Monthly Archives: November 2008

Jon Solomon's 24-Hour Holiday Radio Returns To WPRB On 12/24!

Mark your calendars, set the clocks: Jon Solomon’s 21st Annual 34-Hour Holiday Radio Show is almost here! The marathon begins on Wednesday, December 24 at 6:00 PM ET and ends Thursday, December 25 at 6:00 PM ET.

If the Pope can forgive John Lennon, then maybe 30 years from now they’ll forgive us for the following bold statement: it’s not Christmas without Jon’s annual holiday marathon. Seriously! From the absurd and bizarre to the beautiful and almost-kinda-holy, Jon’s show traverses the terrain of holiday music. No two marathons are alike, and perhaps that’s why listeners both near and far flock to the radio and/or webstream. So says the New York Times:

Mr. Solomon has been the host of “Jon Solomon’s Annual 24-Hour Holiday Radio Show” at WPRB-FM, the Princeton University station, since 1988, when he was 15. Besides “Kung Fu Christmas,” listeners who tune in from 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 25 are bound to hear everything from a version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” that makes sense only to fans of the 1980s-era Cleveland Browns to a car-horn-honk rendition of “Frosty the Snowman” to a funky, hard-to-find cut by Blondie and Fab Five Freddie called “Yuletide Throwdown.”

Between on-air bantering and chatting with callers, Mr. Solomon said he played roughly 360 songs — most of them new or freshly unearthed — during each year’s marathon; requests account for as many as a third of them.

Jon wants you to know that if you would like to submit music for airplay or make some requests, by all means get in touch.

» RSVP for this event on Facebook

Tomorrow 11/14: Diplo! Free Pizza! WPRB!

We’ve already told you about the awesomeness that is tomorrow night’s concert with Diplo, Abe Vigoda, Blaqstarr, Telepathe, and Boy 8 Bit, but we forgot to mention that (A) it’s Diplo’s birthday, and (B) there will be free pizza.

From R5 Productions:

This is going to be real life fun, get really crazy, watch weird people dance in pizza costumes and Elmo suits while you get drunk and stupid for DIPLO’s BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE STARLIGHT BALLROOM. We told you about how he is buying everyone pizza for the party (for real – we are ordering tons of pizza from 10 area pizza shops). Now here is the next surprise addition:

For those who purchase advance tickets (including those who purchased them already) you will get a special invite to a FREE AFTER PARTY that’s taking place later that evening. The event is limited to ONLY THOSE WHO PURCHASED ADVANCE TICKETS. None of this “can my friend get in nonsense. YOU HAVE TO BUY A TICKET TO GET IN.

Check it, so for just $10 you get admission to the DIPLO show on Friday at The Starlight with special guests Abe Vigoda, Blaqstarr, Telepathe, Boy 8 Bit, you get lots of pizza, if you are 21+ you can drink lots (and if your not – well you can see Diplo for the first time in Philly cause he has only played 21+ events!) and then you get into the free after party.

In 2008 nothing costs $10 these days – check out the prices to our other shows below. This is all because Diplo wants to really just make it a big crazy fun night and doesn’t care about “getting paid”. We honestly think that’s the best (seriously – so many artists are total money hungry crazy people) and want to make sure this really does go off.

You can get the advance tickets online or at Deep Sleep (53 N 3rd Street) or of course online atr5productions.com

In the meantime, let us know you’re coming! RSVP on Facebook or drop us a line on Twitter! Don’t forget to stop by the WPRB booth and say hi!

WPRB Presents "Christmas On Mars" Screenings!

WPRB and Sherman Arts are proud to present screenings of CHRISTMAS ON MARS, a film by Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips. It features ADAM GOLDBERG, WAYNE COYNE, ELIJAH WOOD, FRED ARMISEN (of SNL) and other MEMBERS OF FLAMING LIPS. It also features music from FLAMING LIPS.

We have two screenings!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 10th
At National Mechanics (22 S. 3rd St)
Doors 9:30 PM, Screening at 12 Midnight
FREE!!!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13TH
At the Marvelous (208 S. 40th St)
Screenings at 8PM, 10PM
All ages, $5.00 (Buy Tickets)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub-5zlJPnjM&hl=en&fs=1]

Psychedelic rock band the Flaming Lips present Christmas on Mars: A Fantastical Film Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips, a glorious science fiction film that marks the directorial debut of the Lips’ visionary frontman Wayne Coyne. Seven years in the making, Christmas on Mars features original music by the Flaming Lips (“The greatest U.S. band today” – The Guardian), with acting performances by all band members, and many others from their Oklahoma City-based team. Comedian Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and actor Adam Goldberg (Dazed and Confused, Two Days in Paris) also appear, as do Isaac Brock of band Modest Mouse, and performer Steve Burns of the band Steve Burns and the Struggle (who had also appeared in children’s television show Blue’s Clues). Bradley Beesley and George Salisbury co-directed the movie with Mr. Coyne.

It’s Christmastime, and the colonization of Mars is underway. However, when an oxygen generator and a gravity control pod malfunction, Major Syrtis (the Lips’ Steven Drozd) and his team (including the Lips’ Michael Ivins) fear the worst. Syrtis also hallucinates about the birth of a baby, and many other strange things. Meanwhile, a compassionate alien superbeing (Coyne) arrives, inspiring and helping the isolated astronauts.

» RSVP on Facebook, or drop us a line by Twitter to let us know you’re coming!

WPRB Presents Diplo On 11/14!


WPRB & R5 Productions are psyched to bring you an evening with Philadelphia’s own DIPLO, along with BLAQSTARR, ABE VIGODA (the band), TELEPATHE, and BOY 8 BIT on Friday November 14th at the Starlight Ballroom (460 North 9th Street) in Philadelphia! This is an all-ages show and starts at 8PM!

You probably know Diplo already from his work with M.I.A., but he’s an amazing DJ in his own right and runs the Mad Decent label. But long before he became a Pitchfork favorite, he was throwing down at the Hollertronix parties. This is Diplo’s first legit all-ages show, so be sure to check it out!

The show is rounded out with performances from Blaqstarr (Mad Decent’s newest addition to the roster), Abe Vigoda (who we were psyched about way back when), Telepathe (they just made a record with the TV On the Radio guys), and Boy 8 Bit (who does some awesome dubstep stuff).

Stay tuned to WPRB — we’ll be giving away tickets to this super fun show!

In the meantime, let us know you’re coming! RSVP on Facebook or drop us a line on Twitter! Don’t forget to stop by the WPRB booth and say hi!

Public Service Announcement: Tuesday Is Election Day!


We’re not here to tell you who to vote for, but we do think it is important for you to go out and vote. Below is some quick information about the basics of voting and some useful links.

Here’s Yo La Tengo and Chris Stamey (of the dB’s) to tell you about voting.

NEW JERSEY

When are the polls open?
6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or contact your local county elections official.

Is early voting available in New Jersey?
The state of New Jersey does not have early voting, but anyone may vote “absentee in-person” at the county clerk’s office up to 3:00 p.m. of the day before the general election (November 3rd).

Can I vote in New Jersey if I have been convicted of a felony?
In New Jersey, ex-felons can register to vote. Any person who is no longer in prison, or has completed his or her term of probation or parole can register to vote. For more info, visit the NJ Secretary of State’s website.

Resources
NJ Division of Elections »
NJVoterInfo.org »
Election Protection Info for NJ »

PENNSYLVANIA

When are the polls open?
Polls are open at 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
You can call 1-877-VOTESPA, contact your local County Board of Elections, or check online.

Is early voting available in Pennsylvania?
No, early voting is not available in PA.

Can I vote in Pennsylvania if I have been convicted of a felony?
Your right to vote is automatically restored after you are released from prison. For more information, visit the PA Secretary of State’s website.

Resources
PA Department of Elections »
PA Voter Registration Services »
Election Protection Info for PA »