If you know what's good for you

... then check out this article about the power and future of wizard rock, dear readers. Saw it via Harry and the Potters' summer tour tumblr.

Excerpt:

Harry and the Potters jump between all these levels, singing about events and emotions, but also releasing their own albums and booking their own tours while organizing human rights projects through the charity they co-founded, Harry Potter Alliance. This connection to human rights is common. I listened, for example, to an entire compilation of Wizard Rock bands like Roonil Wazlib and the Whomping Willows singing about independent media. Their Voldemort is Rupert Murdoch. In fact, I’m pretty sure they’re just singing about Rupert Murdoch. Why, then, don’t they just sing about those things? Why marginalize yourself within a fan community? For one thing, marginalization isn’t a side effect, it’s the point. The Rupert Murdoch references aren’t just trading fictional evil for real evil: The books themselves contain a strong DIY message — when Harry is persecuted by a corrupt government, his friends turn to an independent zine and pirate radio to exonerate him. The community around Wizard Rock rewards the same spirit in their bands.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

So, dear listeners, what did you think of the final film? There's a million different reviews out there—from Rotten Tomatoes calling it "97% certified fresh" to Slate's hilarious "Harry Potter Virgins" piece to Ralph Fiennes' Guardian-published defense of ole Voldie as "just lonely" and Wired's take on the "5 Characters who Overshadowed Harry" (well Snape, duh).

But what did you think? And almost as importantly, did you dress up?? We'd love to hear your comments here or on our Facebook page.

Although the ladies of The Witching Hour were all apart—Mehera in Seattle, Claire in Portland and Sara in Walla Walla—we did our best to keep the show's spirit alive wherever we were. We don't want to give away too much now, but you'll certainly get our opinion of the last film when we're back on air this fall.

Here's a peek of how we celebrated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow, Part 2:

Wrockin' through July: TWH summer mixtape, vol. 1

Here's another exciting summer update:

We will be releasing two summer mixtapes of wrock. July's theme, is, of course, Deathly Hallows-themed. And August is all about brand new wrock, which will include some excellent MC Kreacher, Blibbering Humdingers, Fawkes and tons more!!

We meant to hype this a bit earlier but things got crazy, as they always do, and so it's without further ado that we present the first mixtape. It's especially designed to help you wrock out while in line for HP7p2. (Or any day, really.)

But srsly. Be sure to listen to this on Thursday. Tears will be shed. So. many. tears. But remember—that's not always a bad thing.

You can either download it here from MediaFire, here, or by subscribing to The Witching Hour podcast!

And the tracklist:

"End of an Era" by Oliver Boyd & the Rememberalls
"The Phoenix Lament" and "Epilogue" by Ministry of Magic
"Wizard Party Forever!!!" by the Whomping Willows
"Marauders Forever" by the Remus Lupins (in honor of the end of TRL's live performances)
"No Matter How Far (I'll Still Love You)" by Talons & Tea Leaves
"Penelope" by the Hermione Crookshanks Experience
"Ballad of Ron and Hermione" by RiddleTM
"Needlessly Complicated" by the Butterbeer Experience
"Sacrifice" by Stephanie and the Quaffles
"When the Lights Go Out" by the Whomping Willows

Love,
Mehera, Sara & Claire


Look for the second mixtape in mid-August. When our podcasting software decides to work again, we'll have the last show of season 3 and the Harry and the Potters interview for you, too. Then, before you know it, we'll be back in September. It's just like magic!

The Remus Lupins to perform their final show

Dear listeners, it is with heavy hearts that we announce to you that this Thursday, July 15—the premiere of Deathly Hallows Part 2—will also be the final performance date for the Remus Lupins.

Sara learned this from a Facebook status of Alex Carpenter... and with a bit more digging came across a newly-created Remus Lupins tumblr which details the decision and the future of the band. You can read more there, but here's an excerpt from the post Alex wrote:

In my younger and more vulnerable years, I learned a lesson that I have been turning over in my head ever since. I was told that “All Good Things Must Come to an End” It has always had a melancholy charm to me, the fact that the most important things in our lives are defined by their inherent temporariness. It is knowing that something will eventually end that gives things enhanced meaning, it is the constant comprehension that the moments that we live in need to be appreciated because they will not last forever that makes them powerful. As incredible of the concept as forever is, I think that knowing that an extraordinary experience is finite makes it far more special.

If you'll be at LeakyCon 2011, that's where it will be, so definitely don't miss out. And if you won't, be sure to celebrate TRL with a song or two.

It's a sad moment for a wizard rock radio show like ours because, with the conclusion of the film series, this could be the beginning of the end for many wrock bands. The future is certainly a foggy one, and Alex has a point... all good things do eventually come to an end.

Well, The Witching Hour has this to say to you, Alex: the shows may end but our CDs will be played till they wear out.... and then we'll buy new ones from you online!