The cover of John Easdale’s “Public Radio” EP.
Over the years, John Easdale of the band Dramarama has made numerous live on-air appearances on 90.5 the Night, Brookdale Public Radio in Lincroft. The New Jersey native, who now lives in California, has released six of his performances as an EP, titled Public Radio, that will benefit the station.
On the dramaramastore.com website, Easdale wrote that he listens to public radio almost daily. He said that when the current presidential administration started criticizing public radio and pulling funding, “I was left dumbfounded. My source for entertainment and news was being wholly misrepresented by well-publicized accounts from people who didn’t seem to know or care that, in addition to arts, science, entertainment etc., public radio stations throughout the country provide vital life-saving safety and emergency information, especially to those living in rural and remote areas of America. This CD, though not even a molecule in a rain barrel, is my way of doing something to help.”
His hope, he wrote, “is that listeners realize the impact and importance of public radio stations in their home states and support them with donations, advocacy and the gifts of their time and patronage.”
The songs on the album are “Work for Food,” “Goodnight America,” “Physical Poetry” and covers of Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart,” Lou Reed’s “The Kids” and the Great American Songbook standard “When Did You Leave Heaven?”
The EP can be purchased at dramaramastore.com.
Dramarama, incidentally, is confirmed to perform at at least two Light of Day WinterFest shows in January: Jan. 16 at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, and Jan. 17 at The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank. For information, visit lightofday.org.
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