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, March 30, 2007

March 30, 2007

Theme: Equations and Johnny Marr
On Air: Frank

There were two themed sets this show:

The Johnny Marr set - highlighting the various bands that he has played in since his start in the Smiths and ending with his current membership in Modest Mouse

The Equation set - it was hard to even find 4 songs to fill out this set, but I managed to do it with some help from Derek.

As I mention in the setlist below, watch out for the very high cheese factor in the second set.

The opening song was "Runaway Lane" by Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra, I played this because I heard it on the last broadcast of CBC Radio 3 on terrestrial radio (it is now satellite only). I have always loved this song and it was great to hear somebody apart from me playing considering it is now over 20 years old (I have it on cassette).

I ended with the great piece by Bruce McCulloch (formerly of Kids in the Hall) about being a Doors fan, the reason was that I have see advertisements recently about a recent "Very Best of the Doors" compilation and in the McCulloch's song he specifically says that Best of albums are for "housewives and little girls".

TALK - Theme

Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra - Runaway Lane (C)
The Stooges - Trollin'
The Eels - Hey Man Now You Are Really Living
The Clash - White Man In Hammersmith Palais
The Fall - Victoria
TALK (watch out for the cheese)
The Crash - Pony Ride
Orbit - Electric
Rubik - City and the Streets
Lio - Comix Discomix
Kristoffer Ragnastram - Breakfast By The Mattress
TALK
You Say Party! We Say Die! - Opportunity (C)
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (C)
Collapsing Opposites - Will (C)
Cub - Way To Go (C)
TALK (Johnny Marr set)
The Smiths - Panic
The The - Dogs of Lust
Electronic - One Day
Modest Mouse - Dashboard
TALK (equations set)
The Kissaway Trail - Smother + Evil = Hurt
Sekiden - 1 + 1 = Heartache
Ivana Santilli = Sun + Moon = Tomorrow
Haircut 100 - Love + One **Suggested by Derek
TALK
Loney Dear - I Am John
Sally Shapiro - I'll Be By Your Side
You/Me - Through Four Kinds
The Bicycles - I Know We Have To Be Apart (C) **See Note 1
Hilotrons - Stuck In The Sound (C)
TALK
Bruce McCulloch - Doors (C)


Note 1: I went to see both The Bicycles and the Hilotrons in Ottawa at a place called Zaphod Beeblebrox, it is the legendary place to see a band in Ottawa. The show was great and as an added bonus as it was Easter weekend the bar was decorated by Kinder Surprise eggs. There is no better way to kill time waiting for a band then putting together Kinder Surprise toys. By the way for anybody who doesn't know how the bar was names see this Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaphod_Beeblebrox




(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, March 16, 2007

March 16, 2007

Theme: In the Hall of Fame
On Air: Frank

Thanks for all the suggestions about the Hall of Fame set, as you can see below I tried to stay away from the most popular songs by the artists and used a Van Halen cover instead of the real thing. I got a lot of suggestions for an REM song, but I had to defer to Derek on that one as he is the biggest REM fan I know. I thought that "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was a bit to obvious, so I went with "White Lines". There is also some controversy about the song as to whether or not Grandmaster Flash (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_flash).

I have complained in the past few months about not finding a lot to play from the CKMS new release section, however this has really turned around lately. Combined with the many different websites I have found highlighting the Scandanavian bands playing the recent South by Southwest music festival in Texas it meant that I had lots of songs to play for the show (and lots of songs leftover). Here are some of those sites about SXSW:

sixeyes.blogspot.com/2007/03/scandinavia-comes-to-sxsw-mp3s.html
www.popmatters.com/pm/features/article/31476/bylarm-2007-part-1-the-music

I got an e-mail from a band from the United Kingdom call the Hit and Runs, they had seen my setlists and thought their music would fit into my show. So I checked them out and liked them, you should check them out at www.thehitandruns.com

TALK - Theme

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Don't Forget To Forget Me
Ane Brun - To Let Myself Go
Leopold - Johnny
Air - Once Upon A Time
Moi Caprice - For Once In Your Life Fight For Something You Believe In **See Note 1
TALK
Marit Bergman - No Party
You Say Party! We Say Die! - Downtown Mayors Goodnight, Alley Kids Rule (C)
Annemarie - The Living Model
Deacon Blue - A Is For Astronaught **See Note 2
The Saturday People - Slipping Through Your Fingers **See Note 2
The Hit and Runs - Low Tops and Make-up **See Note above
TALK
Jeremy Fisher - Remind Me (C)
Nich Worby - Oh, Little Bonez (C)
Sondre Lerche - Well Well Well
Sean Clarke - No Phone Before Regina (C)
Geoff Berner - Good Luck Now (C)
TALK (Hall Of Fame Set)
Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five - White Lines (Don't Do It)
Patti Smith - Kimberly **Suggested by Dan
REM - Harborcoat **Suggested by Derek
Aztec Camera - Jump (of course a Van Halen cover)
The Ronettes - Do I Love You?
TALK
Adaptor 45 - Keep on Groovin' (C)
Steady, Garcia - Pretend Girlfriend (C) **See Note 3
Peter Elkas - Sweet Nancy (C)
The Gruesomes - Out Of Our Tree (C)
TALK
Arcade Fire - Ocean Of Noise (C)

Note 1: I thought this song was an unknown song by the Flaming Lips the first time I heard it.

Note 2: Stolen from the podcast The Great Leap Forward

Note 3: I loved the title of the album this song is from: "Bring me the head of Steady, Garcia", this reminds me of one of my favourite sketches written by my friend Cat Sullivan called "Bring me the head of Poncho Garcia". This was back in another life when we used to co-host a radio comedy show called The Frank, Frank, and Frank show. Of course they both were taken from the Sam Peckinpah movie "Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia".

(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, March 2, 2007

March 2, 2007

Theme: Hard to listen to songs
On Air: Frank

I started out in a funky groove beginning with the top song by Ruth Brown. The set also included a song from the Light in the Attic release "From Jamaica to Toronto", it is a compilation that was released last year featuring acts that came from the West Indies and settled in Toronto. The morning of the show I saw a performance by some of the acts from the CD on Breakfast Television publicising a show that they were doing that night in Toronto, I couldn't make it but that would have been cool to see. Another Light in the Attic release I'm looking forward to is their collection of music from Bollywood movies of the 60s and 70s.

I ended up playing more songs that I had planned in the "hard to listen to" set, see if you are able get through the 7 song endurance test. After that set the rest of show was pretty laid back, I promise more happy, poppy stuff for the next show.

I know it is buried near the end, but the song by Keren Ann "Lay Your Head Down" is a really great song that has really grown on me since the show. It was fighting for the top song spot but didn't quite make it, however do yourself a favour and make sure you give it a listen.

TALK - Theme

Ruth Brown - 5,10,15 Hours
B'Ham Rhythmn Section - I've Been Lonely For So Long
Howard Tate - She's a Burglar
Wayne McGhie and the Sounds of Joy - Fire (She Need Water) (C)
Professor Longhair - Go To The Mardi Gras
TALK
Bellevue - KC Thugs (C)
The Gruesomes - You Were Not Using Your Head (C)
The Fussy Part - Dog Food Thumb
Jim Ried - I'm Stranded
The Organ - Memorize The City (C)
TALK (The hard to listen to set)
Karen Dalton - Something On Your Mind
The Sixth with Odetta - Waltzing Me All The Way Home
Geoff Berner - Can't Stay Dry (C)
Daniel Johnston - Mind Contorted
Calvin Johnson - When You Are Mine
Tom Waits - Filipino Box Spring Hog
The Comedian Harmonists - Wenn ich vergnugt bin, muss ich singen **Suggested by Derek
TALK
Ron Sexsmith with Bob Wiseman - Trains (C)
Steven McKay - The Other Bums (C)
Friday Morning's Regret - When Lost at Sea (C)
Jeremy Fisher - American Girls (C)
Sondre Lerche and the Faces Down - Say It All
TALK
Dean and Britta - Teen Angel
Airport Girl - Show Me The Way
Keren Ann - Lay Your Head Down **Almost the top song of the week
Holden - Ce Que Je Suis
Ukjent - My New Hang Up
The Pipettes - A Winter's Sky **See Note 1
TALK
Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Note 1: I saw the Pipettes at their first ever North American show at the Rivoli in Toronto on March 9. They were totally awesome, they only allowed 100 people into the venue because of a violation the night before. So although the show was "sold-out" the venue was only about half full. See another review with pictures here. You can also see many different videos from the show on youtube.com.

Friday, February 16, 2007

February 16, 2007

Theme: Labrador Records spotlight
On Air: Frank

I started the show with one of the few vinyl albums I have acquired in the last few years. I got it at a showing of the Canadian movie Monkey Warfare ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0832906/ ) at the Princess Cinema, the director, Reginald Harkema, was at the showing and answered questions after the movie. A few of the questions were about the music in the movie and in particular how much is costs to use a song in a movie (answer: about $500 to the person who performed the song and another $500 for the rights owner of the song). He also mentioned that the bands agreed to have the songs part of a limited edition 1000 vinyl pressing and that he had some copies of it with him. So after the questions were over I was second in line to get a copy. The first two songs were from the soundtrack along with some bonus dialogue from the movie.

Most of show ended up being a spotlight on the Labrador Records label ( http://www.labrador.se/ ). This idea came to me after using a quote from the band Suburban Kids With Biblical Names for my UW weather Station contest ( http://weather.uwaterloo.ca/contest2007/contest2007_entry.htm ). So I thought that I should play at least that song, but when I was looking at the band's record label and saw the rest of the great bands they have put out I started downloading all the songs I could from the record label's website. The label also has just came out with their 100th release, and to celebrate they have released a four CD set featuring a song from each one of their releases, it has the very humble title of "The Complete History of Popular Music".

I ended the show with two songs (a rarity as I usually end with a single song) featuring a couple of people that I saw a few days after the show playing at the Jane Bond. Bob Wiseman did a multimedia show playing various videos from his laptop, playing along with some while others were just funny videos, while Geoff Berner was his usual comical self.

TALK - Theme

The Fugs - Kill For Peace
Wierd War - Girls Like That
The Gruesomes - Wat Dat? (C)
The Gruesomes - Three Men One Coffin (C)
Books On Books - One Page At A Time (C)
TALK
Saturday Looks Good To Me - Since You Stole Me Heart
Of Montreal - Cato As A Pun
The Fiery Furnaces - Single Girl
Spirathon - Cherry Girl (C)
Elvis - I Need Your Love Tonight
TALK (Labrador records set 1)
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - Funeral Face
S'Ambassadeur - New Moon
Lasse Lindh - The Stuff
Pelle Carlberg - Riverbank
Starlet - When The Sun Falls On My Feet
TALK (Labrador records set 2)
Henry Morgan Solokarriar - One Day, Any Day
Laurel Music - No One Want's Forever
Corduroy UTD - Daddy's Boy
South Ambulance - Hanging In A tie
Leslies - Collins
TALK
Knock, Knock, Ginger - The Makeout Song (C)
The Poison Dart - Occupations (C)
Friday Morning's Regret - Poor Caroline (C)
The Postage Stamps - Turning Off (C)
Lindy - Beautifully Done (C)
The Fembots - Countdown Our Days (C)
The Bicycles - Australia (C)
TALK
Geoff Berner - Would It Kill You (C)
Bob Wiseman - You Don't Love Me (C)



(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, February 2, 2007

February 2, 2007

Theme: Not Groundhog Day
On Air: Frank

I didn't have anything to play for Groundhog Day so I decided not to force the issue as a result there was no set on that theme.

Yet another song from the swedesplease.com website was the top song of the week.

The second set was based on bands that I had either seen just before the show (Camera Obscura and Essex Green) or just after the show (Knock, Knock, Ginger, the Sourkeys, and Bocce):

You can hear my review of the Camera Obscura/Essex Green show on the podcast. And no The Clash didn't somehow reform (and resurrect Joe Stummer), the reason I played the Clash was that it was their "Super Black Market Clash" CD that was played between the bands at the Opera House that night.

The other concert highlighted in that set occurred right after the show at a small art gallery in Kitchener that featured a great bill of local bands, an giant inflatable alien being thrown around the crowd and local band Bocce blurring the line between the band and the audience (see evidence here, only the guy in the red toque is in the band http://www.pbase.com/owencherry/image/73913070 ).

I ended the show with a couple of sets that were a bit more rockin' than most of the music I have played in quite a while (a break from playing all that twee), and I had some initial positive feedback during the show.

TALK - Theme

The Sanmarinos - Super Sexy TV Girl
The Positions - Summer Nights
Hot Shot Robot - Kiss My Chernobyl (C)
Oh! Custer - Spoiler

Bellevue - Special Skills (C)
Bellevue - Those Blues (C)
TALK
Camera Obscura - If Looks Could Kill
Essex Green - Cardinal Points
The Clash - City Of The Dead
Knock, Knock, Ginger - Upsala (C)
The Sourkeys - Anywhere But Here (C)
Bocce - Disco Juan (C)
TALK
Don Lennon - Dance Music
HelloGoodbye - Here (In Your Arms)
Henry Morgans Solokarriar - An Attempt To Tip The Scales
Math and Physics Club - April Showers
Dean and Britta - Singer Song **See Note 1
TALK
The Hands - So Sweet
Kooks - Naive
Deerhoof - +81
The Trucks - 3 AM
Robyn Hitchcock - The Authority Box
TALK
Heavens - Patent Pending
Novillero - Abbey (C)
The Hold Steady - Chips Ahoy
The Acorn - Dents (C)
Jerry Jerry and the Sons Of Rhythm Orchestra - Miller's Cave (C)
TALK
Shiela E - Holly Rock (from the Krush Groove soundtrack)


Note 1: Apparently Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips (former members of Luna) are now going by just Dean and Britta

(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, January 19, 2007

January 19, 2007

Theme: Best of 2006 Leftovers
On Air: Frank

In past years I often tried to play only songs from the new release section of CKMS during the first real (ie. non-specialty) show of the new year. But now I find that most of the new music I play comes from podcasts and blogs and the new release section doesn't really intrigue me as it once did. So most of the stuff I played on this show was new along with some of your suggestions for the Best of 2006.

A few random notes on some of the other songs from the show:

I played the The Cardigans' Lovefool as it was part of an episode of The Office, when Jim was trying to annoy an office mate by singing the lyrics. At first I couldn't place the lyrics but a web search revealed the name of the song.

And for anybody in need of their Indian pop music fix be sure to check out Pretty, Pretty, Priya (which I found out is common female Hindu name also from the web).

I ended with the George Krantz song Din Daa Daa which was used in one of the commercial's in the Cannes Best of 2006 commercial movie that I saw the week before the show. I thought the song sounded familiar and when I did some research I saw that it was on the Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo soundtrack ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086999/ ) , I actually thought I might own the vinyl of this soundtrack but I was getting it confused with the soundtrack to Krush Groove ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089444/ ). Krush Groove was obviously cooler starring the likes of: Sheila E., the Beastie Boys, The Gap Band, Run DMC, and the Fat Boys.


TALK - Theme

Math and Physics Club - Last Dance
Knock, Knock, Ginger - The Great Escape (C)
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - I Am Warm And Powerful
S'Ambassadeur - The Only Living Girl
The The - Slow Emotional Replay
TALK (Other people's Best of 2006)
Barmitzvah Brothers - Hollow Time Of The Night (C) **Suggested by Milosz
Beirut - Postcards From Italy ** Kind of suggested by Sari
Glissandro 70 - Portugal Rua Rua (C) **Suggested by Derek
Destroyer - European Oils (C) **Suggested by Michelle and Derek
TV On The Radio - Hours **Suggested by Michael T.
TALK
Amy Whinehouse - Rehab
Gems - I Can't Help Myself **Also suggested by Derek
James Brown - Get On The Good Foot
Jenny Wilson - Summertime (The Roughest Time)
Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light
TALK
The Cardigans - Lovefool
Dressy Bessy - All The Right Reasons
Jale - All Ready (C)
Plumtree - Sodium Chloride (C)
The Awkward Stage - We're Going For A Ride (C)
TALK
Anand Prayag and Chorus - Pretty, Pretty, Priya
Niza - El Much Acho De Los Otos Tristes
The Pursuit of Happiness - Hard To Launch (C)
Dave Rave - Everybody Needs Somebody (C)
Statues - Quality Assurance (C)
Swan Lake - The Partisan But He's Got To Know (C)
TALK
George Krantz - Din Daa Daa


(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, January 5, 2007

January 5, 2007

Theme: Best of 2006
On Air: Frank

Nothing much to say about this one, the first half were my top singles of the year while the second half were my top albums. By definition my best show of the year.

You can see all of my top choices listed in order here : http://www.civil.uwaterloo.ca/frseglen/archive/setlists/2006/best_of_2006.htm

The astute among you may notice that I didn't play The Math and Physics Club on this show but they appear on the Best of 2006 page. In my own defense, I did mention during the show that I had not heard the album and they might make the top 10.

Behind the songs I have done my best to list where I first heard about the song, see the legend below the setlist.

TALK - Theme

Peter, Bjorn and John - Young Folks (popcasting)
The Concretes - Chosen One (The Wedge)
Essex Green - Don't Know Why (You Stay) (bury me not)
Cats On Fire - Higher Ground (poppolar)
The Tidy Ups - Dizzy Heights (indiepopradio)
TALK
The Stolen Minks - Peppy Twist (C) (CKMS)
The Doers - We're Open (C) (CKMS)
Henry Faberge and the Adorables - Out Of Your League (C) (Live - Grad House)
Lake Holiday - Press Record Then Play (C) (poppolar)
Lovely Feathers - Right Where You Are (C) (Live - Hillside)
TALK
Amp Fiddler - Right Where You Are (The Wedge)
Herb Alpert - Whipped Cream (Zulu Records)
Blaze presents UDA featuring Barbra Tucker - Most Precious Love (The Wedge)
Hard Fi - Hard To Beat (The Wedge)
Bocce - Bicycle Cops (C) (Live - Starlight)
TALK
Good On Paper - The Message (indiepopradio)
El Perro Del Mar - God Knows (You Gotta Give What You Get) (KCRW Song of the Day)
Regina Spektor - Fidelity (myboytheriotgirl)
Psapp - Hi (KCRW Song of the Day)
The Gresham Flyers - Shiftwork (indiepopradio)
TALK
Knock, Knock, Ginger - Love Renee (C)
The Bicycles - Paris Be Mine (C)

TALK
Memphis - In The Cinema Alone (C)
Junior Boys - In The Morning (C) (myboytheriotgirl)
TALK
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken (myboytheriotgirl)
Yo La Tengo - Mr. Tough (bury me not)
TALK
The Pipettes - Pull Shapes (poppolar)
Irene - Little Things That Tear Us Apart (poppolar)

TALK
Belle and Sebastian - Sukie In The Graveyard


popcasting - http://www.geocities.com/popcastingpop/
indiepopradio - http://indiepopradio.blogspot.com/
bury me not - http://www.burymenot.com
poppolar - http://www.poppolar.com
CKMS - http://www.ckmsfm.ca
Hillside - http://www.hillside.on.ca/
Zulu Records - http://www.zulurecords.com/
The Wedge - http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/thewedge/
KCRW Song of the Day - http://www.kcrw.com/
My Boy the Riot Girl - http://www.myboytheriotgirl.com/

(C) Denotes Canadian Content