Loading ...On The Gym And The WFMU Annual Fundraising Marathon
By Evan ~ March 4th, 2009. Filed under: daily life.
After almost a year of begging and pleading, Nicci finally got me to step foot in a gym today. I haven’t exercised since they closed the gym at my mom’s condo development in New Jersey back in 2007. I was obviously grumpy as I awoke this morning, because I knew what was in store for me. And it was pretty embarrassing. I used the treadmill for a half an hour, then Nicci made me do all sorts of annoying abdominal exercises and free-weight lifting. Afterwards, I ate a bagel and some kind of low-calorie fake milkshake. In all, it was probably the gayest two hours of my life since the time I bought those really, really tight jeans. Or since the other times I bought those really, really tight jeans.
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The real purpose of today’s post is to inform you all that WFMU is currently holding their annual fundraising marathon, and everybody (including myself) should do their part to contribute to what is hands-down the best radio station in the country. The station is entirely listener supported, and for 50 weeks of the year, the station is a 24-hour non-stop juggernaut. There are no commercials, the format is entirely free-form, and there is absolutely no begging or pleading for donations from listeners. For that reason, WFMU spends two weeks (usually in early March), holding a fundraising marathon to help them pay all their bills and operational costs for the year.
It is important to donate this year, because the station needs to complete construction on their New York-based booster transmitter by August, or else the FCC will scrap their construction permit. On top of that, WFMU has been evicted from their current transmitter site (is that the one in West Orange, near the Japanese restaurant? I don’t remember…), and it will cost them $40,000 to move the transmitter plus a 500% increase in monthly rent to maintain it.
Now, that said, it is important to remember that a donation will also help to ensure the continued brilliance of many, many radio shows. Brian Turner on Tuesday afternoons has an immensely important program specializing in psychedelic, punk and college/”indie” music. Many of the live MP3s I have posted on this blog have come from in-studio performances on his program (see: Killdozer, Lightning Bolt, Deerhoof, Khanate, Jackie-O Motherfucker and Comets On Fire). Dave Emory’s subversive political and sociological teachings are equally eerie and astounding. Listening to “The Best Show on WFMU” with Tom Scharpling — though it’s gone downhill in recent years — used to be a weekly routine with Z, Jack and Ken when I was living in NJ. Evan “Funk” Davies had White Hills perform live on his show! Seven Second Delay is the greatest 60 minutes in radio! Strength Through Failure with Fabio introduced me to some of my favorite artists! Scott Williams and Bryce are also responsible for introducing me to many of the bands I know adore…so many amazing DJs, music unlike anything you’ll hear on the radio anywhere else in America. WFMU deserves your support.
In return, you can usually choose from some pretty cool swag and “premiums” that are offered by various DJs at the station. For example, two years ago I donated and received a bumper sticker, a t-shirt, and a host of little gifts from Tom Scharpling, including a CD filled with some hilarious radio hijinks. Oh yeah, I think I posted that on here…. Other DJs compile mix tapes, or make their own t-shirts, or offer something entirely different. This year Ken and Andy from “Seven Second Delay” made a commemorative plate featuring a picture of them with Obama. Weird.
I think it goes without saying that WFMU is also really important because they are responsible for the annual Record Fair in New York. As a member of the collector scum clique, it would pain me very much to lose the ability to attend/work at the best record fair in the country (sorry Austin, sorry KUSF, sorry Allentown).
The best part is, all donations are tax deductible! Because WFMU is a not-for-profit organization, there…uh…well, I’m not going to sit here and pretend to understand how philanthropy works. I’m not Bono or anything, I don’t have a good grasp on charity other than I do my part by giving WFMU $75 every year. And since I made my first donation this week (I usually donate twice), I figured today would be a good day to ask you all to share some of your wealth — even during this stupid recession — to ensure WFMU can continue to thrive, and teach us about great music, and make us laugh, and also enable me to buy more records at the record fair.
Donate today!
Or don’t, and be a total faggot.
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Beware Your Only Friend [Demo]
Black Mountain – Lucy Brown
Maserati – Join Us Mystic Sister/No More Sages
Arbouretum – Song Of The Pearl
March 5th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I already told you this personally, but for the Others, let us point out: this blog post about WFMU was read aloud a couple times on Scott Williams’ program ON fmu this afternoon – in various pitches, bent for elegance. And its archived forever to make you blush – if there is a forever.