Off The Beat

On tonight’s show, we have a profile of the Black Repertory Company by Monica Garcia. Jeffrey Martin reports on a competition for sustainable and affordable housing. And John McGarry goes to Firehouse 13 to report on Amnesty International’s Art & Activism Exhibition. He focuses on the preview screening of Jeff Toste’s film “Straight Ticket”.

This show was hosted by David Walker and produced by David Walker and John McGarry.

As always, feel free to leave your views in the comments.

Music on this week’s show: “Collide the Tide” by Chin Up Chin Up, “Lucky Ones” by Kevin Drew, “Conductor 71″ by Fujiya & Miyagi, “The Ice of Boston” by the Dismemberment Plan, and “Untitled” by Interpol.

This week’s episode is a special preview of the presidential primary elections happening in Rhode Island tomorrow. Host Victoria Chao gives us a summary of the race thus far. Dave Walker follows with a profile of the campaign of Senator Barack Obama (D- Ill.) and John McGarry reports on Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign (D- NY).

This week’s show was produced by John McGarry and Dave Walker.

Music on this week’s show: “As We Proceed” by Travis Morrison, “I Slept with Bonhomme at CBC” by Broken Social Scene, “You Are a Wolf” by Sea Wolf, and “Guilty Cubicles” by Broken Social Scene.

Send us your comments here on the blog or by e-mail at offthebeat [at] bsrlive [dot] com.

[Editors' Note: There is a slight error at the end of the Clinton piece.  To clarify the point of Ansumana Sirleaf, the canvasser, the Rhode Island primary is not a fully open primary. Voters registered for either party can only vote in that party's primary. But independent voters can vote in one of the party's primaries without needing to become affiliated with the party.]

Off the Beat returns for its eighth season on BSR. This week’s episode is full of three stories and the debut of a new segment.

First, Monica Garcia has a report of local artist Zane Claverie’s display at the Dirt Palace in Olneyville. Dave Walker explains the concept and controversy behind a bill in the Statehouse about an employee database. Then, Alison Fairbrother reports on “This Week in Providence History”, with a retrospective on how differing views of Valentine’s Day were represented in the Providence Journal throughout the last century. Finally, John McGarry reports on the growth of sustainable tourism in Blackstone Valley.

This week’s show was hosted by Victoria Chao and was produced by John McGarry and Dave Walker.

Music on this week’s show: “Kids” by MGMT, “Positive Tension (Go! Team Remix)” by Bloc Party, “Disco Sheets” by Wolf Parade, “Dry Drunk Emperor” by TV on the Radio and “Fractales, Pt. 1″ by Apparat.

Feel free to let us know what you think by leaving a comment or by sending an e-mail to offthebeat [at] bsrlive [dot] com.

For this week’s show, Monica Garcia meets with the staff of the new Spanish language local paper El Planeta Providence. John McGarry has a report on a new construction apprenticeship program called Building Futures. And Will Bowling brings us a very timely Sounds of the City.

This week’s show was hosted by Zak Leonard and was produced by John McGarry.

Music on this week’s show: “What We Had” by the Handsome Furs, “Sleepwalking Ballad” by Apostle of Hustle, “Swisha” by Ratatat, “Back & Forth” by the Dismemberment Plan, “Shut Up I am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings” by Sunset Rubdown

On tonight’s show, Boaz Munro reports on two teams of engineers who barreled down Waterman Street last weekend in homemade soapbox racecars along with over 50 other teams in the Red Bull Soapbox Derby. John McGarry reports on a different kind of danger in Providence: the loss of historic buildings.

This week’s show was hosted by Victoria Chao, and was produced by John McGarry.

Music on this week’s show: “Stuck Between Stations” by the Hold Steady, “Great Salt Lake” by Band of Horses, and “Collarbone” by Fujiya & Miyagi.
Music in Boaz’s story: “If My Heart Was a Car” by the Old 97’s, “Hot Rod Lincoln” by Junior Brown, and “Fun, Fun, Fun” by the Beach Boys

Leave us know your views here, or send us an e-mail at offthebeat [at] bsrlive [dot] com.

On tonight’s show, David Walker reports on a new activist movement against Western Union. Will Bowling visits the Hamilton Senior Center’s exhibit on the past lives of its members. Wrapping up the show is a report by John McGarry on how global warming relates to Rhode Island.

This week’s show was hosted by David Paesani and was produced by John McGarry.

Music on this week’s show: “Chicken Pox” by I’m From Barcelona, “All I Need” by Radiohead, “Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!” by Do Make Say Think, and “Knife” by Grizzly Bear.

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment here or by sending an e-mail to offthebeat [at] bsrlive [dot] com.

Off the Beat kicks off the new season tonight! First, Fran Harlow tells us about giant pumpkins growing in Rhode Island, followed by a report by John McGarry on winter preparations by the Department of Public Works.
Hosted and produced by John McGarry.
Music on this week’s show: “Use It” by the New Pornographers, “I Feel It All” by Feist, and “Étienne d’Août” by Malajube.

Even though we’ve already had a show this season, we’re still welcoming any and all new reporters- no experience needed or expected. If you interested, or just want to find out more about our show, feel free to leave your comments here or send an e-mail to offthebeat [at] bsrlive [dot] com.

It’s the last show of the season — and Off The Beat looks back at some of the best pieces we aired in the past semester.

The show features contributions from Victoria Chao (originally aired March 26), John McGarry (originally aired April 16), and Eli Halpern (originally aired April 30), and was produced by Chris Gang and John. Chris Gang is also the host this week.

Off The Beat is taking a break for the summer! We will be back in the fall, with more news and views from Providence. If you’d like to leave some feedback, feel free to contact us at offthebeat [at] bsrlive [dot] com or by leaving comments here. If you’re interested in learning more about joining our staff as a reporter, producer, or editor, you can email news.director [at] bsrlive [dot] com — no prior experience is necessary or expected.

Recycling, redevelopment and rock ‘n’ roll.

John McGarry reports on the state of recycling in Rhode Island. WBRU’s Rukesh Samarasekera discusses the fate of Rhode Island’s after-school nonprofit arts programs. Off The Beat reporter Victoria Chao investigates tension between the developer Struever Brothers, Eccles and Russe and Olneyville residents. Finally, Eli Halpern delivers a piece on how one theater company has fused a Japanese tradition with punk rock.

This week’s show was produced by Chris Gang and hosted by Will Bostwick.

This week’s music: “Gravity Rides Everything” by Modest Mouse, “Carry The Zero” by Built To Spill, “Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn & John, and “This Charming Man” by Stars.

As always, this is Off The Beat: News & Views from Providence. Send us yours by leaving a comment.

On today’s show, Off The Beat’s John McGarry discusses very large choreographed dances. Eli Halpern interviews the editors of an up-and-coming popular culture literary magazine. From WBRU’s George Mesthos, a report on the Providence VA Medical Center. This week’s news wrap by Boaz Munro, with reporting by Will Bowling and Chris Gang. And as always, listen carefully for Sounds of the City, our weekly audio exploration of Providence.

Music on this week’s show: Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart, Final Fantasy - The Chronicles of Sarnia, Dungen - Festival, and Yo La Tengo - The Weakest Part.

This week’s show was produced and hosted by Chris Gang.

Rock the weekly guessing game, Sounds of the City, using these photo leads.

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