Episode 97 of RFC

Jeff Ellis, The Emergency, Simply Sadi and More on RFC 97

April 1, 2010 by rudy panucci

We March through and spring into April with episode 97 of Radio Free Charleston. This edition of our show features music from Jeff Ellis, The Emergency and Simply Sadi, plus short films from MURFMEEF and Scott Elkins, as well as a lovely surprise at the end. Why don’t you watch it, now.

RFC 97 "Ding Dong School" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

If the show isn’t right above this sentence, click here to watch it.

This is our big Spring holiday show, and it was truly a labor of love.

We kick off the show with a short educational film in the Kitty Killton series. Director Scott Elkins illuminates a shamefully-forgotten element of pop culture. As always, Kitty is brought to life by RFC’s official barista, Chelsea Cook.

Episode 96 of RFC

RFC 96 "Storm In A Teacup Shirt" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

WATT 4, Romeo & Juliet, MURFMEEF and Bear on RFC 96

March 22, 2010 by rudy panucci

Episode 96 of Radio Free Charleston, “Storm In A Teacup Shirt” is right there above this text (or here, if all that’s there is raw code). This edition of our local music, film and animation show includes music from one of the RFC favorite bands,WATT 4, and from the upcoming CYAC production,”Romeo and Juliet: A Rock Opera.” We also have a movie trailer from director Amy Trent, and the RFC debut of MURFMEEF.

Host segments were shot around Capitol Street on a sunny Saturday afternoon, and they weren’t all done in one take this time.  It seems we were disturbing someone’s sleep in the Lee Street Triangle. Our title shirt this time came from TeeFury.com, who offer cool designs for one day only. This one, chosen in honor of the little dust-up we had in the PopCult comments recently, was designed by Ross Robinson.

Episode 95 of RFC

RFC 95 "Glen Brogan's Visible Grimace Shirt" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

Eva Elution and Mother Nang On RFC 95

March 8, 2010 by rudy panucci

Radio Free Charleston’s ninety-fifth episode, “Glen Brogan’s Visible Grimace Shirt,” is in the books, or at least in this post, up at the top (and if it isn’t, click here). This episode of RFC showcases new music from Eva Elution and vintage music from Mother Nang. We also have our usual animation and mind-hurting weirdness. Plus we revisit the very first 60 Second Art Show, featuring the art of Felix Krasyk.

We shot our host segments Saturday morning, taking advantage of the gorgeous weather. Our location was Kanawha Boulevard, just East of the latest prolonged blockage of Charleston’s favorite artery.

One of the reasons we picked this location is that it’s near The Boulevard Tavern, where Mother Nang is playing this Friday.

Episode 94 of RFC

RFC 94 "Star Wars Shirt" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

Byzantine And The Pistol Whippers On A Single-Camera RFC

February 23, 2010 by rudy panucci

Radio Free Charleston 94, “Star Wars Shirt” should be floating right up there above this text. (if it isn’t, click here). This very special episode features music from Byzantine, The Pistol Whippers and Adrian DeQuiros. There are also promotional announcements for The East End Pet Food Pantry and The Chemical Valley Rollergirls. Lastly we have animation by your humble PopCulteer.

Coincidentally, each of the musical performances on the show this week were shot with a single camera. I only mention this because it’s possible that you might not have noticed otherwise. Normally we do multiple-camera shoots on RFC, but this time we just happened to have three great one-camera clips.

Episode 93 of RFC

RFC 93 "Tofujitsu Shirt" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

Strawfyssh, Scrap Iron Pickers and Andy Dick on RFC 93

February 8, 2010 by rudy panucci

At the head of this post you should see the latest episode of Radio Free Charleston, “Tofujitsu Shirt.” If it’s not there, checkthis link. This week’s show features a vintage video of Strawfyssh, from 1991, a music video for The Scrap Iron Pickers set to 95-year-old animation by pioneering cartoonist, Winsor McCay, and a moody video of Melanie Larch singing an acapella version of the classic tune, “Summertime.”

You’ll also believe that a pig can cuss, and you’ll get to see an animated re-telling of Andy Dick‘s recent misadventures in Huntington.

A special guest voice performer provides the voice of Andy Dick in this photo-realistic dramatic recreation. Read on to find out who it is.

Episode 92 of RFC

RFC 92 "Oingo Boingo Shirt" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

RFC 92: Factory Blues And More

January 25, 2010 by rudy panucci

Right at the top of this post (or at this link, if technology is not being your friend today) you see the ninety-second episode of Radio Free Charleston, “Oingo Boingo Shirt.” This collection of local music, weird film and other cool stuff was carefully prepared by experienced Bavarian craftsmen, and is served up on a bed of fresh baby spinach for your personal delightrificationment.

Our music this time is by Joseph Hale, The Diablo Blues Bandand the Blues Girls from the CYAC production of “The Blob.” We also have a Plant Ro Duction Mini Movie and a serious message from Ann Magnuson on behalf of Covenant House.

Host segments were shot in the parking lot at The Kanawha Mall. There was no particular reason for this,other than it was sunny and that’s where we ended up.

Episode 91 of RFC

RFC 91 "Bettie Page Shirt" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

Starting 2010 With Highway Jones, Ryan Hardiman and Blue Million

January 12, 2010 by rudy panucci

If all goes according to plan, immediately above this text you will see the first Radio Free Charleston of 2010. “Bettie Page Shirt” features music from Highway Jones, Ryan Hardiman, and Blue Million. (If it’s not there, follow this link) There’s also animation by Frank Panucci, a Plant Ro-Duction Mini-Movie, and a cameo by professional wrestler Daizee Haze.

Host segments were shot during the lunch hour Tuesday afternoon at The Charleston Town Center. We are happy to report that we were not accosted by security, nor were we beaten or detained by the Charleston Police Department. This was largely due to our clever strategy of hiding the cameras in our coats every time the security dudes looked our way. 

Special thanks to Walt at The Salvage Yard, who hooked us up with the cool Bettie Page shirt from which the show takes its name. The Salvage Yard is a neat little custom culture emporium with clothing and accessories showcasing the best of West Coast custom car/pin-up/retro hipster iconography. All the cool kids will be shopping there.

Episode 90 of RFC

RFC 90 "Hellblinki Sextet Shirt" from RFC Archives on Myspace.

RFC 90: Ending The Year With A BANG!

December 29, 2009 by rudy panucci

The show you see above this text (orhere, if WordPress is being difficult) is our 90th episode over all, and our 34th this year! We decided to end 2009 with a bang. 

This show features new music from Eva Elution, WATT 4and Drop Ded Phred, plus a new Kitty Killton short by Scott Elkins, fresh DEVO hat animation fromFrank Panucci, and a plug for an upcoming series of Blues shows at the Plough Inn, in London….England.

The host segments and the song by WATT 4 were shot at The Empty Glass less than 24 hours before this show is being posted here at PopCult. This is the first time we’ve had a multi-camera song by a band on the show with such a short turn-around. 

Episode 89 of RFC

On this classic episode of Radio Free Charleston, you will see the much-anticipated (at the time) 2009 Christmas episode of Radio Free Charleston. Being a Christmas show, there was only one thing we could call this edition of RFC–”Terry Funk Shirt.” This extra-long episode is packed with music from Molly Means, Joseph Hale, Todd Burge, and Melanie Larch with The Diablo Blues Band. There’s also some classic animation from the British studio Halas and Batchelor, plus a news flash about a visit from Saint Sputnik. The original production notes, from which we self-plagarized much of the above paragraph, follow the ad and the video. These being old, old notes, don't expect all the links to work.

Twisted Holiday Greetings From Radio Free Charleston

December 16, 2009 by rudy panucci

Episode 85 of RFC

This is the remastered version of our 2009 Radio Free Charleston Halloween special,”HallowEast Shirt.” We feature music from Unknown Hinson, The CYAC musical, “The Blob,” The Big Bad and Flare Baroshi. We also have a Mini Movie, and a few extra treats along the way.

Our host segments, featuring members of The No Pants Players and were shot in various locations in Charleston’s East End–the home of HallowEast!. Jeff Bukovinsky, Mandy Petry, Joe Wallace and Duncan Stokes met up with the RFC crew they proceeded to skip from location to location, shooting our little comedy bits, aided and abetted by Mel Larch, Mark Wolfe and Amy Williams.

Many people consider this our best Halloween episode. It was also one of our longest episodes to date, and was easily out most ambitious shoot.

You can find the original production notes, complete with antique links that don't work, below the video.  Supplemental production notes for the remaster can be found HERE.

It’s Halloween On Radio Free Charleston

October 28, 2009 by rudy panucci

Above, you see our epic 2009 Radio Free Charleston Halloween special,”HallowEast Shirt.” If the show isn’t up there, that means that it escaped and can be found here. I’m going to post very detailed production notes about part of the show in Friday”s PopCulteer, but we do have some folks to thank for making this year’s Halloween show happen.