FBi Radio - 94.5FM (Sydney)
Jack Off with Jack Shit
Saturdays 3-5PM 2000 - present A wide-ranging and irreverent live mix that provides a vibrant alternative to the contrived antics of the AM/FM stereotypes found elsewhere on the dial - airing weekly on 94.5 FM in Sydney and surrounds, plus streaming online and on-demand. Jack Off is FBi Radio’s longest-running program (check this documentary to hear Jack and other key players explain the story of the station's genesis) and a winner of the coveted, volunteer-voted, Best Show award. The program was named as a key show on Australian radio in renowned global briefing best-of, Monocle magazine. No song is ever repeated and all guests perform live (over 600 local and international acts to date - even two Federal Ministers in Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese).
Jack Off was rated by the AU Review as one of five Australian Music radio shows most worth listening to. On the very same day Tone Deaf published this detailed portrait of Jack's long-standing devotion to his craft at FBi. Clearly his eponymous program has struck a chord - listeners of all stripes revel in it's original format and unique offerings. Within just two hours you may remedy mainstream misinformation via the caustic commentary of the infamous Shitlist; enrich your cultural exposure through the single most comprehensive curation of major - and minor - events anywhere, the Diary of Death; and immerse yourself in an aural ocean where currents of meaning and time mingle, dissolve and reform anew. Recently Jack was obligated to record the program for the first time in over two decades, a safety measure for broadcasters at FBi as pandemic numbers spiked in Redfern. The show in question was recorded as-live the day prior, a world away, in the bush by the Hawkesbury river-mouth. If you could do with a deep dive in to absolutely uninterrupted music from across time and space for a good two hours right now send yr ears here. Otherwise the last few years of audio can all be accessed on-demand below. 
INTERVIEW :: WANDA JACKSONHere is an extraordinary conversation with the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson. She spent nearly an hour in the FBi studios live on air, in the company of her devoted husband of over 50 years, Wendell, playing some of her favourite songs and sharing stories of her relationships with some of the giants of our time, from Elvis Presley to Patsy Cline.
You can stream this amazing piece of history here or simply listen below: PERFORMANCE :: HIGHLIGHTSMore recently Jack conjured an improvised duet from two of the most unique guitarists on the planet - Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Mick Turner (Dirty Three).
Ten there's this hilarious conversation with Suggs and Monsieur Barso of Madness: discussing meeting the Queen and unexpectedly cornering the 'undernourished eight-year-old-urchin' demographic. Their live performance of bittersweet classic My Girl displays a perfect knack for ordinary honesty. Another fascinating and candid exchange occurred when Tim Rogers came to visit (and to play his heartbreaking song Part Time Dads), also available to listen to here.
One of the most intense interviews yet came courtesy of Laura Jean and Aldous Harding. Laura happened to have her sister and father in tow and, when queried about how the subjects of her songs responded to hearing themselves reflected in her work, chose to let her family members answer for themselves. Their responses were devastatingly candid and everyone in the studio found themselves reduced to tears. Listen here to this astonishing exchange - and the two pure and powerful performances that accompanied it. GUESTBOOKFurther recent highlights to be found on our Guestbook include interviews and performances featuring They Might Be Giants, Mykki Blanco, The Ocean Party, The Grates, Cash Savage, Cub Sport, Amanda Palmer, Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes, The Necks, The Pretty Things, Hunx and His Punks plus Shannon and the Clams, Saidah Baba Talibah, Valerie June, Community Radio, Catcall, Belles Will Ring, Dick Diver, Mykki Blanco, Shoeb Ahmad, Blackie from the Hard-Ons, Adalita with Clare Bowditch, Remi, Guilty Simpson & Katalyst, Anomie, Fourplay, Elana Stone, Sorong Samurai, Spod, Vic Simms, Natalie Prass, Sam Amidon, Youth Group, Saidah Baba Talibah, Clare Bowditch & Adalita and Frente!
The entire collection - and more - can be accessed here. Going back a little further in time we've a host of golden music interview and performance moments archived for posterity - and available for download - via the Australian Community Radio podcast facility Cpod. Here you'll find astonishing insights and music courtesy of Gurrumul, Syl Johnson, Kev Carmody, Jen Cloher, Adalita, Oliver Mann, Jamie Hutchings and An Horse. Whatever the subject matter, or whomsoever guests, Jack Off serves, on any given week, as a affirmation of aspiration, innovation and true community spirit - an energising experience of all that binds us as human beings. Naturally, as part of that process, we relish hearing from you - so please, always feel free to contact us, live on the air... |
Recent Highlights |
LISTEN:: CASH SAVAGE ON JACK OFF WITH JACK SHITA stark, defiant and sometimes heartbreaking conversation that makes for a spellbinding interaction. It's fair to say that whilst Cash and Jack don't hold much back, neither expected to publicly explore elements of their private lives in such an exposed fashion.
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LISTEN:: CUB SPORT ON JACK OFF WITH JACK SHITWith the band currently undertaking a huge North American tour, on the back of new single ‘Crush’ (which was written about a very fateful night in Vancouver), now is the perfect time to acquaint yourself more intimately with these wonderfully sincere and open artists.
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SHOEB AHMAD :: INTERVIEW & LIVE SONGS ON JACK OFFThis recent interview with Jack Shit is startlingly frank, revealing an extraordinarily brave human being – a gifted musician of the Muslim faith, born brown via Bangladeshi parents, then raised in Parramatta – transcending multiple levels of discrimination with creativity and grace.
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