[photos of Fucked Up and Sonic Youth grabbed off Toni François' and Ryan Muir's flickr sites, respectively]

New Jersey’s freeform radio giant, WFMU, has plugged into the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona bringing streams of sets from Matador acts Fucked Up and Sonic Youth to the airwaves in the tri-state (90.1 FM) and online at www.wfmu.org.

Along with Fucked Up and Sonic Youth, WFMU will air sets from Wooden Shjips, Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls, Sunn o))), Dan Deacon, Deerhunter, Ariel Pink, Magik Markers,Oneida, th’ Faith Healers and others to be announced.

Tune in at around 3:00 PM EST on Saturday (5/30) to hear Fucked Up and at 9:00 PM to hear Sonic Youth. As is the case with these kinds of things, all times are subject to change so keep up with WFMU’s Twitter for updates.

If you are lucky enough to be attending Primavera as you read this, be sure to catch the following:

Fucked Up – Ray Ban-Vice Stage – Friday 29th May 00:30

Sonic Youth – Estrella Damm Stage – Saturday 30th May 01:00

Shearwater – Pitchfork Stage – Saturday 30th May 18:15

[Photo of Mogwai at the Music Hall of Williamsburg last night by Ryan Muir]

Tonights’ Music Hall of Williamsburg show is the second of Mogwai’s three sold out shows in Brooklyn. They’re taking some time while in town to DJ at some nearby radio stations

Tonight at 6:30PM EST, tune into WNYU’s New Afternoon Show for a DJ set and interview with Stuart. WNYU can be found on 89.1 for listeners in the New York City and streaming at www.wnyu.org for the rest.

Tomorrow afternoon, Stuart will bring his playlist to East Village Radio, starting at 2:30 PM EST.

Don’t miss it!

Catch Mogwai on their remaining dates and take advantage of the Hawk Is Howling CD+DVD/ticket bundle while you still can.

April
Tuesday     28    Brooklyn, NY     Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Wednesday     29    Brooklyn, NY     Music Hall Of Williamsburg
May
Friday     01    Boston, MA     Wilbur Theatre
Saturday     02    Northampton, MA     Pearl Street
Sunday     03    Montreal, QC     Metropolis
Monday     04    Toronto, ON     The Phoenix
Tuesday     05    Buffalo, NY     The Tralf Music Hall
Wednesday     06    Pontiac, MI     Crofoot Ballroom
Friday     08    Chicago, IL     Congress Theater
Saturday     09    Milwaukee, WI     Turner Hall
Sunday     10    Minneapolis, MN     First Avenue
Monday     11    Omaha, NE     Slowdown
Tuesday     12    Denver, CO     Bluebird Theater
Wednesday     13    Salt Lake City, UT     In The Venue
Friday     15    Solana Beach, CA     Belly Up Tavern
Saturday     16    Los Angeles, CA     Orpheum Theatre
Sunday     17    San Francisco, CA     Grand Ballroom

Many years ago, I used to answer telephones at WMBR.  Never would I have imagined  during the station’s oh-so-cool early ’80’s they would one day see fit to recognize a bunch of talented musicians from Connecticut.  But enough about Death Threat, it seems the Condo Fucks are playing an WMBR-related event in the near future.

WMBR DJ Jon Bernhardt will celebrate his 25th anniversary with the morning Breakfast of Champions radio program on June 26, from 8-10 a.m. To mark this auspicious occasion, he has convinced the bands that have been played the most on his program to perform at a pair of benefit concerts at two Boston area clubs. UK legend Bevis Frond will play in his only U.S. appearance on Sunday, June 21 at TT the Bear’s along with the Condo Fucks and Sleepyhead. Versus reunites to play Church with Rebecca Gates (The Spinanes) and more guests TBA, on Saturday, June 27. Proceeds will benefit WMBR. Tickets for both shows are on sale now.

Saturday, June 27, Church, 69 Kilmarnock St., Boston
Versus, who haven’t played in Boston since 2003, and are the #4 band on the list, reunite especially for the occasion. Also appearing is Rebecca Gates, whose band The Spinanes, released the other song tied for #1. More artists TBA.

To commemorate next Tuesday’s release of the long-awaited Condo Fucks LP/CD, ‘Fuckbook’, the fearsome threesome of Kid Condo, Georgia Condo and James McNew have recorded a live set for Joe Belock’s “Three Chord Monte” program, to be aired that same day, March 24 between 12-3pm.  You can listen online at WFMU.org, or in the greater NYC area on 91.1 FM.

(preorder ‘Fuckbook’ on LP, CD from the Matador Store)

On top of all their SXSW activities, Austin’s finest sons (and daughter) Shearwater will be featured five times this week on SiriuXM Loft Sessions. These sessions can be heard on Sirius 29 and XM 50 and will air at the following times. Listen in to hear the genius. All times Eastern, by the way.

Monday 3/16: 12Noon
Wednesday 3/18: 2:00PM
Friday 3/20: 3:00AM
Saturday 3/21: 12:00Noon
Monday 3/23: 1:00AM

[Photo from Yo La Tengo’s WFMU 2008 Marathon performance lifted from notladj’s flickr)

Since 1996, Yo La Tengo have led a growing number of bands donating their time and talent for the benefit of freeform, college and community radio. Here we are in 2009 and YLT are to reliably continue their annual tradition of gearing up to play covers for pledges during WFMU’s annual fundraising marathon.

Tomorrow, Friday March 13, from 8-11 PM EST, Pseu Braun and Gaylord Fields are to host Yo La Tengo (alongside Bruce Bennett) in their covers-for-cash campaign.

Tune in at 91.1 FM in the tri-state or online at www.wfmu.org and pony up to hear YLT’s takes on your favorites.

Our favorite Canadian songsmith, A.C. Newman, and his gang of traveling minstrels will light up the airwaves and the interweb tomorrow by performing live on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic program. Tune in online or if in the greater Southern California region at 89.9 FM at 11:15 AM PST/2:15 PM PST to catch the session live in all its glory.

(Image lifted from ryan muir’s flickr)

A.C. Newman and band are set to bring rollicking live renditions of Get Guilty’s finest as well as some trademark charm to Terre T’s Cherry Blossom Clinic this Saturday, January 31 at 3PM EST.

WFMU can be found on the radio dial at 91.1 FM (NYC/East Central NJ) and on WXHD, 90.1 fm (Hudson Valley, Lower Catskills, Western NJ) and as always, online.  If you miss it, the performance and interview will be archived over at WFMU.org.

(Image poached from setoutrunning’s flickr page)

Taking a breath between gigs on her seemingly never-ending tour, Jennifer O’Connor and her band stop by Austin’s KUT to perform a special live session. Austinites can hear it on Thursday (1/22) at 2PM on 90.5 FM, while the rest can stream from kut.org.

There’s more information to be found here.

Times New Viking, in their own minds and in their own words. Today at noon on Viva Radio.

Viva Radio Presents
Me Plus You hosted by Ted Shumaker
with special guest Times New Viking
An in-depth interview and exclusive live songs at the Viva Studios.
Air Date 1/12/08, 12:00PM EST and available in the Archive Pt. 36
www.viva-radio.com/meplusyou

Tune into Viva Radio today to listen to Ted Shumaker interview Jay Reatard. ENJOY!

Monday November 10th
Me Plus You Pt. 31
w/Special Guest
Jay Reatard
hosted by Ted Shumaker
www.viva-radio.com/meplusyou

You might recall a couple of months ago someone on this blog engaged in the distasteful practice of lording it over the rest of you just how terrific Sonic Youth’s 4th of July show was. This was exactly the sort of elitism and hatred of real america we’ve heard so much about over the past several days, and I can’t for the life of me understand why this blog doesn’t have a proper editor to put a halt to such things. 

Fortunately, Jersey City’s WFMU, a free form, listener supporter broadcaster staffed by genuine salt-of-the-earth types (plumbers, hockey moms, jai alai dads, xtreme motocross uncles), have made the entire set available for on-demand enjoyment in streaming form.   The set list was as follows (culled from WFMU’s Beware of  The Blog) : 

WFMU Intro / She Is Not Alone / Bull in the Heather / Silver Rocket / Skip Tracer / The Sprawl / The World Looks Red / Jams Run Free / Hey Joni / Cross the Breeze / The Wonder / Hypertstation / Drunken Butterfly / Making the Nature Scene / Pink Steam / Schizophrenia / 100%.

Another year, another fund drive for WPRB, Princeton’s non-profit radio station.  WPRB and Jon Solomon welcome the return of Jennifer O’Connor for the station’s annual membership drive. Similar to last year’s program, Jennifer will be performing covers by request of pledgers.

Tune in tonight at 7PM EST at 103.3FM for those in the NY/NJ/PA area and at www.wprb.com for the rest.

Jennifer O’Connor will be performing live on WNYC’s Soundcheck with John Schaefer today at 2:30PM at 93.9 on your FM dial in NYC and online at wnyc.org. Be advised that we’re gonna suspend all promotional campaigning on the Matablog until the national’s financial crash is sorted out. Or until later this afternoon, whichever comes first.

Jennifer will also be playing the Mercury Lounge tonight (10:30) and Brooklyn’s Union Hall on Sunday, both gigs in support of Great Lake Swimmers.

Kevin and Jonathan performed on 101X’s “Chillville” program earlier today, and while I was exploring the wonderful realm of unconsciousness at that hour, here’s a YouTube excerpt from their performance.

Two more important media events happening next week to make you aware of.

First, next Monday online radio session:

Viva Radio Presents
Me Plus You hosted by Ted Shumaker
with special guest Jennifer O’Connor
An in-depth interview and exclusive live songs at the Viva Studios.
Air Date 9/1/08, 12:30PM EST and available in the Archive Vol. 24
Check out VIVA-RADIO

Then on Friday, September 26th, Jennifer O’Connor will light up the radio airwaves when she is a guest on WNYC’s Soundcheck with John Schaefer.

Tune in at 2:30PM on 93.9FM in the New York area or WNYC online to hear Jennifer’s live interview and two-song performance.

(we just tell folks this guy is kinda like Vancouver’s answer to Kurt Loder).

Possibly the most intense meeting of the minds since the David Frost/Richard Nixon interviews. The grilling of Jay begins about 32 minutes into the program. mp3

OK, perhaps that’s overstating things a tad. But Jeff (above, right) can be heard this coming Monday on Viva Radio , July 21 at 2pm EST 12pm EST. This is your big chance to explore the inner workings of this quality individual’s vast brain. On top of that, he’ll be making some calls to American Apparel stores. For prank purposes, I mean. Not to see if they have any job openings.

(Live in Ft. Worth, TX 6/27 – Photo c/o nffcnnr’s Flickr page)

In under two hours, WFMU will air a live performance from Shearwater on Irene Trudel’s show. Tune in at 4:00 PM (EST) at 91.1 FM in the tri-state or online at www.wfmu.org.

(Live in Prague 6/18/08 – Photo via Félix Adorno’s Flickr page)

Tomorrow (Friday, July 11) at 11:00 AM (PST), Matmos stop by San Francisco’s KUSF for a live performance on the program “Hearts on Sleeves”. Bay Area residents can catch the program on terrestrial radio at 90.3 FM, while the rest can access a webstream online at www.kusf.org.

EDIT – Direct from Matmos:

“…We will improvise on Irwin’s show for your drive time pleasure. With Wobbly. Your car will shake. Your booty will clap. Your speakers will scratch their heads, wondering, why has no one pleasured me this way before?”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

(from Brian Turner’s Flickr page)

There were really too many highlights to list. But I’ll try, anyway.

* – The Feelies covering “Outdoor Miner”…and absolutely slaying with material from throughout their illustrious career.
* – watching WFMU’s Brian Turner forced to give props to American Express.  File under “Things You Will Probably Never See Again”
* – Sonic Youth -  turning old chestnuts “The World Looks Red” and “Making The Nature Scene” inside out. 90+ minutes of selections from across a 27 year span. If you’re one of the folks that paid scalper dough for a ticket, you actually got your money’s worth.
* – some guy wearing a Drazen Petrovic throwback.  Had I worn mine, the hair-pulling would’ve been outta control.
* – fantastic blast from the past sightings :  See/Hear’s Ted Gottfried, Richard Kern, Ken Katkin, acting/journalism double threat Brad Holbrook.
* – The Staten Island Ferry. Every day, it brings people to at least one location that doesn’t suck.

(OK, Brad Holbrook wasn’t there. But I was just wondering how he chose to celebrate our Nation’s birthday, and if he picked an event other than Sonic Youth and the Feelies, he’s a BAD AMERICAN)

(live at Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, 6/17/08 – photo taken from countfeed’s flickr stream)

If you missed Shearwater on KCMP or WNYC back in June, you can now listen to these sessions online.

Shearwater returned for a second appearance on WNYC’s Soundcheck on June 16. To listen, follow this link. The band played “Rooks” and “Leviathan, Bound” in a special stripped-down form.

On June 25 they performed live on The Current on Minnesota Public Radio in Minneapolis. Hear more live versions, as well as discussions on the history of the Falklands and the stigma against “twitchers”, here.