"ADVENTURE JUKEBOX" RADIO SHOW - WXCI-FM, DANBURY, CT. 1985. HOSTED BY RAY CAPPO

I've long been a fan of regional college radio programs that had the audacity to play hardcore punk on the airwaves during it's formative years. The 1980s American hardcore scene will probably be forever indebted to programs like the seminal Maximum Rock & Roll radio show as well as more regionally focused programs like WNYU-FM's "Noise the Show". These radio shows were so essential at the time because they represented the starkest opposition to the then (and now, sadly) flaccid brand of corporate FM radio. More specifically, these pioneering shows gave listeners a chance to hear all of the great new records that were coming out at the time, advertisements for local hardcore gigs, and interviews with local and touring bands.

The "Adventure Jukebox" was the premier hardcore punk college radio show in the western Connecticut area for quite awhile. Broadcasted from the campus of Western Connecticut State University (my alma mater), this show began sometime in the early 1980s and presumably ended sometime in the late 80s. "Adventure Jukebox" was hosted by a fellow named Darryl Ohrt. Much like the aforementioned MRR & "Noise" radio shows mentioned above, "Adventure Jukebox" focused on all of the rad newly released underground music that was coming out at the time as well as spreading the word about local hardcore punk shows that were happening at the Anthrax in Stamford (and later, Norwalk).These gigs featured top notch touring bands and as well as blossoming local hardcore bands. During the early 80s, the Connecticut hardcore scene was flourishing quickly because of such exciting bands like CIA, Vatican Commandoes, 76% Uncertain, Violent Children, Lost Generation, Reflex From Pain, Seizure, No Milk On Tuesday, Young Republicans, etc. "Adventure Jukebox" was responsible for playing these killer bands on the radio before anyone else.

This specific episode posted here for download is pretty cool because it features a set of crucial tracks hand picked by Danbury native Ray Cappo, right around the time that the mighty Youth of Today formed. The first few tracks on this tape have Daryl Ohrt as DJ but the majority of the tape features Ray. It's possible that Daryl was there in the studio the day this was recorded since the "AJ" was his radio show or those tracks are from an earlier broadcast.

Essentially, this serves as an enjoyable mix tape for me. Ray picks a bunch of ultra classic tracks (all of them, nearly) that are favorites of his and plays them live on the radio. It's really awesome to hear bands like Discharge, 7 Seconds, Code of Honor, DOA, and Urban Waste played on the radio within a few years of these records being released. It must have been very exciting times to hear this kind of music on local radio and be involved in the underground. These days, college radio is far less exciting as it's more or less a bastion of formulaic fluff selected by independent labels with major label tactics. Come to think of it, the disintegration of contemporary college radio into a consolidated mass of CMJ and Pitchfork Media approved sterility is quite ironic when you consider how the medium got it's start.

This broadcast was recorded sometime during 1985. I don't have a more specific date because the cassette master doesn't provide any other information than this year. I've been meaning to ask Ray Cappo if he has any additional information about this tape, but I'd imagine recalling anything like this would be analogous to me remembering something I did when I was 13. You can also see that some tracks were cut out by the original taper.

Track listing:

The FU’s: Beast In My Bed

Rich Kids on LSD: Adolescent Death

White Flag: Psycho Cop

Broken Bones: Problem

DYS: Stand Proud

Jerry’s Kids: I Don’t Belong

Gang Green: Have Fun

The Freeze: Broken Bones

Deep Wound: I Saw It

DYS: Yellow

Scream: Your Wars/Killer

Bad Brains: Coptic Times

Iron Cross: You’re a Rebel

Meatmen: Tooling For Anus

Double O: You’ve Lost

Agnostic Front: Blind Justice

Major Conflict: Out Group

The Mob: Dr Butcher

Urban Waste: Police Brutality

Anthrax: Deathrider

Abused: Drug Free Youth

Adrenaline OD: AOD vs Godzilla

The Misfits: Astro Zombies

The Plasmatics: Monkey Suit

DOA: Unknown

Negative Approach: Your Mistake

Corrosion of Conformity: Tell Me

Verbal Abuse: Power Play

Big Boys: Sound on Sound

Discharge: Hell on Earth

7 Seconds: Boss

7 Seconds: Racism Sucks

7 Seconds: Fight Your Own Fight

Code of Honor: Code of Honor

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?2d9587iu2j889ms

NAKED RAYGUN: VFW HALL, KANSAS CITY, MO. 8.11.84. AUDIENCE RECORDING.

Shortly after Midwest thrash had assigned itself to it's own secluded ghetto, where it would knowingly decide not to challenge the musical aesthetics of other genres, a new type of punk ascended from it's rigid cadaver. Naked Raygun (along with other Midwest imaginative heavyweights like Husker Du, the Replacements, Big Black, and Killdozer) were one of the most promising and fresh groups to emerge from the monotony. Naked Raygun’s magical powers were that they expanded the parameters of what many thought hardcore punk was. Moreover, they abandoned the ensnarements of tuneless thrash while producing punk rock that was strong enough to maybe even be taken into consider by the mainstream music critics. Even if this was never actually achieved, they helped push punk forward by giving adventurous people without mohawks something to take pleasure in.

This recording represents an enjoyable audience recording captured during the summer of '84. This performance is heavy with tracks from "Basement Screams" which were dropped a short time later. When comparing this set list with Naked Raygun live tapes I have from only a year or so later, virtually all of these tracks faded out of their live set.

This performance was originally taped by the gentleman who runs the excellent Oxide Flake website. He does something quite similar to this site in documenting many shows that he originally taped in Kansas and Missouri. This site can be viewed here: http://mrfink.com/oxideflake/

Track list:

1. Knock Me Down

2. I Don’t Know

3. Home Of The Brave

4. Mofo

5 .Stupid

6. No Sex

7. Surf Combat

8. Metastasis

9. Gear

10. The Strip

11. Bomb Shelter

12. Tojo

13. Swingo

14. Only In America

15. Managua

16. Rat Patrol

17. Potential Rapist

18. Dog At Large

19. New Dreams (cut)

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?znz4khjyvkm

BL'AST: SPORTMAN'S LODGE, SUN VALLEY, CA. 6.20.85. SOUNDBOARD RECORDING.

Hailing from Santa Cruz, CA and originally forming under the monicker M.A.D. (standing for Mutually Assured Destruction, of course) in late 1982, Bl'ast (the apostrophe was used to make their visual logo "more dynamic" according to vocalist Clifford Dinsmore) are of my favorite hardcore bands to ever exist. Detractors will often cite that they made a career out of imitating label mates Black Flag but this opinion doesn't lend itself to the fact that Bl'ast were a great band in their own right and definite forerunners of the stoner rock sound. Without question, guitarist Mike Neider and drummer Bill Torgerson selected a Dan Armstrong guitar and Ludwig Vistalite drums respectively because their heroes Black Flag made this look renowned. Henry Rollins mentions this briefly in a "Get In the Van" entry where he clearly discredits the band for being unoriginal and tacky.

Regardless of the fact that "Power Of Expression" LP has been permanently burned into my prefrontal cortex, I still get excited every single time it finds itself on my turntable. This soundboard recording is nearly just as powerful. This 1985 set recorded in Sun Valley, California showcases Bl'ast performing material that would find itself on their debut album shortly after. The sound quality is excellent and the mix is nothing to scoff at. This is a remarkable recording that should find itself in the collection of any self-respecting Bl'ast devotee.

Track list:

1. Our Explanation

2. I Don't Need It

3. Break It Down

4. E.I.B.

5. Fuckin' With My Head

6. School's Out (Alice Cooper)

7. Surf and Destroy

8. The Future

9. It's Alive

10. 12XU (Wire)

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?wlljwwmwd5m

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: DEAD SERIOUS 1985 DEMO

Attitude Adjustment were an underrated thrash band from San Francisco that formed in 1985. They are perhaps most well known in hardcore punk circles for releasing a record on Pushead’s classic label, Pusmort. This album, “American Paranoia”, presented a sound that was equal parts hardcore and metal, thus earning the distinction of being a true “crossover” document. A major lineup change resulted in definitively thrash metal sound after the initial album.

This was the only demo that was ever released by Attitude Adjustment. These songs exhibit a more hardcore influenced approach than their debut album on Pusmost that was released two years after this demo. These songs are brief and blistering. These songs seem to have a faultless contrast between hardcore and metal. It is my opinion that this is the best material the band ever released.

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?lzwummkumzd