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, June 20, 2008

June 20, 2008

Theme: Venus and Honey
On Air: Frank and Michelle

Michelle joined me for this show so the talking bits are lot more interesting then when I do the show solo. After my initial set I managed to squeeze in a set by artists who are going to be playing in the area and a set about honey. I got the idea for the honey set while looking for the song "Shade And Honey" by Sparklehouse and I came upon an MP3 blog entry of songs about honey, so I stole the idea. Of course Michelle rhymed off about 5 more songs about honey during the set but I only had time to play the ones I did.

Here is Michelle's description of her sets:

My first set started off with a song that was played in the final scene of the movie "Young People Fucking", a great little indie Canadian film for which the title does little justice other than publicity as it is quirky, and humorous, with absolutely no, per say, below-the-belt shots (unfortunately -- this comment added by Frank).

The rest of the set included songs I find particularly "summery" including a track from The Cloud Cult who have been releasing their albums on the Earthology Record label, a not-for-profit environmental record label (which includes 100% recycled jewel cases and paper, soy based inks, and the recycling of CD cut scraps into milk cartons). I can't get enough of "I Woke Up Today", I've been listening to it for months and my ears haven't tired in the slightest. Check out a youtube video by Throw Me The Statue - most were shot on the deck of a very windy Seattle ferry ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BacCAXDLz10 ).

Thao Nguyen put on one of the best live shows I've seen yet this year at Sneaky Dee's back in March, a tireless guitar player she whipped her hair about like the wild Vietnamese Virginian she is. At first listen to her cd "We Brave Bee Stings And All" I wasn't sure if it was a girl or a guy singing, at least at times it sounded at lot like The Flaming Lips. The album is certainly one of my favourites so far this year.

I followed my second set up with a number of British bands I've recently discovered (Life Without Buildings, Hefner, Nina Nastasia). Life Without Buildings are from Glasgow, and broke up in 2002, but that girls completely unique vocal style is mind blowing. Also, I had tickets to see Nina at The Drake the night of the radio show but sadly she cancelled. The late John Peel was a huge fan of Nina Nastasia, and he also gave enormous props to Hefner, so I have also recently looked into their back catalogue.

The final song I played was my favourite single from 2007: The Cave Singers - Seeds Of Night. That song is so beautiful it makes me ache.


TALK-Theme
Herman Dune - I Wish I Could See You Soon
Adam Green - Morning After Midnight
Bjorn Kleinhenz - The Quest For Your Heart
Joel Alme - The Queen's Corner
TALK
Fembots - Countdown Our Days (C)
Cloud Cult - Journey Of The Featherless
Port O'Brien - I Woke Up Today
Throw Me The Statue - Lolita
Thao And The Get Down Stay Down - Swimming Pools
TALK
Life Without Buildings - The Leanover
Hefner - Hello Kitten
The Replacements - Unsatisfied
Nina Nastasia - A Dog's Life
Bonnie Prince Billy - So Everyone
TALK
The Milwaukee's Best Band - The Way She Goes (C)
Parlour Steps - The Garden (C)
Knock, Knock, Ginger - Love Renee (C)
Rebekah Higgs - Parables (C)
Born Ruffians - I Need A Life (C)
TALK (Honey Set)
Sparklehouse - Shade And Honey
Jesus And Mary Chain - Just Like Honey
Daniel Johnston - Honey, I Sure Miss You
Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass - A Taste Of Honey
Jim White - Crash Into The Sun
Judd And Maggie - Sleep Interrupted
The Cave Singers - Seeds Of Night
TALK
Mystery Jets - Half In Love With Elizabeth



(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, June 6, 2008

June 6, 2008

Theme: Trepid House and Shelflife records
On Air: Frank

Sometimes a show just seems to go together well and this was one of those times. A few themed sets along with some random sets and it all comes out well.

The second set focused on the bands that were playing that night in the Trepid House, a private house where small bands play in a great intimate environment. One of them were my current favourite band from Guelph "The Magic" who finally had some recorded material that I was able to buy, Torcus was also really good, but unfortunately although I liked the song by Rockenspiel that I played on the show I wasn't able to stay long enough to see them that night.


I found out about the Swedish band Kuryakin from the great Swedesplease blog and while checking out the band's record label Shelflife I checked out some of their other recent releases. One of the new bands from the label were described as "modern psychedelic pop songs influenced by the heyday of '90s Madchester." So that allowed me to also play bands from those days including The Charlatans who just happened to have a CD in the new release section of the library. You can download the first three songs in the set from: www.shelflife.com .

Of course I had to play a song to mark the passing of Bo Diddley, I thought the song might be a cover of the Jonathan Richman song, it wasn't, but it was still really good.



TALK-Theme
Acid House Kings - Say Yes If You Love Me
The Shermans - Summer In Your Heart
Lisa Bouvoir - Belgium
Those Dancing Days - Tasty Boy
First Aid Kit - Cross Oceans
TALK (Trepid House Set)
The Magic - Night School (C)
Rockenspiel - When You Were Born (C)
Torcus - I've Been Down (C)
Dearly Beloved - When You Were Born (C)
The Johnstones - Last Chance (C)
TALK
The Gruesomes - What's Your Problem? (C)
Mates Of State - My Only Offer
Merrymakers - Spinning My Mind Away
Ms. John Soda - Go Check
New Radiant Storm Kings - Scuttled
TALK (Shelflife Records Set)
Days - A Part Of The World
Kuryakin - Peace Of Mind
Ruling Class - Flowers
The Charlatans - Oh! Vanity
Happy Mondays - Lazyitis
TALK
Boomdaddy - No Stranger Now (C) **See Note 1
Ivana Santilli - Always Better (C)
MG Blues - Shake The Boogie (C)
Bo Diddley - Roadrunner
Robert Forster - Did She Overtake You
Lloyd Cole - Chelsea Hotel (C) **See Note 2
TALK
A Popular History Of Signs - Justice Not Vengeance

Note 1: The first time I can remember playing a song by someone actually related to me as my cousin Linda sang backup vocals on this song.

Note 2: Played in honour of many people I know who were going to see Leonard Cohen in concert.

(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, May 23, 2008

May 23, 2008

Theme: TweePop, Seattle, and little bit of Finland
On Air: Frank

On this show I had a set where I highlighted the CDs that I picked up while I was out west in the week before the show. My first musical stop was Seattle where I saw Lykke Li, El Perro Del Mar, and Anna Ternheim, the show was excellent, the venue was excellent, you can hear my review on the podcast (although I did go to Calgary and Banff as well there wasn't much of a musical part to that part of the trip).

Also in Seattle I visited Easy Street Records ( http://www.buymusichere.net/stores/easystreet/ ), a cool fountain( http://nedkahn.com/water.html# and look at the Encircled Stream), and a cool library ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SCL9.JPG ) .

The most amazing thing about Seattle? I walked around for about 4 hours and I only saw 3 Starbucks. The next stop was Vancouver where I didn't see any shows but I picked up some CDs at the great record store Zulu Records and probably could have seen at least 3 Starbucks from almost every street corner.

Before I left for my trip I got a few CDs in the mail from WeePop records ( http://www.weepop.net/ ), the packaging is just so darn cute that it fits perfectly with the music. And there was a Finnish influence to the show as Hannu managed to visit me at the show before he left the country, although he didn't want to speak on air, I noted the Finnish songs that we played.

TALK-Theme
Hello, Blue Roses - Shadow Falls (C)
Destroyer - Dark Leaves From A Thread (C)
Ironville - Roses
The Lucksmiths - Adolescent Song Of Mindless Devotion
The Sweaters - The Pop Thing (C)
Robert Church And The Holy Community - Train To Asia
TALK (WeePOP Records Set)
Sunny Intervals - Let The City Run Away With Us
Wonder For All - Can't Say It
The Deirdres - Spring Forward, Fall Over
Colin Clary - Backseat Man
TALK
Rambling James Heron - As If I Didn't Know It
The Coy Hunt - Banana Cream Pie (C)
The Bet - Evileah (C)
Bare Knees - Wine Stains
Ben Sures - Drunk In My Kitchen (C)
TALK
22 Pistepirkko - Taxi 74 (Fin)
Pet Politics - In The Twinkle Of An Eye
The Lowest Of The Low - Salesmen, Cheats, And Liars (C)
Von Hertzen Brothers - Kiss A Wish (Fin)
TALK (Seattle and Vancouver Set)
Lykke Li - Everybody But Me
Tullycraft - Misgiving
Stephin Merrit - Shall We Sing A Duet?
Moby - Live For Tomorrow
TALK
Lights - I Owe You One (C)
The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Go
Afternoons In Stereo - How Does It Feel? (C)
Annie - I Know UR GF Hates Me (Get Shakes Remix)
TALK
Los Campensinos - Death To Los Campensions



(C) Denotes Canadian Content
(Fin) Denotes Finnish Content

Friday, May 9, 2008

May 9, 2008

Theme: Very Random
On Air: Frank

This was pretty much a random show with a poppy set, rockin' set, laid back set, funky set, and even a failed set.

I'll just talk about the failed set, ahh the magic of live radio. I played the song Twee by Tullycraft and then had the idea to play songs by the bands that are mentioned in the song. Of course I didn't do any pre-show planning so I was hoping to grab the songs while I was there, but nothing worked out, I couldn't find any of the music either at the station or even on the web. So instead of my usually 5 or 6 song set I only managed to find 2 of the artists mentioned in the song and I just decided to quit the set rather than struggle on.

On a side note, one of the bands I did play was the Posies who happened to be playing their 20th anniversary show when I was in Seattle last week, I didn't go, but I saw it listed.

TALK-Theme
Dag for Dag - Racing To Racine
Those Dancing Days - Disc-Hoe
Club 8 - Whatever You Want **From Eric
Robert Church And The Holy Community - Sunday Love
Viva Revolucion - That Means I Love You
TALK (Failed set)
Tullycraft - Twee
Lucksmiths - Beer Nut
Posies - Golden Blunders
TALK
Violent Archers - Insecure (C)
The Liptonians - Write Your Name In The Sand (C)
Kurt Swinghammer - All Roads Lead To Rome (C)
Andrew Vincent And The Pirates - Gary Hache (C)
Thomas Denver Jonsson - The Border
TALK
Simply Saucer - Almost Ready Betty (C)
Rough Bunnies - Modern Love
Young Knives - Up All Knight
Strip Squad - Unreliable Narrator
The Woodmen - Bring My Baby Back (C)
TALK
Moby - Disco Lies
Formula Z - Trouble
Charles Wright And The 10th Street Rhythm Band - 65 Bars And A Taste Of Soul
Flight Of The Choncords - Ladies Of The World
The Supreme Beings Of Leisure - The World
TALK
Rigas - Born Not To Run
Datarock - Fa-Fa-Fa
The Radio Department - Freddie And The Trojan Horse
TALK
The Cancecos - Raised By Wolves (C)



(C) Denotes Canadian Content


Friday, April 25, 2008

April 25, 2008

Theme: Carl!! and Wesley Willis
On Air: Frank

My top song this week was most definitely the oldest top song I have ever had, the reason I heard it was that I watching a documentary on the rise of British music in the 60s and they discussed the Yardbirds who originally featured Eric Clampton on guitar. But this particular song "For Your Love" is the song that drove him out of the band as he considered himself a serious musician and didn't want to do the kind of light fare that the band was doing. Of course the song fits pretty well into the type of pop that I play on my show.

Before this show I went to see a couple of music related documentaries at the HotDocs festival in Toronto, you can hear my reviews on the podcast. There was also a set of music about the CARL! festival that went on the weekend after the show at the fantastic Trepid House, a private house in Waterloo that puts on a lot of great shows.

And on a sad note, I ended the show with the Frank Sinatra song "I'll be seeing you" as a tribute to Mr. Jeffery Millar who unfortunately passed away a few weeks before the show. Jeffery was a friend from Waterloo back in my IMPRINT days, he was a fantastic person who will be missed.

TALK-Theme
The Yardbirds - For Your Love
Under the Pines - My Architechs
Data Rock - I Will Always Remember You
Doug Hoyer - Emma (C)
Must Be Tuesday - My Boyfriend's Girlfriend (Isn't Me) (C)
TALK
Bellevue - I've Been Meaning To Get Thearapy (C)
The Wet Secrets - Get Your Own Apartment (C)
Minus The Bear - Throwin' Shapes
The Sound Of Arrows - Danger!
TALK
Wesley Willis - Jello Biafra
Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas
The Johnnys - I'm Hot (I Get What I Want) (C)
Cassius - Rock Number One
TALK (Carl!! Festival Set)
The Liptonians - Charlie's Back (C)
Mixylodian - Free For All (C)
Sunparlor Players - If The Creeks (C)
Horses - 14 Years (C)
Lake Of Stew - Water Bill (C)
TALK
Katie Stelmanis - Join Us (C)
Rick White - Birds And Bees (C)
Los Campesinos - Knee Deep At ATP
The Heavy - Coleen
Lyrics Born - Like It, I Love It
Little Dragon - No Love
TALK
Frank Sinatra - I'll Be Seeing You




(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, April 11, 2008

April 11, 2008

Theme: RIP NQRS
On Air: Frank

For this show I spent the first set lamenting the loss of a great podcast that after about a year of putting out great indie-twee called it quits. The podcast was called Not Quite Rocket Science and each show had a theme like boy/girl vocals, cover songs, and one titled "Pa pa pa pa ra pa pa pa pas!". And if you remember back a few months, most of the my last Christmas was stolen from them. It looks like the main website is no longer working, but you can get see some of the shows here:

http://www.last.fm/user/miss_ladybug/journal/

There was also a set based on a link that Derek sent to me (http://www.saidthegramophone.com/archives/2008_04_07.php) that mentioned David Barclay who was a member of show favourite The Diskettes, along with many other musical projects. As well as music that David actually made, I also got a few ideas for the set from the mp3 blog that he contributes to : http://www.popsheep.com/

I also went through a lot of my backlog of leftover songs but I was glad to get suggestions from Michelle, Milosz, and Stephen P.



TALK-Theme (Not Quite Rocket Science set)
The Maybellines - On And On
Boy Crazy - Stark Street
Breezy Porticos - Ramona, Just The Other Day
The Lil'Hospital - Big Sister In Hollywood
Pocketbooks - Every Good Time We Ever Had
TALK
B'ehl - My Everydays (C)
Urban Surf Kings - And The Horse You Rode In On (C)
Moofish Catfish - Lightbulbs
Fishboy - Taqueria Girl
Henry Faberge and the Adorables - Favourite Kisses
Lacrosse - Sunshiner
TALK (David Barclay set)
The Endless Bummer - Ride On (C)
Hedgehog - I Am On Your Own
Lady Bird - Forgot How I Roar
Terry Jacks - It's Been There From The Start (C)
The Diskettes - Close Friends Go (C)
TALK (Rockin' set)
The Constantines - Hard Feelings (C)
Scratching Post - Blood Flame (C)
Merry Makers - Monument To Me
Throw Me The Statue - About To Walk
Light Speed Champion - Dry Lips
TALK
Simply Saucer - Almost Ready Betty (C)
TacocaT - Peeps **Thanks to Michelle
Strip Squad - You Cream My Pants
High Water Marks - The Leaves
S'Ambassadeur - That Town **Thanks to Milosz
TALK (Dancing set)
Los Campesinos - Drop It Doe Eyes
The Ting Ting - Great DJ
Kim Kio - Kapali Kapali Kapali
Parker Lewis - Disappear Here
Electronic - For You **Thanks to Stephen P
TALK
Crystal Castles - Vanished


(C) Denotes Canadian Content

Friday, March 28, 2008

March 28, 2008

Theme: The best thing about New York City is you and me
On Air: Frank

This show seemed like it was over before it started, it just went by in flash. Unfortunately for the people who were actually listening (or about to listen on the podcast) I did a lot of talking, mostly about my trip to New York City the weekend before the show. I won't go into the stories here, but if you do check out the podcast you can hear about why we went, the flights from hell, and a first hand account of NYC's Bowery Ballroom.

The top song this week was from a very unknown artist from Winnipeg whom I saw on Muchmusic's The Wedge (yes it is still on Wayne), the song just grabbed me with its funky feel and cool vocals.


TALK-Theme
Voldis - Flashlight (C)
The Lions - Jungle Struttin
The Heavy - That Kind of Man
Little Dragon - Forever
Daddy Long Legs - Drives the Girls Crazy (C)
TALK
Los Campensinos - Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats
Woodhands - I Wasn't Made For Fighting (C)
Bocce - Disco Juan (C)
Hilotrons - Lights Off (C)
The Magic - Door To Door (C)
TALK (New York City Set)
Vampire Weekend - Campus
Saturday Looks Good To Me - Make A Plan
The Crash - Reasons To Sing
Sons And Daughters - Johnny Cash
The Brunettes - Obligatory Road Song
TALK
We Are Scientists - After Hours
The B-52s - Hot Corner
The Teenagers - Feeling Better
White Town - Taste Of A Girl
These United States - First Sight
TALK
Girlfriendo - Make Up
Fitness Forever - Bachrach
Kimkio - Dogru
Hawksley Workman - Piano Blank (C)
Matthew Barber - I'm Gonna Settle My Accounts With You
Billy Bragg - I Almost Killed You
TALK
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - We Call On The Author

(C) Denotes Canadian Content