Live Band Karaoke With The Moon Units

Friends, it's no secret that my favorite band of all time is the Moon Units, a hard-rocking combo that accompanies me at every live show I give down on Earth.

Now you already know that the Moon Units perform live-band karaoke following every Lost Moon Radio show, but did you know that they also play private parties and clubs?  Well they do, and you can hire them!

That's right, you can recruit the Moon Units to perform live-band karaoke for private events.  They play the tunes; you and your guests sing them.  Maybe you want to belt out Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" at your glam bar.  Or The Cars' "Just What I Needed" at your wedding.  Or Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time" at your divorce proceeding.  Whatever the event, the Moon Units can be your backing band.

The Moon Units can come packaged in anything from a quartet to a ten-piece ensemble replete with horns and textured backing vocals.  The exact line-up is your choice.

To book the Moon Units for your bar or private event, send an e-mail to dris79@gmail.com.  Or call 213-973-9526 and they'll get back to you.

They know untold billions of songs, but feel free to make requests.  Just promise me, as your favorite DJ, that it won't be Jefferson Airplane.  Some jewels are too sacred to touch.

Space Junk

Before I left Earth in 1977, I made my home in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California.  My listeners know this as the home of KTSH-FM, which beams my interplanetary broadcasts Thursday nights from 12-1am.

But California is known for more than just mind-expanding radio.  In fact, I consider it no small coincidence that the state was a leader in Earth's exploration of outer space.  That's why I found this New York Times article so satisfying.

According to the article, my home state's Historical Commission has endowed preservation status on the following:

- 2 small urine collection devices
- 4 space sickness bags
- "dozens of other pieces of detritus"

Now you might be asking yourself why the Commission would take action to protect items that can be found everywhere from Greyhound stations to Axl Rose's front lawn.  The reason... is that these particular items are located on the moon!

Milford Wayne Donaldson, the state historic preservation officer, said the reasoning behind the first-of-its-kind designation was simple: Scores of California companies worked on the Apollo mission, and much of their handiwork remains of major historical value to the state, regardless of where it is now or what it was for used for then.

Now when the Times speaks of "the moon," I assume the reference is to Earth's moon, not the Lost Moon of Jupiter, where I make my home.

But should the historical commission want to preserve some space junk located a bit farther out into the galaxy, I'm pretty sure I could round up some Burger King wrappers and Mick Jagger solo albums to contribute toward their cause.

Happy Birthday, Captain Beefheart

A lot of great people were born on January 15. Martin Luther King, Jr. comes to mind. So does Grover Lowdermilk-- a member of the infamous Chicago Black Sox and owner of the greatest name in baseball history.

But the name that's most synonymous with this date in my mind is Captain Beefheart-- a singer, composer, artist and harmonica player extraordinaire. When I finally get around to ranking the San Fernando Valley's all-time best contributions to culture at large, Captain Beefheart is going to be on that list.

I can still remember the first time I heard Trout Mask Replica when it came out in June 1969. As those first crashing chords pummeled through the hi-fi, it was like being transported to a magical world where the lava lamps glowed the color of mud, and when the birds opened their beaks to chirp, experimental noise-rock came out instead. It was incredible-- enough to make you no longer care that the tabs of acid you bought on Vineland Avenue turned out to be Guatemalan postage stamps.

Although it would be 8 more years before I left Earth for the Lost Moon of Jupiter, I'd like to think that in some small way, Captain Beefheart inspired that journey.

And if not... well I do know his name inspired me to enter a Slim Jim-eating contest later that summer.

Live Comedy LA Sends a Love Rocket to Jupiter

Well friends, I'm pleased to report that my latest dalliance with my erstwhile home planet (Earth) was a rousing success.

I brought my live show from the Lost Moon of Jupiter to the upstairs theater at St. Nick's Pub, and all the love and awesome rock power made me feel like I was back in the glory days of yore. I couldn't have had more fun if I'd been necking with Barbarella in a wood-paneled basement with Jefferson Airplane on the hi-fi.

I want to particularly thank the good people at Live Comedy LA, who named Lost Moon Radio their Show of the Year for 2009! Critic Brendon Mulvihill writes...

Show of the Year.

And Lost Moon Radio ran away with it on Friday night at St. Nick’s Pub. I see a lot of comedy and this was by far the most creative show I’ve seen in 2009...

The writing was off the charts. A show like SNL should just scoop up the entire cast of Lost Moon Radio. It would be 100x better.

Thank you, Live Comedy LA! Praise like that puts a Great Red Spot on both my cheeks. You can expect a signed copy of my ill-fated 1968 demo tape for KROQ in your Christmas stockings.

The Daily Candy Is On To Me

Earthbound friends, I stopped subscribing to the Daily Candy back in 2006, when my local delivery boy cut his route short at Io. Just couldn't justify the commute to pick up a copy, as much as I do love candy.

But thankfully the good people at the Daily Candy haven't punished me for my failings. To the contrary, they've made my live show their top pick for a weekend music outing in Los Angeles.

So come join these veritable Willy Wonkas for my ongoing run at St. Nick's Pub. Last night was yet another sellout, so reserve your seats online. It's live comedy, rock n' roll and a heaping holiday helping of yours truly. Plus live band karaoke after every show.

I'll see you there tonight 12/11, Saturday 12/12, Wednesday 12/16, Friday 12/18 and Saturday 12/19!

-Jupiter Jack

A Christmas Carol

You know friends, up here on the Lost Moon of Jupiter, nothing warms my heart more than gazing down at the spinning blue marble we call Earth, and thinking that somewhere, at any given moment, a messiah is being born.

So light up your hearth, take a quaff of glogg, and carol along with me:




And then come join me at St. Nick's Pub's Cabaret Theater for my much-anticipated holiday show, running December 10-19. Tickets here!

My Next Broadcast

Hello Earth, am I coming in clear? And more importantly, have you cleared your calendars for December 10-19? That's when I make my triumphant return to the St. Nick's Pub Cabaret Stage. Although the front row of seating is reserved for the ghosts of Timothy Leary, Nikola Tesla, and Keith Moon-- in that order-- the rest of the house can be reserved by following this link.

The specific show dates are:

Thursday, December 10 (8pm)

Friday, December 11 (8pm)

Saturday, December 12 (8pm)

Wednesday, December 16 (8pm)

Friday, December 18 (8pm)

Saturday, December 19 (8pm)

Again, get your tickets here, and I'll see you at St. Nick's Pub.