Author Archives: Maria T

Membership Drive Premiums: Level 2 Brainbot T-Shirt

Perhaps one day we’ll all be able to download all music ever created straight into our brains. Until then, we need independent radio, and independent radio needs you. When you pledge $45 or more to our Membership Drive, you receive the both the WPRB sticker set and a t-shirt guaranteed to endear you to our eventual robot overlords:

Designed by Plankton Art Co., this shirt might make you consider essential questions about the nature of humanity. Or you can just enjoy the awesome-looking brainbot who is clearly maintaining his balance with some sort of future magic. Up to you.

We’re offering shirts in both men’s and women’s sizes this year. Plus, if you time your call to (609) 258-1033 strategically, a pledge of $45 or more qualifies you for a DJ specialty premium.

So take advantage of your humanity. Call or click to pledge today.

Membership Drive Premiums: Level 1 Sticker Set

It’s the Annual Membership Drive! As always, we’re offering amazing premiums to our even more amazing listeners.

Admit it, you used to think that bumper stickers were the coolest thing when you were a kid. Maybe you wanted your own personal car to decorate, or maybe you imagined plastering an entire car with bumper stickers. (Maybe that second one was just six-year-old me.) Then you became old and jaded and thought, “Bumper stickers? If I wanted to know strangers’ horrible political opinions, I’d spend time on the internet.” But not anymore. Now you have a reason to love bumper (or laptop) stickers again.

The WPRB sticker set.

When you pledge a mere $15, you get not one, not three, but two stickers proclaiming your allegiance to the finest independent radio around. These brand new designs come courtesy of the Princeton Student Design Agency, and they are guaranteed to brighten up their immediate surroundings. The mutant WPRB letters just want to be friends and maybe solve mysteries together. Sloth Buddy is apparently a sheriff of some sort, but a very chill one. So what are you waiting for?

Go here to pledge today.

The pledge site is up!

Dear Lover of Great Radio,

During my past three years working at WPRB, I’ve met DJs with extraordinary record collections, dizzying knowledge of arcane culture, and an inspiring devotion to the station’s listeners. These are the folks who’ve pioneered WPRB’s thoroughly unconventional programming and helped our station wield influence far beyond our broadcast range.

Do you crave an unabridged aural history of underground rock? How about jazz that you won’t hear on an elevator? Want to hear classical DJs who deftly connect the genre’s past with its exciting future? WPRB’s got it all, and listeners are at the core of our operation. Your donations are WPRB’s bread and butter, and your commitment to the station has inspired generations of student and community DJs when curating our left-of-center programming. On October 8th, we’re kicking off our 6th Annual Membership Drive to celebrate another year of invading your hearts and minds, and we hope you’ll be a part of it. 

Last Spring’s silent fundraiser energized station staffers like never before, and that outpouring of listener love has emboldened us to continue pushing the boundaries of independent radio. For this year’s Membership Drive, we’re aiming to raise $40,000 in one week, which will not only keep the records spinning and internet streams chirping, but also bridge the gap between listeners and DJs. At WPRB, we believe radio should always be a social experience, and technology is constantly revealing new ways for dedicated listeners to connect with music. But we can only take advantage of them with your help. 

In a brazen attempt to fire up your generosity, we’re offering a brand new selection of WPRB swag. Front and center, we’ve got two new t-shirts for your pleasure. You can also pledge at a higher level and not only receive the new shirts, but also WPRB Personal Hydration Assistant (it’s a water bottle!). You can also stay toasty and fashionably edgy all winter long with the first-ever WPRB Scarf.

You can make your tax-deductible pledge right now by clicking here, or by calling (609) 258-1033. Remember, your contribution goes directly to help WPRB maintain its own unique programming on the airwaves.

Stay classy,

Dipika Sen

WPRB Station Manager

Pictures Pictures Pictures

Summer staffers discovered a nice little stack of photos yesterday! I went through it and picked out some of my favorites. It looks like they range from the 1980s to early 2000s. Comment if I’m wrong or if you know any of these people!

REPORT: HATERS GONNA HATE

More from our WPRB history series! A fan from August 1977 writes to WPRB to compliment us on our joke-making…

 

Dear Sir,

Yesterday, I heard the radio announcer on ‘Morning Classical’ say ‘The English Chamber Orchestra led by Richard BONE-IN-JAY.’ I assume Richard Bonynge. It’s pronounced BONNING—Australian—not imitation French.

 

Why the hell don’t you dump that ass! The girl who D-J’s on the weekends is no better either. What a disgrace to your school. Theybutcher (inexcusably) almost everything they say. There is no question that they know absolutely nothing about classical music.

Aren’t you, as station mgr, aware of what is broadcast over the air? Doesn’t anyone ever interview candidates for positions at the station? To say that it’s a disgrace doesn’t even come close to the work that is needed to describe this situation.

Maybe I shouldn’t write. My wife and I laugh like hell every morning at your broadcasts; it’s like a big joke. That’s it! It is a joke, isn’t it?

I just realized it as I was writing this letter! That puts things in a different light. Well, I’ve got a good me for you to try—

Play some 16th century airs and dances by an unknown composer and say…

Music from the court of Henry the Eighth by A-NO-KNEE-MOOSE (Anonymous). Get it! We’ll really laugh like hell.

 

From,

Anonymous

Blob Post…get it?

This past weekend marked perhaps the most important event of the summer: Blobfest 2012, an event so remarkable that I must write a blob post (this pun will never get old) about it.

Stage one of the adventure: drive into Phoenixville, PA. I have been to a couple other quaint little towns around the area, but this Pennsylvania town has the others beat. For one, their lampposts were bright blue. For another, almost half the storefronts had their own interpretation of the Blob on display.

Stage two: enter the Blobfest. On the block of the Colonial Theatre, vendors sold their bizarre merchandise ranging from ironic t-shirts to Blob-oriented prints. T-shirts featured references that the Blob community would enjoy like Star Wars, the Hunger Games, David Bowie, and monsters from outer space. Prints focused on 1950s nostalgia. The best, though, was certainly the Rockabilly Roadhouse booth (no bias here, of course not), as Hot Rod Scott and Professor Ouch were MC’ing and DJ’ing the Blob Streetfair.

Stage three: see a horrifying street show in which a dude stuck hooks in his eyes and swung an iron from side-to-side. Pictured below.

Stage four: Watch The Buzzards play a set of music. The Buzzards certainly know how to put on a show. First off, the bass player had a bass with COW PRINTS on it. Also, for the last song, the drum player came to the front and beat the crap out of his drums WHILE people poured water on him and his equipment.

Stage five: donate a dollar to a local clinic. In return for the dollar, I was able to ask the Blob one question. I asked what the meaning of life was, and he responded “Lucky Charms.” My fellow staffer asked what she should be when she grows up, and the Blob said to dig to the center of the earth and hunt for diamonds. The Blob is truly a divine creature. (NOTE: the Blob spoke to us via an amplifier. His form is too sacred to be manifested openly.)

Stage six: Purchase ironic buttons.

Stage seven: admire the beautiful Blob display on top of the Colonial Theatre, which was in fact one of the places the Blob attacked in the 1958 film. I wonder who took the time to design such a nicely inflated Blob.


Stage eight: Leave Phoenixville in wonder.

 

Special guest Glen Burtnik tonight @10PM

A message from Scott Einhorn, host of the weekly show “Best of the UK”:

This Friday, July 13th, I’ll be joined by singer-songwriter Glen Burtnik. Glen, a former member of Styx, appeared in the Broadway production of Beatlemania as Paul McCartney (alongside Marshall Crenshaw, who played John Lennon).

Glen will perform live, help me pick tunes, and we’ll give away tickets to his July 28th show at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, “Glen Burtnik & Friends: The Music of Paul McCartney.” (One of Glen’s “friends” will be the great Denny Laine, formerly of Wings and the Moody Blues.)

We hope you can tune in! From 10 to 12 tonight!

Mail of yesteryear

While rummaging through some old WPRB stuff, I came across a handful (a large folder (a box)) of fan mail. Well, it wasn’t exactly fan mail. It was more, i-listen-to-your-radio-station-a-lot-and-have-some-suggestions mail. Apparently, there was a time when WPRB wasn’t completely flawless (hard to imagine, right?).

So, as part of a blogging series that I just made up, I will present some of the letters WPRB received when it was WPRU. (Old mail=super hip)

Letter No. 1: An appalled gentleman on March 12, 1947

Gentlemen–
Your use of a recording of the Lord’s Prayer as background music for the meditation period on Thursday evening must rank among radio’s most unforgivable insensitivities. No appeal to sentiment need be informed from my reminder that the Lord’s Prayer holds for many, value so high that it could never be given background status. WPRU, when will you come of age?

Signed

My notes: I wonder what inspired his underline under “that.” Also, my answer to him: WPRB will probably never come of age. That ain’t our style. I doubt anyone responded as such at the time.

Letter No. 2: That was good but…on March 15, 1947

Men,

Be advised that while your airing of the Glee Club concert was most commendable, there is still much to be ironed out. I would point out first the incompetence of your music announcer; next, your control men who “mix” programs. The overall effect somehow leaves something to be desired.

Signed

My notes: Honestly, the station had to shut down during WWII, so this was its second year of operation. Thus, their ignorance was justified. Right? This bro was definitely a diva. Also, he didn’t even say “gentlemen,” just “men.” Rude.

Letter No. 3: An Urgent Request on March 28, 1947

For God’s sake, keep on with the new program “[Shirley] Jazz.” It’s the best thing I’ve heard in a long time.

My notes: I couldn’t make out what the name of the jazz program was. Shirley? Shirtly? Slinely? Shinely? Shirsly? I though Shirley looked best. I also wonder why he asked with the Lord’s name. That must have been some swell jazz.

Letter No. 4: The Students in Campbell Hall on March 20, 1947

Dear Sirs,

As we sit here, listening to a few selections from Kostelanitz for the 25th time, we wonder why you cant get a little variety in “Music To Study By”? It cant be because you dont have enough records to keep from repeating each night. We know you have lots of records for we have seen them. Why cant each announcer make a list of the records he played and then have these lists posted so that the announcer of the following night can check to make sure there are no duplications. You could keep the lists for, say, one week and then start over again. We do enjoy “Music to Study By,” in fact would like to see extended from 10:30. However, we will be forced to take a few commercials with our music if you dont get a little variety in your program.

Yours truly, Campbell Hall

My notes: Was this the ignition to the playlist software? Gasp.

 

So concludes the WPRB historical documents presentation.

Derby derby derby derby rockin' everywhere

Everyone should go watch a roller derby game at some point, and I guarantee you will leave it slightly confused. The referees blow their whistles a lot and sometimes the jammers score points when they beat the blockers and sometimes they don’t…But at least if you turn to anyone sitting around you, they will gladly explain the rules and try to make you understand the latest play.

Besides not knowing what’s going on during a derby duel, WPRB had a hard time brainstorming music. The previous Friday, Molly and I did a derby show, where we asked people to call in and request what they thought “derby music” was. At the actual East Coast Derby Extravaganza in Feasterville, PA, we DJed outside by the pool (where everyone clustered after their games ie there were a lot of people there), blinding reaching for albums ranging from funk to electronica that we had played the night before. Here are some important things we learned from the experience at ECDX:

  1. A roller derby match requires almost as many referees and officials as it does players
  2. You can’t actually punch people during a roller derby match as presented in Drew Barrymore’s Whip It
  3. Any form of baggy clothing in a derby match is completely unacceptable while glitter is always an A+ choice
  4. You can buy roller-skate wheels in all colors
  5. Derby ladies are extremely tatted, pierced, helpful, and nice
  6. Derby ladies are my new fashion icons (think nouveau Americana, example: American flag denim vests, Urban Outfitters’ high-waisted shorts, and asymmetrical bathing suits)
  7. Bootsy Collins, The Wu-tang Clan, Justice, Tennis, Bassnectar, and the Noisettes are all acceptable things to play at derby tournaments (Note: One derby girl’s name was Bootsy Killins)
  8. No pair of shorts are too short
  9. There is always a helpful sound guy around
  10. Mixers never follow the plan ie we had some sound malfunctions.

Next year, I hope that WPRB participates again, but instead of just DJing, I think we should form a team. Email me at derby@wprb.com if interested. (Just kidding, that’s a fake address, but still…I kinda want to wear skates and spandex and wham some girls to the ground.)