Jim Lange Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Eclectopia Ghost Story: The Playful Prankster

Soon we were aboard the Hobby III. To my utter surprise, we learned the Hobby III was being visited by the ghost of its former owner, Harry Wilson.

This past July, my friend and I were walking around during Charleston’s newly returned Sternwheel Regatta. After making the rounds that hot day, we needed some refreshment and shade. Seated riverside, cold water in hand, she looked over and saw a sternwheeler that friends of hers owned. Soon we were aboard the Hobby III.

My old pal, and WVPB News Director Eric Douglas, was there and we all started chatting amiably about all sorts of things. Then I was introduced to the owner, JD Pauley, and his friend Brian Carr.

JD has a laid-back, engaging personality with a very funny dry wit. Sensing that my question would not be perceived as odd or crazy, I asked JD whether he had any personal experiences with ghosts. After all, boats and water seem to be a frequent paranormal setting.

To my utter surprise, he said that the Hobby III was being visited by the former owner, Harry Wilson.

Well, knock me over with a feather.

Close-up of the boat log, in Louise Wilson’s handwriting, with a newspaper clipping of Harry’s passing. *Photo credit: Jim Lange/WVPB*

Pick Three Songs And Guest DJ For Eclectopia

Eclectopia host Jim Lange here. The question I get most frequently is: when are you going to do the guest DJ thing again?

The answer is now (and thus arose a joyous sound).

Here are the guidelines:

1. Listen to Eclectopia Fridays at 10 PM and Saturdays at 11 PM on WVPB Radio. Sorry, my editor told me to promote my show here.

2. Pick THREE songs.

Yes, this is where most people give up. “How can I pick just three?” Of course, it’s impossible to narrow it down to just three, but I’m giving you a set. See playlist below.

3. Make sure the total length is under 12 minutes.

Air time is precious in a 59 minute program.

4. Email me your choices.

Once you’ve wrestled with the three, email me at jlange@wvpublic.org. Simple as that. I take care of the rest. As I say, all reasonable requests will be carefully considered.

5. I Email you back, we arrange a time to record you.

Ay, there’s the rub again. I can’t think of single person who, upon hearing their own voice for the first time, actually liked it. I was the same way. You’ll be fine.

6. Get Started. Here’s a playlist to help.

A typical playlist. You get a set all to yourself.

Get thinking. Narrow your choices down. Email me and let’s get this rolling.

Good luck!

Eclectopia airs Fridays at 10 PM on WVPB Radio, with an encore Saturdays at 11 PM.

Get to Know WVPB's Hosts at Live on the Levee

Get ready, Charleston! Jim Lange, Matt Jackfert, Bill Lynch and Joni Deutsch are coming to town (well, to Live on the Levee, at least).

Come on down to Moses’ Live on the Levee this Friday night to see Charleston pop rockers A Story Told and Charleston eclectic folkers The Company Stores (who produced their new record at our station) play a free show on Haddad Riverfront Park.

Music starts at 6:30pm and the headliner hits the stage at 7:30pm. For more information about Live on the Levee (including where to park and what to bring) click here.

Grab some goodies from WVPB’s booth at Friday’s Live on the Levee.

Even better, West Virginia Public Broadcasting will have its own table at the event. Stop on by and meet local music program hosts like Eclectopia’s Jim Lange, All Things Considered’s Matt Jackfert, Lost Highways’ Bill Lynch and A Change of Tune and Mountain Stage’s Joni Deutsch. Grab some #wvpublic swag, take some pics with the voices of WVPB and tell us why you like to #listenlocalwv. Oh, and make sure to follow the show and our radio hosts (Jim, Matt, Bill and Joni) on social media.

See you tomorrow night, music fans!

Get to Know WVPB's Music Hosts at Live on the Levee

Get ready, Charleston! Jim Lange, Bill Lynch and Joni Deutsch are coming to town (well, to Live on the Levee, at least).

Come on down to Moses’ Live on the Levee this Friday night to see Huntington indie pop group Coyotes in Boxes and Charleston gypsy rockers Qiet play a free show on Haddad Riverfront Park.

Music starts at 6:30pm and the headliner hits the stage at 7:30pm. For more information about Live on the Levee (including where to park and what to bring) click here.

Even better, West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s will have its own table at the event. Stop on by and meet local music program hosts like Eclectopia and Classical Music’s Jim Lange, Lost Highways’ Bill Lynch and A Change of Tune and Mountain Stage’s Joni Deutsch. Grab some #wvpublic swag, take some pics with the voices of WVPB and tell us why you like to #listenlocalwv. Oh, and make sure to follow the show and our radio hosts (Jim, Bill and Joni) on social media.

See you tomorrow night, music fans!

Symphony of Ideas Returns!

Symphony of Ideas: SEPTEMBER 25 at 12:15pm & OCTOBER 2 at 8pm. 2 hours.

Symphony of Ideas, a collaboration between WV Public Radio and the WV Symphony Orchestra returns this Thursday with a brand new program with many West Virginia connections.

SOI is both an in-depth discussion of the music presented, followed by a live performance by the WVSO. Jim Lange hosts and Maestro Grant Cooper brings his vast knowledge and experience to the discussion. Lange says, “Grant is not only brings his incredible musical knowledge, but he is a very cogent, compelling speaker. The New Zealand accent doesn’t hurt either.”

WVPB’s own Matthew Jackfert joins the conversation and talks about the journey bringing his piece, On the Shores of Qingdao, to the WVSO and the inspiration behind the music.

The WVSO celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. To mark this special occasion, Maestro Grant Cooper chose three distinct works to highlight the orchestra.

Works discussed and heard:

Modarelli: River Saga

Jackfert: On the Shores of Qingdao

Karl Orff: Carmina Burana

Who Shall Smite the Scorpion?

Many things are taught on Robert Fripp’s guitar courses, but one cannot imagine that defensive tactics against scorpions is one of them. Saints preserve us!

I had to point out this most unexpected entry in the RF diary:

22.32 As I was sitting at the computer in my room, a loud crack! as something fell from the ceiling and bounced off the desk or Mac. Looking down to see what this might be – a black scorpion on my left trouser leg just below the knee. It walked around to the back of my leg, where I couldn’t see it. Standing and slowly walking backwards out of the door, picking up a shoe as I went, fortunately finding Aileen sitting on the bench outside. I gave her the shoe, and with loud and expressive shouts Aileen rapidly dispatched the scorpion it by knocking it from my leg, then giving it a hefty hammering with the shoe. This a first, in almost twenty-nine years of courses.