring the music or the news to life so to speak. Don't get me wrong, I find inane morning show banter difficult to listen to, but there's still something immediate about good 'ol fashioned radio.

Bill Johnson, president of NBC

The conventional television model born in the 1950's is obviously dead. Newsrooms and local tv stations have been gutted and that trend will continue. Large North American TV networks and distribution channels have become bloated with their monopolies over the decades, resulting in unwatchable programming. Top shelf content is being produced and broadcast on network and distribution alternatives. With the advent of technology and consumer demand for choice, cable and satellite based companies operating only with the old models are simply a relic of the past.

It's frightening then just how wrong the so called best minds can be about any particular industry. Although urban legend states that it was Bill Gates who is on record for the quote below, the zillionaire nerd never actually said it. It was apparently uttered by some other computer executive in the 80's about the future of computers, so it's an interesting lesson nonetheless:

"640K ought to be enough for anyone"

Indifference