only the podcasts and playlists for the Radio CPR program currently residing at http://asignificantgravitasshortfall.tumblr.com
There were atrocious sound problems with this show, and much of it had to be completely reconstructed from the library. The only unaffected parts were the mic sets, and I found those especially obnoxious after the fact (they haven't aged well either). Apologies to any Kevin Ayers fans for marring a tribute to the man with my amateurism. One note: the Broadcast track was meant to evoke "Rheinhardt & Geraldine." Maybe I should have actually played that at some point.
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For some reason I was unhappy with this program and never assembled it into a podcast. Probably because it's a disorganized, unplanned mess. Enjoy!
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Or as we old birds call it: eBay Eve! paDOW! (I'm pretty sure I'm stealing that joke from someone, possibly even a music writer I've met. Lars? Christopher R.W.?)
Grouse is low on planning time these days, so we get to hear that tried and true lazy DJ mainstay: the Let's Listen to Records I Just Bought But Haven't Listened To! show.
It's a talky show: if you love the sound of Grouse's voice as much as he seems to himself, you're in for a treat! What is going on with all these shifting voice-POVs? I'm confused!
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Also, how about that beautiful Cal Tjader photo above? More from that stunning LIFE Magazine spread are available here.
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Rakete bee bee, grouseketeers. Sorry it's taken me a week to post this. Show is also 30 minutes shorter than usual because of punctuality issues. Probably for the best. Mostly jazz, international sounds, and a little bit of easy listening. Enjoy yourself, if you survive the first ten minutes. Rakete bee zee.
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I did two terrible shows in February that are possibly permanently stuck in the podcast queue (programs 35 and 36). They contributed to a general loss of élan for the show and for Radio CPR in the month of March. I quit the station, I re-imagined (but never implemented) the whole podcast, and then I unquit. I'm back. I'm still a mess, but EASGS is back and maybe not going away any time soon. Unless I get cranky again in May.
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Yehudi Menuhin & Ravi Shankar - "Raga Piloo" (from West Meets East: Album 2)
* You are listening to a Grouse going crazy.
* Gentle Giant - "Knots" (from Octopus)
* Grass Widow - "Under the Atmosphere" (from Internal Logic)
* Matmos - "Just Waves" (from The Ganzfeld EP)
* Maston - "Young Hearts" (from Shadows)
* Ruth Welcome - "Parisian Heiress" (from Zither Magic)
* Ed Askew - "Here We Are Together Again" (IND086)
* Natural Dreamers - "Just No Probe" (JNR108)
* Cryptacize - "Cosmic Sing-a-long" (from Dig That Treasure)
* The Return of Lord Apologizer!
+ Stereolab - "Les Yper-Sound" (from Emperor Tomato Ketchup)
* Jowe Head - "Cake Shop Girl" (Cape Shok 01)
* Alash Ensemble - "My Throat, The Ediski" (from Buura)
* Group Inerane - "Tamidit In Aicha" (from Guitars From Agadez Vol 3)
* L'Orchestre National de Mauritanie - "Senam-Mosso" (from L'Orchestre National de Mauritanie)
* Hedzoleh - "Kaa Ye Oyai (Don't Be In A Hurry)" (from Hedzoleh)
* Lord Shorty - "Sweet Music" (from Sweet Soca Music)
* Charanjit Singh - "Raga Kalavati" (from Ten Ragas To a Disco Beat)
* In which the Mighty Grouse rudely belittles the important work of Uncle Matt's upcoming guest.
+ Stereolab - "Les Yper-Sound" (from Emperor Tomato Ketchup)
* Albert Ayler - "Heart Love" (from New Grass*)
Snow was in the forecast when I did this show more than two weeks ago, but it never came. We've seen 70 degree days since then, but as if in direct challenge of the will of the God of Punxatawney, it's 20 degrees out and snowing now as I type this post. Enjoy some snow tunes, then warm up with some 2013 soca hits!
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The Lady Katie joins the Mighty Grouse for an hour on the annual Radio CPR New Year's Eve Marathon. I think we showed up a little early for the party.
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All day I had the words "this world over" floating in my head, and only after doing this show did I remember that's a song title on my least favorite XTC record.* So it was left out of this impromptu apocalyptical set.
A few months ago while reading about Kaoru Abe, I learned about his exploitative biopic. At the time, I joked that I should try to get the movie and play it on the air. And then I found the movie, and the Grouse stands by his word. It's a "Sid & Nancy for the free jazz set." The Lady Katie, listening from Shaw, asked if the movie was just sex and crying; and indeed it is. But also a few dust-ups, an amputated toe (for love's sake), and some blistering improv. As far as I can tell, the real Keiji Haino and Fushitsusha play themselves, on and off stage. My knowledge of the Japanese free jazz scene is extremely limited; with the exception of the lead actor, they all looked like real players giving semi-real performances.
The entire movie audio was broadcast on 97.5 FM on 12.20.12. The entire audio is again presented here... because, what the hell. The full video is out there if you're really interested. Good luck finding subtitles! While on the air, I did my best to live tweet some visuals, and I've collected them at the bottom of this post.
While typing these notes, I learned that the director of "Endless Waltz," Koji Wakamatsu, died in October. Let's just pretend, ex post facto, that this whole thing was a belated tribute to a director I'd never heard of. For podcasting purposes, I cannot link to anything above my audio link below. But click on his name in the playlist for the New York Times obituary. Rest in peace, Koji.
The original plan for today was 1:44 to "Endless Waltz," 4 minutes to a late tribute to Ravi Shankar (the appropriate "I Am Missing You"), and 4 minutes for Bird's rendition of White Christmas. I hadn't planned to give in to the zeitgeist and do an end of the world set. But then the Lady Katie requested the Ted Leo track that we open with. I also showed up early for the first time in a great while, so bonus world-ending radio for all!
*It would have made a good segue piece in this set too; from XTC to Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her (the band, named after the XTC song on "The Big Express"), to Kaoru Abe.
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Heading to the @radiocpr underground bunker now. Here's a little preview of tonight's show. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 20, 2012
I believe we're starting in the future, and this is Kaoru and Izumi's daughter. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Izumi is having sex in the bunkbed below her. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
But not with Kaoru, who is apparently watching. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Early in the relationship, these two have a lot of sex. And a lot of naked post-coital hangouts. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Kaoru invades shower time. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Missed this one a bit earlier... Kaoru playing under the bridge. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Dramatic close-up. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I think that was a comparison to Jimi Hendrix & Janis Joplin? #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
This band is playing a set... then Kaoru just walks in from the back of the room. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
And jumps on stage, but they seem to be getting along. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
The other sax player does have this look of "wtf man, this is my set!" #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Dude, Kaoru, she's drunk off her ass. Drunk sex is not consensual sex! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh look they're moving in together. That was fast. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Is this look meant to evoke...a drummer I'd have to guess. But he looks like one of my Vietnamese uncles. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
This handsome devil is not your typical alto player. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Hippies. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
What's with the satchel/school boy look? Going for the AC/DC of free jazz or something? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Kaoru gave this book to some guy trying to sound erudite for a lady after his set. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Hi guy. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Wait, who is this guy and why is he beaten on the floor of their hallway? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
He's got a story to tell Izumi and the other hippie chick. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
They have a fight, Kaoru runs out to pour his pain into his sax. Eyes rolling back: foreshadowing? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh shit! pre-seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
And post-seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Recovering with some Van Gogh. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Another fight, but now Kaoru's made it up to playing on top of the bridge. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh, there was some mutual hair-pulling in that last fight. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Izumi can't stand him practicing in the apt, so she fights back with pop radio, causing another seizure. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
While Izumi's out, Kaoru reads her writing, and she is none too pleased. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
And the row that erupts is loud enough to have the neighbors call the cops on them. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Better times, though they both seem high. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
OH GOD. I THINK SHE JUST CUT OFF HER TOE TO PROVE SHE LOVES HIM. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Face of toe cutting. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I won't show you the gory fake cut off toe, but here is the aftermath. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Trail of blood. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
passing out from blood loss (Kaoru knocked a bunch of TP down from a cabinet and is trying to clean up) #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Showing the toe to his friends. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Good for you Izumi, kick him out using the same knife you used to cut off your own toe for him. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I like Kaoru's new musical partner, who's equally abrasive, just a capella. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh and it looks like he's in some sort of metal-noise band. Pretty edgy for the mid-70s, huh? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
aww look at the fat baby. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
for some reason kaoru switches to harmonica for the kid. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
shacking up with another lady, is horrible to her too. twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Now it seems that paranoia is plaguing poor Kaoru. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Time for a nice family stroll on the beach. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Did he bring her some sort of dead bird as a peace offering? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
basically twice the man that kaoru is, because he can play a bigger sax AND a clarinet at the same time. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
how can kaoru and everyone else resist dancing to this amazing beat? #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
He literally cannot follow them. Bows and walks off without playing. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
uh oh, it's the pills mixed with booze part of the movie. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
which inspires a mean harmonica solo! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I thought this was gonna be the big one. Also thought he swallowed his harmonica at first. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Shaky feet. Maybe he's just cold and you should cover them up, Izumi. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh wait, that was the big one. And now a reprise of the movie's opening cheesy harmonica rendition of Amazing Grace. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
His funeral has an unholy sounding duet on St. James between a harmonica and a sax. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I like free jazz, but I feel bad for the people who have to attend this funeral. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Oh, that opening scene... Kaoru wasn't watching her have sex. Imaginary Dead Kaoru was watching in Izumi's mind. #endlesswaltz
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Fat baby is all grown up, and she's all Izumi's got left. #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Don't do it Izumi, you've got a daughter to raise! #endlesswaltz twitter.com/KingGrouse/sta…
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
Also, who hangs themselves by leaning into a noose? Unless, say a prison door knob is involved #endlesswaltz #dangelobarksdaleneverforget
— The Mighty Grouse (@KingGrouse) December 21, 2012
I feel like we haven't done a show this... stable?... in more than 6 months. Planning is caring, for my own sanity and for the ears of the discerning radio listener. The seed of this show was leftovers from the previous week (the dreaded 5th to 1st Thursday no-gap!). But toss in the unfortunate death of Dave Brubeck and some choice new material, and we get a program far superior--far more structurally sound--than the previous week. And then for the next show, December 20, we're returning to anti-radio!
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Radio CPR is broadcasting beyond its own backyard for the first time in the life of Experiencing a Significant Gravitas Shortfall, and the Grouse, as you might expect, crumbles under the pressure. Late start because of a DJ training session before the show.
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Nearly every Thursday that I do this show, I bring a copy of something by Daniel Bachman to the studio in my bag of records, tapes, CDs and other tricks. Yet somehow, I've only played him once in the 29 previous shows (Sacred Harp, way back in Program 4). And it wasn't even an official broadcast; it was something I tacked on after the fact. Well I'm making up for that in this program by plugging the hell out of DB's show in DC this Friday night. See the previous posts or listen to this podcast to find out the whens and wherefores.
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Election day is almost here, much of the East coast is under water, and Halloween has come and gone without the Mighty Grouse making you listen to 15 versions of the Monster Mash. You come to us for satisfaction, and instead we give you these sadistic candles: a hurricane set, an atheist DJ acknowledging a Christian holiday, and a new track from Lello Boscoverde called "93 Years of Disappointment" (an invective to the Great Communicator). But what's really important is that we all Come Together, no matter what happens this Tuesday. And I think we can all unite over the majesty of Frederic Rzewski's tribute to the rioters of Attica (last track! show highlight!).
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A sentence begun and interrupted on 10.04.12 is finished (and slightly restated) in this program. Seeking proposals for anti-radio stunts to close out 2012. Please phone (READ-GROUSE on the dial) or email them to your friendly neighborhood Grouse.
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Back on the air in our regular format of totally batshit disorganization. We've got baseball, we've got tape noise, we've got plinky indie rock and skronky horns. And it's all tied together with a tattered twine of logic that only a bird could understand. The last bit of this show felt truncated (I was kind of hoping Uncle Matt would come super late). So I might actually repeat a song or two at the top of PROGRAM 28 before going where I meant to go had I kept going.
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DJ 86 and I decided to trade 3rd and 4th Thursdays this month. While it is not required by 86 or the station in anyway, I like to treat fill-in shows as a chance to cater to a different programming audience; doing a show that isn't exactly like The Cone of Noize but should hopefully find a way to appeal to its regular audience. Even though my show is "freeform" sometimes it's nice to take a break from the restrictions inherent in that form. Basically, in a world of absolute freedom, genre-rigidity is liberation!
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From Kollywood and Bollywood to a calypso boogaloo, with some artier stops in between, this hour long sojourn tries to make amends to everyone who tuned out on the first hour. But you're still gonna have to hear Steve Reich and Philip Glass and you're going to like it! Can my new nom de guerre be "Messiagh of roaratorios"?
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On the spur of the moment, I decided that EASGS would unofficially take part in the John Cage Centennial Festival by airing Cage's ROARATORIO in its entirety. I swear it isn't because I forgot to plan this week's show (these back to back 5th and 1st Thursdays always sneak up on me!). For this program, I'm trying something different. I have a sneaking suspicion that some of you might not feel like listening to an hour-long Irish circus. Rather than making you hold down fast-forward (and risk skipping me entirely!) I've split the first half of the show off as Program 26.1. The podcast you can dance to is Program 26.2. Note, if you're the sort of weirdo who ONLY wants to listen to avant literary sound effects, my further discussion of the piece extends into the beginning of 26.2.
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The dreaded fifth Thursday of the month, when all ideas run dry! Join the Mighty Grouse for songs long and short, and much much longer. Quiet and loud. Serious and not. Skronk and pop. I'm out of things to say. Back on the air the Thursday after Labor Day!
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The City of New Orleans is at risk of washing away for the second time in ten years, so EASGS presents a set of New Orleans music as tribute in this podcast, curated by the Lady Katie (though this show was actually recorded when the only Isaac on our minds was of the Hayes variety). And it's sandwiched by our ABSOLUTELY FINAL installment in a tired and boring theme.
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Bill Doss of the Olivia Tremor Control died a few days before this program aired. The Mighty Grouse remembers some of his favorite Thebilldoss tracks, along with some more speaking tracks, and a few things rotating around the OTC part of his brain. The end of the program didn't record due to a pulled power cord in the studio, but it's been assembled here without the final awkward back-announce.
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Feels like it's been a while since there's been a show without a grand theme. A return to normalcy? The new normal also apparently means I take 6 weeks and a day to process every podcast. Guess what, we're back on the air this Thursday/tomorrow at 7pm. Death is back, so expect their to be some sort of tribute to Bill Doss of the Olivia Tremor Control.
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It's the day-late July 4th show (and the week late podcast!). The Mighty Grouse pays tribute to his sister bird, The Cuckoo, who only sings "cuckoo" each year on Independence Day. Then it's on to a big America set, which in true Grousey fashion has to end up in Trinidad eventually.
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The Mighty Grouse is a lazy bird. It is known. But I've been meaning to post this podcast for weeks. It almost went out right on the tail of the first half of the DEATH SET, but late night Audacity cleanup sessions can only take you so far before a 6 AM flight to Minneapolis. And now it's been in the can for a week waiting for Verizon to recover from THE GREAT STORM OF 2012. Goodbye DSL, you are dead to me, literally.
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The Mighty Grouse looks back at several musicians who died while EASGS was off the air. This show came out with a prominent R&B focus, with a dash of pop. Program 20 will pay closer attention to the country/bluegrass musicians who died in May.
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The Mighty Grouse has been out of town for about 2 months now. While stuck in New York I was hoping to make several appearances on Washington Heights Free Radio. Several became just one appearance last month. Here's a quick jump back into the past, a time when the Flyers still stood a chance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Another trip to Indonesia before landing back in the warm, familiar waters of the Caribbean.
EASGS should be returning to the Washington DC airwaves soon... possibly even this coming Thursday at 7pm.
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