The Ledge #633: 1984
1984 was a magical year for your favorite podcast host. It was my senior year of college, and I had worked my way up the ranks to be the music director of KAUR. This was the perfect gig for me, along with the record store job I had in my spare time. Of course, gigs like this would mean little if the music business was in a bad way. But it wasn’t. It was one of the greatest years ever for the sort of material I loved. College rock was more popular than ever. British pop had moved away from the “New Romantics” garbage, and guitars were once again popular. Australia was again pumping out energetic rock and roll. And here in America, there was a grass roots movement that saw the beginnings of what would eventually become Americana, along with two labels, SST and Twin/Tone, that were regularly releasing classic records. It’s a holiday weekend, so why not celebrate the material that changed my life 40 years ago? These are all records I loved then, and still love today! Also, please head to YouTube and subscribe to our channel – Public Domain Classics 888. We have over 500 classic films […]
The Ledge #631: Inside The Hudson Compound
If you follow me on the ol’ Instagram, you may have noticed that every Saturday night I post a collage of my Last.FM stats that, for the most part, highlights the vinyl I’ve played in my home over the past week. So I figured why…
The Ledge #626: Laurie Lindeen Tribute & New Releases (Pt. 1)
Earlier this week, fans of Minneapolis rock and roll were stunned by the news that former Zuzu’s Petals leader Laurie Lindeen had passed away on July 1 due to a brain aneurysm. Besdies that wonderful 90s band, Lindeen later published her memoirs…
The Ledge #626: Laurie Lindeen Tribute & New Releases (Pt. 1)
Earlier this week, fans of Minneapolis rock and roll were stunned by the news that former Zuzu’s Petals leader Laurie Lindeen had passed away on July 1 due to a brain aneurysm. Besdies that wonderful 90s band, Lindeen later published her memoirs…
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 Ledge #607: Love Stinks
Anti-love songs is a rock and roll specialty. From the very beginning of the genre, writers with a poison pen have created a plethora of material that is not exactly Hallmark card material. Tonight’s show celebrates tracks of this time, highligh…
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 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 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 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 #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 […]
Live Ledge #376: 1984 American College Rock
A look back at quite possibly the greatest year in independent college rock and roll.
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 #208: Number Eight
Nothing but track eight’s to commemorate that we still have a couple days left in the eighth month of the year.
Live Ledge #198: Number 5
Since we’re in the fifth month of the year, why not a show dedicated to nothing but track five of some fantastic albums?
Live Ledge #194: Track 4
A simple premise – everything played tonight is the fourth track of the album they appeared on!
Live Ledge #166: 1994 Again
There was so much music and so little time last week that the 1994 theme has been expanded to this week’s episode.
Live Ledge #164: Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury of The Cult joins Live Ledge to promote his band’s upcoming Sioux Falls performance.
Live Ledge #126: 1988
Nothing but music from 1988 tonight, along with some commentary from Scott on his recent interview with Big Brother cast member Amanda Zuckerman.
Live Ledge #121: New Finds
July may have been a slow month, but August is looking great as we preview some great new releases!
Live Ledge #105: Then And Now
Two tracks per artist – one old and one new. It’s a simple concept, but fun!
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 #100: Falls Landing
To celebrate the 100th episode, Hudson took the show on the road to Falls Landing to play nothing but his favorite songs of all time.
Live Ledge #88: The In Crowd
A jam-packed show tonight, full of new tunes, blog finds, and discussions of the Hostess situation and the new Rolling Stones documentary, Crossfire Hurricane.
Live Ledge #87: More New Finds
Lots and lots of new releases and blog finds, plus Siri co-hosts a segment and picks a song.
Live Ledge #84: Anniversaries
This week marked plenty of rock ‘n’ roll anniversaries, both good and bad. We plow through them all.
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.
Live Ledge #72: Jukebox Hero
A new jukebox and a pile of new releases inspires this week’s show!
Rural Ledge-ucation #57: 3 Anniversaries & a Mick
We celebrate the anniversaries of 3 of R&R’s greatest albums, along with a discussion of Mick Jagger’s appearance on last night’s SNL.