• Tag Archives husker du
  • The Ledge #701: Covers

    I always love when tracks show up just hours before the show, and that’s what happened with this all-covers episode. As I’ve said many times before, I have a folder on my laptop where I toss in new cover tunes whenever I come across them. When the folder is full, that’s when it’s time for a show.

    That’s exactly what happened, this time around. With this week’s release of the new album by The Damned where they remake tracks that the recently deceased Brian James loved, I saw the following post on Instagram:

    “Fret Rattles are excited to announce the release of our third full-length studio LP, titled “As the World Falls Apart.” It features thirteen tracks and comes in at the furious pace of 36 minutes. The LP was recorded in 2024 and 2025 at Flowers Studio (Minneapolis, MN) and Ecstattic Studio (St. Paul, MN) by our long-time producer Ali Jaafar.”

    A tracklist accompanied the post that indicated the new album was going to include two cover tunes, so I immediately sent a DM to requst their inclusion in tonight’s broadcast. They agreed, and in the early afternoon I received an email that included their explosive cover of “What Love Is” by The Dead Boys, where the band is accompanied by Minneapolis legend Rob Tossava.

    This tune really set the stage for two hours of fabulous revved up reamkes, including contributions from a number of Rum Bar Records acts, double shots from Eater and Pink Fairies, and a set dedicated to the recent box sets by The Replacements and Husker Du!

    What track did you dig the most?

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #700: Lucky Number Seven

    700 episodes of The Ledge? Who would have ever believed that to be possible? I certainly didn’t when I started this show way back in 2010. Podcasts were relatively new at this point, and I just assumed it would be a fun lark that would fizzle out within a few months. Even the format of the show was different back then. For the most part, I invited friends to pick out a dozen or so of their favorite songs, and we’d talk about them in between playing them.

    Everything changed when I linked up with RealPunkRadio. Suddenly this was a real radio show. Suddenly I had some labels and artists sending me music. These shows were primarily centered around elaborate themes, as that’s the way my mind thinks. There just HAS to be a reason to air a song.

    The themes still exist all these years later, but the concepts are much looser. Every month there’s a new release episode or two. I may celebrate certain years, or have all-covers broadcasts. But rarely do I go much deeper than that.

    Even tonight’s celebration isn’t exactly a deep thought concept. I figured pulling together over two hours of “track 7’s” would be perfect for the 700th show. Not necessarily the best track 7’s of all time, but the ones that caught my eye (and ear) when I spent hours going through my master library. 

    I hope you like what I’ve put together…not just tonight but for the previous 699 episodes and for whatever comes in the next 700. What’s your favorite track of the night?

    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 #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 #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


  • The Ledge #679: Leftovers and Reissues

    This week’s broadcast is sort of two different episodes combined together. The first 45 minutes or so consists of songs left over from the previous two week’s new reelease episodes. They’re not leftovers in terms of quality, though. They were just the last couple of sets of material that would have caused last week’s show to be well over 2 1/2 hours. And sure, having those dozen or so spare tracks allowed me to throw in yet another tune from both The Dogmatics and The Peppermint Kicks albums.

    The second part of the broadcast, which actualy kicks off with one of last week’s leftovers (The Kowalski’s “Depression Overdrive”) showcases a number of tunes from reissues, compilations, and live albums. There’s the long forgotten original version of Marianne Faithfull’s “Sister Morphine”, outtakes from  Talking Heads, and live tunes from Husker Du, Guided By Voices and The Fall. There’s also two full sets from Cherry Red Records’ fabulous new I Wanna Be a Teen Again compilation, including a trio of old tunes from current Big Stir Records artists.

    Also, please give some thoughts to the ideas on an interview spinoff show and a possible Patreon site that I discuss in the first two breaks in the show. I’d love to hear some ideas from you guys!

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #677: New Releases Pt. 1

    It’s a new month so obviously it’s time for another two part new release series. Like usual, tonight’s part one is full of “friends of the show” that includes artists on Big Stir Records, along with tracks submitted by the likes of The New Brutarians, Jim Basnight, and many others. There’s also a sneak peak at the upcoming Superchunk album, and a handful of tunes from yet another recently announced live Husker Du album! 

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #674: New Releases Pt. 1

    It may be our nation’s birthday, but that’s not stopping The Ledge from their usual routine of every first Friday of the month. Yes, once again we have a two part new release series, and this week’s first episode is primarily “friends of the show”. Artists that regularly send us tracks (Numb Surprise), along with labels that alway keep us in the loop (Big Stir Records), along with a ton of artists who so nicely provided us with singles or full-length releases.

    But we also had to break our usual format with this news from the Numero Group – “The rumors are true. On January 30, 1985, Hüsker Dü recorded a peak high performance to 24 track tape at Minneapolis’s First Avenue club in front of their hometown massive. This performance was supposed to come out as a live album later that year, but the band’s rapid upward trajectory caused priorities to shift. The tapes were shelved – thought to be possibly lost in the same 2011 house fire that consumed a precious portion of the Hüsker Dü archive. Nearly 40 years later, these tapes have been rescued from the abyss, and we’ve tasked the team at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio on the transferring and Beau Sorensen at Tiny Telephone for the mixdowns.” 

    Yes, all five of the preview tracks are included, as are a couple of highlights from the recent covers compilation from The Feelies.

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #657: The Real Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame (Pt. 2)

    Last week I debuted a new series where The Ledge rights the wrongs of that inept board that handles the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. The previous episode presented artists from the 50s, 60s, and 70s that deserves to be inducted. This week we handle the 80s.

    Take a look at the 33 artists I present on this broadcast. You can’t deny that this would make the Hall a lot more fun. Imagine Jello Biafra’s induction speech for the Dead Kennedys! Or the remarks Henry Rollins would make for Black Flag. Or the emotions that would erupt for the late Shane MacGowan and the rest of The Pogues. How about the ensuing jam session that would involve Nick Cave with members of X, The Cramps, Husker Du, Sonic Youth, and the Fleshtones?

    Of course, any Hall that I curate would have to include The Replacements! In fact, just insert them into the building and all of my complaints would immediately end. (Or would it?)

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

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #633: 1984

    1984 was a magical year for your favorite podcast host. It was my senior year of college, and I had worked my way up the ranks to be the music director of KAUR. This was the perfect gig for me, along with the record store job I had in my spare time.

    Of course, gigs like this would mean little if the music business was in a bad way. But it wasn’t. It was one of the greatest years ever for the sort of material I loved. College rock was more popular than ever. British pop had moved away from the “New Romantics” garbage, and guitars were once again popular. Australia was again pumping out energetic rock and roll. And here in America, there was a grass roots movement that saw the beginnings of what would eventually become Americana, along with two labels, SST and Twin/Tone, that were regularly releasing classic records.

    It’s a holiday weekend, so why not celebrate the material that changed my life 40 years ago? These are all records I loved then, and still love today!

    Also, please head to YouTube and subscribe to our channel – Public Domain Classics 888. We have over 500 classic films from over 110 years of releases! 

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

     

    Download MP3 here