This special Christmas night episode of "Music is Powerful Stuff" features host Mike, joined by his friend Sim Castro, a multi-instrumentalist from the Fat and Funky crew, known for bands like Shinobu, Hard Girls, Terradon, and Albert Square. The duo dedicates the evening to playing a variety of Christmas music, taking live calls from listeners who share their holiday experiences and song requests.

Highlights include heartfelt discussions about Christmas traditions, the joys (and challenges) of the holiday with kids, and a deep dive into listener connections. Mike also offers "55 years of life advice" and even promises a discount on Asian Man Records vinyl. The episode showcases the camaraderie between Mike and Sim, as well as the strong community built around the radio show, with calls coming in from California, Hawaii, and even Ontario, Canada.

Setlist of Songs Played:

• Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio) - "Angels We Have Heard on High"
• The Raveonettes - "The Christmas Song"
• Sufjan Stevens - "Only at Christmas Time"
• The Descendents - "Christmas Vacation"
• High Standard - "War is Over (A Punk Cover)"
• Danny Elfman - "Jack's Obsession" (from The Nightmare Before Christmas)
• Band-Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)"
• The Flaming Lips - (Christmas song, title not specified in transcript)
• Jimmy Eat World - "Last Christmas"
• Camping - "Wish You Were" (Original Christmas song)
• Cat Power - "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
• Nick Cave and Shane MacGowan - "What a Wonderful World"
• Masked Intruder - "The Ghosts of Christmas"
• Bad Religion - "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

This episode of "Music is Powerful Stuff" hosted by Mike Park on Pirate Cat Radio (92.9 FM Los Gatos / 101.9 FM Santa Cruz and kpcr.org) is a festive blend of Christmas music and engaging listener calls. As the station approaches the final days of its winter pledge drive, Mike encourages donations to support the non-profit, volunteer-run community radio. He even offers a Pirate Cat Radio t-shirt for donations of $25 or more. The show is entirely dedicated to Christmas tunes, a decision Mike made after realizing the abundance of great holiday songs during his research. Throughout the episode, Mike takes calls from listeners seeking life advice, discussing everything from car troubles and concert plans to managing anxiety and finding joy in music.

Setlist:

• MU330 – "Christmas Merry Christmas"
• Sufjan Stevens – "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever"
• Bad Religion – "O Come All Ye Faithful"
• First Aid Kit – "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Live on BBC2)
• The Suicide Machines – "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"
• Pentatonix – "Deck the Halls"
• Chris Farren (featuring Laura Stevenson) – "Waiting for You in the Snow"
• The Pogues (featuring Kirsty MacColl) – "Fairytale of New York"
• Mike Park – "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" / "Let It Snow" (Medley, Live)
• John Prine – "Christmas in Prison"
• The Waitresses – "Christmas Wrapping"
• The Lawrence Arms – "100 Resolutions"
• The Ramones – "I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight (Merry Christmas)"

This episode of "Music is Powerful Stuff" doubles as a "Frozen Frequencies Fundraiser" for Pirate Cat Radio (KPCR), a listener-supported, commercial-free community radio station. Host Mike Park urges listeners to donate to help cover bills and keep the station on air, offering a Pirate Cat Radio t-shirt for a $25 donation. Throughout the show, Mike takes calls from regular listeners, Izzy from Riverside (who always calls around the 20-minute mark), and nine-year-old Ava from Ventura, both of whom request songs. Later, Jacob Martin from the band Mocktag calls in to request one of his own band's songs. Mike shares anecdotes about the bands, discusses upcoming concerts, and even reveals a personal theory about Tom Waits' voice. The episode concludes with a traditional "Weird Al Yankovic" song and an invitation for listeners to join Mike at a Weird Al residency show in Las Vegas.

Setlist

• Hot Water Music - "Trusty Chords"
• Oingo Boingo - "Only a Lad"
• The Clash - "Pressure Drop"
• Less Than Jake - "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads"
• The Kinks - "Father Christmas"
• Royal Dog - "Pickle"
• The Selby Tigers - "Droid"
• The Epoxies - "Need More Time"
• Joyce Manor - "Catalina Fightsong"
• Voluntary Hazing - "Phone Tag"
• The Muffs - "Lucky Guy"
• Bull Shannon - "High on Nag Champa"
• Grave Secrets - "S2L"
• Link 80 - "Turn It Around"
• Mocktag - "All You Folks Are Dead For What You Did"
• Sad Park - "Good Luck"
• Reviver - "Rain Down"
• Buds - "Building Blocks"
• Tidal Fight - "Memorial Field"
• Camping - "Tiny House"
• Iron Chic - "Know What I Mean, Jelly Bean"
• New Order - "Blue Monday"
• Tom Waits - "Downtown Train"
• Social Unrest - "Red, White, and Blue"
• Weird Al Yankovic (unspecified song to close the show)

This episode is a lively, albeit sometimes fumbled, journey through Mike's musical tastes and anecdotes. He candidly admits to making mistakes on air, including talking without his mic on, but embraces the learning process. The show features a mix of genres, from pop-punk to hardcore, and includes listener call-ins for song requests and discussions. Highlights include a talk with Izzy about Oingo Boingo, a check-in with Trash from South Korea regarding political turmoil and music, and a chat with nine-year-old Ava about her favorite band, Less Than Jake. Mike also shares his love for Japan as a travel destination and celebrates the four-year anniversary of his label's release of The Moore Family Band album. The episode, as is tradition, concludes with a Weird Al Yankovic song.

Setlist:

• Jackie Mittoo – "Summer Breeze"
• Capitalist Casualties – "Insecurities"
• Magma Taisi – "Dotson Suicide"
• Classics of Love – "Dissolve"
• Siouxsie and the Banshees – "Mirage"
• Masked Intruder – "I Don't Want to Be Alone Tonight"
• Julien Baker (background music)
• Spaz – "Slow Death"
• Dead Milkmen – "Methodist Coloring Book"
• Polly Six – "Blackout Fallout"
• Lightning Bolt – "13 Monsters"
• Oingo Boingo – "Who Do You Want to Be Today" (Requested by Izzy)
• Missing Persons – "Walking in L.A."
• The Faction – "Skate and Destroy"
• JFA – "Great Equalizer"
• Spock – "Tony Hawk Ate My Skateboard"
• Slick Shoes – "Another Day" (Requested by Trash)
• Poppyfield – "Somewhere Else"
• The Blue Meanies – "Smash the Magnavox"
• Young Coconut – "Semoga Besok Masyada"
• No Fun At All – "Beat 'Em Down"
• The Rosillos – "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In"
• Donuts of Glory – "Perspective"
• Limp – "Far Away"
• Crossed Out – "Force of Habit"
• Alkaline Trio – "Versions of You"
• Descendents – "When I Get The Time" (Requested by Ava)
• Dramarama – "Anything, Anything"
• The Trestles – "Dwell"
• Bridge the Gap – "Up"
• The Skippers – "Pulgogi"
• Get Married – "Adam West" (Requested by Lars)
• The Ramones – "I Wanna Live"
• The Moore Family Band – "Raining Inside My Head"
• The Travoltas – "Dying To Do With You"
• Ghost – "Mariana Cross"
• "Weird Al" Yankovic – "White & Nerdy"

This episode of "Music is Powerful Stuff" airs on the eve of Thanksgiving, with host Mike Park preparing to host the holiday. He plays a diverse setlist, sharing personal anecdotes about some of the bands, like his long-standing love for Seven Seconds. The show features multiple listener call-ins, including a question about Mike Park's solo album "North Hangook Falling" from a first-time caller, a request from a friend in Riverside, and a delightful call from a nine-year-old in Ventura. Mike also chats with a caller from Sydney, Australia, discussing Vegemite and touring bands. The episode wraps up with a traditional "Weird Al" Yankovic song.

Setlist:

• Roland Alphonso – "Phoenix City"
• Nice – "Crazy"
• Seven Seconds – [Song not specified]
• Operation Ivy – "Knowledge"
• Gel – "Dicey"
• Mora Weaver – "Crush on You Part Two"
• Doki Doki – [Song not specified]
• Cursive – "Up and Away"
• The Iron Roses – "Screaming for a Change" (Requested by Pierre from Orange County, CA)
• Emily Davidson the Murder Police – "Heartless" (Requested by Alexis)
• Oingo Boingo – "Same Man I Was Before" (Requested by Izzy from Riverside)
• Jawbreaker – [Song not specified] (Requested by Chris from Santa Cruz)
• Less Than Jake – "All My Best Friends Are Metalheads" (Requested by Ava, age 9, from Ventura)
• Talking Heads – "Pulled Up"
• The Window Smashing Job Creators – "Precarious Spiel" (Requested by Jack from Schaumburg, IL)
• Fishbone – "Skank it to the Beat"
• Shonen Knife – "Top of the World" (Carpenters Cover)
• Crime in Stereo – "Gravity Grace" (Requested by a listener)
• Pup – "Old Wounds" (Requested by Lars from Sydney, Australia)
• Jeff Rosenstock – [Song not specified]
• Gladdy – "Born Wednesday"
• "Weird Al" Yankovic – "Hardware Store"

This episode of "Music is Powerful Stuff" is an all-instrumental affair, with host Mike and co-host Randy Moore exploring a wide range of instrumental tracks. They take calls from listeners, including a regular caller Izzy from Riverside and a first-time caller from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Mike also shares humorous anecdotes about getting free movie tickets and popcorn. The hosts discuss the challenges of finding instrumental songs by certain artists, particularly "Weird Al" Yankovic, for the show's closing segment.

Setlist of Songs Played:

• The Ventures - "Pipeline"
• Jackie Mittoo - "Get Up and Get It"
• Ernest Ranglin - "Nocturne in E Flat Major"
• Beastie Boys (instrumental track, specific song not named)
• Green Day - "Last Ride In"
• The Clash - "Working and Waiting"
• Frank Zappa - "Big Swifty" (5-minute excerpt)
• Rex Orange County - "Rain Man"
• The Slackers - "In Walked Capo"
• John Williams - "End Credits" (from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial)
• Operation Ivy - "Bankshot"
• Booker T. & the M.G.'s - "Green Onions"
• Branch - "A New Perspective"
• God Paradise Orchestra (song title not specified, possibly the preceding track to the live call)
• Andrew W.K. (instrumental track, specific song not named)
• Madness - "One Step Beyond"
• Potshot - "We Are Potshot"
• Howard Shore - "Concerning Hobbits" (from The Lord of the Rings)
• Streetlight Manifesto - "Riding the Fourth Wave"
• Weezer - "Return to Ithaca" (Part 3 of a trilogy)
• "Weird Al" Yankovic (instrumental track, specific song not named)

This episode of "Music is Powerful Stuff" lives up to its ad-libbed opening with host Mike Park playing a diverse, free-form set of punk, indie, and alternative tracks, taking live requests from callers and Instagram. He shares anecdotes about the bands, expresses his appreciation for community radio, and even offers $10 to a listener who can prove they're tuning in from Santa Cruz on 101.9 FM. The show concludes, as always, with a "Weird Al" Yankovic song.

Setlist:

• Get Married - "Jeezy Beach"
• Belle & Sebastian - "The Eighth Station of the Cross"
• Crass - "Smother Love"
• The Electrocutes (pre-The Donnas band)
• The Replacements - "Can't Hardly Wait"
• The Muffs - "Outer Space"
• Oingo Boingo - "No One Lives Forever"
• Youth Brigade - "Did You Wanna Die"
• The Slits - "Number One Enemy"
• The Rondelles - "Like a Prayer" (Madonna cover)
• Elliott Smith - "Between the Bars"
• Heather Tenille - "On the Inside"
• Title Fight - "Memorial Field"
• Poison Idea - "Just to Get Away"
• Chumbawumba - "Enough is Enough"
• Scum Punch - "Victim" (from Miami, Florida)
• Short Round - "Mole Hill"
• The Lawrence Arms - "Light Breathing"
• Dark Ride - "Infernally Yours"
• Piebald - "American Hearts"
• Liquid Mike - "K2"
• Korea the Band - "Asian Prodigy"
• Iwanaga - "Way O" (from Fresno, California)
• Talking Heads - "Once in a Lifetime" (live from Stop Making Sense soundtrack)
• The Hippos - "Please"
• Alkaline Trio - "Goodbye Forever"
• No Motive - "Celebrate"
• Youth Fountain - "Rose Colored Glass"
• Monarchy of Roses
• Weird Al Yankovic - "UHF"

This episode kicks off with a call from Izzy in Riverside, who shares her post-election feelings and discusses the recent Danny Elfman concert. The host then plays "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy, setting a tone of resilience. Throughout the show, the host encourages listeners to practice self-care and find healing through music, especially after the election. The episode features a diverse set of music, including punk, ska, and even a unique "ska punk with dark jazz" band from Indonesia named Hard Milk.

A significant portion of the show is dedicated to a lively interview with professional wrestler Lenny Leather from New Jersey. Lenny shares insights into the independent wrestling scene, his signature move (the "leg DDT"), and his passion for wrestling despite often performing for little or no pay. He discusses wrestlers he's trained with, including Damian Priest, and the community aspect of indie wrestling, from birthday parties to baby showers. The host expresses his hope for Lenny to make it to televised leagues and connects the dedication of indie wrestlers to his own early days as a musician.

The episode also includes several listener requests, highlighting the interactive nature of the show. Towards the end, a local band from Santa Cruz, Just Dandy, gets airplay with their song "Garbage Fire," a track inspired by the recent election. The host praises the band and encourages listeners to support local artists.

Setlist:

• Public Enemy - "Fight the Power"
• Cake - "Sinking Ship"
• The Clash - "White Riot"
• Alkaline Trio - "Keep On Living"
• Rage Against the Machine - "War Within a Breath"
• Bruce Springsteen - "Land of Hope and Dreams"
• Sam Cooke - "A Change Is Gonna Come"
• Hard Milk - "Tragedy"
• Build Us Airplanes - "Sinking"
• Violación Auditiva - "Rattus"
• Quincy Jones - "Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)"
• The Spits - "Witch Hunt"
• Dead Kennedys - "Kill the Poor"
• Cherish - "Hope Against Hope"
• Haysmith - "To Say My Name"
• Fishbone - "Subliminal Fascism"
• The Living End - "Prisoner of Society"
• The Queers - "Your Trippin'"
• Just Dandy - "Garbage Fire"
• Propagandhi - "Potemkin City Limits"