Tuesday. 11:59 pm.
WRSU Studios.
Almost Finished.
Almost Famous?
Not Quite.
Half Asleep.
Half Awake.
Fully Rocking?
Always.
'Twas the Last Dance of 2023 - did you save it for me?
If you did, congratulations! You were treated to another wonderful episode of the Espo Experience, free of charge, of course. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I could not and would not do this without the love and support of my rabid fanbase. Maybe one day I can earn cult status. That's the dream, isn't it?
Speaking of dreams, I'd like to give a special shoutout to a dream of a woman: Mimi Breves, my one-time guest host, but my partner-in-crime all the time! Couldn't have made it to midnight without you and your creative input. You're all I need in this life of sin.
However, it is with sincere regret that I must inform you that The Espo Experience simply does not have the budget to keep you on full-time. However, upon conferring with the higher-ups, they expressed a willingness to reconsider this matter if you can secure us the most valuable real estate in the City of New Brunswick: a couple of barstools, for a couple of hours, at 101 Paterson Street. Give me a Smoky Donkey or give me death (if you know, you know).
But if you don't know, then get yourself over to 101 Paterson - an establishment more commonly known as CLYDZ. Look, I am just not in the business of gatekeeping good bars and restaurants; I am in the business of making sure the local legends live on. And just so you know - this is most definitely not a paid promotion. But hey, maybe earns me some goodwill - another round? Journalism? Capital J Journalism? Sure, maybe if we add five more letters in front of it: G, O, N, Z, O.
With that said, pay it forward to a future local legend and keep on reading. One day, there will be a drink named after me. So when that fateful day does come, I will leave these ideas for the future bartenders of New Brunswick. Let's hope the bots stay far away.
- The James Blonde? Stop trying to make this happen, you martini-loving man-child
- The Smoky Espo? Eh, too redundant.
- The Pugnacious Paisano? Wait, am I naming drinks or sandwiches?
- The Flying Dutchman? Yeah...now we're talking!
You know what, all this talk is making me thirsty. Alas. It might be too early for a drink. UnLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLess you find yourself in the desolate doldrums of Detroit. But in the (hopefully) likely event that you are not a fan of those wretched, piss-poor Pistons, you can quench your thirst for entertainment with the tenacious tunes of the final Espo Experience of 2023...
Sláinte!
Episode 8 Setlist
TRACK: Lost Future
ARTIST: Public Memory
TRACK: Born Fe Rebel
ARTIST: Steel Pulse
TRACK: Understand Me Now
ARTIST: Pretty Lights
TRACK: Hungry Like the Wolf
ARTIST: Duran Duran
TRACK: Mercy
ARTIST: Duffy
TRACK: Dayvan Cowboy
ARTIST: Boards of Canada
TRACK: Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress
ARTIST: The Hollies
TRACK: Baker Street
ARTIST: Gerry Rafferty
TRACK: A Noiseless Noise
ARTIST: PJ Harvey
TRACK: First Class
ARTIST: Khruangbin
TRACK: Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind?
ARTIST: Tame Impala
TRACK: Need You Tonight
ARTIST: INXS
TRACK: You All Know What To Do
ARTIST: Lee "Scratch" Perry
TRACK: Get Stimulated
ARTIST: Pixies
TRACK: I'm Gone
ARTIST: Dolly Parton
TRACK: War Pigs
ARTIST: Black Sabbath
TRACK: It Makes the Babies Want to Cry
ARTIST: George Clanton
TRACK: Waste a Moment
ARTIST: Kings Of Leon
TRACK: Hound Dog
ARTIST: Big Mama Thornton
TRACK: Grim Generation
ARTIST: Portugal, The Man
TRACK: Skyfall
ARTIST: Adele
TRACK: Radar Love
ARTIST: Golden Earring
TRACK: Thoughts of a Dying Atheist
ARTIST: Muse
TRACK: Extreme Ways
ARTIST: Moby
TRACK: After Hours
ARTIST: The Weeknd
TRACK: Equal Mind
ARTIST: Beach House
TRACK: Alone and Forsaken
ARTIST: Hank Williams
TRACK: End of Small Sanctuary
ARTIST: Akira Yamaoka
TRACK: Cheap Sunglasses
ARTIST: ZZ Top
TRACK: Can You Hear The Music
ARTIST: Ludwig Göransson
TRACK: The End of the World
ARTIST: Skeeter Davis
TRACK: Sleeper
ARTIST: Snarky Puppy
TRACK: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
ARTIST: Nina Simone
TRACK: Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
ARTIST: Billy Joel
TRACK: Nightcall
ARTIST: Kavinsky
TRACK: Highway to Hell
ARTIST: AC/DC
TRACK: Midnight in a Perfect World
ARTIST: DJ Shadow
_
I've just about run out of insight, intellect, and sanity for 2023, so I will sign off and see you on the other side. In 2024.
Midnight in a perfect world? A perfect world? This world is far from perfect. But hey, as long as we keep trying every day to make it better, that is an endeavor worth taking. Besides, there is no such thing as perfection - just ask Armando Galarraga.
Happy New Year, James Joyce,
Happy New Year, Jim Joyce,
and
Happy fucking New Year, Planet Earth.
-Espo
-
Every Tuesday night. 9pm-11pm. Tune in to THE ESPO EXPERIENCE!
88.7 FM /// RADIO.RUTGERS.EDU
88.7 FM /// RADIO.RUTGERS.EDU
88.7 FM /// RADIO.RUTGERS.EDU
It CAN Happen Here (2024)