much the way Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert’s scathing review of “Silent Night, Deadly Night” (1987, dir. Charles E. Sellier Jt.) ensured the film’s notoriety and commercial success, I sorely wish there was some august body, say, the Podcast Council or The Society For The Betterment of Streaming Radio Shows, that could do likewise for this week’s prog…

as I gaze out my front window at the scorched landscape of shuttered Poke bowl eateries, Reverb Appreciation Society pop up shops and abandoned Crocs repair centres (to be fair, those things are ugly as fuck but don't break nearly as often as you'd think), I fear for the future of this nation. But even as we prepare to install Linda McMahon as the …

there's 13 shopping days left before xmas (possibly 12 if you don't wanna be standing around Target at 9pm xmas eve) and with that in mind, it's time this week for the annual Radio Hour That Feels Like Two Hours Holiday Gift Guide! What's it gonna be for the loved ones in your life this year ---- a @methsyndicate "Deny Defend DiGiorno" tee, or perh…

Perhaps this goes without saying -- most things do -- but this program stands in John Starks Contrast to all things "Yacht Rock", or back as it was known in a more sensible era, motherfucking "soft rock". Suffice to say many of the persons involved in extolling the virtues of these musical atrocities have been hit in the head with far too many soft…

I’m sure you were all deeply alarmed (as was I) earlier this week to learn the unscrupulous Wheelchair Full Of Old Men Records had plans to relaunch Sockeye while employing an AI approximation of vocalist Food Fortunata. It’s a chilling development to be sure (particularly as Mr. Fortunata is very much alive and well) , but before we all jump to co…

Dear Friends, I realize many of you are some combination of worried / outraged over the recent news Dr. CHUD has been nominated to head the US Dept. Of Health and Human Services. . Whether it's his questionable credentials (ie. not really a doctor) or highly controversial public statements (ranking The Misfits vocalists 1) Graves, 2) Steele, 3) Dan…

An alleged "fan" of this program (don't worry, I know they dont' exist) wrote last wednesday asking, "now that Peter Thiel and X Æ A-12's Dad are co-presidents, would you like a slice of humble pie with your Soylent Green?" Well, the joke's on you buddy because I DO NOT PLAY CLASSIC ROCK on this show and Soylent (tm) comes in LOTS OF COLORS besides…

I taped this week’s show on Monday night, presuming I’d be thoroughly distracted if I did so last night in the midst of election coverage. While I don’t expect a parade for this thoughtful decision (a small trophy will suffice), at this precise moment I have little to add that can make sense of the utterly senseless (I can’t even chime in in with “…

as we approach yet another edition of Austin's Levitation Festival --- each year answering the question "what if Altamont was held at multiple locations that weren't within walking distance?" --- i am somewhat sorry to say that I''ve been unable to properly prep a program that examines Levitation's most important aspect (ie. what everyone is wearin…

much as I hate to share any personal details on the program, I do think it is fair to warn listeners that I have begun a full scale remodel of TRHTFLTH’s studios and offices, a mission whose tasks will include but not be limited to foundation repair, new chandeliers (the previous ones were nearly 18 months old) and sandblasting some offensive graff…

episode 229 comes to you on the precipice of Game 3 of the NLCS and I’m feeling pretty good about the New York Mets’ chances against the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers. I’ve got my lucky Mitchell & Ness throwback (“Manes” and “86” on the back) and sure you’ll agree my soothing presence in the monument to greed and avarice known as Citi Field w…

while I couldn’t be happier with the musical selections for this week’s program, I am saddened, nay, personally devastated that not one of my alleged friends bothered to send me the clip of Fox LA weatherman Adam Krueger paying homage to Disturbed’s “Down With The Sickness” last February. It’s bad enough that we don’t take climate change seriously …

This week’s episode was recorded just a stone’s throw from East Village Radio’s 1st avenue storefront though I don’t understand why anyone would be throwing stones at the station’s HQ. Surely it would be more efficient just to bang on the gate? Despite a multitude of changes, this can still be a pretty tough neighborhood - for instance, I was sched…

I don’t like to talk about this very often but when i was a young adolescent, the Unification Church tried (unsuccessfully) to recruit me. I don’t know if it was a matter of my being an usually difficult personality to break down or perhaps it was just that the snacks at the Jews For Jesus meetings were so much better (who buys RC Cola and realisti…

Though today is a dark day in U.S. history, it is my fervent hope that at the very least you can use a morning of reflection to seek out timely bargains like the one above. After you’ve finished listening to the program, however, otherwise it’s just inappropriate. In the meantime, can anyone source of pic of Rudy Giuliani at Ground Zero in full Yan…

I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but apparently there are online tools — artificial intelligence, if you will, that enable anyone to replace Perry Farrell in Jane’s Addiction with “The Shield”’s Michael Chiklis. I know, you’re saying to yourself, “nothing’s shocking” but trust me on this, the results are positively chilling. I realize we’re in…

Episode 223 comes to (ostensibly) live from the 2024 Venice Film Festival and you’re probably wondering what sort of person travels 5600 miles in order to record an internet radio program. Well, the joke is on you because I traveled 5600 miles to be here for the world premiere of “Sucking Is Our Business (And Business Is Kind Of Slow) : The Hollywo…

There are few things in this world I find nearly as galling as fake columns. Phil Mushnick’s comes to mind, but color me fully educated this time because I was not previously aware the National Gallery had a Sainsbury Wing. I’m not sure how far down the art ladder you have to drop before encountering an Iceland or Poundland Wing, but over the cours…

with this week’s internet sensation aka Anonymous Five Year Old’s “46 Instances Of A Child Screaming Into A Microphone” we are forced (at least i am) to recount the best (and worst) prior examples of children-in-bands, stunt or otherwise. Old Skull didn’t have a happy ending (and with the Missing Foundation lineage, they didn’t necessarily have a h…

due to illness last weekend, I was unable to attend my local arena’s presentation of The Misfits & Rev. Horton Heat and I’m told this was the first music event of it’s sort to feature voter suppression booths in the lobby (ie. if you announced your intention to vote, you’d be promptly punched in the face several times). I mean, fuck, this is the en…

good morning, friends. I am presuming you've read of James Dolan's plans to bring a digitally restored version of "The Wizard of Oz" to his monument of greed and avarice known as THE SPHERE at a cost of some $80 million dollars. It's a ghastly idea to be sure, but let's OPEN THE PHONES and mull over some other cinematic options that might succeed i…

Now that this show falls under the banner of East Village Radio’s star-studded lineup, it seems I’m under some obligation to inform the station’s powers-that-be what each episode contains in terms of themes, commentary. I tried to explain that this episode was all about how I’ve got OLYMPIC FEVER but I guess the connection was poor and Brian though…

you’ve no doubt seen (many times) this week the 2023 video of Vice President Kamala Harris emerging from a Washington DC’s HR Records brandishing albums by Charles Mingus and Roy Ayers. Not to be outdone (?), GOP VP hopeful JD Vance was revealed to be a longstanding fan of allegedly funny duo Ween and directorial auteur Zach Braff. None of these ar…

like many of you, I read over the weekend the accused gunman behind a recent unsuccessful assassination attempt was seen wearing a shirt promoting someone or something known as Demolition Ranch. My first thought was, “it’s pretty sweet after all these years that Barry Darsow and Bill Eadie maintain a ranch together,” but it turns out this has nothi…

episode 215 comes to you the morning after I suffered through the laughably bad "Kim's Video" documentary and like anyone else with a functioning noggin I awoke wondering if there was an means with which I could recover the $4.99 and 120 minutes of my precious time. Which also poses the question, in this advanced era and living in one of the nation…

it seems a bit off to be celebrating indendepence and freedom while simultaneously prepping to usher in a new monarchy, but to paraphrase Rick Pitino, Takeru Kobayashi (above) is not walking thru the door this July 4 to save us from authoritarianism. Nor will Kenta Kobayashi emerge from an open convention (though to be fair, he couldn't be less app…

Over the weekend I had the singular misfortune of viewing Thea Hvistendahl's "Handling The Undead" (2024) and aside from the otherwise meditative take on zombie tropes, I remain outraged at the graphic, gratuitous murder of a child's bunny rabbit midway thru the film. Sorry for the spoiler but maybe they shouldn't be so cavalier about killing rabbi…

with today’s New York Times report that Robert F. Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hines of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” notoriety was attacked by the former’s pet emu, we’re coaxed (well, forced) to recall the heyday of the late Rod Hull’s ill-behaved emu (above, left). Before Hull perished in a rooftop antenna-adjusting accident (THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT US TO BELI…

in the words of the wonderful lyricist Bernie Taupin, sorry seems to be the hardest word. Especially if I have to say it many times in one intro. There are a number of inaccurate or potential litigation-bait statements on this week's program and I'd like to profusely apologize for several of them, but perhaps not all of them. I'M SORRY #1 : I regre…

This past tuesday, Brexit architect / all-around shit bag Nigel Farage got hit in the face with a flying milkshake. Remarkably, this was only the second time in 5 years Farage has suffered an assault of this sort ; given his words and deeds, it’s somewhat amazing he’s not being pelted with shakes, malts, DQ blizzards and all forms of sticky/gooey s…

over the weekend while attending a very glamorous music festival, I overheard a fellow behind wondering out loud why venues / stage managers cannot employ the most rudimentary of means to stop bass drums from sliding all over the place (perhaps a series of hooks or a curved plastic fixture). Much as I hated to play mr. know-it-all, I carefully expl…

today marks the program’s 4th anniversary and while I certainly appreciate all the well-wishes (which by and large, are preferable than learning you wish I’d fall down a well), I must humbly plead for the barrage of gifts to STOP. As you’re undoubtedly aware, the 4th anniversary is considered a fruit/flowers occasion here in the USA and much like E…

with the passing of Steve Albini some 7 days ago, you'd think I would have more than enough time to prepare an appropriate tribute program and that was what I reckoned, as well. That is until, my plans to play Sockeye's "Steve Albini Fucked Pac Man" 50 times in a row sans commentary were scuttled by Sockeye's representatives. It seems the most cons…

It's been said this program sometimes finds itself bogged down in subject matter arcane or marginal. Not Arcane Device or Marginal Man, mind you, though even by making those associations it seems I've validated such claims. The primary topic of discussion on this week's show is the grave injustice in veteran character actor Steve Bent's Wiki page m…

With NYC Mayor Eric Adams expressing the deeply researched opinion that protestors at Columbia University are being propped up by "outside agitators", let's once again revisit the 2011 clip in which which Adams --- a NY State senator at the time --- provided tips for beleaguered parents on how to properly search and seize guns and drugs from their …

s I, like many of you, am overcome with PLAYOFF FEVER. Whether imy favorite basketball team's heroic attempts to win a championship for one of the world's worst humans (and one of the top 5 worst guitar players) or my favorite hockey team's heroic atempt to win a championship for the very same worst human (and embarrassment to all-things-guitar), I…

This week'd program was recorded, uploaded and published to all of the relevant platforms but I am sorry to say the the entire episode had to be taken down due to some unfortunate remarks by the host (ie. me). In the aftermath of Monday’s WNBA’s draft, I suggested that one very prominent player (whose name I will not type because I am tired of havi…

This week we bid a not-so-fond farewell to "Coronation Street"'s Mason Radcliffe who appears to be headed for stretch in the stoney lonesome following his conviction on bullying & weapons charges. With any luck, the small screen will no longer be graced by this paragon of abject dipshittery, with his zombie knives, ,his selling-vapes-to-children si…

This week's program --- while exceptional musically, as always --- finds your host remiss in acknowledging the passing of comedic titan JOE FLAHERTY, whose 8 year run as a cast member and writer for SCTV established such indelible characters as Guy Caballero, Sammy Maudlin and Count Floyd. That Flaherty's finest moments are currently unavailable on…

When I began this program nearly 4 years ago, I had some pretty lofty aspirations. With the world engulfed in a horrific pandemic, it was up to someone (ME) to address to looming paucity of online radio shows(the CDC won’t admit it, but we were in danger of falling to fewer than one show per member of the adult population). As much as it was quickl…

Not since the 2013 release of Black Flag's 'What The...' has semi-prominent album release featured cover art nearly as diabolical as Sebastian Bach's forthcoming 'Child Within The Man', though spare a thought for the original designer who misheard his instructions and delivered a sleeve bearing the title, 'Man Within The Child', which for obvious r…

Much as I thoroughly enjoy Fabio's "Strength Thru Failure" program on WFMU each week, I was a little concerned during yesterday's fund raising broadcast when the host sought to characterize his audience as "great listeners". Pandering aside, I could not help but wonder, HOW GREAT ARE THEY REALLY? Take this show for instance. I am sure each of you h…

as we're in the run up to that trade fair to end all trade fairs, South By Southwest, I've been made aware that some artists are boycotting the event due to SXSW's ties to Ray Of Today. While fully respecting the right of any performers, established or not, to make their own decisions, it's hard for me to understand the depth of animus toward Mr. C…

Not to put myself on too high a pedestal, but I tend to think of this program as a public service (you're welcome). And I'm sure many of you have been wondering, "is it possible to fully comprehend the plot twists and intricate character studies of 'The Equalizer 3' if I've not seen 'The Equalizer 2'?" Well, i think that is a very fair question and…

The month of February has been almost a total wash for me — creatively, personally, professionally, you name it. I’ve spent so many hours watching the Old Country Buffet Training Video — analyzing it, looking for easter eggs, finding inconsistencies, etc. that everything else in my life has gone down the fucking toilet. While the rest of you were e…

TWO HOURS OF TEDDY PENDERGRASS....would have been a far more romantic option for this week's program, however after recording all-Teddy sets for the last 3 Valentine's Day, I have been served with a cease & desist notice from the Pendergrass estate. Which I intend to honor.Από τον Gerard Cosloy

Not to be outdone by Elon Musk funding Gina Carano’s lawsuit against Disney, Peter Thiel has offered to back my litigation against Light In The Attic charging full price for a bent-corner copy of Les Rallizes Denudes’ ‘Cittá 93’. It seems a little unnecessary, to be honest. If not the equivalent of blowing up an ant hill with a nuclear bomb, than a…

a faulty microphone cable briefly derailed my long story about boring a fellow airline passenger with an even longer story about Boston's DMZ (or more to the point, my DMZ shirt) yesterday. The entire experience left me so disoriented and disillusioned, I misidentified Peter Greenberg as "Jeff Greenberg". I apologize to all listeners (and Peter Gre…

there was a considerable amount of frustration last week following the announcement a media outlet that at one time seemed part of the fabric of everyone’s routine was essentially being shut down by ownership. And while I would never applaud anyone losing their jobs, in the case of The Hard Times, yeah, this was a moment for celebration. Fuck that …

There’s an old saying in the streaming radio business ; you have forever to organize your first show, but you only have 1330 days to prepare for your 190th. I’m no making excuses, far from it. I’ve always been the type to embrace a challenge, even with the clock ticking, so to speak. And I’m pretty sure I’d not be able to successfully complete such…