DTH Summer 2K9!

It's a big weekend for the Drop Trowel Hour. Not only did Nitro...err, Devin and I both likely exercise our Obama-given right to gorge ourselves on family-provided barbecue delights, we've also lately been exposed to a lot of R&B. That's right, rhythm and blues, sultry soul, glorious gospel?. Though my version of R&B experience was perceived more like lead exposure while Nitro is practically considering this her own personal Black Renaissance, I feel like this unlikely experience has nonetheless bonded us over hundreds of miles. I can't even tell from my Portland perch just what Nitro's up to down in Santa Cruz until I remember to visit her personal blog, Come On, Get on the Train, which, I must add, is scrupulously maintained, incessantly updated, and explosion-inducing due to its keen observational humour. At the same time, it's incredibly introspective and insightful, but then the deadpan humour hits and you laugh. So I have to recommend it to everyone, even though I would engage anyone in a fierce debate consisting of grunts and arms swings defending my position as the most entertained Nitro/Devin fan in the world.

So I was inspired to cease this DTH blog-posting hiatus by reasons three: seeing the Dirty Projectors play last night at the Holocene, reading Nitro's blog, and this mix I made last night.
The Dirty Projectors - sounded for the most part like birds chirping in rhythmic patterns that are probably a lot more commonly found in West African drumming than a bird nest. They were hot, hot, sweaty hot, in a totally "I went to Yale and studied under David Byrne and some other Afr0-Cuban musicians" way. I'd have to say that seeing Rise Above filled some part of my soul that had been split open the first time I heard the song itself. In case you were there, I was the kid standing on the left of the stage staring at Dave Longstreth with a huge grin on my face the whole time.
Nitro-like I said, a total bro who will kick back to share a brewsky with you but will also leap at the chance to serve by hand-delivering you a mix at any point in time because she's unemployed but is Saving Our Shores and likes Star Trek. A lot.
This mix i made - is for a girl, of course, whom I really like and wish I lived closer to. (Yes, this is also a mode of self expression to not only distinguish but oppose my identity to Nitro's...our mix styles are vastly different and even though I'm not sure what they are, I LOVE elationships). I can make you a copy, because you will want one once you realize how masterfully-compiled it is, but just know it's intended especially for some one. A mix is a feeble attempt to fit her radness.

1. Storm - High Places +o
2. Knotty Pine - Dirty Projectors o
3. Sweet Spots (I typed "sports" at first) - Fiery Furnaces o
4. Dinner with the President - The Evens +o
5. Love to See You - Paul Baribeau *o
6. All for None - Spoonboy +o
7. Small Words, Bigger Lessons - Polka Dot Dot +o
8. Dog Like This - Drakkar Sauna +o
9. The Real Wild World - Adrian Orange +o
10. You Looked Good to Me - No Kids*o
11. Intentions - Whitest Boy Alive* +o
12. Eye of the Volcano - Stereolab +o
13. Bike Freaks - Digital Knife +o
14. Firefighter - Ghost Mice +o
15. Makeout Revolution - Bla Bla Blacksheep o
16. A Minha Menina - Os Mutantes o

* songs whose lyrics are directed personally toward her
+ songs whose lyrics I hope she comments on because they're meaningful to me
o songs I want to make out with her to

do you think it will impress her? circle one y/n.

-Katia/Laoura

Like Trace Remnants of Acid In Your Spine.

1. My Evaline - Weezer
2. Drive on, Driver - The Magnetic Fields
3. Calling Old Friends - Defiance, Ohio
4. Mad World - Tears For Fears
5. Sick 2 Think - Why?
6. You And Me And The Moon - The Magnetic Fields
7. Sleeping Bags - Lyle Workman (Superbad ST....uhhh)
8. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
9. Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes - Modest Mouse
10. Function Of The Sun - The Ruby Suns
11. Between The Wolf And The Dog - Electrelane
12. Lips - Micachu & The Shapes
13. Soothe Me - Sam & Dave
14. Blue Ocean Blue - Lake
15. Close To Me - Why?
16. The Way I Feel Inside - The Zombies
17. Prove My Love - The Violent Femmes (of course)
18. Alright - Supergrass
19. Highly Illogical - Leonard Nimoy (it so good)
20. It's a Living Thing - Electric Light Orchestra
21. Y Control - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
22. Variations On A Theme (Science vs. Romance) - Rilo Kiley

I made it this morning. It's for everyone who isn't in an elationship. I just made that up. It does NOT mean online relationship. I think, to provide a definition, I will have to provide an example: the couple in Away We Go is in an elationship. They are elated, they are in a relationship, and they are enamored. Thus, they are in an elationship. QED.

If you want one, I'll make you one (unless you are unqualified; see terms listed above). I'll even send it right to your doorstep because I have nothing better to do (Hell, I could drive it to your doorstep) and I sort of like some of you. Kind of. Sort of. I mean, all of you folks that frequent The DTH blog. Which is zero. Well, me. I like me. No, nevermind, I don't frequent The DTH blog, and I don't like me.

Ah, it's a good mix, anyway. I don't think that's a lie. I miss writing on here. I only have one musical recommendation: Spaced Out - The Best Of Leonard Nimoy and Wiliam Shatner. It's the funniest thing I've ever tried to sit through. Of course, the Bilbo song makes it all worth it, anyway. I'd have to say that the highlight is Shatner's insane (INSANE) scream at the end of his spoken word rendition of "Mr. Tambourine Man". Holy shit.

I will make more and I will write more. Promise.

Take me to the airport,
I need to be extremely far away.

_Nitro

Lastshow lastshow

We featured two straight albums this week: One, Akron/Family's Akron/Family, and two, The New Pornographers' Electric Version. I suggest reading Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway while listening to the former and rehashing past hostings of The Drop Trowel Hour to the latter. Well, that's what went down in the KLC studio, at least, during these magical all-music periods. We finished off the show with a 25-minute-long discussion of...erm, stuff. I don't even remember.

I'm going to miss you.

Look for updates on this blog during the summer months. Hell, look for them in the fall and winter months, when I'll be going to Russian metal shows n shit.

The Drop Trowel Hour loves you.

_Nitro

Devin and Laoura breaking change on your face!

Last night I dreamt that I got really high and then did a lot of coke. When I woke up after the dream, I was convinced that I was still in this state. It was 4 AM. It was quite disturbing. Happy 4/20!

'Twas a hot sunny day at Lewis and Clark (in the eighties!), so we celebrated it by sitting inside and playing music for you fooz. It was really quite a nice time, though. We have a challenge for all you listeners out there for this week's blog: YOU tell US what we talked about today! Because we don't remember!

1. Uh-oh (It's Morningtime Again)- Little Wings
2. Personal Space Invader - Andrew Jackson Jihad
3. Parentheses - The Blow
4. Rise Above - Dirty Projectors
5. Playboy - Hot Chip
6. I'll Be Your Counterpart - Baby Dayliner
7. Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective
8. The Stars of Track and Field - Belle and Sebastian
9. After the Afterlife - Chad Van Gaalen
10. death from above - css
11. not if you were the last junkie on earth - dandy warhols
12. do you realize?? - the flaming lips
13. let's call it off - peter bjorn and john
14. hash pipe - weezer
15. creature - guidance counselor
16. _______ - Helvetia
17. _______
18. Something 4 the Weekend - Super Furry Animals
19. Witches Hat - Incredible String Band
20. Head Spins - HIGH PLACES (like KLC LOLZZZ)
21. Advisory Committee - Mirah
22. (Untitled) - Julie Doiron
23. Jammin' - Bob Marley
24. The Irony of it All - The Streets
25. Fall Saddles - Why?
26. Perfect Day - The Velvet Underground

_Nitro && Katia

All Decisions Are Vinyl

Today we vinylly had an all-vinyl show. Once we vinylly got the hang of it, it was pretty fun and it gave us quite a run for our money--finding the next lucky record that would be broadcast on Drop Trowel was sometimes troublesome. We had a few duds (the song by the George Shearing Quartet was most definitely not using theremin as promised and Katrina and the Waves should've gone out with the tide), but it was a pretty fab show overall(s). KLC was infested with some eighties mice who turned out to be rather friendly and really adorable (white blazers, scrunchies on bowtied tails, turquoise button-downs, t-shirts with various shapes displayed on them). We regret not playing any Spooky Tooth for our listeners (they're like Sonic Youth, but scarier and mintier), but we simply ran out of time.

1. Against Doctor's Orders - Kenny G (wut a rebel)
2. The Reflex - Duran Duran
3. Conception - George Shearing Quartet
4. Prospects - Madness
5. Corn Dogs - The Bobs
6. Pet Sematery - The Ramones
7. Undone - The Lucy Show
8. Love That Boy - Katrina and the Waves
9. Battery Brides - XTC
10. Born Under Punches - Talking Heads
11. Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush
12. The Prize - Ultravox
13. I Am A Camera - Buggles
14. I Am the Audience - XTC
15. Ask - The Smiths
16. This Woman's Work - Kate Bush
17. Mr. X (half of)- Ultravox
18. A Man with a Good Car (half of) - Gang of Four
19. Road to Nowhere - Talking Heads (again)
20. Stay Up Late - Talking Heads (againnnnn)
21. Dumbell - Mission of Burma
22. Barracuda - Heart
23. Suburban Home - Descendents
24. Statue of Liberty - Descendents
25. Kabuki Girl - Descendents
26. Shame of the Nation - New Order (on 33, then 45 when we figured it out)
27. Never Let Me Down - David Bowie
28. Little Fury Things - Dinosaur Jr.

Hopefully, we'll have some more vinyl days in the near future.



_Nitro

"Come pick my roses, PORTLAND!" -Aqua

Today is a celebration of your life: the 90s, and is Brought to you by V8 Splash. We spinnin shit you ain't nev expected from the Drop Trowel Hour!! But this is where we come from. That is, the streets of Bonny Doon and St. Louis in the 90s, in Nitro and my respective small gangs: the Prideless 3 and the Silly Gang. Firstly, we need to give a special thanks to Rhey de Shugehr for coming in and performing "Fly" from their self-titled album of a capella Sugar Ray covers, now available at every Target and Borders in the world. We learned that, contrary to our initial world views, Russians and French Canadians can indeed come together and make renditions of Sugar Ray songs that are arguably even more beautiful than the originals. Aside from our kindly guests, more awkward urges to strip for tour groups, and Parkinson's awareness via my computer screen, here's what you need to make a great 90s casserole:

N
1. My Name is Jonas - Weezer
2. Mykel and Carli - Weezer
3. 8 minutes of dead air brought to you by Fred Meyer
4. Strike it Up - Black Box (Jock Jamz!)
5. Prove My Love - Violent Femmes
6. My Lovin' - En Vogue
7. Roses are Red - Aqua
8. Sail Away - Enya
9. Candle - Sonic Youth
10. Mystery Hours - New Pornographers
11. Stay Away - Nirvana
12. Be Yr Mama - Sleater-Kinney
13. Morning Glory - Oasis
14. Every Morning - Sugary Ray
-Live Performance of "Fly" by Rhey de Shugehr
K
15. The Cruise - The Rentals
16. Molly's Lips - The Vaselines
17. Queenie - Bratmobile
18. Deceptacon - Le Tigre
19. Big Time Sensuality - Bjork
20. Emperor Tomato Ketchup - Stereolab
21. 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
22. Sugarcube - Yo La Tengo
23. Car - Built to Spill
24. Shitty, Shitty, inaudible clip from the movie "Empire Records"
25. What's Up (Also shitty, shitty version from the Dave Letterman show) - 4 Non-Blondes
26. Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms

-Katiaaaaaaaaa

Free Strip Tease On The Drop Trowel Hour!

1-800-KLC-STRP is the number to call, folks. Ask for Nitro or Katia, otherwise known as Frisky and Damsel. Today's show was both aural and visual. I gave two tours a very intimate introduction to both myself and KLC. We're considering making this a weekly feature. We'd appreciate your input grrrrrrrrreatly.

We briefly reviewed the NANK camping trip and delved into the intricacies of sprinkler system beats. Beyonce paid us a visit, groveling for change as always. I gained a pen and lost some dignity; Katia lost her balance and gained my approval of the Baby Ruth candy bar. Playlist:

1. White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
2. Red, Yellow & Blue - Born Ruffians
3. By Your Side - CocoRosie
4. I Just Threw Out The Love of My Dreams - Weezer
5. Poor Harold - White Magic
6. Blue Ocean Blue - Lake
7. Step Into My Office, Baby - Belle & Sebastian
8. To Hell and Back - Madeline
9. Promise - Violent Femmes
10. Crazy In Love - Beyonce Feat. Jay-Z
11. Ready Or Not - The Fugees
12. These Few Presidents - Why?
13. German Love - Starfucker
14. Time After Time - Cindy Lauper
15. Vamos - Pixies
16. Isla De Encanta - Pixies
17. From a Motel 6 - Yo La Tengo
18. Something off a Post-punk compilation
19. See above
20. Oh No - Gogol Bordello
21. Some beautiful, badass unknown song
22. Another beautiful, famazing, super super, fucking AWESOME SCARY badass unknown song (by Cat Power)
23. You Be Sweet - LEVY
24. I Wanna Die - Jolie Holland
25. Execution Day - The New Porn.

_Nitro