Laurapalooza

2011-10-23T10:43:00.002-05:00

Please take a moment to show you care about Pacifica Radio station KPFT Houston 90.1 by making a financial contribution. Every dollar helps to keep the station operating. Please go to www.KPFT.org and click on the Donate Now button or the Become a Sustainer button. To help me reach my program's goal for the fall membership drive, please indicate Laurapalooza as a program you would like to support.

2011-10-23T10:29:00.002-05:00

There is a new KPFT membership incentive -- the heavy-duty black canvas tote bag -- at the $120.00 pledge level. It has printing on both sides. The photo above is the front of the tote bag, with a pocket. The front has the Laurapalooza logo and "Music for Pacificans."
It has the KPFT logo and website on the other side.

2011-10-02T13:57:00.004-05:00

Brian Molnar and Glenna Bell were my guests last Thursday night, September 29. It was the last Thursday night for the program as Laurapalooza moves to Fridays at 11 PM beginning October 7. I will follow The Prison Show and will be followed by Pat & Rosie's Nightsounds. I am looking forward doing Friday nights and hope you will be sure to tune in at 11 PM CST to 90.1 KPFT Houston, 89.5 Galveston, 89.7 Huntsville, or 90.3 Livingston. All KPFT programs are streamed worldwide at www.kpft.org and are archived temporarily online at http://archive.kpft.org.

2011-08-15T22:58:00.004-05:00

This is the new Laurapalooza cap. It is being offered as a thank-you gift during the KPFT summer membership drive at the $90 level. I also have black Laurapalooza tote bags on order. They will be offered at the $120 pledge level. If you want all three -- the T-shirt, cap, and tote bag, a combo pack will be available at the $280 pledge level. The phone number to call is 713-526-5738 on Thursday night, August 18, between 11 PM and 2 AM. You can pre-pledge online at www.KPFT.org or by emailing me at laura@kpft.org. Please consider becoming a sustainer! Listen to 90.1 FM Pacifica Radio KPFT Houston.

2011-06-12T20:38:00.003-05:00

Thanks to all of the great phone volunteers who helped during the recent KPFT Spring Membership Drive and, of course, to everyone who donated to help keep community radio alive in Houston!

2011-05-25T23:03:00.002-05:00

We have just a few days remaining of the Spring Membership Drive. Here's an easy way to donate. Jusst click on the Donate Now button and be a listener-sponsor of KPFT. Be sure to indicate Laurapalooza as the program you want to support so you can help me reach my goal of $400. I just got a new batch of Laurapalooza T-shirts, so I'm bound to have your size available. You only need to pledge at the $60 level to get a Laurapalooza T-shirt. There are lots of CDs available too as thank-you gifts. So do it. You know you want to. What are you waiting for?

2011-05-25T22:24:00.004-05:00

Herranen Sound Machine --Ryan McGhee (left) and Luke Herranan (right) -- were our in-studio guests on May 19, 2011. Lindsey Slavin interviewed Ryan and Luke and they performed live music. They are Houston area musicians who perform mostly rock instrumentals, with an occasional song with lyrics.

Lindsey, Ryan, and Luke in the KPFT Music Library.

2011-02-24T19:47:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Ken, Mark, Wilma, Hayden, Lindsey, Robert C. , Betty, Ron, Robert W., Dennis, Dan, Nancy, Derek, Rhia, Diane, Bob, James, Jon, Brian, and Ed for making financial pledges to KPFT in support of Laurapalooza during the recent Winter Membership Drive. It is listener-sponsors who have kept KPFT on the air for the past 40 years. Continued listener support will ensure the station remains on the air in the future.

Bob Allums in Temple, Texas, is the winner of the drawing for the searchable archive of 40 years of Rolling Stone magazine. Congratulations, Bob!

Tonight, I'll feature new music by Drive-By Truckers, Andy Friedman, Bruce Cockburn, and more!

2011-01-30T22:37:00.004-06:00

At KPFT, we're all gearing up for the Winter Membership Drive that begins on Feb. 3 and goes through Feb. 19. I'm excited about doing a membership drive show on the first day of the drive. If you don't have your Laurapalooza T-shirt yet, you'll have another opportunity to pledge your support and get a T-shirt. You can help cut down on the total days of the drive by making an online pledge before the drive begins. Be sure to designate Laurapalooza as the show you are supporting with your donation. Here is a link to KPFT's Secure Online Donation page at www.KPFT.org:
https://www.kpft.org/pledge/index.php

2010-10-31T22:38:00.002-05:00

Thank you to David, Robert, another Robert, yet another Robert, Jon, and Michael for supporting KPFT and pledging during Laurapalooza on October 28. You, the listener-sponsor, are what makes KPFT possible!

I have a limited number (three only) portable HD-2 radios available as thank-you gifts at the $150 pledge level. If you want one, either let me know via email (laura@kpft.org) or by calling 713-526-5738 between 11 PM and 2 AM on Thursday, November 4.

2010-10-28T08:13:00.002-05:00

Thank you Dave, Cindy/Rox, Robert, Patti, Richard, and Nancy for your financial support of community radio station 90.1 KPFT Houston during last Thursday night's Laurapalooza program. Nancy donated for herself and her deceased husband Frankie, who was an active volunteer at KPFT, and all four of their children. We very much appreciate your contributing to keeping local programming on the air.

If you have not yet donated during the fall membership drive, please call in your pledge of financial support for KPFT to 713-526-KPFT (5738) and let's reach the overall goal early. If you listen to our programs using the online web stream or by downloading archived audio using KPFT.org to listen to the programs at your convenience, then it's easy for you to click on the Tip Jar on the home page and donate to your favorite programs. Don't put it off. Your community radio station deserves your support. If you call in during Laurapalooza, Thursday, 11 PM to 2 AM, your pledge will show KPFT's management and program council that you appreciate the program and would like it to stay on the current program schedule. Thanks for listening and thanks for being a responsible listener and supporting the programs you enjoy.

2010-10-16T10:37:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, October 21, the KPFT Fall Membership Drive begins. I will be asking you to call in with your financial support during Laurapalooza that night from 11 PM to 2 AM, as well as the next two Thursdays, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4. Meanwhile, you are encouraged to help give us a head start on our membership drive by contriubuting to the tip jar on the home page at www.kpft.org. Please encourage others to go to the tip jar also. Thank you for listening and thank you for supporting your community radio station!

2010-10-07T21:44:00.002-05:00

In addition to my picks of this week's new music, tonight we'll also hear a John Lennon special hosted by Jody Denberg in honor of John Lennon's (70th) birthday.

2010-07-15T20:41:00.002-05:00

Doesn't the Laurapalooza T-shirt look great on Glenna Bell? I meant to post this photo months ago and finally got around to it. She has a new CD, to be officially released in September, called Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love and Murder. For more info on Glenna and her upcoming performances, go to www.glennabell.com.

2010-07-01T19:51:00.002-05:00

Tonight's show will include new music by Leroy Bell, Cindy Bullens, Jim Halfpenny, Peter Rudy, Eric Beverly and The Sunday Best, Shane Lamb, Amy Correia, and more.

2010-06-24T10:56:00.004-05:00

If you're a somewhat regular Laurapalooza listener, then you are bound to have heard Bill Arneth's poetry around midnight. He has had two books published and performed poetry all over the United States, Europe and the Middle East. He will be my in-studio guest at 11 PM tonight.

2010-05-27T20:57:00.002-05:00

Thank you to the new members and renewing members who supported KPFT during the Spring Membership Drive! It is only with you that we are able to continue bringing you the independent music, news, and community affairs programs that you enjoy. I have lots of new music in store for you tonight -- Bill Kirchen, Troy Turner, Bettye LaVette, Susan Cowsill, The Vincent Hayes Project, and The Sideshow Tragedy, to name a few -- so I hope you're ready to stay up late.

2010-05-14T12:48:00.006-05:00

Thanks to everyone who pledged their financial support last night. And thanks to Bob Gartner who stepped up to fill in for Ameen assisting me with fundraising efforts. We met the new member goal for those three hours and exceeded the monetary goal!

Next Thursday night, Dana Hubbard will return to visit with me in the studio and play some live music. I also plan to air a recording of Ochi interviewing Austin Collins (recorded March 8). If you didn't call in and pledge your financial support for Pacifica Radio KPFT 90.1 last night, you will have another opportunity to do so on May 20. I'll have another new member goal and monetary goal to meet that night. The above photo of Dana Hubbard was taken the last time he was my guest at KPFT. For more info on Dana, his website is www.danahubbard.com.

2010-05-13T21:22:00.002-05:00

Tonight's show will include new music by Stone River Boys, Matt King and The Cutters, H-Town Jukes, Samantha Crain, The Sideshow Tragedy, Sam Quinn, Jackie Greene, The Young Veins, Wilder Embry, Morry Sochat & The Special 20s, and Clothesline Revival. At least that's the plan. Tonight will be a membership drive show, so I hope we have time to squeeze all that in. Ameen Raheem will work with me to do our part to help raise funds for KPFT to cover operating costs over the coming months. Please do your part and call in a pledge tonight between 11 PM and 2 AM. The pledge line phone number is 713-526-5738.

New music for May 6

2010-05-06T00:25:00.002-05:00

The May 6 Laurapalooza will feature new music by Lincoln Durham, Kenny White, Walking Sleep, Neil Nathan, Mars Arizona, The Running Kind, Crash Test Dummies, Jim Halfpenny, Wendy Colonna, and Alejandro Escovedo. We will also revisit the new albums by Jason & The Scorchers, and Sonia & Disappear Fear. Hope you're listening!

2010-03-25T22:37:00.002-05:00

I hope you went to see Arlo Guthrie and Family on March 23. I went with my sister and enjoyed it thoroughly. Arlo told wonderful stories in between songs. His children and grandchildren are all quite talented. The littlest ones loved dancing and running around on the stage. They tour 10 months out of the year as a family. We sat on a blanket on the hill and had a very nice evening listening to Arlo and Family. I bought a live CD there of Arlo and Pete Seeger, so I'll plan on sharing some of that with you tonight during Laurapalooza (90.1 Houston, 89.5 Galveston or streaming live at www.kpft.org).

KPFT Membership Drive Feb. 11-27

2010-02-10T16:09:00.002-06:00

I get the pleasure of hosting my show on the first day of the drive this time! Local musician Jeff Boortz will be in the studio with me as my guest co-host. So, listen to Laurapalooza at 11:00 PM on Thursday, February 11, and call us with your new or renewal membership at 713-526-5738 during the show. Instead of a pledge incentive (CD, DVD, etc.) you can have 10% of your donation go to help earthquake survivors in Haiti.

2010-01-10T13:46:00.002-06:00

Last Thursday's show (Jan. 7) was chock full of great new music. If you didn't get to hear it live, it's available for a few days on the KPFT audio archives -- http://archive.kpft.org

2009-12-30T16:56:00.002-06:00

If you missed the Josh Foster interview on December 17, it is now posted as a podcast at www.KPFT.org. From the home page, go to Programming and then KPFT Podcast.

Last Thursday night's show, on December 24, was the first part of the Best Of Laurapalooza 2009. This week, the New Year's Eve show will finish up the "Best-Of" show, but I think I'll also have time to share with you my picks of this week's new music.

2009-12-16T11:10:00.003-06:00

Here's a photo of Josh Foster. Now, you won't have to wonder what he looks like when you're listening to 90.1 KPFT on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 11 PM.

Josh Foster to perform in-studio Dec. 17

2009-12-15T18:45:00.003-06:00

Last night, my brother, Tim Vandevere, and I were at McGonigel's Mucky Duck. We went to have dinner and check out the performers at the open mic. The Duck has the best open mic in Houston (in my opinion). It's hosted by Wayne Wilkerson and he does a great job of running the sound. We hadn't planned on staying to see all the open mic performers because Tim had to fly back home to Seattle this morning and I have to get up really early every morning for my operations engineer job at KPFT. I have to be at work no later than 5:30 AM, Monday through Friday to engineer for the morning shows from 5:30 to 10:00 AM. If you listen in the morning and wonder who is doing the traffic and weather reports, it's me. One of the open mic performers, Josh Foster, really impressed me with his songs, his vocal style and guitar playing, so I invited him to come in and play some live music on my show this Thursday night. The plan is to have him on at the beginning of the show at 11 PM (when more people are listening than in the latter two hours). So, on Thursday, December 17, at 11 PM, please tune in to 90.1 if you're in the Houston area, 89.5 in Galveston or, hopefully, our Internet stream will be repaired by then and you will be able to listen online from www.kpft.org if that is your preferred way of listening. If not, the audio archive will be downloadable from www.archive.kpft.org for one week past the date of the show. Josh's MySpace site is www.myspace.com/jfosterhouston if you want to check it out and listen to some of his songs.

Grant Peeples returns to Laurapalooza on Oct. 15

2009-10-14T14:11:00.005-05:00

Grant Peeples, singer-songwriter out of Sopchoppy, Florida, will make a return visit to Laurapalooza in the KPFT studios on Thursday, October 15. His lyrics are socially conscious, political, and very witty. He'll play some live music and talk about his current album, Pawnshop. His website is http://www.grantpeeples.com/.

2009-08-09T21:41:00.003-05:00

This is Jim Halfpenny and me on July 30 when he did a live in-studio on my show. He played three songs -- Echoes, Blind Pigs, and The Roadway.

Jim Halfpenny to visit KPFT July 30

2009-07-29T23:28:00.003-05:00

Austin, Texas, singer-songwriter Jim Halfpenny will be my guest Thursday, July 30, at 11 PM. He'll play some live music and chat with me before heading to LaGrange to perform at the Bugle Boy on Saturday, August 1. For more on Jim Halfpenny, visit www.jimhalfpennyband.com.

A change is gonna come

2009-07-10T16:32:00.004-05:00

KPFT is undergoing a major programming schedule change, so please keep an eye on the http://www.kpft.org/ website home page to know what the changes are. A new program called Deadbeat will debut Saturday, July 11, 2009, at 3:00 PM, hosted by Sandy Weinmann and Dave Dauterive, so stay tuned. Here is a link to the KPFT program director's blog, where you can find out more about the program changes: http://kpft.wordpress.com/

Dana Hubbard at KPFT

2009-06-01T15:33:00.005-05:00

Dana Hubbard is based in Berkeley, California, and his website is www.danahubbard.com. He performed three songs during his live in-studio -- Lightnin's Cadillac, Livin' Live, and The Pain of Losing You. His interview and live music performance will be posted soon at www.KPFT.org. From the home page, click on Programming and then click on KPFT Podcast.

Dana Hubbard and Laura Slavin

2009-06-01T15:22:00.002-05:00

It was a pleasure having Dana Hubbard as a guest on May 21 while he was in Texas to perform at the Wildflower music festival in Richardson.

Dana Hubbard coming to KPFT May 21

2009-05-16T10:45:00.003-05:00

Singer-songwriter Dana Hubbard, out of Berkeley, California, will be my guest Thursday, May 21, at 11 PM for an interview and live music performance. I know you've heard some his songs on my show: The Great Human Race, Petroleum People, and the title track to The Grounds Keepers. His lyrics are socially and environmentally conscious, so please tune in to get to know Dana Hubbard. His website is www.danahubbard.com.

Don't forget to call in and make a financial pledge to KPFT in support of Laurapalooza while the Spring Membership Drive is in progress (713-526-5738). To support Laurapalooza, call in Thursday night, May 21, between the hours of 11 PM and 2 AM.

John Houx's Green Period featured

2009-04-20T00:25:00.004-05:00

Last Thursday night, April 16, I featured seven songs from John Houx's Green Period. His music can be likened to Dylan's early stuff. Here's a photo so, if you were listening and are curious as to what he looks like, now you know.

February was Black History Month

2009-03-01T12:26:00.003-06:00

During Black History Month (February), Laurapalooza featured three one-hour specials:

Feb. 5 - Gamble & Huff: Love is the Message - The Story of Philadelphia International Records (a salute to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. (The above is a photo of Gamble & Huff).

Feb. 12 - Ashford & Simpson: The Real Thing - A look at the long careers of songwriters, producers and performers Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

Feb. 19 - Sly and The Family Stone. The remaining two hours of the program was music by black artists.

It was fun to do something so different from my regular shows as I usually feature mostly new releases of roots rock, contemporary folk, and blues. Thanks for the phone calls and emails of appreciation.

Photo of Laura Slavin and Jim Post

2009-01-17T16:59:00.004-06:00

It was such a pleasure to have Jim Post in the studio on January 15. The interview and music will be posted soon at www.KPFT.org as a podcast. For more info about Jim and his upcoming performances, www.jimpost.com.

Laura will host Jim Post on Jan. 15

2009-01-13T23:34:00.003-06:00

Songwriter, recording artist and author, Jim Post will be Laura's in-studio guest on Jan. 15. http://www.jimpost.com

Happy New Year!

2009-01-08T07:07:00.001-06:00

I had a great time doing a New Year's Day program featuring some of the best of Laurapalooza of 2008. Of course, not everything that deserves "best of" labeling will fit into a three-hour program, but it was a good sampling of the music Laurapalooza features. I have never received so many phone calls during one program. I lost count of how many people called in to say they appreciate the music selections played on Laurapalooza. Please remember to contribute to KPFT during the upcoming membership drive that is planned for January 17 through February 1 and do your part to keep free speech alive, along with program hosts' free choices in music. KPFT has never been controlled by corporations and is commercial-free because it is listener-sponsored.

Laurapalooza to feature the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam

2008-12-24T05:57:00.002-06:00

On Thursday, December 25, at 11 PM, Laurapalooza will feature the 20th Anniversary Warren Haynes Christmas Jam Radio Special with performances by The Allman Brothers, Michael Franti, Joan Osborne, Steve Earle, Gov’t Mule, and more, along with interviews with Michael Franti, Ben Harper, Warren Haynes and Greg Allman. The annual concert thrives on support by volunteer talent and behind-the-scenes personnel. Post-production proceeds benefit Habitat For Humanity, whose goal is providing housing for families in need.

Laurapalooza celebrates Jimi Hendrix's birthday Nov. 27

2008-11-27T14:58:00.002-06:00

On this week's program, Thursday, November 27 at 11:00 PM, I will feature Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant (The Massacree Revisited) from 1997 and, in honor of Jimi Hendrix's birthday, Electric Ladyland: The 40th Anniversary Radio Special, hosted by Gary Moore.

Laura hosts Grant Peeples live in-studio Nov. 13

2008-11-15T20:08:00.006-06:00

I had the pleasure of hosting Grant Peeples for an in-studio interview and performance at KPFT on Thursday, November 13. Mike Manning accompanied him on bass guitar and they played two songs -- Grant's Talking Blues and Sunshine State -- off the new album, It's Later Than You Think. He was in Houston to perform at Last Concert Cafe on Friday, November 14. For more info on Grant Peeples, go to http://www.grantpeeples.com/. A podcast of the interview and live music will be posted at www.kpft.org.

See below for photos from Truth Network Ball

2008-10-14T21:33:00.004-05:00

I had misplaced the disc that had the photos on it (how unlike me to misplace something), so I couldn't post them until now. If I took your picture and it's not posted here, it's because a few of them didn't turn out good (it was so dark inside Dan Electro's Guitar Bar). The live music acts were all good, but The Blue Threads, I must say, were certainly the high point. I had a lot of fun working the front door and doing my part to raise funds to support KPFT.

Dean Becker

2008-10-14T21:32:00.002-05:00

Don

2008-10-14T21:32:00.001-05:00

Bill

2008-10-14T21:31:00.003-05:00

Mary and Cheryl

2008-10-14T21:17:00.002-05:00

Audience

2008-10-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

Melinda, Sandra and Genie

2008-10-14T21:13:00.000-05:00

Dean and Keith

2008-10-14T21:12:00.000-05:00

The Blue Threads

2008-10-14T21:11:00.000-05:00

Little Brother Project

2008-10-14T21:02:00.000-05:00

Tom Loud

2008-10-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

Patti Sullivan

2008-10-14T21:00:00.002-05:00

The Dragliners

2008-10-14T21:00:00.001-05:00

Truth Network Ball was a success

2008-10-07T01:24:00.004-05:00

On Sunday, October 5, I volunteered at the Truth Network Ball at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar on W. 24th St. in The Heights, hosted by Dean Becker. There was live music from 3 to 9 p.m. and my personal favorites were The Blue Threads, who rocked the house and made the audience yell for more. I worked the door, taking admissions. The $10 per person benefitted KPFT, so it was definitely a worthy cause. Besides, I needed to get out and listen to some great live music. I took pictures, but they're not ready yet. I'll post them when they are. I had to use one of those disposable cameras because I lost the charger for my digital camera and will have to buy another.

Thanks for supporting

2008-08-18T01:30:00.003-05:00

The Summer Sizzle membership drive has concluded and we are back to regular programming. Thank you so very much for supporting Pacifica Radio KPFT Houston!

Membership drive program tonight

2008-08-14T07:53:00.002-05:00

I hope you tune in for tonight's edition of Laurapalooza as I have planned some very special membership drive programming for you, including a Jim Morrison special and a Woody Guthrie special, both from the Pacifica Radio Archives. When you call in your membership pledge (713-526-5738) during the show tonight beginning at 11 p.m., you can ask for 100 hours of "From The Vault," our Pacifica Radio Archives thank-you gift. The 100-hour collection includes those two programs and much, much more. I will also feature some songs from Sounds of Freedom, a book and CD set that is also available to you when you pledge your financial support for KPFT. After that, with what time there is left, I will play some new releases from the KPFT Music Library. If you are unable to call in during the program, you can make a secure online pledge at www.kpft.org or email me at laura@kpft.org. It only takes a $90 pledge to get a black Laurapalooza T-shirt with the KPFT logo printed on the back.

Summer Membership Drive

2008-08-10T21:58:00.003-05:00

The Summer Sizzle Membership Drive has commenced and will run through August 17. Please show your support for your community radio station by calling in a generous financial pledge. A basic membership is only $35 per year, but, of course, we accept pledges in any amount. We have plenty of black Laurapalooza T-shirts in varying sizes with printing on the front and back that we will be happy to mail to you when you pledge at the $90 level. The Sounds of Freedom book and CD set is also available as a thank-you gift. Please call 713-526-5738 during Laurapalooza on Thursday night or email me at laura@kpft.org and I'll be happy to accept your pledge.

Laura will host Glenna Bell in the KPFT studios on July 10

2008-07-06T15:05:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, July 10, at 11 PM, I will host an interview and live music performance with singer-songwriter and recording artist Glenna Bell, who is nominated for "Best Traditional Folk" act in the 2008 Houston Press Music Awards.www.glennabell.com

New black Laurapalooza T-shirts available

2008-07-06T14:39:00.005-05:00

It's all the craze. People are actually asking for these T-shirts. They are available in sizes from Youth 2-4 to Adult 3XL. The top photo is a close-up of the front of the shirt. The middle photo is the T-shirt front and the lower photo is the T-shirt back. At the $90 pledge level, you can have one too. And you don't have to wait for the next membership drive. Just contact me at laura@kpft.org.

Thanks for supporting your community radio station

2008-06-04T00:05:00.002-05:00

The Spring membership drive has concluded and regular programming is back. Thank you to everyone who pledged during this drive, everyone who donated their time to answer phones, all the restaurants that donated food, all the program hosts and crews, and especially to Duane and Ernesto for their tireless efforts on-air requesting listener donations.

New T-shirts for membership drive

2008-05-20T15:55:00.003-05:00

Laurapalooza T-shirts with a new design are being produced now and will be ready by the end of the current membership drive. They are black with white lettering and include a large KPFT logo on the back and a motto below the program name on the front -- Music for Pacificans. This is the best way I can briefly describe what type of music I feature on my show. I'm sure it will get people asking, "What are Pacificans?"

Usually, when people ask me what type of music I play on my show, I tell them it's not any one type of music. It ranges from roots rock, contemporary folk and blues to spoken word and sometimes some jazzy kind of stuff. Rarely, I'll even include a country-sounding song. But, it isn't really the type of music that makes me choose a song. It is the lyrics that matter. Does the songwriter have something to say? I choose songs with lyrics of social or political importance or that tell an interesting story about people and the hardships people have to overcome to get along in this world. Since I can't put all that on a T-shirt, they will just say, Music for Pacificans.

The current KPFT membership drive will continue through the end of May. I exceeded my dollar goal and new member goal during last Thursday night's show and I hope to do the same again this Thursday.

We have many wonderful thank-you gifts being offered as pledge incentives, including, but not limited to:

Reusable KPFT Grocery Tote Bags made from recycled plastic. With these, when the grocery checker asks, "Paper or plastic?" you can proudly reply, "No, thanks. I brought my own."

CDs (my top picks of the new releases) -
Mudcrutch (Tom Petty's new band): self-titled
James McMurtry: Just Us Kids
Frank Carillo and The Bandoleros: Someday
Chip Taylor: New Songs of Freedom

And last, but should have been listed first because it's the most important, "From The Vault" - 100 hours of Historical recordings from the Pacifica Radio Archives on CDs (in MP3 format).

We always also offer the KPFT logo items -- T-shirts, caps, and mugs.

I recommend the From The Vault recordings and, of course, the new Laurapalooza T-shirt. The T-shirts, by the way, are available in all different sizes, even youth sizes. I look forward to your phone call during the show this Thursday night at 11 p.m. with your pledge of support for the station. The phone number is 713-526-5738. Alternatively, you are welcome to email me with your pledge or do a secure online pledge through http://www.kpft.org/.

Be a Pacifican. Support Pacifica Radio KPFT Houston with your donation.

Willie Nelson special airs on Laurapalooza

2008-05-05T01:50:00.002-05:00

I don't usually include country music on my program (or I feature very little country, only on rare occasions), but, since it was Willie Nelson's 75 birthday last week, I decided to air the Willie Nelson special, True Outlaw Stories: On the Road With Willie Nelson, hosted by Rodney Crowell. It featured stories about lots of funny things that happened as Willie Nelson and The Family Band toured together over the past 40 years. Quite a few listeners called in to say thanks for featuring it. Those of us who heard it, no doubt, feel like we know Willie and his band members a lot better now. There were interviews with, not only Willie Nelson, but also Paul English, Mickey Raphael, Jody Payne, Bobbie Nelson and Poodie Locke. I gave away two 23-song samplers from One Hell of a Ride, the new Willie Nelson boxed set, to a couple of very lucky listeners who called in.

New time slot

2008-04-10T03:37:00.003-05:00

Laurapalooza has moved to Thursdays at 11 p.m. I'm sure there are a lot more listeners at that time, so I certainly appreciate being able to do the show beginning at 11 p.m. every Thursday night. It's still a three-hour show, so it's over at 2 a.m. now instead of 3 a.m.

Schedule change

2008-03-20T03:59:00.003-05:00

Laurapalooza currently airs on Fridays from midnight to 3 a.m. (now weekly; it was previously bi-weekly).

Thanks for supporting KPFT

2008-03-14T04:19:00.003-05:00

Thank you to everyone who made contributions to KPFT during the recent membership drive. The station relies on you to remain commercial-free, as it has for 38 years. Thanks for listening and for supporting your community radio station!

Sideshow Tramps to appear as Laurapalooza guests on Feb. 29

2008-02-27T13:58:00.003-06:00

Sideshow Tramps will perform live on-air Friday morning, Feb. 29, soon after midnight in the KPFT studios on Lovett Blvd. in Houston.

KPFT Winter Membership Drive runs Feb. 17 through March 6

2008-02-12T22:41:00.000-06:00

New issue of KPFT Voice published

2008-01-20T11:21:00.000-06:00

The KPFT Voice is published quarterly by the people, for the people and there are thousands of copies in the KPFT conference room waiting to be distributed. If you can help with distributing copies, please contact the station at 713-526-4000 and pick up some bundles to deliver to businesses that agree to display them.

2008-01-14T20:44:00.000-06:00

The pictures below are of the people who work in the KPFT Music Library. They must kind of like it because they keep coming back. They each work at least a 2-1/2 hour shift per week. John and Bennie work two shifts per week. It really is interesting to learn about recording artists and bands while doing online research to categorize the CDs into music genres. I get a big part of the music I play on my show from the station's library. We have a few open slots for people who can regularly donate at least 2-1/2 hours per week of their time and energy. If you're interested, let me know (laura@kpft.org) and I'll hook you up with Eddie Garcia, KPFT Events and Outreach Coordinator. You will need to submit a completed volunteer application to him.

Dave Dauterive, Music Department Assistant

2008-01-14T20:41:00.000-06:00

Leila Navon, Music Department Assistant

2008-01-14T20:36:00.000-06:00

Bennie Slavik, Music Department Assistant

2008-01-14T20:28:00.000-06:00

KPFT has a new website

2007-12-11T10:25:00.001-06:00

If you haven't already, please take a look around at the new www.KPFT.org. It has a lot of changes for the better. One new function is that the song that is currently playing is listed on the home page. It also shows the program that is currently being broadcast and the program that is up next.

Schedule change working out great

2007-12-09T03:18:00.000-06:00

Thanks for your phone calls and emails about the program being moved to Friday morning. I'm receiving lots of positive feedback.

Program schedule change

2007-12-06T20:56:00.000-06:00

Laurapalooza has moved from Sunday to Friday morning, beginning December 7, and will now be a three-hour program instead of two. The program will air on the first, third, and fifth Friday mornings from midnight to 3 a.m. I'm very excited and happy about the change!

Minium number of ballots received to hold elections!

2007-12-01T19:29:00.000-06:00

Finally, the KPFT membership came through with enough ballots to make a quorum, so we will indeed have Local Station Board elections. We have a membership of about 9,000 and we were barely able to get the 861 ballots needed to have a quorum for elections. I'm thankful that enough of us exercised our right to vote, but I am still disappointed in the low number of members who cared enough to vote and that the deadline had to be extended to get enough ballots in to have a quorum.

Voting for Local Station Board

2007-11-30T17:48:00.000-06:00

We are so privileged to have a democratic system for electing board members at our community radio station. It is disappointing that, even after extending the deadline for ballots to be received, not enough eligible KPFT members are exercising their right to vote. As of this morning, we still didn't have enough ballots received. If you have put your ballot aside and didn't think it an important thing to vote for board members, please reconsider and bring your completed ballot to the station on Saturday, December 1. That will be the last possible chance for your vote to be included.

Fall Membership Drive

2007-10-21T16:44:00.000-05:00

KPFT is in membersihp drive mode from October 22 through November 11. The station does not advertise or accept corporate underwriting and instead relies on its listener-members for its operating funds. Please support KPFT, your community radio station, with a donation. You can do a secure online pledge at http://www.kpft.org/ or call in during the show on October 28 or on November 11, between 4 and 6 a.m. Alternatively, you could email your pledge to me at laura@kpft.org and I will be happy to submit it for you. Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting free speech and the concept of radio program hosts making their own choices as to what music to play, what to talk about, and who to have as on-air guests. The phone number to call in and make a pledge is 713-526-5738.

Gunshot hits KPFT control room window

2007-08-18T20:59:00.000-05:00

On August 13, 2007, at about 1 a.m., a gunshot came through one of the windows of the KPFT control room, narrowly missing Mary Thomas of Zydeco Pas Sale. A bullet was extracted from the wall a few days later. Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator. Houston's Crime Tips Hotline is 713-222-TIPS.

Summer Sizzle - August 4 - 12

2007-08-03T19:27:00.000-05:00

Summer Sizzle

2007-07-26T00:55:00.000-05:00

The KPFT Summer Sizzle pledge drive is right around the corner. It's planned for August 4 through August 12. That's only eight days, so I'm sure it will go by quickly. Actually, pledge drives are a fun time around the station. We get to spend some time getting to know our fellow listener-sponsors who come in to answer the pledge phones.

Laurapalooza's day to raise money to support KPFT will be the last day of the drive -- August 12. So, even if you support other programs too, remember to save a pledge for Laurapalooza and call in between 4 and 6 a.m. on Sunday, August 12, to make a financial pledge to KPFT in support of Laurapalooza. Alternatively, feel free to contact me at laura@kpft.org before August 12 and I will be happy to accept your pledge via email and submit it for you.

In addition to the regular KPFT logo items we offer as premiums during pledge drives -- t-shirts, ball caps, coffee mugs, etc., we have a 3-CD set of Jerry Lee Lewis music and a DVD of some of his performances. It's a collectors' item that any rock and roll music fan would like to own.

Nathan Moore visits KPFT

2007-05-19T00:24:00.000-05:00

Nathan Moore, Pacifica Foundation National Program Coordinator, was visiting KPFT this week. I attended his Interviewing Skills workshop. He works with all the Pacifica program directors on national programming issues. He's a great guy and it was a pleasure having him around. As of today, May 18, he's off to visit another Pacifica Radio station.

And the winners are ...

2007-04-01T19:50:00.000-05:00

I had a fun time participating as one of three judges at the Worldfolk Battle of the Bands on March 25 at Papa's Ice House in Spring, Texas. All the bands were good, but there could only be three winners! See below for photos.

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - First Place winners: Breanna Fye Band

2007-04-01T19:48:00.000-05:00

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - Second Place winners: Skepticynic

2007-04-01T19:46:00.000-05:00

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - Third Place winners: Drout Boyz

2007-04-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

Worldfolk Battle of the Bands - March 25

2007-03-10T22:44:00.000-06:00

I have been selected to represent KPFT as one of the judges at the Worldfolk Battle of the Bands on Sunday, March 25, 2007, at Papa's Ice House in Spring from noon to 8 p.m. The bands will be play original music and they will be judged on their musicianship, visual presentation, originality, audience response, songwriting, professionalism and overall entertainment value.

The Worldfolk Foundation is a grass-roots, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting people, music and culture in the world.

The Battle of the Bands festival began in June 2006 and will end this month. The contests have taken place in many locations. It's a national competition with national prizes. For more info, www.worldfok.com.

Black History Month

2007-02-24T16:55:00.000-06:00

I'm planning some special music for tomorrow morning's show for Black History Month. Whatever it is you're expecting, it won't be that. So, at 4 a.m., reach over and push the button. You don't have to get up. You do have to wake up, sort of.

2007-02-17T20:37:00.000-06:00

Thanks so much for supporting KPFT. We're now back to regular programming. The next membership drive will be in May 2007.

Membership drive in progress through Feb. 11

2007-02-06T21:56:00.000-06:00

The Winter Membership Drive is still in progress. It's such a busy time, but is fun and exciting. This week, we have four students from British School of Houston with us (Mike, Melis, Rianna, and Bosse). They're busy doing various things at the station, such as answering pledge phones for the membership drive, music research in the library, writing new music reviews, helping Robin in the membership department, and recording segments for the Saturday evening youth program. They're working, but it's fun work. I'm pretty sure they're having a good time.

The Feb. 11 edition of Laurapalooza will be on the last day of the membership drive, so, if you haven't renewed your membership yet for 2007 or if you have never pledged, please call in at 713-526-5738 during my show on the 11th or do a secure online pledge at www.kpft.org.

Thank you!

Winter Membership Drive

2007-01-18T23:24:00.000-06:00

We are gearing up for the KPFT Winter Membership Drive, which will be from January 24 through February 11. If you appreciate the music I bring you twice a month during Laurapalooza, please call 713-526-5738 and pledge your support. You will have two opportunities -- January 28 or February 11 between 4 and 6 a.m. Another option is to do a secure pledge online at www.kpft.org during those same hours. You need to select Laurapalooza as the program you are pledging in support of for it to count towards my program's goal.

Laura has a new position with KPFT

2006-12-19T07:08:00.000-06:00

After 3-1/2 years as a volunteer Music Department Assistant, I am now a part-time member of the paid staff at KPFT. My new position is Midday Operations Coordinator, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, facilitating noon Open Journal, the 1 p.m. programs and then filling in at the front desk from 2 to 3 p.m. Even though it's only 3-1/2 hours a day that I am being paid, I'm very happy to have been selected for the position. I will continue my volunteer work in the Music Department doing new music data entry and will also continue doing my music program, Laurapalooza, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month from 4 to 6 a.m.

2006-12-05T10:26:00.000-06:00

During the last show on Nov. 26, I received several phones calls from listeners who tuned in to Laurapalooza for the first time and said they enjoyed the music and to keep up the good work. Since then, I have also received email from regular listeners with positive comments and thanked me for doing a great job. It means so much to me that you really like my selections of music. Having the freedom to choose the music for a program is a privilege and such a pleasure.

2006-11-16T12:42:00.000-06:00

Mike Katsus assisted with Laurapalooza during the Fall Pledge Drive on 11-12-06. He's also a regular volunteering in the music library. Thanks, Mike.

Pledge Drive show was successful

2006-11-13T22:47:00.000-06:00

Thank you for pledging your financial support on November 12 and helping us meet the program's goal! Thanks also to Mike Katsus for assisting. The Fall Pledge Drive is finished and we're back to regular programming.

Pledge Drive in progress

2006-11-10T16:21:00.000-06:00

This Sunday's program (Nov. 12) will be on the last day of the KPFT Fall Pledge Drive. If you listen, you care about listener-supported radio for peace. So, please show your support for KPFT and for Laurapalooza by making a financial pledge. It's quick and easy. You can phone in your pledge during Laurapalooza between 4 and 6 a.m. at 713-526-5738 or do a secure online pledge at www.kpft.org. If you pledge online, please be sure to designate Laurapalooza as the program you are pledging in support of. Alternatively, you can email me your pledge and I'll fill out the form and submit it for you (laura@kpft.org).

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting KPFT!

2006-10-06T22:49:00.000-05:00

KPFT Music Library as of 10-06-06. New lighting will be installed this weekend.

Music Library update

2006-10-06T22:28:00.000-05:00

The other Music Library volunteers and I have been hard at work getting the library organized since the new shelves were installed. We merged more than 2,000 new CDs with the old CDs. There is still plenty to do, so, if you would like to volunteer in the library, please email me at laura@kpft.org.

KPFT Music Dept. volunteer opportunity

2006-09-11T09:02:00.000-05:00

We need volunteers to assist with re-shelving thousands of CDs after the new shelves are built in the KPFT Music Library.

We'll begin on Monday, Sept. 18, at 8 a.m. If you would like to get involved with the KPFT Music Dept., the library re-shelving project is a great way to get your foot in the door.

Please contact me at laura@kpft.org or call KPFT (713-526-5738) during business hours (Mon. through Fri., 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and leave a message for me including your phone number. I'll call you back and get you scheduled.