I recorded my parts for this week's show on my 64th birthday. That fact has no bearing on the show itself--I closed last week's show with my go-to birthday song, the Ramones' "I Don't Want To Grow Up"--but it was a kick for me to spend my birthday morning, coffee in hand, immersed in the music. I made sure that Dana's selections and my selections fit together within our time slot, barked my back-announcements into the mic (i.e., my iPhone), and then shipped the files off to Dana for the transmogrification process of turning it all into a radio show. A few nights later, it was on the radio in Syracuse, and on the web world-wide.
Who could have imagined such a thing in 1960? My conscious memories only go back to 1963, when I remember watching as my crib was dismantled and exiled to the attic for storage. In that time frame, the everyday conveniences of our newfangled 21st century would have seemed the stuff of fantasy, the milieu of Flash Gordon and Astro Boy, the trappings of Superman and Dick Tracy, the world of The Jetsons. Jane! Stop this crazy thing!
My age does not bother me. It's not old. If, from the skewed POV of adolescence, 64 once seemed like it would be the right time to start measuring caskets and considering moss for my north side, now it just feels like...now. My life hasn't been bad so far. We've all known sadness, ache, and even desperation. But I've been lucky. I found love. I have family. I have my unique freelance faith, a stubborn belief that tomorrow is possible.
Plus, y'know, I got to see the Ramones eight times. Younger folks will never know what they missed.
On my birthday, after the show was done, I went out to buy my new comic books for the week. I'm still the kid I used to be, still becoming whatever it is I'm going to be. The journey isn't just a part of the story.
It is the story.
Every story needs a soundtrack. Here's some music to go with my story, and I hope it goes with yours, as well. Grow up? You know the deal by now: Don't wanna. Won't need to.
Ain't gonna.
And this is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on another Sunday night inn Syracuse this week.
This show is availanle as a podcast.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream, and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. Recent shows are archived at Westcott Radio
You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO).
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.
--
RICHARD TURGEON: All Alone (Kool Kat Musik, Life Of The Party)
No comments:
Post a Comment