Had a show all planned out Friday night, then news broke late Saturday that George Zimmerman was found “Not Guilty” in the death of Trayvon Martin. Like a number of people, particularly black men who grew up in the South, the case was a stark reminder that race remains a major way how people will perceive you as “normal,” “regular” or a “suspect.” I couldn’t figure out a good track to play for Trayvon and his family until fairly close to broadcast. “A Tree Never Grown” was recorded in the wake of the Diallo shooting (which also ended in an acquittal), but the lyrics of most of the rappers were specifically about police brutality and that didn’t fit this case. But Mos Def’s chorus for the song still seemed to fit, so I used the instrumental to make a quick edit that took out the rhymes but kept the chorus. From there we moved on to other things, with a few new tracks from Bosq, The Mantles, Spectrals plus classic tracks from Television, Fela Kuti and Richard Hell. The 2nd hour is given over to the first part of an interview/performance with Matthew Sweet. This section focuses on his classic album Girlfriend, next week’s second part focuses on the follow-up Altered Beast.
Melting Pot on KPFK #134: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #134: Second Hour
Playlist: 07-14-2013
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)
~~~~ Break ~~~~
Hip-Hop For Respect feat. Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) – A Tree Never Grown – Hip-Hop For Respect 12” (Rawkus)
Television – Guiding Light – Marquee Moon (Elektra)
~~~~ Break ~~~~
Jungle Fire – Comencemos – 7” (Colemine)
Bosq feat. Mendee Ichi – Never Feel Cold – Bosq y Orquesta De Madera (Ubiquity)
Fela Kuti – Mr. Follow Follow – Everything Scatter (Knitting Factory)
~~~~ Break ~~~~
The Mantles – Bad Design – Long Enough To Leave (Slumberland)
Myron & E – Cold Game – Broadway (Stones Throw)
The Spectrals – Milky Way – SOB Story (Slumberland)
Richard Hell & the Voidoids – Betrayal Takes Two – Blank Generation (Sire)
Demon Fuzz – Past, Present & Future – Afreaka! (Janus)
~~~~ Break ~~~~
Matthew Sweet – Interview and Performance – Recorded Live At KPFK (KPFK Archives)
~~~~ Break ~~~~
{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)