Radio activity

With Phantom FM’s future hanging in the balance, Caught In The Net has been twiddling its metaphorical knob looking for alternatives.

Our first port in this ComReg-induced storm is www.bbc.co.uk/6music, the online feed for Auntie’s indie-minded digital service. With Audio Bullys, Dandy Warhols, eels, Granddaddy, Ed Harcourt, Keane, Kings of Leon, Mew, Placebo, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, StellaStarr, Martina Topley Bird, The Wannadies and Zwan all on the A-List this week, it’s a serious music lovers’ wet dream. Never mind that the DJs – Janice Long, Phil Jupitus, Stuart Maconie, Bill Bailey, Bob Harris and Tom Robinson – are a bit on the crinkly side, this’ll have you running up astronomic phone bills in no time.

There’s similar fare to be had at www.xfm.co.uk who also boast the comedic talents of Office man Ricky Gervais every Saturday from 1 to 3pm.

For those whose tastes are a little more Antipodean may we recommend www.abc.net.au/triplej

The network’s Sydney outlet has a bit of previous where Irish bands are concerned having championed The Frames on their first visit to Oz, and letting Ash release their Live At The Wireless session as an official bootleg.

San Diego’s XTRA FM no longer offer a direct feed for copyright reasons but we couldn’t resist retelling this music news story which appears on their www.91x.com site: “Eve 6 singer Max Collins was arrested for indecent exposure Tuesday morning while roaming around the halls naked at the Crown Plaza hotel in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. ‘Multiple witnesses saw him walking completely nude through the hotel,’ Capt. McCarthy said, ‘except for one occasion where he had shaving cream over his genitalia’. Collins was also spotted sitting at the lounge piano and riding the elevator bare-bottomed.”

Rock and, indeed, roll!

Which just leaves time for quick visits to Copenhagen’s delightfully named Electric Skum Radio at www.dr.dk/skum/redaktion/redaktionen.shtmToronto’s CFNY at www.edge102fm.com and Amsterdam’s Kink FM at www.kinkfm.com which has a suitably disturbing archived interview with Throbbing Gristle. Lite FM will never sound the same again!