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 #536: Covers
As I have stated quite often during these cover tune broadcasts, I have a special folder where I place remakes as I come across them. Once that folder is full, it’s time to do a show. This time around, that folder grew at a pretty rapid pace. Of course I’m going to air Ultrabomb’s version of “Sonic Reducer”. I don’t think anybody is surprised by the inclusion of “Borstal Breakdown” from that new live Replacements album. But many may be shocked by the inclusion of two tracks from the 1968 collaboration between Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood. Honestly, I had never heard these bonkers tunes until one day I hung out in my friend’s record store. Seriously, that version of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” is something everybody should check out. But what made it essential that I do this theme this very week are two special records that arrived a few days ago. The first is All The Covers (And More) by The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs. Released on September 30 on Rum Bar Records, this 38 track compilation gathers together all of the remakes the band has recorded in their 25 year history. The other is the latest project by Geoff Palmer. Standing In […]
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 #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 #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 #421: Don’t Stand So Close To Me
I understood pretty early on this week that it was going to be impossible to come up with a new theme this week. The pandemic is the only thing any of us are thinking about these days, especially with the situation being more grim every day.
Since last…
Tommy Unit LIVE!! #390 – Valentine’s Day Heartbreaker
February 6, 2019. Tommy Unit LIVE!! #390…If you’re in love, tonight’s show is not for you! The Valentine’s Day Heartbreaker on Tommy Unit LIVE!! 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT on REAL PUNK RADIO – Radio Done Right! https://realpunkradio.com/podcast/tommyunitlive/tommyunitlive390.mp3 Subscribe to podcast HERE PLAYLIST: The Bonitos – The Break Up Song Bullet Proof Lovers – Not Your Toy … Continue reading Tommy Unit LIVE!! #390 – Valentine’s Day Heartbreaker →
Tommy Unit LIVE!! #387
January 23, 2019. Tommy Unit LIVE!! #387…Tonight we got things rollin’ with some new stuff from Beluga Records with Jake Starr and the Delicious Fullness, Kurt Baker, and The Reverberations! A BRAND NEW one from our friends Torpedohead! Plus a couple from the Gag Nasty split with Gag Order and The Nasties! Then went into … Continue reading Tommy Unit LIVE!! #387 →
Tommy Unit LIVE!! #382
December 5, 2018. Tommy Unit LIVE!! #382…kicked the night off with a tribute to Stan Lee with a new one from Beebe Gallini! New Stuff from Beluga Records by Kurt Baker and Dalaplan! New stuff from Monster Zero Records with tunes by The Mugwumps, Jagger Holly and The Hallingtons! Then dove into rprbandsubmissions@gmail.com email account … Continue reading Tommy Unit LIVE!! #382 →
Tommy Unit LIVE!! #371
August 22, 2018. Tommy Unit LIVE!! #371…still ridin’ that Hellacopters high! Tonight’s show had new tunes from The Dahlmanns, Geoff Palmer, Thunder Vest, The Heiz, Shark Punch, Djävulen Möblerar Om, Reverend Beat-Man and Nicole Izobel Garcia, The Gods of Macho, Dirtbag Republic, Gulls, The Troubled, The Ringleaders and more kick ass punk rock’n’roll!! Turn it … Continue reading Tommy Unit LIVE!! #371 →
Tommy Unit LIVE!! #344
December 13, 2017. Tonight we spun some new tunes from K7, The Bloodstrings, MSGS, The Why Oh Whys, Dr. Boogie, The Sweet Things, Wonk Unit, Arvidson & Butterflies, and Dirty Trucckers! Rum Bar Records, Wolverine Records, Beluga Records and Spaghetty Town Records all represented! Along with some classics and a set of Xmas-ish tunes! Turn … Continue reading Tommy Unit LIVE!! #344 →
Live Ledge #95: 2013
The first show of 2013 is all new releases and new finds!
