The Weather, a commentary, episodes 6-10 (Patreon)

A few weeks ago I started an episode by episode commentary on the weather. You can read the first part here. This is, by popular demand, part two.

Aye by Dio

I first heard this track on the Something Awful forums, from the great David Thorpe (https://twitter.com/Arr). He was the resident Something Awful music guy, and his latest interest at the time was Dutch rap. Another track he posted about during this period ended up getting used a little later in the series, but this song is just an immediate classic, one that instantly catches your ear, and I knew I wanted to use it. 

Despite What You've Been Told by The Two Gallants

I have no idea where I found this song, no memory of where it was introduced to me. I do remember sitting at my shitty customer service job back in 2009 or so and listening to The Two Gallants as I worked, so I had been listening to them for a while before Night Vale started. The major thing of note here is that Meg, when recording the credits, really struggled to not say "Two Gallants" in a thick New Jersey Accent (The Two Gal-LAHNTs)

This Too Shall Pass by Danny Schmidt

Another song I found on the Something Awful forums. Danny has of course since toured extensively with Night Vale and become a good friend of mine, but all I knew when I first heard this song is "holy shit, this is one of the best songs I've ever heard". And it still is. I later used this track as the theme song to my podcast Our Plague Year, which is still I think one of the best things I've ever made. 

Last Song by Jason Webley

I learned about Jason through my sister, who had been a big fan of his in college. Later, when Night Vale was doing its first big live show, The Debate, we needed a live weather, and I decided to see if Jason would do it. He had actually retired from touring by then, but for whatever reason agreed to come out and perform with us. He has since toured all over the world with Night Vale, and remains a friend. He has mostly retired from music now, but still occasionally takes a floating circus on a raft down various rivers. Seriously.  

I Know This by Rachel Kann

Generally, I have the responsibility of picking the weather for Night Vale. But this is one that came in through Jeffrey, and so I actually don't know a great deal about it. She's a performance poet in Los Angeles. Uh, that's about all I know. Sorry.

I'll do one more because that one is kind of anti-climactic.

Cigarette Burns Forever by Adam Green

Long before Night Vale, I submitted some poetry to a self-published poetry chapbook. The launch event for it was held in the basement of the Tompkins Square branch of the New York Library. It was a weird little show. I did a performance I had devised with my friend Kyle that involved a walkie talkie hidden in the audience. And this guy Adam Green got up and sang a couple songs, including this one. I was immediately taken by his smooth, old-fashioned voice. It wasn't until later that I realized he was one half of the very famous '00s band The Moldy Peaches. But there he was, performing on the same "stage" as me, in that basement of a library. 

-Joseph Fink