The advent of the digital camera is the single greatest motivator for lazy and disorganized people like me to keep online records of people, places, and events. The immediacy is too enticing, and the potential for pissing off acquaintances too great. And let's face it, when you're firing your mouth off, there's no time to be jackin' around at the pharmacy waiting for your film to get developed.
I was the world's worst pre-digital photography enthusiast. I owned a reasonably nice 35mm camera from 1989-1995, but shot only a dozen or so rolls of film on it and then never bothered to get any of the pictures developed. The film cannisters spent years rolling around in my sock drawer and were shuffled in and out of about as many apartments before I was (recently) ordered down to the Duane Reade to have something done about it. This evening, a most pleasing result of this long-overdue endeavor is now presented via this pasty and washed-out scan. (Hey, 10+ years in a sock drawer can take its toll on you).
The shot in question features several members of the WPRB airstaff circa 1994. On the far right is DJ Marc Coleman, host of the Sounds of the Underground program, who is the first (and last) person I ever knew who could ably cue up records with his bare toes (while beat juggling, mind you). In front of him (seated, in baseball cap) is Josh, who at the time was a member of the swoony indie rock combo Totfinder, and who went on to be a member of the hugely popular French Kicks. The guy sitting on the arm of the chair is named Said [pronounced Sah-yeed], and although he didn't host a program, he definitely provided some kind of demented, spiritual guidance to our small group of radio junkies. He was one of the best and funniest storytellers I've ever met -- the kind of guy who didn't need a radio station to broadcast his opinions because he always managed to collect an audience just by walking into a room. Finally, we have the esteemed Hugh Hynes (seated, arms crossed), who was the final host of WPRB's Totally Wired program and whom foisted a truly dizzying mix of British imports on the station's Delaware Valley listenership. Were it not for this man, Catherine Wheel's amazing cover of Scott Walker's "30th Century Man" would've forever remained a mystery to me. This photo was taken in DJ Jen Moyse's (Hey You Kids Get Off My Lawn co-host) room at the Terrace Club, which was a frequent gathering place for late-night arguments about which new records sucked or ruled the most. (Naturally, most of them ruled). A year after this picture was taken, the room was painted metallic silver from ceiling to floor by the next resident -- perhaps one of the most ill-advised decorating decisions in Mercer county history.
Catherine Wheel - 30th Century Man [Real Audio]
Treepeople - Funnelhead [Real Audio]
(Note Treepeople poster in background, above LP shelves).