Do yourself a favor and download this immediately. It randomly began playing on my iPod yesterday, and within the first ten minutes of the phone call my eyes were beginning to water. It’s a forty-minute joke on people who take music too seriously perpetrated by WFMU deejay Tom Scharpling and his comedic foil, Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster. Every Tuesday night from 8-11 Scharpling hosts a call-in radio program, and pretty much every week Wurster calls in as a different character. Sometimes the calls are simple comedy sketches, but once in a while they’re golden radio pranks that leave listeners angry and confused. Rock, Rot & Rule is one of those gags, and it’s a stunning success.
Wurster plays Ronald Thomas Clontle, an author who has a new book coming out that is said to be the “ultimate argument settler”: a list of bands and a decision as to whether or not they “rock”, “rot”, or “rule”. Of course, “Clontle” didn’t put together the list by himself, he had help from about 100 people from Kansas and Florida. Because those cities are known for their vibrant cultures and deep connections to musical history. Before fielding calls from the audience, the pair go through the rules of the book — and they’re quite confusing and contradictory. Once Wurster starts going through the artists that “rock”, “rot” and “rule”, irate fans start calling in great numbers and challenging him on every assessment he makes. Each snide comment he makes spurs more debate. Clontle’s responses are so smarmy and carefree, it’s amazing he didn’t have his life threatened for acting like such a douchebag. He can barely force himself to properly enunciate “rock” and “rot”, which causes even more confusion for frustrated callers.
What’s so great about this joke is that Wurster continually harps on his book being “the ultimate argument settler” (he’s having the phrase copyrighted), and none of the callers seem to pick up on the fact that he’s actually RIGHT. They’re content to keep on arguing over which band is better than which other band, who ripped off who, and Scharpling and Wurster — somehow keeping in character — are content to let them go at it while they sit back and laugh at how inane people can be when arguing about music. So, so classic. Recommended for anyone who has ever scoffed at the idea of debating the merits of different musicians.
Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster
Rock, Rot & Rule
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“The Italians’ set began being delayed by sound problems, unfortunately. Issues with monitors and gear ate up into their set as the very packed room got restless waiting for them to begin. Once they did, though, the sheer monstrous heaviness and intensity that ensued from their obscure craft made up for all the time lost. They went from what seemed like hell’s own local band, jamming to riff after riff of pure, merciless heaviness, to the moog laden, spaced out dark noise that captured you. They played some devastating tracks from Snailking, in a much rawer, faster, and more aggressive form than their recording, even if I didn’t believe that was quite possible, and also some new tracks like “Lucifer Songs,” from their latest release, accompanied by their own video projections, The projections carried the Ufomammut imagery that came in their DVD, along with some other dark imagery. These guys were just brutally punishing, and their set was complete fucking rapture into a black and unholy universe. I just fucking loved this and was absolutely drained by it.” – Stoner Rock dot com.
Ufomammut
Live at Roadburn, 2006
Tracklist:
01. Star Dog
02. Hopscotch
03. Lips
04. Nero
05. Blind
06. God
07. Lucifer Song
