Jon Kanis once asked me, "Are you a Plimsouls fan?"

Like any right-thinking music writer I said, "Of course" -- which is how I found out Kanis was Peter Case's newsletter publisher and road manager in the early '90s. This impresses me, and I was already impressed with Kanis. I have been since his 1997 folksy/psychedelic EP A Pair of Opposites, the first of his many collaborations with überguitarist Mike Keneally (one-time touring axeman with Frank Zappa).

"I didn't learn how to play the guitar," he says, "until I moved to the West Coast and, six months later, having just turned 19, I bought a fairly cheap Martin copy, a Montaya, for around $150 at the now-defunct Dave's House of Guitars on El Cajon Boulevard."

Before becoming a full-time musician, Kanis spent six working for David Peck's local company Reelin' in the Years Productions, an historical music film and video archive. Kanis has always had an ear for good music and good musicians; witness how his early '90s backing group the Wondermints is now Brian Wilson's touring Smile band.

“I’m performing at Alchemy Restaurant in South Park every Thursday evening in the month of May,” he tells the Reader. “I’ve also been adding a lot of content on my personal blog page these days [ http://www.jonkanis.com/blog ], including concert reviews, CD and book reviews and complete detailed logs regarding my program State Controlled Radio."

State Controlled Radio is Kanis’ free-form internet program, which has broadcast over 200 episodes, usually featuring a specific theme and/or performer for each edition.

“There are several new programs, including shows on Duke Ellington, Eric Clapton, a countdown for the week of January 3 1976, and a two-part special on music from San Diego. Additionally, I’ve been archiving a large number of older shows.”

Episodes can be found at http://www.jonkanis.com/blog/state-controlled-radio/

“Once you click on a particular episode, the hyperlink will take you to a show page that lists all of the material for that episode. At the bottom of the show page, double click on the provided link. There will be either two or three files to download, based on whether the program is two or three hours long.” Once downloaded, episodes can be played at your own leisure.

Upcoming episodes of State Controlled Radio include:

A celebration of Bob Seger for his 66th birthday this week.

A three-part, nine-hour program in honor of Bob Dylan's 70th birthday.

A three-hour conversation with Gary Heffern with music from his entire career, including his great new CD Gary Heffern & Beautiful People.

“And, last but certainly not least, I’ll have the pleasure of presenting a three-hour conversation laced with iconic San Diego disc jockey Jim McInnes.”

The episode archive includes:

SCR #001-A Valentine Card From CA To VA [02.14.06]

SCR #004-Words & Music by Robyn Hitchcock [03.07.06]

SCR #008-Words & Music by Peter Case • 1 [04.04.06]

SCR #009-Words & Music by Peter Case • 2 [04.11.06]

SCR #010-Words & Music by Buddy Blue [1957-2006] [04.18.06]

SCR #012-Words & Music by Scott Miller [05.02.06]

SCR #022-Shine On You Crazy Diamond: A Tribute To Syd Barrett [07.18.06]

SCR #025-Words & Music by Will Sexton [08.08.06]

SCR #032-XTC 1 • Words/Music Andy Partridge/Colin Moulding [09.26.06]

SCR #033-It’s Johnny’s Birthday • Words/Music by John Lennon [joko #1] [10.03.06]

SCR #034-XTC 2 • Words/Music Andy Partridge/Colin Moulding [10.10.06]

SCR #035-Trick Or Treat/Samhain Samhain [10.31.06]

SCR #036-It’s Joni’s Birthday • Words & Music by Joni Mitchell [11.07.06]

SCR #040-Cleansing The Doors Of Perception [12.05.06]

SCR #046-I Have A Dream… [01.16.07]

SCR #048-1972: A Season To Remember [01.30.07]

SCR #049-Brothers & Sisters A Celebration Of Being Black • 1 [02.06.07]

SCR #050-What’s Your Movie? SCR 1 Year On… [02.13.07]

SCR #051-Let It Down…A Tribute To George Harrison [02.20.07]

SCR #052-Brothers & Sisters A Celebration Of Being Black • 2 [02.27.07]

SCR #053-Choose Your Seat: The 36th Anniversary Of Soul To Soul [03.06.07]

SCR #056-From Mr. Frantic Past Captain Fantastic Elton John 60 Years On [03.27.07]

SCR #057-Passover [04.03.07]

SCR #058-The Illegal Revenue Service [04.10.07]

SCR #062-Let George Do It [George Carlin Turns 70] [05.08.07]

SCR #063-The Lifehouse Method [05.15.07]

SCR #064-Words & Music by Bob Dylan [05.22.07]

SCR #065-Dream Brother • Words & Music by Jeff Buckley [05.29.07]

SCR #066-The Age Of Aquarius • 1 [06.05.07]

SCR #067-The Age Of Aquarius • 2 [06.12.07]

SCR #068-Jeff Beck: The World’s Greatest Living Guitarist [06.19.07]

SCR #069-Lowell George Puts On His Sailin’ Shoes [06.26.07]

SCR #073-Life [07.24.07]

SCR #074-…And Death [07.31.07]

SCR #076-Stew Is The Negro Problem [08.14.07]

SCR #078-A Conversation With Tony Sheridan [08.28.07]

SCR #082-Learning How To SMiLE [09.25.07]

SCR #084-Dr. John Winston O’Boogie Lennon, I Presume [joko #2] [10.09.07]

SCR #085-Double Live Gonzo: 1 Year On @ Hamilton’s Tavern [10.16.07]

SCR #086-Julian Cope Is Head-On & Possessed [10.23.07]

SCR #089-A Conversation With The Truckee Brothers [11.13.07]

SCR #090-A Conversation With Cindy Lee Berryhill [11.20.07]

SCR #092-Frank Zappa Phaze 1 • Memories Of El Monte [12.04.07]

SCR #093-Frank Zappa Phaze 2 • Project/Object [12.11.07]

SCR #094-Frank Zappa Phaze 3 • Stagecraft [12.18.07]

SCR #095-Frank Zappa Phaze 4 • The Present Day Composer Refuses To Die [12.25.07]

SCR #097-A Conversation With Steve Poltz [01.22.08]

SCR #098-Make A Wish [01.29.08]

SCR #099-Fat Tuesday [02.05.08]

SCR #100-A Century Of Sound [1908-2007] [SCR 2-Year Anniversary] [02.14.08]

SCR #101-One Toke Over The Line [02.22.08]

SCR #103-Happy Birthday Commander Gilmour [03.07.08]

SCR #105-Eating Chocolate Cake In A Bag The Ballad Of John & Yoko [joko #3] [03.21.08]

SCR #106-Steven Tyler Turns Sixty [03.28.08]

SCR #115-Q: Did I Lose You? A: Amnesa? [there's no place like home...] [06.01.08]

SCR #121-All The World’s A Stage starring Bon Scott as King Leer [07.13.08]

SCR #122-Getting The Led Out from A to Zed • 1 [07.20.08]

SCR #123-Getting The Led Out from A to Zed • 2 [07.27.08]

SCR #124-Getting The Led Out from A to Zed • 3 [08.03.08]

SCR #126-Getting The Led Out from A to Zed • 4 [08.17.08]

SCR #127-The Reconstruction of 4 Out Of 5 Doctors • 1 [08.24.08]

SCR #128-The Reconstruction of 4 Out Of 5 Doctors • 2 [08.31.08]

SCR #129-Basking In The Moment/The Life & Times Of Henry Diltz • 1 [09.07.08]

SCR #130-Basking In The Moment/The Life & Times Of Henry Diltz • 2 [09.14.08]

SCR #131-I Shall Be Re-Released [or No One Sings Dylan Like...] [09.13.08]

SCR #133-Down In The Root Cellar Beyond The Blues • 1 [10.05.08]

SCR #134-Ladies And Gentlemen…Lenny Bruce [10.13.25-08.03.66] [08.15.08]

SCR #138-Cosmic American Music: The Return Of Gram Parsons [11.09.08]

SCR #140-11.22.63 [11.23.08]

SCR #141-Lighting Up with Cheech y Chong [11.30.08]

SCR #142-The Unfathomable Depths Of Dennis Wilson [born 12.04.44] [12.07.08]

SCR #143-Don’t Forget The Motor City [Motown Dance Party] [12.14.08]

SCR #145-The King Of Tupelo [01.04.09]

SCR #146-Go West Young Man with Walter Becker & Donald Fagen • 1 [01.11.09]

SCR #148-Up On The Roof [40th anniversary of Beatles Rooftop Concert] [01.25.09]

SCR #149-Groundhog Day [02.01.09]

SCR #150-L-O-V-E [SCR 3-Year Anniversary] [02.08.09]

SCR #151-Go West Young Man with Walter Becker & Donald Fagen • 2 [02.15.09]

SCR #152-Down In The Root Cellar Beyond The Blues • 2 [02.22.09]

SCR #156-Get A Job [03.22.09]

SCR #158-Happy Birthday Peter [PC Turns 55] [04.05.09]

SCR #160-Record Store Day [04.18.09]

SCR #161-Gator By The Bay [04.26.09]

SCR #163-A Conversation With Mike Stax • 1 [05.17.09]

SCR #164-A Conversation With Mike Stax • 2 [05.24.09]

SCR #165-A Conversation With Mike Stax • 3 [05.31.09]

SCR #169-A Celebration Of Doc Pomus [06.27.25-03.14.91] [06.28.09]

SCR #173-Letting Yer Freak Flag Fly [07.26.09]

SCR #174-A Conversation With Barry And The Remains • 1 [08.02.09]

SCR #175-A Conversation With Barry And The Remains • 2 [08.09.09]

SCR #182-Staying Till The End Of The Movie [09.27.09]

SCR #186-Lighting South Towards Buffalo & Springfield • Neil Young Archives 1 [10.25.09]

SCR #187-It’s A Solo Trip • Neil Young Archives 2 [11.01.09]

SCR #188-Requiem For The Rockets or Don’t Spook The Horse • Neil Young Archives 3 [11.08.09]

SCR #189-In The Middle Of The Road & Aiming For The Ditch • Neil Young Archives 4 [11.15.09]

SCR #190-Giving Thanks For Neil Young [11.22.09]

SCR #195-Words & Music by David Bowie [01.10.10]

SCR #197-Beyond Hectoring: The Words & Music of Warren Zevon [01.24.10]

SCR #200-A Valentine From Me To You…Kiss Me You Fool! [4-Year Anniversary] [02.14.10]

SCR #201-Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band [02.21.10]

SCR #203-Arthur Lee & Love [03.07.10]

SCR #205-Viva la Revolucion [03.21.10]

SCR #206-Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get [03.28.10]

SCR #207-SMiLE It’s Springtime! [04.04.10]

SCR #208-Alex Chilton Is More Than A Big Star [04.11.10]

SCR #209-Specs…The Jack Nitzsche CV • 1 [04.18.10]

SCR #210-Specs…The Jack Nitzsche CV • 2 [04.25.10]

SCR #215-Looking Forward, Looking Back [05.30.10]

SCR #216-The Time Machine for week ending 06.04.66 [06.06.10]

SCR #217-Let’s Have A Party To Cure The Summertime Blues [06.13.10]

SCR #218-The Clock Is Ticking [06.20.10]

SCR #219-Fifty-Nine/Pearls Before Swine [08.01.10]

SCR #220-Ode To LS.d [layne sterling • dragon] [take two] [08.08.10]

SCR #221-Flipping Yer Wig! A Conversation With Peter Case [08.15.10]

SCR #222-Auld Lang Syne [12.31.10]

SCR #223-So Long, Donnie [01.31.11]

SCR #224-Words & Music by Bob Marley [02.06.45-05.11.83] [02.07.11]

SCR #225-High 5ive: A Gathering Of The Tribes [5-Year Anniversary] [02.14.11]

SCR #226-No F*cking Around: It Came From San Diego • 1 [03.04.11]

SCR #227-No F*cking Around: It Came From San Diego • 2 [03.12.11]

SCR #228-The Time Machine for week ending 01.03.76 [03.19.11]

SCR #229-E.C. Was Here, Clapton Is God & Slowhand Turns Another Page [03.30.11]

SCR #230-Mercury Stations Direct! [04.23.11]

SCR #231-Happy Birthday Sir Duke [04.30.11]

And coming this month:

SCR #232-Bob Seger: Rock & Roll Never Forgets [05.06.11]

SCR #233-A Conversation With Gary Heffern [05.15.11]

SCR #234-7 Decades of Robert Allen Zimmerman [I'm Only Bob Dylan When I Have To Be] • 1 [05.22.11]

SCR #235-7 Decades of Robert Allen Zimmerman [I'm Only Bob Dylan When I Have To Be] • 2 [05.23.11]

SCR #236-7 Decades of Robert Allen Zimmerman [I'm Only Bob Dylan When I Have To Be] • 3 [05.24.11]

SCR #237-A Conversation With Jim McInnes [05.30.11]