I mentioned in an early post that I’d be using this blog to talk about my Viva Radio shows and I figured it was about time I did just that. Viva Radio is a great online radio station that does things a bit differently from most. First of all, it uses a pretty slick flash interface and streams the music directly and at a much higher quality than you’re used to hearing from online stations. It also does all the proper publishing licensing, which it something I definitely support. And because of the way it’s set up, instead of recording a complete live “mix”, contributors can upload playlists, and I find it fun to put things together like I’m back in high school making a mix-tape to impress a girl instead of doing a live mix with voice-overs and all that. The technology is there to do that, but for now, I’ve been enjoying just doing the mixes.

I’ve done close to 20 shows so far and at any given time 4 of those shows are archived on the page for my show, Pyjamarama. Sometimes I’ve focused on specific genres, other times there’s a sort of weird narrative that makes sense in my head, while still other times it’s pretty much your standard freeform college radio station fare. From now on, when a new show gets posted, I’ll write something here, and if I’m bored enough, I’ll write about some of the old shows, because you know what? Some of them are GREAT! There is also a semi-regular schedule with new shows going up all the time, but since I’ve been a bit lax about updating, my shows get stuck in here and there.

And did I mention the other contributors? Record nerd hipster paradise. I’m not even going to mention any because seriously, they all range from pretty cool to totally and completely awesome. And Viva itself is getting into some seriously ambitious programming and associations, including parties in LA and NY and an involvement with and coverage of the already legendary 77 Boadrum event. There will be more productions like that coming up, interviews, archives, live recordings, all sorts of fun. Anyway, onto my most recent show…

There are few cooler websites then those collecting awesome photos from bygone days. Philippe Carly’s New Wave Photos is a longtime favorite. I don’t think a band has ever looked as cool as Cabaret Voltaire in 1979. Maybe that Velvets shot with Lou in the sunglasses? Another great site I found while reading through Alice Bag’s amazing website is from Jenny Lens. The reason I’m posting however is to mention the work of Eugene Merinov because there’s going to be an exhibition of his work at the NYC record store Etherea (r.i.p. Adult Crash, where I first heard Slapp Happy).

Our friend Tim at Stupefaction has helped Eugene get a web presence with a MySpace page and a blog. One recently posted photo is this great shot listed as “A Band – Max’s Kansas City – 1978”.

A Band were a no wave related band that featured Wharton Tiers of the Theoretical Girls and Paul McMahon who later had a poppy solo record on Glenn Branca’s Neutral Records. It looks like Glenn up front, and that’s definitely Glenn’s guitar as can be seen in the infamous film shot at Jeffrey Lohn’s loft. I’ll ask around and see what else I can find out about this photo.

Anyway, the exhibit goes up wed and there will be an opening party, here’s the word from Tim followed by a bio from Jack Rabid. The full press release…

Got some emails from Stuart of Ike Yard with some news to tide you over till my California trip post. Speaking of which, I end up at a trendy restaraunt in Silverlake LA called “The Kitchen” and who should sit down at the table behind me but Kenneth Compton of Ike Yard. What are the chances of that? Anyway…

Dystopians Replicants Night at Monkeytown, Williamsburg
Saturday, September 8
Admission: $10, $10 minimum
Showtimes: 8 and 10:30pm
reservations are recommended

Blade Runner Live soundtrack & Remix. Remixed dialogue. New music. Neofolktales by Sean Young, the voice of Rachel Replicants night ends with a short set by Dystopians group.

Stuart Argabright and Bones launch Dystopians live with alot of help from our friends …

Bones (from black rain . Disassociate) Bass and vocals
Paul Geluso CoProducer Mix , DJ fx
Pete Jones (from Commercial Zone period PIL) Guitar samples
Stuart (from Dominatrix . Ike Yard . black rain) Synths , vocals & double drum programming

Joining forces to bring you new versions of the near future classic
and new strains of musik and song in a short set after the movie.

File under future forward thrash barbarism and anti –
MilitaryIndustrialCongressionalComplex

On the Ike Yard front, Stuart says they’re going back to the studio finishing up a whole batch of new songs, have a talk and performance at Vassar Nov. 7th, a show TBA with Excepter.

And if that wasn’t enough, a new Death Comet Crew 7″.

For more info check out Stuart’s blog.