Passport Approved

9:00AM:
JACKNIFE LEE – “Fear of Nothing” (Fiction, UK)
DUSTED – “Winter” (Sony BMG, UK)
HEADWAY – “Safety” (Suretone, UK)
OPERATOR PLEASE – “Just a Song About Ping Pong” (Virgin, Australia)
ESKIMO/DISCO – “7-11” (Protest, UK)
 9:22AM:
FRANK TURNER - “The Real Damage” (Xtra Mile Recordings, UK)
HOWLING BELLS – “Setting Sun” (Liberation, Australia)
 9:37AM:
HARD-FI – “Tonight” (Atlantic, UK)
DUFFY – “Rockferry” (Universal, UK)
* “KIWI FM” NEW ZEALAND WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTION W/DJ KARYN HAY
* THE BRUNETTES – “B-A-B-Y” (import, New Zealand)
 9:52AM:
KONGOS – “In the Music” (unsigned, South Africa)
THE RIFLES – “She’s The Only One” (Right Hook, UK)
 10:00AM:
THE HEDRONS – “Heatseeker” (Measured Records, UK) **LIVE IN-STUDIO INTERVIEW**
ADELE – “Hometown Glory” (XL, UK)
PACOVOLUME – “Cookie Machine” (import, France)
THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS – “I Thought About You” (import, Australia)
JOHNOSSI – “Execution Song” (import, Sweden)
 10:22AM:
THE TING TINGS – “Fruit Machine” (Columbia, UK)
CAROLINA LIAR – “I’m Not Over” (Atlantic, Sweden)
 10:37AM:
RAINE MAIDA – “Sex, Love & Honey” (King Noise, Canada)
FAITHLESS – “Flowerstand Man” (Cheeky, UK)
* “XFM SCOTLAND” WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTION W/DJ JIM GELLATLY
*WAKE THE PRESIDENT – “Remember Fun?” (import, UK)
 10:52AM:
REVEREND & THE MAKERS – “Miss Brown” (Wall Of Sound, UK)
ACACIA – “Sway” (Warner Music, UK)
 11:00AM:
EJECTORSEAT - “Attack! Attack! Attack!” (import, UK)
THE WOMBATS – “Let’s Dance To Joy Division” (14^th Floor, UK)
KAROSHI – “Love Da World” (import, UK)
SKYBOMBERS – “6AM” (Alberts, Australia)
 11:22AM:
THE HOOSIERS – “Cops & Robbers” (RCA, UK)
KENT – “Elefanter” (RCA, Sweden)
 11:37AM:
OLD MAN RIVER – “LA” (Red Label, Australia)
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS – “She’s So Lovely” (Epic, UK)
BLUEJUICE – “Vitriol” (import, Australia)
 11:52AM:
SONS & DAUGHTERS – “Gilt Complex” (Domino, UK)
MISS LI – “Let Her Go” (import, Sweden)

Ok, so doing a radio show is fun as I get to share a lot great new music and artists with real music pundits – meaning those who respect and appreciate this very personal art form. This Saturday our int’l radio friends, Karyn Hay from KIWI FM gave us a nice little sniff of what was happening Down Under (musically speaking…of course) in New Zealand. Also, the King of Tartan music (Jim Gellatly, Xfm Scotland) shared his weekly selection from Scotland with the Passport Approved audience. Both of these DJs rarely disappoint with their fine selection of imported musical goods. Where the **** is DJ Max from MotorFM in Germany? He’s been slacking off the past few weeks and its rubbing my tea cup the wrong way! I think a call to his Gaffer will do the trick (not to get him in trouble or anything…but c’mon…how long can it take to send in a five minute bloody segment once a week)? I like consistency as do the stations that broadcast Passport Approved – so c’mon get with the bloody program I tell myself quietly.

 This Saturday’s special in-studio guests were the queens of Scotland (The Hedrons) who put up with a not to sharp Sat Bisla on the air. Don’t know what happened to me this Saturday morning, but the caffeine just didn’t kick in. Must’ve been the medication I’ve been on for my tonsillitis cure (which are finally just about gone). At 11.00AM world-renowned psychic Lisa Williams who does a very popular TV show called “Life Amongst The Dead” (she speaks to the dead) on Lifetime TV and its syndicated in 56 other countries was a guest on the show. Lisa, her hubby Kev and I have become friends thanks to a personal reading I had with Lisa a few months ago. She’s also a big music fan and even dead people like to get their groove on (well, so I’ve been told) and figured it’d be nice to have Lisa on the show.  I’ve always been a skeptic about psychics after my experience with some lady named Sylvia Brown (in my opinion, her last name should be B*** S***). What a crock she was…her reading was so bad, I had to ask for a refund. I felt like a right arse (ass) for even seeing her in the first place. However a trusted friend of mine told me about Lisa and how she changed her life. So I figured what the hell, I’ll give it another go. First sentences out of Lisa’s mouth scared the crap out of me. She was so “spot on” about a personal conversation I had with my dad (which she had NO WAY of knowing) that I became an instant believer. Everything else that followed suit was so frighteningly accurate that I am now a believer. Cool thing about Lisa is she loved a lot of the music on Passport Approved including Reverend & The Makers, Ejectorseat, Bassboosa (her favorite band she told me), Karoshi Bros and The Ting Tings…she’s got great taste if I do say so myself.

 Anyway, it was nice to have Lisa on the show…though I worry that she can read what’s in my mind (but she’s never called me out on it…so I guess I’m good for now J). Yes, the cheeky side of me does come out on occasion.

 My favorite girl, DJ Jenna B (who I’ll be working for one day) ended off the show with her early Christmas well-wishes. If anyone knows how to empty my already thin wallet…she can. She’s also the only one that can put me in my place if I step out of line…she seems to be able to do that with everyone she meets. I’ve met my match! She needs to put producer Brandon in his place…he’s been a cheeky monkey…whining about everything lately (someone find him a date, or someit). Over and out!

So it’s another Saturday morning and I’m gearing-up for the weekly Passport Approved show on Indie 103.1FM in Los Angeles. I’m quite a chipper morning person overall; however, getting up at 6:15AM after working 14 – 16 hour days five days a week, is not what I call relaxing on the weekend. However, since radio has always been my passion and I consider it more fun than work, I make an exception to the injustice being done to my lack of sleep (in general).
 I get to the station at 8:20AM (after my shower and 40 mile commute). It can take almost two hours from me waking-up to getting down to the radio station. All looks calm in the studio once I get there and start to make preparations for the show. Getting all the music ready that’ll be aired on today’s program, checking the production board, filling-out the appropriate on-air paperwork ready and making sure that everything will run smooth on my end takes a bit of time. At 8:50AM I get a call from Steve Schnur, who co-hosts the live LA version of Passport Approved with me that he’s waiting downstairs, so I rush downstairs to get him. Producer Molly and Brandon are no where to be found (granted Molly’s getting me my hot tea and banana bran muffin). I’ve stayed away from Starbucks as much as possible lately after one of their workers basically threw scolding hot water all over me by some freak accident. Anyway, I need the tea to get the Bisla mental engine running, or else it could spell disaster…well maybe not that bad, but it’ll make me slow on the mental draw if I’m not caffeinated. Speaking of Brandon and Molly – they rarely ever come to the studio together. But today, low and behold the two of them will be there at the same time…this could be war. I look forward to see who draws first blood J Actually, the don’t loathe each other…I’m kidding. They are like two peas in a pod…both from Iowa and both not the most chipper in the mornings…but they do get the job done and that’s ultimately what counts considering they come in on their own time as they’re passionate about being the shows producers.
 Today, is a mini-marathon at Passport Approved…we’ve gone VIRTUALLYINTERNATIONAL. First in the studio is talented UK singer/songwriter Billy Bragg….oops I mean Frank Turner. This kid has got a killer voice…bloody nora…can this boy sing. I’m impressed. Saw him at the Hotel Café earlier in the week after being turned onto his music by Mike Davies, DJ at BBC Radio 1 who was filling-in for me on Passport Approved a few months ago with producer Brandon who also fell in love with his music and was on my bollocks to check him out. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but after seeing him at Hotel Café I was kind of impressed, but this Saturday morning’s performance was very good indeed. Up next, was former South African residents (now residing in Phoenix) – the Kongos. A band of four brothers who were absolutely sensational! Their eclectic mix of alternative, rock, Bollywood and African musical nuances had all of us in the studio with our jaws on the ground. They were brilliant! Phones lit up like a Christmas tree and I thought the band had planned this – having their friends call-in and say how good they were live. But in reality, I could tell the listeners were just as impressed as we were and non of the calls were orchestrated, but actually very much real. This Saturday morning is turning out to be a real treat.
 Up next, was Swedish band Carolina Liar who are fronted by a lad called Chad (an American) who is doing is first ever radio interview for the band Carolina Liar. World-renowned producer/songwriter Max Martin co-produced this band with some assistance from global A&R ace Martin Dodd who send me the band’s four track demo EP a few months back. I’ve been playing it since on Passport Approved and getting some really great reaction. The band melds elements of U2 with the E Street band, Coldplay, Kent and Keane – how can you go wrong with that sensation in your ears?
 Shortly thereafter, Raine Maida, the lead-singer of Canada’s Our Lady Peace who have sold over a gazillion records called-in live from Canada. Was this guy in the toilet I thought to myself? There was a large echo coming back over the phone lines. Raine assured me he was not in the loo, but rather, in his echo-filled living room.  Even with the echo-ing it was nice to catch up with Raine about his excellent new solo album, which has many great songs including one of my faves, “Sex Love & Honey,” that producer Brandon turned me on to.
 My friends Karyn Hay from KIWI-FM in New Zealand and John Kennedy DJ at Xfm Manchester & Manchester London in England both sent their weekly music recommendations for Passport Approved, which as always were on point!
 I’d noticed that already we’d had guests on this week’s show from the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and it was time for one more before we could say VIRTUALLYINTERNATIONAL on Passport Approved. It was one of my faves of the past year – a band called Skybombers from Melbourne, Australia that is currently in Los Angeles writing and recording their brand new album. How I came across this band is quite strange. I was in Australia over a year ago and met with the band’s managers who presented me with an EP. I hadn’t even heard the music or knew anything about them. But all of a sudden, the hair on my arms, chest and back (and I didn’t even realize I had any hair on my back) stood up. I told them, I’m going to LOVE this band. Zoran and Darren the managers of Skybombers were puzzled. They said you haven’t even heard the music or even know anything about the band so how do you know you’ll like them. It was intuition I guess (I have pretty good intuition) and sure enough when I got back to the US last year, I pop in the demo EP from Skybombers in my car and instantly fell in love with the band’s music. Fast forward one year, now they are in LA making their new album with producer Rick Parker (BRMC) and they’re in the studio on Passport Approved (funny how these things happen). Always good to see the Skybombers…they are one of the most talented and nicest bunch of lads I’ve met. I did notice that they all had moustaches (and being so young) I didn’t think they could grow facial hair yet. Anyway, they explained that in Australia guys grown moustaches in the month of November as a way to support cancer victims and raise money for this great cause. Producer Molly has a big crush on the band and so I figured I’d embarrass her and say to the Skybombers that when the month is over she’d like to shave off their moustaches and keep the hair in a plastic bag. In return, I was thinking in my head that I should jokingly say that producer Molly was growing hair on her stiff upper-lip to join them in their cause and they could shave her moustache. But then common sense kicked-in and told me it was probably not a bright thing to say, or even funny for that matter. Sometimes, I tend to amuse even myself.
 Many of today’s guests were all in town for a special Passport Approved show were putting together for our faithful listeners thanks to help from my former intern Dean Raissen who now books shows at the Viper Room (a good lad indeed). Tuesday 20^th November, 2007 it’s Skybombers, Raine Maida, Kongos and Maryandi (from South Africa) for a great show at The Viper Room on Sunset. Looking forward to a VIRTUALLYINTERNATIONAL night indeed.
 Time for me to grab a cuppa! Bye.

9:00AM:
THE RIFLES – “She’s The Only One” (Right Hook, UK)
ELLA ROUGE – “LA Dogs” (Mobydick, Sweden)
HEADWAY – “Safety” (Suretone, UK)
OPERATOR PLEASE – “Two For My Seconds” (Virgin, Australia)
ESKIMO/DISCO – “7-11” (Protest, UK)
 9:22AM:
FRANK TURNER - “The Real Damage” (Xtra Mile Recordings, UK) *Live In-Studio Interview
 9:37AM:
HARD-FI – “Tonight” (Atlantic, UK)
DUFFY – “Rockferry” (Universal, UK)
* “KIWI FM” NEW ZEALAND WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTION W/DJ KARYN HAY
AUTOZAM – “Killer Shoes” (import, New Zealand)
 9:52AM:
KONGOS - “Curious” Live (unsigned, South Africa) *Live In-Studio Interview
 10:00AM:
ADELE – “Hometown Glory” (XL, UK)
PACOVOLUME – “Cookie Machine” (import, France)
THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS – “I Thought About You” (import, Australia)
FAITHLESS – “Dirty Ole Man” (Cheeky, UK)
JOHNOSSI – “Execution Song” (import, Sweden)
 10:22AM:
THE TING TINGS – “Fruit Machine” (Columbia, UK)
CAROLINA LIAR – “I’m Not Over” (Atlantic, Sweden)
 10:37AM:
*RAINE MAIDA – “Sex, Love & Honey” (King Noise, Canada) *Live On-Air Interview
* “XFM MANCHESTER/LONDON, ENGLAND” WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTION W/DJ JOHN KENNEDY
AMINO FEAT. LEE HAZELWOOD – “Healing At The Top of the World” (import, Icleand)
 10:52AM:
REVEREND & THE MAKERS – “Miss Brown” (Wall Of Sound, UK)
ACACIA – “Sway” (Warner Music, UK)
 11:00AM:
DUNE - “Bloodlines” (Iceberg, Denmark)
THE WOMBATS – “Let’s Dance To Joy Division” (14^th Floor, UK)
KAROSHI – “Love Da World” (import, UK)
*SKYBOMBERS – “It Goes Off” (Alberts, Australia) *Live In-Studio Interview
 11:22AM:
THE HOOSIERS – “Cops & Robbers” (RCA, UK)
KENT – “Elefanter” (RCA, Sweden)
 11:37AM:
OLD MAN RIVER – “LA” (Red Label, Australia)
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS – “She’s So Lovely” (Epic, UK)
BLUEJUICE – “Vitriol” (import, Australia)
 11:52AM:
SONS & DAUGHTERS – “Gilt Complex” (Domino, UK)
MISS LI – “Let Her Go” (import, Sweden) 

It’s Saturday November 10^th, 2007 and I got texted this morning by my “Indie 103.1FM” Los Angeles co-host Steve Schnur that he can’t make it to the show today. Thanks Steve! Did you hurt your other eye, I ask myself in a cheeky kind of way? I’ve got tonsillitis and now I’ve got to do all the talking on the show. It sucks living 40 miles from the radio station. I was up until 1.00AM as Passport Approved presented The Ting Tings for their first ever public show in the US at On The Rocks at the legendary Roxy. The Ting Tings were great and definitely a band that’s poised to blow up in 2008 worldwide. It’s such an honor to be able to premiere bands like The Ting Tings first in N. America on the radio, when no one is a believer. I trust my gut (and it’s hard to miss these days…lay-off of the daily muffins Sat!)…and give artists a chance to be heard, when no one else is quite ready to give them that opportunity.

 Today, Jesse from Kongos (a very cool band from South Africa via London now residing in Phoenix, AZ…are you confused yet?) called-in and it was great to chat with such a knowledgeable, intelligent and passionate artist. Followed-up by Kongos was Dolly from the quirky U.K. band Bo Pepper who I love playing on the show (even Perez Hilton is a fan…when of the few artists he doesn’t slag-off by the sounds of it). My producer Brandon (who does a good job as a fill-in for Steve I might add) tried to make the moves on Bo Pepper (which is Dolly’s puppet and the inspiration behind the band name), c’mon Brandon you can do better than that mate (check out the video to Brandon’s wandering hands on Bo’s legs on YouTube soon). To put the icing on the cake, Katie and Jules from The Ting Tings popped-by for their first live on-air radio interview in the US. They did a session a day before for my good friend Nic Harcourt at KCRW…who has very good taste in music and has been a champion to many acts before anyone took note of them (Norah Jones, Coldplay, Keane to name a few). Granted I’ve sent Nic many new artists – he’s a real music anorak. Nic is also a great human-being and has always been a good friend to me first and foremost. That’s rare to find in LA…in a town where so many people get star-struck and get in the music business for their egos or the “fashion” of it. It’s nice to be in similar company like Nic, who does what he does for the passion – hence he has nothing to prove.

 After three hours live on-air, my tonsillitis were killin’ me. Nothing is more disgusting (other than egomaniacs) than seeing the flaring of the tonsils on the back of your tongue. Just when I thought I could go home and rest my tired feet, I realized I had an hour and a half to go…recording the vocal bits for the syndicated shows for Passport Approved in the US and Germany. Thankfully, my mate TK from “Indie 103.1FM” does the Passport Approved segments for our new radio partners at Xfm Scotland, Xfm Manchester and Xfm London in the UK. Left the studio at 1:45pm and off to the barber’s to get my $10 haircut. I know sounds cheap, but you know what, I like my Barber…she’s always been good to me over the years (never *ucking up my hair) and you can’t buy loyalty!

9:00AM:
GEORGE STANFORD - “Down River” (Mercury, UK)
KENT – “Langd” (RCA, Sweden)
JASON SOUDAH – “Wallowing” (unsigned, UK)
OLD MAN RIVER – “LA” (Red Label, Australia)
KING BLUES – “Youmii Hawaii Featuring Itch” (Field, UK) 
9:22AM:
REVEREND & THE MAKERS – “Miss Brown” (Wall Of Sound, UK) 
FREAK THE CREEPS – “Get On The Dancefloor” (Data/M.O.S., UK) 
9:37AM:
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS – “She’s So Lovely” (Epic, UK)
BLUEJUICE – “Vitriol” (import, Australia)
*“KIWI FM” WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTION W/DJ KARYN HAY
THE MIDNIGHT YOUTH – “A New Day” (import, New Zealand)
 9:52AM:
EXILE PARADE – “Fire Walk With Me” (unsigned, UK)
SONNY JIM – “Can’t Stop Moving” (import, UK) 
10:00AM:
KATE NASH – “Stitching Leggings” (Fiction, UK)
KONGOS – “Make Your Mark” (unsigned, South Africa)
THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS – “I Thought About You” (import, Australia)
SMALLWHITELIGHT – “Spite” (unsigned, UK)
FAITHLESS – “Dirty Ole Man” (Cheeky, UK) *Passport Expired 
10:22AM:
SAM SPARRO – “Black & Gold” (unsigned)
THE WOMBATS – “Let’s Dance To Joy Division” (14^th Floor, UK)
HYPERNOVA – “Fairytales That Don’t Have Happy Endings” (import, Iran) *World Premiere 
10:37AM:ADELE – “Hometown Glory” (XL, UK)
*“XFM SCOTLAND” WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTIN W/DJ JIM GELLATLY
GLASVEGAS – “Daddy’s Gone” (import, Scoland) 
10:52AM:
THE PIGEON DETECTIVES – “I Found Out” (Dance To The Radio, UK)
*“MOTOR FM” WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTION W/DJ MAX
MODESELEKTOR FEAT. THOM YORKE – “The White Flash” 
11:00AM:
BO PEPPER – “Blink & You’ll Miss It” (unsigned, UK) * Live In-Studio Interview
CAROLINA LIAR – “I’m Not Over” (Atlantic, Sweden)
BIG LINDA – “Golden Girl” (unsigned, UK)
P*NUT – “Hey Hey Hey” (BMG, UK) 
11:22AM:
THE TING TINGS - “Fruit Machine” (Columbia, UK) *Live In-Studio Interview
 11:37AM:
MEXICOLAS – “Come Clean” (unsigned, UK)
SONS & DAUGHTERS – “Gilt Complex” (Domino, UK)
KAROSHI – “Love Da World” (import, UK) 
 11:52AM:
ESKIMO/DISCO – “7-11” (Protest, UK)
DUFFY – “Rockferry” (Universal, UK)

9:00AM:
ELLA ROUGE – “LA Dogs” (MobyDick, Sweden)
BIG LINDA – “Golden Girl” (unsigned, UK)
OLD MAN RIVER – “LA” (Red Label, Australia)
SAM SPARRO – “Black & Gold” (import) 
9:23AM:
KENT – “Elefanter” (RCA, Sweden)
SMALLWHITELIGHT – “Spite” (unsigned, UK)
BASSBOOSA – “Succumb” Future Funk Squad Mix (Champion, UK) *World Premiere 
9:36AM:
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS – “She’s So Lovely” (Epic, UK)
*“KIWI FM” NEW ZEALAND WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTION WITH DJ KARYN HAY
THE COSHERCOT HONEYS – “We’re All Lions” (import, New Zealand) 
9:52AM:
ESTELLE – “Wait A Minute” (Atlantic, UK)
GEORGE STANFORD – “Down River” (Mercury, UK) 
10:00AM:
SONS & DAUGHTERS – “Gilt Complex” (Domino, UK) *N. American Premiere
THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS – “I Thought About You” (import, Australia)
REMI NICOLE – “New Old Days” (Island, UK)
KAROSHI – “Love Da World” (import, UK) 
10:23AM:
SKYBOMBERS – “It Goes Off” (Albert’s Australia)
KONGOS – “Curious” (import, South Africa) 
10:36AM:
KING BLUES – “Youmii Hawaii Featuring Itch” (Field, UK) * N. American Premiere
KIDDA – “Strong Together” (Skint, UK)
REVEREND & THE MAKERS – “Miss Brown” (Wall Of Sound, UK) 
10:52AM
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS – “She’s So Lovely” (Epic, UK)
WIND & BRACKETS – “Nu Nu Za Za” (4 Track, Australia) 
11:00AM:
ADELE – “Hometown Glory” (XL Recordings, UK) *N. American Radio Premiere
CAROLINA LIAR – “I’m Not Over” (Atlantic, Sweden)
BRAIN FAILURE – “Coming Down To Beijing” (import, China)
DOUG WALKER – “The Mystery” (import, UK) 
11:23AM:
THE WOMBATS – “Let’s Dance To Joy Division” (14^th Floor, UK)
FAITHLESS - “Dirty Old Man” (Cheeky, UK) 
11:36AM:
BLUEJUICE – “Vitriol” (unsigned, Australia)
PETER GELDERBLOM – “Waiting 4” (M.O.S., UK)
*“XFM LONDON” WEEKLY IMPORT SELECTION W/DJ JOHN KENNEDY
THE MAPLE STATE – “We Swear By The Lightlife” 
11:52AM:
EJECTORSEAT - “Attack! Attack! Attack!” (unsigned, UK)
THE TING TINGS – “Fruit Machine” (Columbia, UK)