The Ledge #706: Loud Loud Loud Loud Guitars
Everyone knows I love a good theme, and this brand new idea came earlier this month when I was playing the remastered version of Slim Dunlap’s “Loud Loud Loud Loud Guitars” on the new release episode. How about a show devoted to nothing but songs about guitars? Or even songs that mention guitars in the lyrics? This seemed to be an easy-peasy idea. But I wanted some input from my friends, especially for the songs that fit the theme that may not have the word “guitar” in the title. So I put up a post on Facebook, and the results greatly helped tonight’s show. Thank you to everybody who contributed to that post. As I was filling up the folder for this show, though, I quickly discovered that I had way more songs than I needed. This means that tonight’s show is part one of a two part series. Due to the March new release episodes, though, part two will not happen until the second half of the month. But I promise that episode will be as fabulous as tonight’s was. Do you have any songs to consider for the future episode? Which tracks did you enjoy the most this […]
The Ledge #703: New Releases Pt. 1
One of the few “rules” of the monthly new release series is that reissues aren’t generally considered for inclusion in these shows. But this is rock and roll, and there’s no real rules…especially when a former member of The Replacements is concerned. This story actually begins a few weeks ago when I saw a notice in Record Collector that there would be some sort of Slim Dunlap compilation coming out in February. A few days later, another UK music mag reported that this package would include remastered versions of his two albums PLUS bonus tracks! Then came the official announcement. Every Little Word indeed consists of both of his wonderful solo albums, plus another 80 minutes of bonus material! Yes, this is a set worth breaking my rules, so we start the show off with five of these rarities. After that it’s a typical new release episode. There’s plenty of “friends of the show”, including Numb Surprise, The Ex-Bombers, Rob Moss, and a double shot of Vista Blue. Speaking of double shots, there are previews of new albums by The Darts (US) and UltraBomb, along with great new albums by Sweet Reaper and Music City. What tracks did you dig […]
The Ledge #700: Lucky Number Seven
700 episodes of The Ledge? Who would have ever believed that to be possible? I certainly didn’t when I started this show way back in 2010. Podcasts were relatively new at this point, and I just assumed it would be a fun lark that would fizzle out within a few months. Even the format of the show was different back then. For the most part, I invited friends to pick out a dozen or so of their favorite songs, and we’d talk about them in between playing them. Everything changed when I linked up with RealPunkRadio. Suddenly this was a real radio show. Suddenly I had some labels and artists sending me music. These shows were primarily centered around elaborate themes, as that’s the way my mind thinks. There just HAS to be a reason to air a song. The themes still exist all these years later, but the concepts are much looser. Every month there’s a new release episode or two. I may celebrate certain years, or have all-covers broadcasts. But rarely do I go much deeper than that. Even tonight’s celebration isn’t exactly a deep thought concept. I figured pulling together over two hours of “track 7’s” would […]
The Ledge #669: Namedropping
Tonight’s show features the debut of a new theme. It’s a format that I’ve long considered trying out, and this week seemed like the perfect opportunity. Quite often, new albums that I’ve come across have included songs with a f…
The Ledge #585: Hudson Compound Playlist
This week’s show is another of those broadcasts where I simply air some of the records I’ve been playing around the house the last few weeks. There’s no real format outside of that, but you do get to enjoy almost 60 years of fabulous…
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 #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” …
Live Ledge #393: PW & Friends
This week’s show came about partly thanks to a Juliana Hatfield tweet of an old article about The I Don’t Cares, her 2016 collaboration with Paul Westerberg. Remembering how much I was charmed by that record, I spent the afternoon reacquaintancing myself to that release. Then it suddenly hit me. If I went through all the various names that Paul and the rest of the Replacements had used for their various projects I should be able to fill a full Live Ledge episode. It was actually much easier than I expected. In fact, we even went a few minutes over our usual two hour timeslot. I also tried to shy away from the obvious tracks. For the Replacements and even the solo Westerberg material I picked mainly some somewhat rare live tracks. Tommy Stinson’s set includes a little known Clash cover he did for Uncut Magazine. This show is meant to just be fun and not a representation of the musician’s greatest moments, together or solo.
Live Ledge #349: 2013
It’s not the usual nostalgic look at the past as we only go back five years on this episode, but there was so much great rock and roll that year.
Live Ledge #287: Odds and Ends
The shocking death of Soundgarden leader Chris Cornell is covered, along with a mish mash of various tunes and a ton of Slim Dunlap covers.
Live Ledge #213: Number Ten
Continuing the series of shows devoted to track numbers, tonight’s show is nothing but the tenth tune off favorite old and new releases.
Live Ledge #195: Record Store Day
Host Scott Hudson shares some of his Record Store Day haul, along with a discussion on the latest Replacements’ shows!
Live Ledge #168: Replacements Covers
To prep for next weekend’s Replacements concert in St. Paul, tonight’s show is nothing but covers of the legendary band.
Live Ledge #150: New Releases
The first Friday of the month means it is time to review and preview brand new music!
Live Ledge #122: Covers
It’s a show of nothing but covers, including a commemoration of the anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley.
Live Ledge #116: Replacements Reunion
An almost all-interview show, with Gorman Bechard chatting about the Replacements reunion, and members of Cursive and Teenage Bottlerocket promoting upcoming Sioux Falls appearances.
Live Ledge #103: Dave Pirner
A very special episode of Live Ledge, highlighted by a phone interview with Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner!
Live Ledge #102: Songs For Slim
Tonight’s show debuts the entire new Replacements EP, Songs For Slim, along with the original versions of the covers. Plus, tracks from future Songs For Slim contributors.
Live Ledge #101: New Finds
It’s that time of the month again – almost nothing but new releases and blog finds, including one of the tracks from the upcoming new release by The Replacements!
Rural Ledge-ucation #73: Happy Birthday Tommy Stinson
Yesterday was Tommy Stinson’s 46th birthday, so it is only natural for us to celebrate it with music from all periods of his career.
Live Ledge #81: Family Tree
Besides the usual new releases, blog finds, and old faves, tonight’s show features a number of “family trees” – sets that include spinoffs and solo projects of some of my fave bands.
The Ledge #89: High On Stress
Minneapolis roots-rockers High On Stress are interviewed and they also picked this week’s tunes!
Rural Ledge-ucation #45: New Releases
Along with an update on Slim Dunlap, today’s show features primarily new and recent releases.
Live Ledge #54: Get Well Slim!
A busy show – besides a tribute to former MC5 bassist Michael Davis there’s lots of time devoted to wishing former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap a speedy recovery.
