Show #36 July 10, 2010

Dedicated to Renee...
and for Tommy, and Pete and Andy


Renee- Hoehn & Duren Blue Orange
I Will Dare- The Replacements Let It Be
Come And Take Me Tonight- Loaded Dice No Sweat
Call My Name- Dirty Angels Dirty Angels
Faded Portraits- Critical Mass It's What's Inside That Counts
Baby Baby- The Vibrators Pure Mania
You're What I'm Looking For- Rooney Eureka
All I Can Do- The Jolt You're Cold 7"
^I Think We're Alone Now- The Rubinoos Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About
Rock Problems- The Hold Steady Heaven Is Whenever
Hello Mr. Johnson- The Shades Shake Some Action Vol. 4
Every Minute- The Grip Weeds Infinite Soul: The Best of
My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms- Tuff Darts! Tuff Darts!
Baby Please Believe Me- Pete Holly & The Looks Baby Please... 45
*American Beat '84- The Fleshtones It's Super Rock Time!
*American Fun- The Stompers The Stompers
*American Kix- Candy Whatever Happened To Fun
*So American- The Mutants So American 45
Hideaway- The Finders Calling Dr. Powerpop
I Wanted To Tell You- Matthew Sweet Girlfriend
Well You Never...- Sex Beatles Well You Never 45
Hush Hush- The Plimsouls Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal
Grown Up Age- The Bureaucrats Feel The Pain 7"
The Coast Is Always Changing- Maximo Park A Certain Trigger
>All Of My Friends Were There- The Kinks The Village Green Preservation Society
Dream Girls- Modulators She's So Cynical 7"
Windy Beach- Battered Wives Cigarettes
Bechamel- Pernice Brothers Goodbye, Killer
Mustard Sally- Chino Mala Leche

^Power Pop Peak: #45 Billboard Hot 100 3/5/77

*SacroSet: America Songs

>Power Pop Prototype: 1968

For the most part I'm okay with growing older. It sucks having to get up during the night to go the bathroom and I'm no longer able to ride centrifugal force carnival rides like Tilt-O-Whirl and The Sizzler but generally I'm doing okay and as the punchline from the old joke about aging goes: "it's better than the alternative." Thanks to running and cycling I don't feel much different than I did fifteen or twenty years ago. I also still have most of my hair, so I've got that going for me.

At the same time, it's impossible not to feel old when so many of the singers and musicians you grew up with are dying. Drug and alcohol related deaths like Dee Dee Ramone's and Johnny Thunders' have been part of rock & roll from the beginning. But for me, things started changing with Joey Ramone's death in 2001. Even so, he'd been fighting cancer for seven years so it wasn't a shock. Joe Strummer's death the following year, however, was like a kick in the stomach- he is a hero of mine and, what made it even worse, was in the midst of a musical renaissance with his band the Mescaleros.

Maybe because All Kindsa Girls has me paying more attention, but 2010 already seems like a deadly year for musicians I like. The first three months of the year marked the passing of Jay Reatard (1/13/10), Doug Fieger (2/14/10) and Alex Chilton (3/17/10). Six weeks later we lost Will Owsley (4/30/10). When I was preparing this week's show my friend Brian sent an e-mail lamenting the death of original Kinks bass player Pete Quaife (6/23/10), which I noted with this week's Power Pop Prototype "All My Friends Were There" from the The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society, his last record with the group. Then a day later I read that Memphis singer-songwriter Tommy Hoehn (6/24/10) is gone (that's his picture above and tonight's dedication song "Renee" is one of my favorites from his time playing with Van Duren). Now, when I finally get to this post I see another member of Big Star, bass player Andy Hummel (7/19/10), has died. That makes four Memphis musicians (Reatard, Chilton, Hoehn, Hummel) dead in 2010 and the year has over four months to go! WTF!!

When my wife Jaime gets into one of her dark moods she'll ask me "is this all there is to the second half of life- your body falls apart and people you love start dying?" Now I'm a "glass is half full" person but I see what she means; I guess death is going to be a much bigger part of our lives from here on out. Since we don't really have a say in the matter we're just going to have to accept it, but that doesn't mean we have to like it. I have to admit it was starting to get to me on this week's show though when after The Kinks I played Chino (featuring Alex Soria who killed himself on 12/13/04) and had Jim Carrol (heart attack, 9/11/09) cued up. I actually said something like "I promise no tributes to dead people next show," but as my friend Jeff once said, that sounds like "throwing a glove down before the Gods," so I take it back.

I loved the TV show Six Feet Under and one of the lines I remember most was Nate Fisher's response to the question "Why do people die?" He said: "To give life meaning." I think he's right- the ticking clock provides a sense of urgency. Otherwise death is just a cruel joke and I can't believe that. So, Rest In Peace Andy, Tommy and Pete- thanks for all the great music guys.

You can download Hour 1 of tonight's show here (Right click and "Save Target As"): http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-07-10__20_59_57.mp3


And here is Hour 2: http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-07-10__21_59_57.mp3

Show #35 June 26, 2010

For Mary Anne and the Woodland Star Class of 2010

Mary Anne- Marshall Crenshaw Marshall Crenshaw
Good Times- The Easybeats The Definitive Anthology
Jacquline Susann- Pernice Brothers Goodbye, Killer
Bish Bash Bosh- Jook Different Class
Back In The Working Class- Panic Squad Panic Squad 12" EP
In The Night- Back Seat Romeos Zero Ambition 7"
If You Tried- The Fastbacks ...And His Orchestra
Teenage Days- Hilly Michaels Calling All Girls
^What Do All The People Know- The Monroes The Monroes
Radio Love- The Breakers Radio Love Single
Evil Change Of Seasons- The Infidels The Infidels x4
All or Nothing- Rooney Eureka
Best Friend- The Gangsters Shake Some Action Vol. 3
Cry A Little- The Chicaynes Further Thoughts Single
*On The Beach- Raspberries Side 3
*On The Beach- The Producers On The Beach 45
*On The Beach- The Revillos Rev Up
*On The Beach- SVT Extended Play
Crackin' Up- Hoodoo Gurus Purity Of Essence
I've Got A Girl (I Can Count On)- Jim Freeman & the Golden Gate Jumpers Romantic
(I Never Loved) Eva Braun- The Boomtown Rats A Tonic For The Troops
Rendezvous- Greg Kihn Most Fun You Can Have with Your Clothes On: Beserkley Story
She Goes To Finos- The Showbiz Kids She Goes To Finos Single
Take It or Leave It- The Runaways The Best of the Runaways
>Romeo & Juliet- Michael & The Messengers Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era
Second Floor- DM3 Dig it the Most
December- Teenage Fanclub Bandwagonesque
Keep On Thinkin'- Sloan Navy Blues
We're Too Young- The Boys Titan: It's All Pop!
Don't Moonlight On Me- The Flys See For Miles (1978-1980)
Lie To Me- Dirty Looks Dirty Looks
My Junk- Spring Awakening Spring Awakening: A New Musical
Wont Make It Hard- Fools Face Tell America
We're Going To Be Friends- The White Stripes White Blood Cells

^Power Pop Peak: #59 Billboard Hot 100 5/29/82

*SacroSet: Four Songs "On The Beach"

>Power Pop Prototype: 1967

Earlier this month my son Jack graduated from the 8th Grade at Woodland Star Charter School. Though we had little doubt he would, this was still a momentous occassion in the Love household. The class shared songs and verses they'd learned in each year at the school and sang a beautiful version of The White Stripes "We're Going To Be Friends," which is the sign-off song on tonight's show. Jack's teacher Mr. Harrington asked me to give the Parent Address at graduation- here's what I said:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'd like to thank Mr. Harrington and Ms. Reilly for inviting me to speak this evening- it's an honor to be here. Tonight we celebrate the graduation of Woodland Star Charter School’s Class of 2010, which, after two years of kindergarten and eight years through the grades, I consider to be the school’s first fully matriculated class, though Johnny Graham may disagree with me on that one. These young men and women of the Class of 2010 rock, it’s true, but more on them in a moment.

First, I want to acknowledge another important group tonight. For these older men and women, this moment is the culmination of up to ten years’ work. Ten years of building, sanding, painting – landscaping, planting, harvesting – knitting, stitching, crocheting - helping, supporting, encouraging and of course the all-important fundraising. These are just a few of the tasks these people have performed on behalf of the school and the class of 2010. Please stand as I quickly read your names and audience, please hold your applause until I’m finished:

(I read a list of names here)

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you the PARENTS of the Woodland Star Class of 2010.

A Graduation ceremony is a time to think big picture. To think about the world we are leaving for those who come after us- our legacy, their future. The challenge is that the “future” isn’t what it used to be. Fifty years ago our future was consumer space travel, housecleaning robots, the end of disease, and flying cars. Now, thanks to our media’s fear-based marketing in the 24-hour news cycle, discussion of our future is likely to include terrorism, deadly viruses, global warming, and if it’s a slow news day, maybe even killer bees. Author Chuck Palanhiuk sums up this shift in perceptions of our future in his book Invisible Monsters, asking the question: “When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?”

Seriously. “When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?” I ask you, as a society, where did our optimism go? And I’m not just whining because I’m still waiting for my rocket car and robot butler.

War, ignorance, poverty, climate change- these global problems are bigger than all of us. And yet, I’m optimistic about our world in large part because of all of you. As a community we’ve come together to find small solutions for these big problems. Small solutions for big problems. In our classrooms, students learn about history, about compassion, about respect for one another and for our planet. For ten years I’ve watched the students in the class of 2010 grow into the fine young men and women seated before you tonight. I consider myself lucky to have been with them:

in Kindergarten during Miss Monnica’s Easter Egg Hunts at what Jack then called the Teepee School;

in the 4th Grade under the bark houses at Indian Grinding Rock State Park, where we went on to see the Locke Lady’s infamous Toilet Bowl Garden;

and in the 8th Grade laughing alongside at Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s unbelievably funny production of The Servant of Two Masters.

In contrast with his downer quote about the future I read earlier, Chuck Palahniuk writes in his novel Choke: "We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sinners. Heroes or victims. Letting history tell us how good or bad we are. Letting our past decide our future. Or we can decide for ourselves. And maybe it's our job to invent something better."

Shortly after one of Jack’s class field trips, the same year my daughter Veronica started as a Morning Glory kindergartener, I was inspired to write a song about our school community. Don’t worry; my guitar is still safely in its case at home. But I do want to tell you that the chorus of the song included these words: “If we stop history from repeating itself, we’ll save the world one family at a time.”

One family at a time. Small solutions for big problems. Everyone says “the world’s a mess, but its problems are so big what can you do about it?” This community has done something about it. Ladies & Gentlemen from the bottom of my heart I thank you for The Woodland Star Class of 2010.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can download Hour 1 of tonight's show here (Right click and "Save Target As"): http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-06-26__20_59_57.mp3

And here is Hour 2: http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-06-26__21_59_57.mp3

Show #34 June 5, 2010

My Bonnie lies over the ocean...

Bonnie- Big Dipper Supercluster: The Big Dipper Anthology
This Far Before- Material Issue International Pop Overthrow
Burnt Orange- Hoodoo Gurus Purity Of Essence
I Want You- The Moberlys Sexteen
Your Imagination- Shoes Shoe's Best
Every Night Of The Week- Seventeen A Flashing Blur Of Stripped Down Excitement
You Were So Warm- Dwight Twilley Band Sincerely
Talk About Nothing- Farrah Moustache
^Found Out About You- Gin Blossoms New Miserable Experience
Way Out World- Shrapnel Go Cruisin' 7''
La La La- The Cavedogs Joy Rides for Shut-Ins
Cool City- The Cute Lepers So Screwed Up
Why- The Strand Seconds Waiting
I Wanna Get Married- De Cylinders I Wanna Get Married Single
*Phenomenal World- The Orbits Make The Rules 45
*Tell It All- The Wigs File Under: Pop Vocal
*When I Was Younger- The Shivvers Teen Line 45
*Body Language- The Haskels Haskels The E.P. 7"
Tall Trees- Crowded House Woodface
Culture Shock- Shake Culture Shock 10" EPTreat Me Right- Sass Radio 45
No Promise- The Flashcubes Bright Lights
Have You Seen Her- The Colors Rave It Up EP
After The Fire- Little Murders Stop Plus Singles 1978-1986
>Mama Weer All Crazee Now- Slade SladestEmpty Faces- Push Ups Empty Faces 45
Waiting To Shine- Adam Schmitt IlliteratureHeartache- Protex I Can Only Dream 7''
Ultimato- Crackers Sir Crackers!
Looking Forward to Destroy- Mad Turks Cafe Istanbul
Someday's Gonna Come- The Reducers Cruise To Nowhere
This Is The Way- The Stilettos Shake Some Action Vol. 3
Sticky Sweet Girls- The Zeros 4-3-2-1-The Zeros
Are You Sleeping- Hoodoo Gurus Purity Of Essence

^Power Pop Prototype: #25 Billboard Hot 100 1/15/94

*SacroSet: Milwaukee Early 1980's Power Pop

>Power Pop Prototype: 1972

Let's face it- All Kindsa Girls is NOT a new music  radio show. So it seems like an embarrassment of riches to have not only a new Hold Steady album but also a new one from The Hoodoo Gurus (who are pictured above). Being on the other side of 50 hasn't dulled Dave Faulkner's pop sensibilities any, in fact some of the ballads on the record are as good as any he's written. There is also a scorching song about getting older called "Burnt Orange" that I played tonight:

When I was 17 my blood was gasoline

No matter where I turned, I got my fingers burned
I wouldn't go back there if I could

But then I turned 21, no fear of anyone
I always let them know if they were friend or foe
I wouldn't go back there if I could

I remember very well, way back then I went through hell
Always thought I was smart, never played it from the heart

I never listened to my Daddy's point of view
And though I wish I had, things they turned out so bad
I wouldn't go back there if I could

When I was in my teens and early 20's I used to hate the Rolling Stones and other groups that were still touring despite becoming musically irrelevant. I'm sorry but a 12" Disco Mix of "Miss You?" Or how about "Emotional Rescue," which to me makes Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music sound like London Calling. Part of the problem was people were listening to these dinosaurs when I thought they should be listening to something new, like say London Calling. Another thing I disliked was how the Stones were trying to ignore the passage of time, especially Mick at 45 jumping around like an anorexic teenage girl. I've since mellowed quite a bit and fully admit that taking Jack to see AC/DC in 2008 was the equivalent of going to any Rolling Stones tour after 1976. Furthermore, while nowhere as skinny as Mick, I have been known to jump around the stage while playing with my band The Dadz.

One of the things I find so cool about Dave Faulkner and The Hoodoo Gurus is that they acknowledge the passing of time and their songs benefit from the different viewpoint of guys who have been around a few years. Craig Finn and The Hold Steady do the same thing- they aren't afraid to act their age but still rock...hard. Hopefully these guys are exploding the myth that rock and roll is only a young man's game.

Click to stream this show, or to download right click and "Save Target As:"
ALL KINDSA GIRLS #34

Show #33 May 22, 2010

Alison- my aim is true....


Alison- Elvis Costello My Aim Is True
Imposter- The Moondogs Imposter Single
Benediction- The Weakerthans Live at Burton Cummings Theatre
Crystal Girl- Slaters The Big Black Bug Bled Black Blood
Damn- Research Turtles Research Turtles
Dirty Girl- The Krinkles 3 - The Mordorlorff Collection
Please Believe Me- LMNOP Elemen Opee Elpee
Outta My Mind- Puppet Rulers Shake Some Action Vol. 2
^Everyday I Write The Book- Elvis Costello Punch The Clock
I Forgot Who I Forgot Who I Was- Psycotic Pineapple Where's The Party?
Pirate Love- Heartbreakers L.A.M.F.
Wrap Up The Rockets- The Freshies Wrap Up The Rockets Single
New Teller- Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers 23 Great Recordings
Lips Are Sealed- The Front Lines Where Do We Go From Here? EP
*Big Tears- Elvis Costello & The Attractions Pump It Up 7"
*Crawling To The USA- Elvis Costello & The Attractions Americathon Soundtrack
*From Head To Toe- Elvis Costello & The Attractions From Head To Toe 7"
*Clean Money- Elvis Costello & The Attractions Clubland 7"
No One Else- Weezer Weezer
Soul Redeemer- The Motors Airport - The Motor's Greatest Hits
Let's Away- The Shazam The Shazam
Amsterdam- Stew Passing Strange (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Barely Breathing- The Hold Steady Heaven Is Whenever
Mystery Date- The Bees Mystery Date EP
>Mystery Dance (Demo)- Elvis Costello Honky Tonk Demos
High School Never Ends- Bowling For Soup The Great Burrito Extortion Case
Teenage Treats- The Wasps Teenage Treats 7"
It Doesn't Matter- Strangeways! Powerpop!
Everywhere That I'm Not- Translator Heartbeats And Triggers
Started- Big Kid All Kidding Aside
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding- Elvis Costello & The Attractions Armed Forces

^Power Pop Peak: #36 Billboard Hot 100 8/20/83

*SacroSet: Elvis Costello & The Attractions B-Sides & Rarities

>Power Pop Prototype: 1976

"BIG NEWS! This weekend some Power Pop Royalty comes to town when Elvis Costello plays the Sonoma Jazz+ Music Festival! (Elvis isn’t really Power Pop and there’s no “jazz” at the festival but why get hung up on labels- for our town this is BIG NEWS!) Elvis Costello & The Sugarcanes close out the weekend with a Sunday night show ."

When I wrote this in the bi-weekly All Kindsa Girls e-mail I was fully intending to go and see the show (the picture of Elvis above was taken that night). The (Mighty) Bulldogs, the softball team Nica plays on and I coach, were playing in a tournament that weekend and the field is right beside the Jazz+ tent. During one of our Saturday games we got to hear Earth,Wind & Fire sound check "Boogie Wonderland" which was very cool. Here's the thing though- it was a double elimination tournament and we lost our first game on Saturday. That means on Sunday, the day of Elvis' show, we had to keep winning to keep playing. We won the first game at 10am, ending The Aztecs' season, then we sent The Hurricanes home at Noon. We beat The Cougars at 2pm but since that was their only loss, we had to play them again at 4pm. By that time the girls are completely worn out and despite a late inning rally, we lost the fourth game and took second in the tournament.

So, four softball games followed by the medal ceremony and end of the season party- I was a dead man walking (and I didn't even have to play.) That's not the whole story, though. You see that Sunday night was also the series finale of LOST. It's one of my favorite TV shows and something Jaime and I, with Jack joining in Season 4 or so, have been watching for years. What it comes down to is this: Elvis Costello was playing a mile from my house and I didn't go because I was tired and there was something good on TV. I have no doubt that my 20 year old self would stomp my 45 year old ass at this affront. In my defense though, LOST was awesome that night...

I'm happy to say I did get into The Fillmore to see The Hold Steady earlier this month. It was a great show, but not the life changing experience I had last time I saw them in 2008. Franz was a goofball but he added a lot to the live show and I missed seeing him up there. I also don't like the new record as much as Stay Positive, which has become one of my all-time favorites. Still, seeing The Hold Steady always reinforces my belief in the power of rock & roll and we all need more of that in our lives.

One other thing about this week's show. I downloaded an album by a Lake Charles, LA band called Research Turtles and played a song from it tonight. You may think that "Research Turtles" is a very dumb name for a rock & roll band and you'd be right. Yet, thinking about it more, it's probably pretty important to have the kind of name that is easily searchable on the Internet these days. I was trying to find some information on The Bees, another group I played tonight, and it was tough going. In the future perhaps bands will choose a name by simply picking a few random words that will quickly come up in search engines. You can't get much more random than "Research Turtles." (You can download their debut album for free at: http://researchturtles.com/)

You can download Hour 1 of tonight's show here (Right Click and "Save Target As"): http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-05-22__20_59_57.mp3

And here's Hour 2: http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-05-22__21_59_57.mp3

Show #32 May 8, 2010

For Leslie and All Kindsa Guys!



Leslie- Robert Johnson Close Personal Friend
We Got Something- Tinted Windows Tinted Windows
Get Over You- The Undertones The Undertones
Anything For My Baby- Kiss Dressed to Kill
Our Whole Lives- The Hold Steady Heaven is Whenever
To Be A King- Any Trouble Wheels In Motion
20th Century Boy- T-Rex The Very Best Of T-Rex
Useless- Denzil Pub
^Joey Concrete Blonde Bloodletting
To The Bone- The Sunnyboys The Sunnyboys
This Modern Love- Bloc Party Silent Alarm
It Hurts- The Zippers A Six Song Mini Album
On My Own- The Three O'Clock Sixteen Tambourines
Always Comes Back- SVT Extended Play
*Frederick- The Patti Smith Group Wave
*Terry- Farrah Moustache
*Denis- Blondie The Complete Picture
*Jerome- Ruth Ruth The Little Death
Modern Kicks- The Exploding Hearts Guitar Romantic
I Don't Want To Live Without You- Tom Dickie & The Desires The Eleventh Hour
Coast To Coast- Ducks Deluxe Glitterbest
Have An Idea- The Heats Have An Idea
Catch Me- The Jetz Catch Me 7"
No Thugs In Our House- XTC Fossil Fuel The XTC Singles 1977-92
>Louie, Louie- The Kingsmen Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era
Weekend Love- The Hollywood Stars The Hollywood Stars
Obsession- The Last Fade To Black
Sight & Sound- Chris Von Sneidern Sight & Sound
Red and Grey- Neats 1981-84 The Ace of Hearts Years
We Can Get Together- The Hold Steady Heaven is Whenever

^Power Pop Peak: #19 Billboard Hot 100 8/18/90

*SacroSet: All Kindsa Guys

>Power Pop Prototype: 1963

I'm always on the lookout for songs for All Kindsa Girls' weekly features, so I've been collecting "guy" songs for a while now. The funny thing is, I had already picked Robert Johnson's "Leslie" as this show's dedication and only just now realized that it's a guy's name as well (the actors Leslie Nielsen and Leslie Howard, guitar player Leslie West, etc.) There's no doubt that Robert Johnson is singing about a girl, but I think it's still kind of a cool coincidence.

For the All Kindsa Guys theme, I went with the same "rule" as the girl dedication song for each show- the title must be limited to a male name. I realize I cheated a little bit on "Louie Louie" tonight, since it repeats the name, but how could I not play that record, it's one of the greatest guy songs of all time. The Kingsmen recorded "Louie Louie" in one take; the whole session was only an hour and that included recording the b-side. I especially love how singer Jack Ely comes in early after the guitar solo and they left this mistake in the final mix. Since the slurred lyrics were largely unintelligible, the powers that be decided they must be obscene and the record was banned on many radio stations and in the state of Indiana. The FBI even investigated- how awesome is that!

My daughter Veronica joined me in the studio when I recorded this week's show and that's her you hear helping me sign-off with a "Goodnight Leslie." As we were finishing up in production, Ken Brown was in the main studio doing "Que Pasa Sonoma" with his co-host, who happens to be named Leslie. Now, Leslie is very pretty and her attractiveness is amplified by its contrast to her surroundings. I don't know if you've ever spent much time in sweaty college/public/community radio stations but I can vouch for the fact that they are generally staffed by a bunch of dudes who look like they just came from a comic book convention, though we are a little less likely to wear sci-fi costumes. I pointed Leslie out to my wife Jaime at a Tuesday Night Market a while back and Jaime said "oh yeah, she's hot" while elbowing me in the ribs.

Anyway, before Nica and I left the station that day I stuck my head in the air studio and made a point of telling Leslie that my show this week was dedicated to "Leslie." We joked around a bit and talked about some of the groups I was going to play. Was I flirting? Maybe, but I've been married a long time so I'm really out of practice and no doubt pretty bad at it. In any case, I must have had that big "I just made a pretty girl laugh" smile on my face because when I turned around to leave, Nica has this really funny look on her face. I didn't think anything of it, but as Jaime and I were getting ready for bed that night I mentioned the "Leslie"/Leslie thing and she says "yes, Nica told me ALL about it as soon as you got home." My eleven year old narced on my lame 45-year old married guy flirting! I know- it's pretty funny and I really like the whole "don't mess with the sisterhood" aspect. My little girl is growing up.

You can download Hour 1 of tonight's show here (Right Click and "Save Target As"):http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-05-08__20_59_57.mp3

And here's Hour 2: http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-05-08__21_59_57.mp3

Show #31 April 24, 2010

For Josephine's historical and otherwise...

Josephine- Abbreviated Cieling Abbreviated Cieling 12" EP
Teenarama- The Records Smashes, Crashes and Near Misses
Hurricane J- Hold Steady Heaven is Whenever
(I Live For) Cars & Girls- The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!
Let Your Fingers Do The Talking- Billy Karloff And The Extremes Let Your Fingers Do The Talking
Miss You Baby- The Yum Yums Sweet As Candy
It Won't Do Any Good- Happy Hate Me Nots It Won't Do Any Good 7"
Cold Wind- The Bis-quits The Bis-quits
^He Could Be The One- Josie Cotton Valley Girl: Music From The Soundtrack
Die Trying- New Math Die Trying 7"
Frustration- Purple Hearts Frustration 7"
Sick of Brick- Kevin K And The Hollywood Stars Cool Ways
Private Army- Richard X. Heyman Hey Man!
Tell Me Why (Can't Understand You)- 20/20 20/20
*Downtown- The Cuban Heels Downtown 7"
*Burning Love- The Wild Giraffes Right Now
*Singing In The Rain- Just Water Singing In The Rain 7"
*Cool Jerk- Human Sexual Response Fig. 15
Paper Dolls- Rubber City Rebels Rubber City Rebels
Feel So Good- Spelling Mistakes Feel So Good 7"
Baby It's Cold Outside- Pezband Pezband
I've Gotta Change My Life- The Fleshtones It's Super Rock Time!
Hey! (Not Another Face In The Crowd)- The Thrills DIY: Mass. Ave. - The Boston Scene (1975-83)
Soft in the Center- Hold Steady Heaven is Whenever
>Wayside- Artful Dodger DIY Come Out And Play: American Power Pop I (1975-78)
Diamonds In The Rough- The Vertebrats Jackie's Gone 7"
Rhythm Guitar- Ben Vaughn Mood Swings
Big Brown Eyes- The dB's Stands for deciBels
Mesmerized- The Cold Mesmerized 7"
What's The Point- Sussex Treat Me Kind 7"
She's So Cynical- Modulators She's So Cynical 7"
Running Away- The Romantics Romantics And Friends-Midwest Pop Explosion
That Girl- The Scientists The Scientists
Very Temporary- Bob Mould District Line

^Power Pop Peak: #21 Billboard Hot 100 6/29/79

SacroSet: Power Pop Cover Songs

>Power Pop Prototype: 1975

While I love digging up obscure musical gems from the past, there's nothing like having a new release to look forward to. It doesn't happen very often these days because, I'm sorry to say, I've just lost touch with a lot of new music. When I was in college I could read Boston Rock or The Boston Phoenix and know something about nearly every band in the reviews and club listings, but those days are long past. As I've gotten older, I simply don't have time to keep up on current music. For starters, there seems to be so much more of it today. When I was a teenager you'd go to Newbury Comics and there would be about 10 or 15 new LP's and 45's each week, of which I'd be interested in 2 or 3. Now the Newbury Comics e-mail blast has about 40 new cd's every week, and that doesn't count imports and 7" records. Back then, it seemed like you could have a comprehensive understanding of a genre like Boston Rock, Punk, New Wave or Power Pop. Now it would be a full time job trying to focus on one genre from one country and even then you'd probably miss a lot.

The other issue, and I know I'll come off sounding like an old man here, is that I don't like a lot of the new music I hear. I've lost count of the times someone has told me "you've got to hear this amazing band" and when I do, I'm underwhelmed. Having worked with commercial radio stations for years, I've come to the conclusion that people's music tastes are established between the ages of 16 and 24. For a huge music fan like me, you could probably broaden it out to age 10 to 26. I imagine that for the rest of my life the new bands I discover and love will share some characteristics with those I loved when I was younger. That certainly is the case with The Hold Steady, who have a new album Heaven Is Whenever out May 4th. When I listen to them it often feels like I could have written the songs myself. Not the ones about being wasted on drugs and alcohol, of course, but a lot of the ones about music:

From "Constructive Summer"
Raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer
Sometimes I feel he was our only decent teacher
Getting older makes it harder to remember
We are our only saviors

From "Massive Nights"
We had some massive highs
We had some crushing lows
We had some lusty little crushes
We had those all-ages hardcore matinée shows

From "Stay Positive"
There's gonna come a time
Where the true scene leaders
Will forget where they differ and get big picture
'Cause the kids at the shows
They'll have kids of their own
And the sing-along songs will be our scriptures

From "Certain Songs"
I guess you're old enough to know
kids out on the east coast,
roughly twenty years old,
got coaxed out by a certain perfect ratio
of warm beer to the summer smoke
and the Meatloaf to the Billy Joel.
Certain songs they get so scratched into our souls

From "We Can Get Together"
Heaven is whenever we can get together
Sit down on the floor and listen to your records
Heaven is whenever we can get together
Lock your bedroom door and listen to your records

In the last 10 years I've been much more prone to be emotionally moved by films and books than by music. That's why Craig Finn's lyrics and The Hold Steady's music are such a revelation to me; they take me back to my first love, rock & roll. The great thing is that The Hold Steady isn't nostalgia. This music meets me where I am now- a 45 year old suburban dad- which is the thing I love most about it.

The other great thing about The Hold Steady is they are one of the few bands that can get me out to the clubs. The group is incredibly powerful live and I'm really looking forward to seeing them at The Fillmore in San Francisco next week. The last time I saw them was a mind-blowing experience that I will never forget.

Here's the link to download Hour 1 of tonight's show (Right click and "Save Target As" http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-04-24__20_59_57.mp3

And here's Hour 2 http://sunfmtv.com/fm/showarchive/public/2010-04-24__21_59_57.mp3

Show #30 April 10, 2010

 

Oh Hillary, tonight we rock for thee... 

 

Hillary- The Quick Mondo Deco Crash- The Primitives Lovely 

Tie Me Up- Johnny Thunders & Patti Palladin Crawfish 7" 

What Can I Do- Fast Cars Coming, Ready or Not! 

 Zero Ambition- Back Seat Romeos Zero Ambition 7"  

All That Matters- Pointed Sticks Part Of The Noise 

Just A Chance- Badfinger Wish You Were Here 

Monkey Suit- Pernice Brothers Overcome by Happiness 

^Is She Really Going Out with Him?- Joe Jackson Look Smart 

Baby You're A Star- Gidgets Ga Ga PPO 2009 Top Ten 

Suspicious Minds- The Sports Don't Throw Stones 

Schooldays- The Starjets God Bless Starjets 

Stay Close To Me- Bad Brains Pay To Cum 7" 

Comeback- The Rockers The Rockers E.P. 7" 

*No Place Like Home- The Neighborhoods 12 Classic 45s 

*1+1<2- Classic Ruins 12 Classic 45s 

*I Want To Help You Ann- The Lyres 12 Classic 45s 

*Academy Fight Song- Mission Of Burma 12 Classic 45s 

One For The Road- Travoltas Endless Summer 

New Difference- Manual Scan Plan Of Action EP 

Searching For Affection- Contraband In The Night 45 

Wig In A Box- Hedwig And The Angry Inch Soundtrack 

You Say You- The Pencils Watching The Tears 7" 

Is It Over- The Fevers Love Always Wins 

>Shape Of Things To Come- Max Frost & The Troopers Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 

Paper Girl- The Jets Lover Boy 45 

Telephone- Transistors Telephone 7" 

Lost in the Supermarket- The Clash London Calling: 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition 

Bad Indication- Off Broadway On 

Don't Dictate- Penetration DIY Don't Dictate 

One Of The Kids- Paul Warren & Explorer One Of The Kids

 

^Power Pop Peak: #21 Billboard Hot 100 6/9/79 

 

*SacroSet: Ace of Hearts Records

 

>Power Pop Prototype: 1968

 

Alright! We went two weeks without a major figure in Power Pop shuffling off this mortal coil! I have to say, it was great to get back to straight up rocking this week. The Quick's "Hillary"gets us off to a fine start and Joe Jackson provides another Power Pop Peak from the genre's 1979 heyday. As the blog post from Show #28 proves, the Davis In The 80's SacroSet got me thinking about late 70's/early 80's music scenes across the country, especially the one in my hometown, Boston, Massachusetts. 

After The Real Kid's first album (which of course includes the opus "All Kindsa Girls"), my favorite early Boston rock records were the singles on Ace of Hearts. Classic Ruins' "1+1<2," The Neighborhoods "Prettiest Girl," Mission of Burma's "Academy Fight Song-" these are amazing records that I would put up against the releases of any label anywhere in the world.  The songs, the production, the artwork, the packaging- Ace of Hearts singles were second to none. I'm not alone in this assessment; The Neighborhoods single sold 10,000 copies and the Burma record sold out its first pressing of 7500- these are amazing numbers for 7 inches on a regional independent label.

Ace of Hearts owner Rick Harte is an eccentric dude but he knew enough to go out and find which bands were driving them wild in the clubs and he had the money to do something about it. You'd hear stories about his Phil Spectoresque tendencies in the studio (minus the firearms of course) like a 28 hour mix down session on "Max Ernst," the flipside of the first Burma single, that wasn't even the one they eventually used.

 

I met Rick Harte in the mid-80's when I interviewed him for acollege project. He gave very cryptic answers to all of my questions and only loosened up when he could see I was a huge fan of the label. Then I blew it by asking him about having The Lyres (who he was managing at the time) play on my radio show, WERS' Boston rock showcase Metrowave. Apparently the band's last performance on the station was bootlegged in the Netherlands or Sweden and he was still pissed off about it. Anyway, before I left he gave me the rare color sleeve of Mission of Burma's "Trem Two" single and an uncut "Academy Fight Song" sleeve that still had all the registration marks which was VERY cool. 

 

(Adding insult to injury when they bootlegged the Lyres show, they put a picture of the stolen WERS radio tape on the back cover!)

 

The early Ace of Hearts singles are compiled on the 12 Classic 45's CD pictured at the top of this post. In my opinion, it's

Rick Harte

really only nine classic 45's as I don't care for most of the non-reissue releases on the label after the mid 80's. I'm not sure what happened, but it seems like Harte kind of lost it around that time. Still, from 1978 to 1985 the dude was a bona fide genius and he helped document an important musical era for which I'm deeply thankful. 

 

Click on this link to stream tonight's show, to download, right click and "Save Link As":

ALL KINDSA GIRLS #30