Turn It Up: George Carlin Tribute & RatDog ’07 Live from Holmdel

October 13, 2025·3 hr 51 min·22 clips

George Carlin reveals how Hollywood misrepresents Indian warriors with hilarious organizational details.

This episode is a tribute to comedian George Carlin, hosted by radio DJ George Lyons on his eclectic music program. Lyons blends Carlin's classic comedy routines with a wide selection of music, culminating in a live concert recording. The host opens with a parody of a manic radio show, playing fictional songs like "My Baby's Dead" by the "Kansas City Boys." He transitions into playing actual music, starting with reggae tracks like "Rasta Man Chant" and "Train to Scaville" by The Ethiopians. Lyons highlights Carlin's 1972 album "Takeoffs and Put Ons" as a key influence on his own thinking. He plays Carlin's "The Indian Sergeant" routine, which humorously imagines the organizational structure of Native American warriors. Another Carlin segment addresses the "dope problem," arguing society is inherently "dopey" and critiques the pervasive use of legal substances like alcohol and coffee. The comedy bit "Occupation: Fool" explores the hereditary and environmental roots of becoming a comedian, referencing street humor and "the dozens." The musical playlist includes diverse artists like Grace Jones, Hot Tuna, Death in Vegas, and Gong. The episode concludes by promising a full live RatDog concert from 2007 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. A memorable Carlin bit satirizes Western films by detailing how "Indian sergeants" would prepare their troops for battle with bureaucratic efficiency. He comically lists promotions based on skills like "burning settlers' homes" and "imitating a coyote." Carlin claims the widespread drug problem exists because "everybody has access to drugs" and "drug stores" are on every corner. He provides statistics, stating alcohol is traceable to 50% of traffic deaths and 40% of all arrests. The routine on becoming a "fool" describes using humor as a defense mechanism in tough neighborhoods to avoid physical fights. Lyons expresses a personal connection, stating Carlin "helped me to expand my thinking out of the box" long before any personal experimentation. The tone is informal and freeform, mirroring a late-night college radio show with a conversational host. The style is a nostalgic fusion, weaving comedy audio clips into a curated musical journey spanning reggae, jazz, and rock. Listeners who enjoy eclectic music mixes and classic counterculture comedy will appreciate this episode. Those preferring structured interviews or a single genre of content might find it too disjointed.

As heard by us

A dense radio stack that lands on Carlin and ends in a live RatDog set.

This episode keeps piling on: George Carlin, Jimi Hendrix, Hot Tuna, Daft Punk, Fiona Apple, and Jan Garbarek all come through before the show lands on a live RatDog set from Holmdel, New Jersey.

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George Carlin into a live Rat Dog set from Holmdel.

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