Hi, everybody.  I’m Rick and I like to make mixtapes.  So, I figured why not make one every week for our loyal readers?  You know, kinda our way of saying “thanks for kicking ass, guys!”  I’ll do all the work for ya…all’s you need is an apparatus that allows cassette-recording and a 90-minute blank audio cassette tape (or…if that is just too “lo-fi” for your liking, you can just download it and put it on your iPod or whatever…but, keep in mind, each side is only one 45-minute track). This first entry in our Super Weekend Funtime Mixtape! series includes an hour-and-a-half of some of the best bands to come out of Northeast Ohio (Well…most are from Northeast Ohio.  I had to throw on a couple of great Columbus bands, too).  There’s a little Devo and one from the Black Keys’ latest…but, there are plenty of other bands included that you should definitely check out if you haven’t already. You can download here. Side A 01. Megachurch – “The Second Coming” Two bass players, one drummer and loads of televangelist/exorcism samples.  How can you not love Megachurch?  Check ‘em out on June 25 at Annabell’s with Düunes and Octiger. 02. Vel – “This One Time At Band Camp” Vel’s a cat and he makes music.  Listen to it! 03. The Hobs – “Melancholy Robotrippin’” I like The Hobs…they’re all spazzy and they just want to rock your ass off.  By all means, gentlemen! 04. Comfort Clouds – “Text Messages !” I’ll listen to anything involving Jake Trombetta and Mike Tolan.  And so should you. 05. Hell’s Information – “Song Five” I had to do quite a bit of rearranging to get “Song Five” to actually be the fifth song on the mix.  I miss Hell’s Information…but, I hear they may be gracing us with some live shows soon.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed. 06. This Moment In Black History – “Wiggly World” Best Devo cover ever?  Possibly… 07. Brainbow – “Secret Histories” Okay, so this was already on a comp a couple years back (Audio Eagle’s A Compilation of Bands from Ohio), but is, apparently, the only remaining Brainbow song on my hard drive (where the hell’d they go?!)…and I couldn’t not put one of their songs on here.  And besides, “Secret Histories” fucking rocks. 08. The Six Parts Seven ft. Dave Bazaan – “A Blue Print of Something Never Finished (Remix)” I love Pedro the Lion and I love the original version of “A Blue Print of Something Never Finished,” so I about messed myself when I first heard this back in 2005ish.  It barely resembles the original and has some disturbingly, fucked up lyrics.  Have fun… 09. Jessica Lea Mayfield – “The One That I Love Best” This song has helped get me through some shit the past couple years and is still my favorite from the Kent songstress. 10. Beast – “El Mariachi” Akron needs you Beast…pleeeaaaaaasssssseeeee come back.  I’ll give you guys a dollar or buy you some beer. Side B 01. Devo – “Fresh” I have been waiting for a new Devo album since I was 7-years-old!  Luckily, that ungodly, twenty-year wait will finally be over on June 15!  Here’s a quick taste… 02. Gil Mantera’s Party Dream – “Elmo’s Wish” Hey! They’re playing at the Grog tomorrow! Go! 03. The Screaming Smoldering Butt Bitches – “Meet The Screaming Smoldering Butt Bitches” After being given permission to grab “Push It In” (perhaps, my favorite Butt Bitches tune) off their MySpace page, I found that most MySpace muisic grabbers no longer work (stupid “laws”)…but, I forgot I had this one buried on my hard drive, so I made do with what I had (sorry Spanky!!!).  No worries, though…it shan’t disappoint. 04. The Black Keys – “The Only One” I get a major Blakroc vibe off this one…could’ve sounded just as good with Nicole Wray taking the lead vocals.  But, Dan Auerbach shows off his range with some nice falsetto vocals that helped make this (in my opinion) the best song on Brothers. 05. The Dragons of Zynth – “War Lover” Dragons of Zynth are incredible! But, no one I talk to seems to have ever heard of them.  And it’s a damn shame, too.  Led by twins Aku and Akwetey, their debut, Coronation Thieves, sounds like an even weirder, more psychedelic version of TV on the Radio (And, hey, wouldn’t ya know it? The record was produced by the Brooklyn band’s Dave Sitek). 06. Talons’ – “Taz” Songs About Babes might be the best record you’ve never heard.  So, maybe it’s time you did. 07. Goodbye Ohio – “Sweetheart” I hold this band solely responsible for my obsession with the music of Akron.  Gone, but never forgotten…you will be missed, Goodbye Ohio. 08. Kid Cudi – “The Sky Might Fall” Like I’d really be able to get through an entire mix and not put some good hip-hop on it… 09. The Dreadful Yawns – “Saved” I missed their show last week and it made me sad. 10. Times New Viking – “Devo & Wine” Yes…it’s supposed to sound like that. 11. Trouble Books – “Last Letter From The Mary Celeste” Ninth-favorite song ever…and has everything that I love about Trouble Books. 12. Düunes - “Venetian Ambulance” A quick warning: this one’s ten-and-a-half-minutes long.  But, don’t let that scare you…you’re gonna like Düunes.  I guaran-damn-tee it.