Evan Davies

Dave Gahan talks about making a new Depeche Mode album and going on tour for the first time since co-founder Andy “Fletch” Fletcher passed away last year. (#4 of 4) Listen to the full interview as heard on my @WFMU radio show via the link in my bio!

Waiting for the magic to begin

You may be surprised to learn that after my fill-in Tuesday on @WFMU (link in bio, it was pretty great!) I headed straight for the airport and flew down to Florida so I could take my Mom to an outpatient procedure at the hospital yesterday. Fortunately everything went as planned, she’s doing OK, and I am flying back this afternoon and proceeding directly to WFMU’s Monty Hall to see the @programme4tv live show put on by @rachellichtman (with guests @realtedleo , @dockfidrych , and @davidnagler ). As of now it looks like my flight will arrive early enough that I won’t require a Doug Mirabelli-esque police escort. Hopefully that remains the case! Hope to see some of you at the show tonight.

Today at 12 noon EDT / 9am Pacific / 5pm UK I’m filling in on @WFMU with three (3) special guests: ✨ THE HOBKNOBS, a new-ish duo formed by Arie Van Vliet from Lewsberg and Yaël Dekker from The Klittens. They bring together Lewsberg’s melancholy guitar pop and The Klittens’ post-punk sensibilities, with a new album coming out next month on @12xurecs ✨ RACHEL LICHTMAN, the filmmaker, multi-media artist, and overall genius, will call in to talk about ‘Programme 4: Make The Scene,’ a live retro-inspired television experience that blends film, live performance, and talk-show elements into an analog broadcast-style event. It takes the stage at our own Monty Hall this Thursday night with special guest MC Ted Leo! ✨ SWANSEA SOUND, the band formed by Heavenly’s Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey with Hue Williams of The Pooh Sticks as a singles project during the COVID lockdown. They’ll be touring the West Coast with Heavenly in June, and today they make their second appearance on WFMU. I’ll start the show with some records I just picked up in Los Angeles during a 72-hour drop-in this past weekend, and between the live sets and guests I’ll be squeezing in as many new favorite tunes and bands as I can. Listen on the radio at 91.1fm, 91.9fm, or 90.1fm, or livestream online from anywhere at wfmu.org

Coming to Monty Hall Saturday June 20! We are once again pleased to welcome NJ-based animal rescues with many eligible cats up for adoption! @efdefd and @misschristinaginger will soundtrack. Come by and find out Who’s Next (to be added to your family)— 12-3PM, FREE!!!

After singing the praises of some of New Jersey’s more intimate venues last week I feel lucky that I was able to catch a show at the Wild Honey Backyard space in LA this afternoon. And what a show!! Wreckless Eric was tremendous, and anyone who was disappointed that he didn’t load up the set with greatest hits from his Stiff Records days simply wasn’t listening. (Note that I don’t think anyone was actually disappointed.) Amy Rigby hopped on stage to sing “Dancing With Joey Ramone” and took over the acoustic guitar for a few songs when Eric broke out the electric. Kathy McCarty opened (last two pics) Keep your eyes open and go see Eric (and Amy) if they come to your town! Great to see Michael Ackerman and meet some of his pals as well.

We’re 85% of the way through a whirlwind 72-hour trip to Los Angeles. Apologies to our friends who we couldn’t meet up with this time around, but we’ll be back! 1-4: Warner Bros. lot, courtesy of @sherrinsta ’s college friend Amie 5-6: Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank, frequented by David Lynch. We got milk shakes (not pictured) 7: Small Press book fair put on by Printed Matter at ArtCenter College of Design 8-19: The newly opened David Geffen Galleries at LACMA. Highly recommended. 20: The only star I took a picture of, located steps away from Amoeba. This afternoon we’re going to see Wreckless Eric at a Wild Honey Backyard show; then it’s off to LAX for a red-eye back home.

Finally have a chance to post about the great time I had Monday night in Metuchen seeing Steve Wynn tell stories and play songs. He’s about halfway through his eastern US house / small venue tour, with stops in Atlanta and Athens GA this Sunday and Monday, and another Central NJ show on Friday May 15 at @randynowsmancavenj before wrapping it up in Western Mass. and NH. I’m really grateful for spots like the @oldfranklinschoolhouse in Metuchen, James Mastro’s @503socialclub in Hoboken, and the aforementioned Randy Now’s that make it possible to see A-list performers like Steve without having to cross a bridge or take a tunnel!

If you can get yourself to @hartbarnyc tonight or @tubbyskingston tomorrow night I highly recommend that you do so! The Hobknobs are headlining and they’re great! They’re a recently-formed group from The Netherlands that includes Arie from Lewsberg and Yaël and Katja from The Klittens. I recorded a session with them at @WFMU today that I’ll air on a fill-in next week - see the short clip that’s part of this post. Bonus for tonight’s show: one of my favorite current bands Van Goth (@vangothrocks ) are opening!

In case you missed my earlier posts: it’s an honor to fill Suzy Hotrod’s skates on @WFMU tonight and present the live session she recorded with Pylon Reenactment Society! Suzy’s ok but took a bad spill on her bike earlier (fortunately she was wearing a helmet). I’ll get the show started at 8pm EDT, and the PRS session will air around 8:30pm. Hope you can tune in! On the radio at 91.1 / 91.9 / 90.1fm in and around NJ / NYC / Rockland County / Catskills, and streaming live online at wfmu.org

UPDATE! Good thing @pylonreenactmentsociety and I took photo with @efdefd because I hit a pothole and flew off my bike and called him to fill in for me tonight to play the live set! I’m ok, but important PSA, I am ok because I was wearing a helmet. The show must go on! Gimme my radio! 8pm tonight on WFMU.org 91.1fm

Pylon Reenactment Society blew the roof off Randy Now’s Man Cave last night with two blistering sets! If you didn’t catch them on this quick Northeast run you can hear them playing live on @suzyhotrod55 ’s show tonight on @wfmu between 8 and 10pm EDT!