Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The "Blue Card" Conundrum

The "Blue Card" Conundrum


I got "blue carded" on check-in for my flight...

Now I have no idea how or why I was thus selected ... but it ultimately meant that I DID NOT have to remove my shoes during the pre-flight screening.

There was an 80+ year old man ahead of me who was also so honored. I thought as that happened, "how nice of them to be so considerate to a senior citizen" ... but then I got the same treatment and it was more like, "WTF!?"

So I was trying to think of reasons why I would be so "carded" and I have come up with a few possibilities:

1) the TSA was so impressed (or embarrassed) by what they saw on my full body scan while boarding my flight the previous day, they didn't want to see "that" again.
2) the NSA has been following me and know from facebook that my left foot has been paining me from PF and didn't want to cause me more pain
3) the lady at the counter was a fellow fan of Mark Mikel and The Pillbugs and was at the concert the night before and saw me there and knew I was a righteous dude
4) I hadn't showered in almost 48 hours
5) I was "profiled"

So after a few hours of contemplation, I'm still stumped as to why I got this privilege. 

I actually Googled "TSA blue card" and found something called "PreCheck" that costs $100 and you have to go through extensive pre-flight interviews and questionnaires before you're granted it. 

I did none of that. 

I honestly think it must be that I was profiled as a "middle-age WASP that looks like your uncle"... (or it WAS my penis in the body scan) 

It's gotta be one or the other!


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

JOURNEY TO MONCLOVIA

Mark Mikel's 35th Anniversary Concert

Anticipation grows... 

In 1995, following the demise of Jellyfish, I discovered and became an instantaneous fan of Mark Mikel and The Pillbugs. Over the years I've collected every official release and (luckily) hours and hours of unreleased material from the archives of the amazing Mr. Mikel.

On Saturday November 23rd 2013, I will finally have the opportunity to see Mark LIVE in concert with his musical friends and colleagues at his 35th Anniversary Extravaganza in Maumee, Ohio.

If you are able to, I urge you to join us for this once in a lifetime event. 
As my British friends might say, "I'm chuffed to bits to be going!" 

Compiled here are a few of my favorite videos and performances from the past 33 years of this musical journey....


===========================================

1981

Marikesh (unreleased)

"Saturday Knows (Where I Go)"



1990

Mark Mikel - CD: Sorghum Pudding (1993)

"Passage Of Eternity"




1991

Mark Mikel - (unreleased)

"Higher Llamas"



1997

The Pillbugs - CD: The Pillbugs (1998)

"Son of Shirley"



2002

The Pillbugs - CD: Happy Birthday (2004)

"Peasant Girls"




2003

The Pillbugs - CD: The 3-Dimensional In-Popcycle Dream (2003)

"Red Light Summer"




2007

The Pillbugs - CD: Buzz For Aldrin (2007)

"Spaced Out (Rock and Roll)"




2011

Dark Ocean Colors

"My Barbara Closed The Doors"




2013

Mark Mikel solo at
The Cavern, Liverpool, England




I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!! 




For more information about Mark Mikel, The Pillbugs, Dark Ocean Colors and 
everything in between, check out the on-line history of "Illuminating Drink"

Monday, November 18, 2013

November 17, 2013 - The Play Lists

Sparky Sundays on ScrubRadio

Round about four hours of amazing Independent music streaming LIVE every Sunday on ScrubRadio.com! Running the gambit from the avant garde - to acoustic - to power pop and beyond! Join the cool kids! Every Sunday, 11A to 3P Eastern (8-Noon Pacific, 4-8 PM UK) on ScrubRadio! 

Want to submit your original music for consideration?
Contact Sparky at dtp2web@yahoo.com

AIR DATE: November 17, 2013

==============================

THE PROGRAMMING:

"ShockPop" Noon-2P EDT:

1. Ghost Trains - Miss Emily (Happy birthday, Tim!)
2. Vegas With Randolph - Rings Around The Sun (Congrats VWR!)
3. Justin Kline - Doormat
4. David Brookings - No Regrets
5. the what gives - Burn Me Down
6. Dark Ocean Colors - Crashing The Sky
7. The Weightlifters - Oblivion Shines
8. Fission Music - Hello
9. Dead Heart Bloom - We Made It
10. Duncan Maitland - Terry the Toad
11. The Bottle Kids - Kissing You
12. Scott Brookman - Lemon Lane
13. The Major Labels - Don't Hear A Single
14. Stars and Sons - Fights already fought
15. Gordon Weiss - Unforgivable
16. Agony Aunts - Family Drugs
17. The Gilligans - Weko Beach
18. 8X8 - Crystal Illusion
19. The Big I Am - Collecting Skies
20. Giraffe - The World Just Gets Smaller
21. John Evans - Ghost Dancing
22. Yani Martinelli - Katmandu
23. Tiny Volcano - This Side Of Stupid
24. Greg Pope - Partner in Crime
25. Dave Stephens - Mr Wonderful
26. Brian Ray - Goin' Down Swingin'
27. Caravan of Thieves - Eat You
28. Lohio - Owen!

==============================

"Just Good People" 11A-Noon EDT:

1. Just Good People Opening Theme (1:50)
2. Time Sawyer - Don't Leave Me Tonight (4:25)
3. 3 Penny Acre - Mamah Borthwick And Mr. Wright (5:22)
4. Something Spooked the Horses - Last Bus (4:37)
5. Elijah Wolfenheart - Stealing Horses (2:27)
6. Amy Duncan - Hanging On By A Strand (3:52)
7. Josh Woodward - Memorized (4:21)
8. The Dixie Bee-Liners - She's My Angel (2:38)
9. Phillip Hartley – Artist ID (0:08)
10. Phillip Hartley - Ye Jacobites (3:16)
11. Galley Beggar - Shifting Sands (4:37)
12. Scott Hunt - Waiting To Meet You (3:29)
13. Sandwitch - The Dreadful End Of Marianna For Sorcery (4:50)
14. Andrew Taylor - No Cheese To Love (2:49)
15. Nimming Ned - The Hermit (4:10)
16. Zeptepi - Waltzing Matilda (2:47)
17. Dave Cousins - That's The Way It Ends (2:53)
18. Just Good People Closing Theme (1:57))

==============================

"The Pillbugs Power Hour" Show # 125
NOW ON 2-3 PM Eastern every Sunday!

1. Welcome To The Show (0:50)
2. The Sprags - Dick Mason (2:32)
3. The Pillbugs - Soundman (4:10)
4. The Pillbugs - I Dont Really Mean To Freak Your Mind (3:15)
5. Chris Shutters - Secret Love (3:35)
6. Mark Mikel - Wherever You Are (3:24)
7. The Pillbugs - Long Goes The Human (2:57)
8. Dark Ocean Colors - Mark Mikel and Scott Hunt promo (0:09)
9. Scott Tabner - Broken Ringing Bells (3:20)
10. Mark Mikel - Perpetual Mouth (2:59)
11. Scott and Shelby Hunt - Sunday (3:28)
12. The Pillbugs - Comburda (3:29)
13. The Pillbugs - Fear No Horizons (5:34)
14. Mark Mikel - Pillbugs Power Hour stinger (0:08)
15. The Pillbugs - Goodnight to Babylon (3:35)
16. The Pillbugs - Life as It Happens (3:17)
17. Dark Ocean Colors - Own The Day (2:37)
18. The Pillbugs - King Of Zorg (3:35)
19. The Pillbugs - All In Good Time (2:54)
20. The Pillbugs - Make Like Arthur Lee (4:16)
21. Goodbye From The Pillbugs Power Hour (0:41)


Want to submit your original music for consideration?
Contact Sparky at dtp2web@yahoo.com

ShockPop streams LIVE on-the-net every Sunday from 11A to 3PM Eastern on www.ScrubRadio.com
That's 8A-Noon Pacific, 4-8P UK time.
Catch the ScrubRadio ALL independent stream 24/7/365 at http://209.160.41.56:8000/listen.pls
  
Everyone is invited to join us in the ScrubRadio Chat Room during the show! 
It's a great place for you to meet like-minded indie music fans and even the artists themselves! (just go to scrubradio.com, sign-up in the Forum, and then click on "Live Chat"!)


Monday, November 11, 2013

November 10, 2013 - The Play Lists

Sparky Sundays on ScrubRadio

Round about four hours of amazing Independent music streaming LIVE every Sunday on ScrubRadio.com! Running the gambit from the avant garde - to acoustic - to power pop and beyond! Join the cool kids! Every Sunday, 11A to 3P Eastern (8-Noon Pacific, 4-8 PM UK) on ScrubRadio! 

Want to submit your original music for consideration?
Contact Sparky at dtp2web@yahoo.com

AIR DATE: November 10, 2013

FEATURED ARTISTS:  An American Underdog, Brandon Schott, The Sharp Things, Baby Scream, Scott and Shelby Hunt, Marc Black, & Hunter

==============================

THE PROGRAMMING:

(The Sharp Things)

"ShockPop" Noon-2P EDT:

1. The Corner Laughers - Poppy Seeds
2. John Evans - Armistice Day
3. The Sharp Things - Can't Get Started
4. fun. - All the Pretty Girls
5. The Alexandria Quartet - The Dark Side Of The Blues
6. The Hopefuls - Holiday
7. An American Underdog - The Show Goes On
8. Coconut Records - Nighttiming
9. Hunter - Press Down
10. Scott and Shelby Hunt - Charlie O
11. Jamie and Steve - Can We Start Again, Girl?
12. Cloud Eleven - Tuesday Letter
13. Stefano - Sunday in L.A.
14. Maxi Dunn - Take It Or Leave It
15. The Pengwins - Naive
16. Baby Scream - Exile
17. Brandon Schott - Henry
18. Two Sheds Jackson - Port of Amsterdam (featuring Wim Oudijk)
19. Willie Wisely - Mule
20. Duncan Faure - In The Right Place
21. Strangely Alright - Crying Shame
22. Tiny Volcano - When Girls Collide
23. Automat - If I'm Talking
24. Gordon Weiss - Half Of Harry
25. Ken Sharp - The Man Who Couldn't Be Wrong
26. Baby Scream - Ups and Downs
27. An American Underdog - The Show Goes On
28. Eytan Mirsky - Record Collection
29. Scott and Shelby Hunt - Don't Be A Bad Girl
30. The Pozers - The Fascination
31. Laurie Biagini - The California Quake
32. Radio Days - Dirty Tricks (Happy birthday, Dario!)
33. Mick Terry - Northern Exposure

==============================



"Just Good People" 11A-Noon EDT:

1. Just Good People Opening Theme (The Big I Am)
2. The Jonny Berliner Band - Happy Song (3:30)
3. Bombadil - I Am (1:28)
4. Curtis And The Dilettantes - Rebecca (6:04)
5. Billy Two Shoes - Yellow House (4:40)
6. John Batdorf - Won't Go Down That Road Again (featuring Arlene Kole) (4:17)
7. Madeline - This Train (3:27)
8. Putnam Smith - arkansas (3:35)
9. Jay Stansfield - Trials and Tribulations (acoustic) (2:46)
10. Marc Black and Warren Bernhardt - Moonstruck Love (3:18)
11. Boris Skalsky - Soft Rains (2:27)
12. Danny Trashville - Big Fish (2:55)
13. The Dixie Bee-Liners - The Bugs in the Basement (2:08)
14. ANTIQCOOL - I Gave You A Rose (acoustic mix) (1:28)
15. Skeleton Staff - Her Ladyship (2:32)
16. Elijah Aaron - When We Were Young (3:27)
17. Rob Jones - Summer Rain (4:27)
18. Brady Harris - Come Along & Thrill Us (3:46)
19. Just Good People Closing Theme (The Big I Am)

==============================



"The Pillbugs Power Hour" Show # 124
NOW ON 2-3 PM Eastern every Sunday!

1. Welcome To The Show (0:50)
2. The Pillbugs - Big Green Nature Machine (4:07)
3. Dark Ocean Colors - Gone Somewhere (2:51)
4. The Sprags - like the rollin' stones (3:00)
5. Mark Mikel - Right Now (5:09)
6. The Pillbugs - Trip Fast and Run (4:22)
7. The Pillbugs - Milkmans Wife (3:22)
8. The Pillbugs - Black Sombrero (1:10)
9. Mark Mikel - Holy Roly (3:22)
10. Madness with Mark Mikel and Scott Hunt teaser (0:45)
11. Mark Mikel - Madeline (3:06)
12. The Pillbugs - Feet First (2:44)
13. The Pillbugs - Will Love Ever Find Chastity Rose (2:50)
14. The Pillbugs - Lost Lonely Sailor (2:48)
15. Mark Mikel - Can't Dream You Anymore (edit) (3:34)
16. Marikesh - Love Is What You Want (2:11)
17. Mark Mikel - Passage of Eternity (3:29)
18. Scott Hunt - Looking At The World (2:03)
19. Dark Ocean Colors - Granny Smith (3:09)
20. Marikesh - I'm Sorry Bad About You (4:42)
21. Goodbye From The Pillbugs Power Hour (0:41)



Want to submit your original music for consideration?
Contact Sparky at dtp2web@yahoo.com

ShockPop streams LIVE on-the-net every Sunday from 11A to 3PM Eastern on www.ScrubRadio.com
That's 8A-Noon Pacific, 4-8P UK time.
Catch the ScrubRadio ALL independent stream 24/7/365 at http://209.160.41.56:8000/listen.pls
  
Everyone is invited to join us in the ScrubRadio Chat Room during the show! 
It's a great place for you to meet like-minded indie music fans and even the artists themselves! (just go to scrubradio.com, sign-up in the Forum, and then click on "Live Chat"!)

Sunday, November 3, 2013

November 3, 2013 - The Play Lists

Sparky Sundays on ScrubRadio

Round about four hours of amazing Independent music streaming LIVE every Sunday on ScrubRadio.com! Running the gambit from the avant garde - to acoustic - to power pop and beyond! Join the cool kids! Every Sunday, 11A to 3P Eastern (8-Noon Pacific, 4-8 PM UK) on ScrubRadio! 

Want to submit your original music for consideration?
Contact Sparky at dtp2web@yahoo.com

AIR DATE: November 3, 2013

FEATURED ARTISTS: David Brookings, Greg Pope, Paul Starling & Bearkat

==============================

THE PROGRAMMING:

"ShockPop" Noon-2P EDT:

1. The PondHawks - Time Flies
2. Greg Pope - Partner in Crime
3. The Merrymakers - Troubled Times
4. The Lemon Clocks - The Man Who Lost The Time
5. Kurt Baker - Don't Go Falling In Love
6. The Newds - Go Getter
7. Brad Sucks - Time to Take Out the Trash
8. Phenomenal Cat - Nowhere Town
9. Janice and Vinnie Zummo - It's Gonna Take Time
10. Butch Barnette - 2nd Grade Joyride
11. Gordon Weiss - Hook, Line, And Singer
12. David Brookings - No Regrets
13. The Northwoods - Sun Song
14. Justin Kline - How I Became The Wind
15. Vegas With Randolph - The Tree Song (featuring Wim Oudijk)
16. Richard Chance - Nicola Jones
17. The Foreign Films - Fall of The Summer Heart/She Disappeared
18. Chris Shutters - Killing Time In the Heavy Rain
19. Paul Starling & Bearkat - Oh, Mrs. Henry
20. Elephant Stone - Strangers
21. Agony Aunts - Trouble Was Born
22. Lannie Flowers - I Could Ask You
23. Greg Pope - Don't Wait
24. Dave Stephens - Time Will Tell
25. David Brookings - I'll Wait Up For You
26. Josh Fields - Clock Keeps Ticking
27. Marmalade Army - 2BW
28. Marmalade Army - Marigold
29. Todd Dillingham - Carousel Rider (with Roger Klug)
30. McColl and Tracey - You Depress Me
31. PT Walkley - Silverdollar Pancakes
32. Seth Swirsky - 4 o'clock sun




==============================

"Just Good People" 11A-Noon EDT:

1. Just Good People Opening Theme (1:50)
2. Nimming Ned - Farewell (5:38)
3. Joe Crookston - Poor Me (2:41)
4. The Milk Carton Kids - Trouble In These Parts (4:21)
5. Jasmine Kyle - Magic (3:18)
6. Beartown Zodiac - Write Me A Story (2:09)
7. Josh Woodward - Honcho Graham From Birmingham (4:28)
8. Ghost Trains - Blow Me Away (4:27)
9. Greg Pope - Cloud and Thunder (1:55)
10. Joel McColl - Be a Light (3:15)
11. Gaunt Story - Soiled Hearts (LIVE) (2:01)
12. Eli Lewis - Good-nights-dreaming (2:12)
13. Amy Duncan - Brokens Beaten-down And Blue (3:04)
14. Paul Mosley - The Beast (3:42)
15. Acoustic Lighting - Sayin Goodbye (3:38)
16. J Peter Boles - Empty Roads (4:33)
17. Opossum - Without Warning (5:01)
18. Big Smith - I Thought It Was Over (1:34)
19. Just Good People Closing Theme (1:57)



==============================

"The Pillbugs Power Hour" Show # 123
NOW ON 2-3 PM Eastern every Sunday!

1. Welcome To The Show (0:50)
2. Mark Mikel - Never is here (3:17)
3. The Pillbugs - No Joke (5:16)
4. The Pillbugs - Life As It Happens Pt 2 (0:43)
5. Mark Mikel – ShockPop  sting (0:16)
6. Mark Mikel - Sincerity (3:21)
7. Dark Ocean Colors - Lazy Lighthouse Jupiter Band (2:37)
8. The Pillbugs - Still Havent Learned To Behave (3:23)
9. The Pillbugs - Climbing The Walls (5:05)
10. The Sprags - Fly By July (2:47)
11. The Pillbugs - No, Imogene (2:29)
12. Mark Mikel - More madness on Scrub Radio with Sparky (0:27)
13. Chris Shutters - Lightning (5:04)
14. Mark Mikel - Girl With A Heart For A Head (2:34)
15. The Pillbugs - Girl on a Laser Beam (2:29)
16. Mark Mikel - Idiot Smiles (3:07)
17. The Pillbugs - Plastic Surgical Holiday (2:28)
18. The Pillbugs - Life As It Happens Pt 3 (0:36)
19. Mark Mikel - Cosmic Surprise (4:01)
20. Dave Murnen - Davey is here on Radio Pill-bug-bug-bug (0:26)
21. The Pillbugs - Peasant Girls (2:40)
22. Dark Ocean Colors - The Other Line (2:52)
23. The Pillbugs - Pretty, Young and Free (2:30)
24. Goodbye From The Pillbugs Power Hour (0:41)



Want to submit your original music for consideration?
Contact Sparky at dtp2web@yahoo.com

ShockPop streams LIVE on-the-net every Sunday from 11A to 3PM Eastern on www.ScrubRadio.com
That's 8A-Noon Pacific, 4-8P UK time.
Catch the ScrubRadio ALL independent stream 24/7/365 at http://209.160.41.56:8000/listen.pls
  
Everyone is invited to join us in the ScrubRadio Chat Room during the show! 
It's a great place for you to meet like-minded indie music fans and even the artists themselves! (just go to scrubradio.com, sign-up in the Forum, and then click on "Live Chat"!)