Let Freeform Ring!

I think by now Tinsel and Rot has developed a cult-like following (five people constitutes a cult, right?), and, as the leader of this cult, I will occasionally command you to do things. I kinda have to; it's in the cult rulebook. And, no, you can't have a copy of that.

Based on a random check of my royalty statements and one impromptu book signing party, some of you have already figured this out and purchased my book based on the subtle hints dropped here (like this one). Good for you. And thanks.

But now the time has come for you to do something for me again. But it's not just for me. It's for the good of music, for the good of free choice, and for the good of my beloved Jersey City.

The yearly WFMU Music Marathon started today and runs through Sunday, March 18. WFMU, for the uninitiated, is a listener-supported freeform radio station that broadcasts just a few blocks from where I type this in Jersey City. The station, which can be found locally at 90.7 FM and streaming on the Web at http://www.wfmu.org, has a show for nearly every musical taste (but, alas, not polka), and while not all of it's gold, there's enough brilliance to be found on a daily basis that the station deserves your money.

Of course, the most brilliant show would be the aptly titled "The Best Show on WFMU," hosted by the consistently hilarious Tom Scharpling and frequently featuring the comedic stylings of former Superchunk (and Marah) drummer Jon Wurster. Whether it's a dissection of the worst song ever (Neil Diamond's "Porcupine Pie") or a phone call from Wawa devotee and GG Allin fan Philly Boy Roy, the "Best Show" knocks it out of the park more often than any steroid-fueled monster in the majors (check out the archives at your leisure). The "Best Show" airs every Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and is regularly full of so many laughs you should feel bad that neither Tom nor Jon gets paid a cent for the service they provide. Of course, you could rectify that by pledging to WFMU here. Your pledge will help keep both the "Best Show" and WFMU going, and that will almost certainly make you feel good. At the very least, it will make me feel good, which is what we're all here for when it comes right down to it.

A $50 pledge could get you this swell Pulaski Skyway t-shirt:



And for just $25 more, you can get the t-shirt and a DJ premium of your choice, most of which are pretty cool. I, of course, highly recommend the "Best Show"'s The Best You Can Do Is Be Worse Than The Best Show 2007 Victory Fun Pack, which will feature a new Scharpling and Wurster CD (as a side, non-Marathon related note, you can buy all the Scharpling and Wurster CDs here...but pledge too, OK?).

Then, there's also the cornerstone of the WFMU Music Marathon, the Annual Yo La Tengo Songfest, in which the Hoboken trio plays requests from the pledgers of America. This year's edition will be on Friday, March 16, from 8 to 11 p.m. It's usually pretty entertaining. Check it out.

And check out WFMU in general. I think you'll find something (and perhaps many somethings) that will tickle your fancy. And when you do, be sure to repay that fancy tickling with a nice pledge. It's the right thing to do.