WFMU is a Commuter's Best Friend

I’ve been staying in New Jersey after my sublet in Brooklyn ran out (and after a three week stopover in Manhattan), and I’m trying to make the best of the situation. There are two things that are my saving grace right now (beside the generous hospitality of my uncle and his never-ending stash of Klondike bars). One is the phenomenal Italian sandwiches. In New Jersey, you can find old school hero sandwiches on every corner. In New York city, these shops have been relegated to the outer boroughs (excluding the tourist traps in Little Italy and minus the excellent Faicco’s), but in New Jersey they’re a dime a dozen. If you’re ever around Newark, try Cavallo’s Eggplant Parmesan sandwich. It’s saucy, meaty and slightly sweet, packing an ideal ratio of sauce to cheese to filling on a footlong bun split in half. The sheer size of the sandwich could warrant two meals, but it’s delicious enough to eat in one sitting.

Eating Italian sandwiches every day would give me a coronary by the time I’m 30, so I’m more likely to indulge in New Jersey’s other cultural gift to the world, WFMU. Every morning when I’m not carpooling with my uncle, I hop into his black Acura sedan and turn the dial to the station’s morning show, “Wake and Bake.” The host, Clay Pigeon, reminds me of a former editor of mine with his quirky speech patterns, offbeat humor and superb taste in music. On one commute, he played Alice Cooper, David Bowie and the Stooges back to back to back, and he’s as likely to to introduce listeners to the next big thing in indie rock as he is to spin a gritty mix of deep classic rock and punk cuts. Regardless of what’s spinning, Clay Pigeon’s show is a revelation for those of us stuck in the perpetual traffic jam of Route 21.

WFMU is a constant companion during late nights as well, keeping me awake as I drive from the train to my uncle’s condo after long days in the city. One night, halloween-flecked disco and new wave tracks cycled in a row, with a strong showing from English, Italian and African musicians. Another evening, a motley duo spun a series of 45s that ranged from strange ditties (“The Wizard”) by the old-time pop singer Jimmie Rodgers, to Reparata and the Delrons’ (formed by a group of ex-Catholic schoolgirls from Brooklyn) 1965 hit “Tommy,” about a lovable, hard-to-get bad boy. Yet another night was the Stones’ 1967 rare groove “The Lantern” (off Their Satanic Majesties Request) followed by a lo-fi cover of their dark 1966 hit “Mother’s Little Helper” by Japanese rocker Rockin’ Enocky. This is the beauty of WFMU; you never know what will air next, and no matter the tune, it’s something you’re unlikely to hear anywhere else.

I spend very little time in New Jersey, but two-thirds of it is spent sleeping and another sixth is spent listening to WFMU. Thanks to WFMU’s eclectic playlist, it's an alright arrangement for right now. Once I’m out of Jersey, I’ll keep blasting the station whenever I have the chance.