Me and WEXT decided to tweak the Hello Pretty City schedule a little bit. Now the show is on once a week: Sunday nights at 8pm. (It won’t be on in the mornings anymore.)

Picture note: Listen for Sam’s interview and performance this week on WEXT.

We’re counting down the 200 Women Who Rock in honor of International Women’s Day and I get to help! I’ll be on the air from noon-3pm…counting down the hits, including some that I play on Hello Pretty City and some that I don’t…but all that I love listening to. (My time slot for this rules!)

A little bit of the Local 518, a little bit rock, a lot of hand clapping, and a lot of songs that I’d like to keep on repeat forever.

It’s not easy to write this post because in reality I’d really like to run up to you, hug you, and exclaim “Phantogram and The Charlie Watts Riots are playing the Exit Dome 4 concert!” The show is Saturday, January 29, 2011 and it happens in WMHT’s TV studio.

Last year’s Exit Dome has a special place in my heart and now I’m even more excited about this year’s show. Also playing are Local 518 bands Que Caro,  The Rodeo Barons, Nancy Walker, and Slender Shoulders. The doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. Snag your tickets now at www.exit977.org. (The tickets are listed in the “Thank you gifts” section.)

The folks at WEXT are getting pretty psyched to be a big part of the Restoration Funstival that’s happening at the end of August. A two day music festival in Albany! It’s happening from noon to 10pm at St. Joseph’s Church on Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29.

The poster for the event is pretty cool looking and the musical lineup is gigantic. Here are a random few: Matthew Carefully, Aficionado, the Mathematicians, Railbird, RESTYS, The Red Lions, Grainbelt, Scientific Maps, Beware! The Other Head of Science and Sgt. Dunbar & the Hobo Banned.

There are lots of great things about this Funstival but this is my favorite:  25% of all proceeds will go to the St. Joseph’s Restoration fund to support their $300,000 matched grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. I hear that the inside of St. Joseph’s is very cool, a good place to let a mind wander during a music set.

Right now, tickets are on sale online for the early bird price of $10.00 per day and $15.00 for the whole weekend at www.restfest.net. (I love that there’s an early bird feature.)

WEXT, All Over Albany, B3nson Recording Company, and Historic Albany Foundation are the sponsors of the Restoration Funstival.

It’s a few minutes into Sunday and I’m getting ready for tonight’s show. I’m pretty sure that the first song will be from Yo La Tengo.

Gorillaz: To Binge (Featuring Little Dragon)
Dan Auerbach: Heartbroken, In Disrepair
Lawrence Arabia: Apple Pie Bed
Etta James and the Peaches: The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry)
Lay Low: Farewell Goodnight’s Sleep
Aloe Blacc: Long Time Coming
The Innocence Mission: Bright As Yellow
Grizzley Bear: Two Weeks
The Melodians: Rivers of Babylon
Broadcast: Tears in the Typing Pool
Joe Henry: The Man I Keep Hid
Paul Simon: The Obvious Child
Frightened Rabbit: Nothing Like You
Peter, Bjorn and John featuring Victoria Bergsman: Young Folks
Mumford & Sons: Roll Away Your Stone
Willie Nelson: The Maker
Thao: When We Swam
Port O’Brien: Sour Milk/Salt Water
Ben Sollee: It’s Not Impossible
The Aislers Set: London Madrid
Ane Brun featuring Teitur: Rubber and Soul
The Avett Brothers: A Lover Like You
Fanfarlo: Fire Escape
Craig Ramsey: We Are Crashing
Freddie Stevenson: Easy Now
Splinters: Sorry
Hanne Hukkelberg: Searching
Yo La Tengo: Yellow Sarong
Arthur Russell: A Little Lost
Great Lake Swimmers: See You on the Moon!
Chuck Berry: Downbound Train
Joanna Newsom: Easy

Hey there! The first Hello Pretty City show on Exit 97.7 is nearly here! I even know what the first song is going to be! I’m starting to pick out songs for upcoming shows, too. Last week I checked out the newest Ben Kweller album from the library and I really like it.

Today I read a great story about Radio Mogadishu in the New York Times. Here’s the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/world/africa/30mogadishu.html

It’s official! Starting Sunday, April 4, 2010, Hello Pretty City will be on Sundays from 8-10pm on Exit 97.7, WEXT.

If you’re in the Capital District you can tune in on 97.7fm. Or if you’re anywhere you can stream it online at www.exit977.org.

It’s an honor to be on Exit 97.7!