In Decent Exposure 

A few months ago, I reported that WRUV, UVM’s venerable free-form radio station, was moving from its longtime home in the basement of Billings Student Center to new digs in the recently completed academic monolith, the Davis Center. At the time, it seemed that some folks at the station were less than enthralled with change of locales. But now that the move is complete, some of the DJs are coming around. In particular, Jeremy Ayers, host of the station’s long-running live local-music showcase, “Exposure.”

Ayers recently sent along a schedule for the first few weeks of the show — which has been temporarily moved to Monday nights, from 6 to 8.

Christening the new studio this Monday are local indie-rock stalwarts Missy Bly and Ryan Power — the latter played a stunning show at the Green Door Studio last Friday, I’m told.

The following Monday, September, 24, local rockers Party Star — who, as their MySpace page points out, “sound like a band called ‘Party Star’ should” — take to the airwaves.

Then, on October 1, tune in for the noir-ish Americana stylings of St. Albans indie-rock trio Farm.

You can tune your radio dial to 90.1 FM, or listen online at http://www.uvm.edu/~wruv.

CHEERIO, CUSH!

The Cush returned safe and sound from a recent tour through merry olde England. Unfortunately, logistical snafus and financial limitations prevented the entire band from traveling across the pond. But according to an email I received from guitarist Burette Douglas, the trip was a blast, and fairly successful to boot.

The band played a few gigs in London, with varying results, before heading to the tiny hamlet of Bradfield for a psychedelic-pop extravaganza, The Dream Machine festival. The fest drew fans from across the globe and exposed Burlington’s indie darlings to a diverse international audience, who also enjoyed the spacey sounds of acts such as Wales’ White Noise Sound, Norway’s Je Suis Animal and former Spaceman 3 collaborator Will Caruther.

In Douglas’ own words: “We had great shows, sold a lot of records, and made some new fans and friends. I can’t wait to do it again. The crowds over there are very open. It made you feel good about being a musician.” Crikey!

STU-STU-STUDIO

The Burlington music scene suffered a significant loss when Daryl Rabidoux and Co. packed up shop and moved their superb studio, Strangeways Recording, to Providence, R.I., earlier this year. While home recording is now easier than ever, there’s still something to be said for working with professional sound engineers, and it appears the Rabidoux void is about to be filled.

Justin Gonyea, guitarist for local hard-core heroes Romans, is opening a new recording studio/multi-use facility in a renovated warehouse in Fort Ethan Allen called Wasted City. The 1700-square-foot space is slated to feature the typical studio accoutrements: a control room, live room and isolation booth. But the real clincher is the old-school equipment Gonyea plans to employ to record local musicians.

The centerpiece of this gear-head’s wet dream is a 24-track analog mixing board that he uses to record directly to ADAT tape machines. No fancy-schmancy ProTools here, kiddies. Those who long for the lush, warm sounds of reel-to-reel recordings would do well to line up studio time now.

Wasted City should be open any day now. It will also have a room that Gonyea will make available for performance or rehearsal.

LOBOTOMY

What is the deal with Portland, Oregon? In the last few years, it seems that half of Burlington’s music scene has packed up and moved to Left Coast city. Maybe they just want to be closer to The Shins?

Anyway, the list of local musicians who’ve split town to seek their fortunes — and maybe a date with one of the Suicide Girls — in Portland is too long to include here. But one Burlington ex-pat is coming back, briefly, and there should be much rejoicing.

Lobot drummer/vocalist David Evan is returning to town, so the band is getting back together. Actually, it’s only been five months since they disbanded so it’s hard to call it a reunion. But that’s what they’re calling it, so who the hell am I to argue? Other than the music writer guy, of course.

If you never caught Lobot when they were together before, check ’em out this Sunday for an early show and barbecue at The Monkey House in Winooski.

MORE MONKEY LOVE

In the world of old-time bluegrass, few benchmarks are more important than meeting the host of National Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” Garrison Keillor. The fictional town of Lake Woebegone’s most famous resident has been instrumental in launching the career of many a young Americana act including Yonder Mountain String Band, Old Crow Medicine Show and now, semi-local old-timey whippersnappers, The Powder Kegs.

When they’re not touring or recording in their adopted hometown of New Paltz, N.Y., you’ve likely seen the quintet busking on Church Street in Burlington this summer. What you might not realize as you stroll past and drop a dollar in their till is that these cats recently took the top prize on Keillor’s “People in Their Twenties Talent Show.” See what all the fuss is about as the group embarks on a two-night hootenanny — or is it a hoedown? — at The Monkey House this Thursday and Friday.

FOUND: AIRHEADS

I like to make my excuses up front, so here we go: I don’t know much about these next items.

This Thursday, Red Square is hosting an Air Guitar Contest. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it’s exactly what it sounds like. So, if you want to be a rock star but have no appreciable musical talent — like that’s ever stopped anyone — head down to the Square to sign up by 6 p.m.

Word has it that Advance Music is giving away a Fender guitar as the grand prize. I’m hoping it’s real.

In other Square news, Found Magazine is swinging by the bar this Saturday night for a party featuring stuff they’ve found. You can even bring some stuff you’ve found. Then you and all that stuff can get your freak on with local hip-hop crew, Ill Intelleks. If you want to know more, find Cathy Resmer’s “State of the Arts” item on page 21.