West of Memphis, produced by new filmmakers Davis and Echols, in collaboration with Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson (best known for the blockbuster Lord of the Rings trilogy), reexamines the case of the West Memphis Three (WM3) — Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley — convicted of the shocking 1993 murders of three eight-year-old boys, Christopher Byers, Steven Branch, and Michael Moore, in a small town in Arkansas. Many came to see the case as an example of modern-day witch-hunting and criminal injustice.

Spending 18 years in prison, the trio were released in August 2011 after negotiating an “Alford Plea,” a deal struck by the State of Arkansas to avoid a retrial, agreed to by the defendants to preserve the life and deteriorating health of Mr. Echols.

Over the course of the interview, Echols, Davis, and Berg spoke with producer/host Ted Coe about: the making of West of Memphis; new evidence, witnesses, and other developments related to the case (including the emergence of a new suspect); and last summer’s surprise release of the WM3. Other topics included advocacy journalism and documentary cinema, religious hysteria, and media sensationalism and ethics. The conversation also shed light on Davis’ and Echols’ prison romance and marriage; Echols’ youthful experiences; his interest in literature, religion, and philosophy; and his sudden adjustment to life on the outside.

The broadcast blended in tracks by musicians associated with the case working in various genres (including Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Pearl Jam, Henry Rollins, Tom Waits, and more), plus Echols’ own writings. To see Monday’s complete playlist, CLICK BELOW.

Lorri Davis; Damien Echels; Amy Berg (Photo by Ray Mickshaw/WireImage) - CLICK TO ENLARGE

First up was an interview with the Boston indie-pop group Carousel. The trio of recent Berkelee College of Music graduates discussed the recent attention their tracks have been getting on blogs and Hype Machine, and offered a behind-the-sceens view of their creative process and preparation for their first live show this coming weekend. [Click the play button below to listen/download]

In The Green Room’s second hour, Santa Barbara’s Rainbow Girls delivered a rousing live set from KCSB’s Studio A. Their folk inspired songs and luscious harmonies inspired an outpouring of support from listeners in Santa Barbara and beyond. [Click the play button below to listen/download]

Rhino Resurrected - CLICK TO ENLARGE

The first half of the music-and-cultural-arts program featured songs and artists associated with or inspired by Anthony Burgess’s 1962 dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange and director Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 screen adaptation of the same name. For a recap of that playlist, click HERE. A newly-restored version of the film is on the schedule at the SBIFF, and A Clockwork Orange also provided the theme for Thursday’s opening night gala.

Next, the second half of “The Freak Power Ticket” included an interview with director Keith Shapiro, whose new film Rhino Resurrected: The Incredibly Strange Story of the World’s Most Famous Record Store has its world premiere later today, Friday, January 27th, 430pm, at the Lobero Theater, and two other scheduled screenings on Saturday and Sunday. The film explores the story of the Westwood-based indie record-outlet that closed its doors after over thirty years of business in the mid-2000s. That ramshackle store “became a hub of hardcore music misfits, a launching pad for influential music careers, and a groundbreaking and irreverent record label revered by music lovers worldwide.”

An edited archival recording of the Shapiro interview is available below.

“The Freak Power Ticket” airs on Mondays in the winter from 11am-12noon.

The Alternates on KCSB

On Sunday, January 15th, LA rock group The Alternates appeared on the green room for a live set and interview from KCSB’s Studio A.

Click the play button below to hear it!

For upcoming shows, music and more from the Alternates, visit http://www.thealternatesband.com

Tune in each Thursday from 10am-12pm to hear selections pulled from KCSB’s archives in honor of our 50th anniversary.

Click on the players/links below to listen to our edited version of the January 19th incarnation of “50 Years of People-Powered Radio.”

Journalist/Radio DJ Jennifer Waits (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Herself a DJ at the college-based community-radio station KFJC-FM at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California, Jennifer Waits has distinguished herself as an authority on the “college-radio crisis” caused by the recent shutdown of three major university stations, KUSF (San Francisco), WRVU (Nashville), and KTRU (Houston). She’s also well versed in the history of college radio, standout initiatives from these mostly “non-commercial educational” licensees, and the overall importance of university-based media, all of which she shares during an engaging hourlong conversation.

Show 3 part 1 & 2- Recorded at the Piano Kitchen on November 4th, 2011. With musical guests Kat Devlin, Peter Duda and Anna Abbey. Storyteller Michael Katz. Special Interview guest local actor/musician Michael Andrews. Comedy from Daily Show writer Chris Regan. Proboscis Radio Players present a play about cannibalism by Michael Bernard. (This podcast contains adult themes and possibly objectionable language.)

Show 2 part 1 & 2 - CLICK HERE.

Show 1 part 1 & 2- Recorded May 13, 2011 at the Piano Kitchen. Musical Guests Earl Arnold, the Roswell Sisters (Sabra Weber, Anne Torsiglieri, Jessica Bortman). The Proboscis Radio players present “It Came from the Goleta Slough,” written by Michael Bernard. Special Guest interview with local actress and midwife Sage Parker. Comedy from the Conan O’Brien show writer Andres du Bouchet.

The Freak Power Ticket broadcast touched a wide array of topics related to American popular culture: inspirations for MST3K in the horror-movie host tradition, children’s programming, and early Woody Allen; UHF television; puppetry; stand-up comedy in the era of cable TV; the Minneapolis art and punk-rock scenes; adaptation of MST3K‘s riffing style to a live theatrical setting; and Hodgson’s connection to Judd Apatow’s Freaks and Geeks. The show also featured clips and music related to Hodgson and MiSTy fandom.

“The Freak Power Ticket” airs on Mondays during the Fall Quarter from 11am-12Noon.

CLICK BELOW to listen or to download an edited version of this Halloween special.

Clipping from June 22, 1989 Santa Barbara Independent Article - CLICK TO ENLARGE (Photo by Christopher Gardner)

An audio archive of that program is now available in two parts, below: so you too can judge for yourself.

“50 Years of People Powered Radio” airs on Thursdays in the Fall from 10am-noon.

(A Hannity background piece from Extra! Magazine [2003] can be found by clicking on the link here.)

“In December 2005, Daniel McGowan was arrested by federal agents in a nationwide sweep of environmentalists involved with ELF — a group the FBI has called America’s ‘number one domestic terrorism threat.’

Charged with burning down two timber facilities years earlier, McGowan faced life in prison for his actions.”

Along with recounting the story of this Sundance Film Festival award-winning feature, Monday’s broadcast also featured the music of Earth First! heroes Judi Barry and Darryl Cherney, Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon, Chumbawamba, and Santa Barbara’s Headless Household. Curry’s radio conversation on “The Freak Power Ticket” primarily touches on environmentalism, activism, and the ways we define terrorism, issues that are especially timely given the rise of the “Occupy” movement worldwide.

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the Santa Barbara premiere of If a Tree Falls later tonight, Tuesday, November 29th, 730pm, at Campbell Hall. For tickets or more information, call 805.893.3535 or click here.

Click below to hear (or download) an edited version of this program.

KCSB broadcast the first half hour of the teach-in (from 12:30 to 1pm) live on air, including the opening declaration of the purpose, Robinson and Wolff’s presentation on media and the question and answer session.

To hear a recording of the broadcast click the play button below.

KCSB Sports Director Mitchell Clements and Chief Engineer Aaron Read produced this broadcast.

Jeff Mills 2011 (Photo by Holly Mackay)

Tonight’s show will feature musical guests Spencer Barnitz (aka Spencer the Gardener) and Anna Abbey, an interview with John Blondell (of the Lit Moon Theatre Company), radio drama by the Proboscis Radio Players, real life stories by Michael Bernard, and Jim Connolly‘s Banjo Nation.

During Monday’s edition of “The Freak Power Ticket,” Ted Coe spoke with Jeff Mills about this exciting new addition to the KCSB schedule. Sampling segments from its still to be aired pilot episode (including a comedy bit from Conan O’Brien/”Team Coco” writer Andrés du Bouchet and music from “The Roswell Sisters”), the two also discussed the story behind the program and its creators’ backgrounds; Mills’ work with Boxtales Theatre Company, at UCSB, and beyond; the local arts scene; and the need for new performance outlets within our community.

A podcast of Monday’s program is now available online (here) for your listening pleasure!