July 24, 2010

After traveling to the desert and back, Saturday Session is on. Be sure to tune in for your three hours of influence only on WMAY dot com from 4 to 7 CST. Don't forget, you can also join the chat room with live streaming video with Saturday Session's tiny chat room (available from 4 to 7 CST only).

Download the MP3 of July 24th's Session here and don't forget to watch all the very moving daily video blogs captured on the road with Free Beer and Hot Wings' Producer Joe and Bishop.

Free Lyndsay?

For the past week, Bishop traveled with Producer Joe Gasmann of The Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show to document probably one of the most elaborate and ridiculously absurd radio stunts the world has ever known. Though the name of the stunt changed many times, it essentially was the Producer Joe Double Rainbow Lindsay Lohan Freedom Trip.

Here's the premise: Producer Joe would drive in a 1995 Dodge Caravan, with no AC and painted with logos from companies that sponsored the trip, all the way across the country to try to free Lindsay Lohan from her jail sentence. On the way producer Joe would pick up Bear, the crazy double rainbow guy, and eventually make it to Los Angeles. The main purpose of going to L.A. was to make the media spectacle surrounding Lohan's turning herself in even more ridiculous with Producer Joe acting like her biggest fan but the trip alone made for an incredible story!

Well, everything went off without a hitch, and hours upon hours of footage were captured. You can see daily video blogs online at Free Beer and Hot Wings' website (caution, most of the videos have strong and offensive language). The journey through the heart of American and across the blazing desert with no AC is condensed for you to see what it was really like in the car and around various scenes. After a week and 1 day of traveling to meet a viral video character and to parade outside a Beverly Hills Court House, it is time to get back to reality.

News on the March

The past week's news flew by so fast. After de-programming 60-plus hours of road from his visual cortex, Bishop will give you an overview of some of the things you may have missed out on from the last 7 days. News on the march is a compilation of stories that may have been under-covered, especially as the mainstream continues it's focus on the scandalous behavior of post-teen starlets and professional athletes. Be sure to catch all the stories Bishop covers (and some there just is no time for) with Bishop's Shared Items through Google Reader.

Free Press

Saturday Session will surely continue to discuss the issues of the first amendment. In particular, the importance of the free press. Everyone is a citizen journalist. Everyone has the right to be the press and to get up front a news conferences with cameras in politicos faces or to keep a watchful eye on law enforcement. Everyone must do these things, in order for true freedom. If you don't have the time to do it, support a local organization that does have the time, resource and patience to do it.

Turn on Saturday Session for the latest developments on the assault of a truly free press and why it is important to act now. Granted, the past few generations' media realities have been primarily controlled by corporate media, but it is not too late to counteract the poor attentive public with rich local and/or independent media content. The internet is a very useful resource ... that is sadly also under attack.

Community Access

Tonight, the Access 4 Producer's Group is holding another fundraiser in the upstairs at Broadway Nights in Springfield. Be sure to swing by for the Runway Show/Art Exhibit/Concert/Comedy Show tonight at 210 Broadway in Springfield and also support community public access. Hopefully Saturday Session will hear from Access 4 organizer Ted Keylon

Contact

Greg Bishop can be contacted many different ways. Check out Bishop's Google Profile (after Session's conversation with Katherine, who knows how much bigger Google will get) to get links and phone numbers. To call Saturday Session on WMAY, dial 217.629.7970 or email bishop@wmay.com. You can also join the video chat room with live streaming video (available during the show, 4 to 7p CST, only)

July 14, 2010

Music News from the Rock Station, 92-7 WQLZ by Bishop

Getting hitched

Not sure if this will sell more albums—hell, this could anger some of you ladies out there enough to boycott his new album. Bret Michaels has reportedly purposed to his on-and-off girlfriend of 16 years. Star magazine reports that Michaels popped the question to Krysti Lynn Gibson just after the 4th of July weekend at his Arizona ranch. Surely this will be used as a big moment on Michaels' new reality show, “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It,” which is due out this fall.

Premium rental

It's a beautiful piece of beach-front property that could be yours month by month for a mere $40,000 per month. This three story oceanfront residence has a luxurious 4,500 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. Here's what makes this rental property so appealing: this $5.1 million home was purchased back in 2003 by the one and only Ozzy Osbourne and his wife/manager Sharron. It would be interesting to see what kind of drugs Ozzy left laying around the humble abode. Check out photos of the house here.

Teaming up

After their trek across the country with the Monster Energy Drink Uproar Festival and a stop in Springfield for the Capital City Rockfest (CCRF), Stone Sour and Avenged Sevenfold will be hooking up for a jaunt overseas starting October 26th in Glasgow, UK. Stone Sour front man Corey Taylor said this bill is battling the watered-down bills where there are same sounding beats and similar songs from band after band. The mix of Stone Sour and Avenged Sevenfold will bring a truly diverse show for audiences to experience. But, we'll get the two bands first here in Springfield when they'll be joined by Hellyeah, Sick Puppies, Halestorm, Hale the Villian, New Medicine, Janus and My Darkest Days at the PCCC August 13th. Secure your tickets at the Prairie Capital Convention Center box office. By the way, Hellyeah's album “Stampeded” hit the shelves yesterday. Stone Sour's forthcoming album will be out September 7th, while Avenged Sevenfold's forthcoming release “Nightmare” will be out July 27th. Shhh ... this is still a secret, but be listening to WQLZ for your chance to not only win tickets to the CCRF, but you can also win a copy of “Nightmare” before you can buy it.

Catch the Music Minute every weekday with the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show on 92-7 WQLZ, the Rock Station.

Post Script: The music minute will be postponed while Bishop hits the road with Producer Joe to head over to LA for the Lindsay Lohan Double Rainbow Freedom Trip. Keep an eye on Free Beer and Hot Wings' website for regular updates from the road.

July 13, 2010

Music News from the Rock Station, 92-7 WQLZ by Bishop

Win tickets with WQLZ

The Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival kicked off on Sunday in California. The touring fest will be in St. Louis a week from today. Be sure to tune in to WQLZ for your chance to win, not only tickets, but you could win a pair of pit passes and jump the line privileges only with the Rock Station, 92.7 WQLZ! So, be listening for your chance to get the hook up with tickets to the Rock Star Energy Mayhem Festival featuring Atreyu, Shadows Fall, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch, and Korn. Korn's new album is out today, so be sure to swing by your local independent record store and pick up “Korn III: Remember Who You Are.” Another spectacle you surely will see down in St. Louis a week from today will be Rob Zombie.

Horror shorts

Are you an aspiring horror director? If so, Rob Zombie wants you! Universal studios has hooked up with the horror director/rocker for the “Halloween Horror Nights with Rob Zombie Film Compilation.” Here's how it works: you film and direct a short horror flick that will be judged by Zombie and a panel of Halloween Horror Night team members and industry professionals. You gotta get your film in by August 14th. The top 10 flicks will be posted online for the voting by the internet public. It's gotta be a short, though ... so don't get crazy with a long horror movie. Submissions should be between 90 seconds to 3 minutes, so be sure to pack a punch. Online voting will be between September 3rd and September 17th. The grand prize winner will win a premier showing on Chiller TV, a posting at SyFy.com, $1,000 cash money and a trip for two to the opening night of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, Hollywood. Get all the details you need to send off you submission here.

Catch the Music Minute every weekday with the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show on 92-7 WQLZ, the Rock Station.

July 12, 2010

Music News from the Rock Station, 92-7 WQLZ by Bishop

Bigger the cushion, sweeter the pushin'

Who says fat girls get no love? A new all-star compilation is in the works to glorify all those classic rock tunes about buxom beauties. “Whole Lotta of Love: An All Star Salute to Fat Chicks” will be some of the best known metalers getting together to cover the best known tunes about our favorite plus sized hotties. Some of the tunes to be covered will be “Fat Bottom Girl” by Queen, AC/DC's “Whole Lotta Rosie,” Poison's “Unskinny Bob,” and even “Bit Bottom” by Spinal Tap. LA Guns' Phil Lewis, who is intimate with the project, said “There is much to be said for those exquisite women who are built for comfort, rather than speed … Let's hear it for the plush princesses who are confident in their curves! You truly do make my rockin' world go 'round.” Lewis joins musicians from all across the metal spectrum; from Ratt, to TNT, to Cinderella, Jackyl and even Twisted Sister, just to name a few. This must-have album is due out August 31st, from Split Screen Entertainment. Get more details and hear some samples at the project's MySpace Page because fatties need love too!

Clash of the Titans, take two

It's the Big Four, minus one. Leg two of the “American Carnage” tour will feature Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth, but not Metallica. The tour kicks off in September and will hit up 20 dates. The closest the tour resembling the “Clash of the Titans” tour will come to central Illinois is Fr. Wayne, Indiana on October 14th. Megadeth will once again be playing their entire album “Rust in Peace” from beginning to end. Slayer has their album “Seasons of the Abyss” lined up and ready to perform. Anthrax is hooking back up with singer Joey Belladonna, who is credited with leading the band during their hayday. There will be a pre-orders for the tour on three band's websites. This seems to be a sign that the Big Four may not be touring the states as had been hoped by fans across the country.

Catch the Music Minute every weekday with the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show on 92-7 WQLZ, the Rock Station.

July 9, 2010

Music News from the Rock Station,92-7 WQLZ by Bishop

New tour & controversial mention

Buckcherry has hit the big time! They've got an album on the way August 3rd and a new tour with Nickelback set to kick off in September. The next time Nickleback comes around on tour, they'll be joined by the bad boys from LA. The closest they'll be coming to central Illinois is either Nashville, TN, or Fr. Wayne, IN, September 15th & 16th, respectively. But what is most fascinating is the mention of how Buckcherry is credited with providing the alternate title for a book written by an Iranian woman and her account of being a roadie for rock stars. This book will surely set the middle east in flames with the sexually liberating content and title. Roxanne Shirazi, an Iranian born woman who ended up being a backstage roadie for bands wrote a book called “The Last Living Slut: Born in Iran, Bred Backstage.” Surely HarperCollins will have a fatwa set out after them publishing the controversial
book.

Streaming online & set to play the holy land

Despite it being considered the birth place of the the big three, Christianity, Judiams and the Muslim faith, Israel is set to get one of the heaviest rock festivals the world has known. September 28th, Ozzy will be joined by a whole slew of bands that have yet to be announced, for a show in Israel. Tickets are the equivalent to $110 US (425 Israel New Shekels). One band that has been confirmed is Korn, who won't be touring with the festival in the states but will appear in Israel. On an aside, Korn's forthcoming album “Korn III: Remember Who You Are” is streaming online to the right of this story. It is interesting to see how Ozzfest and Korn have chosen not to boycott Israel as several other big-time artists have. Elvis Costello, Carlos Santana, and the Pixies, just to name a few, have all boycotted playing in Israel because of their attack on an aid flotilla to the Palestinians settlers in the West Bank. Another related note: Korn will be featured this Sunday night on WQLZ at 7pm for a one hour special hosted by Matt Pinfield. Don't miss it!

Catch the Music Minute every weekday with the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show on 92-7 WQLZ, the Rock Station.

July 8, 2010

Music News from the Rock Station,92-7 WQLZ by Bishop

New single to blast off

Guaranteed, the next single released from Godsmack will surely rocket up to No. 1. The new album “The Oracle” has been out for bit now and the first single “Crying Like a Bitch” took off and made itself known to the rock world. Now the latest single “Love Hate Sex Pain” is set to do the same. Sully Erna shared with fans that the first single “Crying Like a Bitch” was about Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx, but this time, for “Love Hate Sex Pain” the Godsmack front man is not talking. Why? Well, he seems to have an apprehension of sharing too much with the public because “a little bit too much information has come back to bite me in the ass,” he said. If he was to talk about “Love Hate Sex Pain” his 8-year-old daughter, who can now read very well, may find herself reading what daddy wrote ... and who wants their 8-year-old daughter to read what daddy had to say about love, hate, sex, and pain? “The Oracle” has been out since May and is still riding high on the Billboard Rock Charts at No. 4.

Projected sales

He survived acute appendicitis, a sub arachnoid hemorrhage, an American Idol appearance and bout on Celebrity Apprentice where he walked away with the prize. Now, he's got a new album out that is projected to sell up to 30,000 copies in the first week of sales. The album “Custom Built” hit the stands Tuesday and fans are clamoring to get their hands on the latest from the Poison front man, especially after all the hype from this past Spring. The album features Michaels as himself with guests like Miley Cirus, AKA Sasquatch Face, Jason Miller of Godhead, and Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down. Meanwhile, Michaels is continuing his career as a reality TV star. His latest show “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It” is due out this fall with the first episode filmed at his May 28th concert in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Catch the Music Minute every weekday with the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show on 92-7 WQLZ, the Rock Station.

July 7, 2010

While Kramer is off, Bishop fills in on The Kramer Show. Catch the show live on 970 WMAY, the News and Talk of Springfield, from 3 to 6p CST. The show streams online at WMAY dot com and you can also join the chat room with live streaming video.

"Amen Break"

Hip hop, Jungle, Techno fans, and all you musicians out there, listen up! If you are not familiar with the "Amen Break," you will surely have to catch this conversation. The issue of artists sampling music for their own creations has long been going on, especially as long as there has been easy cheap access to the technology that allows for it. Most recently, Men at Work were ordered to hand over royalties for their hit "Down Under" because it had a distinctive flute riff "copied" from a children's campfire song. Here's another video with even more details about Men at Work's case. The penalty, handed down yesterday, is 5 percent of the song's royalties.

What a Wacky Wednesday

Why can't it be a freaky Friday? So yesterday Lindsay Lohan broke down in court, like any privileged and pampered good girl gone bad would, when she received her sentence of 90 days in jail for just continued recklessness. Of course, the media is all over it. They went even further to put an intense microscope on Lohan's middle finger to show off a stupid design that says "f**k you." When will we stop our obsession with celebrity scandal and start focusing on things that matter? And, when will the media stop giving any airtime to the privileged and pampered good girls gone bad. Great role models, no doubt.

Double Rainbow Across the Sky

Crazy Double Rainbow guy is back! This time, we stumbled upon his YouTube profile where even more gems can be found. In one video he has a similar reaction to seeing wild turkey's out on some mountainous property. The original double rainbow video got so big, so quick that there was even a crew who auto-tuned it. Autotune is a technology that takes spoken word or crappy singing and corrects the tune anyway with any beat you want. Tune in for the new video and more! It's amazing how quickly things like this grow out of nowhere.

Enough fooling around

There is absolute madness all around us. If it wasn't for Bear, the double rainbow guy, we'd all lose our sanity! It seems that our institutions are indeed crumbling around us, as the late comedian Bill Hicks warned. They are no longer relevant, especially because they can't perform a simple task of serving the people without red tape, bureaucratic threats an more nonsense.

Governor Quinn should be ashamed of himself. The deplorable news of Quinn's staff getting raises while human services are cut is too much to take. Anyone working a service job who would even think about taking a raise right now should really rethink their service. Constant raises are the problem. Especially when there are huge cuts needed within government. Maybe there should be a proposal to drop most, if not all state workers' salaries to the minimum wage (like California). Hey! If it's good for private enterprise and small business, it has got to be good for the public sector and big government!

Big Slick is still causing complete havoc in the Gulf with tar ball now showing up on the Texas coast. This means every coastal state has been impacted by the Deep Water Horizon, or we think. Apparently there are 27,000 abandoned wells in the gulf; some if not all could be leaking oil! These are the types of things governments should be policing. Not the voice of the disenfranchised.

This and more

Be sure to tune in and take part in the conversation as there will be constant updates throughout the show on a variety of things. You never know what you could miss on The Kramer Show. This afternoon, WMAY is live from the Downtown Studio on S. 5th Street in Springfield.

July 7, 2010

Music News from the Rock Station,92-7 WQLZ by Bishop

Just conjecture

If you heard about a new Van Halen album in the works, you're hearing some misinformation. According to Eddie's wife and spokesperson Janie, the rumors going around about a new album being finished up by the legendary rock back is indeed just rumors. Last month, MelodicRock.com cited an anonymous source as stating a new Van Halen single was out later this year and that a forthcoming Van Halen album would be the first since the album “1984” to feature original front man David Lee Roth. Granted, back in 2007, Roth hooked up with the band to do a world tour bringing in about $90 million and Eddie recently had surgery on his wrist to remove a cyst. Both of these things would hint at a reunion and new album of some kind, but again it is nothing but rumors.

Changing genre

What happens when most of your career is focused on one genre of music and then you decide to bust out something entirely different? Well, there will surely be a bit of confusion. Moby moved from poppy techno to the land of heavy metal where dragons and elves rule, and he's felling a bit of a transition hangover. Though his new album under the monicker Moby is primarily electronica mixed with ambient and house beats, his new band Diamondsnake is indeed a heavy metal band, well sort of. Many people tuning in for the first time seemed confused. Being part of the new band allows Moby to get into a rehearsal room and get loud, something that he doesn't do with his own solo creations. “There's just something really nice about writing heavy metal songs. I leave myself out of it completely. I think about what a heavy metal guy would write. ” You can swing by the band's MySpace page and judge it for yourself.

Catch the Music Minute every weekday with the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show on 92-7 WQLZ, the Rock Station.

July 6, 2010

While Kramer is off, Bishop fills in on The Kramer Show. Catch the show live on 970 WMAY, the News and Talk of Springfield, from 3 to 6p CST. The show streams online at WMAY dot com and you can also join the chat room with live streaming video.

Celebrate

After a three-day weekend, it's back to the grind stone. How was your holiday? How did you celebrate your independence? Did you blow up any illegal fireworks? Did you get out to Rock the Dock 2010?

Heat wave

It's hot today, at least in the Northeast part of the country. Could you imagine dealing with triple digit temperatures in New York City? Surely, their utilities can take it because all this country needs is a good blackout story to flood the news. Maybe some of those people in the Northeast could get the federal government to pay their air-conditioning bills.

We have got to talk about Afghanistan

GOP Chairman Steele's comments about this being Obama's War may not be too off. Now, inaudible comments have played on shows across the country ... what are your thought?

We are not the first super power to try and take over Afghanistan. Granted America's memory is short, but we must evaluate past conflicts and look at them in context of today, with our service members and our economy ... is it worth it?

Double complete rainbows, oh my!

Several crazy stories happened over the weekend to include a drug smuggling submarine and this story out of Pennsylvania that is a page from the story "A Rose for Emily". We can't forget about the prospect of getting a loan from Sams Club.

This and your phone calls at 217.629.7970 or email Bishop@wmay.com. It's The Kramer Show with Bishop, today from 3 to 6p CST on 970 WMAY, the News and Talk of Springfield.

July 6, 2010

Music News from the Rock Station,92-7 WQLZ by Bishop

Wrecking the national anthem

Well, everyone is back from a holiday break where we downed plenty of beer, brats, and celebrated our independence from tyranny and blew up a bunch of cheap Chinese fireworks. Well, surely you have found yourself in some setting where the national anthem was being sung by a celebrity of some sort. Hell, at this past Rock the Dock celebration at Lake Springfield Marina, Springfield's Jim Leach sang the national anthem. Billboard magazine has compiled a top 10 list of the worst celebrity performances on the national anthem. On the list: Josh Groban and Flea form 2010, Rosanne Barr from 1990, and Michael Bolton from 2003. Most notably on the list are Creed's Scott Stapp from 2005 and Steven Tyler's performance in 2001 at the Indianapolis 500. Tyler sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” and took a bunch of flak for changing the words “home of the brave” for “home of the Indianapolis 500.” At least he didn't say “home of the blissful and ignorant.”

Bach back with forthcoming album

Sebastian Bach is back on the scene, ready with a new solo album. The former Skid Row front man has 21 songs ready to go but reported that the only major label that has brought money to the table is Sony Japan. Blabbermouth.net reports that Bach said “Sony Japan is the only major label in the world that I am aware of that wants new music from me. Of course, this is humiliating to write, but I am forced to clarify this.” This surely will be a rock album, according to Bach, “but I dig singing ballads, too. Gotta have dynamics on the CD.” Since it is yet to be set in stone whether the album will indeed be coming out on Sony Japan, there is not a due date, but we'll keep our ears to the wire!

Catch the Music Minute every weekday with the Free Beer and Hot Wings Show on 92-7 WQLZ, the Rock Station.