3 Chords & the Truth: Now and then . . . mostly then

Submitted for your approval, the curious story of Betty, who, unknown to her, now resides somewhere between past and present, between 1954 and 2022.

Between suburban Omaha sometime during the Happy Days and . . . the Twilight Zone.

Ostensibly, this is an ordinary day. Betty thinks she is having an ordinary phone chat with her best friend, Marge. But this is no ordinary telephone call, and hers is no ordinary telephone.

Unbeknownst to her, Betty’s is a special telephone. And she has called not to Happy Hollow just across town. She has dialed 68 years into the past . . . and Marge, unfortunately, still resides firmly in 1954.

LET'S LISTEN IN on Betty’s unwitting long-distance call, a long-distance call like no other.

“Hello, Marge? You won’t believe what I just heard! It’s this freeform music podcast called 3 Chords & the Truth, and it’s fabulous!

“What’s that, Marge? Yes, a freeform music podcast. FREE . . . form. That means freewheeling, I think. Without a set format. Format. You know, like the structure and content of something.

“Yes, Marge. What? What’s a podcast?

“It’s an online program you can download and listen to anytime. Download. Off the Internet and onto your smartphone . . . or computer or tablet.

“No, Marge. No, I haven’t had a stroke or a nervous breakdown.

“No, dear. I assure you I’m making perfect sense. No, the Internet is not some kind of a communist organization. Yes, I’m here at home. Why do you ask?

“Surely there must be some reason you wanted to make sure that I’m at home right now.

“No. No, I don’t need help. Why on earth do you think I need help?

“What? Who exactly do you need to get off the line to call?

“No, I am telling you that I am fine. I do NOT need help. I happen to be making perfect sense, dear.

“I am telling you, Marge, that I am NOT a communist and that I am NOT having a stro . . . hello? HELLO??? Marge?”

BETTY DOES NOT know that in 25 minutes — or, perhaps, 68 years and 25 minutes ago — two white-clad men will arrive at her tidy, tastefully appointed home. They will come to take her to . . . the Electroshock-Therapy Zone.

They will not notice the futuristic little device plugged into her new hi-fi console. The device is the size of a Big Chief tablet, but it contains no ruled paper. It’s an iPad, and it belongs not to the world of 1954, but instead to ours.

It is the world of tomorrow — the world of the Big Show. We know it as . . . today.

It’s 3 Chords & the Truth, y’all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: In memoriam

The queen is dead. Long live the king.

The vast majority of her subjects have never known another monarch -- another head of state -- than Queen Elizabeth II. For that matter, neither has this American small-R republican.

It seems to me, even as someone steeped in our particular Yank brand of civic egalitarianism (such as it is at present), that there are advantages today to having a head of state removed from the realm of electoral politics.

THINK OF IT -- a head of state who is a true symbol of national unity, not fated to be loathed by a significant chunk of the population from the get-go. Because politics. A head of state whose entire job description is service to her -- now his -- subjects seems to be something of a miracle today.

I envy the British people, and the people of the Commonwealth, that. Especially during these fractious times.

So, today's episode of 3 Chords & the Truth is different from our usual fare. This program is a memorial to the departed queen, who for 70 years conducted herself not as just a light and an example for her nation, but for all nations.

Godspeed, ma'am. And thank you.

It's the Big Show. And it's all about the queen we all were blessed to have for so long . . . and who now belongs to the ages.

Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: College rock

I remember skinny ties, legal beer at 18, doing the Pogo . . . and college radio.

I remember when college radio was a force of nature. Driving the musical narrative. Making commercial radio look ever so lame.

I remember a time before commercial radio started making itself look lame. 

I REMEMBER college radio with real DJs behind real microphones, all through the night. Playing real records, before CDs -- much less computer automation -- was a thing.

I remember. 

And so does this edition of 3 Chords & the Truth. 

This week, we're going back to the 1980s . . . and the 1970s, with a couple of side trips to the '60s and '50s. College radio was a little freewheeling back then. 

What we do on the Big Show owes almost everything to the glory days of college radio . . . and what we learned in high-school radio, too. We just kick it up a notch for the online age. 

So join your Mighty Favog as he relives a bit of those days when he was young . . . and pogoing. It's gonna be quite the journey. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Over the moon

You'll be over the moon about this edition of 3 Chords & the Truth. Whether you want to be or not.

By George, you will.

NASA is sending up the first, unmanned, Artemis mission to the moon this coming week, but you're going to get there first. Your space-age Mighty Favog is going to make sure of that, and the Big Show is your rocket ship.

Bang! Zoom! You're goin' to the moon!

And all you have to do is sit back and listen.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Psssst!

Listen.

Do you want to know a secret?

Do you promise not to tell?

Closer.

Let me whisper in your ear . . . about the show you want to hear. 

The Big Show.

It's all you need to know. And that's a plain and natural fact. 

Telling you that, at least, is no violation of the Espionage Act. And no search warrants are needed to hear that for yourself. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: How it's done

Alrighty then, I'm going to tell you how to make the magic that is 3 Chords & the Truth.

First, you gather up a bunch of records, CDs and tapes. Then you mix in some digital files. Place the preceding into the 3 Chords & the Truth machine. 

Put the power switch in the "on" position, then depress the "engage" button.

In a few hours, you will see the finished product in the output bin. A copy automatically will be uploaded to the Internet. 

Then, sit back and enjoy the Big Show.

These are the basics, but if I went into granular detail about how the audio magic is performed . . . well, I'd have to kill you. 

That would be bad. 

So don't ask too many questions, OK? 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all.  Be there.  Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Bad tidings, good tunes

Methinks I have come to be the bearer of bad tidings and good music. 

It's a hell of a thing to live in America today and be constitutionally unable to avert one's gaze from the sh*tshow, where crazy is the new normal. Welcome to my life. 

Welcome to 3 Chords & the Truth. Fortunately, you get some really good tunes along with the failure to avert one's gaze. 

COULD IT be that we're a clandestine voice of the resistance, broadcasting from deep in occupied, red-state territory? Yeah, it could. Go figure. Some days here in Omaha, by God, Nebraska, it feels like the führer is running things, and the only active resistance is from the nutters who think Herr Ricketts is being soft on humanity. 

And the anti-sh*tshow people are waiting for the American invasion to come. 

What? Well, hell.

We interrupt this program for an urgent message for Amtrak Joe: The red fox chases the blue bunny. The red fox chases the blue bunny. 

And now on with the music on the Big Show. It's extra good to counteract the extra bad times. 

Which is exactly what you'd expect from the rebel radio. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Truth from Your Radio Friend

Well, this edition of 3 Chords & the Truth certainly lives up to its name.

We have a minimum of three chords, and we also have some cold, hard truth . . . from Your Radio Friend. It should be quite a ride.

The truth covers what has been going on in these Disunited States of America and where that's likely to lead us. That will not be a good place -- at all. 

Can you say fascist hellhole? I knew that you could.

And we also have a lot of great music, some of which might touch your heart and make you think. Some of it will be good fun. Some of it will be all of the above. 

That said . . . that's about all that's to be said about this go-round of the Big Show. 

So, sit back, turn on your favorite streaming device -- one preferably hooked up to a nice stereo system -- and get in touch with all kinds of stuff on 3 Chords & the Truth. 

It's hip, it's happening, and it's now, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Deviants all

The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a . . . well, shit. 

America, America, God took thy brains from thee. Don't get me started on your soul. 

That, sadly, is where we seem to be as a nation as we somewhat reluctantly offer up another episode of 3 Chords & the Truth. If it's not one thing, it's another.

And sometimes, it's everything at once. Well, shit.

You will have to forgive your Mighty Favog this week for a program done amid a haze of depression and, frankly, not-so-suppressed rage. Because this shit never ends.

We keep doing the same thing -- which is not doing anything -- and expecting different results. Well, the bodies keep piling up. Republicans seem to be good with that.

I am not. Maybe you aren't, either. I don't know. 

And that's where we are for this go-round of the Big Show. I may have more to say about that -- give it a listen. There's some damned fine music, too.

 It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all.  Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Illegal in seven states

This edition of 3 Chords & the Truth is illegal in Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Listen at your own risk.

Legal notices aside, it's a damn fine show this week. Lots of great music -- as always.  

Plus, you'll learn things and hear songs you had no idea about. About which you had no idea? Damn you, awkward yet correct grammar! 

Well, this show must be special; I've already used the word "damn" twice. Damn! 

Three times. 

I'd better wrap this up and let you get to the Big Show before I get banned in a couple more states. Given Tuesday's primary results in Nebraska, I may even get banned here. too. 

Uh, yeah. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: America on the hoof

You know how your parents told you that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all? 

Today's subject on 3 Chords & the Truth is American corporate capitalism.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHERWISE, we have a lot of great music on the show today -- which is typical for the Big Show. 

I think you'll like it.

That pretty much covers everything, so you can get to listening now.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Mahvelous

You have your normal, baseline self. Then you have yourself on 3 Chords & the Truth.

See the difference? To the world, the humdrum world, you seem a bit off-kilter -- a blur, perhaps. But to you . . . you look mahvelous. You feel mahvelous. You are mahvelous. 

Crucially, the music is mahvelous. It doesn't matter if you can't spell marvelous. That's because you, on the Big Show, are mahvelous. And the world just can't keep up. 

MAHVELOUS. 

That is the world of 3 Chords & the Truth. 

It's the world of infinite variety, great music you can't hear just anywhere . . . and a host celebrating yet another day he's not in the federal penal system. What's more mahvelous than that? 

I'll wait while you decide. It shouldn't take long. 

Now go listen to the show. It's . . . well, you know. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Legitimate musical discourse

Classic form. Classic sound. Now, pass me some heavy weaponry and a couple of clips. 

We're gonna have us some legitimate musical discourse. 

NOTE: We have ways of making you like this episode of 3 Chords & the Truth.

Uhhhh . . . we're all patriots here, right? 

As usual, the musical mix here on the Big Show runs from soup to nuts. and there is a high degree of confidence that you will love the program this week. Right? 

I said . . . riiiight? Excellent.

See, discourse is good. 

Yeah, it's a great show. The best show. You wouldn't believe how good the show is this week. 

It is some serious musical discourse. Or else. 

As a matter of fact, I have a peaceful, easy feeling about the whole shootin' match. 

NOTE: No Mike Pences were hanged during the course of the Big Show. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha. 

3 Chords & the Truth: 'Twas the night before COVID . . .

'Twas the night before omicron, and all through the house,

Not a body was sleeping, not even the mouse. . . .

That's because who's sleeping these days? On this, our second pandemic Christmas.

SUCH IS WHERE we find ourselves these days, and we're making do as best as we can . . . without ending up sick and quarantined, or sick and in the hospital, or sick and. . . . Well, you know.

Still, the show must go on, and for your listening enjoyment, your Mighty Favog presents the big 3 Chords & the Truth Christmas-music extravaganza -- 2 hours and 42 minutes of as much yuletide cheer as we can muster. Alas.

I would say more, but this year's sponsor for the Big Show blowout doesn't want me to step on the corporate message. And that, I must respect.

So I will take my literary leave -- allowing you to start your holiday listening -- with a simple message: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. See you in '22.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Alo-ho-ho-ho-ha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Geeking out

Are you unpoopular? Do you pop out at parties, Poindexter?

Well, fret not -- 3 Chords & the Truth is here!

It will cure what ails you, because what ails you isn't an ailment. 

The ailment is all the Alpha Betas out there, who must be put in their place. Because Alpha Betas suck.

And while we're doing that on the Big Show this week, we'll also have the merriest, the wildest and the most happenin' holiday selections as part of the winning musical mix. It's another great program, and you're cordially invited to attend.

But not the Alpha Betas. Or the Omegas, for that matter.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: Super!

Here I am, staring at a blank page on the computer. 

Well, crap. Now it's not blank anymore, because I just wrote about staring at a blank page on the computer. Which really doesn't merit a "Well, crap," because writing something on the computer screen was the point.

Right?

Of course, while writing this on the previously blank computer screen, I did totally manage not to mention 3 Chords & the Truth once. That's a fail. Then again, I just did mention the Big Show -- twice now in the same paragraph, so that's a win!

Right?

ON THE OTHER HAND, I did not mention any positive attributes of this week's show. Fail. Of which, there are many . . . positive attributes, not fails.

"Mention positive attributes." Check. 

"Mention good music from a wide variety of genres." Well, crap. 

Oh . . . and we have lots of good music this week, as usual, and it's typically eclectic. 

Check. Dodged a bullet there. 

Roger that, chief.

And look at that; the page ain't blank no more. Poor grammar notwithstanding. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: This 'n' that

I've been writing little descriptions to go with episodes of the Big Show for almost 14 years now.

And I think I'm officially to the homina homina homina stage of 3 Chords & the Truth literary development. Freeform . . . check. Good music . . . check. Eclectic . . . check. Yadda yadda yadda.

YET, I still need to say something about this week's show so you'll be inspired to give it a listen. Ain't that a kick in the head?

So, how about this?

This week, we'll cover Jesus, male prostitution, oral sex, drugs, mothers with the lust to f***, a victim of love, trouble, strange fruit and a banana republic where it snowed yesterday. Sparky, if that doesn't pique your interest, I got nothin'.

And that's all I have to say about that. 

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: So, where were we?

After a scheduled interruption for home-construction chaos and an unscheduled interruption for a sinus infection and panicked making sure it wasn't COVID, the 3 Chords & the Truth whatchamacallit is back.

So . . . where were we when we were interrupted?

Naw, I can't remember either. Crap. OK, let's just start here and go from there.

Actually, that's pretty much what we do every week on the Big Show. Umm hmm.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: The other Prozac

I held out some vanishingly small hope last week that this week would be a little better.

Apparently, that was because I'm an idiot. 

This week, we had a Category 4 hurricane in Louisiana, deadly monster floods in the Northeast from the former Cat 4 hurricane, the 'rona still running rampant and Texas being Texas -- this time with the most sinister abortion law ever devised by sinister people.

NOT THAT I'm all for abortion, I'm just against making life hell for women -- and everyone else -- by turning a bunch of Beckys into a surveilling, snitching Lone Star Stasi to sue everyone into the poorhouse as the gummint argues "It wadn't me what done it!" See Germany, East.

So it's in this continuing world of suck that we trepidatiously emerge from the 3 Chords & the Truth hidey hole to put another episode out there into a world of hurt.

Music -- it's the other Prozac.

And I prescribe a liberal dose of the Big Show as one way of helping yourself to get by the best way you can. I guess that pretty much sums things up and concludes what I have to say at this juncture.

It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.

3 Chords & the Truth: It's 100% fun

The Big Show is 100 percent fun, once you get used to it.

And, if you ask me, it's nice to get used to not hearing the same 100 songs -- if you're lucky -- over and over and over again on the radio. Then again, some folks just can't handle expanding one's mind . . . or one's horizons. 

Thanks for not being one of those people. Because you're here at 3 Chords & the Truth and not there. And, boy, are you gonna get some variety today.

There's not really anything more to say, is there? So let's get on with the Big Show. 

 It's 3 Chords & the Truth, y'all. Be there. Aloha.