Nerd Show – Jan/Feb

Due to the coverage by KWCR of the awesome Weber State Wildcats Men’s Basketball games over the next month and a half, Nerd Show will not be airing until Feb 9th, and then only regularly later in Feb.

Thanks for your patience, and STAY TUNED for more about other, more interesting ways to listen to and experience the show.

12/01/11

Okay, this is going to sound like a broken record but…

This is a good excuse, trust me. There have been some 70-90MPH gusts with lots of very strong, very heavy winds which have been wreaking havoc on the power, glass, and arboreal elements of the University, and because of that the station, KWCR, is not presently able to broadcast. This has trickled down to the show and my ability to bring the music to you.

That said, I’ve not had the strongest contingent of new music for this new week, but it goes without saying that I’ve a metric s***-ton of music to share and will do what I can to further that goal next week on the 8th.

Oh, and the show is renewed!

11/17 and 11/24

So, as it happens, there was a hockey game on campus at 8PM last Thursday. A mixup meant that I didn’t get the 411 on this, but at least I was able to come in about an hour early to start the show, so some music did get played.

However, it looks like this week’s show is going to be skipped as well. It’s Thanksgiving, and even if I wanted to do a show it would be difficult and, let’s be honest, people aren’t listening to the radio much on Thanksgiving.

See you in December!

New music – 11/17/11

Yeah yeah, you missed me. While I’ve been globetrotting the music hasn’t stopped flowing in, so my work is never done, just delayed.

You remember that new Joker album? The Vision? Holy crap. Love it. It’s how that UK sound should sound IMHO.

Graham Knox Frazier has another release, House Instrumentals. This dude really likes house. He’s really pretty good at it, so you’ll be hearing some of it too.

J-Boogie has a few singles out with an album as well, and his Dubtronic Science has me believing. Undercover is very fun.

Miguel Migs is a name I’d not heard for years, but Outside the Skyline is one I’ve been listening to and playing for a while. Very cool stuff.

Jono McCleery’s There Is blows me away. Not my first choice for a genre, but when a talent like his comes along and puts out an album as solid as this, I praise it far and wide.

Captain Planet? Yeah, the blue guy is back and he’s Cookin’ Gumbo. Another fun album with some great grooves and beats.

DJ Shadow’s The Less You Know, The Better is an interesting followup to The Outsider. It’s much less Hip-Hop than its predecessor, but it’s still very characteristically DJ Shadow, for those who know what I’m talking about. I am very pleased to listen to an album of his and wade through a dozen genres while not feeling confused (much). Pretty unique, if you think about it.

Emika’s self-titled album is one I’ve been waiting for. This UK artist has a very unique sound, both electronically and vocally. Dark, but not necessarily the way you might think. It’s deeply interesting, as vague as that sounds…

Rustie’s Glass Swords is, if I’m honest, a slightly more palatable album than what I was expecting after his EP earlier this year. But I’m not disappointed. This is some really creative stuff which is leading the wave of very characteristic sounds from Glasgow. Brilliant.

Natacha Atlas needed some remixes, I guess. She got them, and they are good. What can I say about a highly-talented female vocalist singing in Arabic over dope beats that bears repeating? Nothing.

Seekae has surprised me. Weird name, weirder album name, great music. Kinda like Gold Panda but with a bit of caffeine. That’s a really good thing. Big fan.

Hectic Zeniths sent me an email asking for me to download their album. I did. I’m mentioning it here because it’s very mentionable. It’s a very dense combination of a pianist and electronic artist. These are things that can go sorely wrong when put together, but this is not one of those catastrophes. You’ll be surprised. Promise.

Starkey is a name who has buzzed around the UK sound for me, and Open the Pod Bay Doors is pretty much exactly what I was expecting. Very confident and driven sound with loads of character but whimsical also. Niiiice.

DJ Cam is, well, DJ Cam. He’s one of the few DJs you’ve heard of who isn’t German, Dutch, or American. He’s worked with everyone has even drafter Chris James from Stateless for a few tracks. You owe it to yourself to listen to this one.

Carmen Rizzo is generally an uptempo producer, but his newest EP is much more introspective. The Space Left Behind reminds me, deeply, of train rides and airplane lounges throughout the world where you’re never sure if you’ll be there again. Silly as that sounds, you’ll hear it too.

Tycho is well, kinda like an uptempo Ulrich Schnauss, with smooth, driving beats and a lot of synthesizer work. This is very pleasing to me and it makes for an airy, but worldly sound.

Okay, we’re almost caught up. Tune in tomorrow to hear most of this stuff!

No show on 11/3 or 11/10.

I’m (once again) out of the range of being able to do a show for the next two, so please tune in on the 17th of November for what is looking like the only show of the month (Thanksgiving is on a Thursday), where I’ll have a LOT of new music. Perhaps I’ll do some kind of extended XL jumbo size version…we’ll see.

Upcoming Shows – SLC

I’m excited that two great shows that interest me are coming up locally.

First is Hail Mary Mallon with Kimya Dawson at Urban Lounge this Wednesday the 24th. HMM is a collaboration of Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, and DJ Big Wiz. They’re hilarious and extremely talented, despite what the video two posts down might lead one to insinuate.

Second is Thievery Corporation at Red Butte Gardens on September 1st. Thievery Corporation is one of the most important projects for modern, world electronic music in the United States, bar none. Their label, Eighteenth Street Lounge, is the outlet for many of the finest artists in that scene. They’re also a North American distributor for a number of the excellent artists on Switchstance in Europe.

Should be a great time for all on both counts.

Solar Sound System

I got an email out of the blue about this act, and I must say it’s one of the best sounds that’s graced by ears in some time. I get a lot of great music, but I’ve a soft spot in my heart for instrumental hip-hop, and especially if it’s also got some Jazz elements. Two of my favorite genres rolled smoothly into one.

Yes please.

See him on Bandcamp:

or SoundCloud:

“Midsummer Meditation” – Mecca:83 mix for Mondayjazz.com by Solar Sound System

Wax Monsters

While DJing on the fascinating Turntable.fm, I came upon another DJ who is part of Wax Monsters. It is definitely Nerd Show material, and I advise you to check it out:

Def Con 19 – I got a set!

News came early this morning that I’ve been selected to play some music and perform during Def Con 19. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and challenging also, but I am already making some initial preparations. Not sure what kind of equipment I am going to use, but it can be as simple or as complicated as I can imagine.

Lets enjoy with the mix that (probably) did the trick for me:

Def Con 19 Demo / Mixtape by Nerd Show