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Your host, at the bandshell at Coonskin Park

Above you see our ninth anniversary episode of RFC. It’s hard to believe, but nine years ago we revived my old radio show as a video program as part of The Charleston Gazette’s GAZZ website. In those nine years we’ve watched the world change a bit. The GAZZ is still around as the Thursday entertainment section of The Gazette. Radio Free Charleston is now a multi-media empire with two video shows, an internet radio program and soon, a website. And the Charleston arts and music scene continues to be a vital and diverse collection of amazing underexposed talents.

This week on the show we have music videos by The Company Stores, Close The Hatch and Volt 9000. We also have live performances by Tape Age and Speedsuit and animation from Third Mind Incarnation.

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Ann Magnuson

We kick things off with a trailer for Ann Magnuson’s Dream Puppet Theater. During Ann’s show, “An Evening of SurRURALism” in Charleston last month, the audience was treated to the first full episode of Dream Puppet Theater. It was magically-deranged and I can’t wait to see more. Thanks again to Ann, not only for allowing me to use this trailer in the show, but also for including some of my art in her show.

A scene from "A Glitch In Time"

A scene from “A Glitch In Time”

Volt 9000 is a two-man electro-industrial band from Toronto who have just released their fifth album, Timeshift. As they have in the past, the band has hired my brother, RFC Big Shot Frank Panucci, to create a music video for them. The results are stunning. We are proud to present Volt 9000 with “A Glitch In Time.” on our big anniversary show.

"Flatline Television"

“Flatline Television”

Our animation, presented in three installments, is some of the last work that we have remaining from the late Third Mind Incarnation. This one is called “Flatline Television” and features characters from Pentagram Flowerbox.

The Company Stores

The Company Stores

Casey Litz, Matthew Marks, John Query, Joe Cevallos and Grant Jacobs are The Company Stores and they are one of the hottest bands in Charleston. You can see them headline Live on the Levee July 31. Their sound shows and incredible array of influences that they’ve blended into a unique and exciting sound. The band has teamed with director Ryan McKowen to create a terrific music video for their song, “Rollin’ In” and we bring that wonderful collaboration to you in this week’s show.

Tape Age

Tape Age

Tape Age made their debut on The RFC MINI SHOW back in May…it was literally their debut. We recorded their very first public performance. Since that time they have added a member (Doug Litton) and played several shows in the region–including Live On The Levee. For this episode of RFC we’re going back to that first show at The Empty Glass for Sam Scholton and Dave Roberts as Tape Age, performing “Hangman.”

Close The Hatch

Close The Hatch

Close The Hatch are a band from Dayton, Ohio that includes some Charleston expatriates/ They’ve landed a song on an upcoming Empty Glass Records/Red Moth Records compilation. The video comes to us from Jason Roadblock Robinson and the song is “Skull and Bird.” Aside from the fact that it rocks, I don’t know much more about them.

Speedsuit

Speedsuit

Playing us out this week is Speedsuit, the new project from Stephen Beckner, with help from Thom Walker, Tim Dorsey (apologies to Tim for confusing him with someone else while introducing the song) and Dave Roberts. Stephen’s been part of the RFC family since the radio days twenty five years ago, and if you’ve watched every episode of the video show you’ve seen him dozens of times, including on episodes two and episode 100. You will hear Speedsuit doing “Hold me up, Lay me down” as the credits roll.

I want to thank all of you for watching RFC. It doesn’t seem like we’ve been doing this show for nine years. Remember, you can like RFC on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, read the PopCult blog and listen to our companion show on New Appalachian Radio at Voices of Appalachia.