music

The Ledge #610: New Releases Pt. 2

This week’s continuation of last week’s new release episode features, once again, no drop off in quality. There’s plenty of great new music from both relatively new artists and longtime veterans. I mean, who could have guessed that w…

the record party Episode 033

the record party Episode 033

Metal stuff. Punk stuff. Rockin’ stuff. Brand new stuff. Moldy old stuff. Fun for the whole family to hate.
Tell a friend.

Body Count | Bloodlust | Civil War(Century Media)2017

Insanity Alert | 666-Pack | Chronic State Of Hate(Season Of Mist)2019
M…

The Ledge #608: Covers

As I’ve said before, I have a folder on one of my laptops that I keep around just to acccumulate cover tunes for episodes like this one. Once that folder is full, it’s time to broadcast! This version of that theme includes sets devoted to …

the record party Episode 032

Saying goodnight to a king in the only sloppy, half assed way I know how.
Do it.

Mojo Nixon | !Sock Ray Blue! | Redneck Rampage(Shanachie)1999

Floyd Dixon | Single | Hey Bartender(Cat)1955
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins | Cow Fingers And Mosquito Pie | Pers…

The Ledge #606: New Releases Pt. 2

This may be the second part of this month’s new release series, but there is no letdown in quality. Once again, there’s an intriguing mix of styles, ages, and even home locations. There are brand new acclaimed artists such as Liquid Mike and Sprints. There’s the returns of veterans such as Paul Collins Beat, J. Robbins, and Sham 69. There’s also the usual trademark of quality from our friends at Slovenly Records and Rum Bar Records. Most intriguing to me, is the story behind “Get the Experience” by The Ex-Bombers. Band members Keri Cousins and Scott Walus are “rasslin’” fans, just as I am. Many of their late night drives after gigs have found them listening to legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette’s podcast, Jim Cornette Experience. Hearing that he was looking for a new theme song, the band quickly put together “Get the Experience”, and just this week they were informed that the song is now the official theme song of the show! Thanks to the band for not only sending me a copy of the song to air, but including a little interview segment telling the story. And once again, even thought the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series […]

the record party Episode 031

A very special family friendly record party for you to enjoy with the whole family. Hold your loved ones close and get loud and weird.
Do it.

MDC | War Is A Racket | I Am A Donut(Cleopatra)2023

Dead Pioneers | Dead Pioneers | Tired(Self Release)202…

the record party Episode 030

Another barn burner of punk, metal, rockabilly, and trash. Get off your butt and shake your ass
Do it.

Motörhead | Iron Fist | Speedfreak(Bronze Records)1982

Lich King | Do-Over | Hot For Teacher(Evil Eye Records)2014
Gama Bomb | Bats | Rusted Gol…

The Ledge #601: New Releases

It may be a new year, but there’s no change to the first episode of each and every month. Once again, I present to you over two hours of brand new music. Ok, there are a handful of tracks that actually came out a few months ago, but these are ne…

the record party Episode 029

We had so much fun playing hillbilly music last go around that I did it again. More honky tonk, rockabilly, & more to keep your ass shaking all night long.
Get on it.

Hellbound Glory | Old High And New Lows | Another Bender Might Break Me(Rusty Knuc…

The Ledge #600: Hudson’s Best of 2023

Choosing my favorite records of the year is always a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s great fun for a music nerd like me to revisit the hundreds of releases I’ve checked out the last twelve months. But it’s also frustrating trying to thin down those picks into a list that truly represents the past year. Many records that initially seemed a lock are suddenly eclipsed by new records that I simply can’t ignore. Other albums that I had prematurely set aside have revealed themselves to be chock full of fabulous tunes that I can’t imagine living without.  Overall, this is another great year for music. I’ll never understand the mindset of people, especially those around my age, that complain how there’s no great bands or records these days. Sure, the pop charts are primarily filled with garbage, and one does have to spend more time than ever finding new artists. But the search has always been a great part of the fun of being a collector, and my main reason I’ve now put together 600 episodes of this show is to share my findings with others. I’m always thrilled when I hear that someone has bought a record […]

The Ledge #600: Hudson’s Best of 2023

Choosing my favorite records of the year is always a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s great fun for a music nerd like me to revisit the hundreds of releases I’ve checked out the last twelve months. But it’s also frustrating trying to thin down those picks into a list that truly represents the past year. Many records that initially seemed a lock are suddenly eclipsed by new records that I simply can’t ignore. Other albums that I had prematurely set aside have revealed themselves to be chock full of fabulous tunes that I can’t imagine living without.  Overall, this is another great year for music. I’ll never understand the mindset of people, especially those around my age, that complain how there’s no great bands or records these days. Sure, the pop charts are primarily filled with garbage, and one does have to spend more time than ever finding new artists. But the search has always been a great part of the fun of being a collector, and my main reason I’ve now put together 600 episodes of this show is to share my findings with others. I’m always thrilled when I hear that someone has bought a record […]

The Ledge #599: Annual Christmas Extravaganza!

The Ledge #599: Annual Christmas Extravaganza!

Every year I spend the last few weeks of the year searching for new holiday songs for The Ledge’s annual Chirstmas special. Inevitably, every year I find more than enough songs to fill over two hours of broadcast time. This is the perfect soundt…

The Ledge #598: Best Reissues, Compilations, etc. of 2023

It’s the time of year for everybody to unveil their various lists of the best records of the year, so here is the unveiling of the first part of my lists. This week’s show features a countdown of my 20 favorite reissues, box sets, live alb…

the record party Episode 028

Tearing it up again with a whole mess of hillybilly music and punk rock. Pull up your drinking pants and get it on.
Get on it.

The Termites | Kicked In The Teeth | FTW(Crazy Love Records)2008

Hillbilly Casino | Three Step Windup | Stop Drop And Rol…

The Ledge #597: More Replacements Tributes

Two weeks ago, I put together a show centered around seven different tribute records celebrating The Replacements. A couple of days after that episode was released I was contacted by a fan who noted that I had missed a couple of these sorts of records. After a bit of scrambing, I discovered that indeed I forgot all about some great fan-based compilatons. Yes, that’s the beauty of tonight’s selections. These three records were unofficial collections of musicians that had come together via online fan boards. The first such set, Cover Me Impressed – Alt.Music.Replacements Tribute, is pretty self-explanatory collection of tunes compiled by a popular usenet group in 2002. The other two tributes, Bring Your Own Lampshade (2005) and Dead Man Fake: Bring Your Own Lampshade 2 (2009), came together through contributors on the wonderful Man Without Ties message board, and include both solo and band tracks written by Paul Westerberg. Highlighting both of those compilatons are tracks by our old friend Jeremy Porter.  Besides a handful of recently acquired tunes, the rest of tonight’s show features tracks from two fabulous new Cherry Red Records box sets, Looking For The Magic: American Power Pop In The Seventies and Into Tomorrow: The Spirit Of Mod 1983-2000. Cherry Red always […]

the record party Episode 027

Hot steaming piles of metal and punk for all of the metal punx out there. Two great tastes that taste great together.
Get on it and turn it up.

Dazey & The Scouts/Maggot/Wet(Get Better Records)2022

The Delta Bombers/The Delta Bombers/You Got To Los…

The Ledge #596: New Releases

It may be the final new release episode of the year, but there’s no drop in quality. As always, there’s the usual mix of punk, indie, power pop, alternative, and other genres. There’s a Rum Bar Records segment, along with new tunes f…

the record party Episode 026

Doing it again just like we did it last time. Get it while it’s hot?
Do it, hard.

Dazey & The Scouts/Maggot/Wet(Get Better Records)2022

The Delta Bombers/The Delta Bombers/You Got To Lose(Wild Records)2014
Marcel Bontempi/Witches, Spiders, Frogs, &…

the record party Episode 025

Another steaming pile of only the finest in punk and rock. Both at the same time. Dig in and let’s get weird.
Do it, hard.

Geza X & The Mommymen/You Goddam Kids!/I Hate Punks(Bacchus Archives)2002

The Weirdos/We Got The Neutron Bomb: Weird World Vo…

The Ledge #593: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The second part of this month’s new release series is admittedly dominated by cover tunes. Great bands such as Superchunk, The Feelies, Cruzados, The Routes, Hayley and the Crushers and the Rick White Archive are featured remaking classics by The Cure, The Minutemen, Buzzcocks, and others.  But the main focus of the covers blasted on tonight’s show is the brand new tribute album to, of course, The Replacements. Let the Bad Times Roll, and it’s definitely worth they hype. “December 2022 I was drinking at the Fishtown Tavern and ‘Can’t Hardly Wait ‘ came on the jukebox, and at that moment I knew this tribute to the Mats needed to happen,” Arik Victor from Creep Records says in a press release. “The next day, we invited all the bands we love.” Of course, tonight’s show is more than cover tunes. We have the return of The Alarm, the second 2023 album by bar italia, and wonderful material from the Netherlends, Australia, Italy, and other countries around the world. As for this week’s edition of “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks”, I admittedly discovered a real treat on YouTube. Baby Shakes have routinely performed the tune as an encore, and this live version I […]

The Ledge #590: S.W. Lauden Takeover!

The Ledge #590: S.W. Lauden Takeover!

A few days ago, power pop expert S.W. Lauden reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in helping promote his new book, Remember The Lightning – A Guitar Pop Journal, Vol. 2. Duh, of course as a big fan of Lauden’s writing I was honored at the request. But I had a better idea. I asked him if he’d like to take over the show for a couple of sets. So tonight’s episode includes eight tunes from bands covered in this fabulous book, along with Lauden’s commentary.But obviously that’s not tonight’s entire show, and honestly I had to do a quick change after news came out earlier this week that power pop legend Dwight Twilley had passed away. A big fan of is first hit, “I’m On Fire”, along with his comeback albums of the early 80s, I quickly put together some originals and covers to help tell the story of a man who deserved a better fate in the record business.It’s also story time on this week’s Ledge, as I recently attended the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not only was I honored to be a part of the induction of the publication I […]

The Ledge #589: New Releases (Pt. 2)

This week’s episode may be a sequel to last week’s new release broadcast, but unlike what usually happens in the film industry there’s no drop in quality. Just like last week, there’s plenty of power pop, Americana, garage rock…

the record party Episode 024

the record party Episode 024

A little bit all over the map this go around with a little bit of rock and a little bit of roll. From rhythm & blues, to rockabilly, to punk rock there’s something for the whole family. Go get grandma on the video phone and let’s get it on.
Dig in wi…

The Ledge #588: New Releases (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #588: New Releases (Pt. 1)

Once again, the music gods have put out so much great music these last few weeks that this month’s new release show has to be split into two episodes! This week includes glorious returns from Lydia Loveless, The Exbats, Martin Zellar, Jim Jones All Stars, and many more. But we also have a wonderful, heartfelt tribute to the late Justine Covault. “Sister In Crime” by Jay Allen and The Archcriminals takes a look back at a fabulous artist and label owner who tragically passed away earlier this summer. “This song is dedicated to the memory and written for one of my dearest and closest friends of the last 40 years, Justine Covault”, Allen said in a statement. “She was an amazing woman, who meant a lot to so many people and we lost her way too soon. For me she was more than a friend, she was my most ardent supporter, not just in music, but in life, bandmate, roommate, and for the last 7 plus years my co-host along with Tom Baker in our monthly residency, The Mess-Around. Her impact on our little Rock ‘n’ Roll village here in Boston is immeasurable. Not just as an artist with her […]

the record party Episode 023

Only posted up 2 weeks late, grab the newest one before it gets stale and moldy. Another 2 hours of the good stuff. No surprises here, just killer fucking rocknroll.
Grab it with both hands & let’s go.

Peter & The Test Tube Babies | Supermodels | Sh…

The Ledge #587: Third Quarter Report

The end of every quarter is a time to take a little look back at the last three months of new music. Tonight I present a little over two hours of the records that caught my attention during that period. There are returning legends (Graham Parker, Lucinda Williams, The Pretenders) who are sort of shockingly as great as ever. There are workhorses (Guided By Voices, The William Loveday Intention) that seem to have new tunes in every quarterly recap. There’s an archive project that is clearly a label of love for the family of Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkhouse. And, of course, there are sets devoted to our friends at Big Stir Records and Rum Bar Records, along with a nice heaping of new bands (or new to me, at least) that caught my attention.  As for the “52 Weeks Of Teenage Kicks”, I have a fun live version that I recently found on Bandcamp. Guitarist Davey Lane is in the current lineup of Australian greats You Am I, and he apparently got the gig after recording and touring with You Am I leader Tim Rogers in the late 90’s. Since it is the third quarter recap, I’m also giving another spin […]

The Ledge #586: Replacements’ Tim Box Set

How to talk about the new box set dedicated to one of my favorite records ever? I really can’t, to be honest, as there are tons and tons of articles floating around right now that I could never attempt to better. But let’s just say that Tim by The Replacements is certinly a record that I’ve never gone long without listening to since it’s release in 1985.Yet I must be honest when I say that my all time favorite Replacements record is actually the previous album, Let It Be, but I’ll concede that Tim is a better collection of songs. How is that possible? Let It Be had a powerful sound. Tim has always suffered from a thin, muddy mix that was certainly fine enough that it didn’t afffect my overall love of the record. I just preferred the beefier Let It Be.That opinion may now change thanks to the release of this new box set. Tim (Let It Bleed Edition) rights the wrongs of the record I’ve loved for close to 40 years. Ed Stasium, who was supposed to mix the original record, was hired to finally work his magic. And it’s wonderful. The drums are front and center. Tommy Stinson’s bass can actually be heard, and there’s little elements in […]

the record party Episode 022

the record party Episode 022

Available now for immediate consumption. Grab the newest dose, plug in, and play it loud.
Do it as hard as you can.

Dayglo Abortions | Two Dogs Fucking | Almost Cut My Hair(Unrest Records)1991

Drunken Rampage | Cause Punk Ain’t Pretty | Whiskey The…

the record party Episode 021

Another dose of the good stuff hot and ready for your listening enjoyment. Why are you still reading? Stop reading and just listen!
Get on up and get on down.

Cockney Rejects | East End Babylon | I Love Being Me(Randale Records)2012

The Darts | Me….

The Ledge #581: 2013

Generally speaking, when I do shows devoted to years of the past I go way back. Like, at the bare minimum 25 years, and as far back as 50 years. Looking at my shows from 2013, though, I decided tonight I’d do something a little different. Let’s go through some of my favorite records from only ten years ago. While I am one that believes there’s great rock and roll released each and every years (despite what many of my fellow oldsters proclaim), 2013 was even better than usual. There’s all sorts of lofi indie power pop from the likes of Mind Spiders, Bad Sports, and Fidlar. There’s the discovery of a wonderful up and coming songwriter named Lydia Loveless. There’s the second release by the reformed Superchunk (my favorite record of the year). And, of course, there’s also the return of The Replacements. Yes, this happened due to a tragedy, as Slim Dunlap had suffered a stroke the previous year. But what a joy to hear Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson quickly recording a handful of their favorite oldies. Even better was the Songs For Slim singles series which saw all kinds of Slim’s friends recording their favorite Dunalp […]

The Ledge #580: Some Stuff

Tonight’s show is a mishmash of primarily recent releases. There’s some material from great box sets. There’s a set devoted to a classic old live album and one brand new one. I’ve got a set from that great new tribute album, Jem Records Celebrates Ray Davies, along with more material from the tribute album I premiered last week, Goo Goo Muck – A Tribute to The Cramps. There’s also a Rum Bar Records set, and previews of new records by Graham Parker & The Goldtops, Tamar Berk, and others. It’s a show featuring a wide variety of genres that you only hear on shows like The Ledge. As for this week’s “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series, I have a mystery track by a band called The Shades. The cover is from the soundtrack to the Elle Fanning film, Teen Spirit, but I have yet to find out any information regarding the band. Could it be something cooked up in the studio by the film’s musical directors? Who knows? And like always, I must again plead with y’all for more versions of “Teenage Kicks”. If you are a musician, or have any contact with artists that could record their own take on the […]

the record party Episode 020

Just another record party. Nothing but good clean, rocknroll fun. Share it with your whole family.
Do it as hard as you can.

The Gits | Frenching The Bully | Another Shot Of Whiskey(Broken Rekids)2003

Vanilla Muffins | The Drug Is Football | Want S…

the record party Episode 019

Strap on those dancing boots and get moving with the next dose of vinyl move juice. Nearly two hours of punk, thrash, and filth to keep your ass shaking once again.
Get on it and turn it up.

Tall Boys | Funtime | Last House On The Left(Big Beat Rec…

the record party Episode 018

the record party Episode 018

Two solid hours of nothing but certified ass shakers! Come grab the newest and get yourself moving!
Get on it and turn it up.

Holly Golightly | Painted On | Length of Pipe(Sympathy For The Record Industry)1997

Dolly Cooper | Hey DJ Play Some R’N’R …

the record party Episode 017

New greatness for your perusal. Come grab your copy now and explore cultured discussions of rocknroll, genre pigeon holes, the beauty of communicating about sodomy, and more.
Get on it and turn it up.

Radio Birdman | Radios Appear | New Race(Sub Pop…

the record party Episode 016

the record party Episode 016

Doing it again as hard as we can. Two hours of psychobilly, punk rock, thrash metal, and everything inbetween.
Get on it and turn it up.

Thee Headcoatees | Ballad Of The Insolent Pup | Two Hearts Beating(Damaged Goods)1994

Tasteless | The Bad Tast…

The Ledge #573: Even More Miscellany

The Ledge #573: Even More Miscellany

This week’s episode is another show consisting of material I’ve been a bit obsessed with around the Hudson compound. The first half is primarily new or new-ish material. The tribute to Justine Covault continues with tracks off the brand new Justine and the Unclean album, The Signal Light, along with new tunes by Lydi Loveless, Kate Redgate, Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire, and a great Alice Cooper cover by veteran rockers Zero Boys. The second half of the show is dominated by older records that I’ve recently picked up. Many were originally owned by my buddy Phil who had his semi-annual record sale last weekend. But I also have included a couple of reissues of records that I’ve been trying to acquire for years. The Lyres On Fyre, for example, was the very first truly independant record I’ve ever owned, and I desperately needed a copy to replace the one I lost decades ago. And then there’s Double Nickels On the Dime, the classic double album by Minutemen. Going for big bucks on the used market, SST finally pressed some more copies, and I just could not resist!  Of course, there’s also this week’s installment in the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” […]

the record party Episode 015

the record party Episode 015

Another 2 hour slab of the good stuff again. Punk rock, ska, psychobilly, blues trash, and more in the newest record party for your earholes.
Get on it and turn it up.
MDC | Magnus Dominus Corpus | Let’s Kill All The Cops(Sudden Death Records)2004

C…

The Ledge #570: Holiday Playlist

“Shambolic” maybe an overused word when it comes to my favorite band, The Replacements, but it’s an apt term for tonight’s show. Or at least the first ten minutes. Yes, it’s a mini-disaster. After airing this week’s selection for the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series by The Vibrators, I talked about the fact that you can now purchase the version I world premiered last week by Jeremy Porter at his bandcamp. (http://jeremyporter.bandcamp.com).  In fact, please go purchase it now, as all proceeds go to the Hater Kitty Army. But after introducing a re-airing the tune, my broadcast program decided to completely rearrange my playlist and a completely different tune aired for a few seconds. I quickly fixed the issue, though, and everything was fine after that. Tonight’s show is a collecton of tunes that I’ve been listening to in my spare time. There’s a set devoted to my favorite rock and roll couple, Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric, inspired by “Do You Remember This”, a clever little tale of their relationship that may or may not be true. There’s a set that sort of centers around Johnny Thunders, beginning with a couple of Kinks songs before heading into a […]

The Ledge #528: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #528: New Releases (Pt. 2)

After last week’s special Record Store Day edition of the monthly “new release” show, we’re back this week with the more traditional type of broadcast devoted to brand new tunes. And, like usual, we’re all over the place when it comes to genres. There’s some great power pop. There’s a little bit of punk. A tad here and there of garage rock. And, yes, there’s some Americana.  But it’s not just the varied genres of the show. It’s the fact that this music comes from all over the world. From Australia to Germany to Canada to even my little city of Sioux Falls, SD. Yes, the first set of the show is devoted to a trio of great local bands – The Rose Quarter, Thought Patrol, and Off Contact – all of whom have wonderful records that are eithier already out or about to be released. As for the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks”, I have a cover that’s almost 40 years old but is still technically a new release. The version by Dawn Chorus & The Blue Tits initially came out on Stiff Records in 1985, but it has also now been included in a brand new collection of […]

The Ledge #567: New Releases, Pt. 1 (RSD Edition)

The Ledge #567: New Releases, Pt. 1 (RSD Edition)

Thanks to last week’s unseasonably chilly weather, I found myself hooking up a turntable to my podcast mixer. Over the course of the next few hours I dgitized the pile of records I had picked up on Record Store Day a few weeks ago. (Why do they no longer include download codes?) Once finished, I decided that this wonderful pile of music deserved it’s own show, and since the start of every month commences with a “new release” episode (or two), why not spotlight this music? Technically, these are all new releases as they came out on the same day, even if some of the music dates back sixty years. So that’s what we have tonight. Two hours of Record Store Day highlights. From garage rock compilations to long out print albums to live recordings to specially recorded rarities, tonight’s show is varied in not only years but genres. There should be something for everybody. But true new music fans should not worry, as next week’s second part will be a more traditional “new release”, and I have a ton of great material set aside for the show. Of course, the one non-RSD track is this week’s edition of the […]

the record party Episode 014

the record party Episode 014

Bringing in another 2.5 hours of the good stuff with brand newness from The Darts plus a mix of all of the greatest in garage punk, dirty sloppy punk rock, hillbilly music, and more
Get on it now and spread it to everyone you know.

Crazy & The Brain…

The Ledge #566: Twofers

The Ledge #566: Twofers

Tonight unveils a new sort of theme for a Ledge episode – Twofers! Everybody loves a twofer deal at the bar, so why not transfer the idea to rock and roll. (Yeah yeah yeah, I know radio stations have done this for decades. But it’s new to The Ledge!) The inspiration was a handful of great records that I’ve been paying a lot of attention to in the last few days. Last Saturday, for Record Store Day Sioux Falls (soon to be) legends Off Contact put out a few advance copies of their upcoming debut album, Pearls Before Swine. Of course I had to air some tracks off it! And then two days ago I received what may be my second-favorite power pop album of the year. Paint Fumes new record, Real Romancer, is chock full of great hooks accompanied by the sort of noisy guitars that everyone knows I love so much. Of course, I couldn’t resist airing tracks from the brand new albums of original punkers The Damned and former Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock. But it’s not all twofers on the show. There’s a “four-fer” of selections from the Record Store Day release of previously unreleased live Husker Du […]

The Ledge #564: 1988

The Ledge #564: 1988

The Ledge #562: First Quarter Report

The Ledge #562: First Quarter Report

As this is the last show of the first quarter of 2023, and even airing on the last day of the month, it’s only natural that we take a look back at some of the stunning new records released so far thsi year. It has been quite a year, especialy if you are a fan of guitar-driven music. Power pop, in particular, has made a great comeback this year, highlighted by the likes of The Whiffs, Local Drags, and Ryan Allen And His Extra Arms. But it’s also a great year for returning legends. Yo La Tengo, The Long Ryders, The Church, and Iggy Pop released their best albums in years. Billy Childish reunited the legendary Thee Headcoats for their first album in 22 years, and it’s a smoker! For this show, obviously, the main highlight comes from the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” subtheme, and we received thrilling news earlier this week. The very first person I contacted when I came up with this idea was Malibu Lou from Rum Bar Records. Obviously, I was hoping that he could convince some of his bands to participate (and I still hope they do). What I wasn’t expecting was for Lou […]

the record party Episode 013

the record party Episode 013

Lucky number 013 hitting with two hot pantloads of the greatest rocknroll on the planet.
Get on it and do it as hard as you can.
AJ Gaither OMB | Half-Lit & Whole-Hearted | Ain’t Enough Whiskey(Little Class Records)2012

Blitz | Voice Of A Generation…

The Ledge #561: More Home Plays

The Ledge #561: More Home Plays

Just like last week, this episode is primarily based around what I’ve been listening to in the Ledge home base over the last few days. Some of it is brand new material. Much of it has been old faves that span almost 60 years of great rock and roll. Overall, though, this show is primarily a showcase for old and new power pop. In the new category, there are fabulous new tracks by The Whiffs, Sharp Pins, Uni Boys, and The Trouble Seekers, along with “excavated” recordings by The Bings and Popsicko.  As for old faves, it’s a history lesson of sorts. There’s The Monkees and The Kinks from the 60s. The Jam, The Flamin’ Groovies, Nick Lowe, Graham Parker, and The Rubinoos from the 70s. The 80s are represented by the likes of The Barracudas,  Dwight Twilley, The Bongos, and Camper Van Beethoven. Maybe the 90s aren’t as highly represented, but there is “Tayter Country” by The Cavedogs, quite possibly my favorite song of 1980. As for the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks”, this week’s version comes from The Mahones, the legendary Canadian/Irish punk band that always features a quality cover or two on each of their albums. Their […]

The Ledge #560: Home Plays

The Ledge #560: Home Plays

This is another of those shows that really has no format. It’s pretty much a rundown of the music I’ve been listening to around the house the last couple of weeks. There’s some great reissued vinyl by Thee Headcoats, Beat Happening, Bottle Rockets, and others. There’s old faves pulled out of the stacks by the likes of Jason and the Scorchers, Hypstrz, Curtiss A, and (shockingly) The Replacements. But I also made room for some new tunes, highlighted by the return of Minneapolis faves High on Stress with their new single, “Over/Thru”. I have no word as of this point whether it’s a sneak preview of a new full-length album, but I’m obviously hoping that’s the case. Other new tracks include tunes by Huck 2, The Downhauls, Lone Wolf, and The Tearaways. As for the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks”series, I aired one of the more interesting remakes that I’ve found of this fabulous song. The story goes that at some point many years ago, former Young Ones star Adriam Edmondson “accidentally” bought a mandolin. After learning a few chords he began to play a few old punk rock faves. This led to him forming a Celtic-leaning band, The Bad […]

The Ledge #559: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #559: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The second part of this month’s new release series sees no drop off from last week’s extravaganza. In fact, it makes the case that 2023 is shaping up to be yet another great year of music. There are long-awaited returns by The Reverend Hor…

The Ledge #558: New Release (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #558: New Release (Pt. 1)

Once again, there is so much great new music coming out that this month’s new release show is forced to be split into two separate episodes. Tonight’s first part not only features the usual great tunes from labels such as Rum Bar Records and Big Stir Records, but is highlighted by an extended set from a record that will undoubtedly end up towards the top of my best records list at  the end of the year. That record is the latest by The Whiffs, Scrach ‘n’ Sniff. Simply put, this is everything that I love about power pop. The pop hooks are certainly there, but it’s the “power” portion of their sound that sets them apart from almost everyboyd else in that subgenre.  They aren’t just a power pop band. They’re a solid rock and roll band. I hope you love them as much as I do. I’m also pleased to have a set of local music this month. Yes, Sioux Falls, South Dakota does have a music scene, and tonight’s show features new music by Winter Hell, Thought Patrol, and Merry Martial. Please check out their bandcamp sites! And, of course, there’s also this week’s edition of “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks”. I have a great […]

The Ledge #557: 1998

The Ledge #557: 1998

It’s always shocking when you stumble upon tweets or articles noting the anniversary of beloved albums. You can’t help but wonder how something that seems like it came out yesterday is actually…well, old! That’s the case with tonight’s show. Every single song you hear is 25 years old. It’s just insane to me that some of my favorite Americana (Son Volt, Golden Smog, Drive-By Truckers), power pop (Sloan, Tommy Keene, Nada Surf), singer/songwriter (Elliott Smith, Silver Jews), and punk (Fugazi, Screeching Weasel, Bad Religion) records have hit this milestone. It just doesn’t feel like nostalgia As for the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” entry, I’ve got a fabulous rarity. 1998 saw the release of Scandal Controvery and Romance, the classic debut record by The Prissteens. To celebrate the 45th birthday of their A&R rep, Howard Thompson, the pressed up 45 copies of a tribute song called “Oh Howard!”. The b-side of this single was their Undertones cover that featured a few lyrical changes and retitled “Teenage Dicks”. (Both of these tracks were eventually reissued on 2020’s The Hound collection of rarities and demos.) Once again, I’m always actively looking for new covers of “Teenage Kicks”. Please don’t hesitate to create your own personal […]

The Ledge #556: More Miscellany

The Ledge #556: More Miscellany

This week’s show is once again a mix of old and new. There’s quite a few brand new releases highlighted, accompanied by quite a few records that I’ve found myself playing in my free time.  Which leads me to a question to my lovely listeners. For as long as I’ve done the show, the presence of “themes” has been a constant. Honestly, that’s how my brain works best for picking music. It gives me a reason to air a tune. Even the monthly new release episode is basically a theme that’s just like shows based on certain years or terms. Lately, I have sort of abandoned the theme and played these kinds of old/new mixes. Part of this is that due to the fact that I now report a top ten playlist every week to the Radio Indie Alliance. I know I can submit any ten tracks I play but I’ve been paying even more attention to new music than usual. So this is what I want to find out from you guys. Do you like these freeform type of broadcasts or should I revert back to having a weekly theme? The themes aren’t going away entirely, no matter what […]

the record party Episode 012

the record party Episode 012

Last month I had a record party and waited almost a whole ass month to post it up.
It’s this one right here. Come get the record party number twelve.
Lazy bastard.

Bombshell Rocks | City Rats And Alley Cats | Unstoppable(Burning Heart Records)2000

The Ledge #554: New Releases

The Ledge #554: New Releases

Everybody knows the drill by now. The first Friday of the month means it’s new release night at The Ledge headquarters (aka my bedroom). Somewhat weirdly, though, is that this February episode is technically the first new release show of the year. But that’s due to the Teenage Kicks subtheme necessitating a December 30 airing of the January new release show. Make sense? Speaking of “Teenage Kicks”, I’m so happy that this week’s submission is by Sixgun Republic leader Christopher Chancey! He’s got sort of a rockabilly vibe going through his little version, and I love the use of a piano! Chancey also submitted an old cover of “Sonic Reducer” his band put out back in 2007. Thanks Christopher!!! Do you have a version of this seminal tune to submit? Do you have a little bit of time you can set aside to record a track to air? Please submit it to me! I’m so blown away by the reaction to “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks”! A few bands have already promised to forward a submission in the near future, but the more versions the better! If you have any questions, please contact me at paulisded@gmail.com  For more information, including […]

The Ledge #553: Miscellany

The Ledge #553: Miscellany

Every now and then it’s nice to have a show without any real theme, and that’s what we have tonight. Instead, it’s really just a collection of records I’ve been listening to over the last few weeks, and interesting collection of various genres that represent over 50 years of great rock and roll. There’s a handful of recent releases side by side with all time classics. There are veteran bands that are brand new to me, and relatively new artists that I’ve been obsessed with over the last few months. Of course, there’s also this week’s selection for the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” subtheme. I’ve got a homegrown talent by the name of Link West, and his mainly acoustic version is a really nice change of pace. He also contributed a little piece of spoken word audio where he talks of his love of the song and his history of playing it in his original band in Columbus, Ohio. He describes the tune as “50% bubblegum, 50% booty call”. I can’t argue with that. Link West’s version marks a run of (at least) three straight weeks of listener contributions, but of course I always want more. Nothing would make […]

The Ledge #552: Covers

The Ledge #552: Covers

With my brain focused on “Teenage Kicks” covers these days, it seems natural for me to put together another show of nothing but covers of classics tunes from the past. And tonight’s show could not have been timed better, as today Kepi Ghoulie of the Groovie Ghoulies put our a fabulous covers record, Full Moon Forever. Plus I’ve uncovered a number of other great new remakes the last few days, including Juniper’s lofi redo of “James” by The Bangles, Devil Love’s lovely tribute to Big Star’s “Thirteen”, and a trip back to my childhood with Jenny Dee & The Deelingquent’s rousing “Fox On the Run”. But, of course, the main focus is on the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series, and tonight features the very first submission! It may be a bit fitting that said cover is by the one and only Malibu Lou at Rum Bar Records!!! Yes! He’s a huge fan, as you can tell by the accompanying email: “It’s one of my top 5 personal favorite songs ever. I covered it many years in many bands!! Here’s a demo version of Malibu Lou & The Attackers performing it circa 96 in NYC!!” I couldn’t be more thrilled, and […]

The Ledge #551: 1993

The Ledge #551: 1993

I have to admit that tonight’s show made me feel like an old man. Sure, I’ve done shows devoted to individual years on a regular basis, but I’ve fully understood that the songs featured on a broadcast like last week’s 1978 tribute were nostalgic looks at the past. But tonight’s show featuring (almost) nothing but tunes from 1993 didn’t feel like a nostalgia trip. These songs don’t feel like they are 30 years old. I swear they were released just a few years ago. Maybe it’s because I still have such a connection to records like Archers of Loaf’s Icky Mettle. Or the fact that Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” still packs the same punch it did back when it was released. Plus, I’ve obviously spent plenty of time with all of the solo albums released by former members of The Replacements. Even this week’s second edition of my “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” dates back to 1993, and in a weird sort of twist was the reason I came up with this idea. As I said last week, I had earlier realized that I owned quite a few versions of the song. But I had read on Facebook that a great […]

The Ledge #550: 1978

The Ledge #550: 1978

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been hinting that I’ll be starting 2023 with a big announcement. Well, tonight’s the night!In my eyes, “Teenage Kicks” is a perfect pop song; the greatest punk-inspired single of all time. Two minutes and 27 seconds of rock and roll at its finest. The sentiments are the same youthful expressions of the original rock and roll explosion of the 1950s. Instead of Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis boogie woogie piano, it’s buzzsaw guitars that accompany Undertones vocalist Fergal Sharkey’s desire for that “girl in the neighborhood” that he wishes “was mine she looks so good”. It’s the musical template later utilized by Husker Du, Pixies, Green Day, and hundreds of other pop-punkers for decades to come (for better or worse).Since I love the song so much, I have found myself collecting all kinds of versions over the years. In fact, a little glance at my master iTunes library a few months ago showed that I owned over 30 covers of this tune. Just two weeks ago, I discovered that a Minneapolis band I loved in the 90s had released a remake as a now rare b-side (more on that next week). With […]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 415 – January 2, 2023 [Part 1 of 2, “Jack Rabid’s Top 50 LPs of 2022 Countdown Shows!” Plus 10 Best Singles/EPs and 10 Best Retrospective Old Releases, Too! This Week: His picks for 2022’s Best LPs 50 through 26

The Big Takeover Show – Number 415 – January 2, 2023 [Part 1 of 2, “Jack Rabid’s Top 50 LPs of 2022 Countdown Shows!” Plus 10 Best Singles/EPs and 10 Best Retrospective Old Releases, Too! This Week: His picks for 2022’s Best LPs 50 through 26

This week’s show, after another 1788 Robert Burns homage: Part 1 of 2, Jack Rabid’s Top 50 LPs of 2022 Countdown Shows! [Plus:10 Best Singles/EPs and 10 Best Retrospective Old Releases, Too!] This Week: His Picks for 2022’s Best LPs 50 through 26 (and …

The Ledge #549: New Releases

The Ledge #549: New Releases

 I’m sure plenty of veteran Ledge listeners are confused right now. A new release episode at the end of the month? Aren’t those shows scheduled for the first Friday of the month? What’s going on here? Well, here’s the deal. I’ve come up with a sub-theme for 2023. This will be a yearlong theme that will affect every single show, and I have a main theme set up to introduce this next week. So 30 hours before 2023 begins, I started broadcasting the first 2023 new release episode as my final episode of 2022. Make sense? There’s really not much difference between airing it now and in seven days. Yes, there would inevitably be a few new tunes worthy of inclusions, but I’ll make sure the February episode is jam-packed. And, honestly, I was really excited to present to everybody a bunch of tracks from a brand new Replacements tribute album. Graduate Unskilled – Un Tributo ai Replacements, which can be found at this bandcamp site , is an intriguing nineteen track collection of Replacements cover tunes that I’m sure my Ledge listeners will love. Along side those tunes, there’s the usual mix of new power pop, garage, punk and indie rock tunes. […]

down in the basement Episode 011

down in the basement Episode 011

Let’s do it hard.
A holiday gift from me to you, 2+ hours the greatest rocknroll on the planet. Strap on your drinking pants. Pour yourself a drink. Burn the house down.
Git it now.

Hellbound Glory | Old High And New Lows | Hank Williams Records(Rus…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 414 – December 26, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 414 – December 26, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a 1947 Frank Loesser warble: brand new The Beths, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, House of Love, John Cale with Weyes Blood, Iggy Pop, and Annie Hamilton; plus Byrds, Eddie Cochran, Shocking Blue, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Hollies,…

The Ledge #548: Annual Rock and Roll Christmas Party!

The Ledge #548: Annual Rock and Roll Christmas Party!

The annual Ledge holiday special is probably the easiest show of the year to put together…but not for the reasons you probably assume. Yes, it would be a breeze to just cull tracks from the same favorite Christmas albums year after year. Nobody would even notice if I ever repeated a song or two. But I’m thrilled that year after year there is a plethora of new holiday tunes to check out. More and more artists put out Christmas albums. More and more labels put out new compilations. And, most importantly, more and more artists are using their bandcamp pages to put out surprise individual tracks that are quite often free! So this year’s show is, with a handful of exceptions, brand new tunes! If you enjoy great punk, indie, Americana, and power pop there should be something here for you. There’s also no silly novelty songs (well, maybe one). There’s no maudlin weepers. Musically, each and every song would fit at home on a “normal” episode of The Ledge. So crank this at your family gathering! I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve […]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 413 – December 19, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 413 – December 19, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after little Lemonheads-1996 trill: Andy Bell, Alvvays, Linda Lindas, Surf Rock is Dead, Tubs, and Motörhead; plus Procol Harum, Tom T Hall, Dennis Wilson, Dovers, Tom Lerher, Betty Everett, and Art Carney

The Big Takeover Show – Number 413 – December 19, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 413 – December 19, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after little Lemonheads-1996 trill: Andy Bell, Alvvays, Linda Lindas, Surf Rock is Dead, Tubs, and Motörhead; plus Procol Harum, Tom T Hall, Dennis Wilson, Dovers, Tom Lerher, Betty Everett, and Art Carney

The Ledge #547: Best Albums of 2022

The Ledge #547: Best Albums of 2022

Once again, this obsessive mind spent weeks and weeks overthinking this year’s list. Notes were taken. Records were spread out all over the living room. iTunes searches revealed some forgotten gems. But I can once again say that this was a fabul…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 412 – December 12, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 412 – December 12, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after little Caroline plays a Beths song on piano: TV Smith & the Bored Teenagers, Nils, DIIV, Mercvrial, Love Burns, and Downstrokes; plus Little Richard, Mar-Keys, Beatles, Lulu, Smiley Lewis, Keith & Tex, and Bobby Bare (Sr.); and …

The Ledge #546: Runners Up

The Ledge #546: Runners Up

The process of compiling my annual list of the year’s best albums rarely varies. It usually begins in mid-November with a combination of notetaking and mental obsessing. Then over Thanksgiving weekend I begin putting ideas into various categories that I couldn’t even try to explain. Finally, the first couple of weeks of December sees this list finally coming together. As you may expect, that initial list is much longer than the official post of the best of the year. There can be anywhere between 60 and 100 records vying for inclusion. This week’s show comprises the 31 records that were in consideration before that final cut. But that’s not to say that these records are not as good as my “chart toppers”. No, these days there’s a fine line between a what makes the top ten and what makes the lower rungs. All of these records are fabulous albums that deserve to be heard by everybody. This is why the first time ever I’ve put together this “runners up” 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, […]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 411 – December 5, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 411 – December 5, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a 1989 Stone Roses butcher: brand new Iggy Pop, Dot Dash, I Was a King, Bitter Defeat, Bye Bye Blackbirds, Well Wishers, and Jack Skuller; plus Moody Blues, Belairs, John Holt, Webb Pierce, Curtis Mayfield, Monkees, The Smoke, a…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 410 – November 28, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 410 – November 28, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a 1979 Wire trill: brand new Lauds, Carina Messier, Alvvays, Black Nite Crash, Guest Directors, Beths, and Weyes Blood; plus Esquerita, Pete Townshend, Howlin’ Wolf, Creation, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Del Shannon, a…

The Ledge #544: Power Pop, Pt. 2 (The Present)

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 Big Takeover Show – Number 409 – November 21, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 409 – November 21, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a 1990 Chills trill: brand new The Nils, Sloan, Startographers, Jack Skuller, I Was a King, Buzzcocks, and Brian Eno (with Darla Eno); plus Pretty Things, Barrett Strong, Neil Young, Culture, Hank Locklin, Astrud Gilberto, and D…

down in the basement Episode 010

down in the basement Episode 010

Here we go again
Bringing in another dose of the good stuff with almost 3 hours of punk rock, thrash, rockabilly, psychobilly, and more.
Git it now.

Motorhead | Hammered | Brave New World(Steamhammer)2002

Sham 69 | Borstal Breakout | Borstal Breako…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 408 – November 14, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 408 – November 14, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a new Beths warble: brand new Primitives, Bird Streets, Dazy, Alvvays, Beths, Laughing Chimes, and The Damned; plus Marvin Gaye, Poppy Family, Kiki Dee, Melodians, Pee Wee King, Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald, and Shirley Col…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 407 – November 7, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!; Special “Happy Birthday Caroline” Edition]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 407 – November 7, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!; Special “Happy Birthday Caroline” Edition]

This week’s show, after a 1968 Bee Gees weeper: brand new The House of Love, Wedding Present (with Amelia Fletcher), Sadies, Sansyou, Valery Trails, I Was a King, and Death Cab For Cutie; plus Arthur Alexander, Small Faces, Kitty Wells, Roscoe Holcomb,…

The Ledge #542: New Releases

The Ledge #542: New Releases

As always, first Friday means nothing but new releases, and tonight it’s an extended show featuring almost 2 1/2 hours of fabulous new rock and roll. And like always, it’s a wide mix of styles. There are bands that were formed just a few m…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 406 – October 31, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 406 – October 31, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a 1958 Chuck Willis/Jerry Lee Lewis melody: brand new Altin Gün, Party Battleship, Jack Skuller, Sloan, Robyn Hitchcock, Alvvays, and Beths; plus Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield, Tomorrow, The Choir, Buck Owens, Phil Ochs, and…

The Ledge #541: Halloween Spooktacular

The Ledge #541: Halloween Spooktacular

I may say this every year but it is worth repeating. Halloween is the ultimate rock and roll holiday. Like truly great rock and roll, Halloween is dangerous, controversial, and noisy. Religious idiots for decades have claimed both are associated with …

The Big Takeover Show – Number 405 – October 24, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 405 – October 24, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a 1982 Descendents refrain: brand new Beatles, Sloan, I Was a King, Wet Leg, Black Nite Crash, Robert Forster, and Sadies; plus Pete Ham, Little Willie John, Hank Snow, Fats Domino, Electric Light Orchestra, Guy Lombardo & His R…

The Ledge #540: Archival Releases

The Ledge #540: Archival Releases

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for box sets and other repackages of previously released material. I may be new release oriented, but I love a good set of odds and ends. Give me those unheard demos. Let me hear those old concerts.  Tonight’s show compiles those types of records. There’s unreleased material by a forgotten band that were contemporaries of the New York Dolls. There’s a new mixes of classic Dead Kennedys songs. There’s numerous outtakes by the likes of Wilco and Joe Strummer. And there’s also the recently discovered early recordings of future Velvet Underground tunes by Lou Reed. Plus, a ton of live releases from Todd Snider, Pixies, Soul Asylum, and others. 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, including setlists, […]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 404 – October 17, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 404 – October 17, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a 1989 House of Love warble: brand new The Nils, Astrid Williamson, Alvvays, Beths, Donovan’s Brain, Downstrokes, and Underbites; plus The Hollies, Ennio Morricone, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Jan & Dean, John Lennon, Willi Williams,…

The Ledge #539: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #539: New Releases (Pt. 2)

As I said last week. this is another month where there is so much great new music that it couldn’t be contained to one new release episode. So this is part two of this month’s series, and it’s dominated by veteran artists. Pixies, Of…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 403 – October 10, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 403 – October 10, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a brief 1979 Dickies revisit: brand new Weyes Blood, Ron Sexsmith, Damned, Black Watch, Daniel Wylie, I Was a King, and Reds, Pinks and Purples; plus The Beatles, Easybeats, John Phillips, “Little” Jimmy Dickens, Merseys, Derric…

down in the basement Episode 009

down in the basement Episode 009

Once again…
Over three damn hours of the good stuff going strong. All over the rocknroll roadmap with the best punk, rockabilly, ska, and more going long and hard.
Git it now.

War On Women | War On Women | Second Wave Goodbye(Bridge Nine Records)2…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 402 – October 3, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a brief 1978 Clash homage: brand new Alvvays, Beths, Wedding Present, Salim Nourallah, Fontaines D.C., Blue Herons, John Doe, and Martin Courtney; plus Shangri-Las, Joe Higgs, Cilla Black, Buckinghams, Smokey Robinson, Jimmie Ro…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 401 – September 25, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 401 – September 25, 2022 [Half Usual/Half a Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show, after a 1965 Beatles outtake trill: brand new Alvvays, Sloan, Death Cab For Cutie, I Was a King, Jack Skuller, Bird Streets, Black Nite Crash, and The Underbites; plus Pretty Things, Dennis Brown, Bee Gees, Chuck Berry, Doug Dillard &…

The Ledge #537: Twin\Tone Records

The Ledge #537: Twin\Tone Records

After the success of last month’s series on SST Records, it was only natural that I took a look at doing a similar series featuring another of my favorite record labels of the 80s. I’d actually been thinking about a Twin\Tone Records episode for a long, long time, so why not do it now? Many people think of only bands such as The Replacements, The Suburbs, and Soul Asylum when thinking about this label. Oh no, there is so much more. There is such a wealth that even this two hour episode misses out on some great, great releases. But I did what I could. Just like with the first SST episode, the initial 45 minutes or so are a chronological look at the label’s early releases. Singles by not only The Suburbs but Fingerprints, Curtiss A, and The Pistons. Later in the show I’ve got some favorite tracks by The Phones, The Magnolias, and The Feelies, along with an early release by The Jayhawks. I did refrain from including material from the many sub-labels that were in the Twin\Tone empire. Maybe that could be a future show? I would love it if every listener bought at least one record […]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 400 – September 19, 2022 [Special Lookback Show!]

The Big Takeover Show – Number 400 – September 19, 2022 [Special Lookback Show!]

This week’s show: a special “Show #400 Lookback”! with Swervedriver, Jet Black, Muffs, Idlewild, New Model Army, The Saints, Bevis Frond, Larry Williams, The Kinks, Prince Buster, George Jones, Mose Allison, Leonard Nimoy, Woody Guthrie, and more!

The Ledge #536: Covers

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 Big Takeover Show – Number 399 – September 12, 2022

The Big Takeover Show – Number 399 – September 12, 2022

This week, after a short till of 1980 Wipers: brand new Suede, Buzzcocks, Sleepyhead, Sansyou, Maximo Park, Martin Courtney, and live Jimi Hendrix Experience, plus The Attack, Flying Burrito Brothers, Troggs, Billy Gentles, Leaves, Anne Briggs, and The…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 398 – September 5, 2022

The Big Takeover Show – Number 398 – September 5, 2022

This week, after a 1979 Damned snippet: brand new Black Watch, Cowsills, Robyn Hitchcock, Proper, Off!, Fancy Logs in History, and Beremy Jets, plus Rolling Stones, Patsy Cline, Count Five, Walker Brothers, Fats Domino, Ernie K. Doe, and Benny Spellman…

The Ledge #534: New Releases

The Ledge #534: New Releases

You guys all know the drill by now. The first Friday of the month means it’s nothing but new releases! Yes, two hours of nothing but great new tunes, and we jump all over the place from power pop to post punk to garage rock to synth rock to&#823…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 397 – August 29, 2022

The Big Takeover Show – Number 397 – August 29, 2022

This week, after Jim plays & sings 1996 Sloan: brand new Damned, Tony Molina, Black Nite Crash, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Valery Trails, Archers of Loaf, and Salim Nourallah, plus Shocking Blue, Esquerita, Nancy Sinatra, Lee Hazelwood, Johnny Fortune, …

down in the basement Episode 008

down in the basement Episode 008

Doing a throwback to the days of the Thursday Night Wrecking Pit when Zorch and Gone Mental ruled the Thursdays
Somewhere around 2+ hours of psychobilly, garage, one man band and other assorted goodness for your face.
Git it now.

Mojo Nixon & Skid R…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 396 – August 22, 2022

The Big Takeover Show – Number 396 – August 22, 2022

This week, after Jim plays The Beths’ new single on piano: brand new Beths, Sloan, Death Cab For Cutie, Persian Leaps, A.M. Nice, American Darlings, and Graham Nash, plus Small Faces, Hank Williams (Sr.), David Bowie, Simon & Garfunkel, Prince Buster, …

The Ledge #532: SST Records (Pt. 1)

The Ledge #532: SST Records (Pt. 1)

When I was informed there was a new book about one of my favorite labels of the 80s, I just had to have it. Jim Ruland’s Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise & Fall of SST Records is every bit as great as I hoped. It really tells the controversil tale of not only label founder Greg Ginn, but the entire circus of bands and staffers that ran a label that launched the careers of dozens of legendry artists. It was only natural that I put together a show dedicated to these artists, but I quickly discovered this story could not be told in one episode. Tonight’s broadcast starts off with a chronological look at most of the label’s first 20 or so releases, followed by another hour spotlighting some of my personal favorites. While I still have dozens of records to sample for next week’s episode, if there’s any you feel needs to be included, please let me know! 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 Big Takeover Show – Number 395 – August 15, 2022

The Big Takeover Show – Number 395 – August 15, 2022

This week, after Caroline plays a Neutral Milk Hotel song on piano: brand new Alvvays, Newtown Neurotics, Reds, Pinks & Purples, Salim Nourallah, Buzzcocks, Sadies, and Grip Weeds, plus Los Shakers, Del Shannon, Beatles, George Morgan, Ronnie Hawk…

The Ledge #531: New Releases (Pt. 2)

The Ledge #531: New Releases (Pt. 2)

I may have called part one of this month’s new release series the “friends of the show” episode, but that mentality continues in part two as we have a nice set of tracks from our friends at Big Stir Records. We also have brand new tr…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 394 – August 8, 2022

The Big Takeover Show – Number 394 – August 8, 2022

This week, after Jim plays another Sloan song on piano in August: brand new Black Watch, Suede, Successful Failures, Off!, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Northern Portrait, and Goon, plus Magic Sam, Montage, Webb Pierce, Jeff Beck, Poppy Family, Neil Young,…

The Big Takeover Show – Number 393 – August 1, 2022

The Big Takeover Show – Number 393 – August 1, 2022

This week, after Jim plays Sloan on piano: brand new House of Love, Linda Lindas, Robyn Hitchcock, Interpol, Peel Dream Magazine, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, and Sadies, plus Joni Mitchell (with Brandi Carlile & friends), Ray Charles, Dave Clark F…

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