Category Archive: Teenage Kicks

Teenage Kicks ... High on XTC

Posted at 3:04 PM on November 18, 2009 by Jacquie Fuller (1 Comments)
Filed under: Teenage Kicks

In 1986, I was a surly, Siouxsie-Sioux-haired teenager, fresh out of a six-month stint in a half-way house. I was misunderstood, man! But then I heard a song on the radio (I was lucky to have a station back then that played this stuff) and it spoke to my tortured soul. (It also seriously freaked my mom out, which earned it vital bonus points.)

I still think "Dear God" is a great song. But as I came to know XTC better, I came to appreciate the parts of them that appealed to my sunnier side (yes, I had one.) XTC is a pop band, and I am a shameless and unabashed lover of pop. This band gave us sweet, jangly gems like "Generals and Majors," "Senses Working Overtime," "Making Plans for Nigel," and "Earn Enough for Us."

This is the point where I'd go into a little history of the band, but why not let them tell you? With puppets.

Tune in to Teenage Kicks, this Saturday from 8-10am, for more of our featured artist--XTC--plus other vintage goodies from OMD, Wire, The Jam, Iggy Pop, and more. And while you're here--why not share your thoughts about XTC (ahem ... Seel?)

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Teenage Kicks ... brought to you by the letter X.

Posted at 3:00 PM on November 4, 2009 by Jacquie Fuller (1 Comments)
Filed under: Teenage Kicks

I hosted a "retro" radio show in college with the unfortunate name of "Blue Eyeliner," and it's long been a dream of mine to have a similar show on The Current. I pitched it to our Program Director, Jim McGuinn, and found out he had a similar dream. A few weeks ago, Jim gave it the green light and put the training wheels on by getting the show started while I was busy putting on The Current's member drive.

This weekend, the wheels come off! I'm super-excited to be hosting Teenage Kicks, and hope you'll give me lots of feedback, suggestions, and requests. (And don't worry--Jim will still be around from time to time, filling in, especially when there's a member drive going on.)

If you haven't caught Teenage Kicks yet, it airs Saturday mornings from 8-10 am. Remember when the term "alternative," with regard to music, entered the collective consciousness? Well, Teenage Kicks is all about the music that came before "alternative." Back then it was "college radio," "modern radio," call it what you will. But you get the gist!

This week's featured artist is X. Frontwoman Exene Cervenka has a new album out, so it seemed timely to take a look back at the band. Formed in Los Angeles in 1977, X forged a sound all their own: a combination of punk, blues, rockabilly and country, sugared on the edges by the crooning duo of Exene and John Doe. When you hear an X song, you recognize it right away as an X song. Few bands have managed to hit the same register.

I had trouble finding early footage of the band, but here they are playing "The New World," from their 1983 album, More Fun in the New World, at a recent SXSW.

I remember one SXSW--I think it was '99--I was watching the free show at Waterloo Park. Who did I see there, fire-engine red hair blazing, chilling out on a blanket like it was Easter Sunday? Yep--Exene. (I still want to be her.)

What are your memories of X? Seen 'em live? Got an X song that's close to your heart? Share your X story below, and tune in on Saturday morning for Teenage Kicks!

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Boo! Teenage Kicks this Saturday 8-10am

Posted at 4:42 PM on October 29, 2009 by Jim McGuinn (3 Comments)
Filed under: Teenage Kicks

Happy Halloween - we'll drop in some spooky retro this Saturday morning on Teenage Kicks. Got a suggestion? Leave a comment below - and dig a little Bauhaus video to get you in the mood...

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Teenage Kicks this Saturday morning with featured artist The The

Posted at 2:25 PM on October 22, 2009 by Jim McGuinn (2 Comments)
Filed under: Teenage Kicks

Have you heard Teenage Kicks yet? Saturday mornings from 8-10am we dig deep into the alt vault to bring you a look back at our musical life before nirvana. Included in the show each week is a Featured Artist - that you will hear tracks from at 8:15, 8:45, 9:15, and 9:45. Last week we launched the show with the Clash as the featured artist, this week we'll shine a spotlight on The The.

As the band's wiki entry says, The The is a British musical and multimedia group that has been active in various forms since 1979, with singer/songwriter/frontman Matt Johnson being the only constant band member. Releases are fairly few and far between for the band, but over the years The The have sold several million albums internationally and achieved critical acclaim -- their 1983 album Soul Mining was voted the third best album of the year by British music magazine Melody Maker.

So here's the new weekly question for you - please leave a comment if have a The The request - or if you've got a memory of a live show or if The The meant something special to you in your life.

This is the Day (Saturday, that is) to hear some The The on Teenage Kicks -

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New Sat morning radio show needs a name... help!

Posted at 8:51 AM on October 15, 2009 by Jim McGuinn (43 Comments)
Filed under: Teenage Kicks

If we were writing a personal about the headlined topic, it might look like this -

Desperating seeking retro show name. Email or leave a comment below. Music from late 70s to early 90s. Life before Nirvana. Help!

This Saturday morning we're launching a new show from 8am-10am on the Current - the show will delve into the history of Alternative music - from punk to grunge, with an emphasis on the late '70s to the late '80s era when post-punk or indie or modern or college rock (or whatever you want to call it) was first emerging as an alternative culture to the mainstream - think bands like Talking Heads, Smiths, INXS, Specials, R.E.M., and thousands more... and after several brainstorming sessions, we still feel like we haven't found the right name yet.

So here's where you can help - let's have a virtual brainstorm - chip in your ideas here, leave comments on other folks', and maybe you'll be the person who names our new show.

AND as an incentive, if we use your idea, we'll hook you up with a couple of CDs - recent reissues from Radiohead (Kid A) and Beastie Boys (Ill Communication).

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