The Jason Smathers Show: This week's guest, Alder Eli Judge

The streaming audio is at the wsum website, but you can find a downloadable file here.

Again, thanks to Mr. Judge for coming on and listening to me babble, as usual.

The Jason Smathers Show - Guests: Andy Granias and Danny Spirn (Critical Badger)

Here is the interview that aired Feb. 8th, 2008 on WSUM 91.7 fm. And yes, that much ego in a room and no explosions. Of course, I am thinking of changing the name to "The Jason Smathers Experience."

Ashok, Where you at?

WSUM 91.7 FM, that's where. Tomorrow, on The Badger Herald presents The Jason Smathers Show (although its apparently still labeled as "The Smathers Hour") at 10am, Mr. Kumar will come on to discuss everything from the county board race, his article, the oft-discussed (or alternatively, not discussed) attendance record and anything the listeners would like to call in and ask. CB, SV, Opsal, I'm looking at you.

The number is 608-265-WSUM. Feel free to call in.

Snake on the Lake Fest - 2:30

It's about 30 minutes before the German Art Students and it's already getting too hot for comfort. The terrace isn't exactly packed for a Saturday afternoon, but it's getting there. Let's hope the students can split their time between the game and some music.

Of course, I know that probably won't happen.

Although, I am looking forward to hearing a few of the local bands, such as German Art Students (who were booked easily as Randy Balwahn, our fundraising director, is one of the members). I don't know much about local groups, but this should give a few primers to me and the other uninitiated viewers. Everyone is pretty lax out here now, but I anticipate that changing rather soon.

More updates throughout the day, pictures at the very end.

Just a reminder...

My new radio show starts today, at 3pm on WSUM 91.7 Fm. "A brief history of..." will be starting with Old-time country music. If you have a fetish for Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys (despite the fact that they sound like women) or just pine for a return to the days when country was called "hillbilly music," tune in by radio or by webcast.

And such a long hiatus, a return!

But I'm back. It's been a hectic last two weeks putting together the Reg Issue of the Badger Herald, but it's out, and it's accompanying second edition, full of Badger's victory over Washington State, will be out on Tuesday. We go back to work on that same day, putting out our first regular issue on Wednesday.

However, some things to talk about before then, seeing I've been practically invisible since the Herald started...

-MU Bash is tonight, and it's about an hour before they start. I'll probably post a little round up of their performance, along with what the feeling was of MU Bash in general. I'm looking at the line-up now of activities now, but it seems quite sparse. Perhaps that will change once the Freshmen pack the hallways, but it does seem like there is a lot less to do here than in previous years...

-On a separate note, we had Trombone Shorty, a New Orleans based funk/jazz artist at the terrace last
night, and it was far better than expected. WUD sort of booked it on a whim, and there was talk of trying to get Band of Horses here instead, as they were available, but I doubt they would have energized the crowd more than Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews did. Although there were a few times I gave my usual musical snob snort -- such as when he played Lenny Kravitz tunes, "Runnin" and his cover of the Guess Who's "American Woman" -- I must admit, the crowd was on par with our Hip-Hop menagerie earlier in the summer. In the end, the crowd was feeling funky and they got down. In a show of how well he knew the crowd, he even inserted a little "Jump Around" to satisfy the sea of red that came over to enjoy a brisk summer night.

He was supposed to play two sets, one hour each. Instead, he played for about 2 and a half hours straight. "I don't think we've ever played a crowd this big, or with this much energy. It just makes me wanna keep going!" And they did. I actually heard the masses in front of the stage yell "encore" at the top of their lungs, the second they started to step off the stage. Now, THAT is impressive.

-Just saw ASM at a table where they gave me a little light-hearted jabbing over the Ed Board opinion on segregated fees. It looks like this will be an interesting year for campus politics, but I'm optimistic. Hopefully we'll be able to work together instead of against each other. After all, we're both, as Art Brut would say, "just talking to the kids," right? Maybe I should stop using kids though. I've been told I use that term a lot. That arrogant Smathers!

- So, another point of contention is this weekend's two competing festivals - SoCo festival with the Flaming Lips (21 and up, only) and WSUM's inaugural Snake on the Lake Fest with the 1900's and the Pony's. I'm torn, but having seen the Lips at Lollapalooza and taking part in their orgasmic visual spectacle, I think I'll catch WSUM's festival, especially since I probably owe a radio station that's given me the opportunity to do a show with all British music. Which leads me to....

-New Radio Show! Although we couldn't continue Muckrakers because of scheduling conflicts, I will have a new show this semester. With my friend musical encyclopedia, John Vanek, we'll be spinning through a different genre of music every week, Thursday's at 3pm at WSUM 91.7 fm. We're starting out with a salute to old Western music, then going through a spin of the origins of Rock N' Roll (circa 1953) the week after that. From there...British Invasion, 60's Psychedelia and forward. If you have any genre suggestions, send me an email at jsmathers@wisc.edu and I'll get on it.

Other than that, we have a busy week ahead of us at the Herald, but would enjoy it if the community voice could contribute with letters to the editor, guest editorials, etc. If you've got a desire to sound off on a local issue, speak on behalf of a community org, or just have a beef with us, send it along. We'll print it.

Send pieces, inquiries, etc to either jsmathers@badgerherald.com or agranias@badgerherald.com and we'll get on the case.

And I promise, I'll try and update much more often.

Party in the...err...Terrace?

After a meeting with WUD music committee, it looks like WSUM might be closing down shop at James Madison Park and holding their annual music festival at the Terrace. This comes a week after Pepsi decided to pull out of the event because they didn't feel their product was being pushed enough. I'm not sure what they wanted, but that loss of a sponsor may have actually given the event some wings, for once.

The good news about this arrangement - if it happens - is that the headliner for the revamped concert would be MUCH bigger than last year's Drazy Hoops since WSUM wouldn't have to spend an absurd amount of money on operations costs and could devote more funds to talent.

I think it's a fantastic idea. Frankly, I love anything that involves the terrace and it would certainly give WSUM some solid publicity and draw in the Freshmen like no other location would. It also would be nice to have a decent headliner. Let us not forget, PITP once hosted the likes of Andrew WK, Trail of Dead and the White Stripes (although I have a bone to pick with their new album. More on that later.)

The tentative date is Sept. 8th. Anyone know some good bands coming through the Milwaukee/Chicago area during that time?