The Ledge #527: New Releases

The Ledge #527: New Releases

Yes, the new release episode was delayed a week this month, but it’s pretty much the same show you would have heard if it was aired in its normal time slot. And, as always, it’s a mix of old and new bands from all over the world. In fact, …

The Ledge #526: Low Rats

The Ledge #526: Low Rats

When the news broke that swaggering rock and rollers Low Rats were hitting my little city of Sioux Falls I immediately began begging the band to make a stop at my house before the show for a Ledge interview. Although final plans were up in the air until the last minute, lead singer Michael Meyer promised me that he would definitely show up in time for my Friday night broadcast. Unfortunately, I had some technical issues throughout the day, and they were not completely fixed by the time Meyer arrived just before my Realpunkradio shift. So instead of a mix of chat and music, we could only broadcast the conversation. The two of us spent an hour talking about his Sioux Falls childhood, along with the various bands he had not only in this little town but in other cities, including his time a few years ago leading Narco States. In a case of perfect timing, the rest of the band (guitarist Rob Sells, bassist Joe Holland, and drummer Ben Crunk) arrived just when I was going to begin asking Meyer questions about Low Rats. Although I now had more people than microphones, we carried on with the entire band […]

The Ledge #525: 60 Years of Rock n Roll

The Ledge #525: 60 Years of Rock n Roll

This show ended up being quite different than originally planned. The initial idea was another “odds and ends” show where I aired tracks from some records that I had been playing around the house. I suddenly realized, however, that I’ve been listening to quite a few compilations in the past few weeks. And that I’ve been digging into the archives quite often for some of my oldest records. So tonight actually is an odds and ends show that features 60 years of great rock and roll, from the standard bearer Chuck Berry to the current sounds of Low Rats, a band that bodes well for the future of the genre. Four compilations have feature spots in the show – Louie’s Limbo Lounge (Las Vegas Grind, Vol. 2) gathers togehter raw 50’s stompers, Back From the Grave Vol. 5 highlights 60s garage bands, Punk 45: There is No Such Thing As Society, Vol. 2 is centered around late 70’s UK punk and post-punk, and Du Huskers: The Twin Cities Replay Zen Arcade is a 1993 tribute to the classic Husker Du album. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. […]

The Ledge #524: Birthday Covers

The Ledge #524: Birthday Covers

When I read that the 35th anniversary date of the release of the fifth Replacements full-length album, Pleased to Meet Me, fell on a “Ledge” night, it obviously became the focal point for a theme. I decided to celebrate the birthday by recreating the album’s track listing with covers of each and every song. This became a bit of an issue, however, as some songs were missing from my initial search through my archives. And while I inevitably found some of the missing pieces, I still was short two songs just days before tonight’s show. Luckily, I was alerted to a message board compilation of Replacements covers that included a track donated by our friend Jeremy Porter. Since this comp also included a version of “Red Red Wine”, I quickly contacted him to see if he had the whole release! Well, not only did he have the needed track, he actually played on it! The Regulars were his high school band, and on this cover he played guitar and provided backing vocals! Yes, I was set! Unfortunately, a few minutes in my show I was informed that June 17, 1987 was not the actual release date for the album. “Trouble […]

The Ledge #523: New Releases

The Ledge #523: New Releases

Once again, the monthly new release episode of The Ledge features some great new tunes from a variety of genres – Americana (Wilco, Drive-By Truckers, John Doe), power pop (Nick Piunti, The Sweet Things), indie rock (Dehd, Savak), and punk (Malta Vista, Screeching Weasel), among others. There’s also great new releases from our friends at Rum Bar Records, Big Stir Records, and Spaghetty Town Records. What I’m most excited about, however, is the premiere of the new single featuring one of our Real Punk Radio DJ legends. Greg Lonesome, host of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Manifesto, has a new supergroup which also features Preacher Boy, Olsen Twin, and El Flyin’. Their two track single, which can be found here, is released tomorrow, and both smoking tracks can be heard on this week’s episode! I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes on The Ledge! […]

The Ledge #522: Covers

The Ledge #522: Covers

As I’ve stated before, I have a special folder where I toss in various great cover tunes as I come across them. It was pretty much perfect timing that my folder became “show-length” just in time for this holiday weekend. What better way to begin the summer with revved-up remakes of some of our favorite tunes? Plus, I’ll take any opportunity to give more airplay to my pal Dave Scarbrough, especially when the one remake on his brand new album, Happy Ever After, is a Paul Westerberg tune! You all should check this album out! Also included in this broadcast are tracks from Steve Earle’s new tribute to his friend and mentor, Jerry Jeff Walker, Eric Ambel and Greg Hoy’s remakes of Neil Young tunes, The William Loveday Intention’s teardown of Bob Dylan tunes, and a few of our friends (The Short Fuses, New Rocket Union) from Minneapolis! Oh, and we have the exclusive covers by the Hoodoo Gurus that are only found on the vinyl version of their new Chariot of the Gods album. Speaking of Minneapolis, Cindy Lawson’s fabulous new record on Rum Bar Records, New Tricks, includes a tune written by the recently-deceased Lori Wray. I’m not […]

The Ledge #521: Reissues & Live Albums

The Ledge #521: Reissues & Live Albums

I understand that many, if not most, people look at the deluge of box sets, reissues, and live albums as just more excuses how the record industry will suck any pennies they can get out of an artist. It’s a valid view. However, I live for this stuff. Sure, my main inspiration is new music, but if I love an artist I want everything. I want the live recordings. I want the demos and outtakes. I want that rare b-side.  Tonight’s show is sort of a new release episode, but it’s new “old” material. It’s the tunes from expanded editions of classic records by the likes of The Clash, The Muffs, Pavement, and The Lemonheads. It’s live tunes discovered in the vaults from The Rolling Stones,  T. Rex, and Georgia Satellites. There’s also great, previously unreleased material from our friends Jeremy Porter & The Tucos, and the great Rum Bar Records compilation of Cindy Lawson’s old band, The Clams. There is even a multi-disc set for a great 60s band, Betterdays, that initially only put out one single! I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists […]

The Ledge #520: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #520: New Releases (Pt. 2)

I may have labelled last week’s part one of the monthly new release series as only “friends of the show” but that doesn’t mean this episode is nothing but unknown artists. In fact, quite a few acts are pretty regular Ledge artists. The super prolific Wild Billy Childish is back with not one but two new projects. A new supergroup, UltraBomb, featuring members of Husker Du, The Mahomes, and U.K. Subs debuted their first single. And our good friends Torpedohead submitted a brand new track to promote their upcoming TRPHD EP. There’s plenty of other great new tracks this week, including some fabulous punk from Minneapolis’ The Von Tramps. The teenage members of Linda Lindas prove that rock and roll still has a rosy future. And Starky again proves that you can’t go wrong with covering “Teenage Kicks”. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let […]

The Ledge #519: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #519: New Releases (Pt. 1)

Once again, I have so much new music that the monthly new release episode has to be a two part extravaganza. Part one is dedicated to “friends” of the show. There’s new releases from friendly labels such as Big Stir Records and Rum Bar Records. There’s tunes from quite a few artists that routinely submit their tracks for inclusion. And there’s material from a couple of actual friends, most notably the long-awaited return of power pop maestro Dave Scarbrough. I’ve known Dave for pretty much my entire live music life, and nobody in my little city can turn a melodic phrase like Dave. I’m so happy to see that he’s got a great new album (“Happily Ever After”), and obviously I’m even more pleased that he included a Paul Westerberg cover (“As Far As I Know”). Do yourself a favor and grab it from his bandcamp. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist […]

The Ledge #518: Record Store Day

The Ledge #518: Record Store Day

I have a few friends who are no fans of Record Store Day, but I love it. Yes, everyday is Record Store Day for me, but it is one of the few days of the year that I’m a social butterfly. I absolutely love the bonding of music geeks in the lines outside stores, and over the years I’ve actually made some friendships out of these same people who brave the elements on this day. We actually kind of look out for each other. If one of us is looking for something quite rare, it’s not unusual for another one of us to grab it for that person. I had that happen just this last week when I arrived a few minutes later than usual, but really needed to get a copy of a certain release. For me, this year’s version of the holiday may have been the best ever. I’ve never had a list so long of titles that I “needed”. Plus, my name is on one of them (the Jay Bennett two-record set that included Gorman Bechard’s “Where Is Jay Bennett” on DVD). Besides the obligatory Replacements live album, guitarist Bob Stinson saw the release of a record […]

The Ledge #517: Directors Gorman Bechard and Fred Uhter Discuss ‘Where Are You, Jay Bennett?’

The Ledge #517: Directors Gorman Bechard and Fred Uhter Discuss ‘Where Are You, Jay Bennett?’

For a large percentage of Wilco fans, the glory days of that band were in the late 90’s and early 00’s, with classic albums such as Being There, Summerteeth, and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. It’s no coincidence that those records, along with collaborations with Billy Bragg on previously-unrecorded Woody Guthrie tunes, featured multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett. And when I say multi-instrumentalist, I don’t mean he can set down his guitar to play piano on a few tracks. Bennett was a savant. He was a man who could pretty much turn any object into a tuneful tool.Bennett was fired from Wilco in 2001 during the latter stages of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’s creation, and his dismissal was controversially included in 2002’s “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” documentary. After a series of critically acclaimed solo albums, Bennett tragically passed away in 2009.Bennett’s story is finally being told with this week’s release of “Where Are You, Jay Bennett?”, and co-directors Gorman Bechard and Fred Uhter are interviewed in this week’s episode about a film that Bechard says he made to “right the wrongs” of that previous documentary. Besides his controversial dismissal from Wilco, Jeff’s entire life is showcased, from his mom proudly showing his […]

The Ledge #516: RIP Chris Bailey

The Ledge #516: RIP Chris Bailey

The music world was shocked when news came out on April 9 that Chris Bailey, the leader of The Saints, had passed away. This legendary band actually predated The Damned and The Sex Pistols with the self-release of their classic first single, “(I’m) Stranded”. The original lineup went on to put out a trio of great records before they imploded. Bailey kept The Saints going, though, and scored a hit in 1986 with “Just Like Fire Would”, a song that Bruce Springsteen would cover over two decades later. Tonight’s show begins with featured sets of those first three albums, then follows up with a few tracks from the latter era, along with a handful of solo tracks. The rest of the show is highlighted by some great covers of songs by The Saints. Nashville Pussy, Nomads, The Fall, and The Mono Men are just a few of the bands who added new life to these great tunes. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their […]

The Ledge #515: 1977 Redux (Rerecorded)

The Ledge #515: 1977 Redux (Rerecorded)

I was so excited to upload last night’s episode of The Ledge, as I believed I had a pretty cool theme put together. Unfortunately, once the live broadcast on RealPunkRadio concluded, I discovered that my recording device had malfunctioned. Still determined to share the episode, I decided to rerecord on Saturday afternoon. The first ten minutes of the broadcast had survived, so I included that bit and then recut my intros before reconstructing the rest of the show with the song files. What you get here is the natural successor to my earlier shows devoted to the magnificent year of 1977. This time, however, you’ll hear covers of songs played on those shows. And what an eclectic group of artists. You even hear southern rock legends The Outlaws bravely take on an Elvis Costello song in 1977. Who knew that even existed?  I hope you enjoy this episode. A little warning, though. There may be some fluctuations in the levels, as some tracks are mastered louder than others. My broadcast program takes care of that during live shows, and I did attempt to manually boost a couple of really quiet tunes. I would love it if every listener bought at […]

The Ledge #514: New Releases

The Ledge #514: New Releases

Once again, the wealth of new music released over the last month has been staggering. There’s teh return of some greats from the past, such as Cindy Lawson, Jon Spencer, and The Len Price 3. There’s not one but two records from Wild Billy …

The Ledge #513: 1977 (US Version)

The Ledge #513: 1977 (US Version)

A few weeks ago, I put together a show featuring nothing but UK rock and roll from 1977. Well, here’s the US counterpart, two hours of some of the greatest records ever produced. And this show jumps around through genres quite a bit more than the UK episode, with not only some blistering punk rock but power pop, classic rock, and even some more experimental material that greatly influenced bands that came years and decades later. What’s also remarkable is just how much material some of these artists created in this fabulous year. Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, and The Ramones all put out two full albums during these twelve months, while others followed up with another new album at the beginning of the next year. It was certainly a year of creativity. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes […]

The Ledge #512: Drop That Needle

The Ledge #512: Drop That Needle

When Malibu Lou sent me an advance of the new Dogmatics single, “Drop That Single”, I knew I had to create something special to highlight it’s debut on The Ledge. After all, I’ve been a fan of the band since I first discovered …

The Ledge #511: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #511: New Releases (Pt. 2)

While part one of this month’s new release series focused on relatively new artists, this week’s successor is full of bands that have been around for quite some time. There’s the first album in over 30 years by The Rave Ups. The Hood…

The Ledge #510: New Release (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #510: New Release (Pt. 1)

It became apparent a couple of weeks ago that this month’s new release series would have to be a two part extravaganza. Not only were the quantity of new songs piling up, but there were also quite a few albums that deserved more than a track or two of airtime. So the decision was easy, but then how does one split the shows? There’s no real formua to what was aired tonight and what will be held back until next week. Tonight’s show probably features more of the types of artists who are easily found on Bandcamp, which is fitting since March 4 was another of the great bandcamp days where the artist gets 100% of the proceeds of their sales. But otherwise the quality between both sets of tunes is pretty similar, as you’ll see during next week’s second part.  I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or […]

The Ledge #509: RIP Mark Lanegan and Don Craine

The Ledge #509: RIP Mark Lanegan and Don Craine

This week’s show was originally going to be another in the series of “odds and ends” episodes where I air tracks from some record I’ve either recently acquired or pulled out of the archives to give a listen. Unfortunately, the deaths of two great rockers changed those plans. Mark Lanegan is in my opinion the most artistic of all of the grunge-era lead vocalists. While the vast majority of his brethren rarely travelled out of their safe zone, Lanegan was a musical shape shifter throughout his entire career. There was simply not a genre he wouldn’t attempt, nor did it seem like he ever said no to a collaborator. The first half of the show consists of long sets devoted to his solo career and also a taste of those collaborations. Then just a couple of hours before showtime came the news that Downliners Scet leader Don Craine had also passed away. Never heard of the Sect? You’re loss. Please go do some research after listening to tonight’s show. The set dedicated to him not only includes some of the great tracks of their mid-60s glory years but also a couple of great collaborations with Billy Childish. Filling up the […]

The Ledge #508: 1977

The Ledge #508: 1977

“No Elvis, Beatles, or Rolling Stones!”

Sure, it was a pose. The Clash may have sung those lyrics, but they were actually true students in the history of rock and roll. But the British punk scene of 1977 was certainly a time when the wa…

The Ledge #507: Rock & Roll Love

The Ledge #507: Rock & Roll Love

Valentine’s Day is the one “holiday” this is not rock and roll friendly. Seriously, it just doesn’t work. Rock and roll isn’t about love. It’s about primal feelings. It’s about lust. It’s about vitrol. It’s about lost love; not current love. Obviously, almost every rock and roll band has had their share of love songs. They’re called ballads, and some of them are not only very lovely but can be classics. But they’re not rock and roll songs. Tonight’s show may consist primarily of songs with the word “love” in them, but there are no love songs here. Every track fits the various concerns I listed above. Think of this as the anti-Valentine’s Day show.  I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes on The Ledge! Let them know who is giving them promotion! For more information and setlists head […]

The Ledge #506: New Releases

The Ledge #506: New Releases

The monthly new release episode has become my favorite episodes of The Ledge. It’s a monthly reminder to actively search out brand new music (even more than usual). It makes me give a double glance to records that may otherwise get lost in the s…

The Ledge #505: Leftovers

The Ledge #505: Leftovers

A year in music doesn’t really end on December 31. There’s always new discoveries, and forgotten purchases. There are box sets and live albums that were ignored on their initial release, or albums discovered by checking out year-end lists….

The Ledge #504: Miss Georgia Peach Premiere

The Ledge #504: Miss Georgia Peach Premiere

The Ledge is so proud to be able to present to you the premiere of four tracks from the upcoming record by Miss Georgia Peach. “Aloha From Kentucky”, set for release on March 18 on Rum Bar Records, is a fabulous combo of twang and raunch from the Short Fuses/Beebee Gallini veteran. Produced by Brian Pulito & Travis Ramin, and with musical backing from members of Nashville Pussy and Nine Pound Hammer, this is going to be one record every one should check out. Besides these great tunes by Miss Georgia Peach, the rest of the show consists of primarily double shots of records I’ve been listening to in my spare time. There’s some archival rarities from David Bowie, The Heartbreakers, and Lou Reed, some live recordings by The Jesus And Mary Chain, X, Wilco, and King Gizzard, along with a little tribute to the late Rachel Nagy of The Detroit Cobras. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if […]

The Ledge #503: New Releases

The Ledge #503: New Releases

It’s a new year, so let’s start it right with nothing but new music over the course of the two hour broadcast. As always, it’s the latest indie, punk, power pop, and garage rock from all over the world. There’s bound to be somet…

The Ledge #502: Best Records of 2021 NYE Countdown

So your favorite online radio DJ decided to spend a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve playing over six hours of the best music of 2021. But what else would I have done? New Year’s Eve is amateur night, and I haven’t ventured out of my house for the big night in years. With the big night lining up with a Ledge weekly broadcast, the decision to do a “Casey Kasem” was easy. So this show is a true marathon. First off, there’s a countdown of the 20 best reissues, box sets, compilations, and tribute albums of the year. Then there’s a countdown of the 40 best albums of 2021, and we hit the stroke of midnight in the eastern and central time zones with tracks from some of the great singles and EP’s of the year, along with tunes from a number of great albums that barely missed the cut of making the big countdown. Honestly, while the world is melting down we are somehow seeing a cultural renaissance. How else could I put together a six hour playlist of nothing but music from the past year? It’s simply incredible how much wonderful music is coming out on a weekly […]

The Ledge #501: Annual Rock & Roll Christmas Party

The Ledge #501: Annual Rock & Roll Christmas Party

The goal of the annual Ledge Christmas extravaganza is to prove that holiday music doesn’t have to suck. And once again, it’s certainly true as the vast majority of rock, punk, garage, and Americana tracks are brand new songs specifically f…

The Ledge 500th Episode Celebration!

The Ledge 500th Episode Celebration!

Almost 12 years to the day after the very first attempt at a podcast, this week markes the 500th episode! To celebrate, I let the listeners take over! The call was made on all social media platforms to suggest bands or songs that were discovered via this show, and those results are reflected in this week’s playlist. Many listeners simply submitted the songs of their choice. Others accompanied their picks with extremly complimentary emails. But a handful actually sent in audio tributes to the show! No matter how these messages were sent, they warmed the heart of this host. I’m blown away by the kind words, and I was especially happy to get some audio from Max, the voice you hear at the beginning and end of each and every show. Here’s a couple of links that were mentioned on the show: To help Max and his high school band travel to New York City, please contribute to his GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/maxwell-to-nyc To read Will Neville’s concert reviews: https://undilutableslangtruth.wordpress.com/ For the latest info on Gorman Bechard’s films: http://whatwerewethinkingfilms.com/ For setlists and other Ledge information: http://scotthudson.blogspot.com I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. […]

The Ledge #499: New Releases

The Ledge #499: New Releases

The start of December means that this week’s new release episode is the final one of 2021! And like each of the previous episodes of this type this year this one is full of nothing but great power pop, garage, punk, indie, and there’s even a preview of this year’s Christms special. But more importantly, let’s talk about next week’s show. It’s Ledge episode #500, and I’d love to get some assistance from the Ledge audience. Please please please, regardless of whether you’re a relatively new listener, or somebody who has now listened to all 499, contact me to let me know of some songs, albums, or bands that you’ve discovered via this show. You can even make a little recording talking about the show, your picks, or anything that you feel is important to convey. You can contact me on social media (paulisded on twitter or instagram), or send an email to paulisded@gmail.com! I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of […]

The Ledge #498: Covers

The Ledge #498: Covers

I’ve mentioned a few times over the years that I have a folder that I toss cover tunes into for future shows of that sort. The recent release of not one but four fabulous albums of nothing but remakes made me realize it’s time to empy that folder. Those four records are the main focus of this covers show. Spygenius, The Grip Weeds, Die Toten Hosen, and the The Queers features revved up versions of the band’s favorite tracks from the past. Three of them highlight rockers from the 60s, while Die Toten Hosen continues to show their love to the initial punk rock revolution of the late 70s Besides those racuous tunes, this episode also includes The Jazz Butcher (RIP Pat Fish) doing The Modern Lovers, A Bunch of Jerks performing a Bowie classic, a group called Mom resurrecting an old Prince track, and many more. (Unfortunately, an equipment error causes an abrupt end to this week’s episode.) I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but […]

The Ledge #497: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #497: New Releases (Pt. 2)

For part two of this month’s new release series it’s the usual formula. New records by veteran acts mix with brand new artists, along with a few tracks from featured reissues. So you get the brand new Sarah Shook & The Disarmers single …

The Ledge #496: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #496: New Releases (Pt. 1)

Once again, the wealth of quality new music means that this month’s new release episode is expanding into a two-part series! This week is dominated by artists and labels that can accurately be described as “friends of the show” – artists such as Dave Sheinin, Dan Israel, Old Town Crier, along with our label friends at Big Stir Records, Red On Red Records, and, of course, Rum Bar Records! But there’s also something special for fans of The Replacements! Well, of course there is. This show isn’t named after one of their songs for no reason! Two weeks ago saw the reissue of their very first album, Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. 100 tracks, 67 of them previously unreleased. Those who purchased the box at the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, however, also received a bonus flexidisc with four more unreleased versions. Thanks to Ledge listener Jim Portesan, tonight’s episode includes those four rarities, along with a miniset of songs from the concert disc of the box. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely […]

The Ledge #495: Halloween

The Ledge #495: Halloween

Just like almost every episode, the annual Halloween edition of The Ledge would never exist without the friends of the show who provide us with fresh material every year. In the weeks leading up to the ultimate rock and roll holiday, bands and/or labels send us all kinds of material perfect for this ghoulish show. This year is no exception, and thanks must go to Big Stir Records, The Ex-Bombers, Red on Red Records, Mr. Fang and the Dark Tones, The Cutthroat Brothers, and quite a few others for sharing with us a large percentage of the material you hear tonight. Along wtih those donations are a ton of relatively new music that fits the format. It’s the perfect Halloween soundtrack! I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes on The Ledge! Let them know who is giving them promotion! […]

The Ledge #494: Sorry Ma I’ve Got Some Reissues To Play

The Ledge #494: Sorry Ma I’ve Got Some Reissues To Play

I’m sure that all Ledge fans could have predicted this week’s episode. With today’s release of the 40th anniversary deluxe edition of the very first Replacements album, Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash, it was pretty obvious that there would be a deep dive into this box set. The great news is that this box does not disappoint. Besides a desperately needed remaster of the orginal album, this 4 CD/1 LP set includes 67 previously unreleased tracks. There’s home demos, basement recordings, studio outtakes, and the band’s earliest professionally recorded show. How could I not make this the main reason of the show? But there’s much more. With this being reissue and box set season, I go through a number of other similar releases. Yet I also have some harsh words for a couple of them. There’s also an opportunity for listeners to compare two versions of the same Heartbreakers song. Is the newly discovered “master” of L.A.M.F.’s “Born to Lose” actually better than the “restored” version from the 2012 remix? Let me know what you think. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists […]

The Ledge #493: Velvet Underground Covers

The Ledge #493: Velvet Underground Covers

With today’s release of the Velvet Underground documentary on AppleTV it was pretty obvious what tonight’s Ledge was going to be. I just never relaized how easy it would be to comile a show consisting of nothing but Velvet Underground covers. I knew I had quite a few of these types of tracks, but I was shocked at just how many were in my collection. Besides the various one-off covers on quite a few records by the likes of the Beat Farmers, Wreckless Eric, and The Soft Boys, I also had quite a number of indie tribute records. I even had four records that completely covered the entire Velvet Underground and Nico album, including the brand new “I’ll Be Your Mirror” tribute. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes on The Ledge! Let them know who is giving them […]

The Ledge #492: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #492: New Releases (Pt. 2)

As announced last week, this week’s episode is a carry over of the previous episode’s new release format. Not that these are second rate to those aired last week. Nope, that’s not how it works on The Ledge. You had two hours of tracks…

The Ledge #491: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #491: New Releases (Pt. 1)

It’s almost a given that if Rum Bar Records puts out a sampler, that month’s Ledge “New Release” show will be a two parter, and this month is no exception. Thanks to “Rocktober II”, the massive 38 track collection of…

The Ledge #490: Songs About Actors

The Ledge #490: Songs About Actors

The idea for this show actually came about earlier this summer when I noticed that over the last few months I had acquired a number of songs about various movie stars. Over the next few days, with the help of a bunch of Facebook friends, I put together more than enough tracks that fit this theme. Tonight’s supersized show is the results of hours and hours of research, and consists of songs about not only classic Hollywood royalty such as Myrna Loy, Joan Crawford, Robert Mitchum, and Clark Gable but relatively recent stars like Keira Knightley, Winona Ryder, Timothy Chalamet, and Emma Stone. It’s a show that jumps from acoustic-based singer/songwriters to classic rockers to some outrageous punk rock. BTW, it should also be noted that the intro voice of the Ledge, Max, is now a high school student who has an opportunity to spend a few days in New York City with his school’s performing arts department. Please consider helping him out by donating at his Gofundme page. (https://www.gofundme.com/f/maxwell-to-nyc) I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every […]

The Ledge #489: This & That

The Ledge #489: This & That

After taking a week off (for various reasons that I discuss at the beginning of the show), The Ledge is back with another show of various odds and ends. There are sets influenced by some packages I received from Indonesian Junk and Lucinda Williams. There’s some memories of that great Replacements show in St. Paul six years ago with a few tunes from a show recorded earlier on that tour. There’s an oddly great tribute album to Elvis Costello that couples Latin singers with the original backing tracks of the legendary This Year’s Model album. And there’s also quite a few songs initially meant to be in the last new release show, but had to be cut for time constraints. Plus quite a few other great tunes in a variety of formats. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes […]

The Ledge #488: New Releases

The Ledge #488: New Releases

This is the type of new release show that should appeal to all veteran Ledge listeners. New music by Lydia Loveless! A Stones cover by Brad Marino. A set of nothing but great power pop from Big Stir Records. Always great tunes from Rum Bar Records. Wil…

The Ledge #487: Charlie Watts RIP

The Ledge #487: Charlie Watts RIP

The death of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts earlier this week created an obvious opportunity for The Ledge to celebrate his almost 60 years of playing behind fellow Stones members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. But, of course, I didn’t go the obvious route. You don’t get two hours of the band’s greatest hits. You don’t even get the most well known covers of the band. No, instead this tribute consists primarily of bands that fit the true spirit of the “Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World”. The tracks consist of a ton of live encores of Americana artists, garage rock versions recorded for various tribute albums, and a handful of B-sides and other bonus material. Oh yes, and a drunken cover or three found on Replacements’ bootlegs. Rest in peace, Charlie. You will be missed. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let […]

The Ledge #486: Odds and Ends

The Ledge #486: Odds and Ends

The “odds and ends” format seems to have worked the last few times I’ve done it, so why not do another show of this type? For those new to The Ledge, the show consists of material I’ve been listening to in my home over the last few days. Some selections are faves from a few years ago that I haen’t pulled out in a while (Sarah Shook, Lydia Loveless). Others are recent purchases that don’t quite fit the new release shows (live Bob Mould, Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows). Add to that my recent fascination over everything involving Ncio, thanks to the new book, You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, and you get a handful of tracks featuring her beautiful, haunted vocals. Of course, news of a new box set including previously unreleased tracks by The Replacements takes priority over everything. This October, a 40th anniversary reissue of their first album, Sorry Ma Forgot to Take Out the Trash will hit the stores, and features 100 tracks, 67 of them previously unreleased. Expect to hear a lot from this in the next few months! I would love it if every listener bought at least one […]

The Ledge #485: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #485: New Releases (Pt. 2)

Part two of this month’s new release series carries on from the excellence of last week’s first show. There are great tribute records to John Prine and The Ramones, along with some other fabulous covers of the Flamin’ Groovies, T. Rex…

The Ledge #484: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #484: New Releases (Pt. 1)

This is another of thsoe months where the new release episode is so easy to compile that it just has to be split into two seperate shows. So tonight is part one, and what is especially gratifying is that so much of the broadcast consists of “friends” of the show. Yes, there’s the usual contributions from our friends at Rum Bar Records, Red On Red Records, and Big Stir Records. But there’s also newer friends such as Old Town Crier and Dan Israel, who emailed new tunes to check out. And then there’s The Ex-Bombers, the fabulous “psychedelic jazz noir blues explosion” due that I recently discovered on Instagram. After an exchange of DM’s, they actually sent me a vinyl version of their fabulous new “New Love Is Easy” album. Besides those picks, there’s brand new tunes by longtime Ledge favorites Son Volt, CTMF, Ty Segall, Wavves, and so many otheres. There are new discoveries such as The Pokes, Cosmic Psychos, and The Bug Club. Plus, there are a handful of tracks from Rum Bar’s brand new “XOXOXO Volume One ‘the nice price’” compilation. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either […]

The Ledge #483: Archives, Covers, and Other Stuff

The Ledge #483: Archives, Covers, and Other Stuff

Although I have a montly new release episode, I don’t really have a place for new reissues, compilations, live albums, and other odd releases such as that. Once in a while, I do throw a reissued track or two in the new release show, but for the most part it’s hard to find a spot for them in my usual themed shows. So tonight those types of releases get their own theme. I can’t say it’s all archival material, though, as there are new recordings by the likes of Los Lobos, The Descendents, and The Beat-Hells. But for the most part, tonight’s show comes from the type of releases I mentioned before. There’s archival collections of bands such as The Outsiders, R. Stevie Moore, and David Bowie. There are rare tracks from reissues of classics by George Harrison, Mudhoney, The White Stripes, and many others. And there’s quite a few great cover tunes. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful […]

The Ledge #482: Record Store Day

The Ledge #482: Record Store Day

The joke may be that every day is record store day for this goofball, but it is a fact that I do love almost everything about the actual Record Store Day event. Or events, as the last couple of years the event has been split up into multiple days.
This…

The Ledge #481: 1981 US Punk

The Ledge #481: 1981 US Punk

The latest in the series of episodes devoted to the music of 1981 consists of nothing but US punk from that great year. Primarily centered around the rise of the Southern California hardcore scene, the show jumps around to all parts of our country, and…

The Ledge #480: What Would Paul Westerberg Do? (New Releases)

The Ledge #480: What Would Paul Westerberg Do? (New Releases)

It’s a question I ask myself multiple times a day. What would Mr. Westerberg do?  The answers guide my day to day life, which explains quite a bit about the status of Mr. Hudson these days. But Geoff Palmer understands, and his great track that gives thsi episode its title is just one of the many incredible songs on his upcoming record, Charts and Graphs. (BTW, somebody please count the Westy song references on this track. I just may have a prize for the person who comes closest.) As always, this isn’t the only great record coming out soon on Rum Bar Records, and the last 20 minutes consist of nothing but great tracks from that label. There are also sets devoted to wonderful new music from Red On Red Records and Big Stir Records. These are all great records that really would appreciate some support from Ledge listeners. Go check them out. And that’s not all. I mentioned last month the mystery of a band called The Revenants. They have released over 30 records so far this year, and they’re all free! Please, if somebody out there has any info on this prolific act give me the deets! There’s also the return of the […]

The Ledge #479: Second Quarter Report

The Ledge #479: Second Quarter Report

There’s not a lot to say about this show, as the title pretty much describes the contents of this broadcast. It’s the final show of June, which means the second quarter of the year has now concluded. Hence, tonight’s show features the…

The Ledge #478: Covers

The Ledge #478: Covers

The decision to do an all-covers show was decided sometime on Wednesday when my good friends High On Stress announced that they would be releasing a Tommy Keene cover on Friday. This was shortly followed by emails containing new cover tracks by Kid Gulliver and The Dirty Denims. Always having a folder full of such tracks ready for air, it was an easy decision that this was the week to do such a show. I also had an intriguing idea to put a new spin on such a show. Searching through my archives, I discovered that I had enough Replacements covers to recreate side one of the “Pleased To Meet Me” album.  Although my broadcast program decided to suddenly play two tracks out of order, all of the songs from that group of tracks did make the air. There are also country-tinged coves of old alt-rock tracks by a fabulous British band called Independent Country (including a great ‘mats remake), Richard Thompson and Dead Moon tributes by Country Westerns, Brad Marino doing a lovely Ramones’ track, and many, many other similarly fantastic tunes. I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of […]

The Ledge #477: Summer Means Fun (Plus Recovered Bonus Show)

The Ledge #477: Summer Means Fun (Plus Recovered Bonus Show)

On last week’s new release broadcast I had attempted to right a wrong. I definitely missed the boat on the fabulous Minneapolis band Low Rats blend of “proto-punk meets ’90s garage rock style”, as reviewer Carolyn Keddy recently wrote. Their full-length debut, Year of the Rat MMXX came out late last year, and last week they debuted a brand new “double-dose” single, “Taxi Driver/Brand New Cadillac”. I was so pleased to finally give some of their tunes a little airplay. And then guess what happened? I had an issue with the file, and I couldn’t upload the episode. Ugh!!! So this week I tried again, and I actually played a couple more songs than I did the week before. And, as an added bonus, I’ve also included a couple of tracks from vocalist Michael Myers’ previous band, Narco States, who I interviewed wasy back in 2015. The rest of this week’s show consists of music I’ve been playing around the house the last fw weeks. There are well over 60 years of tunes on this broadcast, including some stories I’ve picked up from a couple of books I’ve recently acquired. And you fine people also get as a bonus the […]

The Ledge #476: Happy Birthday Bobby D!

The Ledge #476: Happy Birthday Bobby D!

Putting together a Dylan tribute show for this week was clearly a no-brainer. After all, he turned 80 years old this past Monday! Of course The Ledge would celebrate! It actually wasn’t until the day of his birthday that I decided on this theme, though, and I have to give special thanks to Lydia Loveless. To help raise money for NIVA (National Independent Venue Association), Lydia and a dozen other artists were a part of Happy Birthday Uncle Bob! A Dylan Tribute. That release is just one of many recent releases that are the focus of the first half of the show. Daniel Romano, Billy Childish (as The William Loveday Intention), Lucinda Williams, and others have full-length albums of Dylan remakes, and the second half of the show consists of some old favorites such as Paul Westerberg, Jason & The Scorchers, Mike Ness, and many others. After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these […]

The Ledge #475: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #475: New Releases (Pt. 2)

This week’s show may be a sequel to last week’s new release episode, but there’s no letdown in quality. Here are two hours of some of the best new music from all over the world – not only the U.S. but Canada, England, Sweden, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Spain. There’s some pure punk, along with power pop, heavy rock, indie rock, and much more. There are longtime veterans with five decades of rocking, along with some brand new bands with their first releases. One of the many highlights is the opening set that includes a handful of newly-discovered tracks by an obscure band called The Jacks. Originating in Oklahoma, one member of the band found himself living in Minneapolis. Working in a record store allowed him to befriend members of The Replacements, Husker Du, and The Suicide Commandos. Recordings featuring these amazing musicians have now been released on the album “Make ‘Em Cry”. We also have the premiere of three tracks from Geoff Palmer’s upcoming album, “Charts & Graphs”. Due out on July 23, this fantastic collection of power poppish punk should be a highlight of the summer. There’s also new tunes by Dropkick Murphys, The Dictators, Juliana Hatfield, […]

The Ledge #474: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #474: New Releases (Pt. 1)

I’m back! Yes, I had to take last week off due to some behind the scenes server issues that are too complicated to go into here. That means that this month’s new release episode is NOT the first Friday of the month…which is a fact tha…

The Ledge #473: This and That

The Ledge #473: This and That

A few weeks ago, I experimented with a show that didn’t really have a theme. It consisted of nothing but songs and/or albums I had been listening to around the house. Apparently plenty of listeners enjoyed this show, as I received a number of encouraging messages, so I guess it’s now sort of a “non-theme” that I’m going to try to do at least once a month. So that’s what you’re experiencing on this week’s show. These are all records I’ve been playing around the house the last couple of weeks. Included are excerpts from two giant box sets of important works by John Lennon and The Who that came out just last week. There’s an attempt to prove a theory that Gang of Four influenced Credit In Heaven, the third album of the Suburbs. There’s a few records I pulled out of the archives for the first time in years, along with some great new finds at the used store. And there’s also a set of two great new releases that came out today! Brad Marino’s latest, Looking For Trouble, is every bit as great as expected, and fellow Rum Bar Records artist The Nuclears put out a smoking […]

The Ledge #472: Songs About Records

The Ledge #472: Songs About Records

There are times where a potential theme for a show pops up out of nowhere. This week’s episode of The Ledge is a perfect example. This past Wednesday afternoon I was on my way to a local record store, accompanied by a great power pop playlist on Spotify. Suddenly, a song came on that I hadn’t heard in many years. The tune was “I Need That Record” by Tweeds, a great under-appreciated 70’s power pop band  Besides the fact that this title was exactly why I was in my car at the time, it lit up a little light bulb in my head about a show devoted to songs about my favorite objects, records. It didn’t take long to put together the playlist. Wilco’s “Boxful of Letters” was an obvious pick. As were tunes by Todd Snider, Supersuckers, Nick Lowe, and Elvis Costello. iTunes searches came up with a vast majority of the rest of the tracks. But it was the discovery of an old Wreckless Eric track that secured the idea of this show. “33s + 45s” deals with the aftermath of a breakup, and the inevitable splitting of the music library. These lines hit me hard: “My dismantled […]

The Ledge #471: 1981 US Punk Faves

The Ledge #471: 1981 US Punk Faves

1981 was a very special year for your favorite podcast host. I graduated from high school, and immediately started at the local radio station when I entered college. While the 2 – 6 am shift may seem like a nightmare to most people, it was the perfect opportunity for me to investigate the floor to ceiling record racks in the cramped studio. This week’s show represents the US-originated records from that era that mean the most to me today. Most of them I discovered during these late night shifts, but a few of them I must admit they weren’t faves until years later. Of course, I have to highlight the first releases from my two favorite Minneapolis bands of all time, and longtime faves the Ramones put out their sixth album that year. There’s also a couple of new indie labels, IRS and SST, that would greatly influence me throughout the rest of the decade. After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly […]

The Ledge #470: Playing Catch Up

The Ledge #470: Playing Catch Up

It’s always rewarding when a confluence of ideas results in a show that has a perfect flow. That’s what happened this week. This show began with a slight nudging from a couple of acts that had submitted tracks earlier this year that had just not yet found a place in a show. Add to that a couple of great records featuring Dirty Truckers drummer John Lynch that he sent when we were putting together the Rum Bar Records episode. Then a section of super sweet, relatively new records were discovered at a local record store. I’m talking about mint 2020 releases that I had missed out on when they were first put out. Adding to that secton of the show are a few other 2019 and 2020 albums that I was late in discovering, along with a couple of fabulous archive releases and suddenly I have two hours of great music for tonight! After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the […]

The Ledge #469: New Releases

The Ledge #469: New Releases

If it’s the first Friday of the month you know that means it’s nothing but new releases on this week’s episode of The Ledge! This month features sets devoted to a number of great indie labels – Big Stir Records, Red On Red Recor…

The Ledge #468: First Quarter Report

The Ledge #468: First Quarter Report

Since we are just a few days away from April, it makes sense that the last episode of the month is a look back at the first quarter of 2021. What albums, EP’s and singles have caught my attention? Has it been a great year?
The answer is the same …

The Ledge #467: Rum Bar Records

The Ledge #467: Rum Bar Records

Loyalty is an important word in my life. I try to be as loyal as possible to not only friends and family, but also the bands that I love. I’m even loyal to certain record labels. In the 80’s it was Twin/Tone and SST. Merge and a few others fit that category in the 90’s, and I’ve got a handful of current labels these days whose artists I will always check out. One of those is Rum Bar Records. No label has been more loyal to what I do with The Ledge than Rum Bar Records. Head honcho “Malibu” Lou Mansdorf has not only kept me in the loop with his constantly growing stable of releases, but he also routinely tosses a care package of physical releases to my mailbox. It’s because of people like Lou that this show has continued to prosper for over a decade. But it also turns out that loyalty is an important word to Mansdorf, as proven by the testimonials from his artists that pop up throughout this marathon all-Rum Bar broadcast. Most have been his friends for decades, but even recent signing have nothing but glowing words for him. Tonight’s show features tracks from the entire […]

The Ledge #466: Home Plays

The Ledge #466: Home Plays

I have to admit that I get too hung up on themes. Obviously, the new release episode is always going to be a part of the lineup, but I really don’t have to create a basis for my weekly music choices. I actually wish that I could think in terms of just randomly airing songs that fir my mood for the day. This week I actually attempt such a show, but there’s still sort of a theme. These are all records that I’ve been listening to in my spare time. One is a newly-unearthed Rolling Stones bootleg. There’s tracks from a great compilation of late 60’s rockers from The Dakotas. There’s a new Neil Young live album from his vast archives. But the freedom of this loose theme is that I did throw in some songs that I have never aired before. That Soiuxsie and the Banshees album that I happened to grab at the record store a few weeks ago? Sure, why not. The Lloyd Cole track from the box set I ordered directly from Lloyd? Yep. A great 2018 album by The Conquerors that my friend Dan recommended? Of course. And I just had to air a couple […]

The Ledge #465: New Releases

The Ledge #465: New Releases

It’s the first Friday of the month, so you know what this means. Yes, once again I have over two hours of the best new indie, garage, power pop, punk, and Americana releases. Plenty of veteran acts, and even more brand new artists. If you care ab…

The Ledge #464: Ramones’ Album Tributes

The Ledge #464: Ramones’ Album Tributes

After last week’s show featuring songs about The Ramones, it was pretty much a no-brainer to pair it with a show based around covers of the same band. But I’ve done that theme before, so how can I put a new spin on it. Well, the answer came with today’s release of K7s’ remake of the entire Mondo Bizarro album, along with last year’s Subterranean Jungle rerecording by Brad Marino. How about a whole show of album-length covers? If you think about it, that is the ultimate show of respect for a band and/or a record. Anybody can do an individual cover, but to remake an entire album is a huge demand for an artist. Even the best albums have a song or two that’s not up to the standard of the rest of the record, so giving those songs the same attention as the feature tracks is a major accomplishment. So with that all in mind, with the exception of covers by Tommy and the Rockets that bookend the show, this entire episode is “Side A” of these types of releases. Along with the already mentioned new records, the second half of the show dates back from a series […]

The Ledge #463: Songs About The Ramones

The Ledge #463: Songs About The Ramones

As I state at the beginning of the show, the initial idea for this theme came from the plethora of recent songs that mention The Ramones in the title, both individually and as a group. Add to that a few faves from the past, along with some great sugges…

The Ledge #462: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #462: New Releases (Pt. 2)

Last week’s new release show was all about submitted tracks. This week’s part two of the series compiles all of the other new records that have recently been released (or will be soon). The show is marked by the return of quite a few vetera…

The Ledge #461: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #461: New Releases (Pt. 1)

Few things make a music critic/internet DJ happier than a package of new music, and I’m blessed to have the support of so many bands and labels. Whenever I receive an email that includes a link to a single or album, or find a packet in my mailbox, I immediately put it in the front of my pile of music to check out. As I was putting together this month’s new release episode, I suddenly noticed just how many great records I’ve received in the past few weeks. So why not do an entire show bassed on artist/label submissions? That’s what we have here this week. Some are from individual artists (Dan Israel, Jeremy Porter, Indonesian Junk, New Rocket Union, etc.) that want me to check out their new tunes. Others are because I’ve found myself on a label’s mailing list. I definitely need to thank Big Stir Records, Red on Red Records, and Rum Bar Records, who really knocked it out of the park with not one but two free samplers of current and upcoming new releases! After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every […]

The Ledge #460: Covers

The Ledge #460: Covers

As I stated on tonight’s all-covers episode, I have a folder on my hard drive where I toss in any cool remakes that I accumulate. When that folder is filled then it’s time to do another show of that type.
Well, the folder is full, and was a…

The Ledge #459: UK Punk 1981

The Ledge #459: UK Punk 1981

Since it’s a new year I have a whole list of new “anniversaries” to celebrate this year. You can expect many upcoming episodes devoted to years such as 1986, 1991…and, obviously, 1981. Tonight’s broadcast is the first of a…

The Ledge #458: The Ledge Awards

The Ledge #458: The Ledge Awards

A few weeks ago, I put together a countdown show of my 40 favorite albums of 2020. Now for this annual Ledge Awards I go through various other categories for the past year – Best Reissue, Best Live Album, Best Compilaton, Best Covers Album, Best …

The Ledge #457: New Releases

The Ledge #457: New Releases

It’s the first show of the new year, which means it’s the first new release episode of the year! Generally, there isn’t much for new material this time of year, but this year seems to be an exception. You’ll find plenty of great…

The Ledge #456: Lockdown Christmas

The Ledge #456: Lockdown Christmas

Everybody’s favorite holiday tradition is back as once again The Ledge annual Christmas show brings you the best rockin’ holiday tunes in this supersized show! What’s great about this show is that it’s not a show relying on tun…

The Ledge #455: Best Albums of 2020

The Ledge #455: Best Albums of 2020

So let’s get this out of the way. 2020 was a dumpster fire of a year. A worldwide pandemic shut everything down. A contentious Presidential election tore apart friends and families. Race and sexual identity issues became online litmus tests. Everybody …

The Ledge #454: New Releases

The Ledge #454: New Releases

It’s the last new release show of 2020, and it may just be the best one of the year. There’s a ton of new music that’s come out the past few weeks, including a few great items discovered shortly before the show commenced. And how can …

The Ledge #453: Under Consideration

The Ledge #453: Under Consideration

This is the time of year where I’m going through my music library making notes on what albums should be considered for my year-end rankings. With the volume of great music released every year, however, there are records that I honestly sort of fo…

The Ledge #452: 1985

The Ledge #452: 1985

The Ledge #451: 1990

The Ledge #451: 1990

It may be a cliche, especially compared to the dumpster fire of this year, but it was definitely a simpler time for me in 1990. It was a year that I sort of became an adult. Sort of are the key words here. It was also a year of musical transition for me, as it was the year of the last Replacements album and the year of Uncle Tupelo’s debut album. For the next few years, “Americana” became my leading musical force. With a few exceptions, of course. (Both of these recors, The Replacements’ “All Shook Down” and Uncle Tupelo’s “No Depression”, get an extended look during tonight’s show.) This week’s show takes a look at much of what was in my gigantic portable CD carrier during that year. Yes, I had one of those 64 disc cases that went with me wherever I went. One has to be prepared, you know. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy this nostalgic look at my personal music taste from that era. After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next […]

The Ledge #450: New Releases

The Ledge #450: New Releases

In all the years of doing this monthly new release show, this may be the most varied I’ve ever done. After initial sets of folk-ish, acoustic rock, this month’s supersized show gradually built up the intensity until a final set of veteran h…

The Ledge #449: Halloween

The Ledge #449: Halloween

The Halloween episode has been an important part of The Ledge calendar year for over a decade. Outside of maybe one or two years, there has always been a show during the week before the great holiday featuring fantastic Hallowen-themed punk, garage, indie, power pop, and almost every other rock and roll sub-genre. Why is this such a big show? It’s simple, and I’ve said it before. Halloween is a rock and roll holiday. The very themes of the big day have been a part of rock and roll since the early days. The sound of an electric guitar itself fits the day, as does the pounding, basic rhythms of the real rock and roll. It also helps that every year sees the release of a ton of tracks that can be shoehorned into the theme. In fact, the overwhelming majority of songs on this year’s edition were released in the last ten months, which obviously adds to the freshness of this show every single year! After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next […]

The Ledge #448: Reissues

The Ledge #448: Reissues

The Ledge isn’t all about new music, obviously. And with the record companies constantly repackaging old material with bonus demos, outtakes, and live takes my collection just continues to grow.
Tonight’s show is a look at some of these spe…

The Ledge #447: Covers

The Ledge #447: Covers

On one of my laptops I have a folder where I toss in any cover versions that I think could possibly include in a Ledge episode. Once that folder has a sufficient number of songs I know it’s time to do a covers show.
This is that time. The folder …

The Ledge #446: New Releases

The Ledge #446: New Releases

Due to Gorman Bechard’s appearance last week, this month’s new release episode was bumped back a week. But this delay turned out to be for the benefit of the show, as it allowed for me to include some brand new tracks by The Replacements. W…

The Ledge #445: Gorman Bechard

The Ledge #445: Gorman Bechard

It’s always a lot of fun when Gorman Bechard appears on The Ledge, and this week was no exception. He’s got two brand new documentaries that were released this past Tuesday, and both are pretty fantastic. Pizza: A Love Story is all about the legendary New Haven pizza, and the award-winning trio of family businesses that created the edible delights that I’ve personally heard Gorman ramble on and on about for well over a decade. New Haven historian Colin M. Caplan sits in on this portion of the show to talk about the research that went into the creation of this film. The other film, Seniors: A Dogumentary is as perfect of a feel-good story as one can possibly make. How can you not love a film that collects a number of tales involving such amazing elderly dogs? Much of the film centers around the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary, an organization that houses and fosters elderly dogs, but there’s other fabulous dog tales such as the heartwarming tale of Chaser, who proves why he is generally considered the smartest dog in the world. Dean Falcone, who created the music on both films, also chats about his innovative idea to […]

The Ledge #444: Compilations

The Ledge #444: Compilations

The last few months have seen a ton of great compilation records come out. Some have been all covers. Many have been label or genre samplers. Others have been benefits for great causes. What unites them all is that so many of them have been full of gre…

The Ledge #443:Scott’s Favorite Records, Vol. 6

The Ledge #443:Scott’s Favorite Records, Vol. 6

As it’s my birthday today it’s only fitting that I put together another in my series of favorite songs of all time. This time around, it’s primarily songs from the 90’s, although a handful of songs actually come from records rel…

The Ledge #442: New Releases

The Ledge #442: New Releases

It’s another great month of new releases. I know I say that every month but we are living in a time where somehow artists are still creating fabulous, vital music. Just take a listen to this two hours of rock, folk, punk, surf, indie, and a few o…

The Ledge #441: Fave Records of Summer 2020

The Ledge #441: Fave Records of Summer 2020

The calendar may have a different definition, but summer to me has always been the months of June, July, and August. With that in mind, since tonight was my last show for August I decided to put together a show of nothing but my favorite new records fr…

The Ledge #440: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #440: New Releases (Pt. 2)

This may be a second part of a new release series, but there’s certainly no drop in quality. How could it be when the beginning of the show features a sneak peak of the upcoming Replacements’ “Pleased to Meet Me Deluxe Edition” …

The Ledge #439: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #439: New Releases (Pt. 1)

It’s another super-busy month of new music. In fact, once again the new release series has to be split into a two-part extravaganza.
Part one features previews of new records by Ledge favorites such as Son Volt and Lydia Loveless. There’s t…

The Ledge #438: Power Pop

The Ledge #438: Power Pop

What is power pop? According to the dictionary, it’s “a style of pop music characterized by a strong melody line, heavy use of guitars, and simple rhythm”. Yeah, that works. I prefer to just call it “revved up pop music”.

The Ledge #437: 1980 American Punk

The Ledge #437: 1980 American Punk

Earlier this year I featured a show that focused on British punk rock from 1980. Tonight, I do the same thing but featuring nothing but tunes from American punk bands from that same year.
It’s kind of interesting how the focus of the punk scene (…

The Ledge #436: Double Albums

The Ledge #436: Double Albums

It was a few weeks ago when Sonic Youth’s “Teenage Riot” came up in a Spotify playlist, and it spurred my feeble mind into this week’s show format. This week is a countdown of my 15 favorite double albums of all time. As always,…

The Ledge #435: Scott’s Favorite Records, Vol. 5 – Americana

The Ledge #435: Scott’s Favorite Records, Vol. 5 – Americana

Americana, country-punk, No Depression, alt-country. Whatever you want to call this twangy-ish sort of music it’s been a part of my life since the early 80’s. Nope, not after the scene exploded with Uncle Tupelo. The country influence has a…

The Ledge #434: New Releases

The Ledge #434: New Releases

This is another of those new release episodes that featured some last minute additions. Thanks to another Bandcamp day where 100% of all proceeds go to the artists, a number of artists surprised fans with new music. There was a new Cloud Nothings album…

The Ledge #433: Best Albums of 2020 (So Far)

The Ledge #433: Best Albums of 2020 (So Far)

The world may be ending but great music lives forever. Despite everything that has gone on this year there has still been a steady stream of fabulous albums released. Tonight’s show is a look at the 40 best albums released in the first half of 20…

The Ledge #432: Covers

The Ledge #432: Covers

Once a year or so, I like to put together a show of nothing but covers. Partly due to COVID-19 this year has already seen more of these sorts of tracks than ever before. Bands have put out full albums or EP’s of covers; labels have upped the ante…

The Ledge #431: New Releases, Pt. 2

The Ledge #431: New Releases, Pt. 2

As I said last week, there have been so many great releases in the last few weeks that this month’s new release episode was forced to expand to two episodes. Quality-wise, there’s no difference between the two episodes. In fact, it could be…

The Ledge #430: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #430: New Releases (Pt. 1)

I didn’t expect this month’s new release show to be a two part extravaganza. But as I was throwing songs into the play folder for this week’s show I suddenly realized I had way too many tracks for one show. So once again, next week I&…

The Ledge #429: More Minneapolis

The Ledge #429: More Minneapolis

After last week’s Minneapolis edition of my favorite songs of all time I was contacted by a ton of listeners with their own favorites of the great city. With that sort of response I coudn’t help but doing a sequel consisting of nothing but …

The Ledge #428: Scott’s Fave Songs Vol. 4 – Minneapolis

The Ledge #428: Scott’s Fave Songs Vol. 4 – Minneapolis

It’s safe to say that a Minneapolis-themed show would come out of the series of my favorite songs of all time. It was actually the easiest of the shows to put together. No, it’s not two hours of Replacements and Husker Du songs. Certainly both of those bands are well-represented but so many other bands from that great city had a huge impact on my life. Many of these are extremely popular (Soul Asylum, Jayhawks, Suburbs) but there are also a lesser-known ton of records that were just as important in my life. For example, I saw The Phones as many times over the years as I saw any of these other bands. And I may not know much about the history of artists such as The Ticks or Crash Street Kids but I played those records to death over the years. Now here’s a bit of a disclaimer. I did switch away from Minneapolis for a long set of Sioux Falls bands, and other artists from places such as Austin, Minnesota and Cedar Falls, Iowa are represented. And technically The Hold Steady are a Brooklyn band. But Minneapolis certainly influenced all of the Sioux Falls bands I included, and […]

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