21 March 2015: Tunacan Jones turns 50 LIVE

Saturday, March 21st from noon to 1 PM Pacific Time, we spring into celebration as Tunacan Jones turns 50 LIVE on What’s This Called? That’s right, Portland’s favorite napping guest star is taking on the big 5-0 publicly and with the dignity you’ve come to expect from him.

Yes there will be music! Streaming audio goodness from the likes of They Keep to Themselves, Crank Sturgeon, Akero – Jedi girl, Blonde Redhead, Luigi Russolo, Tuxedomoon, ARU, Remora, Half Japanese,Jandek, and MORE! (well maybe not much more because when Tunacan gets to talking…)

Playlist:

Tuxedomoon “No Tears”
Blonde Redhead “Jetstar”
Remora “Slow Ghost”
1/2 Japanese “Lucky Town”
Fritzi Massary
Number Girl “I Don’t Know”
Sparklehorse
Buck Owens
ARU “Perfect Horizon”
Jandek “Down Clown”
Crank Sturgeon
Akero “Maiden’s Grave”
Burt Bacharach “Raindrops Falling”

Bruce Pavitt

13 December 2014: Bruce Pavitt Interview! (Retrocast)

Your host Ricardo Wang has the pleasure of interviewing the founder of the Sub Pop fanzine and subsequent record label Bruce Pavitt. Bruce has a new book that celebrates the early zine and radio show days of Sub Pop, and we’ll hear some selections from Sub Pop 5 one of his earliest cassette zines.

28 February 2015: Experimental Grab Bag

Tod Dockstader R.I.P., music from Elliott Sharp, Jonathan Newman and MORE!

21 February 2015: R.I.P. Mark Trayle

What’s This Called? begins this week with a tribute to electronic composer/improvisor Mark Trayle who passed away this week with tracks from both Mark’s extensive solo catalog and from his 1980s computer networking collective The Hub. Noon to 1 PM Pacific Standard Time on Kpsu Portland.

17 June 2006 (Retrocast)

As a number of factors worked against Big Tom The Lithuanian getting in the KPSU studios, here’s a WTC re-run from 2006 that not only contains one of his songs, but a number of amazing tunes from the recent past.  More eclectic fun in the ear drums.

31 January 2015: The CD Revival NOW!

Because the LA Weekly has declared that the CD Revival is now officially on, your host Ricardo Wang will be “spinning” all compact discs on this week’s What’s This Called?

Edgar Froese

24 January 2015: Yr Dead Yr Alive

Your host Ricardo Wang celebrates the cycle of death and life on a brand new episode of What’s This Called? with tributes to the passing of Negativland’s Ian Allen and Tangerine Dream’s Edgar Froese and brand new vibrant material from Nova Scotia’s Little Current and MORE!

Earth 2

17 January 2015: Earth 2 Bilingual Static

As scientists hone in on a real Planet X, how much longer before they make that next giant leap and “discover” Earth 2? Ricardo Wang has known all along and proves it again on this week’s What’s This Called??, Portland Earth 1 Ricardo Wang handed Earth 2 RW a stack of cds from his garage and said, “Take these brother may they serve you well.” You, the listener, will be transported via inner ear wormhole to an alternate universe of experimental sounds with a host who is hauntingly familiar. MATTRESS, Sun City Girls, Noiseman 433, and Art Ensemble of Chicago spun from across the universe, and MORE! RW2 promises surprises from his Edison cylinder collection as well…

10 January 2015: Open Yr Eye

Brand new Cyclopsycho and crazy old favorites from everyone else.

Bruce Pavitt

13 December 2014: Bruce Pavitt Interview!

Your host Ricardo Wang has the pleasure of interviewing the founder of the Sub Pop fanzine and subsequent record label Bruce Pavitt. Bruce has a new book that celebrates the early zine and radio show days of Sub Pop, and we’ll hear some selections from Sub Pop 5 one of his earliest cassette zines.

In Space, No One Can Hear You Broadcast

29 November 2014: Footspace or Sagan gets it.

Footspace! We’re going to OWN Sagan’s ass, mo-fo scientist. Your host Ricardo Wang is literally NOT HIMSELF and What’s This Called? will fold inside itself and bring the wormhole to your ear. Your listening device may never be the same…

untitled.jpg

22 November 2014: Without the Title, the Registration Means NOTHING!

This is an experimental music program.

Take It To Space

15 November 2014: Take It to SPACE

When Ricardo Wang heard the Rosetta comet music this week, What’s This Called? took a sudden turn to outer space.

The Curing for S.A.D.

8 November 2014: The Cure for S.A.D.

Kicking Giant

8 November 2014: Kicking Giant Pregame Show!

Day of The Dead

1 November 2014: Day of the Dead

We mean it man.

Tues. October 28, 9 PM

25 October 2014: Old Fashioned Halloween Spooktackular!

Preparing for my live dj Halloween party at Kelly’s Olympian in downtown Portland next Tuesdau 10/28 9 PM to Midnight!

The Not Found Four

18 October 2014: 404 ‘What’s This Called?’ Not Found

On tap this week, odd sounds and bizarre arrangements from the likes of Floating in Silence, The Blues Magoos, Unwound, Flying Lotus, Brown, Therefore, William Hooker, St. Vincent, MIA, Urthquake, Bob Bucko Jr., Sand Snowman, Black Saturn, Olekranon and MORE!  (Plus: a secret pre-game show with some live performances for you to enjoy.)  

1) Unwound – “October All Over” – Leaves Turn Inside You – Kill Rock Stars
2) Drifting In Silence – “Echo” – Desire – Labile Records
3) William Hooker with DJ OLIVE & Glenn Spearman – “Archetypal Space” – Mindfulness – Knitting Factory Works
4) Flying Lotus – “Time Vampires” – Pattern + Grid World – Warp
5) St. Vincent – “Huey Newton” – S/T – Loma Vista Republic
6) Urthquake – “The Beast” – Discograph – Spooky Tree Records
7) Black Saturn – “The Blessing Tree (Exclusive)” – Alrealon Musique Presents: New Sonic Strategies – Alrealon Musique
8) Brown – “In Haystacks (edit)” – In Haystacks – Infinite Whim
9) Therefore – “Brown” – Khrom – Inlet Recordings
10) Bob Bucko Jr – “In the Wind I Hear Music” – Blast the Past – Personal Archives
11) Olekranon – “Devil Effect” – Tins and Shadows
12) M.I.A. – “Warriors” – Matango – Interscope
13) The Blues Magoos – “Rush Hour” – Kaleidescopic Compendium – Mercury
14) Sand Snowman – “An Evening in the Fall” – Nostalgia Ever After – Beta-lactam Ring Records

Dead Air Fresheners – Hollow Earth

18 October 2014: What’s This Called? Pre-Game Show

Unwound – December

The Dead Air Fresheners, LIVE from Hollow Earth Radio and from No.Fest 7!

The Desk On Lombard

11 October 2014: Cleaning Out the Experimental Music Desk

Lost Gems Galore from the Experimental Music Desk on Lombard!

Peering Into The Past

4 October 2014: Halloween Special (2005 Retrocast)

(When this episode was originally broadcast, the recording was not only truncated, but in mono.  In this recreation, I have assembled this episode as it was originally heard, in as much stereo as possible, and ready for your consumption.  Enjoy.)

Walter De La Mare – Song of Shadows – The Spoken Word
Bauhaus – Hollow Hills – Press Eject and Give Me the Tape
David Bowie – Please Mr. Gravedigger – 1966-1968
Melvins – If I Had an Exorcism – Bullhead
Big Tom the Lithuanian – Panic Disorder and
Agoraphobia – Infamous Polywogs Vol. 1?

Legendary Pink Dots – This Hollowed Ground – From Here You’ll Watch the World Go By
Jarboe – And I Name Myself Hag- The Unaccompanied Voice
Lungfish – Occult Vibrations – Necrophones
Danielson Family – All Hallow’s Eve – The Unaccompanied Voice

Matmos – Track 2 (Exerpt) – Rat Relocation Project
Half Handed Cloud – Once, Twice, Seven Times a
Werewolf – Infamous Polywogs Vol. 1?
Old Time Relijun – Burial Mound – 2012
Leopards – Ghost Cracked Glass – S/T
Chrome – Future Ghosts – Chrome Flashback
Sonic Youth – Ghost Bitch – Walls Have Ears
Jandek – Didn’t Really Die – White Box Requiem
Unwound – Corpse Pose – Repetition

So Close

20 September 2014: Ricardo Wang Up Close & Personal

No holds barred live dj action!

Pregame Show

13 September 2014: Pre-Game Show

This pre-game show was kicked-off by co-host Austin Rich with a little jazz and 13th Floor Elevators, and then taken over by Ricardo when he arrived.  With a live guest, it’s always nice to have extra time before the show to feature recorded music, too. Ricardo took the opportunity to play some Rawk including Melvins, Red Kross, Black Flag, Big Star, Echo & the Bunnymen, Patti Smith, and MORE!

James Fella

30 August 2014: James Fella – World Premiere New Piece

Arizone-ah ah-dio fringist James Fella of Gilgongo Records premieres his anthropological document of his stay in Portland (rumor has it he tried the place on Lombard) today on What’s This Called?

Dead Air Fresheners

23 August 2014: 9 Years at KPSU

Surprise Dead Air Fresheners set on the 9th anniversary of What’s This Called? at KPSU!  This recording contains their entire 80 minute performance.

9 August 2014: Some Summer Sums

2 August 2014: Deanne McAdams Remembered

3 years ago Deanne McAdams left us. Today we play some of her music and also some things that others created after she left, that we think she would have loved too.

26 July 2014: LoveyDove Interview & More!

After some new tracks from ALTO! and Here & Here & Here we get down to the brass tacks interview of Azalia Snail and Dan West of LoveyDove who will be rocking Habesha in Portland tonight!

19 July 2014: How To’s of Detuned 78 RPMs

Through the magic of guest producer Tunacan Jones’sss secret technology on What’s This Called? your host Ricardo Wang will once again be in two places at once. It’s simple really. All times are happening simultaneously. Shop as normal and avoid panic buying. Try the place on Lombard. Don’t mention the bag.

12 July 2014: Goodbye Tommy Ramone

The original Ramones have all left the building.

28 June 2014: GUEST DJ Victrola

What’s she going to play next?

21 June 2014: Do not start with # and no special characters.

Some people playing the 20th Olympia Experimental Music Fest next week, and some people not as well.

14 June 2014: Rockford on Nitrus

Don’t try this at home kids!

7 June 2014: Jouney to the Shadow World

Includes phone interview with Greek Shadow Poet Leonidas Kassapides!

31 May 2014: I’ll Show You Mine…

24 May 2014: Sun Ra stravaganza!

In celebration of Sun Ra’s 100th birthday just two days before the show, Ricardo Wang was not himself.  Another incarnation of the Wang was in the KPSU studio playing recordings of the Ra.

From the Other Side:

1.Sun Ra Interview Excerpt (explains first trip to Egypt) (4:16) 2.Spacemen 3 – Starship (11:28) 3.Elephant 6 Orchestra – Enlightenment (Sun Ra Cover) (11:14) 4.Yo La Tengo @ The Trocadero – 12011 – Someone’s In Love (Sun Ra cover) (2:05) 5.NRBQ Rocket #9 (3:14) 6.Wynonie Harris with Sun Ra- Dig This Boogie (Bullet 78 rpm) (2:49) 7.Sun Ra – Best Answer on Music (2:21) 8.Sun Ra – Nidhamu (13:12)

17 May 2014: Tamale Season Is Upon Us!

From beneath the Farmer’s Market at PSU we bring you the bubbles in the bubble wrap!

10 May 2014, St. John’s Parade Report: 

Two separate incarnations of your host Ricardo Wang met through the simple philosophy that all times are happening simultaneously.  Ricardo Wang in the KPSU dj booth blithely spun Glenn Branca and then took a phone call from Ricardo Wang live at the St. John’s Parade in Portland’s most surreal neighborhood.  Hilarity and a good deal of distortion ensued. Try the place on Lombard.