Off The Beat

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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On this week’s show: Masumi Hayashi-Smith gets a closer look at what’s in store for the West Broadway Elementary School; Victoria Chao gets the inside scoop on WRNI’s pilot episode of a new Liberian radio show; and WBRU’s Abe Lubetkin investigates possible changes in the state’s policy on high school dropouts. Plus, Will Bostwick delivers a roundup of last week’s news. Hosted and produced by Chris Gang.

Music featured in this week’s show: “Disco Sheets” by Wolf Parade, “Bros” by Panda Bear, and “Complete, or Completing” by Annuals.

Off the Beat will return on Monday, April 9th — but in the meantime, send us your comments and questions! Leave a comment here, or email offthebeat [at] bsrlive.com

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There will be no show this week (March 19th), so stay tuned for the next Off The Beat on Monday, March 26th.

A look into the future: next Monday you’ll hear about the controversy surrounding the West Broadway Elementary School, a new Liberian radio show coming to Rhode Island, and more! As always, we’ll also bring you a brief wrapup of this week’s news, and get ready to travel to another mystery location in Providence with our weekly audio quiz, Sounds of the City.

As March draws to a close, Off The Beat will keep coming in like a lion!

Now is the perfect time to send us your comments, questions and suggestions.

This week, Tanya Somanader reports on the future of Barrington Zion Bible College; and Laura Brion and Chris Mastrangelo bring part 2 in a special report on HPV vaccine legislation in Rhode Island. News round-up produced by Boaz Munro and Peter McElroy. And you have two chances to get creative and guess the latest installation of Sounds of the City (if you need some more hints, click “Read the rest of this entry” to see more photos).

This week’s show is hosted and produced by Chris Gang.
Music by Beirut, Mirah and Shearwater.

These are our News and Views: we want yours. Leave a comment!

To view two more photographic hints for this week’s Sounds of the City, click below to read more.
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“From Gaspipes to Websites: Radio at Brown 1936-2006″ will air throughout this week (March 12-16) on BSR, 88.1 FM WELH Providence, at 7 p.m. This audio documentary examines how college radio fits into local communities and national trends through a historical analysis of Brown University’s radio stations, WBRU and BSR.

You can download each segment of the documentary for free as a podcast through the iTunes podcast directory or at the project’s blog. To learn more about the project, see Brown University’s press release and the coverage in the Brown Daily Herald.

The segment airing on Monday, March 12th, is about 42 minutes long, so Off the Beat will be shorter than usual and will go on the air late, around 7:42. If you miss it, be sure to download the podcast here or on iTunes.

This week, the first installment of Laura Brion’s in-depth coverage of the HPV vaccine’s RI reception. Then, John McGarry and Will Bostwick report on the Senate’s work calendar, and Vicky Chao takes us seal watching. Plus, Will Bowling brings the week’s news round-up. Who’s screaming? Bounce your ideas around with Sounds of the City.

This week’s host is Peter McElroy, and the show was produced by Chris Gang and Peter McElroy. Music by RJD2, Chet Atkins and Brown University’s own Charlie Hunter.

A reminder for those listeners in Providence on or around College Hill: This is the last week to visit “From Gaspipes to Websites: Radio at Brown 1936-2006,” running until Friday, March 9, at the John Hay Library at Brown University. Get some perspective on Brown Student Radio’s roots!

For more information:
Brown University’s John Hay Exhibit Page
and 70 Years of Radio History Blog.

This is News & Views from Providence, and we want some of yours. Post your comments!

Off The Beat takes a break this week to be presidential. Tune in next Monday, March 5th, for an all-new show that will take you seal watching in Narragansett Bay and to the Zion Bible College in Barrington. Also: in Congress, what to know about the HPV vaccine bill and how shortening the General Assembly calendar may increase legislative efficiency. And of course, get ready for a fresh Sounds of the City.

Off The Beat encourages your comments and suggestions.

On this week’s show, John McGarry gives us the skinny on the move to ban trans-fats in Rhode Island; Eli Halpern reports from Firehouse 13, and Elana Goldstein goes choclatiering. Will Bowling reads a roundup of the week’s headlines.

Hosted by Chris Gang, and produced by Peter McElroy and Chris. Music by Spoon, Grizzly Bear, and Belle & Sebastian.

Off The Beat is excited to be back for a sixth season! We welcome your feedback here or at offthebeat [at] bsrlive [dot] com.