• The Ledge #690: New Releases (Pt. 1)

    I was going through the motions of selecting songs for the planned two new release episodes for November, and I quickly realized that I had way too many songs! What a problem to have, right? So for the first time, this month’s new release series will be three full episodes! Yes, I know earlier this year I had some leftovers for a third episode, but I’m talking about three full shows of new tunes! 

    Tonight’s episode, like most “part 1’s”, is primarily devoted to friends of the show. These are artists and labels that routinely send me their newest tunes. Like Numb Surprise, who have sent me tracks each and every month this year. Or the latest Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin double cover series, where he and a fellow artist cover each other. There’s also the latest from power pop legend Jim Basnight, a new Big Stir release, and even some baseball-related tracks from our buddies Vista Blue.

    Plus there’s quite a few new power pop faves, and a nice batch of garage, punk, and indie rock. Oh yeah, and a deep dive into that new Husker Du live box set. What tracks did you did?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #689: 1985

    As a rule I generally don’t go to class reunions. They’re just too weird for me, and I’m not great at the “what are you doing these days” types of conversations. But a few weeks ago was my 40th year college reunion, and a handful of great old friends convinced me to attend some of the festivities.

    Truthfully, I have to thank those old pals, as I ended up having a great time. Sure, my old man memory caused me to not remember some of these folks but I did my best. It also caused me to reminsce on the music of that era. I was the music director of KAUR my senior year, and it was such a great period in my life. Some of my favorite bands were putting out their greatest music, and almost every week there seemed to be potnetial new faves.

    The combo of this sort of reminiscing and the upcoming release of a live Husker Du box set, 1985: The Miracle Year, made the decision to honor that year on a Ledge episode an easy one. Here are quite a few of the great songs from that year. Yes, at times it does get a bit more commercial than a typical Ledge episode, but most of us welcomed the idea of “our” bands making mainstream inroads. Why wouldn’t we want to hear these songs on formats that weren’t “left of the dial”? Honestly, all of my music-oriented projects, whether it’s via podcast, print, or record stores, have been attempts to turn people on to music they may have zero exposure to otherwise. 

    What were your favorite records of 1985?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #688: Halloween

    I must admit I was of two minds about when to do this year’s special Halloween show. My first thought was that since the actual holiday falls on a Ledge night I’d just save it for that evening. Makes perfect sense, right? But then again, it’s a dated show once it hits November. Isn’t it smarter to do it a full week ahead so fans of ghoulish rock and roll can enjoy my spooky favorites for a full week? That’s what I decided to do.

    Like every special Halloween broadcast, tonight’s episode is full of almost all brand new tunes for the ocassion. Many are special releases for the trick or treaters, such as new singles by Vista Blue, Brad Marino, Lynda Mandolyn, and The Goldstars. Others come from full-blown Halloween albums, such as Big Stir’s Chilling, Thrilling Hooks and Haunted Harmonies and The Halloween EP by The Bacarrudas. Other tunes come from regular releases from the last few months that just happened to fit the horror theme.

    What tracks did you enjoy the most?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #687: New Releases Pt. 2

    The second part of this month’s new release series is honestly a little more full tilt rock and roll than usual. It’s not by any grand scheme. It’s just how the tracks (and relese dates) work out. What is typica that once again there’s a tasty set of Rum Bar Records new releases, and two full sets of great female-led tracks, including ther great returns of Cindy Lawson and Cocktail Slippers! There’s also a plethora of new bands (or at least new to me).

    What new releaes are you enjoying?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #686: Dave Scarbrough Tribute Plus New Releases (Pt. 1)

    I had just finalized the tracks for the first part of the October new release series when I received some tragic news. South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member (and good pal) Dave Scarbrough had passed away. Obviously, that changed tonight’s broadcast as I needed to share some of the great music Dave produced over the past 40 years or so.

    Dave’s music story began when he first heard punk rock on KAUR in the late 70s, was expanded by the cool records found at Soux Falls record stores Iron Creek and Ernie November, and culminated in fabulous bands such as Ill Bill and the Spinal Chills, State Birds, The Habitual Groove Of It, and The Harvesters. He also engineered and/or produced a number of local projects, and put out quite a few solo records, including 2022’s Happy Ever After. You will be missed, Dave.

    We move from there to a show devoted heavily with friends of the show. Vista Blue and Rob Moss & Skin-Tight Skin/Eytan Mirsky’s double-sided singles are aired, along with new tracks by The Pozers, Ricky Rochelle, wht.rbbt.obj, and Numb Surprise. Tav Falco returns with a record that looks back at his storied career, and Teenage Bottlerocket, The Prize, Sloan and The Bacarrudas showcase new tracks. There’s sneak prviews of Big Stir Records’ new Halloween record, along with the upcoming box sets by Husker Du and The Replacements.

    What tracks did you dig the most?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #685: Third Quarter Recap

    The last Friday of September means that this is also the last episode of The Ledge during the third quarter of this year so it’s time for a little look back over the past three months. And once again, it’s a wonderful time to be into the sort of music you hear on this show. Every week there’s great new records being put out. In fact, just today saw the release of a good half dozen albums that deserved their place on this broadcast. 

    What recent albums are your current favorites?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #684: Covers

    Ok, the “covers” folder is full so it’s again time for a show of nothing but remakes! What’s surprising is that it usually takes five or six months to be ready for each of this type, but it was only two months ago that I utilized this theme. But then again, there’s been a plethora of tribute albums in the last few weeks, mot notably the fabulous Make Something Happen: A Tribute To The Flashcubes on Big Stir Records. I aired a set off this release in my new release episode earlier this month, but it definitely deserved another outting in this episode.

    But that’s not all from our pals at Big Stir Records. On October 10th, they will have the perfect Halloween album with Chilling, Thrilling Hooks and Haunted Harmonies: The Big Stir Records Halloween Grimoire. Featuring almost all of the label’s great acts, they’ve released a prerelease single off the record, a cover of “Eyeball Eater (From Outer Space) by sparkle*jets u.k. What’s especailly cool is that the digital version of the single includes a previously unreleased 1958 version by The Legends, a band featuring Richard West, fathre of sparkle*jets u.k.’s Susan West. 

    Elsewhere, there are fab covers by Rum Bar Records acts, along with remakes of tunes by Lemonheads, Wire, Saints, Reigning Sound, Roky Erickson, and so much more. And there’s the latest double cover set series by Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin, where Moss and a collaborative artist cover each other’s tunes. This time the act doing the Moss tune is singer/songwriter Eytan Mirsky!

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #683: New Releases Pt. 2

    Believe it or not, there are actually rules when it comes to The Ledge’s new release series. The main rule is simple – when there is a two part new release series the deadline for both shows is the start of the part one’s Friday night broadcast.

    But rules don’t really work in rock and roll, so every now and then I do have to make an important executive decision. That’s what happens with this week’s second part of the September new release series. I found out at the begining of the week that our good friend Pavid Vermin was putting out a new record, The Life of  a Showgirl, and after he kindly provided me with this wonderful collection of pop-punk (the good kind of pop-punk) I just had to include a couple of tunes this week. (It helps that none of the tunes are over two minutes long.) 

    The same could be said for another friend of the show, the power pop sounds of Detroit’s The Needmores. But their email of their first EP, Side X Side, just barely missed the deadline. Close enough for me!

    Besides those fabulous new records, this week’s episode includes a ton of new Rum Bar Records releases, quite a few new singles from upcoming albums I can’t wait to hear, and concludes with a double shot of some of my favorite albums of the year that have come out in the last couple of weeks. A special thanks to Dig Records for supplying me with the Australian super group Loose Lips!

    What songs did you did this week?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #682: New Releases Pt. 1

    Another month, another two episodes devoted to new music! This week’s part one is centered around two great tribute albums released by two great labels. Our friends at Big Stir Records are set to release a fabulous tribute to power pop hall of famers The Flashcubes on September 12. I’m featuring five tracks off this great release that I’m sure y’all will love.

    There’s also a fabulous new tribute record from Jem Records, and it’s all about David Bowie. Following in the footsteps of similar records devoted to Ray Davies, Brian Wilson, John Lennon and Jagger/Richards, tonight you get four of the abum’s 11 tracks that cover Bowie’s entire career.

    Along with those great tracks, there’s new singles by Ledge favorits The Sleeveens and Memo PST, a wonderful compilation EP of previously-released tracks by The Whiffs, and awesome albums by Tamar Berk, Star Collector, The Unknowns, and many more.

    What tracks do you love the most?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #681: More From The Hudson Compound

    Last week’s look at what’s been spinning on the Hudson turntable was so fun that I thought we’d do it again. This week’s version, though, differs in that it also includes some digital treats. The announcement from the Numero Group of the upcoming Husker Du box, 1985 The Miracle Year was a no-brainer when it was accompanied by four more new sneak peaks. And I couldn’t stop myself from playing soem of the previously-released rarities that will again feature on the upcoming box set version of The Replacements’ Let It Be.

    But there are also a couple of great compilation albums that deserved some notice. First off, there’s the latest free release from our friends at Rum Bar Records. The Summer School Sampler features 34 tracks of brand new or recently-released material, and like I said it’s free!  And the 15th volume of Bored Teenagers compiles rare British punk singles from 1976-83!

    Along with these fun tunes I also aired quite a few more faves that have recently hit my turntable. What’s your favorite from this week’s show?

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

     

    Download MP3 here