• Tag Archives live ledge
  • The Ledge #409: New Releases

    The first show of the new year is also the first Friday of the month, which obviously means it’s a new release episode. This month’s edition features previews of upcoming 2020 records along with quite a few releases that snuck out in the last few weeks of 2019. There’s also a handful of items I missed out on when they originally came out earlier in the year. It’s never too late to be added.

    This month’s edition is highlighted by the returns of some classic bands that haven’t issued new music in quite some time. The Hoodoo Gurus have their first single in a few years, The Zeros just released their first new tunes in over two decades, and the four original members of X have not put out new tracks since the mid-80’s!

    Beyond that, it’s a typical mix of brand new bands and returning vets. There’s a fabulous Rum Bar Records set. There’s power pop, punk, garage, and even an extended covers set.

    One track doesn’t fit the “new release” criteria, obviously, but I just couldn’t resist playing a track by the power pop band 20/20. If they have any smarts this is the year for this band to either reunite or do a massive reissue campaign.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #408: In Memoriam

    It was a pretty rough year for music-related deaths. It seemed like every day we lost another songwriter, producer, or musician. And this sort of tragic news affected every genre and every age group.

    But they all left behind a body of work to keep their memories alive, and tonight’s Live Ledge celebrates many of these artists. Some were platinum-selling Hall of Famers; others were lifers who deserved more recognition than they saw in their lifetime. A special thanks goes to Danny Boen for offering his thoughts on his longtime friend (and Polara bandmate) Ed Ackerson. One of the MVP’s of the Minneapolis scene since the mid-80’s, his October 4 death from pancreatic cancer stunned the Minneapolis community. (A GoFundMe has been set up for Ackerson’s wife and child. Please help if you can.)

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #407: Rock and Roll Christmas

    The annual Live Ledge Christmas show is always a lot of fun. It’s always a bit surprising how many great rock and roll holiday songs and albums are released every year, and 2019 is no exception. Despite a dreary year in almost every aspect of our lives (politics, social issues, etc.) somehow all of these artists are able to garner some sort of tune perfect for the time. Some are traditional “good will to all” songs, but others actually insert a bit of snark that reflects these troubled times.

    This episode is highlighted by singles and albums by artists such as Alice Bag, Angry Snowmans, Beach Slang, Los Lobos, and many others. There was also a plethora of compilations put out this year, most notably a special Merge Records release that was initially sent out exclusively to their 30th anniversary record club subscribers.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #405: New Releases

    We’re wrapping up the year with some great episodes. This week features the final new release episode of the year, and there’s some great new tunes by artists such as Two Cow Garage’s Micah Schnabel, Graham Parker, Drive-By Truckers, The Whiffs, Gino and the Goons, and so many more.

    This month also sees the debut album for local post-punkers Lot Lizard, and I’m so proud of what they accomplished on this record. For more info, check out their bandcamp page!

    Besides all the new tracks, I made a last minute executive decision to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ disastrous Altamont concert. I have a feeling some time during this weekend I’m going to have to once again view “Gimme Shelter”.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #403: Under Consideration Pt. 1

    It’s that time of the year where my mind becomes overly-obsessed with my end of the year list of the best albums of the year. Seriously, I clearly have issues. But that’s what I do all day. Besides listening to my most recent acquisitions, I’m constantly searching for things I may have missed.

    I also begin a deep dive into my library. It’s inevitable that over the course of the year there are records that get buried for various reasons. It could be that it came out at the same time as something better. Or it just didn’t hit me as hard as it should have. Or it’s simply that I can at times be a space cadet.

    So that leads us to this week’s Live Ledge. I’ve gone through my library and selected a ton of records that I need to give a further listening. They all have the potential of making that final list which will be unveiled in mid-December. After a couple of hours I ended up with enough material for not one but two shows. So tune in next week for another two hours of the same type of material.

    This week I also set aside the format for a set that involves a show I saw a couple of weeks ago here in Sioux Falls. Total Drag Records hosted a phenomenal evening of music featuring Platinum Boys, Shannon Lay, and Mikal Cronin. I talk about that evening and play a few tracks from each of those great performers.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #402: North America 1979

    The final show dedicated to 1979 returns to America. As an earlier show already featured the Midwestern tones from Minneapolis, Chicago, and Cleveland, this week is primarily dedicated to the East and West Coasts, with little sets at the end featuring Texas and Canada. There’s even a set featuring some of the few mainstream bands from the era that I could handle back when I was an angry (or angrier) high schooler.

    It’s been a lot of fun rediscovering some of the tunes of my youth, along with discovering bands that I missed out on hearing at the time. After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #401: UK Punk Oct – Dec 1979 Plus More

    Through the course 2019 there has been a series of shows devoted to looking back at the great music released 40 years ago. Tonight’s latest in that series documents the punk singles and albums released in the UK from October to December of that year. These tracks include veteran acts such as The Stranglers, The Damned, and others, along with early releases by The Vapors, Joy Division, Killing Joke and others.

    But the centerpiece of this anniversary special celebrates one of the greatest albums of all time. December 14, 1979 saw the release of The Clash’s third album, London Calling. There’s no denying it’s greatness from beginning to end. In fact, it’s my second favorite record of all time!

    Besides these fabulous UK tunes, the last half hour of the show jumps over the border to some 1979 highlights from Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and France. Ok, maybe one of these selections isn’t technically from 1979 but I’ll take any opportunity to play “Teenage Kicks”.

    Tonight may end our look at the 1979 UK punk scene, but it’s not the end of our series of shows devoted to that great year. Next week’s show will feature tunes from all over North America. However, since I have already done a Midwest 1979 show you can expect the vast majority of tracks to come from both of the coasts. Should be a lot of fun!

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #399: Halloween

    I know I say this every year, but Halloween is the most rock and roll of all holidays. Thus it only makes sense that a Halloween-themed Live Ledge is one of the easiest shows to put together. Which is obviously why I host one almost every single year.

    Finding tracks to play is so easy, even without relying on the standard Halloween tunes that one hears everywhere. Songs about ghosts, witches, zombies, vampires, and other similar subjects are always rampant in rock, so it’s just a matter of scanning the library.

    This year’s version stands up proudly against all the previous episodes. There’s brand new bands such as Uncle, Rocket 808, and Pale Lips. There’s veteran punk rockers such as The Members, UK Subs, Billy Childish, and The Vibrators. There’s covers of Suicide, David Bowie, and (believe it or not) Tom Petty. There’s really something for everybody, so be sure to play this show next Thursday when the trick or treaters start arriving.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #398: Nick Lowe

    Nick Lowe has sort of quietly put together one of the best resumes in rock and roll history. He’s got tons of fantastic recordings, solo and with bands such as Brinsley Scwarz, Rockpile, and his recent collaborations with Los Straitjackets.

    He’s also one of the greatest producers of all times, helming some of the best albums or singles by the likes of Graham Parker & The Rumour, The Damned, Dr. Feelgood, Wreckless Eric, and, of course, Elvis Costello.

    Not to mention he was once married to Carlene Carter, which made him Johnny and June Carter Cash’s son-in-law! (Oh to be in the studio when Johnny recorded Nick’s “Without Love” accompanied by Elvis Costello, Dave Edmunds, and many others.)

    Inspired by the recent release of “Cruel To Be Kind: The Life and Music of Nick Lowe” by Will Birch, tonight’s show is a snapshot of just a few of those great moments. If you’re intersted at all in Lowe’s life, go buy this book. It’s informative and at times pretty hilarious.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #397: New Releases

    Tonight’s new release show is the broadcast that was planned for last week. In fact, it’s the exact set of songs that were put together before the shocking news about Kim Shattuck caused me to quickly put together a tribute to the fabulous Muffs leader.

    So this month’s new release show includes a lengthy set of Americana-ish veterans (Charlie Parr, Pernice Brothers, The Figgs, Wilco), Suicide-esque atmospheric punks (Atom, Rocket 808), female rockers (Baby Shakes, Paranoyds, Sweet Knives), covers (Dirty Nil, The Pretty Flowers, Das Clamps), and lots of good ol’ rock and roll from new and veteran artists.

    I also talk a little bit about the great show I saw earlier this week. The Cowboys made a stop at Total Drag Records, and as I’m known to do at these types of shows I purchased their entire discography. Or at least what they had with them. Great band and a fun show.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy!

     

    Download MP3 here