Three dashes (—) indicates where I did station ID, read underwriting spots, or otherwise talked.

There were no requests this week.

The Jam – In the City
Phenomenauts – Science and Honor
Social Distortion – Sick Boy
Men Without Hats – Safety Dance
—
Operation Ivy – Junkies Running Dry
Shonen Knife – I Wanna Be Sedated
The Flowerpot Men – Beat City
—
The Epoxies – Clones
Voodoo Glow Skulls – Charlie Brown
Coheed and Cambria – A Favor House Atlantic
Huntingtons – How Can I Miss You if You Won’t Go Away?
Polecats – Make a Circuit With Me
Alkaline Trio – Armageddon
—
Devo – Sumthin’
Iggy Pop and Green Day – Supermarket
Freezepop – Brainpower
Fifteen – C#(tion)
—
Iggy and the Stooges – I Got a Right
The Aggrolites – Dirty Reggae
The Queers – Punk Rock Girls
Fishbone – A Selection
Bauhaus – Telegram Sam
Common Rider – Angels at Play
The Eyeliners – Sealed with a Kiss
—
Melee – New Day
Generation X – Kiss Me Deadly
Madness – House of Fun
The Ergs – Ben Kweller
—
Paul Westerberg – As Far as I Know
Real McKenzies – Droppin’ Like Flies
Down to Earth Approach – Exhibit of the Year
Gary Numan – Down in the Park
The Network – Roshambo
—
Worm Quartet – Pac-Man is Naked and So Should You
Buzzcocks – What do I Get?
Devo – Through Being Cool
Foo Fighters – For all the Cows
Green Day – Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?
—

Backpack Studio

The “backpack studio” has been a dream of mine ever since I got my first four-track.  How cool would it be if I could record anywhere I wanted?

Now I have that.  Pictured:  Line 6 Toneport UX1, Zoom MRT3B drum machine, Tascam DP004 four-track recorder, Korg KO1 Kaossilator, Skull Candy headphones, Toshiba laptop.  I have a few other odds and ends that go in the backpack as well.

(Intro / Underwriting)

Generation X – Ready Steady Go
Pinhead Gunpowder – Backyard Flames
English Beat – Tears of a Clown
Devo – That’s Good
Steinways – Fruitmarket Fantasy
Chris Murray – We Do the Ska
Oingo Boingo – Ain’t This the Life

(20 minute break)

The Specials – A Message to You Rudy
*The Specials – Pressure Drop
Mike Park – Hey You!

(30 minute break)

*Thee Trash Brats – No Jangle Thrust
Furious George – Betty Crocker, Punk Rocker
The Aggrolites – Mr. Misery
The Vandals – Don’t Stop Me Now
Flaming Lips feat. Henry Rollins – Brain Damage

(45 minute break)

Lillingtons – I Need Some Brain Damage
The Boss Hoss – Seven Nation Army
English Beat – Twist and Crawl
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Gimme the Wire
The Clash – Spanish Bombs

(4:00)

Common Rider – Carry On
Green Day – Shoplifter
Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out
Alkaline Trio – Heaven
Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Drunks and Children

(20 minute break)

Madness – House of Fun
Iggy and the Stooges – I Got a Right
Shonen Knife – Cookie Day

(30 minute break)

Squirtgun – Social
Reggie and the Full Effect – Contragulations Smack + Katy
Frenzal Rhomb – I Hate My Brain
The Mopes – Loopy Cockatoo
Misfits – Hybrid Moments
Fugazi – Waiting Room
Descendents – I Like Food

(45 minute break)

The Ergs – Ben Kweller
Osaka Popstar – Wicked World
Dead Milkmen – Pink Rock Girl
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – The Longest Time
The Cure – Pictures of You

The first guitar I ever owned

I’ve become somewhat of a gearhead, at least as far as my limited resources will allow me to.  A couple weeks ago, I began to think of how cool it would be to build my own guitar from scratch.

I quickly realized how expensive that would be.  If only I had a guitar to start from instead, and just restore it…

And then it dawned on me.  The first guitar I ever owned has fallen into a state of disrepair and neglect.  It’s certainly seen better days.  Not only have I had this guitar for over 20 years, but this is also the guitar I played the first-ever Running Gags show with.  This guitar means a lot to me, but for a while, I forgot it even existed.

Yes, for the past few years it’s been relegated to take up space in my closet, not being played or cared for.  And that’s not cool.  This guitar has been with me for 2/3 of my life, and in return I’ve treated it rather unkindly.  Well, no more.

Slowly I’m going to begin squirreling money away, bits at a time, until I’ve restored this guitar and made it everything it could be.

I’ve added it up.  I should be able to get it done for around $100-120, as long as the neck is still salvageable.  Those tuning pegs and the nut have to go.  And pretty much all of the electronics (including the humbucker) are getting replaced.

This is the guitar I learned to play on.  This is the first guitar I ever owned.  And as far as I’m concerned, $120 is a small price for an old friend.

Most importantly, I’m not doing this to cause any drama in the scene. That’s the last thing I want. I hold no animosity toward my former bandmates. I certainly hope they don’t hold any against me. Anything that happened between us was over ten years ago, and as far as I’m concerned it should stay there.

The idea to bring back The Running Gags after a 10-year hiatus came as a series of conversations with friends. I’d play them a song I wrote. They’d say, “that sounds like a Running Gags song.” Of course it does. I’m Brian Gag. Eventually I decided I was going to just record an album all by myself, playing all the instruments. I’d call it “The Running Gags,” and then release it.

But what I missed most was playing shows. I missed the Port Huron music scene. I missed being able to warble off-key and slam barre-chords for a half-hour every few weeks.

So through a series of even more conversations, I wound up with two bandmates. We still haven’t officially practiced yet due to everyone’s busy schedules, but July is looking better. To tell the truth, I’m feeling a bit antsy. I want the new Gags to be something I do, not something I just talk about.

Certain people are wondering what the new Gags will sound like. The Running Gags essentially went through two incarnations. One was a sort of garage-punk massacre, and the other was a Ramones-core sound. Despite popular opinion, I have no problem with Ramones-core. But don’t expect many songs in that vein.

As with anything else, the new songs have evolved through a series of conversations. As it happened, I was lamenting the loss of the old “Lookout” sound. Particularly I was missing the sounds of Squirtgun, MTX, and yes, I’ll say it: early-era Green Day. I told a friend that I missed that sound. I said I wished a new band would pick up that mantle. He said, “dude, aren’t you putting together a band?” He’s very wise.

I’m hoping, however, that I’ve attained a higher level of lyrical maturity than when I was some 19-year-old kid.

So that’s that. Expect a lot of “chord solos” and less songs with puerile subject matter.

I’d like to play a few shows now and then, release a few recordings, and that’s that. Bob has two jobs and Tim already has another band, so I don’t expect the new Gags to be anyone’s full-time band. I would just like to play a show once every few months, have some fun on stage, and maybe release an EP every now and then.

Hint, hint

Look what I made.  I wonder why I made it.

I’m not exactly sure what anyone could infer out of such a crude drawing, but I’m sure you little scamps have vivid imaginations.  But just for a moment, let’s assume this means something.

What could it possibly, mean, though?