Thanks for listening

This week, Vanderbilt Student Communications sold 91.1 FM to Nashville Public Radio, ending 50+ years of "Nashville's Only Alternative." To many people, the sale represents the culmination of a multi-year strategy to kill WRVU by a handful of Vanderbilt insiders. As someone who DJ'ed on the station as an undergraduate back in 1987, of course I am sad and very disappointed. Having said that, I don't expect things to stay the same forever. Anybody who loves shopping for records understands that times change and sometimes beloved institutions go away. I'm mostly disappointed by the actions (and lack of action) by the university, my alma mater. I didn't ever expect to say this, but I find it hard to be proud of my Vanderbilt degree.


I don't plan to participate in VSC's pitiful excuse for a station this fall, when the broadcast goes to online and "HD Radio" (I'm betting the format will become about as prevalent and viable as floppy drives and Sony Betamax). Doing so would condone the shameful actions of the VSC board.


Someday, I may start a weekly online podcast or web-based archive. If you would like to be notified in the event this happens (and there is no telling when it will), send me a message to marceveretthill at gmaildotcom.

Thanks for listening...

New Wave Smackdown will return on 11/27

Getting back home earlier than expected from the Thanksgiving holiday, so I'll look forward to doing the show this coming Saturday November 27 from 6-9am.


Here are some pics from the Gorillaz show I caught last month at Detroit's Fox Theatre. Good, but pretty overwhelming, given they had a gazillion performers.

Favorite Albums of 2010 (so far)

My favorite albums of 2010 (a running list)

Delphic Acolyte

Hot Chip One Life Stand

Two Door Cinema Club Tourist History

Foals Total Life Forever

Faithless The Dance

Delays Star Tiger Star Ariel

Twin Shadows Forget

The National High Violet

New show tme for the Spring 2010 Semester

The New Wave Smackdown has been trimmed back an hour, starting with the January 30th show. So, if you're one of those slackers who actually enjoys catching up on sleep during ther weekend and has been tuning in around 8-ish, you'll miss my weekly offering of the best new music in the world (according to me). Of course, there's always the RealAudio archive, which works most of the time. Catch the New Wave Smackdown LIVE from 6-8am every Saturday....

I supported myself through college as an undergrad by DJing in clubs in Nashville. Here's my business card from seminal nightspot, The Urban Lounge, where I spun alternative dance music from 1988-1989. Among my favorite nights were Sunday "industrial" night, which had a harder edge and a more adventurous clientele, and on Wednesday I started a House Music night that drew a huge following of Fisk and TSU students just as the Second Summer of Love was taking off overseas. I then became the resident DJ at Midnight Sun on Church Street from 1989-1991. Then I "retired" from clubland...

How I spent my vacation time

Here's Ra Ra Riot at the Varsity Theatre in Minneapolis on September 17. They put on a great, energetic show in a very cool venue. Was wondering how the violin and cello works live, and the answer is: flawlessly. I caught the Pet Shop boys the night before at the State Theatre. They had great visuals and were fun but the sound was dreadful. Apparently the venue is to blame...
Beautiful, unseasonably warm weather in Minnesota this past week while Nashville was getting drenched...

Amazing Show

Here's a pic from the Nashville Junior Boys concert on May 1, 2009 at Mercy Lounge. They were amazing. They sounded fantastic. They played lots of songs. They seem like nice people. Even your mother would like them. I bought the t-shirt. I want them to come back soon.

Loved having the live drummer playing over the rhythm tracks. It gave the show that live feeling without sacrificing that deep punch that an electronic drum track can deliver. And yes, one of the Boys even brought out a guitar for a couple of tracks: most notably during show highlights "Double Shadow," "In The Morning," and the jaw-dropping, booty-shaking encore closer "Under The Sun."

I love music

My favorite albums of 2009 (a running list--check back for additions)

White Lies To Lose My Life

Telefon Tel Aviv Immolate Yourself

The Whitest Boy Alive Rules

Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Maximo Park Quicken The Heart

Bombay Bicycle Club I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Off

Jack Penate Everything Is New

Little Boots Hands

Wild Beasts Two Dancers

Miike Snow Miike Snow

La Roux La Roux

Wisp The Shimmering Hour

Little Dragon Machine Dreams

Sub Focus Sub Focus