• Tag Archives punk

  • The Ledge #546: Runners Up

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    The process of compiling my annual list of the year’s best albums rarely varies. It usually begins in mid-November with a combination of notetaking and mental obsessing. Then over Thanksgiving weekend I begin putting ideas into various categories that I couldn’t even try to explain. Finally, the first couple of weeks of December sees this list finally coming together.

    As you may expect, that initial list is much longer than the official post of the best of the year. There can be anywhere between 60 and 100 records vying for inclusion. This week’s show comprises the 31 records that were in consideration before that final cut.

    But that’s not to say that these records are not as good as my “chart toppers”. No, these days there’s a fine line between a what makes the top ten and what makes the lower rungs. All of these records are fabulous albums that deserve to be heard by everybody. This is why the first time ever I’ve put together this “runners up” episode. 

    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, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #541: Halloween Spooktacular

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    I may say this every year but it is worth repeating. Halloween is the ultimate rock and roll holiday. Like truly great rock and roll, Halloween is dangerous, controversial, and noisy. Religious idiots for decades have claimed both are associated with Satan. 

    For the most part, tonight’s show is full of new or recently-released Halloween-themed tunes. Many tracks have been released within the last couple of weeks just for shows such as this one. The Damned, for example, just happened to put out a new live album TODAY! 

    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, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #531: New Releases (Pt. 2)

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    I may have called part one of this month’s new release series the “friends of the show” episode, but that mentality continues in part two as we have a nice set of tracks from our friends at Big Stir Records. We also have brand new tracks from a new collaboration between Rum Bar Records artists Natalie Sweet and Brad Marino which I’m sure every Ledge listener will love.

    There’s also two sets of great Who covers from a new Jem Records compilation, Jem Records Celebrates Pete Townshend, along with new tunes by Lee Bains & The Glory Fires, Titus Andronicus, Pavement founder Spiral Stairs, and new supergroup Beach Rats. Plus much more!

    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 head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #526: Low Rats

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    When the news broke that swaggering rock and rollers Low Rats were hitting my little city of Sioux Falls I immediately began begging the band to make a stop at my house before the show for a Ledge interview. Although final plans were up in the air until the last minute, lead singer Michael Meyer promised me that he would definitely show up in time for my Friday night broadcast.

    Unfortunately, I had some technical issues throughout the day, and they were not completely fixed by the time Meyer arrived just before my Realpunkradio shift. So instead of a mix of chat and music, we could only broadcast the conversation. The two of us spent an hour talking about his Sioux Falls childhood, along with the various bands he had not only in this little town but in other cities, including his time a few years ago leading Narco States.

    In a case of perfect timing, the rest of the band (guitarist Rob Sells, bassist Joe Holland, and drummer Ben Crunk) arrived just when I was going to begin asking Meyer questions about Low Rats. Although I now had more people than microphones, we carried on with the entire band discussing the group’s history, their various releases, and a few thoughts on the thriving Twin Cities theme.

    I could have tidied up this show a lot more than I did, but I’m presenting the entire interview, audio flaws and all. You will hear the minute the rest of the band arrives, along a point later on where Meyer has to leave for another appointment. I have inserted Low Rats tunes at the beginning and end of the show, and have also edited in the two songs each band member picked that, as Meyer wrote earlier in the week, “directly influenced the style of playing that we have incorporated into Low Rats.”

    By the way, the show later that night at Vishnu Bunny Tattoo was nothing sort of amazing, and their selected tunes for this show were clearly representative. Meyer is a mad man that’s part Iggy, part Stiv, and part every other frenetic frontman in rock history. Nothing within his reach is safe, including ketchup and garbage cans. Crunk keeps everything from spiraling out of control from behind his drunk kit, Holland thumps out the sort of low end that certainly represents the heavier side of the band, while Sells spits out the kind of guitar that you’d expect from a person who would pick the Cramps and X as influences. 

    Many thanks must go to not only the band but Vishnu Bunny Tattoo for booking them, and to super fan Dan Michener for delivering 3/4 of the band members to my front door!

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #515: 1977 Redux (Rerecorded)

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    I was so excited to upload last night’s episode of The Ledge, as I believed I had a pretty cool theme put together. Unfortunately, once the live broadcast on RealPunkRadio concluded, I discovered that my recording device had malfunctioned.

    Still determined to share the episode, I decided to rerecord on Saturday afternoon. The first ten minutes of the broadcast had survived, so I included that bit and then recut my intros before reconstructing the rest of the show with the song files.

    What you get here is the natural successor to my earlier shows devoted to the magnificent year of 1977. This time, however, you’ll hear covers of songs played on those shows. And what an eclectic group of artists. You even hear southern rock legends The Outlaws bravely take on an Elvis Costello song in 1977. Who knew that even existed? 

    I hope you enjoy this episode. A little warning, though. There may be some fluctuations in the levels, as some tracks are mastered louder than others. My broadcast program takes care of that during live shows, and I did attempt to manually boost a couple of really quiet tunes.

    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, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #511: New Releases (Pt. 2)

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    While part one of this month’s new release series focused on relatively new artists, this week’s successor is full of bands that have been around for quite some time. There’s the first album in over 30 years by The Rave Ups. The Hoodoo Gurus return after a ten year hiatus. There’s much-anticipated albums by the likes of Superchunk, Spiritualized, Spoon, Guided By Voices and Night Shop. There’s the solo debut of former Rocket From the Crypt/Drive Like Jehu/Hot Snakes leader Swami John Reis. And there’s, like always, a ton of brand new bands unleashing some powerful rock and roll.

    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, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #510: New Release (Pt. 1)

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    It became apparent a couple of weeks ago that this month’s new release series would have to be a two part extravaganza. Not only were the quantity of new songs piling up, but there were also quite a few albums that deserved more than a track or two of airtime.

    So the decision was easy, but then how does one split the shows? There’s no real formua to what was aired tonight and what will be held back until next week. Tonight’s show probably features more of the types of artists who are easily found on Bandcamp, which is fitting since March 4 was another of the great bandcamp days where the artist gets 100% of the proceeds of their sales. But otherwise the quality between both sets of tunes is pretty similar, as you’ll see during next week’s second part. 

    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 setlists and more information head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #509: RIP Mark Lanegan and Don Craine

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    This week’s show was originally going to be another in the series of “odds and ends” episodes where I air tracks from some record I’ve either recently acquired or pulled out of the archives to give a listen. Unfortunately, the deaths of two great rockers changed those plans.

    Mark Lanegan is in my opinion the most artistic of all of the grunge-era lead vocalists. While the vast majority of his brethren rarely travelled out of their safe zone, Lanegan was a musical shape shifter throughout his entire career. There was simply not a genre he wouldn’t attempt, nor did it seem like he ever said no to a collaborator. The first half of the show consists of long sets devoted to his solo career and also a taste of those collaborations.

    Then just a couple of hours before showtime came the news that Downliners Scet leader Don Craine had also passed away. Never heard of the Sect? You’re loss. Please go do some research after listening to tonight’s show. The set dedicated to him not only includes some of the great tracks of their mid-60s glory years but also a couple of great collaborations with Billy Childish.

    Filling up the rest of the show are some of the tunes originally slated for tonight’s show, including a number of tracks from a fabulous collection of 60s garage rock. Did you know that Jerry Mathers of Leave It To Beaver was in a band? You do now!

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

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #502: Best Records of 2021 NYE Countdown

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    So your favorite online radio DJ decided to spend a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve playing over six hours of the best music of 2021. But what else would I have done? New Year’s Eve is amateur night, and I haven’t ventured out of my house for the big night in years.

    With the big night lining up with a Ledge weekly broadcast, the decision to do a “Casey Kasem” was easy. So this show is a true marathon. First off, there’s a countdown of the 20 best reissues, box sets, compilations, and tribute albums of the year. Then there’s a countdown of the 40 best albums of 2021, and we hit the stroke of midnight in the eastern and central time zones with tracks from some of the great singles and EP’s of the year, along with tunes from a number of great albums that barely missed the cut of making the big countdown.

    Honestly, while the world is melting down we are somehow seeing a cultural renaissance. How else could I put together a six hour playlist of nothing but music from the past year? It’s simply incredible how much wonderful music is coming out on a weekly basis from all over the world. This is why I do The Ledge, and why there’s an episode every month that consists of nothing but new releases.

    I sincerely hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season, and that 2022 turns out to be a magical year for you all!

    For track listings and other info, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #501: Annual Rock & Roll Christmas Party

    Posted on by theledge Comment

    The goal of the annual Ledge Christmas extravaganza is to prove that holiday music doesn’t have to suck. And once again, it’s certainly true as the vast majority of rock, punk, garage, and Americana tracks are brand new songs specifically for this year’s festivities!

    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, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


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