Rudy Panucci On Pop Culture

Month: January 2017 (Page 1 of 4)

Radio Free Charleston Marathon Tuesday!

1-31-rfc-marathon-logoGet ready for 24 hours of great local music as we celebrate the last day of January Tuesday, starting at 9 AM on The AIR! Listen at the website, or on this embedded radio player…

Radio Free Charleston is the only regularly-scheduled showcase for local music, and has been around the Charleston area in some form or another since 1989.  Now supporting the local scene on The AIR, RFC brings you local, original music from new artists, established artists, and from our archives, which stretch back over fifty years.

You will hear rock, hip hop, jazz fusion, progressive rock, folk, Americana, classical, avante-garde and experimental music by people with ties to Charleston and the surrounding areas.

Running from 9 AM Tuesday to 9 AM Wednesday morning, this is your chance to sample some of the vibrant, diverse and exciting music that Charleston has to offer.

It would be impossible to list every song we play for all 24 hours of the marathon, but you will hear local favorites like The Company Stores, Qiet, HARRAH, Jeff Ellis, Todd Burge, Pepper Fandango, Spencer Elliott,and more. We’ll also bring you music from Charleston natives who have moved on to other areas like Ann Magnuson, Michael Cerveris, and Deni Bonet. Plus we’ll dig into the archives for tunes from Mother Nang, Go Van Gogh, Hasil Adkinks, The Amazing Delores, Stark Raven and more incredible blasts from the past.

The video incarnation of Radio Free Charleston is gearing up for a relaunch after a year-long hiatus, but the radio show has never stopped. Today’s your chance to tune in and support the local scene.

Sunday Evening Video: JoeLanta Is Coming!

df7a3e_891ff9045c0a446099699e0bd08ba224mv2We are less than six weeks away from one of your PopCulteer’s favorite events of the year, JoeLanta and the Great Atlanta Toy Convention. Open to the general public on the weekend of March 11 and 12, with special events for people who purchase the Commander’s Package beginning March 8, this is the coolest toy/pop culture event that I go to.

Visit the website for information on special attendance packages, hotel deals, and the general admission, too.

Above you see the recap video for last year’s edition of JoeLanta and the Great Atlanta Toy Convention. It took me months to complete this clip due to isues arising with my eyes during my treatment for Myasthenia Gravis, but with the PopCult peepers on the mend, this year I promise we’ll have the recap up in a more timely manner.

Below you will see the recap of the 2015 edition of JoeLanta, which was yet another fun adventure. I will be making the trip down South again this year, video cameras in tow, and it’d be great to see a crowd of PopCult readers down there with me.

Vendor tables are officially sold out, but there’s a chance that one or two may open up before the show, potential vendors should contact the organizers through the website to get on a waiting list.

There are always special guests, artists and toy experts on hand, like Larry Hama, the creator of The Real American Hero GI Joe, fopr instance.

This year there will be an entire room devoted to panels and screenings from the Transformers experts at Radio Free Cybertron. A full intinerary can be found at the website, with more cool stuff being added every day. You might want to check the Facebook Event page for the lastest news on guests like The Possum Kingdom Ramblers and dealers coming in from around the world.

16003108_10210097439586997_8204423102732240893_nThis year’s convention figure for the folks who get the Commander’s Package is a cool Cave Explorer. That’s him, seen at left. Commanders will also have early access to the dealers, a special “Lobby Swap,” a concert by Radio Cult, plus they’ll get to see the JoeLanta Film Festival, curated by Tim and Lisa Weedn and they can participate in the parachute drop.

JoeLanta and The Great Atlanta Toy Convention is held to benefit the Cody Lane Memorial Toy and Diorama Museum. The Cody Lane Memorial Toy and Diorama Museum is dedicated to Cody Martin Lane, an avid collector and member of the Atlanta GI Joe Collectors Club, who passed away 2007, after a long battle with a degenerative neurological disorder called CIDP.  He was 17 years old.

2017 will be my fifth consecutive trip to Atlanta for the big show, which had previously just been a pipe dream for your PopCulteer whilst he was toiling away as a caregiver for elderly relatives.

I will remain forever grateful to JoeLanta bigwig, Buddy Finethy for calling me early in 2013 and slightly twisting my arm to get me to go, and also to my beautiful wife, Melanie, for being the world’s best travel partner (and a very indulgent spouse).

I plan to bring PopCult readers plenty of photos and videos, but it’s much more fun in person.

 

 

Ten Years of RFC Flashback: Episode 33

33montageFrom January, 2008 comes a show with music from Holden Caulfield and The Synergy Collective. This show also includes Turkish Star Wars and animation by Frank Panucci.

Holden Caulfield was captured live at the La Belle Theater in South Charleston in August, 2007. For The Synergy Collective, we took our cameras to Ric Cochran’s Lighthouse Cafe at the Baptist Temple Fellowship Hall in November, 2007.

33ani02While remastering this show, I was reminded that, in the early days of Radio Free Charleston, I was not as adept at salvaging camera audio as I am now. I h0pe that the performances come through despite the shaky sound.

Frank Panucci contributed another installement of his animated “Existential Journey” series, while we also dug up scenes from the “so bad it’s good” Turkish sci-fi movie that used the special effects from Star Wars without permission. You can read the original production notes HERE.

Crazy Wrestling, Traffic Trackering and The Big Electric Cat Returns From Sick Leave

16174412_1403749776324782_3439105754151120898_nThe PopCulteer
January 27
, 2017

Tonight at 7 PM at the Madison Civic Center (261 Washington Ave, Madison, WV) ASW Wrestling presents Broken Resolutions, an epic wrestling card featuring TNA Wrestling stars “Broken” Matt and Jeff Hardy, whose match will be recorded for an upcoming episode of TNA Impact on Pop TV.

You may remember that I wrote about The Final Deletion, a TNA special match that originally aired last July. At the time I said, “There is something so wonderfully crazed about this that you can’t figure out if it’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen, or the best.”

Since that time the Brothers Hardy have refined the act and have been one of the most interesting sideshow acts that pro wrestling has to offer. At this point, tickets, which are almost sold out, will only be available at the door. In addition to the Broken Hardys, the card will feature ASW’s usual top-notch wrestling stars putting on a whole evening of thrilling action.

More details in this graphic:

16265538_1398791396820620_2327126978932229697_n Continue reading

Wonder Crew Is Here To Save The Day!

The PopCult Toybox

5940_will_pkg_copy_1024x1024Traditional gender lines in the toy business are evolving. This is more a case of the business recognizing reality than it is of any great change in the make-up of how kids play with toys.

There have always been times when boys would want to use play to explore more emotional and nuturing behaviors, like with dolls or creative activities, and there have always been times when girls wanted more action and adventure, with action figures, sports or play weaponry.

It’s only been recently that society has recognized the folly of forcing kids to play within strictly-defined traditional gender roles.

In the past few years we’ve seen a range of Nerf foam play weapons for girls, and last year we saw the rise of two action figure lines aimed at girls, IAmElemental and DC Superhero Girls. We have also seen Hasbro release their Easy Bake Oven in gender-neutral colors so that boys can learn the basics of cooking.

The marketing of toys has caught up with reality as traditional gender-defined roles have evaporated. The end result of this is a better choice of toys for all kids.

about-superhero_largeIn that spirit, Laurel Wider, a psychotherapist and mom, developed Wonder Crew. Wonder Crew is a hybrid doll/action figure, intended for boys, but also fun for girls, that allows kids to figure out their own play patterns.

Wilder was shocked when her son came home from preschool one day and announced that “Boys aren’t supposed to cry.” Frustrated by many of the messages boys were (and weren’t) receiving from the “blue aisle” and inspired by the way play influences child development, Laurel created Wonder Crew to encourage kids to be their full selves.

Continue reading

Nearly Random, But Still Cool Music On RFC International

rfci-1-25Radio Free Charleston International gives you another mind-blasting barrage of randomosity this week on The AIR. You can hear RFC International, the show where your PopCulteer, Rudy Panucci, gets to play whatever music he wants, Thursday at 3 PM at The AIR website, or right here, on the embedded player…

We throw everything from Oingo Boingo to Neil Young to Captain Beefheart and The Residents at you this week. You may want to duck, but be sure to listen, because it’s all cool, wild stuff! You won’t hear any other radio show that casts its net this wide.

You can hear Radio Free Charleston International Thursday at 3 PM, Friday at 7 AM and 10 PM, Saturday at 11 AM, Sunday at 1 AM and Tuesday at 11 PM. That’s plenty of chances for you to catch this week’s show, which is, once again, like playing radio roulette. Seriously, check out the playlist:

Oingo Boingo  “The Controller”
Neil Young  “Sample and Hold”
Dubioza Kolectiv  “Alarm Song”
Marc Ribot y Los cubanos postizos  “Los Teenagers Bailan Changui”
The Cure  “Let’s Go To Bed”
Red Vox  “There She Goes”
The High Violets  “Bells”
The Enid  “Someone Shall Rise”
The Foreign Films “Sweet Sorrow”
The Hillbilly Moon Explosion “Heartbreak Boogie”
Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band “Run Paint Run”
Mike & The Melvins  “Dead Canaries”
The Residents  “Japanese Watercolor”
St. Vincent “Krokodil”
The Dandy Warhols  “Pope Reverend Jim”
Killing Joke  “The Big Buzz”
Brian Eno  “The Hour Is Thin”
Escapism  “Ship To Shore”
The Range  “Superimpose”
Filter  “Pride Flag”
Dread Crew of Oddwood  “Siren’s Song”
Atomic Rooster  “Friday The 13th”
Black Stone Cherry  “War”
Emerson Lake and Palmer  “Toccata”
Hooverphonic  “I Like The Way I Dance”
Danielle DeCosmo “Don’t Know What It Means”
The Buzzcocks  “ESP”
Operators  “Bring Me The Head”
Spoon “Hot Thoughts”

Thanks to Mitch O’Connell for the clip art!

Political Musical Theater on Curtain Call

cc-1-24At 3 PM today Curtain Call mixes art and politics. You can tune in at 3 PM on The AIR website or on this embedded radio player…

Curtain Call host, Mel Larch, brings you an hour of the best broadway musicals that address politcal themes, since that seems to be a topic weighing heavily on everybody’s minds these days. You will hear tunes from American Idiot, Evita, Lil’ Abner, Hamilton, Cabaret and more.

These musical numbers range from strong protest songs, to biting political satire to astute history lessons, and demonstrate how politics infiltrate every aspect of our lives.

Curtain Call can be heard on The AIR every Wednesday at 3 PM, with replays Thursday at 7 AM and 8 PM, Saturday at 1 PM and Tuesday at 9 AM.

Here is this week’s playlist:

“American Idiot” from American Idiot
“The Art of The Possible” from Evita 
“America’s Son” from The Fix
“Politics and Poker” from Fiorello!
“The Corrupt Bargain” from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
“Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve” from 1776 
“The Country’s In The Very Best of Hands” from Lil’ Abner
“Me and My Town” from Anyone Can Whistle 
“History Has Its Eyes On You” from Hamilton
“Take Care of This House” from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
“Freedom of the Press” from The Cradle Will Rock
“Allegiance” from Allegiance
“Finale” from Cabaret 
“Seize The Day” from Newsies
“Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime

Yoga Talk on Life Speaks

zirk-logo-1-24Today at 1:30 PM and 7 PM you can hear a new episode of Life Speaks with Michele Zirkle Marcum on The AIR website, or on this embedded radio player…

This week Michele tells us that the holidays are over and so is the feasting. Now is the time to stretch your belly in a healthy way. Find balance in your “yogalicious self.”

Michele interviews Charleston’s yoga instructor, Meghann Watson. Learn how yoga helps you balance more than on your toes.

Life Speaks with Michele Zirkle Marcum can be heard every Wednesday at 1:30 PM and 7 PM on The AIR, with replays Friday morning, Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon. You can also listen to archived episodes at her website.

Also on Michele’s website, you’ll find information about her first novel, Rain No Evil, based on her real-life experiences with supernatural phenomena. Rain No Evil been described by Bram Stoker award winning author Michael Knost as, “Wickedly funny, yet profoundly sincere and thought provoking.”

Elsewhere on The AIR’s schedule today: At 1 PM Mel Larch talks about Amtrak on On The Road with Mel; Mark Wolfe talks to Albert Perrone and Douglas Imbrogno on The Best of the Real with Mark Wolfe at 2 PM; at 3 PM Mel Larch is back with two hours of the best of musical theater on Curtain Call; At 5 PM our indie music showcase replays last week’s epic Radio Free Charleston International; Word Association with Lee & Rudy looks at Bad Movies at 7:30 PM; 8 PM sees two hours of Prognosis, progressive rock presented by Herman Linte; at 10 PM we get two hours of The Comedy Vault; finally, at midnight, we present a seven-hour mix of bizarre comedy, talk and music.

More Hot Music On The Swing Shift on The AIR!

swing-shift-1-23Tuesday afternoon means a new episode of The Swing Shift on The AIR! Tune in at 3 PM at  the website, or on this nifty embedded radio player…

Continuing our mission to bring you the best Swing Music from the last 100 years, The Swing Shift blasts away another new hour of killer swing tunes, followed by a classic episode, Tuesday at 3 PM. Get ready for a mix of classic Big Band Swing, 1990’s Swing Revival bands, Electro Swing from Europe and brand-new Swing classics. You can hear The Swing Shift every Tuesday at 3 PM, Wednesday at 7 AM, Thursday at 7 PM, Saturday at 9 AM and if you just can get enough, tune in Thursday at Midnight for a marathon of classic episodes, all night long.

Check out this week’s playlist:

Count Basie  “Daly Jump”
Indigo Swing  “How Lucky Can One Guy Be”
The Ray Gelato Giants  “I’m Givin’ Up Givin’ Up”
Lilly Wilde and her Jumpin’ Jubilee Orchestra  “Go Ahead and Rock”
The Blue Plates  “Work That Skirt”
Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers  “He Beeped When He Should Have Bopped”
Skavoovie and the Epitones  “She Sure Can Cook”
Cherry Poppin’ Daddies  “Puttin’ On The Ritz”
Acme Swing Company  “Deal Me In”
Parov Stelar  “Libella Swing”
Bobby Darin  “Don’t Rain On My Parade”
Vargas Swing  “Rocker Ted”
Casey MacGill & The Spirits of Rhythm  “Late Night Swing”
Hipster Daddy-O and the Handgrenades  “Perpetrator”
Louis Armstong and Duke Ellington  “Do Nothing ’til You Hear From Me”
Background Music:  Woody Herman  “Blowin’ Up A Storm”

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