Melody Bar Reunion, Only 7 Weeks Away!

It's hard to believe, but the next reunion is in only 7 weeks. It should be another spectacular event, with the one and only Matt Pinfield and a collection of guest DJ's including Ed Wong, Pete Santiago, Sean Carolan and Lisa Uber. Hopefully this year Andy Prescott will be there too! We'll run from 7 pm to 1 am, and I expect an even bigger crowd than last time.

I will be contacting the Hyatt in NB to block off some rooms for our event, so why not get a room, and have all the fun you want at the party, then just walk(stagger) a few blocks to a warm bed.

Remember, the event is for those 36 and up and will be enforced as always at the door by big John. But spouses and partners of any age are welcome, so if you 're into the young stuff, bring 'em along. I hope we will continue our tradition of having a few pregnant gals rocking out on the dance floor, that's a nice sight to see! Good music is good for the unborn so they say...

Anyway, I'll see you in Feb and will send out any last minute details as we get closer. Remember that all the proceeds from the bar go to the Elk's registered charities which I believe are listed on their websites.

Have a great new year

Stiffy

What's Happening On Altrok Radio, Plus A Little Gift

Today and through New Year's, we're featuring a collection of the tracks we pulled into our Grinder over the past year. The stuff we wanted to be sure you heard is the stuff you're hearing - which, to be frank, ain't a bad thing. We played the top 33 on our FM Showcase last Friday, and the rest of it - provocative, startling and interesting as it may be - is coursing up yer Ethernet even as we speak...at least, if you tune in. Catch the Listen Now link to clue in.

And by the way, a number of interesting tracks are part of the 4AD 2008 sampler...details below.

More About The Christmas Music Thing...

We've got the same set of songs up on our mono stream as well, but in a different order (because when you push the "random" button, it's, you know, random.) So, if the stereo station isn't doing it for you, try the mono one. We aim to please...

The Altrok Christmas Starts At 7PM Eastern

It's our annual celebration of all that's devotional and disturbing, spiritual and spiteful, tuneful and twisted about Christmas and the other holidays in the holiday season, for 36 whole hours, from 7PM Eastern Christmas Eve to 7AM Eastern Boxing Day. Be ready, boys and girls...just click on the Listen To Altrok Radio link right over there...

Remembering The Splatter Effect: New Jersey's Own Music Paper

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to meet Spiro Ballas, the creator and publisher of The Splatter Effect. If you can remember, the Splatter Effect was a New Jersey based music paper that ran from the late eighties to the early nineties.

As a labor of love, Spiro kept the paper true to it's mission of spreading the word about the New Jersey music scene, as well as interviewing the latest and greatest bands and reviewing the key albums of the day.

More importantly, he kept the focus of the paper on the central Jersey scene. I fondly recall picking up my free copy at the Rutgers student center or at Music In A Different Kitchen throughout my New Brunswick years, keeping up on all the shows I needed to see.

It was quite serendipitous how we crossed paths. On Halloween evening, my boys attended a pre-trick or treat party at a friend of theirs. At some point I was jabbering on about the glory days of New Brunswick to a friend's wife, who I had recently discovered had been a bit of a black clothed type back in day, very fond of the Smiths and Depeche Mode. I was excitedly telling her all about the scene, the music, Pinfield, etc.

This guy who I didn't know drifted over to our conversation and nodded frequently at the mention of some bands, like The Wonder Stuff and The Pixies. He seemed harmless, but I figured he was just pretending he knew who those bands were to be polite. I ignored him, and kept on with my exaggerated tales of long ago. Then at some point he chimed in that he had met band so and so, etc, etc, and knew of The Melody.

I was a bit shocked, and inquired whether he had been in the New Brunswick scene. He casually mentioned he sort of was, but that he didn't hang out much having been too busy with other projects at the time. Then at some point I think I introduced myself and he responded that his name was Spiro. After a few moments an old dusty brain circuit fired and I said," Spiro? Where do I know that name from??" Then he matter of factly mentioned that he was the guy who produced the Splatter Effect.

I jumped off the couch and said," I loved the Splatter Effect!" And for the next half hour or so we talked about the paper and the scene and the whole works all over again. After awhile he said he was happy someone was still interested in the Splatter Effect and said he'd give me a bound copy of every Splatter Effect issue.

I didn't know what to say other than, " Wow, that would be great, thank you so much!" I was really touched by his generosity.

I mentioned that he had to attend the 3rd Annual Melody Reunion coming up in February, and that I was still in contact with Judy Kitchen.

We left the party after exchanging email addresses, and thanked him again for offering me the book. A few weeks later he delievered a huge bound compendium of the Splatter Effect. I sat down and spent an hour just leafing through the issues, looking at the old ads for Club 375, The Melody and The Green Parrot. My past came rushing back.

I want to say again THANKS SPIRO. I will treasure that book forever. It's a history book of the New Brunswick and central Jersey music scene.

Spiro gave us the Splatter Effect, tirelessly producing a great music paper that made our scene that much better, and we all enjoyed it for many years. Now, I'd like everyone to do a favor for Spiro.

Spiro has put together a couple of holiday music CD's who's proceeds benefit A Hospice Awareness & Benefit Project. I'd like everyone to check out his website hohohospice.com and consider purchasing one of the CD's. The money goes to a good cause, and, it's something that might help out someone less fortunate.

And please make sure to say to Spiro at the Reunion party in February, and thank him in person for producing the Splatter Effect.

Smiths To Reunite? Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before...

...or that one. (It seemed the obvious joke. Which isn't funny anymore. Okay, I'll stop. How soon? Now.)

And so, The Smiths - the band with, by far, the easiest song titles to pun with - may come back to life. According to Gigwise, it turns out there is enough money printed in the world to paper over whatever rift separated Johnny Marr and Morrissey. At least, that's the story they're using to sell papers in the UK today.

Still, we know Marr's in fine form from his recent work with Modest Mouse, and Morrissey's comeback hasn't been particularly embarrassing, so a well-funded "why the hell not" may be just the ticket. Legend has it that Lennon and McCartney almost did exactly that in response to Lorne Michaels' $3000 offer one night on SNL, before reality caught up with them ("What'll we say to the guard?") Yes, three thousand dollars, and his inflection of that is what inspired Mike Myers, years later, to use it for Dr. Evil.

Have I gone tangential enough here, or do I have to start talking about David Bowie and Uncle Floyd again? Anyway, I won't believe it until it happens, mind you - I'm cautious that way - but I figured you'd want to know...

Altrok Radio Music Update #217

Firstly, the important stuff:

Altrok Radio is at http://www.altrokradio.com

Please remember to tune in whenever you can - every hour you listen turns into more visibility for the station; we show up higher in search listings, and such like that. And if you'd like to help us keep the stream running, check out the advertisers if they appeal to you; your interest actually helps fund us.

And in the interest of keeping you interested...we've got songs to let you know about.

This week, our Grinders (the stuff we play heavily) include music from:

- The Years
- The Sea And Cake
- Parts And Labor
- The Situationists
- Friendly Fires
- Franz Ferdinand

Plus we've got newly-added music:

- The Black Ghosts - Full Moon
- Captain - Safe Harbour
- Disasteradio - Awesome Feelings
- Sarah Donner - Spreadsheet
- Dr Dog - The Ark
- Flashguns - Bells At Midnight
- Foals - Electric Bloom
- Kaiser Chiefs - Good Days Bad Days
- King Khan And The Shrines - Outta Harm's Way
- Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
- Razorlight - Hostage Of Love
- Santogold - Say Aha
- Soldout - The Call
- Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus
- TV On The Radio - Golden Age
- White Lies - To Lose My Life

Our Newly-Added Classics:

- Age Of Chance - Don't Get Mad...Get Even!
- Boxcar - This Is The Town
- The Colour Field - Pushing Up The Daisies
- P.J. Harvey - Down By The Water
- Heaven 17 - Are Everything
- Jakko - Straining Our Eyes
- The Ramones - I Just Want To Have Something To Do
- The Teardrop Explodes - Passionate Friend
- Tones On Tail - Go!
- Wire - Ex Lion Tamer

And don't forget the R/SYN Underground night, every Saturday at the Corner Tavern in New Brunswick, where Drew and IronMike keep you dancing with the most advanced playlist this side of the Atlantic (and where, occasionally, yours truly might show up and spin a coupla tracks...ya never know.)

- Sean Carolan
Altrok Radio
On your computer now at http://www.altrokradio.com
On the radio Fridays at 10pm, at 90.5 The Night

Altrok Radio Music Update #216

Firstly, the important stuff:

Altrok Radio is at http://www.altrokradio.com

Please remember to tune in whenever you can - every hour you listen turns into more visibility for the station; we show up higher in search listings, and such like that. And if you'd like to help us keep the stream running, check out the advertisers if they appeal to you; your interest actually helps fund us.

And in the interest of keeping you interested...we've got songs to let you know about.

This week, our Grinders (the stuff we play heavily) include music from:

- Bloc Party
- Digitalism
- Kono Michi & The Stone Ghost Collective
- The Young Knives
- Four Dead In Ohio
- The Killers

Plus we've got newly-added music:

- The (International) Noise Conspiracy - I Am The Dynamite
- Boy Eats Drum Machine - The Crack In The Sea
- Ex-Lion Tamer - Go Ghost
- Franz Ferdinand - Lucid Dreams
- Friendly Fires - Photobooth
- International Jetsetters - Never Slows Down
- Longwave - No Direction
- Los Campesinos! - Miserabilia
- Now Now Every Children - Not One, But Two
- Passenger - Do What You Like
- School Of Seven Bells - Connjur
- Surf City - Headin'
- The Wedding Present - Holly Jolly Hollywood (with Simone White)
- The Years - Compote

Our Newly-Added Classics:

- The Cure - Play for Today
- Thomas Dolby - The Keys To Her Ferrari
- The Fall - Hit The North
- Midnight Oil - Dreamworld
- David Sylvian - Red Guitar
- The Thought - Every Single Day
- Ultravox - The Thin Wall
- Wall Of Voodoo - Call Of The West
- X - The Hungry Wolf

And don't forget the R/SYN Underground night, every Saturday at the Corner Tavern in New Brunswick, where Drew and IronMike keep you dancing with the most advanced playlist this side of the Atlantic (and where, occasionally, yours truly might show up and spin a coupla tracks...ya never know.)

- Sean Carolan
Altrok Radio
On your computer now at http://www.altrokradio.com
On the radio Fridays at 10pm, at 90.5 The Night