Urban Unrest

09 June 2006 | Recommendations | Ernesto Aguilar

Today for KPFT listeners comes from a guy I would like to think is a local music myth and legend. I say this, of course, because I’ve known Mike Switzer since my early loudmouth days at the University of Houston. Even back then, Mike was a great musician and super-smart dude. These days, he’s bringing Houstonians a super-smart musical podcast that’s very much worth note as this week’s pick.

Boutique podcasts are the new pet rocks. The Houston Press did a particularly lame piece last year on podcasting, focusing on the more salacious aspects. Don’t be misled! There are some gems out there. Kid Ornery Presents… is a showcase of Mike’s past and current musical projects. Unlike many musicians, Mike had the good sense to tape his forays into jazz and experimental music. The results are sublime moments that are truly one of a kind. He shares a few of those tapes on his podcast.

If you’re familiar with local music, you’ve no doubt caught the Defenestration Unit. There’s plenty DU here. The Unit’s, in fact, celebrating its 10-year anniversary — instantly making me feel really old, but nevertheless happy to rewind for a bit. From formerly local luminary Bliss Blood (ex-Pain Teens) to countless others, Mike has played with some of the best. His mixes serve up a chaotic and kinky slice of Houston music that isn’t for the faint of heart — the ‘covers’ podcast alone dabbles in everything from indie rock to jazz to the slowed-down music now the rage in the mainstream press as the sonic inspiration of DJ Screw. Though this writeup is probably the only place you’ll ever see ‘Mike Switzer’ and ‘DJ Screw’ in the same sentence, take my word for it, Kid Ornery Presents… is pretty brilliant. Word is there is even more DU stuff on the horizon. Please check it out.

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