The Lyons Den Radio Show with George Lyons | Eclectic Jazz, Rock, Soul & Musical Storytelling | KUNV Las Vegas

February 9, 2026·3 hr 52 min·5 clips

George Lyons reveals how a midnight search for one track led to a wildly eclectic set he calls musical schizophrenia.

This episode is a freeform radio show hosted by George Lyons, broadcasting from the KUNV studios at UNLV in Las Vegas. The host programs an eclectic, personally curated set of music spanning decades and genres. Lyons describes his programming style as "musical schizophrenia," embracing a wildly diverse playlist. The episode opens with an alternate version of "Flamenco Sketches" from Miles Davis's 1959 album *Kind of Blue*. The set includes two ukulele covers by Jake Shimabukuro from his 2005 album *Cross Current*. Lyons plays the Rolling Stones' "2000 Light Years From Home," which he cites as the initial inspiration for the entire set. The music shifts to Michael Jackson, featuring "Why You Wanna Trip On Me" from *Dangerous* and "Whatever Happens" from *Invincible*. Janet Jackson's *Rhythm Nation 1814* is represented by the tracks "Rhythm Nation" and "Black Cat." The set concludes with two Fiona Apple songs: "Criminal" and her cover of "Across the Universe." A later segment heavily features Frank Zappa, playing "Help I'm a Rock" from *Freak Out!* and "Willie the Pimp" from *Hot Rats*. The show also includes Elton John's "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer," and Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax." Lyons shares that The Beatles found Frank Zappa's *Freak Out!* album mind-blowing and influential for *Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band*. He details the all-star band on Zappa's *Hot Rats*, which included Lowell George and Shuggie Otis. A listener once suggested calling the show's unpredictable format a "musical safari," which Lyons appreciates but still calls "musical schizophrenia." The host admits he cannot logically explain how he built a set around the Rolling Stones' psychedelic track. He expresses a strong dislike for ranked "lists" in music, even while acknowledging *Kind of Blue* is often voted the greatest jazz album. The episode includes a long, unedited playback of Eminem's "My Name Is," showcasing the host's willingness to play complete, lyrically dense songs. The tone is deeply personal, conversational, and enthusiastic, as if the host is sharing records from his living room. The style is unstructured and free-associative, driven by the host's immediate musical cravings and sense of humor. Listeners who love deep-cut music discovery and eclectic mixes spanning jazz, rock, pop, and experimental music will enjoy this episode. Those who prefer structured programming, consistent genres, or extensive host commentary might find it too scattered.

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