Fireball XL5 is the name of an indie-pop show hosted by Frank Seglenieks that for 18 years was on CKMS 100.3 FM Radio Waterloo. However, as a result of a format change in mid-2008, Fireball XL5 is now heard only as a podcast.

Of course I stole the name of the show from the 60s British Supermarionation program, which featured puppets kind of like the movie Team America.

I play alternative music that usually classified as indie-pop with the occasional feature on a particular artist or theme as well as discussions on pop culture topics of the day. I start off each show with the best song that I have heard since the last
show.

Note that the links to shows older than 6 months might not be working, if you really want those shows please send me an email and I can get them to you.

Friday, July 20, 2007

July 20, 2007

Theme: Italy review and Hillside Preview
On Air: Frank

If I sound a bit tired during this show, it is because I woke up that morning in Rome, got on a plane to Toronto, got back to Waterloo, had half an hour at home, and then had to get on my bike for the radio show. So when the show ended it was the equivalent of 2 am for me.

I didn't pick up any CDs during my recent trip to Italy and Poland however I did see a very unique show as the conference I was attending was happening in the same city as Umbria Jazz festival. It turns out this is a pretty major jazz festival in Europe and it made certain aspects of the conference pretty cool in that there was live jazz music on one of the free stages from noon to midnight. On the bad side it made finding a place to stay difficult, I ended up finding a place way out of town that required a bus ride and then calling the B&B owner to pick me up.

The last day I was there, I noticed that both Solomon Burke and Sly and the Family Stone were playing as part of the jazz festival so I had to get a ticket (even though it meant getting back to my B&B at 12:30 am and having to wake up the owner).

Burke is so large that he has a large throne from which he does most of his songs, he was wearing a three piece suit and part way through the concert he took of his jacket to show of his very tight vest and very large man boobs. Unfortunately he stuck with the classics, if he had done "None of us are free" I would have lost it.

Sly was probably on stage for about 15 minutes, his band played for about 25 minutes, then he came out, sang a few songs hunched over the microphone and played a few chords on his keyboards (to be fair to him there were some technical difficulties with his keyboards). Then he stood up, gave the double peace sign and walked off. I don't think he was coming back but I had to leave.

Nothing like a couple of Hillside preview sets to boost up that Canadian Content. For those who don't know, Hillside is an annual festival in Guelph that features great music, great food, and just a great vibe. For this show I previewed some of the bands that were playing Hillside and next week I'll have my Hillside review

There was also a set of CDs that I got in the mail from www.poppolar.com , my favourite place to order music on-line.
.

TALK-Theme
The Juju Orchestra featuring Carolyn Leonheart and Terry Callier - What Is Hip?
Supreme Beings Of Leisure - What's The Deal?
The Toasters - Nighttrain To Moscow
Justice - Valentine
TALK (Poppolar set)
Pele Carlberg - Pamploma
Amida - It Started In Naples
The Electric Pop Group - Don't Bring Me Out
Lucky Soul - Lips Are Unhappy
TALK (Hillside Preview I)
Chumbawamba - Big Mouth Strikes Again
Golden Dogs - Construction Worker (C)
Immaculate Machines - Roman Statues (C)
The Dears - Ballad Of Human Kindness (C)
Shout Out Out Out Out - Procrastinator's Fight Song (C)
TALK (Hillside Preview II)
Los Campesinos - Frontwards
Two Hours Traffic - Stuck For The Summer (C)
Memphis - Into The Wild (C)
Ron Sexsmith - For A Moment (C)
Ohbijou - Misty Eyes (C)
TALK (a couple of Italian related songs)
Sly And The Family Stone - I Want To Take You Higher
Solomon Burke - None Of Us Are Free
Keren Ann - In Your Back
Lionheart Brothers - Hero Anthem
TALK
Most Serene Republic - Ageless Beauty **See Note 1
Hall and Oates - Maneater (Podcast only bonus) **See Note 2

Note 1: Venice was referred to as the "Most Serene Republic"

Note 2: Heard this on the radio in Poland, I had to turn it up, much to the chagrin of Erin.



(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, July 6, 2007

July 6, 2007

Theme: More Calvin Johnson than you can stand
On Air: Frank

Another week another show. Between the Denver set (where I purchased the latest Calvin Johnson album) and the set of music highlighting his recent shows, there was a definite Calvin Johnson bent to a lot of the show. After seeing him at the Music Gallery last Saturday with Julie Doiron I found out that he was playing a backyard show in Guelph on Wednesday. I liked him so much the first time I had to see him the second time.

It is a good time for the new release section at CKMS with lots of good stuff to play including a couple of surprises such as Code Pie and the Immaculate Machines. There was also a new album by Carolyn Mark, there used to be a time when I would have been very excited by this, but I don't know if I have been all that excited by her recent stuff. However, she and Geoff Berrner are playing the Jane Bond in September and I'll probably go and see them.

The second last set had a mish-mash of ideas:

- the Rubinoos song (thanks Dan) that is the centre of the controversy with Avril Lavigne (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/308830/avril_lavigne_sued_over_girlfriend.html )

- the original of the song that was my top song last week

- and a small feature on a recent great commercial song for Maynard's candy, the one with the girl in the red polka dot dress walking along a street and then splits into different versions of herself. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ7pGMfVNVg ) After much research I think I am correct that the band is a Canadian band called Major Maker and the song was written for the commercial and there are no plans to create a full version of the song. However, one of the members of Major Maker is Lindy, so perhaps I will one day be able to ask him as he plays the Jane Bond every once in a while.

TALK-Theme
The Ethnobabes - My Favourite Fool
Los Campensions - We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives
La Buenavida - En Bicicleta
Code Pie - Conway Killjoy (C)
Superfantastics - As The Lights Go Down (C)
TALK (New Releases)
The Pipettes - Guess Who Ran Off With The Milkman?
Shapes And Sizes - Diggy (C)
Grant McLennan - Lighting Fires
Immaculate Machines - Small Talk (C)
Carolyn Mark - Pictures At 5 (C)
TALK (Calvin Johnson and related set)
Griffin And The True Believers - Carnival (C)
Matias - Tea (C)
Beat Happening - Indian Summer
Calvin Johnson - Your Eyes
TALK (CDs from Denver)
Calvin Johnson And The Sons Of The Soil - Banana Meltdown
Sea and Cake - Too Strong
Electronic - Tighten Up
VHS or Beta - Heaven
TALK
Rubinoos - I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
The Zutons - Valerie
The Maynards - Pauline's Jeans (C)
Major Maker - Over It (C)
Major Maker - Candy Song (C)
TALK
Rah Rah - Winter Sun
Brown Recluse Sings - Lazy Bones
The Diskettes - Art (C)


(C) Denotes Canadian Content