Episode 67 of RFC

From April, 2009, comes "Earth To Eros Shirt," a show named after John Lancaster's old band. We never managed to get E2E on the show, but we have had John on a few times. Our host segments were shot at The Convenience Store on Summer's Street, which is still going strong, almost five years later.  This show contains our comedy interview with the store's owner, Scott Shapiro, which illustrates why I hardly ever do interviews on Radio Free Charleston.

Music from Go Van Gogh and A Place Of Solace highlight this episode. We also featured a trailer for the movie "The Bride and Grooms" and the phenomenal young Bradley Wilkerson Sings! Actually, a deal to record The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra fell through at the last minute, so I did the first-ever "rerun" of a segment and reused the animated video "Requiem For Pepperland" that I created--in just a couple of days--for a then-twenty-year-old demo by Go Van Gogh.

Our other musical guest, A Place of Solace, finally appeared fifty episodes after I wore one of their shirts on the show. It all comes around.  It is great to see Bradley Wilkerson at his peak and in his prime. This is how he should be remembered, not his eventual decline and sad end.

Production notes, complete with dead links and such, follow the embedded show.

RFC 67: The Convenience Of Solace

April 22, 2009 by rudy panucci

Radio Free Charleston Episode 67, “Earth To Eros Shirt,” isonline now! This edition of our show features our first “rerun” musical segment, plus new music from A Place Of Solace, A new trailer for Butch Maier’s film, “The Bride And The Grooms,” and the phenomenal young Bradley Wilkerson Sings! The afore-mentioned rerun segment is the animated music video for “Requiem For Pepperland” by Go Van Gogh, brought back by popular demand. This is our special “deadline crunch” show, as I try to maintain a weekly schedule through April in the face of major-league scheduling adversity.

Episode 66 of RFC

RFC 66 "Yankees Jersey" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

RFC 66 Notes: Biscuits In Paradise

April 16, 2009 by rudy panucci

Radio Free Charleston’s sixty-sixth episode, “Yankees Jersey,” is online now.  This installment of the longest-running local music and animation show at TheGazz.com features a song from the CYAC musical “Norman Rockwell’s American Paradise,” written by Dan Kehde and Mark Scarpelli, plus a tune from Electro Biscuit, a band consisting of Kai Haynes, Greg Wegmann and RFC Big Shot Brian Young, who coincidentally happen to be the owners of LiveMix Studio, Charleston’s coolest intimate venue and the home base of Radio Free Charleston.

We’ll also see the exciting debut of Charleston’s newest teen sensation, Young Bradley Wilkerson! That’s him to the left of this text.

Our animation features a glimpse into the evil mirror universe, as we see how the Anti-Rudy would introduce a song on the evil version of Radio Free Charleston.

Episode 65 of RFC

Radio Free Charleston 65, “Give Peace A Chance Shirt,” was first posted April 8, 2009. This episode showcased two songs performed by Bare Bones, an acapella group consisting of Bill Kimmons, Becky Kimmons, and Mark Davis. 


We also present the short film “FOOTLUCY”, starring the late Joe McComas. Plus, there’s animation by Wallace Padillo.   If it seems odd that I keep saying "Bare Bones Acapella," rest assured that it's all in your perception and is not a sign that I thought the word "acapella" was part of their name.  The original production notes, dead links and all, appear below the video. 


In the meantime, please visit the PopCult blog and our Facebook page for information on our current episodes while this site is still under construction. Radio Free Charleston is still going strong, with both the full-length program and our new RFC MINI SHOWs, and we expect to hit episode 200 head-on in the Spring of 2014.
You may notice that this introduction appears in many of the posts that you see in this blog. The reason is simple. We have embedded the shows at a fairly hefty size, and they sort of run outside the template. This is not a huge problem if our posts have a lengthy preamble before we plop in the video, but in some cases we need some extra padding so that the listing of the blog archives over on the right side of the screen doesn't overlap the video, thus impeding your enjoyment of our nifty video product. So we stick this opening in here, along with an ad, to take up space.

RFC 65: Bare Bones and Joe McComas, Behind The Scenes

April 8, 2009 by rudy panucci

Radio Free Charleston 65, “Give Peace A Chance Shirt,” isonline now! This episode showcases two songs performed byBare Bones, an acapella group consisting of Bill Kimmons, Becky Kimmons, and Mark Davis. We also present the short film “FOOTLUCY”, starring the late Joe McComas. Plus, there’s animation by Wallace Padillo.

Episode 64 of RFC

For April Fool's Day 2009 I decided that I wanted to pull a fairly elaborate, yet profoundly stupid prank. The plan was to run production notes promising a very special episode with new music from Paul McCartney and Peter Buck, of REM, plus an exclusive new animated short film by Pixar and then pull a biat-and-switch and instead supply a third part to our 2008 Halloween Special, "RFC Horror Theater."

And so we did. Music is by Whistlepunk and Mark and Steve Beckner with Alan Young. Mark, Steve and Alan were recorded live at LiveMix Studio at the same time that we shot the host segments, and this may be the only time in the history of RFC that the show's host introduced a band "live" with them in the room.

For the host segments, a last-minute schedule SNAFU meant that Kitty Killton could not reprise her role as "Celeste the Zombie Supermodel," so we had to have a vocal stand-in to explain her absence. Liz McCormick, Brian Young and Mel Larch return as studio zombies and Rudy reverted to his "Count Rudolph" identity.

The episode truly captured the Halloween spirit...in April.

Animation is vintage Amiga work by Frank Panucci, and this is also the only episode where a musical guest had to be pressed into running camera because we had too many people on screen at the same time.

 From April, 2009 comes episode 64 of RFC "Radio Free Charleston Horror Theater Part Three." You can find parts one and two HERE. After the video you will find the original, fake production notes from April Fool's Day, and after that, the real production notes. As always, the links may stink.

When RFC Is 64: Sir Paul McCartney, Peter Buck and Pixar Come To Radio Free Charleston!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Who would’ve thought that Radio Free Charleston would ever land a Beatle? Well, in the latest episode of RFC, we not only managed to lure Sir Paul McCartney to LiveMix Studio, but we also snared R.E.M’s axeman, Peter Buck, and animation fromPixar Studios, plugging their upcoming summer blockbuster, “Up.”

Radio Free Charleston 64 is ONLINE NOW!  Follow the jump for all the dirt on what has to be our biggest show ever!

Episode 63 of RFC

From March, 2009, Radio Free Charleston 63 is “Bauhaus Shirt.” This was yet another music-packed episode, featuring new tunes from Stephen Beckner, The Buttonflies, and returning for a second week in a row Tofujitsu. We also have a five-second appearance from WVU Mountaineer Football’s all-time leading scorer, Pat McAfee (before he played in the Super Bowl for the Indianapolis Colts) and by popular demand, the return of vintage beer commercial animation.

Host segments were shot in an undisclosed location in the hills surrounding Charleston. There are reports that this undisclosed location bears an uncanny resemblance to the deck behind Sean Richardson and Karen Allen’s house, but we are sworn to secrecy. Also, it was raining that day.

This episode picks up my major SNAFU from last week, where I ran the wrong song by Tofujitsu.  This episode really does have "Clap On, Clap Off" in it, and we milked the situation for some humor.Original production notes follow the video, but the links are questionable.

Pat McAfee kicks off RFC 63, with Stephen Beckner, The ButtonFlies and Tofujitsu!

March 25, 2009 by rudy panucci

The latest edition of Radio Free Charleston, “Bauhaus Shirt”, isonline now! This is yet another music-packed episode, featuring new tunes from Stephen Beckner, The Buttonflies, and returning for a second week in a row Tofujitsu. We also have a five-second appearance from WVU Mountaineer Football’s all-time leading scorer, Pat McAfee and by popular demand, the return of vintage beer commercial animation.

Episode 62 of RFC

Radio Free Charleston episode 62 is back online! This installment, from March 2009,  featured music from Tofujitsu (That’s Sean Richardson and Karen Allen) and The Bible Beaters. We also brought you a trailer for Butch Maier’s “The Bride & The Grooms,” which debuted at Park Place Stadium Cinema in April 2009. Our animation is vintage stuff, with a cow rescuing two ducks from a racial stereotype.

Host segments were shot on an unseasonably hot Monday afternoon in March.  This show is called “Action Comics Shirt,” and this episode is notable for me completely screwing up the title of Tofujitsu's song--totally. I misidentified it even while editing and mixing and introducing it. The song in this show is “Pop Up,” and it is a lovely song, but it’s not “Clap On, Clap Off.” That was the song I was supposed to include  in this episode.This is worth noting because it set up a very elaborate series of gags in the next week's episode.

You can find the sort of original production notes and comments (with a tacked-on apology and tons of dead links) below the embedded video.

RFC 62: Bride, Grooms, Tofu, Jesus and Politically Incorrect Cows.

March 10, 2009 by rudy panucci

Radio Free Charleston episode 62 is online now! This installment features music from Tofujitsu (That’s Sean Richardson and Karen Allen) and The Bible Beaters. We also have a new trailer for Butch Maier’s “The Bride & The Grooms,”which will be playing at Park Place Stadium Cinema in April. Our animation is vintage stuff, with a cow rescuing two ducks from a racial stereotype.

Host segments were shot Monday afternoon in the sweltering heat of Summer’s Street right before Mel and I crashed aShouts And Hollers meeting.  This show is called “Action Comics Shirt,” after the coolest shirt I’ve found in quite a while.

(Ruditorial Note: A special feature in this episode is my major screw-up! I managed to edit, mix the audio for, and introduce the WRONG SONG for Tofujitsu.  Sean pointed it out in the comments below.  The song in this show is “Pop Up,” and it is a lovely song, but it’s not “Clap On, Clap Off.” That was the song I was supposed to include  in this episode. Instead, look for it in a future installment of RFC.  And kids, make a note, this is what happens when you edit video while hopped up on Orange Cream flavored Whoppers. Please, eat your candy responsibly.)

Episode 61 of RFC

Radio Free Charleston's sixty-first episode, "SHINDIG Shirt" is back online almost exactly five years after it was originally posted. In this episode, we feature three triumphant returns from musical acts who got their start in the Charleston area, then moved away, before the draw of their hometown brought them back for return engagements.

Our musical guests are John Radcliff, back in town for a visit after moving to Parkersburg; SHINDIG, direct from Louisville: plus a special treat from the RFC archives: Brian Diller performing at the Empty Glass in the early 1990s, after he moved to Nashville.

We did film this episode in 3D, by the way.

We also have animation from Frank Panucci, and a message from author, Brian J. Hatcher.  You may have seen Brian in the PopCulteer Friday starring in his new webshow with Kevin Pauley, The Reel Deal. I told ya he'd been on RFC before (he was on episode 24, too).

Production notes are below the video, and are probably chock-full-o'-dead links.

RFC 61: Prodigal Sons Return in 3D!

February 25, 2009 by rudy panucci

Radio Free Charleston’s sixty-first episode, “SHINDIG Shirt” isonline now!  In this episode, we feature three triumphant returns from musical acts who got their start in the Charleston area, then moved away, before the draw of their hometown brought them back for return engagements. The cool thing is that I didn’t realize this theme until after I dropped off the show at the Gazz office. It wasn’t on purpose. It was some kind of karmic kismet-certainly more impressive thematically than the running gag about 3D that I thought tied the show together.

Episode 60 of RFC

The 60th episode of Radio Free Charleston, our post-Valentine’s Day 2009 valentine to Taylor Books, is back online. The music, host segments, and 60 Second Art Show were all recorded at Taylor Books and/or the Cafe and Annex Gallery one night in February 2009. The music was recorded on consecutive nights in January 2009.

Our music this week was from Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen, Joseph Henry (now Hale) and John Radcliff. The “60 Second Art Show" features a quick look at the work of Taylor Book’s Annex Gallery regulars Eric Pardue and Charles Jupiter Hamilton. Our animation this time is by the mystery man known as P-Dox.

Taylor Books, of course,  remains a cultural oasis in Charleston. Original production notes follow the video, but many links may be deunfedacated. Comments are included, too. 

In Appreciation Of Taylor Books: Production Notes For RFC 60

February 17, 2009 by rudy panucci

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The 60th episode of Radio Free Charleston, our post-Valentine’s Day valentine to Taylor Books, is online now. (and is the bigg  The music, host segments, and 60 Second Art Show were all recorded at Taylor Books and/or the Cafe andAnnex Gallery.  The music was recorded on consecutive nights in January, and the rest just last Monday evening.

Episode 59 of RFC

This week, the RFC flashback heads back almost five years to February, 2009 for an episode devoted to the Contemporary Youth Arts Company production of the Dan Kehde/Mark Scarpelli opera, "Lincoln."  This production of the show featured performances by Dan Khede, Tonya Dillon-Page, Jonathan Tucker, Maddy Gourevitch, Alicia Renae Lewis and a large and talented ensemble.

This episode also contains some other Lincoln-centric entertainment as we bring you the musical montage, "Funky Lincoln" and a President's Day rebuttal by George Washington, animated by RFC Big Shot Brian Young and voiced by our host, Rudy Panucci.  An additional honor for our 16th president is that this episode is named "Pittsburgh Steelers Shirt," after his favorite NFL team.

Episode 59 of Radio Free Charleston is "Pittsburgh Steelers Shirt" and the entire show is a tribute to Abraham MOFO Lincoln, the most president-y President we've ever had.  The original production notes are below the video. We cannot tell a lie...some of the links may be dead.

A Tribute To Abraham Lincoln: RFC 59 Notes

February 5, 2009 by rudy panucci

Episode 50 of Radio Free Charleston is online now! This week’s show is a special tribute to our sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln, on the 200th anniversary of his birth.

We feature two songs from the Contemporary Youth Arts Company production of the opera, “Lincoln,” by Dan Kehde and Mark Scarpelli, and we also have a Lincoln-centric short film and an animated message from George Washington.

Epsidoe 57 of RFC

From January 2009, this is episode 57 of radio Free Charleston, our second “Show Without Words,” featuring Elemental Devices (AKA James Vernon Brown), Chuck Biel’s Punk Jazz and The Scrap Iron Pickers, plus a short film by Drew The Dramatic Fool and more.

Many viewers consider this to be among our best shows.  I don't know if it's the extra effort that was put into combining the music with Frank Panucci's animation, the novelty of a show without vocals, or just the joy of not having to listen to the host, Rudy Panucci, speak.

This is also the only episode of the show for which no video was shot for the host segments. Instead, Rudy was photographed holding blank signs by Melanie Larch, and the captions were written during post-production.
That's your RFC trivia for this show. Production notes, with questionable links, follow the video...

Words About A Show Without Words: RFC 57

January 13, 2009 by rudy panucci

The new Radio Free Charleston, our first show of 2009 and our second “show without words” is online now! This episode features music from Chuck Biel’s Punk Jazz, Elemental Devicesand The Scrap Iron Pickers, as well as a short film by Drew The Dramatic Fool. Fans of Frank Panucci’s animation will be delighted as nearly half of this edition of RFC’s running time features Frank’s CGI wizardry.