Gentlemen Chill Out at Bar

Hey folks, thanks again for tuning into another edition of The Great Banana Hoax. What began as a brief mention and subsequent spinning of the Cambodian Psych-Out record I borrowed from my friend Ava, quickly turned into an entire set of Cambodian and Asian psychedelia. Ahhh, the unpredictability of radio.

Jordan and I both went to the Dustin Bentall gig at Queen Alex hall this past Friday. So did Tom Gilbert, Kyle 'hot rod' Brodziak and everyone's favourite post-game interview, Jason Strudwick. Ha! Small town Edmonton strikes again!

After a Sid Cros/Alex O. goal-scoring clinic yesterday, the Caps have taken a 2-0 series lead. My Pens are floundering. The temperature-controlled conditions of their igloo will be a welcoming sight.

And if you're at all interested in tragic hockey/life stories, please read up on Brian "Spinner" Spencer. Atom Egoyan even made a TV movie about it! ATOM EGOYAN!

A number of outta-sight psychedelic compilations are available on the Northern Star Records website.

Here are most of the songs we played, in no particular order (artist, song, album):

1. *Black Mountain - "Don't Run Our Hearts Around" - Black Mountain
2. Sin Sisamouth/Srei Sothear - "Month After Month Always Busy, Can't Go Out" - Cambodian Psych-Out
3. Sin Sisamouth/Srei Sothear - "Gentlemen Chill Out at Bar" - Cambodian Psych-Out
4. *Simple Simon & The Piemen - "People of Tyme" - Nightmares From the Underworld (Disc 1)
5. Brian Jonestown Massacre - "Oh Lord" - A Tepid Peppermint Wonderland: A Retrospective
6. Awesome Color - "Step Up" - Electric Aborigines
7. Michael Yonkers - "Sand Castle" - Grimwood
8. **The Mitts - "Love Inside the Glove" - Possible EP Cover
9. **Wicked Awesomes - "Death Sunglasses" - Myspace
10. **White Summer - "Train" - Myspace
11. **Gold Rush - "Electric Lettuce" - Myspace
12. The Lovetones - "Journeyman" - Myspace
13. Bavarian Druglords - "Alpine Assassin" - TBD
14. Wooden Shjips - "Motorbike" - Dos

*denotes Canadian artist
**denotes local artist

We're going to take a break over the May Long weekend. The next broadcast will be on May 31. After that, another hiatus while I trapse around the southern United States en route to Bonnaroo!

"I'm calling that now."

CJSR was able to obtain security footage of a remote, northern outpost where roving sports reporter Darnell Jenkins was camped out. After using a baby seal to fend off a bloodthirsty polar bear, Darnell was able to send in 2009 NHL playoff pics via morse code. Now THAT is dedication.

Anyhoo, thank you to everyone who tuned in to yet another episode of The Great Banana Hoax aka Lighting the Lamp, on the MIGHTY CJSR. The NHL playoffs are in full swing, much like the stick of Milan Lucic on the face of Habs' forward Maxime Lapierre. Myself and Jordan made our initial playoff prediction, with the Jim Paek-less Penguins expected to rep the East in the Cup final. For the West, it's probably going to be Vancouver or Detroit. Despite finishing first in the conference, San Jose once again looks to be wearing their "mail it in" playoff fedoras. Anaheim will beat San Jose, and in the words of Darnell Jenkins: "I'm calling that now."

Once again, here is a list of songs we played. In no particular order (song, artist, album):

1. *Pink Mountaintops - "Cold Criminals" - Axis of Evol
2. Wavves - "Beach Demon" - Wavvves
3. Crystal Antlers - "Andrew" - Tentacles
4. Holy Children - "A Dance at Killing Hill" - (Myspace)
5. Weird Owl - "Do What Th'Owl Wilt" - (Myspace)
6. Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound - "Mars" - (Myspace)
7. Black Angels - "Black Grease" - The Black Angels (EP)
8. Awesome Color - "It's Your Time" - Awesome Color
9. Dark Meat - "Dead Man" - Universal Indians
10. The Flower Travelling Band - "Satori V" - Satori
11. Sleepy Sun - side A - White Dove 7''
12. Otis Waygood - "You Can Do Pt. 1" - Madmen's Cry
13. Jeff Beck - "Shapes of Things" - Truth
14. *Deadcity Serpents - "PFM" - Zombie Threat

*denotes Canadian artist

Can't we all just get along?

Thanks to everyone who tuned into the latest episode of The Great Banana Hoax aka Lighting the Lamp.

Pictured above is an excerpt from the animated short The Hockey Sweater, an original short story by Roch Carrier. I know there have been times over the last couple seasons where I wouldn't have minded seeing Craig MacTavish be eaten by moths. But just like the young Canadiens fan in the story forced to wear his Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, Oilers fans are playing with the hand dealt to us - years of nepotism and Oil-glazed patronage. When a coach and team president are such close pals that they build pillow forts and zip their sleeping bags together during camping trips, is it any surprise that Mac T hasn't been fired, despite years of mediocrity? The answer is no. All I know is that watching this drama unfold over the summer months will be as exciting (if not MORE exciting) than an episode of Wild Roses.

Yesterday we took a call from roving sports reporter Darnell Jenkins. Despite being in the midst of a hostage situation in an undisclosed location, Darnell managed to make his bi-weekly call into the show. What dedication! He called to inform us that former NHLer, and current felon, Mike Danton, is pondering a return to the Show, despite just being released from prison.

Other topics discussed on this weeks' show included a review of the NFB documentary Junior, and news of the signing of Christian Hanson, son of Dave Hanson (re: Slapshot, the Hanson Brothers).

Once again, here is a list of songs we played, in no particular order (Artist, song, album):

1. Steeplejack - "The Sky is Full of Shadows" - Serena Maboose
2. The Paupers - "Magic People" - Magic People
3. The Five Man Electrical Band - "Five Man Electrical Band" - Half Past Midnight
4. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - "Cowgirl in the Sand" - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
5. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - "Powderfinger" - Rust Never Sleeps
6. Holy Mackeral - "Wildflowers" - Hallucinations
7. Serge Gainsbourg - "Qui est 'In', Qui est 'Out'"
8. Bridgette Bardot - "Harley Davidson"
9. The Black Lips - "I Saw A Ghost (Lean)" - Good Bad Not Evil
10. Sleepy Sun - "Sleepy Son"

Next broadcast will be Sunday, April 19. The Oilers' season concludes on Saturday April 11.

That cocky Rocky, his belt is so tight!

After a lengthy hiatus, The Great Banana Hoax has returned! Our skates are sharpened, our hair greased back and our visors tinted. It's been a busy few weeks in the world of sports, so let's get down to biz.

We took a call from globetrotting sports troubadour Darnell Jenkins, from a remote location in Fiji. Trapesing around the globe, Darnell took in a number of international sports competitions along during his travels. Volleyball in Russia? Check. 9-ball in Belize? You got it. What's next for Darnell? You'll have to tune in next time to find out.

The Oilers dropped a must-win game to their divisional rivals, the Wild of Minnesota. There's just over a handful of games left on the Oilers' sked - let's hope they don't blow it.

Other topics discussed last show included the rare rehearsed-after-goal celebration after Ovech scored his 50th goal with a stick that was "hot hot hot!"; a retrospective on the career of recently retired plugger Gary Roberts (Eagles fan); recently unemployed NHL coaches, including the man pictured above, Barry Melrose; Golden Bears update, and reasons why you should read Oilers blog Lowetide

Of course, this sports pie wouldn't be complete without essential ingredients of psych, punk and garage tunes. Here's a list, in no particular order (artist, song, album):

1. *The Guess Who - "One Day" - It's Time
2. Sir Lord Baltimore - "Hellhound" - Kingdom Come
3. The Mohawks - "Beat Me Till I'm Blue" and "Senor Thump" - The Mohawks
4. Leafhound - "Stray" - Growers of Mushrooms
5. The Tages - Seeing With Love - Sir Psych Vol. 19
6. *Mother Tuckers' Yellow Duck - "One Ring Jane" - 25 Little White Lies: Canada Psych 1966-1972
7. Dead Meadow - "Dusty Nothing" - Howl From the Hills
8. Blue Cheer - "Come and Get It" - Outsideinside
9. Buffalo Killers - "Path Before Me" - Buffalo Killers
10. Julie Driscoll - "Leaving it All Behind" - 1969
11. Thin Lizzy - "Rocky" - Johnny the Fox
12. Hawkwind - "Seeing it As You Really Are" - Hawkwind
13. Birds n' Brass - "Sort of Soul" - 50s P-Funk
14. The Open Mind - "Magic Potion" - Heavy Nuggets
15. The Dogs - "Slash Your Face" - The Dogs
16. Comets on Fire - "Jaybird" - Avatar

*denotes Canadian artist

I had mentioned earlier I would have the opportunity to take in an Edmonton Rush lacrosse game. I ended up using the money I would have spent at the game on a ticket to see Witch at New City - and I'm glad I did. The show was off the heazy, and the Rush ended up getting destroyed by their rivals from Calgary. C'est la vie.

The next broadcast of The Great Banana Hoax will be Sunday, April 5. Get 'er done!

Ohhhhhhhvertiiime winnnnnnerrrr!

The guy just up there is Sportsnet commentator Kevin Quinn. You can hear his signature overtime call (possibly), as well as painfully unentertaining quips and puns from roving reporter/goomba Gene Principe as the Oilers take on the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow, Feb. 24.

Thanks to everyone for tuning into episode four of The Great Banana Hoax. I was flying solo this broadcast, as my counterpart went down with an upper body injury - listed as day to day.

Topics I ruminated over during the show included father/son NHL duos, Golden Bears hockey updates, interesting facts about John-Michael Liles, a brief retrospective on John Ware for Black History Month and a brief feature on former North Star Dave Gagner - father of Samwise.

It was a bit lonely in the booth this time around, so I kept myself company by playing even more of my favourite songs of the psychedelic and garage milieu. Here they are, in no particular order (artist, song, album):

1. Jefferson Airplane - "It's No Secret" - Takes Off!
2. Moby Grape - "Omaha" - Moby Grape
3. Mountain - "You Can't Get Away!" - Nantucket Sleighride
4. *The Plastic Cloud - "You Don't Care" - The Plastic Cloud
5. *Simply Saucer - "Illegal Bodies" - Cyborgs Revisited
6. Hawkwind - "Hurry on Sundown" - Hawkwind
7. Glass Sun - "Silence of the Morning" - Overdose of Heavy Psych
8. The Vagrants - "Summer Rain" - The Great Lost Album (and other 7'' recordings)
9. Os Mutantes - "A Minha Menina" - Everything is Possible: The Best of Os Mutantes
10. The Pretty Things - "Joey" - Silk Torpedo (7'')
11. Jorge Ben - "Take it Easy My Brother Charlie" - Jorge Ben
12. Donovan - "Universal Soldier" - Universal Soldier
13. *Buffy St. Marie - "Codine" - Vanguard Visionaries
14. *Alexander "Skip" Spence - "Little Hands" - Oar
15. The Small Faces - "Ogden's Gone Nut Flake" - Ogden's Gone Nut Flake
16. Blue Cheer - "Parchment Farm" - Vincebus Eruptum
17. The Byrds - Dolphin's Smile - Notorious Byrd Brothers
18. Atomic Rooster - "Night Living" - Heavy Nuggets: 15 Lost British Hard Rock Gems
19. Opal - "Rocket Machine" - Happy Nightmare Baby
20. Spaceman 3 - "Revolution" - Playing With Fire

*denotes Canadian artist

In a couple of weeks, I will be attending an Edmonton Rush lacrosse game. I will have the chance to interview players, watch the game from the "catwalk" at Rexall, and enjoy a complimentary hot dog and pop. I'm going to put a segment together on my experience at the game, which should be ready in a couple of weeks.

One thing I just realized - David Bowie's album Low is nothing more than bleeps, bloops and whale-sounding guitars.

Never play Lady of Spain again!

Greetings all. Thank you for tuning in to episode three of The Great Banana Hoax, now also known as Lighting the Lamp. A thousand thank yous to Golden Bears' forward Ben Kilgour for dropping by the station to yak hockey. Two things I learned: there ARE pro hockey teams in Louisiana, and Petr Klima is a much better player than I give him credit for. Also, props to my co-host Jordan for the Tony Hand feature. Had the hockey gods allowed Hand to don the copper and blue, who knows what the legacy of the Oil would be. Am I sensing a replacement for the Silver Fox? Not likely, but a man can dream...

Other topics discussed this week included Darren McCarty starring in a Wrestler-style film titled The Grinder (insert devil horns and nu-metal guitar riff) and on-ice hair farmers of the early 90s (re: Todd Gill). We also had fun with an online Slapshot soundboard and hockey cards from the O Pee Chee 91-92 complete set.

This week's selection of music had a noticeable garage rock flavour. Like we said, psychedelia spans the genres. Again, in no particular order:

1. Cream - "Passing the Time" - Wheels of Fire
2. The Gories - "There Before the Grace of God Go I" - Outta Here
3. Transylvania 500 - "Schlockey Night in Transylvania" - Rock and Roll Party
4. Black Sabbath - "Solitude" - Master of Reality
5. The Five Canadians - "Writing on the Wall - Pebbles Vol. 5
5. The Fe Fi Four Plus 2 - "I Wanna Come Back" - Pebbles Vol. 5
6. Firebirds/31 Flavours - "Free Fuzz", "Free Drum" - Overdose of Heavy Psych
7. Moody Blues - "Departure/Ride my See-Saw" - In Search of the Lost Chord
8. Bubble Puppy - "Hot Smoke and Sassafras" - A Gathering of Promises
9. The Misunderstood - "Children of the Sun" - Before the Dream Faded
10. The Brogues - "I Ain't No Miracle Worker" - Nuggets Vol. 2
11. Love - "7 and 7 is" - Nuggets Vol. 2
12. The Pretty Things - "Defecting Grey" - S.F. Sorrow

Next broadcast will be February 22nd. If you have a topic you would discussed on the show, just leave a comment on this ol' blog.

#1 with a bullet, baby

UPDATE: 5th year Golden Bears forward Ben Kilgour will be a guest on the next episode of The Great Banana Hoax. This season, Ben has bulged the twine 10 times in 22 games played. We'll be yakin' hockey, hockey cards and the best pre-game tunes to play in the ghetto blaster. G'bears!