Radio Drama

Word is that local Oshkosh campus radio station WRST is experiencing a revolution of sorts, and not one of those 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' revolutions -- more like a 'military junta seizes control of power, executes the prime minister, and generally screws the rest of us' revolution. Long story short: community (i.e. non-student) shows are being 'encouraged' off the air.

From what I've been able to piece together, it all started when the campus Radio, Television, Film department changed the workshops requirements for the undergraduate degree program, adding two required workshop classes in a non-major field. That means that while before, for example, a television concentrator would take three TV workshops to get a BA, now they have to take three TV and two non-TV workshops. (Workshops being classes where you get hands-on exposure to the medium in question.)

The proximate result is that there are a bunch of not-exactly-motivated 18-to-21 year olds forced into workshop classes (and thereby on-air) they don't particularly want to take. Since they don't want to take them anyway, they really bitch and moan when they find out that it's traditional for new radio personalities to begin their on-air careers during the so-called 'graveyard' shifts.

As a result, community members, who currently hold some of the premium broadcasting slots (e.g. late afternoon and evenings), are losing their access to these times. This pisses them off, as they've often been working for years to cultivate their audience, who expects to hear them at the slot they're currently located at.

I'm not saying this is the entire story, and I'm certainly not saying I'm an authority on inside working politics at WRST. Hell, all the people I could track down who are authorities didn't want to go on record about this, so if you took this all to be the insane ramblings of a diseased and misinformed mind … well, from a purely journalistical standpoint, I'd have to agree with you. For now.

More later. I for one am still curious what prompted the change in the academic requirements.

Oh, have I mentioned that part of the WRST mission statement is to serve "listeners in the city of Oshkosh and surrounding areas"?

Fox River Chamber Music Festival

Sunday May 28 is the kick off of the Fox River Chamber Music Festival (the website is just a place-holder for now, with any luck it'll be updated with more info soon) at UWO's Arts & Communication Center, running 5 days (5/28 through 5/30 and 6/2 and 6/3) and beginning at at 7:30p each night.

I know nothing about chamber music with the exception of a few pieces by Bela Bartok, so I'm not going to try to tell you anything about it. What I am going to tell you about is the first evening of the festival, which is one of those events that cross my desk from time-to-time and make me exclaim, "Gawd damn!"

Way back in 1920, an odd film was made. It was called "The Golem" and was a heartwarming story of a medieval rabbi who creates a clay man and by the power of black sorcery animates it to protect the Jewish people of his town. Of course, hijinks ensue, and everyone has a good larf in the end.

Or maybe that isn't the plot, exactly, but it doesn't really matter. The real reason to see the film is because it's one of those stylistic melanges that you only get when an art form is either very new and nobody knows what it's really all about, or when an art form is very old and you have to shake it up to keep it interesting. (See: this, and this, and this, and a whole lot of others.)

Anyway, it's a silent film, as well, and the FRCMF is sponsoring a group named Wizards to play a newly-written score while the film is being screened that night (5/28, that is). If you've never had a chance to see a silent film with live accompaniment -- go, you'll thank yourself later.
And that's only the first night. Night 2 promises to be at least as interesting with "A Multimedia event, including footage from Jean Cocteau's 1930 film 'Blood of a Poet', and the music of repressed Soviet composer Nikolai Roslavets." (from the press release) I honestly can't say the rest of the festival looks that interesting to me from there on out, but hey, I don't know anything about chamber music.

Happens at 926 Woodland Ave. in Oshkosh. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 students, and $7 seniors and children. Full festival passes available for the cost of four of the five nights.

The Waterfest Cometh

Thursday May 25 marks the return of Oshkosh's own Waterfest, which kicks off at the Leach Amphitheater at 303 Ceape Ave. that evening with the Little River Band (openers are Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans and Vale Todo). Just six bones before 7p, twelve after.

As always, downtown watering holes are scambling to arrange post-show entertainment. No word on plans from Terry's Bar, Barley & Hops, or O'Marro's yet -- Terry's had a series last year, and I assume they'll continue the tradition, Barley & Hops never bothers to publicize their schedule that I know of, and O'Marro's has turned Thursdays into "Girl's Nite Out w/ Maddie" according to their calendar. That scrappy newcomer, CP's-Oshkosh...well, I gotta admit that I'd be more likely to be found in front of a firing squad than there that night. (I have problems being around a lot of people packed into a tiny space.)

Other (free) downtown options include the always-reliable Reptile Palace, 131 High Ave., who will no doubt continue with their Thursday night 'Open Jam' (quotes necessary due to it not really being your traditional open jam) with Senor Fuckpuddle. In addition, Wally, proprietor of Peabody's Ale House, 544 Main St., tells me that he's planned a Thursday night series at least through June. (He still has a few openings in mid-June, so if any musicians out there want a Thursday night gig call him up at 235-4004.) Tin Sandwich kicks it off.

Update: Mike McAbee is scheduled to play at Terry's on 5/25 at 10p.

Update: I forgot that the Water City Grill (website is currently down; but click here for a partial schedule) has Thursday night shows. Not sure who's playing the 25th, but June 1 has Jason Moon and Thacia Northey.

a new, cranky era dawns...

Cranky Pat's Oshkosh finally (yes finally, despite being open for less than a month) is going to start hosting live music with the debut show of local folk supergroup The Paste-Eating Elmers on Saturday 5/20 in the new restaurant's bar area (sorry kids, it's 21+).

A trio consisting of Cranky's Oshkosh co-owner Aaron Baer and co-conspirators Jason Moon and Paul Wisneski, the Elmers starts around 9:30 p.m. with no cover. If'n you haven't heard yet, CP's-Oshkosh is located in the 100 N. Main building.

No word on further shows there yet. I'd tell you to check the Cranky's calendar, except they have this show on the wrong day, so I don't know if you can trust it in the future.

willisise

Indie rockers The Willis played an emergency show at the Reptile Palace this Thursday, moving aside the regular open jam combo (the Fabulous Bobby Evans, Jay Stuhlo -- or however it's spelled -- and some other guy; aka Senor Fuckpuddle, though with any hope that name will be soon retired). Assisting them in the schedule switch were everyone's favorite avant rockers Happy, who incidentally made sure that one-third of the regularly scheduled act still made it on stage that night, and also the next night.

Rumor has it that the show was in fact an audition by the W for an unnamed record label authority who is interested in getting their signatures on some sort of contract. Rumor did not go on to say whether this happened or not, though seemed to indicate (via gesticulation) that it was unlikely that this would be resolved that evening.

Update: Word on the street is don't hold your breath, as it's probably all just talk.