The Best Of Bruce

Hey everybody, we're looking back on Houndstooth Radio's 1st year...Today it's The Best of Bruce! Dig Northern Soul Dance Party, the "Fat Nik's Donut Shop" boxes, Punky Reggae Party, The Bo Diddley Beat - Vol.1, Early Blues, The Houndstooth Flashlight on The Mods + Nigerian funk, 20/20, Mose Allison, Dogzilla, etc. all over again. The Best of Bruce all day long on The Houndstooth.

Tomorrow we're re-running our salute to John Hughes.

I Hate Post-Syd Pink Floyd But I'd Pay To See This...

Wayne Coyne is genius. Via NME.com: Flaming Lips to cover Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side Of the Moon' at New Year's Eve gig.

A Pic of Me w/Mr. Diken

Yes, I realize the Sox cap looks like a thimble on my head. It's an X-X-X that shrunk in the rain. I'm gonna have to trade up another X or two.

Dennis even looks like he likes me. Good man that Dennis.

Dennis Diken & Bell Sound

Your may have heard us play "The Sun's Gonna Shine In The Morning" by Friend of The Hound, Smithereen Dennis Diken's new band Bell Sound. Caught 'em this past weekend at the Vintage Vinyl in-store & they were outstanding. Their first proper gig is tomorrow night at NYC's Bowery Electric (located 1 block down from where CBGB's was next to The Bowery Hotel). In addition to Pete DiBella, Bell Sound currently features the great Chris Butler (ex-The Waitresses).

You can buy Dennis Diken with Bell Sound's Late Music here.

It's Two Months Old But...

...It's never been posted here.

Logo by the genius Josh Levy.

Another Harvard Sq. Instiution Bites The Dust

Literally. Most of The Houndstooth Gang has lived in/around Boston. I grew up on what was then the opposite end of The Red Line. For me Cambridge's Harvard Square was an easy, early & non-threatening escape fro Suburbia. My heart broke a bit when I learned Out-of-Town had closed. This week The Houndstooth Banner flies at half-staff for Brother Blue.

Dear Blog,

I've ignored you, neglected you & treated you shabbily in general. Since we last spoke Houndstooth has a new logo & all sorts of new stuff. We'll talk soon. Love you. Bye.

RIP Uncle Walter

Broadcasting titan Walter Cronkite passes away at 92. This makes me very sad. I grew up watching Mr. Cronkite every night. We shall never see his like again.

HTR Now On iTunes!

That's right. Big news. Houndstooth Radio is now streaming on iTunes. All you gotta do is click on iTunes' Radio icon, select "Alternative" & look for us under the letter "H."

Houndstooth Gets Some Love

GayLA.com sez: "The greatest MFing! radio station and it's online! You can blast it from your computer, iPhone in your car. Run by people who know how NOT to annoy you. It's all great music from those with good taste."

Thanks GayLa.com!

Bruce's Shows Today, Pt. 1...

Today on The Houndstooth, by special request and a popular demand, it's an encore presentation of '60s Mod Flashlight @3PM EST/12PM PST.

Tonite it's a Northern Soul Party. Deets soon come. Playlists too!

RIP: Ventures' Guitarist Bob Bogle

NY Times obit here.

Bruce's Show Today...

Bruce shines the Houndstooth Flashlight on '60's Mods...A regular rave up with The Pretty Things, High Numbers, Who, Yardbirds and the like. 3PM EST/12PM PST & 11PMEST/8PM PST.

Listen here.

Got The Blues

I really hate being sick. There's literally a monsoon stationed over my house. And it's Monday. No better reason for some early blues. If Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, Lead Belly & Robert Johnson fit your mood, head over to The Houndstooth right now or tune in tonite @11PM EST/8PM PST.

Dig The Houndstooth Radio Youtube Page

Kurt's been hard at work.

Bruce's Show Today...

I had planned to do the first Bruce's Musical Appreciation Class on early, pre-war blues. That show blew up. We had a great response to it last week so by special request & popular demand it's the last of the Nick's Donut Shop box: my best '80s 12" club singles. Tune in today @3PM EST/12PM PST & 11PM EST/8PM PST on Houndstooth Radio.

Bruce Playlist -- June 3, 2009: Fat Nick's, Pt. 3

1. New Order – "Temptation" (Factory import 7”)
2. Killing Joke – "Love Like Blood" (EG import 12” Version)
3. The Sugarcubes – "Cold Sweat" (One Little Indian ltd. edition 12” remix)
4. The Cure – "Let’s Go To Bed" (Fiction import 12”)
5. Flying Lizards – “Money” (Virgin import 12”)
6. My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult" – “Kooler Than Jesus” (Wax Trax 12”)
7. The Godfathers – “Birth, School, Work, Death” (Corporate Image import 12” remix)
8. Shriekback – “My Spine Is The Bassline” (WB 12")
9. Peter Murphy – “Final Solution” (Beggars Banquet import 12”)
10. Ministry – “Everyday Is Halloween” (Wax Trax 12”
11. Was Not Was – “White People Can’t Dance” (Ze 12”)
12. Public Enemy – “Fight The Power” (Def Jam 12”)
    

Bruce's Show Today...

The last rare vinyl from the now infamous "Fat Nick's Donut Shop box" -- a box lain unopened since 1991. Dig the best "X-Night"/New Club Classic 12"s from my personal collection today at 3PM EST/12PM PST & 11PM EST/8PM PST!

Bruce Playlist -- June 3, 2009: Fat Nick's, Part Deux

1. Pixies – "Bone Machine" live (1989 promo 12")
2. The Clash – "London Calling" live (1979 BBC Radio promo 7")
3. 007 Theme – "Billy Strange" (1964 7")
   
4. Link Wray – "Batman" (1966)
   
5. Wipers – "Romeo" (1981 7" & 2nd single)
   
6. Alex Chilton – "Take Me Home And Make Me Like It" (1980 Bach's Bottom LP)
   
7. Paul Revere And The Raiders – "Indian Reservation" (1971 7")
   
8. The Bongos – "The Bulrushes" (1981 Fetish Records UK 7")
9. The Atlantics – "Lonely Hearts"
   
10. Joy Divison – "Love Will Tear Us Apart (original version)
11. Funkadelic – "Think, It Ain’t Illegal Yet" (One Nation...bonus EP)
    
12. Cabaret Voltaire – "I Want You" 12"
13. The Smithereens – "Mr. Eliminator" ("Blood & Roses" UK 12”)
14. The Replacements – "20th Century Boy" ("I Will Dare" 12”)
15. Blondie – "Ring of Fire" live – (Roadie OST 1979)
    
16. Graham Parker – "I Want You Back" ("Local Girls" 7” B-side)
17. Happy Mondays – "Step On" (Twistin’ My Melon) 12" Mix
18. This Mortal Coil – "Drugs" ("Come Here My Love" 10”)

13.-18. All cover tunes: Dick Dale, T. Rex, Johnny Cash, The Jackson 5/The Corporation, Kongos & Talking Heads respectively.

***Tomorrow: The Best of X-Nite* i.e. very cool New Wave Club Classics & rare mixes from the '80s.

*WFNX/Boston's weekly club night started in 1988.

"Fat Nick's" Vinyl Box, PT. 2 Teaser

Today on The Houndstooth I continue delving into the mysterious Fat Nick's Donuts box of vinyl I haven't opened since '91. The big news? I found a stack of 7" & I've hit cover tune gold. It's all on Houndstooth Radio today @3pm EST/12pm PST & 11pm EST/8PM PST.

Bruce Playlist -- June 2, 2009: Fat Nick's, Pt. 1

Here's the rare vinyl I played today...

1. "Biting My Nails 12" –– Renegade Soundwave
2. "Mandinka (Jake's remix) 12" –– Sinead O'Connor
3. "Route 66 (Beatmasters remix) 12" –– Depeche Mode
4. "The Harder They Come –– Joe Jackson (UK only 7" EP)
5. "Twist & Crawl (Remix)–– English Beat ("Tears of a Clown" Promo 12")
   
6. "Cocaine In My Brain 12" –– Dillinger
7. "Birthday (Christmas Present) –– Sugarcubes (One Little Indian)
   
8. Shake The Mind 12" –– C Cat Trance
9. Lunch With Ed –– Dogzilla
10. Prettiest Girl 7" –– The Neighborhoods (Boston's Ace of Hearts label)
11. The Unguarded Moment –– The Church (Original Aussie vinyl!)
12. Up The Down Escalator –– The Chameleons (Statik Records UK)
13. 'Is That All There Is? 12" –– Cristina (Ze Records)

That only made a small dent in "Fat Nick's" fat box. I'll pick up we're I left off tomorrow 3PM EST/12PM PST & 11PM EST/8PM PST.

Bruce: Today's Show Preview

After yesterday's globe-trotting, time-travel and what have you, I overslept. I'm drawing a blank for today's show too. Over the weekend I found a box in my garage bearing the cryptic inscription "Fat Nick's Donut Shop" on the top. Never heard of the place. The box is too heavy to be anything other than vinyl. I'm certain it's not been opened since I moved to New York in 1991.

Today, we're opening the box. It's all on the @The Houndstooth at 3PM EST/12PMPST & after Kurt 11PM EST/ 8PM.

PS If I could only get the rest of the bastards I work with to write a post or two. That would be real progress.

Today The Internets. Tomorrow The World.

Our New Weekday Line Up Is Up

I'm really tired and on the air right. Go to Houndstooth Radio to listen now. Check out the snazzy new jock banners by Mrs. Bruce for the skinny as to when the hell we're on.

DJ LoveGun New Web Banner Preview

Saved the best for last...

Kurt's New Web Banner Preview

Bruce's New Web Banner Preview

Angie C's New Web Banner Preview

Sweet Jesus Tommy Is Rockin' The 'Tooth!

Why am I awake? Even if I could sleep right now it's not going to happen. Tommy's completely out of control. What's worse From what I hear he's borrowed a few of my discs. I better not find any slobber on 'em when I get 'em back.

PS Russell from Everest understands Tommy.

New Houndstooth Weekday Lineup On Monday

This Monday, June 1, Houndstooth Radio kicks off our new weekday lineup...

DJ LoveGun: 6AM-8AM & 10PM-12AM
Kurt St. Thomas: 8AM-10AM & 6PM-8PM
Bruce McDonald: 12PM-1PM & 8PM-9PM
Angie C: 1PM-3PM
Tommy The Dog: 12AM-6AM.*

All times are PST.

New Mrs. Bruce-designed DJ banners will be up on the HTR website soon. Stay tuned for a preview.

*Tommy retains his vise-like grip on overnights. He's really stepped up his game since we tried out Walt the Janitor a few weeks back. While Walt the Janitor has a certain je ne sais quois, he doesn't have the chops...yet. Besides Tommy smells better and keeps squirrels out of the garage.

So Spank Me

I've been hideously negligent in my blogging duties. Kurt & I have been busy hatching schemes and trying to figure out how to make Houndstooth Radio the best it can be without killing ourselves. Or each other. Seriously. My mixer fried out too.

Our new line up starts June 1.

Stay tuned for deets...

They Said It. We Repeat It.

I admire punk music because it doesn’t offer solutions. It just takes the problem & makes it as loud as possible.

-- Stephen Colbert to Green Day 05/21/09

Green Day Colbert interview here."Know Your Enemy" performance here.

Due To Special Request & Overwhelming Demand...

We're re-broadcasting my show from last night. Dig it.

Tommy Really Loves Radio

Great Northern Tour Dates

We're all totally in love with Great Northern's single "Houses" from their new album, Remind Me Where The Light Is. GN's on tour right now w/The Dears. Unfortunately, I missed them in NYC. Don't miss them when they hit your town...

Tue, May 5 - Johnny Brendas Philadelphia, PA
Thu, May 7 - Black Cat Washington, DC
Fri, May 8 - Diesel Pittsburgh, PA
Sat, May 9 - Grog Shop Cleveland Heights., OH
Sun, May 10 - Skullys Music Diner Columbus, OH
Mon, May 11 - Magic Stick Detroit, MI
Wed, May 13 - Lakeshore Theater Chicago, IL
Thu, May 14 - Mojos Columbia, MO
Sat, May 16 - Haileys Denton, TX
Sun, May 17 - Warehouse Live Houston, TX
Mon, May 18 - The Parish Austin, TX
Thu, May 21 - Rhythm Room Phoenix, AZ
Fri, May 22 - Casbah San Diego, CA
Sat, May 23 - Echoplex Los Angeles, CA
Sun, May 24 - The Independent San Francisco, CA
Tue, May 26 - Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
Wed, May 27 - Crocodile Cafe Seattle, WA

Listen To The Houndstooth Everywhere

Whatever your mobile device is...there is an application for you to listen to Houndstooth in your car and on the go.

If you have an iPhone:
With the Fstream iPhone app. Once you've downloaded the app, enter http://www.live365.com/play/353495 in the URL box and you are good to go! FStream is also available for Blackberry.

You have some other mobile device? Try this link.

Got Love If Ya Want It

All new show tonite on Houndstooth Radio 9PM EST, 6PM PCT & 2200 GMT. New music from Placebo, Metric, Silversun Pickups and loads more plus Howlin' Wolf, rare punk from The Plugz & psychedelic silliness.

Update 05/05/09: The agave worms above are in honor of Cinco De Mayo -- plus I ate one with some mescal before last night's show.

The Difficult Third Show

Ha! Mostly recovered from a migraine. Brand new show tonite on Houndstooth 9p EST 6p PST. New music from Great Northern, Metric, Fever Ray, Men w/o Pants, Inward Eye plus classic Wipers & more rare Clash! That's tonite 9p EST 6p PST.

My Kingdom For An RCA cable!

I thought I appreciated the challenges & pitfalls inherent in beaming a broadcast from one man's studio to another man's garage 3000 miles away. Tonight a $15.00 RCA cable nearly torpedoed my show.

Funny thing about RCA cables. I usually have an extra or two. Had to replace one last week & one about a month before. There's precious few places you can buy one at 8:150PM. By the time I got in the car to drive there they'd be closed. It's not like you can buy one at your local convenience store.

Kurt really saved my bacon tonight.

Thanks buddy!

Tonite!

From 9PM EST/6PM PST Houndstooth Radio will air an encore presentation of my first show on the 'Tooth. I will have all new shows for the remainder of this week.

iDisk Rocks Our World

I'm in NY & Kurt's at Houndstooth's LA HQ. The sheer volume of music & production pieces we must send back & forth to make the 'Tooth work is staggering. It's a far, far cry from the days of yore when the two of us could run from my office to Kurt's production studio to the air studio in order to finish some big interview special already rolling, well in progress, on-air.

OK, sometimes it's not all that different but 3000 miles is 3000 miles. Apple's Mobile Me iDisk makes it easy and relatively fast. What a lifesaver. It's only $99/year for an account anyone w/permission can access. Between myself, Kurt, Angie C. and our various significant (and insignificant) others we intend on stretching the 60-day free trial out as far as we can.

Wish us luck. Ha!

Staring At The Ceiling

And it looks like this...

Yeah, We're Adults

Kurt & I were both off IM yesterday so we could actually get work done. A flurry of e-mails ensued. Here's a sample:

Me: I'm Against The Hives. That is all.
Kurt: lol. It's a great song. Walk idiot walk, c'mon.
Me: I'm still against them. Not nearly as good as their earlier, stupider song. Not half the band Mando is either…

Me: Tool? Next up on up The World Famous KROQ is seven straight hours of nothing but Foo Fighters.

Kurt: lol, I did it just to see what you would do...ha ha ha hahahahahahahahahah

Me: I'm against Tool too. Ha! At least this time you played the band's best song...

More Studio Pix

Lookin' more and more like a radio station every day. As you can see, more wall board has gone up.

The Garage Is Rockin'

Kurt's doing an outstanding job today. Lots o' new music and our ongoing library overhaul is starting to pay off. Now only if he'd stop being such an air hog & let me play some tunes. I think he's afraid of what I might do...

Damn. Metric's "Help I'm Alive" sounds fucking great.

Kurts' Wall of Faces

You won't see these cutting edge techniques on TLC, folks.

The Houndstooth Studio Window

Inside looking out AKA "The Window." You may notice we've run a little short of wallboard. If everybody sent us $5, we could buy more wallboard & afford a day laborer or two to finish up. Then Kurt could go back to doing what he does best. Ha!

Houndstooth HQ Studio Contruction

One of these days I'll get Kurt to write a post or two. Gotta at least get the main studio finished first. I'm bummed out I'm too far away to help. Here's a pic from the outside looking in:

Percocet Is Tasty & So Good For You

I had two teeth pulled yesterday. No worries. They were no longer welcome in my mouth. Definitely will have new nightly shows next week.

Dig This!

Wolfgang's Vault is a unique website inspired by Bill Graham (née Wolodia "Wolfgang" Grajonca) who was easily the greatest rock music promoter that ever lived. A notoriously complex individual*, Graham started out in San Francisco booking early shows with Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Jefferson Airplane & The Grateful Dead, ran the Fillmores East & West, promoted entire Stone tours, produced Live Aid (US) & Amnesty International tours one & two in the '80s.

There's a slew of vintage concerts to listen at Wolfgang's Vault featuring almost every imaginable artist. Some are for sale. Get 'em while they last. Apparently there's a lawsuit against WV's owner alledging copyright infringement.

*Back in the the day I dealt occasionally with Bill Graham Presents. Even had a friend in the office. But the closest I came to meeting Bill Graham was watching him sprint by while a bunch of us were smoking hash in the hospitality tent at Giants Stadium during the first Amnesty International Tour. It didn't seem like a good time to introduce myself. Ha!

Go Out & Shop!

Today is National Record Store Day. Times are tough so it's never been more important to support your local Mom & Pop record shop. Cash in those recyclables and head on down to a cool store and buy something!

Crash Course In Brain Surgery

Putting off my next big radio show until Monday gives Kurt & me some time to pore over our combined music libraries. It's a monumental task.

Between us we easily have 40,000 songs to consider. The goal is to fill any gaps where the Houndstooth was somehow missing either a great song from one of our/your fave albums or that great obscure gem only we can give ya.

In the past week alone Houndstooth Radio's on-air music library has increased by over 800 songs.

See You On Monday!

My trusty MacBook is having a nervous breakdown. Rather than further herniating myself to fashion a show from spit, paperclips, bong resin, caffiene & duct tape (don't laugh, Kurt & I have done it far too many times), I'll be back on Monday with a kick ass radio program.

This Is Going To Be Tight

iTunes has totally flipped out on me. Insurmountable odds and impossible tasks have never done much to deter us so stay tuned...

With Any Luck

I'll be on the air tonite 9PM EST/6PM PST @Houndstooth Radio. Found some really great stuff today.

Boston Bruce & The Garage of Doom

Against common sense and doctor's orders I just spent the morning in the garage digging through my vinyl. Now I've never painted myself in a corner tho' I have seen others do it. I was so focused on the task at hand I managed to literally box myself in!

Suddenly I was surrounded by thick walls of vinyl. I low on water & out of food. If I had any hope of doing another radio show anytime soon, I had to act. Grabbing a stack of priceless rare wax I made my move.

I squooze thru a crack between the boxes triggering an avalanche of one-by-fours. I hurdled my work table. Just as I reached for the doorknob, a giant lawn umbrella whizzed toward me javelin-like. Fortunately, it only scored a glancing blow. I was home free.

Harrison Ford has nothing on me.

Meet Tommy

Tommy is a master of mayhem chewing through everything possible. If you refuse to pay enough attention to him, he poops on the floor. Tommy does overnights on Houndstooth Radio.

I'm Hung Over

Last nite just felt right. Merci beaucoups to Kurt & Angie C. for the mad assist & to all for the kind words.

We'll be re-broadcasting Bruce McDonald Show #1 on the Houndstooth tonite at 9pm EST/12pm PST. Working on Show #2 for tomorrow. **Fingers crossed**

Now back to rebuilding my iTunes library for the second time in a week.

Wow!

That was fun. Hope I didn't sound to crappy. It seemed appropriate to play O Positive's "Up, Up, Up" as one of the final songs for my first Houndstooth Radio show. One of my major decisions as WFNX/Boston new Music Director in November, 1985 was to put O Positive's "Only Breathing" EP into heavy rotation. The other was to decide 'FNX wasn't going to play mainstream AOR or Pop radio shit anymore making WFNX the first truly 100% "alternative" station (sorry kids, but KROQ, WLIR, WHFS, etc., didn't come to this realization for almost a year or later if ever).

Wouldn't you know it but the very first time I personally played "Up, Up, Up" on the air O+'s brilliant but anal guitar player Alan Petitti called me up. "Check your turntables. You're playing our song too slow!", Al said. "Nice to meet you too, Al", I thought to myself. "Sorry I'm playing your fucking song a little too slow four more times a day than anyone else in their right fucking mind would ever do."

But Alan was absolutely right. I soon became fast friends w/O+ - the best of people. "Say Goodbye" was the final song I played on WFNX,

On The Air!

It's a beautiful thing. Loving the new Superdrag, Isobel Stewart & Mark Lanegan and Rancid. Replay@12mid/9:00PM.

I'm On Tonite At 9:00PM EST/6:00PM PST

It's my first show since I left WHTG - FM106.3 13 years ago.

It's A Little Weird

I've been waiting all day for my first show to air. Could 4:00PM EST be the magic hour?

Cheers,

B

CDs As Far As The Eye Can See

I'm beat. But building Houndtooth Radio is the most fun I've had in years.

Kurt picked up our new hard drive Friday nite. In between shifts at KROQ & a few hours off to attempt to have a personal life, he's been doing production, downloading what I've been uploading, programming Houndstooth & explaining to me how this whole silly thing works. I've been putting together my first radio show in 13 years, learning Peak software, getting comfortable w/the studio (where I nearly destroyed the console when CD player 1 died), uploading like crazy and brainstorming. We both been converting MP3s to the AAC files Live 365 requires (a total pain in the ass) & poring over the library.

My first show airs sometime tomorrow!

Time to sleep.

Cheers,

Bruce McDonald

Broadcasting to the World from One Man's Garage

My friend Kurt St. Thomas & I have a new internet radio station: Houndstooth Radio. We worked at WFNX/Boston together years ago. I was one of the folks who started that station in 1983. For a few great years Kurt & I raised hell together. Fellow ex-FNXer Angie C is a huge part of Houndstooth too.

Spent the last few days re-building the Houndstooth music library. (Thank Jeebus for iDisk & Zip files). Having done this before at a bunch of stations, and I think Kurt would agree with me, I find this a familiar time-consuming, brain-eating drill. Yet somehow I always enjoy it. It pays immediate on-air dividends. And this time we have Complete Control!

Cheers,

Bruce McDonald