The Official Blog of WKDU Philadelphia 91.7 FM
By Nick Stropko
We’re very excited to be interviewing Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo on WKDU tomorrow, July 16. The interview will take place on master radio personality Matt Scottoline’s show, aptly titled The New Matt Show. Tune in at from 4-6pm tomorrow to hear its ON-AIR DEBUT, or if you’re one of them TiVo/Netflix types, stream it right here on Communiqué starting later in the day! We’ll probably put a transcript up at some point whenever I feel up to it.
By Nick Sukiennik
I went to Mad Dragon Studios to interview Travis Arterburn, vocalist and drummer for local punk outfit Ted Nguyent, about his newly formed record label and its first release, “Philadelphia Comp. 2013”
Nick Sukiennik: What is Self Help records?
Travis Arterburn: Basically at this point it’s just a name for something for me to release things under. I was working on a compilation for my senior project of 15 different Philly DIY bands. I wanted to put it on record but I didn’t have enough money. I decided that I’d put it on tape because I could duplicate it myself. Basically, I was going to release it so I figured [I should] put a name on it. I’m trying to use the money I make from that to do some other things, maybe put out some tapes for a couple other bands, and eventually put out a vinyl from Ted Nguyent. So, a small label, I guess.
NS: So where do you get your funding?
TA: So far the only funding I’ve needed was buying the 300 tapes, art and boxes and stuff, which wasn’t super cheap or super expensive. But it was just money I saved up from delivering sandwiches (laughs).
Continue reading “Interview with Ted Nguyent (July 9, 2013)”
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Cheap Girls is a rock band from Lansing, Michigan. Give ’em a listen if you like The Replacements, Soul Asylum, and early Smoking Popes.
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By Nick Stropko
My story with “Jessica” began on November 2, 2009 in Long Beach, CA. In the midst of a show-filled senior year of high school, I managed to snag a pair of tickets to see Vampire Weekend at the Art Theatre–a tiny, independent movie theater–on their weird 2009 California tour of small venues (I seem to recall at least one VFW, as well as a skate park in Lake Elsinore, on the list of dates). After school, a friend and I rushed home to change out of our Catholic school uniforms (gotta look cool for the V-Dubz concert!) and made our way to Long Beach.
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By Nick Stropko
This in-studio actually happens to be one of my favorite memories from my time at Drexel so far. One of my freshman year floormates heartily recommended The Music Tapes (along with several other Elephant 6 groups) earlier that year, so when I caught wind of the performance happening, I knew I had to be down in the station for it. Julian Koster (the man behind The Music Tapes), who has been remarkably nice in every interaction I have ever had with him , allowed me to sit in the performance room and observe from a few feet away. In all earnestness, it was a magical experience. I have since taken every opportunity possible to see The Music Tapes (including their stellar performance as part of the Traveling Imaginary tour earlier this year), but this is what got me hooked. Listen and enjoy.