Humble and Fred's Podcast of Resurrection
Published April 7, 2010 @ 18:50 in Humble and Fred

This past Saturday, I joined Humble and Fred as they recorded their Eastover Podcast. I think that's what they called it... or was it the Podcast of Resurrection?

This time, we're sharing the podcast in four easy to digest chunks. Enjoy...

Part 1

Download the MP3

Part 2

Download the MP3

Part 3

Download the MP3

Part 4

Download the MP3

Thanks to Dan Duran and Bingo Bob for helping to make this magic happen, ACME Pictures for donating the web space and PROUD FM for donating the studio space.

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Humble and Fred at PROUD FM for Podcast #7
Published April 3, 2010 @ 20:47 in Humble and Fred

I spent a few hours this afternoon with Humble, Fred, Dan and Bob at PROUD FM's studio recording the latest Humble and Fred Podcast. I should be able to share the audio with you all early next week.

It's hard to believe it's been almost four years since we started doing this podcast thing. I was at the first one, recorded in Dan Duran's home studio. This was the seventh one, recorded at the home of PROUD FM, where the producer formerly known as Bingo Bob is now program director.

Here are a couple of photos I snapped during the afternoon. I'm going to share a bunch of photos of the PROUD FM studio in a separate entry because this is my house and I'll do as I please.

Thanks Humble and Fred for the invite!

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Humble and Fred's Podcast of Bronze
Published March 8, 2010 @ 17:14 in Humble and Fred

Humble and Fred recorded a podcast that would have been perfectly timed had it been released during the Olympics. Unfortunately, Dan just got me the MP3 today and the Olympics are looking pretty distant now in the rearview mirror.

Nevertheless, Humble and Fred have recorded this for you, and they're not charging you a dime. Enjoy...

Download the MP3

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Humble Howard On Turning 50
Published January 23, 2010 @ 08:58 in Humble and Fred

Humble Howard is currently co-host of the Boom Breakfast Show on Boom 97.3. He's also a good buddy of mine, and tomorrow he turns 50.

He's just asked me to post something he's written on the subject. When he sent me this prose via email, the subject line read "Old Guy Ranting". I think it's far better perspective than that.

Here's Humble Howard on turning 50.

I have been thinking a lot about age lately, mainly because it's not everyday you turn half a century old and it seems like a big deal, at least to other people. For me it's just a number. When I hit 30 or 40 those numbers didn't vex me and I'm not too freaked out by this milestone… it beats the alternative of "not turning 50!"

I will say that 50 seems a lot younger than it used to. My Dad's 50 was way older than mine. I was 12 when he was this age and I thought he was super old. I don't think it's the same for my kids, I'm far too active and immature and I'm guessing they think of my 50 as younger than my father's.

We all think that as we age the age we used to think was ancient gets older and older. 60 year olds are old but I guarantee you that when I'm 59 I'll think 60 is the new 45.

Getting older is just a way of marking time and time marching on is what is scary to all of us. I'm not going to lie. I've been keeping track of celebrity deaths that are close to my age and going, "He was only 59? That's only 9 years older than me!" That's' the really scary part of getting older-getting older is when people die. Yes they do. And that's the real reason we all want to stall the number of candles on the cake. Fun huh?

So I'm viewing this as an opportunity for adventure and to find new forms of life on the other side of my half-century. And I'll look at it this way- tomorrow I won't be a year older, I'll just be one day older than 49.

You can follow Humble on Twitter, or become his friend on Facebook.

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Humble and Fred's Fifth Podcast
Published January 4, 2010 @ 21:02 in Humble and Fred

Back on December 12, 2009, Humble and Fred recorded Humble and Fred's Fifth Podcast

It's a good thing we didn't make this Christmas themed, because here it is going live on January 4th. The home page for this podcast, should you want to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or download the MP3, is http://www.torontomike.com/humbleandfred/.

Enjoy!

Thanks to Acme Pictures for donating the web space, Dan Duran for producing the audio and Bingo Bob and PROUD-FM for donating the studio. Oh yeah, and thanks to Humble and Fred for another hour of great radio audio.

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Sweet Praise from Humble and Fred
Published January 4, 2010 @ 12:03 in Humble and Fred, Press Recognition

Humble and Fred fans, I know you've been waiting patiently for Humble and Fred's Fifth Podcast. Dan's passed it over to me, and I'm ready to throw it into the wild just as soon as I get Freddie P's final blessing.

I just listened to it, and about an hour in I received some sweet praise from the boys. Here's 1:24 that really spoke to me.

If you need help getting your Web 2.0 groove on, contact me.

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Taliban Mike?
Published January 1, 2010 @ 19:10 in Humble and Fred, Politics

Freddie P finally wrote about Stephen Harper's request to prorogue Parliament. Fred's got a hard on for Stevie, anointing him "the rational man" no matter what he says or does.

Fred's entry opened with a direct shot at yours truly. "Check out the crap going on over at Taliban Mike. I really don't know where to begin with this stuff."

That's right, Fred called me Taliban Mike. To prove a forced point, he's comparing me to that fundamentalist Islamic militia. It's a remarkably offensive stretch, but I know Fred's just playing shock jock. I'm not alone in my opinion of Harper's latest insult to democracy.

I'd like to address one commenter over on Freddie's entry. It's by Dial Twister and he/she asks:

Either you're quite willing to throw your (former?) friend, Toronto Mike, under the bus, or the two of you have a publicity pact going on.

Firstly, there's no publicity pact here. I found out about "Taliban Mike" when it showed up in my Google Reader. As for throwing me under the bus, he's done it before. We disagree fundamentally on so many things but it never messes with our friendship. His politics are a little far to the right for my liking, but he's good people and I love the peckerhead.

And no, there's no truth to the rumour that I'm keeping Humble and Fred's Fifth Podcast hostage. Dan Duran is the bottleneck there, I swear.

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boom 97.3 Playlist Analyzed
Published December 26, 2009 @ 10:17 in Humble and Fred, Radio

As promised, EZ Rock is now Boom 97.3, playing "Toronto's Greatest Hits". Humble and Colleen are still doing mornings, Maie Pauts takes it from there and KJ still takes you home. But it's now songs like this:

Yes, that ad does start with the song that's absolutely everywhere, the same song they played right after flipping formats. Here are the first twenty songs played on the new boom 97.3.

Play Time	Artist Name	Track Name
Sat 10:24AM	THE B-52S	LOVE SHACK
Sat 10:20AM	BRYAN ADAMS	LONELY NIGHTS
Sat 10:15AM	THE BEE GEES	STAYIN' ALIVE
Sat 10:12AM	JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS	I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL
Sat 10:08AM	SPIRIT OF THE WEST	HOME FOR A REST
Sat 10:04AM	MAX WEBSTER	LET GO THE LINE
Sat 10:01AM	FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD	RELAX
Sat 09:56AM	THE POLICE	MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
Sat 09:50AM	THE NEVILLE BROTHERS	BIRD ON A WIRE
Sat 09:46AM	BOSTON	MORE THAN A FEELING
Sat 09:42AM	MEN AT WORK	DOWN UNDER
Sat 09:38AM	BARENAKED LADIES	LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS TIME
Sat 09:35AM	MARTHA AND THE MUFFINS	ECHO BEACH
Sat 09:31AM	BLONDIE	HEART OF GLASS
Sat 09:27AM	MICHAEL JACKSON	THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL
Sat 09:24AM	THE CLASH	SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD
Sat 09:19AM	QUEEN	SOMEBODY TO LOVE
Sat 09:15AM	THE PARACHUTE CLUB	RISE UP
Sat 09:11AM	THE STRAY CATS	ROCK THIS TOWN
Sat 09:07AM	CHIC	LE FREAK
Sat 09:03AM	JOURNEY	DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'

It's really a great improvement over the playlist for the old EZ Rock. Sure, I could do without that Neville Brothers tune but we got Martha and the Muffins, the Clash, Max Webster, Spirit of the West and they just played the B-52s. It's definitely classic hits with a strong focus on the 80s and a little 70s and 90s on the side.

Sample boom 97.3 for yourself at http://cjez.player.myastralmediaradio.com/ and let me know what you think of the new format in the comments. It might not be exactly what we're looking for, but it's a great improvement.

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EZ Rock to Change Formats on Boxing Day - Now BOOM FM
Published December 23, 2009 @ 16:05 in Humble and Fred, Radio

As a fan of the old Humble and Fred show that aired on CFNY throughout the 90s, Humble's role on the 97.3 EZ Rock morning show has been bittersweet. On the one hand, he's back doing mornings on Toronto radio. On the other hand, it's EZ Rock, home of Celine Dion, John Tesh and a soccer mom music paradise.

Thankfully for us old Humble and Fred fans, and fans of the old CFNY, EZ Rock is changing formats on Boxing Day and will become BOOM FM playing classic hits. No more "light favourites of yesterday and today" or whatever that music was supposed to be. It will become sort of an adult alternative station with a focus on classic hits. At least that's the buzz on the street.

It makes sense. Humble and Colleen in the mornings and then Maie Pauts. Goodbye Celine, hello Thompson Twins. Goodbye John Tesh, hello Tears For Fears. Goodbye EZ Rock, hello BOOM FM.

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Humble and Fred on EZ Rock
Published December 21, 2009 @ 18:47 in Humble and Fred, Radio

Shortly after 8:30 this morning, Humble and Fred were on the radio, together for the first time since 2005. It was an EZ Rock promo for their 5th podcast.

Their Fifth Podcast is ready, but it's so racy and raw, it needs to be cleared by an army of lawyers and Humble's wife. We'll have it online soon and you'll be able to read all about it here.

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