Super Fantastic Ultra Show Podcast

Belle and Sebastian

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:04:00 +0000

Martha Wainwright BMFA

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:24:00 +0000

Weird Video Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:27:00 +0000

Archiving one's own past is a bit weird. Have you ever been moving, packing, or searching for something, and find yourself lost in an old journal, photos, or old letters. Remembering past times, good and bad? Often a simple object will trigger a memory long forgotten, and it can feel really good to take this trip down memory lane.

Much of SuperFan is just that, my old recordings and demo tapes I've collected since the 70's. Beyond the old cassette tapes, I also have a bunch of VHS video tapes that need to be transferred to digital format, and compressed into formats that will play on line. That way everyone can see 'em!

Wankin' Woo Woo Productions was my production company's name back then. It really captured the, "Ah - just do it" improvisational no budget approach our video projects took. I produced a few crappy homemade videos over the years. At that time, having graduated from art school (1986 MICA in Baltimore), most of my friends were arty freaks, and we would all have a lot of fun making video movies together. Our cameras were old, clunky and huge, and took an entire VHS tape inside them. We edited between two VHS decks. Not an easy way to edit when compared to a Mac these days. I'm glad those days of A/B Roll Deck editing are over.

Making the movie was a party, then watching the movie was a reason for yet another party. We had a great time. Now SPAMCAM.com is the happy home of the Wankin' Woo Woo. I will post entire movies there as I convert them into QuickTime videos for you. If you find a movie amusing, please tell a friend or two. Gather around the monitor, have a party with us.

Hoagie Malone

Richard McGhee Star Vocalist

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:37:00 +0000

www.RichardMcGhee.com

My Friends Are All Jerks

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Tue, 22 May 2007 07:53:00 +0000

I had to do one more show before I packed up my microphone and headed east for the summer. I'm leaving my bay side California studio and it's off to the cabin on the lake in Maine. Me, Mrs. Malone, and Baby Hoagie will be farming, gardening, and boating all summer getting in some grandma and grandpa time back on the farm.

This is my latest recording project called, My Friends Are All Jerks. I thought this was really funny back when I did it, but it's not as funny to me now. I have decided to share it with you anyway, and let you decide. The My Friends Are All Jerks Project came from an idea where I write songs that rip on my friends, then post them on myspace. Once I did that, I simply invited my friends to "be my friend" on myspace, and when they check out my profile, there's a song about them waiting right on my profile. It did get a few laughs, emails, and phone calls.

The whole thing was a sort of practical joke on my friends, and I'm sure you have loved ones in your life that bug the hell out of you, so you can relate. Once I had the idea to write a series of annoying songs about my closest friends, I just had to do it. The idea was so funny to me. This project had me laughing for days, just coming up with it. I'm very motivated by mischief.

Thanks to everyone that listens to our SuperFan Show, enjoy your summer. Hoagie ~

PODCAST - May 22, 2007

Our 50th Show!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 03:44:00 +0000

We're celebrating our 50th podcast here at the Super Fantastic Ultra Show. We're half way to 100!

We start out with a new CD from the New York band, Makar and their tune, Alligator Agents. (If you are in a band, be sure to post us your CD, just click the 'Send Us Your CD' link for details). After the Alligator Agents get off the stage, Mark Harvey and the S.S. MOPEHEAD makes a bit of a wake with, My Orders Take Me Out, a strange and trippy recording from the Flash Animated Adventure. Gwen Snyder and her amazing band Blueberry perform Le Mat (The Fool), which is a very good card indeed. The amazing Dan Hanrahan lends us another version of his song Roderick, and then Equator frightens us all with the manic performance titled, Why Won't You Go Up To The Gallery With Me? Then, if that was not enough, here to show us all how it's really done, Lurch and Holler tell us all about Vertical Stripes.

So there you go. Fifty shows and counting. The megs pile up... can my web host handle it? Will I receive overage bills... I don't know. All I know is I keep making these things. If you enjoy our little show, please do say hello - click here and leave us a message. Enjoy the show:

PODCAST - January 20, 2007

At Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 22:22:00 +0000

I support peace. I enjoy as much peace as I can get. I wanted to start out this new year with a Podcast that is At Peace, and here it is.

I start out the show with a new CD from Roy Muniz with his peaceful tune, Wasn't It You. Next up Strip Karaoke asks us to Come Closer. Mitchell Vaillant delivers a little Professional Help and mopehead lets us all know that It's About Us. Old Songs brings us The Girls Scattered, Rain Station relaxes a bit with Quiet Morning, and Richard McGhee Star Vocalist does the standard, Leaving On Your Mind.

Peace is a concept, a feeling. Has there ever been peace on earth, or does peace linger only for a moment, from one person to the next. Maybe there isn't enough to go around. Who knows? All I know is that everyone wants it. Get a little of yours, enjoy the show:

PODCAST - January 4, 2007

Those Crazy Kids!

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 08:40:00 +0000

Now that Baby Hoagie is 2 years old I spend a lot of time running around the house after this crazy kid. I can hardly find the time to cast my pod these days. Then I thought, that's the perfect theme for a podcast posted in December, Those Crazy Kids!

Dan Hanrahan starts the show with Head Cleaner's tune: Josie. Mark Harvey tells us a little about being Older & Wiser. Equator gets out the old 4 track with Happy Home. Portland Maine's Love Spitoon does their inspired version of Strawberry Fields. The Instant Automatons tell us over and over that Gillian is Normal. Lurch and Holler bring us all a lot of Happiness, and then to top it all off Mitchell Vaillant introduces us all to Rumplestiltskin himself.

Enjoy the holidays, and if you're one of those crazy kids that just got a new iPod for Xmas, be sure to add our little show to your iTunes podcast list. Wucka wucka.

PODCAST - December 13, 2006

Gettin' Witchy

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 08:58:00 +0000

Ahh the cold October air is here, and Halloween is just around the corner. I always find this time of year so exciting. The start of the Holidays before we're all burnt out on them all.

Winds of change are blowing, and Lurch and Holler are telling us all about it as they turn their mighty Wheel. Lurch and Holler is a 2006 CD release by Baltimore artists Michael Willis and E. Liz Downing. Next up Dan Hanrahan pays a weird visit to the Magician's House. Truly witchy indeed. Beth Blood and Ghost Walks gets all earthy with, Mud, Mudder, Muddest. Be sure to check out Beth's Halloween Costume Shop at: Suitsmi.com - it's so cool, really. Then to get creepy I play another cut from the Gorehounds titled: Night of Gore, and it really rocks the house. Equator gets all trippy and strange with, Wave, and then we end the party rocking with Rain Station and the tune, Broom Hopping. Be sure to check out the Halloween Flash Animations by Rain Station at JackOLantern.org.

I can't wait to go out trick or treating with Baby Hoagie again this season. I get to eat all the candy.

PODCAST - October 6, 2006

The War Show

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 01:08:00 +0000

Turmoil takes hold, battles rise and fall. War rages out on the field, and in each home. To help those out there fighting to will up enough strength to survive, we have a fun assortment of songs. This image enhanced podcast also caters to those that miss someone far far away. So many families are broken up due to wars of all kinds. Wars can hide almost anywhere. Between two people, between two countries. This is The War Show.

The War Show starts out with Liz Downing and Old Songs Ancient Greek Poetry with the track: Truly I Wish To Die. Frank's Depression recites his work, Drafted. Punk Rock from Portland Maine, the band, T-2 with their delightful tune: Bombz! This Can Free tell us all about the end of the world with, Was It A Wednesday? Following up is a track by the band V; More Prayers For Boys. To keep us rockin' Ghost Walks tell us all about Desperate Times. And to finish the set, Mitchell Vaillant takes us under cover Down In Central America. This Podcast was Made with Pride here in the good ole' USA.

PODCAST - August 19, 2006

Happy Birthday Super Fan!

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 00:47:00 +0000

I'd like to thank all the musicians that have shared their music with us all over the past year. It's been really fun receiving CD's in the post and adding them all to my play list. It's also really nifty to see my stats that tell me that the Super Fantastic Ultra Show is being listened to all over the world. Every day we get hundreds of listeners. Some come from the iTunes directory, others come from Google searches, Yahoo, MSN... so many people searching for the musicians that I play. Many times this show is the only place on line to hear these artists.

If you enjoy this podcast, please tell at least one person today about it. Spread the word. I work so hard compiling these shows together, and I'm doing it all just for the love of the music. I have a gigantic collection of home recordings, band demos, and strange stuff that it's a pleasure to have the chance to share it with others. Please help me out and turn someone on to our image enhanced podcast. The more the merrier.

Today's show has some great tunes by Blueberry, Mitchell Vaillant, Liz Downing, Rain Station, The Gorehounds, and Psycho Semantics. All of whom have contributed a great deal of time and talent to our past year of shows. I also want to be sure to thank everyone else that has sent me their CD, so THANKS!!!

PODCAST - July 12, 2006

Gettin' Kinky

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:56:00 +0000

OK, so spring time is getting to me, I'm seeing more and more skin when I go out. Flowers are blooming, we've already been to the beach a few times. Bikinis everywhere... what's a guy gonna do? I mean I AM human, no matter what anyone says.

Spring fever has hit the entire country, and so I thought I'd celebrate with an image enhanced podcast for everyone else out there that is also all turned on by mother nature's magic.

I start off today's podcast with one of the sexiest and kookiest tunes I've ever heard. It's by bay area artist mopehead otherwise known as Mr. Mark Harvey who just happened to celebrate a birthday. This tune is titled: He Goes To Parties, and I tell you, it's so bitter sweet and sexy I'm not sure what to think when ever I hear it. One of my absolute favorite songs of all time.

Next up from the Hyped 2 Death collection is the band Animals and Men with the way cool tune, Baby Scratch My Back. There is something very kinky about this band, maybe it's the bands name that makes me wonder what they're up to, maybe it's their lyrics...

Then from the sexiest city in the whole US, New York City, comes Gwen Snyder and her band Blueberry. The cut I play from this amazing act is, Idol Hands. We all know that Idol Hands do the work of the devil, and Blueberry make it sound so sexy. Love them, and Gwen. Truly sexy folk from NY. Be sure to check out her site, as there's so much yummyness to be had there.

In 1991 I had the pleasure to get the chance to record Bo Grumpus on my 4-track when I was living with these guys in the pan handle of the Haight in San Francisco. The tune Craig and Petey play today is, I Love Me. Hilarious, and anytime one is involved in some self loving, it gets a bit kinky, wouldn't you say?

My band Rain Station whip out the title track from the Fancy Fancy CD, a very dark and mysterious tune if I say so myself. Kinda inspired by porn, and one particular dirty girl that drove me nuts. Maybe I've said too much, maybe not enough.

To end this naughty set is none other than the beautiful and ever so sexy May Ling Su and her band, Strip Karaoke playing, He's A Homo.

Whew! I just can't take any more. I'm gonna go snoop around and see what my wife is up to... I bet she's in need of a little break from whatever she's doing... in the meantime, enjoy the podcast!

PODCAST - May 28, 2006

Lies! Lies! Lies!

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sun, 21 May 2006 07:18:00 +0000

So I have no idea what's been going on, but it seems like it's been the month of people not doing what they say. Not showing up on time, two hours late, and not phoning... All kinds of mayhem with banks and electric companies making billing errors. What the hell? I can't get anything done. It's making me completely insane... or worse incompletely insane.

Every time I've made a plan around someone else, it all fell through. I'm at a complete stand still on several projects, so I thought I'd do something about it. Sit down all alone and put together an enhanced podcast for all you listeners out there. Let me tell you this, I will let nothing get in my way. I am hell bent on getting something done, and as long as blogger doesn't self implode in the next ten minutes, we should be fine. My fingers are crossed, which makes typing rather difficult.

So if you are feeling held back by all the flakes in your life, this podcast is for you. If every time you make a plan, someone else messes it all up, I feel for ya. If every time you get a bank statement or bill, and it's wrong - let's join together and crush the infrastructure. What is wrong with the world of mankind? Have we all lost our minds? It's like there isn't a brain among the lot of 'em. I just want to start banging heads together where ever I go, so look out.

We start out with a great Boston band, Laughing Academy with Say What You Will. The Future Chicken Farmers whip out Distemper, which is the exact type of shot I need right now. I'm mad as a dog. Another annoying personality trait, Fickle is also the name of a beautiful tune by Blueberry. Then Equator get out the old 4-track with Lodestone. Pennsylvania rockers Brother Eye give us all a Guilt Trip, and the 3 Pigs Cafe end it all with Liar Liar.

The next time someone lets you down, crank this podcast loud, and just let go. Forget about it all. Keep muttering: It just doesn't matter - it just doesn't matter...

PODCAST - May 21, 2006

Hyped 2 Death

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Fri, 12 May 2006 08:30:00 +0000

The kind folk over at Hyped 2 Death sent me a giant package of CDs. I've been listening to them for a while now just to familiarize myself with all the new tunes. Most of the CDs are "Do It Yourself" rock and roll made by a bunch of freaks and weirdos with low budget equipment. My favorite kind of music! Also included is The Shivvers, a nifty teen band that pumps out power pop.

Today's image enhanced podcast is all from the Hyped 2 Death collection, as they sent me so much music, I thought it would be cool to do a show of all these interesting bands. Be sure to check out Hyped2Death.com for all your DIY, punk, and post punk music. These guys have a lot of stuff to offer. A huge collection.

First up is Teen Line by the Shivvers. Then we get on with my favorite DIY act, The Instant Automatons with, Armchair Politics. Animals & Men tell us all about the Bad Lover. We've all been there. Ichkk. Mud Hutters do a great song about potato titled, All About. I really love potato. Any way you cook it, I love the spud. You'll like the song too. Steve Treatment ends our show with a Change of Plan.

I really appreciate Hyped 2 Death for sharing all these nifty CDs with us all. Be sure to check out more of their music, as they have tons and tons just waiting for your ears to hear. Have a good one, Hoagie.

PODCAST - May 12, 2006

Blowin' our Noses

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 19:40:00 +0000

Baby Hoagie came home from "Wee Play" and gave us all the worst flu we've had in years. And to add to it all, it just rains and rains here in California. Stuck inside, head all clogged up. Feelin' miserable... ah-HA! My new theme for an image enhanced podcast! Here are a bunch of songs by a bunch of sickos, that I'm sure you'll enjoy. Just don't get too close, you don't wanna catch this!

First up is Liz Downing and Daily Grace with the parasitic tune: Blood Fluke. Then the gang from Equator record a strange tune on 4-track while they all had the flu titled: I'm Becoming Psychic. Lots of samples of coughing, hacking and so on, it's pretty cool. The next song by Gwen Snyder and Blueberry really sets me in a spring time field with dandelions, bees, pollen, and lots of other allergens all floating around. It just feels that way to me, I almost need an antihistamine when I hear this song, titled: Off With My Head, (which is exactly how I feel right now). Then just when you thought it was nice and safe at the podcast, Brent Clifford and the Unknown Rule whip out, Surgical Tool. The cure is far worse than the ailment. Gorehounds finish up with Corpse Worm, and then we all go home because we're so sick and tired we just can't take it any more.

So there you have it, tunes for flu and allergy season. Pass me a Kleenex.

PODCAST - April 8, 2006

Best Podcast Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:06:00 +0000

Here we are at our 40th image enhanced podcast - and it just keeps getting better and better. Thanks to everyone that have sent me their CDs. I've received several new bands as well as spoken word and comedy discs. It's so exciting to get new CDs in the mail from artists all over the world. If you have a music or comedy CD that you recorded yourself - send it our way - I'll play it on this podcast for the world to hear!

To start off the best podcast ever is Miss Tess with a nifty tune titled: Can't Sleep Now. Then from Sam Hill Productions a number from the cabaret show 'Same Old Songs' titled: Never Been So Close. Be sure to check out the Sam Hill web site to listen to more music from this fun show.

Richard McGhee Star Vocalist does a karaoke version of Oh Look At Me Now. I always love it when Richard does songs written for female vocalists. It adds so much camp factor. Then from the Kinky & Sweet CD by Bo Grumpus and Terry Waldo we play the cut, Low Bridge, Everyone Down. To finish off the set is the mighty band Jesus Knievel whipping out the big horns and performing live on stage the song titled: Body Bags.

So there you have it - enjoy!

PODCAST - March 16, 2006

That Makes Me Laugh!

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 02:15:00 +0000

Here's a bunch of stuff that makes me laugh. We start out gettin' weird with mopehead and his 4-track recording of Groovy Groovy Kitty. The amazing Dan Hanrahan shares with us one of my favorite spoken word pieces of all time: Jeff at Wendy's. Dimitrius helps us define just exactly what being White Trash is all about, and Sonny Probe helps us define it even further with Painful Relations. Mitchell Vaillant brings us back to the big city in his bizarre urban Caseo tune, That Woman Is A Junkie. Then Jesus Knievel tells a funny tale about the perfect crime in, Steal Your Shoe.

So there you have it. Laugh it up.

PODCAST - March 11, 2006

Freaky Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 02:26:00 +0000

Ever have a Freaky Weekend? For some people every weekend is a Freaky Weekend. But that's just too much for me. Freaky Weekends wear me out and make me tired. Now I don't know what you'd consider a Freaky Weekend. We all have different limits. All I know is that I just had a Freaky Weekend, and now I'm really really tired.

To start off this Freaky Weekend we've got the Gorehounds with a hard driving beat bringing us the Voodoo Priest. Frank's Depression delights us all with Untitled III. Brother Eye enters the stage with Overture in Brown. Gwen Snyder and her band Blueberry lulls us with the White Fang Lullaby. And several Strange Ghoulish Shapes float high up over Dan Hanrahan, and the Fleshrot CD finishes the set with a Drink To The Dead. It was freaky...

PODCAST - February 26, 2006

Cupid is Stupid

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:40:00 +0000

Ahh Love. How was your Valentine's Day? Did you ever think about how there is a reason that there are different words for Love and Happiness? It's because they are not the same thing! Just like the words Sex and Love, they are not the same thing. Just because you have one, doesn't mean you have the other. There is more to learn about Love than any other subject there could ever be. It's just so complicated.

Blueberry joins our image enhanced podcast once again and graces us with Pocketbook of Love, and it is beautiful. Just for fun I toss in an outtake from a recording session with the Future Chicken Farmers. Tim improvs Poke You Tonight, and it's funny. Gorehounds tell us all about The Fox, Jesus Knievel shine up their tuba and perform Once Upon A Time. And then it's time to get out your weepin' rag, as Mitchell Vaillant takes us on a slow bus ride south with Clean Dirt. Now go out there and love some one.

PODCAST - February 14, 2006

Geno's Pub - Portland Maine

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:29:00 +0000

When I was growing up in Portland Maine, there was a nifty place where all the local bands got their chance to play out. Geno's Pub was a little underground seedy dive of a place, where all the garage bands and punk rock kids could get on stage and tear it up. The place had the best vibe, and was a great place to see a show. I've been to clubs in all the major US cities, and honestly, Geno's really had them all beat. The place just oozed rock and/or roll.

Since I have a huge collection of recordings from way back in the 80's and 90's, I thought it would be neat to put together a set of bands that played at Geno's Pub regularly.

First up is a tune titled Paris by the 80's band V; - (Thanks Gary for sending me this great CD-R of V; - people send me your original music, I will play it!) Next up is a band that often played out with V; it's the band Ghost Walks performing a studio version of Malice with their good friend Conni St. Pierre reading poetry in the background. Pretty cool. After that the greatest band to ever grace Geno's stage: The Gorehounds whip out Bad. The early 80's punk band T-2 rehearse their song, Deranged, and we finish the set with the 90's act, Head Cleaner closing the show with Time To Go.

Geno's Pub has since moved to Congress street, and I have yet to see the new space. I can only hope that it will be just as sleezy and run down as the original pub, as it really had an ambiance that was hard to beat. Rock on!

PODCAST - February 1, 2006

Friday the 13th

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 10:34:00 +0000

What is up with the number thirteen, and why is Friday the day to look out for? I've been in tall buildings that didn't have a 13th floor. It had a 12, 14, 15, and so on. The elevator just skipped it on the panal. Many casinos are built without a 13th floor.

What makes this Friday the 13th so cool is that it's the first one of the new year, and the moon is full as well. So there, that's gotta be worth some extra weirdo points.

What else is numbered 13? Hmmmm... There was Jesus and the 12 disciples, that was 13. There were 13 original states to the US. There are 12 Federal Reserves with one main office to run them all, which makes 13. That's all I can think of right now.

My Friday the 13th set starts out with a track from the Fleshrot CD titled, Last Stand. Equator tells us the tale about the Lodestone, Miles Partridge says, Ouch, Quit It! A great Boston band, Laughing Academy whip out their tune, Snake, and the Jesus Knievel add the icing to the cake with a cover of Strangle Hold. Delicious.

Maybe I'll wait to post this on the 14th, to be just like the hotels. I'll join them in 13 denial. Enjoy!

PODCAST - January 13, 2006

Holiday Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 23:11:00 +0000

I was talking with a few friends and each one had their own tale of the Holiday Blues. Holidays are stressful. I am always amazed at how a time like Christmas, which is supposed to be a time when people celebrate the ones they love, has become a commercialized high pressured event that very few people enjoy any more. I live by a small mall, and when I walk over to get some snacks or Red Bull, I observe all these people rushing about in their SUVs cutting people off, cussing out their windows, all because they HAVE to get presents for all the people in their life. For me it's just not about that at all. I don't buy a lot of gifts. If I really know what I want to get someone I do it. If nothing comes to mind, I just give them a hug or a phone call and tell them how much they matter in my life, and that I love them.

I've known a lot of folk that get down during the winter months. Winter time depression really takes it's toll on folk that endure long winters. I'm originally from Maine, and it seems like it's winter there all the time. Winters seem to claim a lot of lives there. Icy roads cause a lot of crashes. Lack of sunlight and cabin fever adds up to a lot of craziness. I even believe that the folk there in the east coast suffer from heating their homes with petroleum tanks of oil stored in their basement. The fumes collect in their houses because every window and door is closed tight for months. I have lost over 11 friends to car crashes, cancer, and suicide, which all seems to stem from the long winter months stuck in doors.

Even though all this is a very serious subject, I'd rather make light of such things with a set of tunes all about The Holiday Blues. Sometimes the best way to get out of a rut is to see one self through a sense of humor. We start off with Brother Eye performing their song, Oh Well. Dan Hanrahan whips out a quick ditty about life titled: It's Hard. Equator depresses us all with I Hate My Life, Frank's Depression recites the very disturbing poem, He Was A Happy Boy, and Jordan Kratz and the Gorehounds finish up with Head Down To The Ground. So there you have it. At least this way you can kinda enjoy your Holiday Blues. Rock on. Merry Christmas everyone!

PODCAST - December 25, 2005

Electricity

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 06:32:00 +0000

I had to go out tonight to get some DVD-R discs and VHS tapes so I can burn my footage of Baby Hoagie's first year for my folks back in Maine. On my way I saw lots of Christmas lights, and I got to thinking about what a celebration of Electricity Christmas has become. We surround our houses with strings of lights, buy all kinds of gizmos, TVs, computers, cell phones, video games and battery powered toys for our family and children. We even cut down and drag trees into our homes and cover them in electric lights. If there is one thing that does not need an electronic gadget, it's gotta be a tree, but some how they become the very victim of this brightly lit holiday.

So here is my set devoted to the mysterious powers of electricity. First it's The Gorehounds with, Tune In To My Love. Then mixed right in comes Brent Clifford and The Unknown Rule with, Central Central. A spooky techno bizarre sound scape thing that may have broken my four-track. Next up is Richard McGhee Star Vocalist practicing the song, Thomas Edison from a musical movie we were trying to make at the time. Allen Frost and Dan Hanrahan rings us up with Telephone Joe, Philadelphia's Brother Eye whips out Hey Sunshine, and The All Mighty Senators finish today's image enhanced podcast for iTunes with, Solar Power. So there you have it, and it's all brought to you by Electricity. Plug it in!

PODCAST - December 17, 2005

Video iPod Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 03:31:00 +0000

I consider myself a very pro-Mac kind of guy. I love my desk top and lap top, they are great machines. I really like GarageBand, iMovie, iDVD, iTunes. When I began my podcast, I wanted to make it one of the nifty image enhanced podcasts so I could share images, band photos and so on with my archived music. It's like a non-stop Mac celebration here at SuperFan Studios.

Since it's Christmas time Mrs Malone wanted to get me one of them there Video iPods so I could take my podcasts and videos with me. Where I'd be taking them, we were unsure, but none the less, she was convinced this was the obvious gift to get me this season since I've started this podcast. I said, sure, sounds like fun, lets visit the online Mac Store and check it out.

Now let me start this story with the fact that I am a grumpy old man, and am a stickler for the customer experience when shopping or purchasing expensive gear. That's what brought me to using Mac computers in the first place. They allow me to do all the multi-media stuff I enjoy - right out of the box. Gotta love that.

I also know that the iPod is one of the only successful money makers Mac has had over the past few years. It's become a big trendy thing to own, and I wanted to support Mac and get one too. I've just been waiting for the Video iPod, and now that it's here, I was excited.

I have to say I hated the on line experience, and it made me mad trying to read all the details on what accessories I needed. Nothing seems to be sold with the iPod. Even the recharger requires purchasing the cable AND the part that plugs into the wall separately. What the hell is that? Now I know I can charge the iPod via USB as long as I drag my laptop computer with me everywhere I go, but if I want to charge it via the wall - I have to purchase a cable AND the wall plug. They are like $19.99 - $30.00 each. But then I realized I'd have to purchase a Dock to make it work. So there's another $30 or $40 bucks for the Dock. Or maybe I don't need the dock...geez who knows at this rate?

Now, as a customer I'm completely confused, and have "Buyer Stress". I don't know what I really need. All I know is that it's NOT INCLUDED regardless. I did not want to make the purchase because I was not sure what I really needed. I also imagined a big tangled mess of wires and crap, when all I wanted was a small compact device I could enjoy. I imagined myself battling wires and cables, and getting all stressed out. Plus the cool thing with the iPod is that it's small. What good is it if I have to carry my laptop or a bunch of stuff (dock, cable, wall plug) just to recharge it. Well let me tell you, it's not good.

I asked Mrs Malone, is there like some $500-$600 package that just includes it all? I don't want to drop several hundred dollars and then be held up because I still need some cable or thing. There is nothing worse than having a way cool gadget, and cannot start using it because some stupid wire is sold separately.

Sadly enough there was no All In One package for a customer like me. Like I said to Mrs Malone, I don't care if I have a cable or two I don't need, I just don't want to get the thing, and have to wait another 3 weeks shipping just to enjoy my device that was supposed to be a simple fun thing.

The online Mac Store is very bold in the way that they allow customers to post opinions where they sell all their gear. I was amazed at how many people were as frustrated as I was at having to spend so much time figuring out what accessories they would need to enjoy their iPod.

I have to say I define the word "accessory" as something that is optional, NOT something that is mandatory. The fact that several people wrote that they were angry that the iPod did not come with the cable so that they can sync their iTunes music to their iPod is ludicrous. The fact that one has to separately purchase the wall adaptor in order to charge the iPod away from a computer is just silly. How can Mac afford to frustrate so many customers is beyond me. It's as if the iPod is a one time use disposable unit the way it's sold now. Maybe Bic should put out a disposable unit to compete??? Who wants to recharge their unit anyway? Just throw it away and buy a new one!

How many loving parents have bought an iPod for their kids, only to find out Christmas morning, that they needed a $20 cable just to load music from their computer? So sad. To shell out so much cash, only to disappoint the ones you tried so hard to please. I can understand that selling everything separately is a way to make more money, but that's the best way to make someone that loves Mac, turn away and run, or worse, turn around and blog.

Plus if they are so interested in making money, where is the top of the line Video iPod that comes in a box with every damn accessory ever needed? We would have bought that one, regardless of price. If I have to spend over an hour reading a site, and am still not sure if I'm getting everything I need, how many others out there like me are NOT purchasing an iPod this season?

Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Hoagie Malone) — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 04:01:00 +0000

So I tried to put together a set of winter time Christmas music, but it was tougher than I thought it'd be. After I put it all together, I sat back, and it was a little bleak. Cold, lonely... jeepers heck. It was wintry indeed.

We start off in New York City, a great place to spend the holidays. Mitchell Vaillant tells us all about driving a yellow cab during the holidays in Manhattan in his tune titled, Hackin'. Next up is a bizarre treat, it's everyone's favorite terrible band, The Pilots. These kids are all about 14, and the best part is the arguments at the beginning and end of each recording. This tune is from 1979 and titled, Wise Man. I figure all Christmas celebrations have a wise man or two, or three.

A song with a dreamy quiet winter feel is mopehead's This Boy's Life. Lazy as a cold day all snuggled up on the couch with a blanket. Frank's Depression recites Jesus Christ Has Come And Gone. Rain Station warms us up with (Earth Don't) Fade Away. This Can Free completes the set with Isn't Life Wonderful? - which sounds like the name of a Christmas movie, so there you go. Happy Holidays Everyone!

PODCAST - December 7, 2005