The Paleface Parabola: Recent Episodes
Jumpin' JB
A weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away. The Paleface Parabola features 9 tracks from 9 decades. Hosted by Jumpin JB (New Jersey), he spins records AND plates.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
Another day, another round of seeking refuge from the masters of war by any means necessary.And so we did.Through the intimate forum of radio. Radio without demographic market considerations, Oaf without Borders radio.Yes, Free FM 89.0 has a physical location and that’s part of the lure for us. We believe that in conjunction with the myriad of possibilities that 2026 communication can bring (podcasts and media access options come to mind), having a home base to come to when it comes to legitimacy.And man does Free FM have that!They have graciously invited the Paleface Parabola team to be part of their gang for nearly five years now.And we approach every show each week drinking tall glasses of gusto to achieve maximum enjoyment This week’s tour de farce includes glorious time tripping and big fun. Oh, and music by the fistful. Such as Wynonie Harris, Jon Spencer, Antsy McClain, Jeff Tarayla, Demon Fuzz and Nilufer Yanya. Place your musical trust in the Mystery Man and Me!
Immediately, let’s raise a foamy mug of amber nectar to Ricardo, who took the wheel of our Parabola last week and tripled up on the musical joy with his concept of threesomes... In this case meaning Rush, Morphine, Bill Evans, Motörhead and more. A sensational show. Ricardo, you passed the audition. Dig you next time.The Mystery Man and our team plus me have reconvened this week and renewed the quest seeking fortune and glory. We’ll settle for the glory as it’s getting late early around here.Feeling good about the programme in recent weeks. Been playing, even if it’s some of the same artists, different songs – which is a stimulant psychologically to me and hopefully for your ears as well.Such as... Weird Al, Mavis Staples, Gregory Isaac, Freddie ‘Boom Boom’ Cannon, Jenny Lewis, and the Mystery Man chipped in VRI.Feel the fun.Come on in... the water is fine.
Who is this leading the charge? Why, it’s this week’s guest host of The Paleface Parabola, of course: Ricardo! He’s got a bit of a thing for the number three which is why the latest show is all about some of his favourite music trios through the years. Three-piece groups have been the backbone for so many genres of music that there are no shortage of bands to talk about... Rush, The Bee Gees, Violent Femmes, ELP, Morphine, and Dolly Parton? The list goes on.Ricardo will take you on a guided tour through indelible legends of yesteryear, down some dimly-lit music back alleys, and out into the blinding lights of the modern day. So pack your compass, road snacks, and a decent pair of shoes because we’re about to go on a journey.
Etta James, The Aggrolites, Help Yourself, and the Buddha of the Blues, Willie Dixon! The Mystery Man contributed Te Vaka from close to our home base.A programming note for next week’s Parabola. Ricardo, the co-host of the former Free Fm 89.0 mania called the Outer Limits Frequency, will sit in for us during the Free FM music zone so we can have our own midsummer’s dream – aka a badly needed reset show-wise, and extra time to savagely tan by the cement pond. Ricardo is a fellow madman. You’ll be in hands of articulation and joy.That’s our tale from all these miles away.Back to love you long time in two weeks
It is said one of our tasks to complete our earthly mission is to pass on what we’ve learned while we were here, so that those on the way up can learn it too and keep the line moving to their future humanoids.That’s an aspect of our mission statement here at the Paleface Parabola staff of sound surgeons. The immediacy of radio is electrifying.Its why we insist on audio verité when we host,produce,and perform the programme.To paraphrase the Dramatics song from 1972... 'what you hear is what you got’ Something along those lines anyway.Oh,about the programme this week...Well ladies and men of good fortune, have we got a quest for past and future generations! Music from disparate artists,befitting the musical hopscotch path we walk.Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Lene Lovich, Liz Phair, Sparks, and to end, the Cardiacs via my co-conspirator.As a prophet once said ‘Go ahead and add some music to your day'.
And so it came to pass that a well intentioned Oaf and his team of amazin’s allowed themselves to be drawn back to the radio light to host, produce, and programme the June 17 tale of the ongoing saga of the Paleface Parabola music and entertainment show... which airs twice weekly on Free FM 89.0 out of Hamilton, NZ. So, too, is it podcast on outlets that are outlined on our social media page (cleverly named The Paleface Parabola).Thus and so, the road ahead...We have two more tour de farces to perform before the midsummer break on Wednesday July 8 when Ricardo will take the wheel for a week, for two very good reasons: One, he’s a heck of a guy. And two, we need a one week break!As for this week’s ruckus, The Rave Ups, The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet, Bobby Quesada, Jack ‘The Bear’, and Kim Lenz and the Jaguars step into the spotlight. And then the Mystery Man topped off the beer, I mean fray, with the inspired pairing of Irish and Japanese, aka Kila and Oki.It’s the right side of a bumpy ride. C'mon and bounce along with us. It’ll be fun.
It was a close call this week. The Mystery Man was playing hurt and he, being a co-essential key in the Parabolic scheme of things, the programme was uncertain. But he, like me, observes the showbiz tradition of ‘if you can walk, you can make the gig’.He walked to Studio A, we had a gig! Party on, world! And a hearty Oooba Doooba for good measure.Speaking for myself, my week would been far less if we lost the opportunity to lay on you the likes of The Rock n Roll Trio featuring Johnny Burnette (the greatest Rockabilly band of all time I submit to you boldly and without fear of contradiction). Adding to the thrills, Ken Nordine, Slim Gaillard’s Quartet, the Mighty Diamonds, The Grip Weeds, and Be Bop Deluxe. The Mystery Man put the cherry on top to finalise the fracas with music from Estonia as supplied by Trad Attack and their punky, spiky joy. Dare I say it? Why not? This week’s tour de farce is more fun than the law should allow.
Once again,it’s time to attempt a paragraph or three which attempts to describe our programme, its co-conspirators, a daunting task in the best of times, which these certainly don’t feel like most of the time in 2026.However, music is medicine, more sustaining than aloe vera, and rewards the listener for a lifetime in wig city.This week’s Paleface Parabola is a loose fitting key to the kingdom. When I went to my lab the other evening to nab the sounds for the show, I grumbled to myself that some racist tiptoed past us while I slept and stole the Black artists I was seeking out for airplay. Almost surely, they were simply misplaced in the wreckage of twice a week radio capers.What we did say, and what we succeeded in locating for your ears were the Ambertones, The Cramps, Al Staehley, Alejandro Escovedo Orchesta, Gabor Szabo, and the Mystery Man’s grab for the Gusto, Tablatura.Come on if yer Comin!We’d likely do this for ourselves if we had to, but it’s better if you be out there somewhere.
Live to hard drive from the Fifth Estate Studio A, we present Audio Verite – aka this week’s Mental Gymnastics and Musical Hopscotch – aka this week’s radio ruckus also known as the Paleface Parabola. Fun for the whole family and less fattening than your cup of Chubby Farmer Ice Cream (yes it actually exsists, I bought some this evening for my silver haired sexy beast).Mental Gymnastics? Abe Lincoln and Sonny Rollins.Musical Hopscotch?Reel Big Fish bringing the amped up Ska. Gil Scott Heron? A lovely track. Sparks? Played a concert two hours from our station's world HQ! Crowded House? Local heroes (at least Neil Finn is). Chris Whitley? One of the 90s best albums. And the Mystery Man’s selection of the week is superb music making.And there’s more to be had where those came from. Feel no Fret.
There’s gold in the hills of Studio A this week, as our team huddled together on a hot spring night to sound off to those with ears to hear.Our programme, for those who have been keeping score, is a newly painted canvas every week. So the classic verse ‘There’s a thrill up on the hill, Let’s Go, Let’s Go Let’s Go’ audibly applies. And there’s a couple of fiddle tunes thrown in for Fill.Plus Moby Grape, Major Lance, The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, The Cowsills, JD McPherson, and the Mystery Man’s Magic selection by La Famile.Invite your friends over and let the chips fall where they might.
the Texas Playboys, and Marsha Hunt covering Dr John. And our finish line featured The Moulettes. Please remember and don’t forget, that all are welcome at Jerry’s Holiday Camp
I long for the uneventful life more and more at the tender age of 69. But ruefully admit that I probably wouldn’t know what to do with it if it came. It took aid to get to Studio A from a surprising source,and we proceeded to get it on with point, purpose, and joy.Our list of listeners and associate producers is expansive and expanding. It's gratifying. And so is the oppurtunity to gather together and add some music and what is hopefully a unique one hour and 58 minute trip thru a wide tunnel of sound, context, and topical.Five sounds and some mystery now follow...Liz Phair, The Sheepdogs, The Savage Resurrection, The Parlor Greens, and Ron Carter get happy. And the Mystery Man casts his line with a Salmon Dance, to end our melee. If you miss this show, you miss a prime opportunity to ‘Wok This Way’.
Semi-retirement sure hasn’t been sedate for your humbled radio he man. I’ll disclose...We’ve picked up new friends/listeners and a pack of associate producers over the last four-and-a-half years at Free FM from New Zealand. I remind you that there’s no expiration date when it comes. Now that this is clearly stated in print, how about if you and I go get some?Fun can be found by putting ears on this week’s Paleface Parabola. We advise taking the tour de farce challenge so that you’ll be witness to us backing up our boast.It’s a music first fray though our interests are multitudes. Presented here is a peek at our 23 song playlist......The Five Royales, Duke Ellington with Coleman Hawkins, Midnight Oil, Grand Funk, and Mose Allison with Van Morrison. The Mystery Man Midnight Magic shone the spotlight on Pixvae from Scandinavia It’s good to be alive. How about you and your ears for this week’s caper of the Paleface Parabola. Free of charge.
Our programme is audio verite for a good reason. The Parabola is in and of the moment, crafted by feel and impulse, our playlists are shifting sands, sketched the night before and changed on the fly, like today! It’s the moment we seize upon, to prance and dance and howl.Music is our main course we serve. Some highlights this week...Spirit with an Earth Day theme on Earth Day, The Upsetters (Scratch Perry’s studio band), Bull Moose Jackson, Mink Deville, and our own Hamilton County Bluegrass Band. The Mystery Man contributed a stellar track by the recently deceased Maire Brennen, and the Big Guy got my arse to Studio A and back home again.Phil and Mike toss magic dust on the programme, and then we await worldwide adoration. It's all for the love of Rock and Roll you know.And yes, art for art's sake as well.
Full disclosure – I actually like a couple of the artists that now dwell snugly in the 2026 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, albeit while I realise that the Rock and Roll of 2026 has little to nothing to do with the Rock and Roll I grew up with. While the likes of Steppenwolf, NRBQ, Los Lobos, Jethro Tull, and Mose Allison sit idly by, the bogosity of Billy Idol is rewarding. This world we live in it seems to me is a sandwich I have to send back.So what can a poor boy do?Our small individual act of solidarity is pure and simple.The Big Guy, 3 de, The Mystery Man, and the Free fiends of 89.0 roll out this week’s Paleface Parabola – the quest from which we returned changed yet essentially the same.To wit:The Treniers, Piano Red, The MC 5, Joey Ramone, and Lynyrd Skynyrd raise heck among the other clamour.It’s more lively and more trouble than ants at a picnic.
Dave Alvin all put the roll into our rock, and the Mystery Man emerges from the producer’s booth to bring us brand new music straight from the mailbox, via Iceland.So cast your cares to the winds and come fly with our team. It’ll do you no harm.
Spring has arrived, at least on Tuesday it did. It was 75 degrees outside. Hookey Do!And last I checked, there are no Kings on the horizon though the night is still young and sadly, BB King is still dead.The Big Guy, The Mystery Man, and the Free freaky stylee fellas (Phil and Mike by their birth names), and lastly I, the oaf without borders ‘talent’ comprise the village that are the team that presents our programme weekly on Free FM 89.0 from Hamilton, NZ and so many podcast portals to pick one from.A peek under the kimono you request? Certainly.From the Mystery Man, Hedningarna from Sweden and it’s wonderful. As for me, the aspiring radio reprobate, I’ll never say we perform a basic Parabola as the goal is musical hopscotch and mental gymnastics. To that end, here’s a handful of tracks I played that hopefully will have you dancing your happy dance. Such as...Amos Milburn (an early hero of Rock and Roll), Tinariwen (the superstars of the sub Sahara), Rickie Lee Jones (she’s a standout), Joel Ross (who mixes Jazz and Gospel like a good chocolate shake) and a lot more to justify two hours of your ears.
the Buckaroos, and Hank Mobley lead the charge.Ears up. When guys like us die, who’s going to give Akiko airplay, I submit to you boldly?
To celebrate yesterday’s St Pat’s pride o the Irish, the Mystery Man cracked a rib and I had a laundry list of subpar as an impediment to a Parabola of bounce and luster. Perseverance is said to be a virtue. So we stood firm in our sworn duty to bring cheer to every ear and joy to every girl and boy.For your entertainment dollar, here’s some teasers.Andy Irvine and Paul Brady from the Mystery Man’s wall of joy, Wilson Pickett (the wicked one), The Pogues (inescapable), The Skatalites (kings of Jamaican music) and the What Ir Do Archive Group with an exotic effort.It adds up to more fun than the law should allow. Take my word for it. Or don’t.
We powered up.Then,we got zapped with an unwanted and an unasked for half hour long power outage.As we were two miles down the road, thinking "we’ll come back tomorrow" the Mystery Man sent up a flare that spelled out across the sky, ’the power is back on’.After a loud ‘Hookey-Do’ and a rapid u-turn by the big guy, we rambled back to the Fifth Estate Studio A, and made with revived crash, boom, and bang.Here’s some of the carnage: Paraffin Jack Flash from 1968. New music from Pat Metheny’s Side Eye. Brad Paisley covering Roger Miller. The Easy Star All Stars covering Bowie, and Felonious Bosch sounding and acting Irish!It was an action packed two hours. We’ll stand by it.
the House of Cards, Peter Karp (an incredible song) and the Mystery Man ends the show before tossing the baton to the Retrospect renegades with a beautiful piece of vocal gymnastics by a Finnish ensemble named Tuulestar.Let’s get loud!
the Rocksteady 7, Stan Ridgway, The Dream Syndicate, and the Marshall Tucker Band came thru in the clutch. And don’t leave the arena early.Wait till you hear the Mystery Man close the curtain with a performance by Angina de Poitrine. No,I had never heard of them before either, but I’m damn glad I have now!And do yourself a solid and watch the video for the song Fabinek. It’ll turn your frown upside down!
the Impressions, Kamasi Washington, and Procol Harum are but five of our co-stars, and of course we present the Mystery Man’s Musical Magic act of the week to end the melee.We thank for your ears in advance. Viva Free FM,our mothership!
We have a new member on our Parabolic team / quest. He is Casto, the master of disasto, and he has become my chariot driver to the Fifth Estate Studio A on these Wednesday evenings, after my latest car crash. I'm not talking about our programme this time, wise guy!So,what did we brew up this week on our ongoing saga? Everybody was in a good mood it seemed to make high calibre joy and chase 2026 clouds away. For at least two hours anyway...Anyway we sanctify the situation is the prize we chase.Our assistants this week.Helpful reminder.Their music is not weak.Graham Parker singing Weather. John Cale singing Ballet. The raconteurs named Gentle Giant singing about a Raconteur! The Harlem Hamfats singing from 1936. And Be Bop Deluxe singing about Modern Music. Plus 15 more and, of course, the Mystery Man’s Midnight Magic act of the week to close.It’s enough to make a post modern man jump for joy. You first.
the Mills Blue Rhythm Band, the Tubby Hayes Quartet, the Fickle Pickle, the Cramps, and Dion... among the the other musical low hanging fruit.So come eat from the tree of Rock and Roll life!
the Soul Breed, The James Hunter Six with Van Morrison, The Staple Singers, Tom Verlaine, and Roland Alphonso are but five of the Little Red Roosters that crow the night along with Mystery Man and I.And wait till you hear the rest of our worthy samplings!
And so it came to pass that on a cold and fateful late Autumn night that the vast expanse of the fifth estate, Studio A, was filled with joyful noise and two aging outsiders to host, produce, and programme the first new Paleface Parabola in weeks.And the Lord took a step back to survey the humble creation and thoughtfully smiled as he danced to the music... and those who were in God’s close quarters could have sworn they heard it said ‘All the squares go home!’ in a moment of rhapsody.For you see brethren, it was simply futile to resist Advent (the Mystery Man’s show closer), Mose Allison (simply one of the 20th Century’s great songwriters), Jimmy Cliff, the Third Bardo, and the Bonzo Dog Band, because there’s no expiration date on fun.And at the end of our two hours together, we high and low-fived and agreed that it indeed, was good.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
An hour and 47 minutes this week! I think we left the Parabola in the dryer too long and it shrunk!But seriously...We had a news induced fit but the news had a tantrum and stormed off to sea. We also had a Noah’s Ark of silly bits and naughty bits on board but they walked the plank.The payoff in the afternoon of foiled plans is music. Music that we rate higher than any Eric Clapton solo album since the mid 70s, I submit to you boldly and without a moment’s notice of worry.New music – that of Rory Block, Jimi Tenor, and David Byrne. High gloss vintage sounds – from Lord Buckley, Dan Hicks, and Wynonie Harris. The Mystery Man’s Magic from a man named Martino.No guarantees, just promises kept. 168 hours can’t come quick enough till next week when we rock and roll anew!
I’m staring at a blank screen. Panic, if not sheer terror, is rampant at the nexus of being concise and kooky all at the same time.I harken back now to the younger days when being taught to swim. My instructions were to hold my nose and jump in. Or get thrown in, as my late Uncle once did to me when I was taking too long on the boat. So... Splash... Here we go!The Mystery Man let it be known that he thought this week’s caper was number 200 in our four-year quest for alchemy, gold, and glory. Unwittingly, we brought in the heavies this week on the Paleface Parabola.Ken Nordine, Roy Brown, The Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, La Vent Du Nord, Ike and Tina Turner, and the Mystery Man’s Midnight Magic Act of the week are but a small sample size of the big tent o fun we have plotted.Just follow the oaf without borders road where to it leads.
And so it was and so it shall ever be.The incredible shrinking Parabola rides again. Streamlined and strong like bull! It’s a phase after four years of trying to cram a lot into two hours of precious carrying on verbally like I do on my New Jersey radio show.Clearly, I’m slow to adjust.But feel no fret – we rode the music like a 1965 Mustang that corners like a champ. Such as:this week’s brain itches; namely Renaissance’s On the Frontier and Joe Henry with Mick Taylor and Chuck Leavell ripping and rocking out on Here and Gone.Autumn here in the states... nothin but blue skies, dead ahead.
I was running around doing my semi-retired thing on a glorious autumn day that should have been bottled and poured out again tomorrow. I looked up at a roadside billboard at one point. The signage asked the musical question, Got Bugs?And I thought to myself – I've got a scroll of issues to deal with already. Having bugs is mercifully not one of those issues.What the Mystery Man and I DO have as we roll out this week’s caper that we present inside the tour de farce we have flown our freak flag high on your listening device as the Paleface Parabola. It’s a doozy it is, as we get together right down around here in the Free FM music zone.Your weekly tease? Surely (not Shirley)!The Mothers of Invention, Bill Nelson’s Red Noise, The Sequoias of Sulfur, Gentle Giant, and the Mills Brothers with Pops!I leave you with a game when the bedroom door closes.
his House Rockers, Those Darn Accordians, and Garmarna ought to keep your beak wet.Thus and so, my task is now nearly complete.But before we go, you’ve heard of an Irish goodbye...?
'Hours are like diamonds – don’t let em waste’. A line from Time Waits For No One, track 5 and Side 1 of the Stones 'It’s Only Rock and Roll' album, released in October 1974.Parabolic sidebar: I bought that record at the bookstore in York College of Pennsylvania I still have it.And Mick was right. These are precious, if chaotic days. And man, does Mick Taylor get in touch with his inner Santana and rip that track a new one!All that to say this... You won’t find that piece on this week’s tour de farce...But... but you will hear these tasty suckers and they are guaranteed to have you dancing on air if you care to:Mose Allison, Reel Big Fish, The Pogues, Midnight Oil, and the Magictones plus the Mystery Man’s Magic act of the week, because we love radio sight gags.
How to up your hip quotient with your neighbours and their neighbours? Summit Mt Everest and then ski back down it . Ho hum you say? Not if you do it without supplemental oxygen we say! Remarkable stuff.On a more modest feat of aerodynamics, the Mystery Man and I walk the high wire on our 1hour and 58 minutes of air space weekly here on Oaf without Borders radio which is the playground nickname for the Paleface Parabola. Well, the one you can repeat in public anyway.It’s Wednesday October 1st. as we type this and it’s the debut of caper 195 of our programme in this year of jubilee and joy... Why the heck not?!Here’s our music trailer to sing along with. Los Domingueros, Mink Deville, The World Column, Caravan, and The Cramps. The Mystery Man’s muse is represented too, feel no fret.So bathe in the warm glow of Free FM 89.0 and its podcast network.Love,sisters and brothers, is just a radio hiss away.
Emerging from the primordial ooze after six days and 23 hours of submerging in it, here’s our report. Its a place to visit... and you likely know the rest.So here we are. Your twin towers of fun, the Mystery Man and me, Jumpin JB... back for another far-flung hour and 58 minute tour de farce of music and melee. This week on Oaf without Borders radio (aka the Paleface Parabola), music from Marsh-Mallow from Japan, Kendra Morris, Blue Sparks from Hell, The Bill Davis Trio, and The Kyle Whelan Quartet. Plus around 15 more morsels carefully designed to suck you into our camp (Zappa quote). So be part of Jerry’s holiday camp!Sidebar: Our show/podcast begins and ends in New Zealand, and our safe haven from Presidents who can’t pronounce words. We are podcast on Free FM 89.0 out of Hamilton. But that’s not the sidebar. The sidebar is that I saw Dame Jacinda Ardern on the Daily Show TV programme. Remarkable that a politician such as her still exsists across the Seven Seas. May more spawn. Stat!
The mystery man and I stop the world every Wednesday evening in the Free FM music and during the week that leads to our next sojourn, podcasts from many sources to live the joy over and over again.If that fails, we’ve left a trail of breadcrumbs that’ll lead your way from New Jersey to New Zealand. Clearly the word New factors into to our path. Music draws us nearly to the torch, and our programme this week is either en Fuego or should be flambé, Or both! Music, you say? As Shaft once said, Damnnnnnnnnright! Here’s a peek under neath the kimono (as for the rest of our playlist, you’ll simply have to listen). Oh ok, here’s some hints.... Simple Minds, St Germain, Big Sandy & the Fly Rite Boys, Kings in Disguise, and Niyaz from Iran. This is the appetizer. The main entree be served shortly.
168 hours after caper 191’s crash and burn, we wobble over to caper 192a slowboat to 1hour and 55 minutes of musical hopscotch, mental gymnastics, and alchemy with huge potential for a crash and burn. The stars aligned, and we danced a happy dance at the finish line of our labors...Um, maybe not. We tease because we love and here’s your heading as to what we created. Big Maybelle (she was big),The Tiny Bradshaw Orchestra from 1950,Camper Van Beethoven (David Lowrey from Cracker), Gatemouth Brown(guitar Jedi of Texas Blues/Jazz legend) and Dave Mason in blues form. Plus the magic of the Mystery Man before we turn the keys over to the Retrospect’s Psychedelic Pseptember. Free FM has game. Don’t hide behind that tree. Come out and play with us.AParabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
Van Morrison, who just turned 80 on Sunday, bellowed ‘Its Too Late to Stop Now! At the end of an epic version of Cypress Avenue, and it can be found on one of the greatest double live albums of all time imho, and it’s actually called ‘It’s Too Late to Stop Now’. Who woulda thunk?! You’ll hear our GM’s favorite song on that album as well but wait, that’s not all!! Our 2 hour game of mental gymnastics and musical hopscotch also contains the grooviness of King Kong, The Mighty Diamonds, Fats Domino,and lastly but not leastly, the Dynamites from their album KABOOM! Jump on the joy train and join the Mystery Man and mine’s gang. Or don’t you like fun?Relax and let it happen. Resistance is... not futile.
As the military keeps the ‘peace’ here in America, we extend peace to you brethren, our weekly wonderful listeners to the antics of the Paleface Parabola.These are later in life glory days for the Mystery Man and the Oaf without Borders. We use our 1 hour and 58 minutes weekly and sometimes even wisely. We say a lot. We play a lot. In the literal sense musically this week. The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Edgar Winters White Trash, Loudon Wainwright, Jenny Lewis, and the Pretty Things are but five of the artists who have come for your ears!Relax and let it happen. Resistance is... not futile.
The big beat goes on this week via your Palefaced pals at the way station parking lot of the Parabola. Stick and stay around to lobe into our schoolhouse on the air but do us both a favour and leave the spitballs at home. Because if I have to send you to the principals office, you’ll be absent from class when we roll down the thunder of The Bitter Chills, Danny Gatton, The Crawling King Snakes, Isaac Hayes, The Fugs, and notably, the Mystery Man’s Midnight Magic Act of the week, direct from Sweden.C'mon if you’re comin to our two-hour tour de farce!
I’m not clear on which caper this tour de farce is. What did transpire was that the Mystery Man and I got together on a hot summer night as if we were still young and had time to play records for each other. The difference in this instance is that we had an ocean of ears as an audience of critics from sea to sea rating our antics. It's now your time to rate our humble volunteer radio souls and incorporate the Paleface Parabola in your weekly survival plan.On this week’s walk on gilded splinters, feel it don’t fight it, and let the sound take you away because tomorrow is not guaranteed – and because it’s a well known fact, or a least it should be, that without music life would be an error!Two hours of a radio programme can be a revelation. And here’s a random sampler of what we did on Free FM and outward to the waiting world.1 Sugar Pie Disanto & Etta James2 Kaiser George & the Hi Risers3 Robert Johnson 4 CSN & Y5 New Steve Hackett !And naturally, the Mystery Man’s Midnight Magic act of the week to complete the melee. Don’t swim against the tide, your arms will get sore. Swim away from the sharks and float to the Free FM 89.0 side of life from Hamilton NZ, a safe haven of joy from the North island of New Zealand... where our Mothership awaits you
You say your new coat of paint didn’t dry on the wall the way you had thought your mind’s eye revealed? You also fret about having bet Rubber Legs in the fifth race earlier today, costing you the carefully saved up cash you had stashed away for the block long kayak you’ve been coveting?Well, feel no fret concerned citizens of planet Trump. The Paleface Parabola has spent the past 168 hours crafting our two-hour tour de farce which is designed to push your joy button even if you don’t currently possess a joy button.Examples of said? Why not Liz Cooper & the Stampede? Or Bill Harvey & his Orchestra? And Willy Deville certainly! All due respect to the Mystery Man and his trip to Scotland this week. Memphis Minnie from 1941 rounds out this teaser.This programme is warmer than an ice bath, we reckon.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A glorious mess this was.This, meaning this week’s Paleface Parabola.We walked on the Jazz side of life to start, did the boogie woogie to set point and purpose with sheer force of will, and ended Japanese Prog that brought some razzle dazzle to the radio.Charter members of our 1:58 minute tour de farce were the likes of Slim Gaillard, Bruce Smith, The Blasters, Fletcher Henderson, and Stella Lee Jones. Cynics go home. Music heals meanies.
So then... what to say that I haven’t said a minimum of too many times already?Well I'm not sure, since I make up these lures to listen to our quest as I type! Let’s see, as I stall for a tiny bit more of time... Okay, we have our heading.This week’s Paleface Parabola is jam-packed with music and lots of it, instead of the usual yap yap. Yes,there are a couple of those moments to be certain, but we had our freak flag flapping proudly in the transoceanic winds. You scoff? How about Ken Nordine and Tom Waits harmonising, and Randy Newman defending (ahem) the big bad beast that is America in 2025. Reggae music, like it was Saturday night in 1970’s Kingston, Jane Birkin and Serge Gainesbourg bringing the sexy. Well, Jane Birkin brings the Erotique sexy anyway. And The Strawbs from the Mystery Man’s hands, because the world should hear more of Dave Cousins music. There’s more. Darn the torpedos!
Take a week off and Ricardo reduces us to quivering whelps. We retook the wheel this week and attempted to be as cool as he was last week... Not bloody likely.But if you give us a chance on this week’s Parabola, and rush to embrace the sounds of the likes of Southside Johnny with the La Bamba Horns, Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers, The Sea and Cake, Johnny Paycheck, and Bill Kelly, you just might turn that frown upside down.See you on the radio.Viva Jacinda!
Ricardo is taking the wheel.The theme of his show is cool and the meaning of that catch phrase word. Ricardo has the mojo .You’ll love it.A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
Mad dogs and an Irishman came out in the 100 degree heat this week to spin for the win on this week’s Paleface Parabola, which was produced and performed to distract and soothe our nervous world from the Masters of War.It worked for the Mystery Man and I. Thus, and so, we ask without probing as if you were on the witness stand, if you’ll try the following music on to see if it fits.Willy Deville with Mark Knopfler, Little Pattie & the Statesmen, the Walt Bibinger Trio, Tim Buckley, and Elvis Costello & the Attractions! Yes them too.All hail the good ship Free FM 89.0 out of Hamilton, NZ, our radio home away from home.
A cat staring at me from his perch in the hallway. He’s 14 and could still win the blue ribbon.A day that was devised by agents of Lucifer itself. Allergens that must have GPS tracking capabilities to find oafs like me.And caper 181 of the Paleface Parabola... Springsteen isn’t the only loudmouth that walks the Seven Seas.We had a fun time doing this week’s program even if you the listener didn’t. The bandstand was groaning under the heavyweights that romped and stomped on our stage, including: U-Roy, Demon Fuzz, Major Lance, Etta James, Jimmy Cliff, and the Mystery Man’s must-hear choice of the week.Peel yourself away from music fans that still believe music died when Skynyrd’s plane went into the swamp.Give yourself over to a Parabola, a real Parabola. In fact, look up the literal definition of the word and you’ll know why you should.CAMA and proud to be. Broadcast in the Free FM Music Zone at 10pm on Wednesday evenings, and podcasts has spawned globally. The Mystery Man’s the glue of our gang. And I’m Janice and Al’s orphaned boy. None of us could ever have thought.A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
Caper 180 of the Paleface Parabola. An unusual trip befitting this unusual one hour and 58 minutes of mental gymnastics and mental hopscotch.If Hunter Thompson somehow beat the hangman years ago, he would have had ample fodder for a new Fear and Loathing screed should he have seen the behind the scenes shenanigans.Showbiz lore says that if you can walk, you can make the gig. We made the gig. We are here weekly to indulge in mental gymnastics and musical hopscotch. And in an unsafe June night, we did.The likes of Chris Whitley, Lee Dorsey, The Cramps, Te Vaka (The Mystery Man’s pick), John Hartford, and Mel Blanc from 1954, brought a splash of joy to our wading pool. A toast to the Mystery Man. He earned the keep he doesn’t make this week.
Caper 179 was like two kids masquerading as senior citizens, or vice versa. Translation: we had fun. Because as a wise once drunken sage spoke on the matter of fun and the need for it in life... ‘If you’re not having fun, you’re doing the wrong thing'.Armed with that know-how, you can now proceed merrily to the 'Go' square of the Parabola; the beginning of a long walk on a golden road.Music makes for joy as well, and that’s why we came out to play this week. To seed the clouds of despair with hoots of laughter. Will the following achieve the goal of being the next best thing to a steady stream of seltzer down your pants? Let’s find out.Chris Forsyth, Bow Wow Wow, Sparks, The Fugs, and Neal Casal have been called upon for service. Now, you and your ears are next to step forward.
Shakespeare may have been in the alley with his pointed shoes and his bells we acknowledge. And I’m not a French girl so I don't know Bob Dylan well — in fact I’ve never met him. All that to say this... The Mystery Man does know how to shake music out of the music trees that bear good fruit and are planted around the strong roots that are Free FM — radio from half a world away.Such as The Ventures, Brave Combo, Bobby Timmons, The Isley Brothers, and especially Paivi Hirvenen.Four our of five doctors recommend liberal and frequent doses of Paivi Hirvenan, you know.
Sorry I’m a little late in providing the road map to the Mystery Man and my musical soul this week. I was in Qatar speaking to some wealthy gentleman about my radio career gone bacterial. I said to them that after all these years as a non-conformist, I’m ready to play ball on one condition. The gift of a jet. I have a Friday night maintenance man coming to my house to clean my woodchipper. Seems a guy fell in it about five years ago and the case has not been solved. They said, "that’s where we must say goodbye Oafus because a rascal with Orange/Yellow hair just flew off with our last gift plane an hour ago. He said he has an appointment to have the American taxpayer foot the bill for installing gold toilets and extra storage space to house important federal documents."Left to our own devices musically and entrusted to mix up some fresh medicine by the station that takes in strays like us, Free FM AND the North and South islands of New Zealand, we made our Paleface Parabola stand this week helped by the likes of Todd Snider, Johnny Otis, Davie Allan & the Arrows, David Byrne & St Vincent, AND Codex Barbes. Oh, and Benny Golson too.See you later Saudis. We don’t need your damn gold toilets!
Psssst – Its us... We tease because we love and walk softly with big mouths. Me anyway. Me being Jumpin JB. He’s the Mystery Man, an essential in our Parabolic trajectory.We now present caper 174 of musical hopscotch and mental gymnastics this week. And please remember that on May 4,1970 that four Americans were shot dead for protesting a war by Americans!Now, to the monkey business at hand live on Free Fm 89.0, and podcast so often and in so many places that you’ll be driven to complain to the authorities. It just might be worth it. You’ll hear worthies such as Kokia, The Relatives, Jimmy Cliff, Ken Nordine with Garcia & Grisman, The Stray Cats, and the beat goes on. And to close, George Carlin once said as only he could... If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten.
Full disclosure... This world has left me about to go plunging over the falls and into the swirling blue waters on my way to danger dead ahead. A clear exaggeration, but after all these years I’m entitled to my feelings you know.The Mystery Man saved the end of our tour de face because I was so discombobulated I couldn’t even cue the next song. His mission of mercy had a motive. He got to play a track from the 70s British Prog music madmen named Gentle Giant! One of his besties.As for your hapless host... thanks for the cards and letters and here’s what’s around the next bend. Some of it anyway.Monomono, Galactic with Queen Irma Thomas, Duane Eddy, The Barleycorns and Tom Waits. Oh.And Tank & the Bangas. Oh, and Muddy Waters. And the last task of of the long days Journey into Midnight has been tallied.Good times!
We can fix the 2 hour rock and roll hole in your soul on this week’s caper 172, all dressed up in New Zealand regalia and then podcast for the other 166 hours via the likes of the 2 island glory that bursts with Kiwi flavor. Also, there is the options of Google and Apple and wherever the heck portals take on shaggy dogs like Oaf without borders Mr fix it’s like us. Paul Revere’s midnight ride 250 years ago in the American Northeast was a revolution not televised and neither is ours. But if both were, the enemies would stomp hands and clap feet and have no time to fight because Tom Waits, Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson, Big Joe Turner, Burning Bridget Cleary, Roy Orbison and more have alerted the countryside. Who in turn have alerted the authorities to fix it.
I’ve often referred to our plate spin as 2 hours of rearranging lounge chairs on the upper deck of the Titanic. And on the week of when and where it sunk to the bottom of the sea 113 years ago, our program on the good ship Free FM 89.0, whose radio tentacles grip ears from the bustling bohemia of Hamilton, NZ. The Mystery Man and Me make with the big noise weekly and it’s heard at a bargain price. Frank Hutchison, The Twilights, The 5 Royales, Midnight Oil, and Lloyd Cole are our bulls on parade and there’s more such as the Mystery Man’s percussion based palooza. Lets face it, it’s more fun than ants at your picnic.A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
So what actually happened on this week’s Paleface Parabolicplunge? Damned if I can recall!April fools! From a damned fool!I remember that the mystery man was in good spirits and fighting form and brought the music of L Shankar to the fray. I also remember that I gave you the listener the gusto grief you so richly deserve. Sprinkled in with music and brain food.Good gravy it’s fun.
Caper 168. It made our hearts merry to perform it. Host it. Patch it together at the end and toast our good fortune to be on the radio from half a world away and to be able to play what we want and say what we want. Opinion, talk, tales (some tall, some small) and music! Be Bop Deluxe, Rev Johnny Blakey, Pinocchio James, Louis Nye, The Delines, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Keith Richards& the X-pensive Winos and the cherry on top of the pie, 100 year old Marshall Allen from the Sun Ra Arkestra. All this has to hold you for the next 168 hours till we meet again. You’re nice people you are.A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
Caper 167 - rip snortin, rootin tootin, hi falutin fun! And I’m the show’s most severe critic, believe you me. While it’s true that the world in 2025 is in a bad condition, I’m tired of hearing about it. The Mystery Man and I propose the following strategy - dance the mess around with us live in the Free FM music zone at 10pm Wednesday night or park your wagon at one of our podcast portals during the week of which revelation comes by seeking the Paleface Parabola Facebook page which contains the map to our 1:58 minute treasure.A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
Caper 163 of the Paleface Parabola is the audible evidence of an exhausted road warrior attempting to be entertaining in lackluster clothes.It is said in showbiz that if you can walk, you can make the gig. Thus and so, I walked up the mountain to the 5th estate studio A and the mystery man and I made noise.Such as... music by the likes of Smokey Joe Baugh, The Courettes, Fats Domino, Slim Gaillard, and Steel Pulse, plus the Mystery Man gets his Irish on for his selection of the week.Magic? Or tragic? I'm too close to it to know since I host the programme. So you make the call.
Caper 162 of the Paleface Parabola... A quest we undertook while understanding that no matter what, the man has NOT been our music. Yet! Music is a safe haven. It's a refuge, as opposed to getting in a plane and hoping that you are not crash number six for 2025 in the US, so that escape ploy is grounded before liftoff. What takes flight is the Mystery Man and mine’s mambo. Shining Stars of the two-hour tour de farce include The Chambers Brothers, Lee Morgan, The Pogues, Albert Ammons, Spirit, and the cherry on top on top of the transatlantic pie is Orchestre National De Barbes. We just built the music pyramid. It's now your turn to come big game hunting.
To be humble of heart... looks good on paper. Not so great if you, like me, have been trampled on by greedheads.So what’s a poor boy to do but throw my line in the water of rock and roll radio good fun? And we did on caper 161 of our graceful arch – aka the Paleface Parabola.We’ve got stars and should be stars that have gathered to sing and dance for you. The likes of Sonny Rollins, The Good Reason Band, Armatrading, The Fisherman’s Friends w Imelda May and Memphis Minnie, plus the Mystery Man’s Magic act of the week.Do the math and don’t use a device to get the answer. Oh alright, I’ll give the answer anyway. And it is... I’ve changed my mind!This week’s Parabola on Free FM 89.0 is a bridge of music that brings Heaven within reach. Go to our Facebook page to get hip on where to listen and how Ears that love free-flowing Community Radio are a virtue!
I’ve seen fire, a recent apocalyptic amount of it laying waste to the city of fallen angels. And I’ve seen rain in the form of 2.2 billion gallons of released water. I've seen an unelected pirate that now has both our data and decision power over American social security checks. How? Why? Mom and Dad didn’t prepare me for this. What they did prepare me to be was/is to be a lifer in the music piranha pool.Caper 160 of the Paleface Parabola holds a promise of kicking against pricks. Singing songs of humor and sex and salvation are Phil Ochs, Scratch, The Sun Ra Arkestra, Grace Jones, Samantha Fish with Jesse Dayton, and Magic from the Mystery Man to end the show.Its a hookie lau. Bust out the hats and hooters to add jocularity. Josie came home!
OOBA Dooba! Caper 159 of the Paleface Parabola is a road to art-based radio of a suave community style. News and jokes and pokes and music. You the listener and we the hosts can revel in the realisation that all of us have escaped the no-joy zone and are taking two hours off from the world, leaving the mad dogs to shiver at the scope of their evil.Also, a brief flyby of the sounds we played. Slim Gaillard, Bill Kirchen, The Masters Apprentices, Earl Hooker, and John Martyn. And wildness from the Mystery Man. Put up yer dukes and let’s get down to it!
If you live long enough, you see things you never thought you’d see and witness things you’d never thought you’d witness.I grew up in the golden age of music, the gold standard of both black and white music. I was born on January 1st, 1957. The joy of discovery has been a close companion.My job, if you choose to call it that, is to pass on what I’ve heard and learned. And this week’s caper, number 158, includes legends and should-be legends. Yes, the likes of Mose Allison, Jonathan Richman, Little Richard, Dexter Gordon, Television, and Calan.Twas ever thus!
As I was telling both my Doctor and a friend who was asking on Monday, I’m starting to feel human again. A bit punch drunk yes, and you would be right to say "I don’t notice the difference"... But the Mystery Man did. And he joined me in musical mischief making on caper 157.The likes of Ken Nordine, The Rev Willingham, Desmond Dekker, Christian Parker, Brinsley Schwartz, and in a return engagement, Patty Gurdy from the magic hands of the Mystery Man.And know this. We’ll be back in 168 hours so keep us in your hearts for at least a week.
So... As it pertains to caper 156, our three-year anniversary tour de farce and second quest of 2025 alike... you make have heard somewhere that Grease is the word. Blasphemy we say. Its nervous or tenative or shaky, all apply in our comeback from the abyss.And what does a formerly vibrant, now valiant volunteer oaf without borders plate spinner host’s scheme play out like? Joyful noises, that’s what!The kind that defies. The kind that is demographic defiance in a two-hour dose. The kind that starts with Osibisa and ends with an Irish goodbye.All aboard for fun!
Unexpected adventures for our Paleface buddy Jerry – an emergency chopper ride, near death experience, poked and prodded daily by men in white coats – but he’s pulled through and is back!
Que tiempo es? Here’s exactly what time it is!It’s time for caper 153 of our creation, minus the bolts in the neck, happily.That said,Rise... Rise! (obligatory Frankenstein reference) But, there is 1:58 of electricity on this week’s quest – aka our Parabola.We kid and cut up. We talk topical. And foundationally, we play music. Let’s test it out to see if you’re intrigued Music – the likes of...The Hombres, The Skatalites, The Harlem Gospel Travelers, Phil Keaggy, and Ned Doheny. Oh,and Tabalutura too. Feast a week early (Thanksgiving reference).The Paleface Parabola kitchen is always open, for those with ears to hear.
It’s said that pride comes before a fall. It’s also sung that the big boss man ain’t so big, he’s just tall that’s all.And that without love, we humanoids are merely a clanging bell.Let the bells ring out love then.With loud guitars and men and women small and tall (are you reading this Peter Garrett) singing for their supper. So the mystery man and me have answered the call.Thus and so, caper 152 is now yours to sample and hold and gnash teeth all at the same time. Here is a road map to the musical treasure this week. Without giving the whole damn game away before you even listen mind you.1 Dirty Looks2 Bill Shatner with Jersey Joe Walsh3 U Roy4 Bruce Smith 5 Katie Henry...and of course,the Mystery Man’s Magic act of the week.Scripture counsels that when a man is in despair,give him strong drink. Substitute music and musings and the quest is on!
Please remember, and don’t ever forget that many of us in America embrace Woody Guthrie’s sentiments expressed in This Land Is Your Land and covered notably by Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper in 1989. We ran out of time to play it on caper 151 and trust me, it’s the national anthem for outsiders like us.As a mea culpa and holding action alike, we submit Ry Cooder submitting John Lee Hooker for President... ignoring that pesky fact that the Hook has been dead for a generation. I did see an Insta photo of Jacinda in a tee shirt that said KIND today, and I thought I wish you could run for office here.Fantasy aside, this week’s Parabola showcases the musical likes of Billy Hector, Stuff Smith, Jo Jo Zepp & the Falcons, Steel Pulse, and the Mystery Man’s choice to thrill you this week is magic indeed. And yes, I know I talked too much. I'm working on it...
The late great Joe Flaherty aka Count Floyd likely would have howled Hoo Hoo at the prospect of caper 150. The Mystery Man and I howl At the prospect of hosting, producing/editing and performing caper 150 of the Paleface Parabola... just so you know.Now that you are under our spell, here’s our teaser trick/treat.Toe tappers from the likes of Brave Combo, Charlie Poole & the North Carolina Ramblers, Jonathan Richman, Betty Hall Jones, Zabadak, and blarney aplenty. Now,let’s gather together at this nexus of terror and fun a nd bellow with gusto... Hoo Hoo!
One Draft Jones here in his guise as the town crier in getting the attention of global podcast ears as it pertains to caper 149 of the Paleface Parabola weekly wander thru word, sound and humble grace.As I write this, it’s two weeks away from America’s Presidential election. Asyou hear this, the grave concerns about the guy with the yellow/orange crayon hair and his loony tune followers are justifiable. We attempt to allay our fears by splashing in the cool and healing waters of music.Such as: The Sheepdogs from Canada, Frank Zappa from outer space, Albert Collins, Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland from Bluesville, Crystal Syphon from the 60s, and the Mystery Man’s magic act of the week, which is guaranteed to cure what ails ya. And there’s more, you betcha. Much more.
What a fracas this was!It is 1:58:00 in duration and some might find it an endurance test, but the Mystery Man and I danced a jig of joy at the finish line because it seemed the programme lasted split seconds. The reason, you might ask? Music and more.Musically: Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, U Roy, Mavis Staples, The Mystery Man’s Magic and a heck of a lot more. Coming up on three years of rearranging ears on Free FM in all its admirability and formidibilty. Back for more mischief in seven short days, brethren.
It was a fast moving foray, this caper 147 was. I remember that we started with noted 20th Century American composer Aaron Copland and closed the curtain with our Irish Goodbye aka the Mystery Man’s Magic Act of the week, starring Andy Akiho who you likely don’t know but you will now.The center of our universe is shaken and stirred by the likes of Joe Jackson, among other music heroes past and present. And there’s our basic gumbo of statement of purpose, music news and headlines that suit my sense of the absurd, even if they are factual.We are coming close to our three-year anniversary at Free FM and as Joe Grushecky of the Iron City Houserockers once sang, ‘You’ll never Know how much it means to me’.
Did this week that just passed really happen? It did. Did caper 145 of the Paleface really happen? Apparently it did or I wouldn’t be writing this.The Mystery Man and I agreed that we had a mighty time performing it. We’re putting faith in the ears of you, the listener, that you will too after you hear it.Context, news, the radio spotlight and music. The likes of Otava Yo, Mad Cows Sing, Renaissance, the Temptations, Mingus and more await.
Greetings from Raritan NJ where the roses have stopped blooming. We’re here to speak to the events of caper 144 of our programme.We spoke to comic relief and crisis alike. We played music – 21 songs strong. The likes of Delroy Wilson, The Police, Mr Bear, Mongo Santamaria, Bruce Cockburn and the Mystery Man’s Magic of the week which is music from Sweden.
Caper 143. It’s a doozy. Or maybe woozy – you make the call.It wasn’t a salvo without peril given an aging car had other ideas and a hill to climb to the studio that was a formidable escapade. Stir in a computer to record on that yields suprises at times and you have caper 143 in your ears and in your eyes.The Mystery Man’s magic trick of the week is a big hit from the band Hoven Droven from Sweden. and I was eager to fling the following at you my brothers and sisters. Get to steppin with the likes of Glenn Honeycutt, Bond & Brown, The Apple Pie Motherhood Band, The Orlons, and the Electric Mess.Please listen to the show often and keep the cards, letters and love coming.
We address the 23rd anniversary of America’s 9/11 disaster verbally on this week’s Parabola, aka caper 142, because it’s a moment in time that should be spoken about.Feel no fret, it’s only less than two minutes duration. The rest of the programme is frolic, stories, songs, escape from the beat-down this century has been for a variety of reasons.This week’s scheme has joyous bounce and luster as we pave the way for Retrospect 640 otherwise known as part two of Psychedelic Pseptember. To play for time till then, our Parabola flings musical fun at you directly from we court jesters. Louis Jordan, The Showstoppers, Toots & The Maytals, John Martyn, and the Mystery Man’s magic act of the week, the group Zabadak.So order up a round of cactus juice and let the party start we say!
Inspirational verse: If you want to view the crime, you must learn to quit your lying. There are strange things happening every day. Sister Rosetta Tharpe.1945. Seems to us it applies to 2024. The strange things part anyway. The Mystery Man and I are here to reset your joy compass on caper 141 of the Paleface Parabola.Music from Asterisk 1, Dave Van Ronk, The Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, King Perry & his Pied Pipers, and York Wilborn’s Psychedelic 6.The pace is brisk this week. Dawdle and doodle at risk to your musical health and well being.
The Paleface Parabola Caper 140. It has something for the righteous and the reckless. The Mystery Man and I bring revelation to a wounded world. Music News, News News, and music that you didn’t get taught in schools (we would have been better if we had, even Kamala name checks Aretha, Miles, and Coltrane and how they enhanced her upbringing). Well, we gave those people the week off, and let’s face it, they get a lot of love on the radio anyway. Our scroll of sounds this week begins with Leo Kottke, visits with Cab Calloway’s Orchestra, gets busy with the Rebirth Brass Band, and ends in the streets of New Haven with the Doors (Jim is buying at the pub I’m told).Stir in the Mystery Man’s magic act of the week and you, dear listener, now have your radio heading.
One Draft Jones here for yet another attempt to keep it clean and give you a peek under our kimono as to what we did, and what you are about to bear witness to, regarding caper 139 of the Parabola Parabola programme this week.The Mystery Man had his creative urge at the charging station (the closest we’ll ever get to a Musk reference on this show) so he left me to elude tackles on the way to the promised land. And so we did. We talked (I don’t think we sang), we played music, a heck of a lot of it.Look folks, here’s the deal. You’ll hear the likes of The Dream Syndicate, and Midnight Oil, and the Clash, a new one from Junior Brown, and ghosts of Rock and Roll past such as the Rock and Roll trio, Pete Johnson, Allen Toussaint, and other prizes inside the musical box.Till we meet again, beware the man who tells you how great (or smart) he is. He usually isn’t.
There’s a good reason (at least in my mind) why we had to ask for a weekend furlough in Allamuchy last week, but I’m not going to carry on about it because as the famous Baseball pitcher Satchel Paige once said ’Dont look back, they might be gaining on you’.Thus and so, know that we have returned to the Free FM Wednesday evening watchtower so we can say two weeks worth of points of view and call on the gold medal music Olympians like Randy Newman, Demon Fuzz, Osibisa, Big John & his Buzzards, The Rock and Roll Trio, and a vicarious voyage to Wales via the Mystery Man.It’s a re-start.
Caper 137... A moody excursion in music of many coloured coats.The Mystery Man, while retaining his roles as sentry of Studio A and our resident same-day surgeon of the Paleface Parabola, needed a week off musically to plan for future fly-bys of his muse, and we gave it to him.As for me, I carried the Free FM torch like a well compensated volunteer should. U Roy, The Pogues, Julia Lee & her Boyfriends, The Blue Chieftains, Paul Simon, and The Blind Boys will have to hold you till next week.
You may have heard that America has been living in interesting times the last 10 days. Now that I wrote that, we’ve lived in interesting times for the last 10 years! Thus and so, the Mystery Man and I have made an attempt to keep it at 100 and bring interesting to the seven seas live on the Free FM / NZ Media Access first, and by the magic of a trip to podcastville for the rest of yas! I’m testing my instant recall now and noting that the Mystery Man earned his gold star on this episode and I declared War (the band that is), Moby Grape, The Parlor Greens, and at least another hour-and-40 of a high wire act... aka caper 136 of the Paleface Parabola.
The mystery man and have survived the past seven days relatively intact, including our ears. Diminished hearing, yes. Bullets whizzing past? No! What did whiz past was our programme, Caper 136 of the Paleface Parabola. The last three shows seemed to and we’re trying to suss out why. So meanwhile, I’m still thinking like Little Queenie’s fella.So while I think about these matters of great social and political import, we strongly urge that you laugh and cry and cry some more to the sounds of the likes of William Shatner and Ken Nordine. And then there’s Max Romeo and Altan. And also The Grip Weeds and the Rev Willingham. Ooba Dooba, we brought the noise this week.So it’s just this then. Friends don’t let friends listen to anything other than Free FM and self-indulgently in our scenario, The Paleface Parabola razzmatazz, live Wednesdays at 10pm and podcast too many ways and places for you to just say no to listening.
So it’s come to this again has it? Well,let’s sink to the occasion then.This programme is precious cargo to the Mystery Man and I. It’s the equivalent of a cold glass of joy on a 100 degree day. Which it is here in New J as my alter ego One Draft Jones is quick to remind me. As if we needed it. Hot damn it’s hot. The world keeps turning while we keep basting.Santa, is it December 24th yet and Arctically cold yet? His response? A hard no.Thus and So, it seems that the solution to sweat and steam is to chase after that cool oasis of music. What’s that I hear? That must be the glory train of Rock and Roll in all its revelation.Roy Brown (an early king), Rodriguez (a middle period jester), Mavis Staples (a past, present and future Queen), and Brave Combo (damaged dervishes). Oh there’s more too.Let yourself off the leash and gallop happily to our new caper, a caper that is ointment for a fallen world.
Fireworks? Phooey! You want combustible? There’s crash, boom and bang to be had on this week’s tour de farce aplenty, no matter a Supreme Court ruling or three that hijacks the foundational core of American ideals – not that 250 year old documents couldn’t stand for a tweak or two. Like reforming Supreme Court lifetime terms! I wouldn’t have printed that but it seems to me that blanket immunity from legal repercussions seems to be the new law of the land.And if you got your hackles up about anything you just read, One Draft Jones wrote it, not me.So what about the music in this 1:58 melee? A quick attempt at recollection yields a magical five minutes from Quebec by the Mystery Man and Oaf without Borders soundscapes out of my laboratory, the likes of which are Alabama Slim, Morphine, The A, B, C & D of Boogie Woogie, Los Straitjackets, Danny Cobb, and Crosby & Nash.Later for seared flesh cooking on your grill or the explosive that might cost you a limb, we bring the trouble on this thing we call a Parabola.
The Mystery Man’s dog ate his homework, flushed his keys down the toilet, and gave him the heebie jeebies this week. Thus and so, I was left to pull out all the stops on my onesie.I had no choice to call in the mercenaries, consisting of Brasuka, Gary US Bonds and the Church Street 5, Wild Bill Davis, John Cale, Norah Jones, and Blakey/the Jazz Messengers, to step into the void.And there are more rich blessings of music when you might have given up all hope of a glory bound future. Stir in the usual on mic shenanigans and presto... you have caper 134 of the Paleface Parabola – which is a cog in the big wheel that is Free FM.Do us a solid and tell all your friends.
Caper 132. It’s a special moment in the confusing and continuing saga of the Mystery Man and me. We would ride into your town to speak to you personally about this but we’d have to skip New Delhi because the temperature is just too damn hot there, and we are getting low on the fresh horses and whiskey rations we bring when we ride into town.What we can state with sureshot confidence is that Free FM is a Rock and Roll refuge away from a world off its wheels and we talk, sing, goof around and play music that is presented in robust randomness.Robert Johnson, Bananagun, Ernest Ranglin, La Luz, and the doomed Nick Drake on what would have been his birthday all are front and center this week. Ready to dance our happy dance. Bring you and your ears and let’s hug it out
Greetings from the USA, brave warriors.Do you require reasons to be cheerful in order to have a quality two-hour experience with the Mystery Man and I this week as it pertains to caper 131? Drop-ins from the likes of Funkadelic and Hunter Thompson. Three high octane quests in our show within a show. And music! Oh brother do we have music to assist you in being glad to be alive!Brave Combo, Roy Brown, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Pretenders, The Pogues, and the Bang on a Can all stars are better for you than Duck Sauce. And those are but six of our all star candidates for your love this week.Now that you’ve read this, it’s way past time to be cheerful!
Having a forum to mouth off and play music that spans 100 years over a two-hour opportunity to get it right is a rich blessing I’ll strive to never take for granted. At least that’s my mindset as we unfurl caper 129 (or 130 because I can’t remember how many at the moment of this writing).Our Facebook page for this programme reveals how you can listen. The why of why you should try to listen to the Paleface Parabola is music presented differently and unbound by playlist or algorithm. This is oaf without borders radio.The Kinks,Bryce Dessner, Tangerine Dream, and mucho mas.Please remember – and don’t ever forget – that there’s no expiration date on fun.
Caper 129: You’ve tried the rest... Now try our radio razzle dazzle. We sound better in the dark so you can’t see our faces.Rock and Roll, whether it’s then or now, has always sounded better to us when the sun goes down and the fun starts flowing. And feel no fret, we’ve got more fun than a fizzy drink this week. Go on you say? We will if you demand so, but then you’ll be your own joyrobber, missing out on the halcyon sounds of Elvis Costello and the Attractions, a filler of stadiums covering The Fabs Blackbird, sanctification from the sister named Tharpe, Neil Yuck singing about Greendale, and the Mystery Man’s tout of the week, starring the other Yoko, Ms Ueno.And the above listed are a microcosm of our mega. Your ears, our alchemy. Forward!
Drying tears of despair is this week’s mission statement for the guardians of your radio hearts, the Mystery Man and me. We are aging gunfighters you know. And we call in posses on a need to act mission. Like this week. Caper 128.Step forward and drink in your applause team. Yoko Ueno (not Ono), Sun Ra, Ken Nordine with Jerry Garcia, The Staple Singers, The Happyland Singers, and Luke Jones and his Orchestra. Not familiar with these artists? Lend us your ears for an hour and 58 minutes and you’ll dance your happy dance for revelation sake.Seen? S’lainte... and steady nerves.
One Draft Jones here... Back after a week to think up new incentive laden lures to reach for the Q-Tips for your ears and get rid of your innate inhibitions by shedding both preconceptions and clothes alike, and come wade in the healing pond of playful music and banter that comprises our weekly crop dust of Rock and Roll history, The Paleface Parabola. Tonight being caper 127. Tonight being yet another hour and 58 minute quest to outrun the pricks who kick and cheat the hangman one more time. We called on Be Bop Deluxe, Gentle Giant, Hoven Droven, Slim Gaillard, Freddie King, and other worthies to form a protective ring of joy around you the listener and us, the perpetrators.To sum, and some, and as noted in the episode, without music, life would be an error
Caper 126. Your attendance at our fray is a gray area. While we’d prefer that it’s mandatory, we can’t be everywhere and nowhere at all at the same time we remind you. Our vision that we’d have a Milky Way galaxy of converts to our quirkology may have been (appears to be) unrealistic. But if you are laboring under the mistaken notion that our presence in the post position of the Free FM music zone on 89.0 out of Hamilton, NZ, you were led astray by an enemy of volunteer radio.Live,Wednesdays at 10pm in the time zone North and West of Antarctica and beckoning you to be one with us from any of the plentitude of podcast portals, The Paleface Parabola presents word, sound and power in this week’s whirl.Musical hopscotch again you ask? Aye, we say. Thirsty for this week’s teaser to our two hours of summitting Mt Parabola? If you insist...Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band, Irma Thomas, Christian Parker, Young-Holt Unlimited, and the Mystery Man’s choice of the week cannily curated to sit snugly at the top o the pops.You can sit around and wait for the cicadas to sing or you can jump right ahead in our web so as far as we can see it, this should be a very dynamite show.
Well, it’s said to seek and ye shall find. And it’s also said that the Emerald Isle, where my people emerged from, is the land of 1,000 welcomes. You’ll have to settle for 998 less as it pertains to caper 125 of our Parabola. That would be from the Mystery Man and me.You’ll hear the mosaic of our messy quest. News, noise and music. Music such as for the second week in a row because one wasn’t enough, 3 Mustaphas 3 and also Jaerv from the Mystery Man’s wall of sounds. From my pile of pulls, The Specials, Rickie Lee Jones, Wally Pleasant, The Charles River Valley Boys, and Zen for Primates.You’ve never heard of these people you say? Easy fix. Put ears on our noise for the next two hours of your lives and music’s rich blessings will be yours to have, and sample, and hold.
A Brian Eno quote that I heard from Annie Clark (aka St Vincent): Music is a car that you can crash over and over again and walk away safely.We can certainly apply that notion to this week’s Paleface Parabola radio razzmatazz. It’s caper 124, a show like any of the previous 123 but for the fact that while we have an established template for the programme, no two shows are musically the same and the likelihood of a radio/audio car crash, because we prefer performing live without a net and I personally like my weekly bagel with butter and not toasted. A vital component of any self respecting quest.Here’s your weekly teaser90 seconds of the Mystery Man’s choice of the Cort-3 Mustaphas 3, plus Spirit, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Bo Diddley, This Side Up, and The Playmates.To conclude,please remember and don’t ever forget that there’s no expiration date on fun. S’lainte and a pint raised to Free FM 89.0 from Hamilton, NZ.
Revelation. Inspiration. Dedication. One nation... under a groove. Free your mind and caper 123 will follow.As I yell at inappropriate times, Hookey Do!! We do us on this hour and 58 minutes of genre hopping. Marshall Crenshaw, Roy Brown, Joe Henderson, House of Hamill, The Aggrolites, and the Mystery Man’s moment of glory saves the Wales. As in the band Calan.And wait, there's more! Banter, bluster and blarney and now you, who sit in judgment concerning our to and fro. So prime your ears and post up. We’ve come to bring cheer to every ear and joy to every girl and boy. Cmon everybody, get happy!
As record collectors ourselves, the Mystery Man and I are by no means immune to the joys of hearing the healing joys of music - especially music that you’ve never heard before, that changes your life for the better.Nineteen songs later, on this week’s episode, we’ve brewed up an hour and 58 minutes of musical hopscotch that puts extra red in your tomatoes. Chuck Willis, Toots & the Maytals with Bunny Wailer, The Aggrolites, The Staple Singers, and the Court’s order is sustained via San Salvador (a piece I’ve never heard until we played it).That’s just five of the aforementioned 19 and you won’t need silly looking 3D glasses to listen. Our noise, your ears. Welcome to our gang.
Caper 121. I remember starting with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band and closing up our case to take to the Judge and Jury with the Mael Brothers aka Sparks. Sparks being a prime suspect above how if you live long enough, a quintessential cult band becomes viable in their late 70s.Also in the bright white spotlight of musical joy this week is the Mystery Man’s pick to click of the week, Planxty, and extra special mentions of the likes of The Lamplighters, solo Alex Chilton, new Dion music, and enough gusto to sail the seven seas without the aid of an onboard motor.Live on the gold standard of rogue element of society community radio, Free FM 89.0 which hums along from Hamilton NZ Wednesday evening from 10 to midnight and on more podcast portals than the authorities can count, 'til we meet and greet again on April 10.In the meantime, add some music to your day, our music in this case. It heals and it works.
This is your one and only warning... We’re taking attendance this week on our caper in absentia.The beyond excellent Ricardo - ex-superstar of Free FM’s The Outer Limits Frequentcy - is tall in the saddle for this one-week return to our safe haven for rogue elements of society. Like him! Like us! Ricardo has a great sense of humor, skills with his pen, and top notch with his music choices.Feel no fret, the Mystery Man and I will return next week with a brand new Parabola, reinvigorated and ready to roar.In the meantime, put your ears on Ricardo this week and we’ll all be better for it.
Caper 119 was done in a hurry because I’m in a hurry, as a window to a brief respite from the pressure cooker I cook in normally looms.Our prodigal rascal Ricardo is returning to fill in for us on the show next week and I’m ecstatic that the likes of his calibre will sit in.As for this week, New Jersey music from the soon-to-be stars Billy Hector and the Atlanta Cafe Band, magnificence from Metheny, Chubby Checker, Willy Deville with Mark Knopfler, Terry Evans with Ry Cooder, and some Hocus Pocus from Spies who Surf!So dig Ricardo next week on the Parabola and the Mystery Man and I will be back to love you long time in two weeks – a fortnight, as you say in Aotearoa.
Hmmm... What to say that hasn’t been said 118 times before?Lets try it out. Caper 118 of our two-hour sprint across New Zealand’s radio landscape has more hot air than the rising methane levels on the third rock from the sun, as well as a baker’s dozen of music selections that can have a positive impact on your ears. The Mystery Man’s pick of the week is by the Irish band Kila and we cheerfully are of the opinion that it’s more fun than a rebuttal speech by Senator Katie Britt – though I prefer Scarlet Johansson’s rebuttal to her rebuttal on SNL.As for my participation in our melee, The Heptones, The Ghost Funk Orchestra, McCoy Tyner, The Tom Robinson Band, and The Polyrhythmics arrive at the table to wine and dine with you. Or is it whine?Live on Free 89.0 at 10pm in Hamilton, NZ, Wednesday Eve at 10pm as part of the Free music zone and please access our Facebook page for podcast potential listening portals and possibly even the playlist for this week’s show if I can make the time to do so.
Caper 117 (and I want to clarify that number since I was calling our tour de farce 118 all show) is the end result of cramming for the exam due to a frenzied few action packed days that we left in the glass. All prepared and weary to the top of our bald heads.The Mystery Man urged us on to glory. I never know what glory is, all I hear is the mistakes and what I should have said and didn’t. At the end of the rainbow, let’s ride the music because this week’s call to action includes the Rev Billy C Wirtz to ‘sanctify’ the landscape, Wes Montgomery, Robert Mirabal, Billy Hector (NJ Blues Rock Guitar Jedi), the Jesse Price Trio, and Bruce Cockburn ride into town with fresh whiskey and horses as medicine for the vile and depraved world we have to negotiate thru.And there’s more music and mouthing off as well because this is the day the Lord made for us so we may as well revel in the radio joy of it.
Make way for two aging zen tricksters who speak and spell sounds that cut a wide cloth across the borderless force field that is music. From the land of the free and where 400 dollar sneakers double up as a GoFundMe shell game from a reprobate with a comb-over. We are here to stick a pin in that balloon and perpetrate yet another two hours of radio sight gags on caper 116.It’s easy to pick up our scent this week. Web into Free FM 89.0 live on Wednesday the 28th at 10pm Oceanic... or hitch a ride on one of our many podcast options that could be yours by accessing our programne’s Facebook page.How do Hayes Carll, Good Reason, Charles Lloyd and the Marvels, Black Jellybean, Steppenwolf and Gjallahorn sound as a tactic for your love and devotion to the Paleface Parabola with your hosts the Mystery Man & Me? Well, if you don’t like any of what’s listed above, maybe the B-52’s and others may melt your cold hearts.
We got the memo... It calls for mass quantities of crash, boom and bang. That’s where we arrive to save the day, thus earning the big money.We are the hombres that ride tall in the saddle on caper 115 of our weekly fly-by. He’s the Mystery Man, who has picked a gem this week for his selection and who is the overlord of The Paleface Parabola sonically and nutritionally. I’m Jumpin JB and as in most of my ventures, I’m the face of the franchise but I depend on the kindness of friends to stumble thru life.Here’s just a spattering of my musical chums on this programme to aid and abet our mission. The Rock and Roll Trio, Katie Henry, Chris Whitley, Megan Henderson, The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band, Roland Alphonso, and Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band, but seven of our 20-track glory ride. To somewhere...
Snow! And not the kind from Johnny Depp’s Blow movie... But the real McCoy for the first time in about 750 days is our present reality from half a world away in the North of New J.Since deflection and diversion seems to be on full display on a daily basis in today’s political and media worlds, I’m coming in with a more benign two hours of diversion and deflection on this week’s Parabola - aka caper five of 2024 and 114 overall on Free FM.Listen to our humble tour de farce! Sample, hold for a time, share with a friend, and then take note of the extra skip in your step because you just participated in our mongrel mix of news, shoes and how to’s. But seriously... there’s music. The likes of Tim Buckley, Jefferson Airplane, Bettye Lavette, Mavis Staples, Tiny Bradshaw’s Orchestra, and Bow Wow Wow are just teasers for our four-part run to community radio glory. And then there’s the Mystery Man...We’re taking attendance.
Press Play on whichever and whatever device you use to treat your ears to Free FM, and set your controls for frolic and a fever dream of a two-hour tour de farce.Said farce is caper four of 2024 which quick elementary math yields the miracle number of 113 overall since we fired the transoceanic starters pistol to begin our New J to New Z goodwill tenure of The Paleface Parabola, co-starring the Mystery Man (our programmes man in the crows nest) and me, Jumpin JB, host and programmer of the show – the radio sandwich you thought you didn’t order.How bout a rethink?Because we have a statement of point and purpose for our 1:58 of structured anarchy. And we have news (music and tropical, I mean topical) and finally, we have music...Sun Ra, King Curtis, Graham Parker, Charlie Ace, Don Covay, John Doyle, and the irascible Bob Geldof.So get some rest. This weeks action-packed Parabola will tax your reserves of energy!
Reason to cheerful, part 4. The structured anarchy that is caper 112 comes for your ears!There are 83.3 million good reasons to give us an hour and 58 minutes of your lives this week. First and foremost being that we’ll cry if you don’t. Because it’s hard to be saints in the city. The would-be saints in this case being the mystery man and me, Jumpin JB. Can your hearts stand the excitement of our musical hopscotch? We’re confident you can.And here’s a brief road map of our soul music this week. The Skatalites, Charlie Musselwhite & Elvin Bishop, Gong, John Ginty Band, The Odds, and The Cramps are but six of the 19 slices of big music fun we unfurl.As for you the listeners, know Free FM and the Paleface Parabola and keep us in your heart for a while.
After a week off (against our will mind you) because New Jersey winters can be a stern taskmaster, we have returned with a two-hour tour de farce that just might have you rubbing both your eyes and your ears. It might rabbit, it might (in Irish accent).Here’s an appetiser as to what you’ll experience. Because I feel the need to ask at this point, have you ever been experienced? Well,we have. We being the Mystery Man and me, Jumpin JB. Reverie Road, Fela Kuti & Africa 70 with Ginger Baker, U Roy, Richie Havens, Charlie Musselwhite (covering Alejandro Escovedo), Elvis Costello & the Attractions, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band are but 7 members of the parade of joy we hurl at you this week. Prepare yourself to dance and sing.
The Apostle Paul wrote in the New Testament that he had learned to be content wherever he was and whatever situation he was in. This from a man who was beaten to a pulp and tossed into a hole – aka jail. For speaking his mind.The Mystery Man and I have learned to be content in our victory lap as volunteer radio love gods... did I just type this? I did! Caper 110 spreads joy and good cheer this week. How, you ask?Randy Newman, The Mothers of Invention, Maz, Pat Thomas, The Sadies, and Lydia Loveless earn their keep musically... and we keep the balls in the air for an hour and 57.2024 (or so).Here we come!
Caper 1 of 2024... Number 109 overall.Though the mystery man was certainly relieved that I wasn’t more toxic than I was this week, I personally would have preferred to stay the heavy head cold baritone of being pretty ill for four days last week so as to bring a new rich viral voice to the fray. Alas, I cleared up to the point that performing the show was in my recognised Jersey usual snot flying persona. Epic fail.Call the roll of music played then. Keep the words of Damone from Fast Times at Ridgemont High in mind as you listen, which states... 'Whatever happens, as long as your toes are tappin...’ Brave Combo, Ahmad Jamal trio, David Crosby & the Lighthouse Band, Khruangbin, The Marquees with Bo Diddley, and our hero Paul Trenwith are fewer than half of the stars featuring in our first show of ‘24.Fifty or so to go. Let’s go get em.
And that’s our year. Caper 108 is a crash landing of an end to our musophysical 52 weeks of radio razzle dazzle.On this week’s vexation, Over the Rhine, Wilson Pickett, Hedningarna, Jethro Tull, The Black Crowes, Tonio K, and two handfuls of others have stepped in to trim your trees. We’ll meet again the first week of January.Until then, thanks to our friends at Free FM (don’t try to deny it you people – we’re friends after two years!) and you the listeners. On to international glory and reckoning in 2024! And another 365 days of cheating the hangman!!
So Santa Claus is comin to town in 12 days. Nearly as rewarding for girls and boys old and young, big and tall, humble and small, is caper 107 of the Paleface Parabola... which features yet another memorable 10 minutes from the Mystery Man and holiday news and screwing around from the Oaf Without Borders aka me.Will you be able to keep from weeping with joy as we fill your ears with the likes of the Mystery Man’s choice of the week which is vital from strong minds and bones and the likes of Kookie, the Len Price 3, Freddie King, Don Drummond & Roland Alphonso, and the Felice Brothers, plus a plethora more?The smart money says you’ll weep. For the right reasons!
Prepare yourselves for pandemonium. I was going to mention the word bedlam, yet in a full disclosure moment, the fifth estate studio is a sea of glass oasis that draws our Parabola’s back week after week like radio moths drawn to the flame of our quest.This week’s quest talks talk. Context on what we played and pithy commentary that just might create pandemonium (that word again!). Music to keep those nubbins joyful from the likes of the Polyrhythmics, The Mothers of Invention, The DB’s, Ahmad Jamal, Lene Lovich, Rosalie Cunningham, and Steve Gibson’s Red Caps, to name but seven of our 18 selections.As the Polyrhythmics cheerfully say, Yeti, Set, Go!Now audible on You Tube Music as well as the other portals that are home to the Parabola and are listed on our show’s Facebook page.
Caper 105. Seems like it was a while ago. Because it was!I've had matters of great social, personal, and of political import to tend to in the interim. So here’s what I recall and it’s not much on this cold late autumn night in New J.This week’s twin games, musical hopscotch and mental gymnastics began with Pops/Satch aka Louis Armstrong, and The Rascals and Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and Wet Willie, and the Blind Boys of Alabama and ended with the likes of the Skatalites, Grace Jones,and Femi Kuti. I think.Sandwiched at the midpoint of our jubilee because we hear the cry of the people is the second week in a row of a fly-by from the Parabola’s ace up our sleeve, the Mystery Man. He whose street cred has never been higher. No refunds on this show, it was carefully lashed together with the young and old to enjoy.On to caper 106!
Two years. Two burly mofos who work for two radio stations. Got a Noah’s Ark vibe going on here. Clearly.What we also have going on here is a celebration of word, sound and palooka power. You’ll hear jokes and teeth gnashing and the second appearance of my wingman, the Mystery Man. We played new music and old music and had a mighty good time doing it. We’re trusting and hoping you’ll have a mighty good time listening to it.It's Thanksgiving time here in America. Allow me to now raise a frosty mug full of beyond excellent brew to our listeners of the last two years and don’t try to hide... we see you!On to to caper 105 next week on November 29th!
Jesus once said ‘Come and I’ll make you fishers of men to the Apostles’. Being straight, I don’t need to pull up a net full of men, but it’s okay with me is that’s your dream come true.Here’s what I did snare this week when I cast my line for worthy candidates to have at you musically on caper 103 of the Paleface Parabola. NRBQ, Bruce Smith, The Eternals, The Flamingos, Fela Kuti, Los Lobos, and Samantha Fish with Jesse Dayton are but seven artists that aid us in raging against the dying of the three-chord light.And we do this because you are nice people you are!
Quiet on the set! Make way for the Mystery Man and me as well, Jumpin JB. Caper 102 of the Paleface Parabola is tough and tender in all the right places. Fresh as cool cool water running down our faces if you will.Playing and singing to aid and abet our need to entertain you are the likes of The Morells, Chris Powell & the Blue Flames, Joss Stone, Dexter Gordon & Slide Hampton, Graham Parker & the Goldtops, and the troublemakers known as W.I.T.C.H. More than that, naturally. As Mr Natural once said,’Twas ever Thus’.
My favourite line from what I thought was an overrated movie, the Blues Brothers, is as follows...‘It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we’ve got a half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark outside and we’re wearing sunglasses’. And Belushi doesn’t hesitate. He says, ‘Hit It!'Subtract five miles and half a world away and you’ve got the Mystery Man and me wearing our Ray Bans and racing towards fortune and glory on caper 101 of the Paleface Parabola.Riding shotgun musically are the likes of the Moody Blues, Caravan, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Andre Williams, Cornbread and Biscuits, and Muddy Waters. Treats, not Tricks.
Keeping it at 100. Except we won’t because caper 101 is but a week away and showbiz credo says if you can walk you can make the gig. Hamilton NZ is a long walk from our turf in New Jersey, so we’ll settle for basking in the rosy glow of 100 shows in the idyllicville of Free FM. Man what a joy. This week’s 2 hour tour de farce goes to places even further outside our basic oaf without borders confines. And to add bounce and luster of Jerry’s Holiday Camp, the Mystery Man is unveiled in word and song!! A big bottle of your choice raised to the occasion of our celebration. On to number 200!
The One After 909 you say? Taking the elevator to the 99th floor? You got 99 problems that are tricky to solve and you seek friends to get you thru to live your best radio life? Well heck, that’s where the mystery man and I can write a prescription with no nasty side effects.Caper 99 of the Paleface Parabola spares no ears or expense. So if you got time, we got a music dime for you. Mose Allison, Tom Waits, Wynton Marsalis, Albert Ammons, Kings in Disguise, and Jayne Mansfield are all on the hit parade this week.You’ll laugh, you’ll cry... You’ll mostly cry, I cheerfully predict.
Delmore Schwartz, poetic mentor to Lou Reed once said: Let the musicians begin. Let every instrument awaken and instruct. Elvis Costello wrote and sang: Waiting for the end of the World. Seems to me both scenarios apply to caper 98 of the Paleface Parabola this week and we address both and more, much more on our programme.How so, you quite rightly ask?Danny White, Los Straitjackets, Los Lobos, Link Wray & the Raymen, Bill Kelly & the House of Cards, Coleman Hawkins, and Blakey & the Jazz Messengers all step up into the breach, to take your mind off impending doom. Courtesy of your fun bunch, aka the Mystery Man, Jumpin JB, and the fantastico Free 89.0. And it’s been said before but bears repeating on this week of John Lennon’s Birthday... How bout we give peace a chance?!
A quick glance, or optimally a quick listen, just might elicit a ho-hum from those used to the archaeological dig The Paleface Parabola often offers...Feel no fret. While indeed we proudly spotlight the likes of Little Richard, The Kinks, The Rutles, the Flaming Groovies, and Isaac Hayes on this week’s saga (aka caper 97) there’s plenty there to keep the obscure customers satisfied imho. We decree it thus. The mystery man and I now lay in wait so that we may mix up the medicine another day. Or night. Or morning... Makes no never mind to us as long as we meet and greet next week.
Random notes from the Outsiders Outpost. Fear and Loathing from the Fifth Estate Studio A. Inspired by the ravings of the once boy genius named Jaan Weiner. We use ire to fuel caper 96’s muse of the Paleface Parabola to the tunes of: The Upsetters (Lee Scratch Perry’s studio band), Peter Tosh, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson, Flook, John Doyle, and a heck of a lot more. We said a heck of a lot of more. No reason to apply the brakes. The Mystery Man and me, Jumpin JB, bring relief and revelation you can’t find at the bottom of a bottle. Most bottles anyway.
Let’s face it, this century has been a certified nosebleed so far. Biblical skeptics aside, you could make a case that we are hurtling towards a crash landing on steroids.Now that we’ve cleared that up, on to what you need to know about Caper 95 of the Paleface Parabola musically...Zappa, The Dukes of Stratosphear, The Swamp Zombies, and The Pretty Things all represent our jubilee and assist us in rearranging deck chairs on spaceship Earth. And now it’s on... to a better day.
Feel like you’ve been stuck inside a mental and musical glue trap in the last seven days since we last surfed the Milky Way together on the radio? Dr’s Jumpin JB and Mystery M have a black bag full of joy as relief to being in neutral. Caper 94 of our quest makes winners out of cowards. So says our musical co-conspirators: Southern Culture on the Skids, Don Ralke, Ernest Ranglin, The Church, Fiona Apple, and Rodrigo Y Gabriella to name but six of our outstanding cast. Feel better? Good. Now let’s go exploring...
Caper 93 is both a passing fancy in a senior citizen dream AND a call to action for the seventh highest rated podcast music programme on our place in space, Free FM 89.0... where spring has sprung in Hamilton, NZ, and anyone else from anywhere else can climb aboard before we get too big for our britches and embrace the worldwide adoration that we tease about and acknowledge that the odds are skeptical about said adoration.We say that to this about those odds. We have firepower this week to aid and abet our cause. The likes of which are now named. Brave Combo, Morphine, Leo Kottke, Earl Hooker, The Staple Singers, Willie Nelson. Elvis Costello & the Attractions, and Neal Casal.Don’t fight it, feel it. And come on out to listen and play along. And that’s only about half the cosmik debris of this week’s Paleface Parabola!
It’s high time we sit in praise of community radio. No consultants, no demographics, no AI, no algorithms get in the way of this Oaf Without Borders as it pertains to the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books. Instead, what you’ll hear is topical and musical hopscotch at the same time. The likes of Philly Joe Jones and Tool huddle for warmth together. Weirdly I’ll grant you. We know from weird, as if you couldn’t have guessed. The Mystery Man and I have done our best to rearrange your music genetic DNA codes. Rejoice in it, don’t reject. Please...
Caper 91... It’s an achievement. However the road doesn’t end here. The Mystery Man and me have more noise to make and we do this week on the Paleface Parabola. The second week consecutively for the Kinks and Louis Jordan which we had a pact that we wouldn’t do. There’s a Marianas Trench of music in the known and unknown universe. Give another 91 tour de farces and we’ll do what we can to speak truth to power and given our average output of songs on each show. In a 52 week year, that’s approximately 1,000 songs. We state boldly and without fear of contradiction that we are in it to win it, so please stick around the next 91 presentations of Free FM gusto life, starring us burly bohemians.
This century... Wars,rumors of wars, 9-11. Christchurch. Daily mass shootings in America. Will Smith. My Baseball teams have been mostly terrible. A 100-year global epidemic. And a four-time indicted con ma... ex-president. You can’t make it up. But what you can do is set your musical gyroscope True North to the mystery man and mine’s 90th caper of the Paleface Parabola. On your radio and in your ears are the likes of Tiny Bradshaw’s Orchestra, Genesis, Buddy Guy, The Kinks and Eileen Jewel with Jerry Miller. World problems solved. For two hours anyway!
Mose Allison once wrote: Stop this world, I’m getting off. Before you ask for the exit door, please pause and give us two hours of your ears. Musically, Bill Nelson & his Gentlemen Rocketeers, Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, Louis Jordan & the Tympany 5, Pearl Bailey & Moms Mabley, The Pretty Things, and Charlie Mingus are part of our cry for attention this week on caper 88 of the Paleface Parabola. Have the mystery man and I stirred up a sensation lurking inside of you to stay just one more day/night to listen? Good. Then I think it’s going to work out.
Pleased to meet you. Hope you guess our game. Said romp and stomp is the freshly minted caper 88. Can your hearts stand the excitement of Tom Waits, the Allman Brothers Band, the 5 Royales, the Robert Cray Band, and many more sounds rescued from the murk of the primordial ooze of Rock and Roll history? We’ve gotten to know each other fairly well over the last nearly two years, so we’re reasonably confident that your hearts can stand the excitement.
In response to the cards and letters we’ve received here at world HQ of the Paleface Parabola... we’d like to meet your need to know by responding to the most asked questions. And they are: 1. The Paleface Parabola is... a cautionary tale on the search for a radio safe haven. And we have at Free FM. 2. The Paleface Parabola is... a music concept that is a moveable feast that shape shifts into a different caper every week. 3. The Paleface Parabola is... a sandwich you did not order. All true. This week’s show, number 87, is rich with potential to lure you into our camp. Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, The Blazers, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo, and the Sugarman 3 are part of this week’s jubilee. There’s more too. Seen?
For those of you who haven’t kept score, this week’s Palefaced caper #86 is a doozy. Proof you ask, you impudent upstart you! U Roy, Wanda Jackson, Nancy Sinatra, Nick Waterhouse, Oliver Nelson’s Big Band is the teaser as to how we do it. Normally I’m reluctant to give even that much of the game away, but I’m trying to amend my wayward ways, so lend us an ear or two and the Mystery Man and I invite you to a heaping helping of the big beat. A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A journey through a century of music, from The Byrds to a Nick Drake cover, with additional noises from The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra, Los Straitjackets, Cliff King Solomon, and Leon Bridges with Khruangbin. Feel no fret, there’s music and commentary addressing the plot points of life in the political world in 2023. The Paleface Parabola radio razzle dazzle. It’s the cure for the common classic rock show. A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
It’s said that you can’t always get what you want. A simple statement of truth which has become an anthem. The Mystery Man and I say that you CAN get what you need and that we make a point to sling musical joy for every girl and boy and cheer for both their ears on caper 84 of the Paleface Parabola. Call the roll! Spirit, the Ray Bryant Combo, The Pogues, The Band, and Mojo & Skid all step to the mic in this episode. Long live Rudy van Gelder!
The Mystery Man and I take our radio responsibility seriously in terms of bringing noise, joy and sunshine to our time together. This week’s programme (caper 83 of the Parabola) is a free-range animal. Starting by getting sanctified, doing the mambo with Tito Puente, knocking a few back with George Strait, and finally featuring a rare collaboration. Elvis pops up too, but not in person because yes, he’s still dead. Free FM is lifeblood. Listen, and receive a free of charge transfusion.
It’s said that time waits for no one. We didn’t say that. We would have, but someone beat us to it. But we can say the following about our latest Free FM caper, one we’ve crafted and created specifically to go wild here in New J on the first day of summertime in the States and to get your blood boiling for both good and bad reasons at our radio lifeboat in the North Island. Here’s a music teaser... John Lee Hooker, The Church, Binky Griptite & the Mellowmatics, and a baker’s dozen more will be your minstrels of joy. Your sanctification is but a song away.
This radio thing... It gets under the skin, y’know? For us, it’s hard to conceive of a week where we can’t partake in the rich blessing that comes with communicating and musical plate spinning. Which comes in the form of Paul Weller, Kendra Morris and Charlie Haden, among the all-stars and no-stars this week on the good ship Parabola. Representing Free FM 89.0. A fine how do you do, and a storybook ending to having been left in a basket on the station’s doorstep nearly two years ago.
The mystery man and I have spent our lives in music. Soaked to the bone, hip deep in the healing waters, and one step ahead of the hangman. Melee 24 of 2023 finds us feeling frisky and unleashing a torrent of sound and words. Music by the likes of Madeleine Bell and Tinariwen and mucho mas where that came from. Savour this show because it’ll be different next week. There are many options to hear our noise. One will do nicely.
A year and a half past that fateful mid November 2021 moment when the management of Free FM made copies of their keys to the kingdom and handed them to the mystery man and me with the following directive: nab new listeners, school them in the joys that radio without restraint can bring, and an honoured place at the table will be yours. And so it has come to pass... You will hear the likes of The Lushes, Shirley Ellis and Springsteen on this week’s Parabola. You will feel joy again.
I suspect those who have made this show a weekly go-to radio ruckus are law abiding solid citizens. Till now. You see, we sell our programme on the premise that we are more fun than the law should allow. Simple math: you have, like us, become lawbreakers after spending these two hours with us. Having a bad week? Take doses of Fela Kuti & Africa 70, Toots Hibbert, John Mellencamp, Dexter Gordon & Ahmad Jamal, and call us in the morning. Caper 78 overall, Melee 22 is now yours to accept or reject.
This week’s caper (number 77 overall / melee 21 of 2023) features skipping CDs, miscues, wobbly mic breaks, and essential musical revelation for the old and the young. The Nude Party and The Easy Star All Stars slot in snugly alongside the likes of gold standards such as Dexter Gordon, The Rascals and Ahmad Jamal. It’s an hour and 55 of fun to roast things by while listening by an autumnal blaze. Like marshmallows. But not each other. We need you alive and I’ll just say it, Free.
So what shall we say about melee 20 of 2023 that we haven’t already said about this frenzy of music and action? That we haven’t said about the other 19 food fights this year? And the 57 that preceded it since our embryonic start at Free FM in November of 2021? That will suck you into our camp, as Zappa used to tease?I’ve got it.Just listen Damnit!That now said... Let’s have fun!
Caper 75 is a sprint to glory days this week. Or a glorious 1 hour & 57 minutes if you will. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll mostly cry. That’s a tease. We tease because we love. Rickles said that. Our flag is lowered for the lost this year. The most recent of which is Lightfoot the magnificent yesterday. Mercifully, the mystery man and I have been spared and have been appointed the task of making a joyful noise on this week’s Parabola. And so we did!
At times, I’ve tried too hard to be creative in these weekly epistles about our programme. This week I’ve decided to make it easier on both your and my nerves.I didn’t consult my wingman about what I’m about to type, yet I’d wager a sawbuck or two we are in accord when I state the following wisdom of the ages...Without music, life would be an error.There. We said it.
Melee 16 of our '23 programmes gets its stirrings from a clean water spiritual well. Music is the capstone of our foundation. Improv and screwing around also have an RSVP at our table. I’ve put my head in my hands in dismay far too often at the way the world is in 2023... So this radio show is my escape hatch for two hours, and is safe haven for me as well as you.
Scripture advises that sweet are the feet of the messenger that brings good news. Hear ye and then listen later. Caper 72/melee 15 of 2023 is clad in regal robes and has music and matters of great social & political import contained within its 1:58 minute walls. Scripture also speaks to when a person is in despair, give them strong drink. You may need one after we’re finished with you this week.
Caper 71, melee 14 of the mystery man and mine’s shrunken show this week is a modest meandering thru 100 years of recorded music. Literally. Think of us as a Jackson Pollock art piece you may be able to actually understand. Yes, this programme is not for everyone... But it just might be for you.
Drawn from a deep well, where the water is clean, clear and good for you, caper 70 / melee 13 of 2023 is an odd lot of sounds and soul... well suited to promote cheer for every ear and joy for every girl and boy. May mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
We found this week’s Parabola in our sock drawer. Ran it thru the rinse cycle. Had the bomb squad decree it ready for the ears of the world. No matter where you are or how you are or what the pressing concerns of the day are, The Paleface Parabola (our low-flying hour and 58 minutes of music and mangled English) Caper 69 of our show is yours to have and hold. Stir in fun and the mystery man and I can now ride to the horizon to return in 7 days.
A foamy mug raised with intent and gusto from the Mystery Man and me and we reel, jig, slide and stomp our way through caper 68/melee 11 on this annual slaying of the dragons week. There is no expiration date on fun don’t you know? You do now! Live to hard drive from the 5th Estate studio A and riding shotgun on the good ship Free FM, we are the Paleface Parabola!
Please allow us to introduce ourselves. He’s the Mystery Man... I’m Jumpin JB. We are the modest men of the Paleface Parabola; the weekly transfusion of the lifeblood named music. Instead of playing it safe, we also speak to the sacred and the profane without cursing. What you are about to hear is two borderline madmen making the case that no better drug has ever been prescribed than music and none will ever be. You heard it here... likely not first. Giddyup!
Caper 66 overall: Melee 9 of 2023. The Mystery Man and I cherry picked a wide screen panorama of sounds to both thrill and irritate you. We are opinionated and speak to matters in the capsized world we currently have to question. Free FM, our mothership, is admirable and formidable. Fantastico in its variety and execution. One hour and 56 minutes more of cheating the hangman this week. That’s life. That’s art. That’s us!
I don’t do most things on purpose. I stumble and fall thru life by impulse and instinct as I may or may not have stated in making my case that you listen to the Paleface Parabola previously. This week’s caper, number 65 overall and the 8th melee of 2023, is different from most of what came before. For the better? I'm not certain, but it’s too late to stop now because the mystery man and I sure as shootin aren’t doing it over again!
We’re from New Jersey; we give people a hard time. But I didn’t have it in me to play two hours of rain songs on our 7th fray of 2023, in light of a month’s humbling deluge in the North island. Instead, we raved and raged against the dying of the three-chord light. We had a mighty good time. And if you can give us your ears this week and take advantage of the flotilla of portals that allow you the listener to make your way our way, you just might too.
It’s Black History month in the US. A 28-day period where we honour the men & women of that skin colour in the arts. As it pertains to us here at the Paleface Parabola, aka the mystery man and me, every show in every month of every year is black music history past and present because Gospel, Blues, Reggae, Jazz and R & B are the foundations we built the rock of this program upon. And as Mr Natural once said, as he was streaking thru the underground comics 50 years ago, ‘Twas ever thus’.
I’m not the world’s biggest Queen fan, but after the news broke about Tom Verlaine this past Saturday and the overall killing field that was January 2023 for musicians of great social and political import, what can a poor boy like me do but turn up the music to loud? So that’s what we did on our fifth melee of this so far wretched year. Caper 62 is now yours to accept, reject, or refer to the authorities.
This week, via caper 61 of our two-hour tour de farce, we shake the radio tree of music and a variety pack of sounds fall down and conk both you and I on our coconuts. As my late father used to growl at me when I used to exasperate him even more than usual, maybe that’ll knock some sense into you. It didn’t and that sad fact will be clear and evident to you the listener. That said, the mystery man and I trust that you and your coconuts will be better for our time together with you.
I’ve heard it said (and I believe it to be so) that without music, life would be an error. We, the mystery man and me, urge you not to succumb to the ways and means of the unhip. You can ride the road to radio redemption this week on melee number 3 of 2023. It’s the 1:58 cure for the ho-hum in your life.
It is a Radio Wednesday... Just like most Radio Wednesdays. Except it isn’t. It’s a two-hour stroll down a rabbit hole of 100 years of music history, information and joyful noises. The mystery man and I present the second tour de farce of 2023, fortified by outpost stops to reload fresh whiskey for the task ahead and our trusty horses galloping happily to our appointment with the universe.
Pssssst... Hey 2023. It’s we — The Mystery Man and me, Jumpin JB. We hear it’s tabula rasa time and that the universe is ripe and ready for our 58th caper of The Paleface Parabola. Ready or not, here it is. I just heard that the Earth shook up our adopted radio home away from home this morning (Wednesday your time). We say get ready to shake for all the right reasons for our first show of the year!
I guess it’s a good thing for that I can’t remember what we did or what I played on the Parabola 50 caper a year ago... It would seem to signal that’s It’s been an eventful 52 weeks. A mild understatement. Our last program of 2022 is a Jackson Pollock spattering of sounds that slid by a lot of us. But I heard those sounds and I play some of them on this show. It’s why I get the big money. Forward to 2023!
Who put the bomp in the... holidays of 2022? The mystery man and me, Jumpin JB, that’s who dagnabbit! Caper 56 snatches the lumps of coal from your stockings and replaces it with radio gold. I say that to say this: From Studio A to half a world away and points beyond and behind, The Paleface Parabola team urges you to celebrate a hip and happening Hookey-Do of a Christmas season and then we’re off to 2023!
Naughty? Nice? Feel no fret - all are welcome at Jerry’s holiday camp. Caper 55 has a particular robust sex appeal that transcends mistletoe and maybe even frankincense and myrh. Christmas blasphemy? Certainly. Not the first time I’ve done in my ‘career’ gone bacterial. Likely won’t be the last either. I’ll have to answer for it as some point, so please pray for my wayward soul. In the meantime, hooray for Santa Claus!
Caper 54 is even more of a curiousity than whatever passes for normal in our brief history of making with the crash, boom and bang as an adopted son of Free 89 / Media alliance of the mystery man’s and mine being part of this radio empire. This week’s Parabola has music and news and station promos and more fun than an hour and 58 minutes should allow. Jump in. The water’s fine.
I’ve been think lately that the advertisement about the Rock and Roll history show was becoming bogosity. I wasn’t playing much. I got about three quarters thru this show and thought that it’s time to let the lions loose. So we did. Caper 53 of the Paleface Parabola took flight.. So come home to Free FM and be our rock n roll friends!
When I was growing up in the 1960s, my listening weapon of choice was a transistor radio. I now have spent half my life volunteer hosting and programming shows, and reached the one-year mark at Free FM this week. So props to the following... My producer and editor the Mystery Man. Free FM management, Mike and Phil for handing me the keys to the Wednesday night pole position, and the other Free FM hosts for setting a place at the table for us. Forward to year Two!
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
Caper 50, the latest plot twist in our time well spent at Free FM, is the pest who won’t leave the party at 3am. It’s the test of the pressure points that speak to man’s radio fate going forward. It’s a one hour and 58 minute blunder. It’s also a lot of hard work. Thanks for listening. Please....
This world we exist uneasily in can give you a headache and often a heartache as a bonus. We here at the office of the Paleface Parabola guarantee only a headache at the thrilling conclusion of this week’s caper, number 49. Our diagnosis for this condition? Open up and say 'ah' for the next two hours. Prescription filled.
Huzzah! It was the producer of the Parabola’s Birthday yesterday. Being a man of mystery, his age shall remain one as well. Caper 48 of our show just might be better than birthday cake. I’ll be the first to test that theory. Pass the plate and look out world, I’m in the express lane to a sugar buzz!
Greetings from the eighth tier of a parking garage in Newark, NJ. An unusual location for an unusual show. The crimson and gold leaves of autumn are a beauty to behold and we’d like to think this two-hour tour de farce is too. Your ears, and infinity as well, are now on trial.
Pressed for an answer on the glaring absence of a two-hour tour de farce last week, the producer of the program (aka the Mystery Man) quoting The long lost underground comic character/nudist Mr Natural, advised the inquisitor,‘Twas ever Thus!' and returned to whelping this week’s saga into fit and trim shape. After wading thru some 30-odd robo calls about his business Google listing, the host (aka Jumpin JB) growled ’And as it pertains to caper 46 of The Paleface Parabola,so it shall be!'
Caper 45 was one way. At least it was the night before. When the bell rang to start our quest, we tossed a bunch of music up in the air and picked out what landed in plain sight. The rest were like Prince’s guitar after scorching While My Guitar Gently Weeps years ago. Neither his guitar or our CDs appear to have ever been seen again. I’m a fan of alchemy unintentional. And maybe in an hour and 58 minutes, you will be too.
Here’s what was recommended to me by a sermon this past weekend from the Book of Ecclesiastises. You know, the one that Pete Seeger wrote/stole Turn Turn Turn from. Chapter 11 recommendeds that you rejoice, cherish, and enjoy every moment under the sun. We recommend that you apply the same tactic while cheering on the antics of caper 44 of the Paleface Parabola from the mothership of Free FM 89.0
So Lizzie the 2nd made it to 96, and 70 years of taming lions around the seven seas, eh? If she really wanted to see what rough was, she should have tried 40 years of volunteer radio futility. Like me. Yoga, shmoga. You need to get good and loose? An hour and 58 minutes of this week’s Paleface Parabola, caper 43, is cannily crafted to create some lotion in your ocean.
It’s been humbling starting all over again on a new radio station in a new radio world. I’ve never had an ego about these matters... I’m simply glad that there’s a soft landing for caper 42 of the Parabola on Free FM. So listen early, often, and daily and we’ll both be better for it.
Casting a shadow of a proportion as yet rarely seen by mankind, only equaled by athletes who have to follow legends at their position, and the size of Donald Trump’s fast food and golfing cart arse. Caper 42 of the mystery man and mine’s quest for community radio fortune and glory celebrates the uncommon weekly. Like this week. Try us on for size.
There’s fear and loathing from studio A this week, as we work our way thru the fallen soufflé of our hour and 58 earschplittenloudenboomer. Music, Myth and Mirth with three teaspoons of Alchemy because two isn’t nearly enough. You are not wrong to be skeptical.
You’ve heard the great shows on Free 89. Now it’s time to lower the limbo stick of expectations and buy a transoceanic ticket on the Paleface Parabola fun bus. Your sojourn will be 1 hour 58 minutes this week on Caper 39. The cost of your climbing into our leaky boat? We think it’s a bargain. Your ears!
New Jersey strong... New Zealand stronger. The mystery man and I have steered our glider towards Hamilton because it’s sacred duty and has become radio home away from home. It’s now time to hit the beach. Winter time Speedos and bikinis, perfect for a plus-sized Parabola near you.
Here I go again... Tom Waits once growled 'When I was younger, I wanted to be older. Now that I’m older, I’m not so sure’. I feel the same after having lived long enough to see a glimpse into Hell this past weekend, of The con man, MTG, and that phantom of Fake news posing for a picture at a Saudi Arabia golf tournament! Catharsis comes in the guise of a Parabola! Join me as we rage against the dying of the three-chord light tonight. And all week 'til we meet again next week.
t’s finally time. And that time is today. Tom Waits once quite rightly and righteously shared the following ’Now that we can find out anything we want,there’s a deficit of wonder left’. That said, how bout you wander our way this week to the porch of the Paleface Parabola? Music and mouthing off dead ahead. We’ll leave the light on for you.
You can keep looking in your sock drawer for our programme. It’s not there. You can call information in desperation to seek and find us. The operator will chortle knowingly and direct you Free FM and it’s flotilla of options on how to listen to this week’s caper. Because it might be more fun than your sock drawer.
This week’s melee focuses nearly entirely on strengthening your core stomach muscles, a vital component to a quality experience with our quest and you’ll impress the girls at your next party with your new found sit-up prowress. None of this is true of course, unless you were already doing sit-ups.
You want fireworks? Would you settle for sizzle? Maybe fizzle? Shazizzle! Because there’s nothing that promotes a post 4th day of July Parabola than a two-decade old culture reference. But after all is said and done, our radio show is but a passing fancy in a Tangerine Dream.
Can’t you hear us knocking? Because we are polite co conspirators, the mystery man and I, which we know is not the perception of 2022 American arrogant exceptionalism. We arrive on this 32nd caper, covered in a century of music to play for you and news we assume you can use. Community radio is where it’s at. If you are anywhere at all. Viva Free FM and radio infinity beyond!
Prevent radio crime today! Friends don’t let friends listen to any other community station except Free FM. A kind place that takes in shaggy dog careers gone south, like mine. Like caper 31 from New J. And believe me, we know all about wintertime!
You’ll have this... Caper number 30 was the hardest we’ve yet done to host, produce, programme and edit. Though the result may not be evident. But I liked the opening set... S’lainte!
A pie in the face or the Paleface Parabola? Predicament 29 holds two-fold fun this week as we plumb the depths of music and fun. When we say the depths, we mean middle Earth. I know, that’s not how you spell it!
This week’s predicament as presented by our team finds us caught in the nether regions of chagrin and shame at the state of June 1st America, and music, in our one hour and 58 minutes. Diagnosis? Open up and say aaaah! On to big ratings and community radio glory... Or gory, whichever happens first.
I started out as a child. When I was a child, one of my comic must-gets was Dr Strange. A Marvel underdog. Now he’s a global sensation and no longer an underdog. You can root for a post modern underdog... Me / Us... The palookas of the Parabola.
Caper 26 is a tightly contested scrap between music being a healing life force and righteous and furious anger after last weekend’s assault weapon death march here in America. As Tony Stark once said about being both feared and admired... ’why not both?’
This week’s tidal wave of tempos, both mid and mod, are on display and in full regalia, as well as the usual bushel basket of Peaches on caper 25 of the Parabola. And wait till you hear the outro! No spoilers!
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
Are you tired of how great Free FM is yet? You shouldn’t be. It’s not common. It’s free of charge... and our Parabola is even rumored to slim hips and raise heck alike. This week’s return to the throne room is different than the last time we met, and it’s different from our last meet and greet. My noise, your ears. Cmon now! Forward to glory!
This week's opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists is not from NJ, but from the cryptic Portobello Institute of Higher Learning - a Down Under messing up of the parabola as we know and love it. Normal transmission and vaguely normal host back next week.
Abbra Cadabra... It’s this week’s Parabola. Two action-packed hours that somehow make my point and purpose plain. Caper 21 contains enough bounce and luster to hold you till April 27 when I return. Phil will 'Phil' in for me next week. You’ll be better off.
You’ve heard of fun, right? Somedays in 2022 it feels like a quaint notion from a distant past. Caper 20 of the Paleface Parabola is your radio fix a flat this week as we fling the likes of the B-52s to Merle and Willie blazing at you. Don’t duck; love. At least... like. Please listen.
The slap in the face to radio earthlings, mollusks and creatures that have made their home in the permafrost the last 40 thousand years... The Paleface Parabola’s plate spin on music and magic and wonder. An ambitious 2 hours together? Certainly. A quality 2 hours together? Dubious.Hey Jada, bald is beautiful. At least it is on you. My mirror says different. S’lainte!
The court now holds a weekly two-hour session on both Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, and to infinity... and a mile past that thru post modern radio portals. Caper 18 is cuddly and has clout. And as usual, crash & burn.
Caper 17 of the weekly melee we, well I, call The Paleface Parabola barges into existence by name checking another JB who likes to get shaken & stirred, and ends with a clear voiced wizard of a guitar playing Irishman. What lurks between these gambits you ask? Alchemy and Anarchy, but of course. C’mon out and play with us!
Caper #16 of our weekly quest asks what should be an easy answer given the complications run wild in the vile and depraved world we strive to peacefully co-exsist in. And it reads as follows... Would you like to Jump with JB? Or would you rather be a fish? You have 88 minutes to submit your final answer.
Dr Eels Magee once said that "John Lennon wanted to Give Peace a Chance and I say to give the Prince of Peace a Chance!" That sentiment is half of caper number 15. As for the rest, try Memphis Minnie, Dinah Washington, Procol Harum, Rory Gallagher and Lou Reed on for size. Now it’s time for noise!
It took approximately 7 hours of pulling music, editing notes, scripting the intro, and performing and editing the show this week. It’s the director's cut. Apocalypse Now or Heaven’s Gate epic length...? It’ll take YOU just 88 minutes to put your pair of ears to judge. Our wingmen this week span the likes of Sir Bob Geldof to Phyllis Diller to Dirty Looks to David Gilmour solo. Good friends to have.
Heard of Sisyphus? You know, the sap who was condemned to roll a rock uphill forever and a day only to have it roll back down? See how I worked a Rock and Roll reference into a Greek mythology excercise in futility? Someday I’ll host the show I have in my head with 100 percent point and purpose. But this is not that week. This week’s 88 minute music span spawns the likes of Lyle Lovett and ends with the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio with razzle dazzle in between. Till we meet again...
There's been enough tragedy in the world over the last two years. We, the management and staff of the Paleface Parabola radio team, state boldly and without fear of contradiction that it’s well past time for a musical carpet ride of magic. Tonight’s guest plate spinners include the A-Bones, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, Steely Dan, and the Five Royales. In addition to the 60 year frenemies named Jagger/McCartney. Add 2 tablespoons of fun and it's this week’s 88 minute quest for glory.
On Groundhog Day here in NJ, you WONT be hearing I Got You Babe on today’s caper number 11 of the Parabola. What you will be witness to in our 88 minute quest for radio fortune and glory is the likes of William Shatner, Leo Kottke, Slim Gaillard, and Mongo Santamaria.Y mas. Can’t give the whole game away!
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
A Parabola is the quest from which we return changed yet essentially the same. It’s the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books with twists from 7,000 miles away.
As Van Morrison once testified, it’s too late to stop now! And so it was and so it shall be on this week’s debut of the weekly opening of the Rock and Roll history books, the Paleface Parabola. 9 songs. 9 decades. In the spotlight-Roy Brown, The Rock and Roll Trio, Little Richard, Graham Parker & the Rumour, Mink Deville, Steve Wynn, The Hi-Risers, The Kettering Vampires, NRBQ, The Grip Weeds and House of Hamill. Phew. Our only rules. No 2 pencils and notebooks mandatory, clothes optional.