Postcard 24: 01/07/2024.
It's your favorite radio station, in your favorite radio city, the city by the Bay, the city that rocks, the city that never sleeps!
Phew. I can thankfully report that my jetlag has faded, my circadian rhythm has somewhat returned, and thus we’re back to a (somewhat) more normal posting time. Huzzah! That being said, we are going to keep on a similar theme to what we explored last week. After seeing that I’d dedicated a postcard to the music of Michigan, I was hounded by Megan to produce a similar postcard for her place of origin. And, as we do take requests from readers, I thought I’d indulge her a little. So, this week, we’re living Journey’s dream: we’re headed to that city by the Bay.
In my trips out to California to visit Megan’s family, I have two rituals: 1) getting off the plane and immediately heading to Ramiro and Son’s for the best burrito in Alameda; and 2) tuning the trusty car radio to 90.7 FM to pick up KALX, the UC Berkeley radio station and one of the greatest musical experiences you can have. Broadcasting since 1962, KALX is precisely the radio station that I had always wished for. You know the famous quote that there’s a thin line between genius and madness? KALX is the epitome of that addage in musical form. There is scant professionalism to be found here; no real jingles, no smooth transitions from one song to the next, and endless amounts of rambling chat. Everyone involved seems to have just learnt how to use the equipment about five minutes before they were live on air, and it’s all the better for it. And most importantly, there seems to be no semblence of order to what is played when. One minute you could be enjoying some classic 60s shit, then, before you know it, you’re thrown headfirst into atonal experimental noise. On a hunt through my old notes on my phone, I found this excellent example of their wonderfully eclectic scheduling from a trip a few years ago:
My personal highlight there is the autocorrect from Wayland to wetland. That’s one to be added to the potential band names note. However, this chaos is just the expression of a deep and very true love for music of all genres, and for the spirit of radio; playing stuff to people because you just think it rocks. And that, unsurprisingly, is something I am 100% in favour of.
In that spirit, today’s Postcard to you is a KALX-style genre-hopping whistle-stop tour through the music of Northern California, providing you with a soundtrack that’ll take you from the Bay right out to the sun-fried Central Valley. The first essential stop on your NorthCal roadtrip is “Madness” by sci-fi hip-hop supergroup Deltron 3030. Masterminded by Oakland’s Del the Funky Homosapien (of Gorillaz fame), Dan the Automator and DJ Kid Koala, Deltron 3030 is a space opera rap concept album set in the year 3030, where evil oligarchs suppress human rights, and the ability for people to perform hip-hop. Yes, don’t worry, you are reading correctly. This all might sound a bit dumb, and in lesser hands this sci-fi setup could very well have been a dumb gimmick. So it’s kinda astounding that this record turned out to be a stone cold classic, and I implore all of you to give it a shot if you’ve not come across it before. Whilst the seven and a half minute title track is probably the most impressive cut on the album, “Madness” is a personal favourite; from the hilarious and incredibly quote-able opening bars, to the impactful a capella cutaway, its a perfect snapshot of three master of the genre at the peak of their abilities. Also it’s always nice to have a reminder that record scratching is sick. Bring back record scatching.
Shifting down gears to something of a bit more subdued pace, we have The Flamin’ Groovies with “You Tore Me Down”. I first came across this little gem of a song when I was throwing myself headlong into the discography of Yo La Tengo, who covered the track for their album Fakebook. I was immediately hooked by the strength of songwriting for each section of the track; from the opening riff to that killer chorus, everything is just so fucking catchy. It sounds like a beefed-up Beatles wrote about four songs that could be hits and merged them into one super song. I especially love the drumming, which sounds almost way too aggressive for the rest of the track. Those little fills in the chorus go hard.
Finally, taking you out on those long, hot roads of the central valley, we have San Fransiscan psych/garage/everything-in-between heroes Ohsees (Thee Oh Sees? OSees? OCS? Who knows, I’ve given up keeping track of it) with “The Axis”, off their fantastic record A Weird Exists. It is safe to say that the Ohsees were my gateway drug to jam bands. If you’ve not seen them live, it is quite simply an incendiary experience. I remember catching them briefly at End of the Road in 2016, just prior to Joanna Newsom, and my jaw dropping to the floor when I realised there were two drummers, both of whom were playing like their lives depended on it (if you’re interested, there’s a really great interview with one of the ex-drummers of the band which talks about how that show in particular). The track I’ve included here might not be their most fast paced or aggressive, but it is a perfectly suited closer to your postcard. The way that the guitar solo just comes in towards the end and fucking shreds the song apart, physically breaking the sound around it, is just genius.
As always, the Tidal link is here for you folks, again with a little cheeky bonus number for you. Also a bonus gold star to anyone who gets the reference in the byline this week without looking it up (it is both an honour and a shameful thing). Otherwise enjoy those sunny Cali skies until next week!
Postcard 24: 01/07/2024.
2Pac - Keep Ya Head Up
Kamaiyah - How Does It Feel
Deltron 3030 - Madness
Sly & The Family Stone - Poet
Grateful Dead - Not Fade Away/Goin’ down the Road Feeling Bad (live at Manhattan Center, New York, NY, April 5, 1971)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lodi
Flamin’ Groovies - You Tore Me Down
Pavement - Motion Suggests
Grandaddy - Go Progress Chrome
Ohsees - The Axis