• Tag Archives graham parker
  • The Ledge #668: Covers

    At first glance, the latest installment of the cover song series is no different than any previous episode. Behind the scenes, though, serendipity is at play here.

    Like usual, I had quitely filled my “covers” folder over the last few months. A few weeks ago, I had accumulated enough tracks to schedule the show. I could have done it at the end of April, or last week. Next week even. Or I could have held it over until June. But no, I was determed in do on May 23.

    Then on my usual record store run last Friday I found a number of great Minneapolis garage rock records from the 50s and 60s. Most were compilatons, but I also found a Sundazed Music reissue of The Gestures’ self-titled album from 1966. Hailing from Mankato, MN, they had a hit in 1964 with “Run, Run, Run”, their debut single. I picked up this reissue, and loved it!

    Fast forward to yesterday as I was looking at the various new releases for the week. I was excited to see that Beebe Gallini had a new record out called Begged, Borrowed and Stealed! Even better was the fact that not only is this a record of nothing but covers but one of their selections is that tune by The Gestures!!! So for this week’s feature record of the week I have a whole set of tunes from this great record.

    And as if that wasn’t eneough serendipity for one week, I also came across a covers record by Australin ska-punkers The Resignators, which includes a cover of “Teenage Kicks”!!! I swear the universe set up both of these acts to release these records just for me to air them this week!

    Due to all this good fortune, I decided to not dump any of the other tracks I had initially picked for this week’s broadcast. So this is a supersized episode with over a half hour of overtime! I hope you love all of these tunes. Please let me know what you liked the most!

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #664: Record Store Day

    The Ledge is back! Yes, I did announce that it was unlikely that I’d have a show this week due to my recent medical procedure. But I seem to be recuperating nicely, so why not put together a show? I do chat about my experiences at the top of the program, and I do want to thank everyone that reached out to say they were thinking of me. It’s so much appreciated.

    As for this week’s broadcast, it’s all about Record Store Day. Yes, I know there are a lot of people that are not fans of this event. It didn’t help that this year included a couple of mainstream titles that should have had better availability (in other words, a much higher pressing). Yes, I understand that most people don’t care about rarities such as outtakes and live recordings. I get it. If that’s your belief then stay away!

    But I love everything about it. It’s the one day that this curmudgeon hangs with the crowd before the doors open. I enjoy chatting with folks about what they’re hoping to find, or what they’ve bought in the past. And yes, I do love live albums. I do love rare mixes. I love obscure, long out of print collaborations between unlikely artists. Gimme gimme gimme!

    So tonight’s show celebrates this spring’s model. There are a ton of live albums. There’s the almost forgotten Hindu Love Gods, which saw Warren Zevon paired up with 3 of the 4 members of R.E.M. There’s a crazy alternative version of the first Public Image Ltd. album. The list goes on and on. Dive in tonight’s show and relive the special day.

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #656: The Real Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

    A few days ago, the 2025 nominees for The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame were announced. Like usual, there was very little actual rock and roll reflected in their choices. Whatever. Honestly, I’ve stopped caring about that nonsense many, many years ago. It’s a TV show these days. It doesn’t reflect the history of the genre. It’s all about ratings in a time where nothing but the NFL actually attracts eyeballs to the telly.

    So tonight starts a three part series of shows devoted to artists that SHOULD be in the decrepit museum. Tonight we’re dealing with the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It’s definitely not a complete list. It’s two hours of an altnerate world where noisy bands reign supreme. A world where guitars roar and drums crash. A world where energy is more important than perfect voices and tasteful playing. In other words, Scott’s world.

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #591: Halloween

    It’s become a Halloween tradition for this show to celebrate the holiday with over two hours of spooky music. As it is the ultimate rock and roll holiday, it’s never hard to find enough new tunes to fill a show, and this year is no exception. This is a show that should be the soundtrack to your Halloween party, or give the trick or treaters a real treat by blasting this at your front door. After all, they need to be “Ledge-ified” at an early age.  

    Even this week’s entry in the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” fits the spooky theme. Well, at least band’s name does. Ghost Of An American Airman was a Belfast band that formed in the mid-80s, and released a handful of records over the next decade. Like I do every week, however, 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


  • The Ledge #582: Big Stir Records

    Earlier this week I was surprised to get a pretty large dropbox link from my friends at Big Stir Records. Taking a look at the contents, I noticed that there was not only a sampler compilation of many of their current artists, but there were almost two dozen station IDs recorded by those artists specifically for my show.

    To say I was pleased would be an understatement. I was seriously touched, even though I knew they were having their artists record these for stations all over the world. But for my little show? I had to show my appreciation, so tonight’s episode is (almost) all Big Stir artists. Besides a track or two from each of the artists who recorded a little something for me, there’s an extra hour of some of my favorite tunes from the label.  

    If you’re not familiar with Big Stir, they are a Burbank, Clifornia label founded by two of the most lovely people in the music business, Christina Bulbenko and Rex Broome of The Armoires (one of the artists featured in tonight’s show). Over the years they have released more than 70 albums on vinyl and CD, and they specialize in melodic power pop.

    Here’s the best part of this Big Stir theme. One of their artists, Popular Creeps, had earlier expressed interest in recording a “Teenage Kicks” cover for my “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series. Once this theme was solidified, I sent leader Lenny Grassa an email asking if he had made any progress on it. He just so happened to be heading to Lansing, Michigan to do just that with his friends in The Stick Arounds! So tonight’s show kicks off with a brand new cover of “Teenage Kicks”, followed by a couple of tracks by both bands. (The Stick Arounds are not on Big Stir Records, though, but I just had to show my appreciation to them for assisting Grassa.)

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #580: Some Stuff

    Tonight’s show is a mishmash of primarily recent releases. There’s some material from great box sets. There’s a set devoted to a classic old live album and one brand new one. I’ve got a set from that great new tribute album, Jem Records Celebrates Ray Davies, along with more material from the tribute album I premiered last week, Goo Goo Muck – A Tribute to The Cramps. There’s also a Rum Bar Records set, and previews of new records by Graham Parker & The Goldtops, Tamar Berk, and others. It’s a show featuring a wide variety of genres that you only hear on shows like The Ledge.

    As for this week’s “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series, I have a mystery track by a band called The Shades. The cover is from the soundtrack to the Elle Fanning film, Teen Spirit, but I have yet to find out any information regarding the band. Could it be something cooked up in the studio by the film’s musical directors? Who knows? 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


  • The Ledge #571: New Releases

    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


  • 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 #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 #388: From The Archives

    Despite what you may believe, archive releases come out throughout the year. It’s not just for the Christmas holidays or Record Store Days. During the year there are tons of compilations, live records, remasters, and other odds and ends.

    Tonight’s show collects a number of these. Acoustic versions of classic Graham Parker and Superchunk albums. A collection of acoustic covers recorded by Buffalo Tom’s Bill Janovitz. Live albums by Johnny Thunders, Die Toten Hosen, Paul Kelly, and so much more. A riveting triple-disc compilation of Billy Childish’s 40 year careeer. All these and more!

    Listen and then please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! It’s that simple.

     

     

    Download MP3 here