• The Ledge #576: New Releases

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    It’s the first show of a new month, so it’s pretty obvious what’s going on this week. It’s over two hours of brand new music, ranging from Americana to punk to power pop to (lots of) garage rock. There are veteran acts and more than a few noobs. There’s something here for anybody who loves real rock and roll!

    As for this week’s edition of “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks”, I have an archival live recording from one of my favorite Australian bands, The Scientists. You can find this version on Numero’s excellent live compilation, Not For Sale: Live 1978-79.

    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 classic, please contact me!

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #575: Second Quarter Report

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    With tonight’s show being the last broadcast of June, and especially as it is also the last day of the month, it’s pretty clear that it needed to be a second quarter recap. There’s over two hours of great music that has come out in the last three months, similar to the first quarter recap show of March 31.

    The material ranges from the fantastic power pop of Paint Fumes and Jagger Holly to veteran rockers such as Ian Hunter and The Waco Brothers. There’s some rootsy rock and roll from Tommy Stinson, Deer Tick and The Baseball Project. The music comes from not only the usual US, UK, and Canadian artists but also from Australia, Austria, France, and Germany. 

    As for this week’s “52 weeks of Teenage Kicks” series, I have a very special cover by German punkers Die Toten Hosen. Way back in the early 90s they had a fantastic covers record called Learning English, Lesson One, where they invited members of the original bands to assist them with their remakes. 2017 saw the relese of Learning English, Lesson Two that continued that format. For their version of “Teenage Kicks”, they featured original Undertones guitarist Damian O’Neill! I also included the two brand new covers I had previously played over the last quarter by Jeremy Porter & The Tucos and The Waco Brothers.

    As I do every week, 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 classic, please contact me!

    For more information, including setlists, please head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #574: Summer

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    The summer is the real rock and roll season. From the very beginning of Chuck Berry and our other musical grandfathers, these three months have inspired a ton of great tunes. Since summer officially began just two days ago it was only natural that I bring back that theme for tonight’s broadcast.

    There are so many songs dedicated to this time of year that I easily put together a playlist that is primarily brand new tracks. In fact, one highlighted album, Jagger Holly’s Rivoltella, came out just two days ago! There’s also a set dedicated to tracks from summer’s favorite record label, Rum Bar Records, along with a handful of older tunes from new reissues of albums by The Barracudas and The Lemonheads.

    Of course, there’s also this week’s entry in the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” subtheme, and if you really think about it that song certainly does fit the summer theme. This week’s contribution is from the veteran Cleveland band Cobra Verde, and their 2005 album, Copycat Killers.

    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 classic, please contact me!

    For setlists and other information, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #573: Even More Miscellany

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    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” series. Sahara Hotnights is a fantastic all-female rock band from Sweden who put out some great albums in the late 90s and early 00s. The expanded version of their second album, Jennie Bomb, included the hot version that kickstarts this week’s episode. 

    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 classic, please contact me!

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #572: New & Old

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    This week’s show was all set when some tragic news changed a good portion of the broadcast. Yes, there was still the mix of old and new tunes that had been originally planned. But I could not help but make room for a couple of remembrances of fabulous artists who had passed away in recent days.

    The first death was Jack Lee, who got his start in The Nerves, a band that also featured Paul Collins and Peter Case. A song he wrote for that band, “Hanging on the Telephone”, was later made famous, and he also wrote hits for Paul Young (“Come Back and Stay”) and Suzi Quatro (“You Are My Lover”). He passed away on May 26 of colon cancer.

    The other tragic passing hits hard. Throughout the past few years, Justine Covault’s music has been a regular feature of The Ledge. I first became aware of her with her Rum Bar Records releases as Justine and the Unclean and Justine’s Black Threads. She then moved on and started Red On Red Records, a lable that regularly put out some fabulous Boston-based rock and roll. 

    Earler today, her daughter, Haley, announced on Facebook that Covault had passed away, and my feed was immediately filled with remembrances from pretty much every Boston-based musician I know. She will be greatly mixed, and I hope that the handful of tracks of hers that was aired tonight will result in many discovering her talents.

    I also found time to devote sets to a couple of great compilatons that have come out recently. This year’s Record Store Day saw a 50th anniversary box set version of the influential Nuggets compilation. The original record may not have sold when it first came out in 1973, but there’s not a garage band that has been formed since then that is not influenced by this set. The new five record set includes a record of tracks that were initially considered for the record but was bumped due to licensing. That’s my focus tonight.

    The other set featured is Gary Crowley’s Punk & New Wave 2, a six record set that is just a joy to sit through. While most sets of this sort focus on the obvious tracks, this box succeeds because it’s almost like every included track is a surprise. The big bands are represented by songs that may be considered secondary in popularity, but just as great as their best moments. Many other songs are rare treats that have not seen a reissue since their original release.

    As for the “52 weeks of Teenage Kicks”, I selected a version I found earlier this week on bandcamp. Al Bundie’s Army is (or was?) a St. Louis band from a decade ago whose furious version is a worthy inclusion in the series. I’ve also replayed the verson by Jeremy Porter & The Tucos after getting the word that proceeds from that cover have raised almost $500 for Hater Kitty Army. Please head to jeremyporter.bandcamp.com to purchase your own copy to help this great charity!

    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 classic, please contact me!

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #571: New Releases

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    The first Friday of June means we have nothing but new releases on The Ledge, and it’s quite the lineup tonight. There are artists from all over the world, ranging from just a mile or so from my home (Thought Patrol) to Germany (Hamburg Ramones, Berlin Blackouts), with additional stops in Italy, Norway, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries). There’s the return of a ton of veteran artists, including Rancid, Graham Parker, The Aquadolls, and Joan Jett. 

    Most importantly, at least for me, is the brand new project by Tommy Stinson. Over the last few years he’s been touring with his pal Chip Roberts under the Cowboys in the Campfire moniker, and today sees the release of their debut album, Wronger. While a bit quieter than we’re used to from the former Replacements bass player, it’s still quite a record from the hardest working member of the legendary band. 

    Of course, we begin with the latest in the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series, and this time it is nt a new release. This version is from the French band Nouvelle Vague, an act that was created to remake classic punk and new wave songs in bossa nova versions. Yes, it’s a little bit of a departure from the normal covers of the song you’ve heard over the last five months, but it is definitely worthy of includsion.

    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 classic, please contact me!

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #570: Holiday Playlist

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    “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 couple of different directions.

    There’s also a long set inspired by Some New Kind of Kick, the memoir of Kid Congo Powers. Wow, what a story. What a life! A chance meeting on the street with future Gun Club leader Jeffrey Lee Pierce led to him picking up the guitar, and withn a few years he was a part of not only the Gun Club but The Cramps and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds! 

    Other sets include a handful of fabulous Rum Bar Records new releases, and favorites by the likes of Exploding Hearts, T. Rex, The Knitters, and others. Concluding the show is a little tribute to the late Tina Turner with a track from her fabled 1969 run opening for The Rolling Stones.

    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 classic, please contact me!

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #569: Jeremy Porter’s Teenage Kicks

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    When I conceived the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” project late last year one of the first things I did was to contact artists that I considered friends of the show. I’ve been blessed over the years to have some wonderful musicians regularly send me their latest projects.

    One of those friends was Jeremy Porter, leader of Jeremy Porter & The Tucos. For almost the entire time I’ve been producing The Ledge, Porter has provided me with fabulous music, and has also introduced my show to many of his fellow musician friends. 

    It was honestly no surprise when Porter responded that he was indeed interested in contributing a version of “Teenage Kicks”, but I was blown away by his overall plans with the tune. Tonight’s episode is the world premiere of his cover, which will be officially released next Friday (5/26) on his bandcamp page. While the track will be a “name your price”, proceeds from those who do the right thing and pay for the track will go to the Detroit-based charity, Hater Kitty Army, led by Sue Summers. “Hater Kitty Rescue Army is a neighborhood cat haven on Detroit’s Eastside,” Summers explains. “We have been serving abandoned cats for the past nine years by providing food, shelter, spay and neutering, and re-homing the ones we can.”

    What is especially gratifying about this project is that Summers is not only a friend of Porter’s but a huge fan of The Undertones! “(They) were one of the first punk bands I saw in concert, at a tiny neighborhood theater that hosted all ages shows,” Summers recently recalled. “The song ‘Teenage Kicks’ has always been a favorite teenage anthem of mine and still remains timeless.”

    Besides Porter’s fabulous cover, tonight’s show is a hodgepodge of new and old favorites. Included is a tribute of sorts to Big Stir Records, as earlier this week they had a big announcement of six new signing to their label. It seems like a pretty obvious idea to devote a set to these artists, which include Graham Parker, The Spongetones, The Cyrkle, Flashcubes, Arthur, Alexander, and Sparkle*Jets UK. 

    Sprinkled throughout the show are some of the other submitted versions of “Teenage Kicks” to remind everybody that I’m always looking for new covers. If you are a musician, or have any contact with artists that could record their own take on the classic, please contact me!

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #568: New Releases (Pt. 2)

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    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 female power pop. She’s Got The Power! Female Power Pop, Punk & Garage not only includes this track but tunes by Blondie, The Dollyrots, Baby Shakes, Amy Rigby, Lydia Loveless, Shonen Knife, and many more!

    And, of course, I have to once again beg y’all for brand new covers of this classic tune. Please, please, please, if you have the capabilities, or know any artists that would be perfect to remake “Teenage Kicks”, send them my way! Next week, I will be world premiering a brand new submissions that I’m sure you’re all going to love!

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    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 “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series. I’ve selected one of the more popular versions of the tune. The Northern Irish rockers Ash released it as a b-side back in 2001, and reportedly still ocassionally pulls it out in concert.

    And once again, I must reiterate that I’m looking for brand new recordings of The Undertones’ classic. If you have the capability, or you have friends in a band, please submit a version. BTW, in two weeks I will be premiering a brand new version by a band that all Ledge fans are familiar with.

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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