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Overlooked: Rip Rig and Pigbag (Audio)

Oct 13, 2021

After the local news at noon, the broadcast will feature two under-heard and overlooked bands: Rip Rig and Panic and Pigbag. Both bands were recording and performing in London in the early 80s when "Overlooked" host Rob Saffer was a student, and he took in performances by Pigbag in the back room of a small pub and Rip Rig and Panic in a community center. Both gigs were sparsely attended yet still unforgettable. The bands fluidly combine funk, ska, reggae, Afropop, punk, noise, free jazz, and improvisation into coherent tunes that are as fun to listen and dance to as they are interesting. Rip Rig and Panic features vocalist Neneh Cherry and pianist Gareth Sager. Pigbag was a sextet with bassist Simon Underwood. This show will feature two full albums: Rip Rig and Panic’s “I Am Cold” (with Don Cherry on trumpet!) and Pigbag’s “Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive." Both are 1982 releases.

“Overlooked” is a show focusing on overlooked and under-heard jazz, improvisational, and other fringe music, from early roots to contemporary experiments, a mix of familiar to rare, classic to weird. Live from the shadow of Overlook Mountain in Ulster County.

Host Rob Saffer is the former Executive Director and Producer of the Creative Music Foundation.

Overlooked Playlist Archive