The struggle is real

 

The struggle is real. But we can help on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 09/16/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Gladys Knight & The Pips, Meshell Ndegeocello & CAT POWER, Prince, Glen Hansard, Dropkick Murphys, Fred Tackett & Scott Sharrard, Son Volt, Goose, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202609151900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/09/15/the-struggle-is-real-3/#playlist.

(Comic: Mrs. Frollein)

Minus the Bear!

No picture this week. Blogger is acting up.

We gave away two tickets to see Minus The Bear -Menos El Oso 20th Anniversary Tour at The National on 9/17 on Handful of Brains (originally aired Tuesday, 9/8/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

We’ve also got an eclectic mix of music, including Mykki Blanco, Dinosaur Jr., Johnny Copeland, Mikaela Davis, Grateful Dead, Steve Cropper, Keep, Gary Stewart, Greg Freeman, Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202609081900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/09/08/win-tix-to-see-minus-the-bear/#playlist

Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound

 

“Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound” on Handful of Brains! (Tuesday 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Tim Curry, Kendall Street Company, Grateful Dead, King Hannibal, Bruce Springsteen, Boards Of Canada, Momoko Gill, Queens of the Stone Age, Robert Lester Folsom, & more!

You can listen to the show any time you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202609011900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/09/01/let-me-show-you-around-maybe-play-you-a-sound/#playlist

American Aquarium!

 

We gave away tickets to see American Aquarium & Nathan Evans Fox at Broadberry on 9/6 on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 8/25/26, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

We’ve also got an eclectic mix of music, including Prince & the Revolution, St. Vincent, Circles Around The Sun, The S.O.S. Band, Paul Rodgers, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202608251900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/08/25/win-tickets-to-see-american-aquarium/#playlist

Robert Earl Keen!

We gave away tickets to see Robert Earl Keen & Race Ricketts @ The National on 8/20 on Handful of Brains! (Originally aired Tuesday, 08/18/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio).

We’ve also got an eclectic mix of music, including Taj Mahal, Billy Strings, Flea feat. Nick Cave, Dry Cleaning, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Phoebe Bridgers, Rhiannon Giddens, Robert Plant, Echo and the Bunnymen, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202608181900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here is a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/08/18/well-give-away-tickets-to-see-robert-earl-keen/#playlist

 

Things are always strange!

Things are always strange on Handful of Brains! (Originally aired Tuesday, August 11, 2026,  7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Keith & Donna, Sam & Dave, Dogwood Tales, RUSH, Tori Amos, CAT POWER, Mikaela Davis, Jeff Tweedy, ZZ Top, The Damned, Elephant Stone, Joe Jackson, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202608111900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/08/11/things-are-always-strange/#playlist

(photo: Jazwares Stranger Things WSQK Radio Station Playset)

 

Power of Disco!

 

Feel the Power of Disco and an eclectic mix of genres on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 08/05/2026,  7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We played music from Huey Lewis & The News & The Trammps, The Rolling Stones, Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, Primus, Anna Calvi, TORTURETWINN, THE EELS, Elephant Stone, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202608041900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/08/04/power-of-disco/#playlist.

Jampacked Festival!

We gave away tickets to Jampacked Festival on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 07/28/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

We also played an eclectic mix of music, including tunes from each of the Jampacked bands, as well as Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, John Eddie, R.E.M., Karina Rykman, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202607281900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/07/28/jampacked-festival/#playlist

 

Jukebox the Ghost!

 

We gave away tix to see the Jukebox the Ghost: Variety Show Spectacular! at The Broadberry on 7/23 on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 7/14/26, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

We’ve also got an eclectic mix of music, including Aretha Franklin, Allen Toussaint, The Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, WESTSIDE COWBOY, The Tubs, The Nth Power, Gregory McLoughlin, The String Cheese Incident, Grace Potter, CLUB D’ELF, Joe Ely, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202607141900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and check out the playlist here https://www.wrir.org/2026/07/14/win-tix-to-jukebox-the-ghost/#playlist

Ride Lonesome!

 

Terror-cold tension…Hate-hot revenge! Tonight on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday,  07/07/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve also got an eclectic mix of music, including Beck, Claypool Lennon Delirium, Dinosaur Jr., TORTURETWINN, Africa Express, The Durutti Column, Ramones, Grateful Dead, Ty Segall, The Funky Meters, Old Crow Medicine Show, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202607071900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/07/07/ride-lonesome/#playlist

Go-Go where the action is!

 

Go-Go where the action is! Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 06/23/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr, U2, Lee “Scratch” Perry & Mouse on Mars, Soft Cell & Nona Hendryx, CAVS, Ed O’Brien, Mitski, Rickie Lee Jones, & more!

You can listen to the show anytime you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202606231900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/06/23/go-go-where-the-action-is/

Everclear & Long Arms!

 

We gave away tickets to see EVERCLEAR w/ Long Arms at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden 6/17/26 on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 6/9/2026,  7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

We’ve also got an eclectic mix of music, including Orion Redwolf & Louis Smith, Iceage, Gregory McLoughlin, The Black Crowes, Kurt Vile, Peter Gabriel, Greg Mendez, Richard Thompson, and more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202606091900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and you can check out the playlist here https://www.wrir.org/2026/06/09/win-tix-to-see-everclear-long-arms/#playlist

Add that bow tie to your chicken hat!

Add that bow tie to your chicken hat and get on with Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 6/3/26, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Johnny Blue Skies, the Mountain Goats, Daniel Lanois, Son Volt, YES, Don Ho, Bruce Hornsby, My New Band Believe, Father John Misty, Nora Kelly Band, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202606021900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and you can check out the playlist here https://www.wrir.org/2026/06/02/add-that-bow-tie-to-your-chicken-hat/

 

Everything Is Stupid

Everything is stupid….except Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 5/27/26, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Miles Davis, THE OCEAN BLUE, Jim E. Brown, Mikaela Davis, The Rolling Stones, J Roddy Walston and The Business, Al Green, Superchunk, GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite, Lee Scratch Perry & Mouse on Mars, Lucinda Williams, & more!

You can listen to the show anytime you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202605261900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to check out the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/05/26/everything-is-stupid/

 

We're Back! Home is where the record player is!

 

We're back! After some technical difficulties with the archival player the last few weeks, our amazing WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio engineers & techs have got the archived shows sounding great again! 

Home is where the record player is! That means home is Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 5/19/2026,  7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio). We’ve got an eclectic mix of music for you, including Dead Can Dance, CAT POWER, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Pigeon, The Black Keys, Modest Mouse, Yonder Mountain String Band, Brown Horse, & more!

ICYMI, here is a link to listen to the show and to check out the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/05/19/home-is-where-the-record-player-is/

I’m real proud of my record collection

 

I’m real proud of my record collection, and you can hear some of it on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 4/14/26, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Aphex Twin, Jesse Welles, Deerhoof, Kristin Hersh, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Inara George, The Softies, Charli XCX, Armand Hammer & The Alchemist, Taj Mahal, Aldous Harding, & more!

You can check out the show anytime you like, along with the playlist here https://www.wrir.org/2026/04/14/im-real-proud-of-my-record-collection/#playlist

Due to technical difficulties, my 4/7 show didn't record to the archive player. But Joel of Joel's Pick of the Week made a YouTube Music playlist so you can hear the songs that were played on that show. You can even get some PSAs, stop the playlist every now and then, read them, and pretend you're a DJ! https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTpGKxsv2Y0fIsTbQhmQOGdhw2Rgexjyw&si=AOOKxqvuz_KG5VkE

Andy Thomas Interview!

 

We interviewed Andy Thomas and talked about his upcoming show at The Broadberry on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday,  3/32/26, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio). We’ve also got an eclectic mix of music, including Willie Nelson, Todd Snider, John Sebastian, Mabe Fratti & Bill Orcutt, Angel Olsen, D’Angelo, Jesse Welles, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202603311900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/03/31/andy-thomas-interview/#playlist

You can listen to older shows whenever you like here https://www.wrir.org/show/handful-of-brains/

Music! I Want Music!

 

And music you’ll get on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 03/17/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Claypool Lennon Delirium, Margo Price, Courtney Barnett, Brown Horse, Lettuce, Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles, Mike Patton & The Avett Brothers, Lee Bains + The Glory Fires, The Black Keys, Peter Gabriel, BOBO & BEHAJA, Town Mountain, The Damned, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202603171900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/03/17/music-i-want-music/#playlist

Bad Pop Music is Everywhere!

 

We’ve got your back, R. Crumb! Only the good pop/rock/world music on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 2/24/26, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

It’s an eclectic mix of music, including Pulp, Richard Thompson & Hugh Cornwell, U2, Dave Alvin, Suede, The The, Talking Heads, Anna Calvi, Hiss Golden Messenger, Courtney Barnett, Amyl and The Sniffers, The Equals, The Black Crowes, & more!

You can listen to the show anytime you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202602241900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3, and here's a link to check out the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/02/24/bad-pop-music-is-everywhere/.

If you can, help us pay for the move to the new building by donating here https://www.wrircampaign.org/. Thanks!

Time for listening enjoyment!

 

Time for listening enjoyment with Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 2/17/26, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic batch of music, including The Specials, The Rolling Stones, Jeff Tweedy, Ian McNabb & Peter Buck, Big Thief, The Damned, Low Cut Connie, Fatboy Slim, Prabir, Dry Cleaning, Portugal. The Man, Spinal Tap, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like and check out the playlist here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202602171900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3

Help us pay for the move to our new building by donating here https://www.wrircampaign.org/

It’s a good day to play some rock ‘n’ roll records!

 

It’s a good day to play some rock ‘n’ roll records on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 02/10/2026,  7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ll play an eclectic mix of music, including Sufjan Stevens, The Stone Roses, Beck, Jason Isbell, Donna Jean Godchaux, The Brothers Johnson, Amythyst Kiah, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like and check out the playlist here https://www.wrir.org/2026/02/10/its-a-good-day-to-play-some-rock-n-roll-records/#playlist

You can listen to older shows whenever you like here https://www.wrir.org/show/handful-of-brains/

And please donate here to help the future of WRIR https://www.wrircampaign.org/

We’ll put on some records to cheer you up!

 

We’ll put on some records to cheer you up on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 02/03/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Jimmy Cliff, The Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Viagra Boys, Wilson Pickett, Bruce Springsteen, Cassidy Snider & The Wranglers, Shane Parish, Bill Callahan, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202602031900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and you can check out the playlist here https://www.wrir.org/2026/02/03/well-put-on-some-records-to-cheer-you-up/#playlist

And support a Richmond original, WRIR, by donating to our capital campaign fund at https://www.wrircampaign.org/

Come on, everyone! Let’s dance!

Come on, everyone! Let’s dance to Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 01/27/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music for you, including Todd Snider & Jason Isbell, Thundercat, Kendall Street Company, Pulp, Tyler Ballgame, Snocaps, John Lennon, Bill Callahan, Father John Misty, Cass McCombs, Dr. Dog, Jerry Garcia, Bob Vylan, Snail Mail, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202601271900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to check out the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/01/27/come-on-everyone-lets-dance/#playlist

And please give to our Capital Campaign to help us pay off the move to the new building and build for the future of WRIR at https://www.wrircampaign.org/

 

RIP Bob Weir

 

We paid tribute to the late Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead on Tuesday’s Handful of Brains. (originally aired 01/21/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio)

You can listen to the show here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202601201900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 (Note: a little new station technical difficulties led to dead (pun intended) air from 5:11 - 6:53. It seemed longer when I was desperately trying to fix it!)

You can check out the playlist here https://www.wrir.org/2026/01/20/rip-bob-weir/#playlist

Help us improve our new studio and establish a foundation for the future of WRIR by giving to our capital campaign here https://www.wrircampaign.org/

(Photo: dead.net)

Cool Records!

 

We’ll listen to some cool records on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 01/13/2025, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Jesse Welles, Peter Gabriel, Popol Vuh, Grateful Dead, The Jayhawks, Midnight Oil, Pretenders, Harry Chapin, Drive-By Truckers, Sheryl Crow, Dry Cleaning, & more!

You can listen to the show anytime you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202601131900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/01/13/cool-records/#playlist

2 Shows! "New Year’s Eve Eve Party!" & "According to our Records…."

 

It’s the perfect soundtrack for your New Year’s Eve Eve party! Handful of Brains on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio! (originally aired Tuesday, 12/30/2025, 7 – 9 PM)

We’ve got an eclectic mix of music, including Etta James, Todd Snider, Mike Mattison, Tim Heidecker, Tom A Smith, David Byrne, Gregory McLoughlin, Drugdealer, The Good Ones, & more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202512301900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and check out the playlist here https://www.wrir.org/2025/12/30/new-years-eve-eve-party/#playlist

You can listen to older shows here https://www.wrir.org/show/handful-of-brains/

And get that end-of-year donation in to help us move into our new building here https://www.wrircampaign.org/

And fun it will be on Handful of Brains! (originally aired Tuesday, 01/05/2026, 7 – 9 PM on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio) We’ve got an eclectic mix of records to play, including Not A Saint Band, The Nude Party, Little Feat, Love Is All, Prince, Lankum, and more!

You can listen to the show whenever you like here https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202601061900.HandfulOfBrains.mp3 and here's a link to the playlist https://www.wrir.org/2026/01/06/according-to-our-records/#playlist

You can listen to older shows whenever you like here https://www.wrir.org/show/handful-of-brains/

And don’t forget to donate to help us get the new studio ready and more at https://www.wrircampaign.org/