OZ’s 2024
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Most years, I try to write a recap of the year for my own reference. Sometimes, these things prove interesting to others as well, but I guarantee nothing.
Keep reading for a selection of assorted experiences from 2024. These include reflections on the acts of: making radio; performing music on stage; sharing music as a broadcaster and online person; my ongoing exploration of recorded music in the hulking media library known as the Zibliothek; some non-music perspectives; and other assorted thoughts and insights.
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RADIO
In early 2023, my colleague and fellow CKUA host Mark Antonelli began a lengthy leave of absence to care for his ailing mother. During his absence, which continued into 2024, I was his substitute as the primary guest-host of his weeknight series Classic Examples. By the springtime, CKUA decided to try something different with its classical programming, and launched a seasonal schedule called INTERMISSION. Mark's shows were divided amongst four different hosts while we waited for his return, but by September Mark made the decision to retire instead of returning to CKUA. INTERMISSION was extended to the end of the 2024, which has included two classical music programs of my own: The Score and Maestri. It's possible that both of these programs will be extended into the 2025 schedule, but that remains to be seen. I'm also developing several ideas for new shows which might become part of CKUA's 2025 schedule, also to be determined.
My all-Albertan music program In Our Neighbourhood continues to launch the weekend on CKUA's Friday nights. By the end of 2024, the series will have reached its 189th episode.
At the time of writing this, I'm projected to have guest-hosted 73 shows for CKUA in 2024. While that's still a significant number of other people's shows, it's about half as many as I guest-hosted in 2023. I'm guessing I'm likely to host fewer still in 2025.
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LIVE MUSIC
One of my musical outlets is a band called Pepperland, which celebrates the music of The Beatles. We bring to stages around Alberta songs spanning The Beatles' career - including works they never themselves performed live. Pepperland occupied the bulk of my attention as a musician in 2024.
Pepperland celebrated the 60th anniversary of The Beatles 1964 TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show throughout our shows this year, playing every song the Beatles performed on their four TV performances on Sullivan. It's been a popular theme, and is likely to be the first of a series of 60th anniversary themes we'll explore in the next few years.
The highlight of performing this year: Pepperland's September show at the Bailey Theatre in Camrose. Possibly the oldest theatre in Alberta, it's a beautiful room with a dedicated group of volunteers and caretakers keeping it strong. This was our first performance at the Bailey, hopefully the first of many more to come.
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BEST OF 2024 & OTHER FAVOURITES
Some of my favourite music releases from this year, in no order besides alphabetical, with apologies to any which I’ve overlooked, missed, or haven’t had the chance to listen to yet:
ALBERTAN ALBUMS & SONGS
The Denim Daddies "The Whisky Waltz"
Electric Religious "Good Bread"
The Hearts "The Long Goodbye"
Justine Giles "Another Chance"
Jed & the Valentine "Left in June" and "Mineral"
Kappella Kyrie - Alleluia
Aladean Kheroufi - Studies In A Dying Love
Luminous Voices - J. Brahms: German Requiem, Op 45
Matt Masters "How Many Days Until Tomorrow"
Shaela Miller - After the Masquerade
The Sharp Sharp Knives "Macho Man"
Emily Triggs - The Great Escape
Sammy Volkov & Dana Wylie - The Day Had To Come
Billie Zizi - Levitate
OTHER ALBUMS & SONGS OF NOTE
Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin: C.P.E. Bach Symphonies From Berlin to Hamburg
Jon Batiste - Beethoven Blues
Maya Beiser - Terry Riley: In C
Bubble Tea & Cigarettes - We Should Have Killed Each Other
Luca D'Alberto - In Our Hearts
Miles Davis Quintet - Miles in France 1963/64 (The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8)
Einsturzende Neubauten - Rampen (Alien Pop Music)
David Gilmour "Between Two Points" (feat. Romany Gilmour)
Marc-Andre Hamelin - Faure: Nocturnes & Barcarolles
Richard Hawley "Prism In Jeans"
Hermanos Gutierrez - Sonido Cosmico
Father John Misty "I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All"
The Lemon Twigs - A Dream Is All We Know
Stephan Moccio - Legends, Myths and Lavender
Max Richter - In a Landscape
Various Artists - Even the Forest Hums: Ukrainian Sonic Archives 1971-1996
OTHER NON-2024 RELEASES OF NOTE
The Beatles “Now and Then”
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
Pink Floyd - The Endless River
Various Artists - She Came From Hungary! 1960s Beat Girls From the Eastern Bloc
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OTHER MUSIC THOUGHTS FROM THE ZIBLIOTHEK
In 2020, I started an alphabetical exploration of the Zibliothek’s vinyl collection. I’ve also been documenting the LP library and other aspects of the collection on Instagram. By the end of 2024, I should have reached the letter 'G' in the collection. At my current rate, it will take me 13-15 years to listen to the full LP library.
In previous years I made notes about the individual artists, but I'm writing this all in December and most of the following I can barely remember at this point. Anyway, here’s some of what I listened to this year from the collection:
Devo; Dexy's Midnight Runners; Neil Diamond; The Dice; Bo Diddley; The Dillards; Luis Dimas; Dino, Desi, and Billy; the Diodes; Dire Straits; Dion; Disney; Dr. Hook; Thomas Dolby; Fats Domino; Donovan; The Dooby Bros; The Doors; Doucette; Doug & the Slugs; Ronnie Dove; Download; Duran Duran; Ian Dury; Bob Dylan; The Eagles; Earth Wind & Fire; Sheena Easton; The Easybeats; Duane Eddy; Dave Edmunds; Einsturzende Neubauten; Electric Light Orchestra; Emerson Lake & Plamer; Enigmas; Brian Eno (+ collaborators); Eurythmics; The Everly Brothers... and most of the letter F. I'm listening to Peter Frampton right now.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
I wish you well in the new year. May it be filled with good music, good company, and rest.
OZ