The Ledge #569: Jeremy Porter’s Teenage Kicks
When I conceived the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” project late last year one of the first things I did was to contact artists that I considered friends of the show. I’ve been blessed over the years to have some wonderful musicians regularly send me their latest projects. One of those friends was Jeremy Porter, leader of Jeremy Porter & The Tucos. For almost the entire time I’ve been producing The Ledge, Porter has provided me with fabulous music, and has also introduced my show to many of his fellow musician friends. It was honestly no surprise when Porter responded that he was indeed interested in contributing a version of “Teenage Kicks”, but I was blown away by his overall plans with the tune. Tonight’s episode is the world premiere of his cover, which will be officially released next Friday (5/26) on his bandcamp page. While the track will be a “name your price”, proceeds from those who do the right thing and pay for the track will go to the Detroit-based charity, Hater Kitty Army, led by Sue Summers. “Hater Kitty Rescue Army is a neighborhood cat haven on Detroit’s Eastside,” Summers explains. “We have been serving abandoned cats for the past […]
The Ledge #544: Power Pop, Pt. 2 (The Present)
Last week’s show featured classic power pop tracks from the past. This week, we take a look a the current state of the genre with 40 tracks of fabulous guitar-driven pop music. In fact, the vast majority of these tracks are from 2022, with a handful of tunes from 2021 and 2020. The oldest song of the bunch dates back to 2014, and that tune from The Cry! was selected to be paired with the brand new single by lead singer Tommy Ray. It should be to nobody’s surprise that a good portion of the show compiles highlights from Big Stir Records as they are the without a doubt the gold standard of new music of this type. Author S. W. Lauden’s influence also extends beyond the books he compiled with co-author Paul Myers. Not only does he appear on a couple of the Big Stir tunes broadcast in this episode, his suggestions resulted in quite possibly the most exciting set of the 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 […]
The Ledge #426: New Releases
Another month, another collection of great new music. Unlike previous editions, though, this month’s show features a ton of one-off single releases of tracks recorded under quarantine. In fact, just minutes before The Ledge went to air on Realpun…
The Ledge #422: New Releases Pt. 1
While the daily lives of most of us have been reduced to lying on our couches in sweatpants, musicians have attempted to carry on their somewhat normal lives. Sure, the gigs have been cancelled but they’re still out there creating. And while everything on tonight’s show was obviously recorded long before the current epidemic, the fact that this past month has seen so much great new music released gives those of us sitting at home something to get us through the day. In fact, there was so much great music unleashed these last few weeks that this month’s “new release” episode is a two part extravaganza. Not only that, but both this week’s and next week’s shows go well past the two hour mark. (Well, that’s the plan for next week’s part two. That may change due to unseen circumstances.) So what’s in store in part one? There’s a trio of new Replacements covers, new tunes by Ledge favorites such as Nap Eyes and The Buttertones, entire sets devoted to Big Stir Records and Rum Bar Records, plenty of brand new bands, and cover set that includes tracks from Ty Segall’s surprise release of a Harry Nillson covers EP. There’s also the reunions […]
The Ledge #418: New Releases
The monthly new release shows are easily my favorite episodes, and this month’s is no exception. As always, it’s a great mix of brand new bands, returning veterans, and some great recent discoveries. There’s so much great new music th…
