Welcome! I have been struggling for several months with how much I dislike social media but wanting to be able to share Peaks Island Radio updates. I remembered that you have generously provided your email addresses to the station. I think that this will be a better format for sharing updates, building community, and connecting with you all. The newsletter will generally be in three parts – 1) a volunteer spotlight, 2) a new feature called Three Songs that Changed My Life, and 3) Music you can expect to hear in the coming month on the station. Please let me know what you think.
Volunteer Spotlight – Faith York
Faith is a prime example of someone who gets things done! From the Peaks Island Music Association to PeaksFest, the brand new PorchFest happening August 9th, the Peaks Island Community Collaborative, teaching music at PIES and through private lessons, (and a whole lot more!) Faith’s energy is incredible. We’re lucky at Peaks Island Radio that Faith also hosts our Island Update which airs at the top of the hour.
How would you describe your role at Peaks Island Radio?
It’s a simple task – doing the weekly event announcements to help my neighbors stay up on what’s going on, so they don’t miss anything they’re interested in.
What goes into crafting and recording your island updates?
I have multiple sources I review regularly to stay on top of what’s happening – like 12 to 15 of them (including my own “Pipeline”) – and I even roam the bulletin boards to make sure I’ve got it all. And I invariably miss something now and then! Finding information has gotten a little easier over the years, as people DO reach out and send me information directly, which is VERY helpful.
I write the events all down, manually, in a calendar format, and then read them into my recorder. USUALLY, it takes a few trial runs to get it right. Complications frequently interrupt the process and I have to start all over again, such as people coming to the door and the dogs barking, messing up what I’m trying to say, and the dogs barking, my husband forgetting that I’m recording, I can’t read my own writing, and the dogs barking. Oh, and sometimes, the dogs bark.
Why are you involved with Peaks Island Radio?
I love the mission of Peaks Island Radio. I love that it exists, that it does what it does, and that so many people are welcome to participate. It is just one more way to connect with my community. AND – working with Chris is great and EASY. 🙂
Stephen Mohr’s Three Songs that Changed My Life
This month, we’re beginning a new feature called “Three Songs that Changed My Life.” Our inaugural edition is from Stephen Mohr, who was an early cheerleader and supporter of Peaks Island Radio. Despite his protests to the contrary, Stephen is a fixture in the community, helping facilitate the island sustainability assessment, and generously volunteering his time, talent, and resources for island organizations. A “retired” landscape architect, he is a pro at making life a little more (or is that Mohr?) beautiful. Without further ado, here’s Stephen:
Jimi Hendrix 1967 concert performance I was at in Philly. In particular, All Along the Watchtower. The sound of Dylan’s folk song being rearranged into a rocking guitar driven tune made me understand not only the genius of Hendrix, but also the power of musical interpretation.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at a college concert in 1973, and an early version of Fishing in the Dark. I immediately understood, and felt, the story of their lyrics, which helped me understand the wide range of meaning and interpretations that musicians convey in their songwriting.
Iris Dement and John Prine’s duet In Spite of Ourselves. First heard that on an album John released I think in the fall of 1999. Never had a song feel so personal and reflective of things I felt about my own life and relationships. Now, 26 years later, I feel that way about a lot of John Prine’s music.
If you’d like to share three songs that changed your life, please email me at chris@peaksislandradio.com.
This Month’s Featured Music
August 1-2 was the first Back Cove Music Festival at Payson Park and some great musicians came through Maine. All month, I’m featuring tracks from several of the bands that appeared at the festival, including The Roots, Thee Sacred Souls, and Lord Huron. The first day was great – the Roots even featured a tuba playing the opening riff of Jack White’s Seven Nation Army in a nod to White’s performance on the second day.
This month especially, give a close listen to Thee Sacred Souls. Their music is produced in the 2020s, but if you listen at just the right time, you can feel what it was like to listen to early soul and rock on hazy, humid 1960s nights. They’d be right at home on the Wolfman Jack Show. Find them on Spotify or Apple Music, support them through Daptone Records, and discover more on Sound Salvation, Wednesdays at 7pm, starting August 20th, on Peaks Island Radio.
I’ll be back next month with another update – until then, feel free to reach out with your own Three Songs that Changed My Life, music suggestions, and feedback.
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