NOT a Halloween Costume!

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 @ 11:21AM

Costume? Not a costume? You decide.

I’m really not dressed as anything today.  I just grabbed a Van’s shirt and put it on this morning without really thinking.  The shirt I selected looks sort of like a military uniform, sort of like a scout uniform, and sort of scary because it has skulls on it.  Turns out that everyone in the office is confused about it.  In their minds they must be thinking should I tell him I like his costume?  Should I ask what he’s supposed to be dressed as?  Should I stare at him for a moment and then look away? I seem to be getting a lot of uncomfortable staring.  The truth is, I’m enjoying this little accident.  I’m going to make a tradition of wearing something that might be construed as a costume but really isn’t.  I love to confuse people.

todd’s iPod
10:20 “Kiddies” Self
1:20 “The Time Warp” Rocky Horror Picture Show cast

Dan In Real Life

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 @ 1:24PM

Another movie review by todd nuke 'em.

Steve Carell, it turns out, is a brilliant actor with depth far beyond anything we’ve seen in his other attempts at motion pictures.  He’s brilliant on The Office--easily one of the best shows on TV--but that role tends to limit his ability as an actor.  Watching him in Dan In Real Live, you get to see the different layers in his skill as an actor.  There are a few dramatic parts of the movie that he carries flawlessly.  Of course the film contains plenty of laughs and he is one of the best comedy actors working today.  And despite the overall cheesy nature of this romantic comedy, I truly enjoyed it.  I mean let’s be serious, folks.  Any romantic comedy will contain high levels of cheese, but writer and director Peter Hedges keeps the characters and plot off the beaten path enough that the quirks more than make up for the predictability of a film of this genre.  As he demonstrated in Pieces of April, Hedges knows how to show how silly family events and trips truly are.  Let’s face it: our families are a little insane.

todd’s iPod
10:20 am “Dancing With Myself” Billy Idol
1:20 pm “Use You” Dave Gahan

Time to dress this bum.

Monday, October 29th, 2007 @ 6:54AM

I needed new clothes!

My wife, who had been occasionally coming home from the mall with a few extra things for me, shorts, T-shirts, and stuff like that last spring was obviously giving me hints that I needed to buy clothes.  Was I becoming one of those loser guys who are too stupid and lazy to buy their own clothes?  Don’t get me wrong, I love to have cool stuff to wear so I can maintain the facade that I really am cool.  I guess I was getting behind my game, so yesterday, Mrs. Nukey loaded me into the car and took me to Fashion Place.  After not finding anything too exciting at the Van’s store, I went across the concourse to The Buckle.  There, we started having some luck with a few items.  Then Jordan, the helpful Buckle fashion stud, stepped in.  We both looked at him and basically said, “Please, for the love of God, can you make this dork (meaning me) look cool?”

Next thing I knew he was tossing pants and shirts over the door of the dressing room, and all of it was cool and all of it fit.  Except the pants.  I’m super short, so most pants are a few inches too long.  Since The Buckle does free alterations. Jordanhad to get on his knees and pin a hem to mark where they’d need to get sewed.  It was probably a little uncomfortable for him to be on his knees with his face at the same height as my butt tugging on my pant leg to make sure he marked it properly.

It was at this point that Mrs. Nuke ‘Em said, “You know who that is, don’t you?” I’ll stop right here.  I never say that sort of thing.  “Hey, don’t you know that I’m Todd Nuke ‘Em?” Please.  Like anybody wants to hear that kind of crap.  But my wife likes to do it because she knows it irritates me.  Thank God that Jordan at The Buckle is a friend of the program and knew what X96 was and that Todd Nuke ‘Em is they guy on right after Radio From Hell.  Sometimes she’ll throw her line out and people will come back with, “Oh, Todd from Todd and Erin on B98.7!)

If you ever see me in public you should absolutely come and say hi.  I love chatting with friends of X96 wherever I am.  This also beats my wife to her punch line.

Anyway, Jordan and I were able to chat about different things other than pants and shirts and he was really cool to us.  And I bought a ton of stuff from him, too.

Me with Jordan at The Buckle.

Into The Wild

Friday, October 26th, 2007 @ 12:01PM

A review by Todd Nuke 'Em

Before you read my blog entry, you should check out the funny blog that our overnight and fill in guy Andypants posted.

Okay, now that you’ve had a laugh at Andypants, let’s proceed with my blog today.  (By the way, Andy really is a loser with inflatable furniture!)

I saw the movie Into The Wild this week and I loved it!  The fact that Sean Penn directed it made me nervous because some of his recent films haven’t resonated well with me.  But he nailed it with Into The Wild.  This film is based on the true story of a young man in his early 20’s who graduated from college and chose to leave behind his troubled family life to hike across the country, eventually settling in the Alaskan wilderness.  It is a great motion picture and has haunted me for days since I’ve seen it.  (It is widely known that this story does not have a happy ending.) The final act is one of the most tragic events in cinematic history.  Emile Hirsch is outstanding as Christopher McCandless, and the soundtrack by Eddie Vedder is chilling.  Hal Holbrook appears in the final act of the film, and his performance is magnificent.  He and Mr. Hirsch should get Oscars.  I can’t wait to read the book by Jon Krakauer.

Despite the tragic outcome of the movie, you might leave the theater with a sense of warmth based on how this young man influenced so many people on his journey and that you get to see a human being truly enjoy his short life.

todd’s iPod

10:20 “Use You” Dave Gahan
1:20 “Just Like Heaven” The Cure

What’s In The X96 Storage Shed?

Thursday, October 25th, 2007 @ 10:57AM

Really. I don't know exactly. I haven 't been in there lately.

But we will break out our Maglite and head into the depths of the X96 Storage Shed.  I’m hoping to find some old vinyl from Ramones, Depeche Mode, Sex Pistols, Red Hot Chili Peppers and stuff like that.  I also hope there’s an old turntable or two in the shed, too. Artie Fufkin will kick it off tomorrow at 3 pm.  If you have any suggestions from the storage shed, let us know at 1-877-602-9696, or text your request to the number 79640.  We really do read our text messages!  And if you want to receive special announcements about concerts, free crap, and other nonsense, text the word JOIN to 79640.  Your standard text message rates will apply based on your carrier.  We do not charge you anything, but your calling plan might.

todd’s iPod
10:20 am “Everyday is Halloween” Ministry
1:20 pm “The City Sleeps” MC 900 Foot Jesus

Destruction and Mrs. Nuke ‘Em’s Rear End

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 @ 11:05AM

Lots of property damage in my life.

My dog is a murderer.  He destroyed his little stuffed animal doggie that had a barking sound effect in it.  My wife and I came home last night from the movie Into The Wild (which is an excellent movie) and we found the mangled bodyparts of Ruff Ruff on the floor.

It was like a horror movie.  Jason from Friday the 13th attacked the stuffed animal.

This used to be Ruff Ruff.

And this sweet little beagle is the culprit.  He doesn’t look like a killer, but ...

If this destruction from last night didn’t provide me with enough, this morning my wife got rear ended.  Everybody’s OK, except her Jeep.  Here is a photo of my wife’s rear end.

todd’s iPod
10:20 am “Blasphemous Rumors” Depeche Mode
1:20 pm “All I Need” Radionead

So … it’s the 23rd of October

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 @ 12:59PM

And I'm feeling fine.

I’d like to extend a Happy October 23rd to you.  Please keep the true meaning of October 23rd in your heart as you go about your various October 23rd-related celebrations today.  You don’t want a day like The 23rd of October to become too commercial, so spend some special time with the ones you love today.  And may your October 23rd be merry and bright!

todd’s iPod
10:20 am “Dizzy” Jimmy Eat World
1:20 pm “My Favourite Game” The Cardigans (Where the hell did I find this song?  I don’t know, but it was sure fun to play on the radio!)

I’m back!

Monday, October 22nd, 2007 @ 12:51PM

Vacations are nice, but it's time to get back to work.

I have to admit that by the time Friday afternoon rolled around, I was getting a little excited to come back to work.  I know, I have one of those dream jobs that don’t really feel like “work” so much as they feel like horsing around.  If I were an accountant I might dread my job, but I get to play music and screw around on the radio.

You know, one of these days we’ll enable the comment function on this blog so you can participate.  I’m gonna get that done as soon as I can.

todd’s iPod
10:20 am “Blitzkrieg Bop” Ramones
1:20 pm “Route 66” Depeche Mode

Let’s Get Lost Tonight In Some Corn!

Saturday, October 20th, 2007 @ 5:37PM

Bring your jackets and beanies. It's a little chilly!

Tonight I’ll be broadcasting live at Black Island Farms Corn Maze and Field of Screams.  I’ve never done a live remote broadcast in Syracuse before, so this history in the making!  They have a giant corn maze cut in the shape of Smitty, the X96 Corporate Rat.  See me in Syracuse tonight from 8 to 10.  The address is 3178 South 3000 West in Syracuse.

Lazy

Thursday, October 18th, 2007 @ 8:49AM

I love lazy vacation time.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading this week.  I’m currently reading the latest from Chuck Palahniuk, An Oral Biography of Buster Casey. So far it’s pretty good.  I’ve also been writing a new novel and playing with my trains and my dog.  This is total nerd time for me.  Here are a couple of crappy phone videos of my time off.  First is my dog playing in the hail.

And then it’s my model trains driving past.  I’m the biggest nerd ever!

Little Fish Big Fish Swimming in the Water …

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 @ 11:40AM

Fishing at Strawberry.

You haven’t lived until you’ve gone fishing.  It is addicting and completely relaxing.  There is something about being on the water early in the morning when there’s nothing around you but open water at Strawberry and maybe a few other anglers.  For me, the ultimate fishing trip is with my dad and my uncle Bill.  Whenever you see the two of them together, it is obvious where my smart-ass behavior originates.  The day was foggy when we first arrived and we made several uneasy jokes while trolling in the fog about how we’d be on the 10 pm news missing on the water.  Then the fog eventually burned off and we had a great time kicking back in the boat ... and not catching anything.  Finally, after several hours, I hooked a cut throat trout and reeled him in.  For me, it’s all about catch and release, but that’s just because I don’t like the way fish taste!  (And I don’t want to clean them because that’s gross.  I’m such a wuss.)
Here are some pictures of my fishing trip.  This is the fog at the boat ramp.  Anyone with a brain wouldn’t go onto the water in such thick fog.

Below is the first sign that the fog would burn off.  It was cold!

That’s me with my dad.  He taught me how to fish and how to appreciate Johnny Cash.

Trick or Treat!

Sunday, October 14th, 2007 @ 8:05AM

Beagle Pumpkin!

I know it’s wrong to waste money and time putting halloween costumes on your pets.  This kind of behavior is why the rest of the world hates us.  However...you have to admit that my little beagle is pretty darn cute in his pumpkin costume.

(Note that the feet you see in the photograph belong to Corey O’Brien.  He was not dressed as a pumpkin.)

I’m So Very Tired…

Friday, October 12th, 2007 @ 12:50PM

Time for a break!

I haven’t taken any vacation time off since May.  I have more vacation time than I’ll ever use this year, so I’m forcing myself to take next week off.  I need a week of sleeping in, reading, and not being responsible for anything.  Since I am a blog nerd, I will likely post updates of my time off, so all of you hard-core blog fans won’t be disappointed.  I’m even planning a day of fishing with my dad, so you’ll likely get some photographs of that.  One thing that I’m stoked about is Morrissey on Monday night at Thanksgiving Point.  Tickets are still available at Thanksgiving Point box office and any location of Ticketmaster.  I don’t know how we lucked out with two Morrissey dates in one year, but I’ll take them!

Be good to Portia while I’m gone.  She’ll be covering my shifts.

todd’s iPod

10:20 am “Pretty In Pink” Psychedelic Furs
1:20 pm “The Pot” Tool

(Wow.  Psychedelic Furs and Tool ... both on the same iPod?  Whatever.  I must be Local, Independent, and Everything Alternative!)

Andy is a Vampire!

Thursday, October 11th, 2007 @ 11:15AM

I'm serious, he really is. Does that look like a face that got a good night's sleep? Hell no!

And you can meet our resident vampire tonight in Spanish Fork!  Now how am I sure that he is the undead?  Well, for one thing, look at the picture.  Note the pale skin.  You can almost imagine the Dracula cape around his neck.  He might as well be Bela Lugosi!  Another thing about Andypants is the way he likes ketchup a little too much.  We went to lunch a couple of weeks ago and he just wouldn’t quit with the ketchup.  No wimpy fry sauce for Count Andypants; he only wanted lots of red ketchup.  I’m not suggesting that I’ve actually seen him drink blood, but come on.  Pale skin, awake after dark only, love of ketchup?  You don’t need to be a genius to see what we’re dealing with here.

Anyway, since Count Andypants is a vampire (he even shops at Hot Topic, although he won’t readily admit it) we’ve decided to send him to the In The Dark Spook Alley at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds tonight from 7pm to 9pm.  He’ll have tons of concert tickets to give away to shows like Dashboard Confessional, Coheed and Cambria, Evanescence, and more.  Just don’t let him get too close to your neck.

todd’s iPod

10:20 am “Bodysnatchers” Radiohead
1:20 pm “Peek A Boo” Siouxsie and the Banshees

R A D I O H E A D

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 @ 10:44AM

IN RAINBOWS

It worked!  I pre-ordered the new Radiohead album from http://www.radiohead.com and as promised, they emailed me a download code to obtain the new relase this morning.  Since you can choose how much you want to pay--you can even pay nothing if you like--I elected to give them roughly $7 for it.  I say roughly because the price is in British pounds, and a pound equals about 2 bucks.  Listen to todd’s iPod today because I’m playing songs from the new album.

As far as the quality of the album goes, it is a great new Radiohead album in every way.  They spared no expense in creating another big, full album that fans will love.  If I can summarize In Rainbows, I would have to say that it reminds me of the dreamy music on the Garden State motion picture soundtrack.  Whatever you decide to pay for it, you’ll get your money’s worth!

Remember to join our overnight vampire Andypants broadcasting live in Spanish Fork at the In The Dark Spook Alley tomorrow night from 7pm to 9pm at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds.  Since we never let Andy out before midnight, we’ve loaded him up with a bunch--I’m talking oodles--of concert tickets to give away.  He has tickets to HIM, Coheed and Cambria, Dashboard Confessional, Brand New, Interpol, and Evanescence. Go meet our nocturnal superstar Andypants.  He wants to give you some free concert tickets!  (Please also remind him that he owes me lunch at Chili’s.)

todd’s iPod

10:20 am “All I Need” Radiohead
1:20 pm “15 Step” Radiohead

New Radiohead Album

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 @ 11:56AM

You pick the price!

Radiohead has a new album that goes on sale 12:01 am Wednesday (United Kingdom time) and you can buy it for whatever you want.  They are releasing it as a download only with NO RECORD COMPANY involved.  Go to http://www.radiohead.com and you can pre order In Rainbows for whatever price you want.  It’s in British Pounds and I chose to give 3 Pounds (about $6) for the download of the new album.  They charged me a 45 Pence transaction fee (if you pay more for the album, the fee is waived) and I’ll get a download code when it goes on sale.

This is cool because it is the first time a major band has released an album without a record company involved.  Many believe this is the future of music.  Normally a record company has a promotional staff that tries to get radio stations to play a certain single, but Radiohead simply will release this album and I can play whatever I want on the air.  We’ll let you help decide which songs you like.

todd’s iPod
10:20 am “Zombie” The Cranberries
1:20 pm “Shadowplay” The Killers (a cover of Joy Division from the forthcoming Killers compilation of B sides and oddities.)

Tool!

Monday, October 8th, 2007 @ 11:32AM

Tool is coming!

If you were at the X96 Maverik Big Ass Show, you heard us announce that Tool is coming on November 24th at the E Center and that tickets go on sale at the E Center box office and Smith’s Tix outlets on Saturday morning at 10 am.  If not, you know now.  We’re also giving away Tools and Tool tickets this entire week on X96.

Speaking of tools, I nearly died on my gigantic ladder last night at home.  It was late, I was tired, and my wife and I kept hearing loud chirps coming from different rooms of the house.  It took us a moment to realize that it was the batteries in the smoke alarms chiming their warning.  I didn’t want to listen to that all night, so I had to get off my butt and change the 9 volt batteries.  Of course I didn’t have a single 9 volt in the house so I had to drive to Smith’s to get some.  It was almost bedtime, but I was crawling up ladders replacing batteries in every room of the house.  In the living room, our ceiling is vaulted and the smoke alarm is at the highest point.  This is well above the “Do Not Stand Above This Rung” of the ladder.  There I was, Standing Above This Rung of the ladder trying to cram a battery into a smoke alarm I could barely reach.

At this point I have to ask what is more dangerous?  The chance of a house fire or the chance of me falling from the ladder and landing on the stairs?

I finally succeeded safely and the chirping stopped. 

todd’s iPod

10:20 am “Take Me Now” Vicious Pink
1:20 pm “Hard Sun” Eddie Vedder

My personal BASH photos

Sunday, October 7th, 2007 @ 9:18AM

A few pics I took with my camera phone.

There are much better photos coming, plus a video documentary of the behind the scenes of the 2007 X96 Maverik Big Ass Show.  Watch X96.com for updates soon!  These are just photos from my camera phone.  We had multiple photographers and videographers on hand, and those pictures will be here shortly.

This is The Playdead Movement kicking ass on the Live and Local stage.

Corey O’Brien and his sexy leather jacket that he bought at the D.I.  This picture was taken immediately as the show ended in our VIP room.  We were exhausted.

This is me with my buddy and fellow myspace nerd Keegan.  You can see the X96 Short Bus in the background.
Todd’s Myspace Page
I’ve known Kevin Hackett for years.  I met him a long time ago when he was a make up artist for Nightmare on 13th.  We always take Big Ass Show photo together in the VIP room.  In last year’s photo I was kissing him on the cheek.  This is far less embarassing.

More are coming soon!

Day of tickets just $25

Friday, October 5th, 2007 @ 8:17PM

Tickets available at Graywhale until 10 pm Friday night.

If you want to buy tickets tomorrow for the X96 Maverik Big Ass Show, they’ll be just $25 at the gates or at Smith’s Tix outlets.  We were going to raise the price on the day of, but since we had to move the show we’ll cut you procrastinators a break and keep at just $25.

The show goes 11am to 6pm.

See you at the Salt Palace Convention Center.  Carpool, take Trax, and leave early.  Text BASH to 79640 if you want the times the bands are playing.

I love you.

todd nuke ‘em

(and I’m still in my office right now at 8:16 pm)

We’ve moved the X96 Maverik Big Ass Show Inside!

Thursday, October 4th, 2007 @ 5:11PM

Let it snow, let it snow, let it Big Ass Show...

Many of you are familiar with the concept of snow.  It happens when wintertime gets here.  This weekend, Mother Nature is ahead of schedule.  She snowed on the U of U homecoming game last Saturday and Ms. Nature is going to unload on us for the X96 Maverik Big Ass Show.  This week for me has been hectic.  We came very close to cancelling the show.  But in the end, I decided that the show must go on.

So it will.  Inside at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

That’s me inside the Salt Palace Convention Center where the show will be.  This is one to remember forever.  We encourage you to dress in beach and summer attire.  We’re going to have a Big Ass Show come hell or high water or cold temperatures and snow.

Get your tickets at Smith’s Tix or Graywhale and we’ll see you this Saturday.  Carpool and arrive early.  Take Traxx for easiest convient transportation.

My puppy is so cute.

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007 @ 9:11PM

My doggie likes me. He also licks me.

Yes, this is me sitting at home alone with my little puppy.  He’s so cute!