Hello friends!



KXCI is currently one of about 20 remaining member-supported
community radio stations left in the entire country. Do you NOT
typically listen to the radio in general because of commercials,
ridiculous shock jocks, or because you hear the same songs over and
over? Well, happily, none of that happens at KXCI. We have specialized
public affairs programs, music programs, we support non-profit
organizations on the air, we invite special guests to discuss relevant
issues, we have live bands (both local and touring) play at the
studio... the list goes on and on. After volunteering at KXCI for
almost a year, I see how much hard work goes into making this unique
thing we have in Tucson function optimally. It takes members. Who can
become a KXCI member? YOU. That's right. You can have a stake in
community radio. How? It's easy!



We are in the middle of our membership drive. We need to raise
$100,000 in three weeks. Only 10% of KXCI listeners become members. If
every listener called up during the membership drive and became a
member, the station would be thriving. That's where you come in. If you
know someone who volunteers their time at KXCI, if you've ever tuned in
to your favorite show such as Locals Only, The Blues Review, Onda
Suave, Ruby's Roadhouse, Democracy Now, or the countless other unique
programs KXCI has to offer, now is the time to help support the station
that gives all of this to you.



My dear friend Lisa will be with me at the station tonight taking
phone calls from 10 until midnight. I would be deeply honored if you
called and pledged your support of KXCI tonight during The Road Show,
or at any time during the membership drive. If you're up tonight and
are feeling like doing your part, the number to call will be 622-5924.
That's 622-KXCI.


Thanks very much for your generosity and support!

With gratitude,
Mel Mason

What is a girl to do already? There's quite a bit of fun happening this week, so let's get right to it.

Here's a list of awesome shows from which to choose:

Tuesday, October 14th
Hayes Carll w/ The Dedringers – Plush
We Are Scientists, The Stills & Mostly Bears - Congress

Wednesday, October 15th
Bob Schneider – Congress
The Starlings – Old Town Artisans

Thursday, October 16th
Johnette Napolitano – Congress
Hillstomp – Plush

Friday, October 17th
Von Iva w/ Pacific UV - Plush

Saturday, October 18th
Conor Oberst & the Magic Valley Band w/ All Smiles - Rialto

Sunday, October 19th
Mr. Boogie Woogie – Javalina's
Locksley w/ Hymns (Choose or Lose Tour) - Congress

Holy crap! I have no idea how I'm going to catch all of this stuff, but I will try my best.

Also, I will be interviewing the Seattle band The Starlings in Studio 2A on Wednesday in preparation for their show that evening at Old Town Artisans.  Be sure to listen to The Home Stretch for Live at 5... that's when it will air... 5:00 sharp!

I hope everyone is well and has fully recovered from last weekend's Dub/Club Crawls, as well as Tucson Meet Yourself.  And the other 4,000 things that transpired.

I'll see you out on the town,
Mel

Hey there,

I wanted to put a bug in everyone's ear about a few great shows coming up this week.  Before I get to that, I wanted to thank Dr. Dan from Locals Only for covering my Tuesday nights shifts for the better part of September.  I just had to see Sigur Ros in Phoenix the other night, and the week before that I was on the losing end of a battle with a pesky virus.  But all is well and I will be back in the saddle this Tuesday.  I miss playing the tunes, mostly because it feeds my insatiable musical habit.  In other words, KXCI is an enabler.  Yes, I said it.

What in the world is coming up, you ask?  Here's a smattering of events you might enjoy.

Thursday, October 2nd
The Swell Season, Iron and Wine – The Rialto
Mr. Gnome - Plush

Sunday, October 5th
A Place to Bury Strangers w/ Sian Alice Group – Plush**
(Highly anticipated show on my end... Word to the wise: Bring earplugs!)

Tuesday, October 7th
Marc Broussard - Congress

Wednesday, October 8th
Quintron & Miss Pussycat - Congress

Check venue websites for details.

Also note that I've added one of those new-fangled media players to the page.  I've posted some songs from artists who will be in town in the near future.  I'll be swapping those out fairly regularly.  Take a listen to see if they might be someone you'd like to check out in person.

For an insanely complete list of bands that are playing all over Tucson, check out www.TucsonMusicScene.com.  It's the best resource I've found for live shows, period.

Also, thanks to everyone who contributed to the KXCI pledge drive a couple weeks back.  If you didn't have the chance to renew your membership or become a new member, it's never too late!  Visit KXCI.org and join us on this crazy-fun ride we call community radio.

Have a great week and I'll see you out on the town.

All my best,
Mel

The concert season is upon us.  Fall is arguably the best time to catch talented bands as they make their way to and from the Austin City Limits Festival, and the weather is cooling down which makes traveling with unbathed bandmates more tolerable.

This week is going to kill me concert-wise, and I'm trying to plan when I'm going to have time to get some (perhaps over-rated) sleep. 

Things to be aware of:

Wednesday, September 24th
My Morning Jacket – Rialto

Thursday, September 25th
Tyrone Wells w/Jason Reeves and Telescope - Congress

Friday, September 26th
Okkervil River w/ Sea Wolf – Congress

Sunday, September 28th
Michael Franti & Spearhead – Rialto

Monday, September 29th
Gogol Bordello – Rialto

Tuesday, September 30th
David Byrne – Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix)
Sigur Ros – Marquee Theatre (Tempe)
Ra Ra Riot w/ The Morning Benders, and Walter Meego - Plush

Eeeeek!  What is a concert junkie to do?  And this isn't even close to everything that is happening.  It is merely a smattering of highlights.  To see the whole mess of shows available to you, be it touring OR local artists, see www.TucsonMusicScene.com.

I hope you are all well, and I hope to see many of you at shows this week!

All my best,
Mel

Holy slackage!

It's been two weeks. I'll be damned if I don't post something about what's going on in T-town *this* week.

Tuesday, August 26th
The Melvins w/ Big Business – Plush
French Tourist, French Cowboy, Francoiz Breut & Golden Boots - Congress

Wednesday, August 27th
Bullets Over Hollywood w/ A Shattered Hope - The Living Room

Thursday, August 28th
These United States - Plush

Friday, August 29th
Love as Laughter w/ Oxford Collapse – Solar Culture
Papier Tigre w/ French Cowboy - Plush
Testament - Rialto

Saturday, August 30th
System and Station w/ Mostly Bears – Plush

Sunday, August 31st
Thomas Ian Nicholas - Plush

Then there's this:




I organized the above event to help get people involved in saving lives.  The musicians who will be volunteering their time are absolute saints and I'm so happy to live in a town where people with many talents join together to support a worthy cause.  I urge everyone to bring their families and pets to this FREE, all-ages, outdoor event this coming Saturday from 5 to 10pm.  Music gets started at 6pm sharp.  Thanks for your support...

See you out at a show or two...

-Mel

Looking to catch a show this week?  Here are a few suggestions:

Wednesday, August 6th
NEEDTOBREATHE – Congress
Buddy Guy - AVA

Thursday, August 7th
Lyle Lovett & His Large Band w/ Shawn Colvin – AVA

Friday, August 8th
Indian Jewelry – Solar Culture
Or, The Whale - Plush

Sunday, August 10th
Markowski - Plush

Tuesday, August 12th
The Octopus Project - Congress

For all you psychedelic rock fans, I would not miss Indian Jewelry at Solar Culture.  Indie/Americana/Folk fans will want to make sure to catch Or, The Whale, and finally, The Octopus Project from Austin will appeal to those who enjoy unique instrumental space-rock with the occasional use of a very well-played theramin.

I encourage everyone to check out these bands on myspace using the "music" tab at the top of your home page.  I'd link to them all here for your instant gratification but myspace is more interested in protecting you from potential spam than promoting music.  For shame!

Thanks for supporting touring bands, and I'll see you out on the town...

Howdy!

If you're looking to catch some bands this week, you have a nice variety to choose from.

Tuesday, July 29th
Static Thought – The Living Room

Wednesday, July 30th
Less Than Jake – Rialto
Imaad Wasif & Two Part Beast – Plush

Friday, August 1st
Kaiser Cartel w/ Redlands – Plush
Mario Matteoli w/ Andrew Collberg (EP release!) and The Fell City Shouts – Solar Culture

Saturday, August 2nd
The Hold Steady w/ The Loved Ones - Rialto

Monday, August 4th
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down – Solar Culture

Have fun, and I'll see you out on the town...

-Mel

Hello everyone!

Congrats to the 3 of you who are officially subscribed to the blog.  You will be so in-the-know when it comes to live shows. Your friends will ask, "Hey, did you get a haircut?  Did you lose weight?  Are those new clothes?"  And you'll say, "No, I just happen to know when all the cool shows are because I subscribed to The Road Show blog.  Dig?"

Sweet.

For those of you who haven't subscribed, I urge you to do so.  It'll give you a listing of shows for the entire week.  Consider it a free, friendly nudge.  With that said... 

Here's what's happening this week*:

Tuesday, July 15th
Joshua Radin, Vanessa Carlton – Club Congress

Wednesday, July 16th
Liz Painter Band w/ Namoli Brennett and Key Ingredient of African Soul - Congress

Thursday, July 17th
Zechs Marquise – Plush

Monday, July 21st
Wolf Parade – The Rialto

*This list is by no means comprehensive and doesn't include local artists.  These are the touring artists I've been able to play on The Road Show.  Please be sure to check the Tucson Weekly Music section and TucsonScene.com for more options.  So much music, so little time!

Be sure to tune in every Tuesday night from 10 until midnight on 91.3 FM or stream it online at KXCI.org.

Have a great week, and I'll see you out on the town.

Welcome, fellow concert addicts!

Where on Earth was last week's list of recommended shows?  Well, it was kind of a slow week as far as touring bands go, but there were some goodies.  A band from Austin called My Education were a stunning opener for El Ten Eleven on Saturday night at Plush.  That might be all I had time for.  Let me know if you saw anything noteworthy.

Here's what to watch for this week:

Tuesday, July 8th
Rooney w/ Locksley - Congress

Wednesday, July 9th
Leon Russell – Fox Theatre

Thursday, July 10th
Von Iva w/ Astra Heights & The Monitors – Plush (Dr. Dan's 29th birthday party... he's baaaaack!)
Mogwai – The Rialto
The A-B Theory - Javalina's

Friday, July 11th
Feel Good Revolution, Del Boska, Bongo Fury, and Hydra Melody - Dry River

Sunday, July 13th
BB King – Desert Diamond Casino

Monday, July 14th
Straight, No Chaser and Antilles - Dry River

Thanks for tuning in, and I'll see you at a show or two...

And remember, you can check the playlists every week from The Road Show by visiting www.kxci.org and doing some digging.  If you have any questions at all, please let me know...

Can't stop the rock,
Mel