Tape Swap Radio

Philadelphia experimental glam rock weirdos Cerulean Blue joined us at Shards in August 2017 to record this session. The band comes from the songwriting of Philly guitarist and singer Kevin Brusha, who, until recently, ran The Nest, one of Philly's most well-known DIY show spots in recent years. Cerulean Blue was born out of the ashes of Kevin's previous band, Walking Distance. The band is made up of former Walking Distance bassist, Spyder, along with James on violin and Paul on drums. The four-piece don masks to perform and rarely talk to the audience. Their choice to pursue music in Cerulean Blue is marked by a feeling of contrast. The band has made it a point to diverge from prevailing trends in the Philly scene and, instead, embrace their own direction that we here at Tape Swap agree can best be described as crunchy and sad. We also explore the Northwest Indiana DIY music scene by talking with Tim Bauer, owner of Quality Beet cafe in Michigan City, Indiana. Tim is a music promoter and show booker who books DIY shows at his cafe as well as in Michigan City in general, including, most recently, the Swale Music Festival. We talked with Tim and asked him to put together a short mixtape of his favorite area bands and artists. ---------PART ONE--------- Cerulean Blue [https://ceruleanblue.bandcamp.com/] - An Introduction (0:37) Tim Bauer [https://thefrontend610.bandcamp.com/] - Interview Part 1  (3:17) ----> Tim's job and connection to the music scene (3:48) ----> Where is Michigan City? (4:45) ----> Michigan City/Chicago relationship (5:32) ----> Discovering Evil Waves (6:52) Evil Waves [https://evilwaves.bandcamp.com/] - Flying Machines (8:16) Prince Woodie [https://soundcloud.com/fuckeggnog/] - Awakenings (11:24) Tim Bauer - Interview Part 2 (13:27) ----> Meeting Prince Woodie (13:45) ----> Different music styles in the NW Indiana music scene (15:00) ----> Discovering The Curls (16:39) The Curls [https://thecurls.bandcamp.com/] - Do It Right (17:58) Wood Chickens [https://woodchickens.bandcamp.com/] - Time Don't Stop for Nobody (21:41) Tim Bauer - Interview Part 3 (23:45) ----> Discussing Wood Chickens (24:10) ----> Booking the Swale Music Festival (25:13) ----> Final thoughts (27:03) ---------PART TWO--------- Cerulean Blue - Rebirth (30:05) Cerulean Blue - The Moon (32:42) Cerulean Blue - Interview Part 1 (36:22) ----> The band introduces themselves (36:31) ----> Thoughts on beginning their tour (37:10) ----> How the band started (37:43) ----> The band's musical influences (39:23) Cerulean Blue - Untitled (40:48) Cerulean Blue - Pale Blue Light (43:30) Cerulean Blue - Interview Part 2 (46:03) ----> Meaning behind "Rebirth" (46:21) ----> The Philadelphia music scene (46:44) ----> Discussing Sun Organ (48:13) BAND PICK: Sun Organ [https://sunorgan.bandcamp.com/] - Holding Hands (49:44) Thanks to the sponsors of this Shards Session: Homebase 610 [http://homebase610.com] The Lehigh Valley's local skateshop 2nd Base Vintage [http://homebase610.com] Sell, trade or consign vintage + designer clothing Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations [http://xlvacx.com] Custom screen printing based in the Lehigh Valley

On this show, minimal junk three-piece band Transkam from Tokyo, Japan joins us for a Shards Session. The band recorded their session during their tour stop in Bethlehem in October 2016 before their set at the Funhouse. We also talk with Transkam's tour manager Michael Young from Baltimore who brought Transkam to the U.S. for their first tour of the country. We'll be playing a mix that Michael put together with his favorite Japanese punk, indie, psychedelic, and experimental bands. This show premiered on WDIY 88.1 FM (Lehigh Valley's NPR station) on March 2, 2018. ---------PART ONE--------- Transkam [http://transkam.bandcamp.com/]: An Introduction (0:37) Michael Young Interview (2:18) ----> Beginnings of his Japan/U.S. connection (2:52) ----> Baltimore's Japan/U.S. arts history (4:58) ----> Alan Smithee's Mad Universe [https://axsxmxux.bandcamp.com/] (6:24) Alan Smithee's Mad Universe - Solid I (6:46) Michael Young Interview (13:14) ----> Playing dates on the tour (13:49) ----> DADARAY [http://dadaray.com/] (16:23) DADARAY - 少しでいいから殴らせて [Sukoshideiikara Nagurasete] (16:03) ---------PART TWO--------- Transkam - Fairchild (23:48) Transkam - ⌘F (31:00) Transkam Interview Part 1 (33:10) ----> What to expect at a Transkam show(33:37) ----> The band's eclectic music tastes (34:11) ----> The meaning of junk (34:59) ----> The start of the band (35:38) ----> The tour so far (36:30) Transkam - Giant Steps(37:09) Transkam - Indicator (42:14) Transkam Interview Part 2 (48:24) ----> Thoughts on the U.S. and Japanese music scenes (48:29) ----> Band picks (50:25) BAND PICK: The Great Depression [https://thegreatdepressionnj.bandcamp.com/] - Purple Skirt (51:49) BAND PICK: Rita Fishbone [https://ritafishbone.bandcamp.com/] - Stubborn (54:31) ---------PART THREE--------- Michael Young Interview (58:38) ----> The band gets international driver's licenses (58:50) ----> Otori [https://soundcloud.com/otorijpn] (1:00:00) Otori - 反転 [Hanten] (1:00:49) P-iPLe [https://pinple-of-death.tumblr.com/] - Starbucks' Curse (1:05:02) Michael Young Interview (1:07:38) ----> P-iPLe (1:07:53) Thanks to the sponsors of this Shards Session: Homebase 610 [http://homebase610.com] The Lehigh Valley's local skateshop 2nd Base Vintage [http://homebase610.com] Sell, trade or consign vintage + designer clothing Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations [http://xlvacx.com] Custom screen printing based in the Lehigh Valley

On this show, we have a Shards Session with Daytime Cleaners, a four-piece garage rock/jangle pop band from Bethlehem, PA. The band is made-up of Don, Ben, Bill, and Earl, who have played in Lehigh Valley bands like Narrow Lover, Poor Diet, and The Under Sixteens. The band joined us to record this session in May 2017. We also talk with Ramona Córdova, an experimental artist currently based in Philadelphia, who's playing our next Tape Swap Presents live show at Lit Roastery in Bethlehem on January 11, 2018 [https://www.tapeswapradio.com/news/dec-jan-shows]. Ramona talks about traveling the world, discusses the inspiration behind the new album On Paper, and picks out music from some of their favorite recent DIY/independent releases. This show premiered on WDIY (Lehigh Valley's Community NPR Station) on January 5, 2018. ---------PART ONE--------- Daytime Cleaners [https://daytimecleaners.bandcamp.com/]: An Introduction (0:37) Ramona Córdova [http://www.ramonacordova.net/] - Secret Prayer (2:55) Ramona Córdova Interview (8:00) ----> Lehigh Valley and Philly connections (8:10) ----> Growing up and moving across the U.S. (8:46) ----> Returning to the U.S. to record the new album (9:36) ----> Wheatie Mattiasich (11:08) Wheatie Mattiasich [https://wheatiemattiasich.bandcamp.com/] - This Way (12:37) Sarah M. [https://soundcloud.com/user-612641994] - Control (15:03) Ramona Córdova Interview (17:03) ----> Sarah M. (17:24) ---------PART TWO--------- Daytime Cleaners - Sleep Debt (19:56) Daytime Cleaners - Bonnie Brown (23:31) Daytime Cleaners Interview (26:38) ----> How long they've been playing (26:38) ----> The name of the band (27:12) ----> Musical influences (27:27) ----> Current demo EP and future release plans (28:07) ----> Lyrical approach (28:42) ----> Musical approach (29:07) Daytime Cleaners - Limerance (29:59) Daytime Cleaners - Fields (34:13) Daytime Cleaners Interview (37:08) ----> The Lehigh Valley music scene (37:18) ----> Band pick (40: 22) Honey Radar [http://honeyradar.com/] - Fort Wayne Mermaids (41:27) ---------PART THREE--------- Ramona Córdova Interview (44:54) ----> The new album, 'On Paper' (45:02) ----> Gaspar Claus (47:02) Marion Cousin & Gaspar Claus [https://lesdisquesdufestivalpermanent.bandcamp.com/album/jo-estava-que-mabrasava] -Madona De Sa Cabana (48:38) Ramona Córdova Interview (49:51) ----> M.I.A. (50:14) M.I.A. [http://miauk.com/] - Finally (51:24) Ramona Córdova - Printemps (51:40) Thanks to to the sponsors of this Shards Session: Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations [http://www.xlvacx.com/] Homebase Skateshop & 2nd Base Vintage [http://homebase610.com/]

On this show, we welcome Beaver Falls, PA indie pop band Captain the Sky for a Shards Session. Recorded in May 2017 during the band's weekend in eastern PA, the four members of Captain the Sky drove north to Shards after playing a show in West Chester. The band had just released their new EP "Lions and Foxes" two months prior. We also present our year-end retrospective. Six of the Tape Swap team members give their pick for "Best DIY Release of 2017." Matt Molchany, Shamus McGroggan, Eddie Mackavage, Caroline Hanna, James Ravelle, and Andrew Rutledge each spotlight a favorite release from artists that span from New York to the Lehigh Valley to Philadelphia. ---------PART ONE--------- Captain the Sky [https://captainthesky.bandcamp.com/]: An Introduction (0:37) Best DIY Releases of 2017: Matt Molchany (3:34) Spirit Of... [https://spiritof.bandcamp.com/] - Mania (5:19) Best DIY Releases of 2017: Caroline Hanna (10:37) Shannen Moser [https://shannenmoser.bandcamp.com/] - Alex [282] (12:24) Best DIY Releases of 2017: Andrew Rutledge (15:38) Soft Idiot [https://softidiot.bandcamp.com/] - Brother, Pt. 1 (17:41) ---------PART TWO--------- Captain the Sky - Redwoods (21:40) Captain the Sky - Shorelines (25:42) Captain the Sky: the beginning of the band (30:32) Captain the Sky: the sound of the band (31:59) Captain the Sky: Aaron's lyrical approach (33:50) Captain the Sky - Canopies (34:51) Captain the Sky - Mythomania (39:05) Captain the Sky: the Beaver Falls music scene (43:48) Captain the Sky: band pick (48:42) Primer & Grayscale [https://primerngrayscale.bandcamp.com/] - Passion Play (49:30) ---------PART THREE--------- Best DIY Releases of 2017: Eddie Mackavage (55:58) Small Mess [https://smallmess.bandcamp.com/] - Carter (57:12) Best DIY Releases of 2017: James Ravelle (59:45) Swimmer's Lungs [https://swimmerslungs.bandcamp.com/] - Final Jeopardy (1:01:26) Best DIY Releases of 2017: Shamus McGroggan (1:03:56) Fool Heavy [https://foolheavy.bandcamp.com/] - Canada Dry (1:05:05) Originally aired on WDIY 88.1 FM (Lehigh Valley's Community NPR Station) on December 22, 2017.

On this show, we welcome up-and-coming Bethlehem sad jammers Small Mess to Shards for a session. We also mark the release of the band's first 5" single on Square of Opposition Records by talking with Square of Opposition founder Chris Rejec and listening to some selections he brought from the label's catalogue. Square of Opposition Records has been an enduring presence in the Lehigh Valley's DIY punk community since it began in 2001, and Square of Opposition's release of the new Small Mess Out the Window/Fourth of July 5" single is only the latest in a 16-year history supporting DIY music in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. ---------PART ONE--------- Small Mess: An Introduction (0:37) Chris Rejec: Before Square of Opposition Records (2:13) The Insurgent - Murdock and Electric (6:41) Chris Rejec: Sticking with Square of Opposition for 16 Years (9:11) Chris Rejec: The Business Side of Square of Opposition (12:06) Spraynard - Airports and Prank Calls (14:36) ---------PART TWO--------- Small Mess - Out the Window (18:07) Small Mess - Another Hit (20:40) Small Mess: Becca Moving from a Solo Performer to a Full Band (23:38) Small Mess: Mitch, Jordan, and Jared on Playing in Small Mess (24:30) Small Mess: Origin of the Name 'Small Mess' (25:43) Small Mess: Becca's Songwriting Topics (26:49) Small Mess - Untitled (27:29) Small Mess - More Than Miles (29:34) Small Mess: Experience Playing Live (34:23) Small Mess: Impression of the Lehigh Valley Music Scene in 2017 (35:30) Small Mess: Becca's Work with Lehigh Valley Girls Rock (36:11) Small Mess: Becca on Women in Music (36:49) BAND PICK: Georgia Foreman - I'll Figure It Out (37:28) ---------PART THREE--------- Chris Rejec: Working with Secret Art Space (41:54) Chris Rejec: Did He Have a Plan? (44:10) Yo Man Go! - Life Lessons (45:20) Chris Rejec: His Stand-Out Moments of the Last 16 Years (48:56) Snowing - Big Weed (51:03) Square of Opposition Records: www.squareofopposition.com/ Small Mess: smallmess.bandcamp.com/ Georgia Foreman (Band Pick): georgiaforeman.bandcamp.com/ [http://georgiaforeman.bandcamp.com/]