• Tag Archives kurt baker

  • The Ledge #590: S.W. Lauden Takeover!

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    A few days ago, power pop expert S.W. Lauden reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in helping promote his new book, Remember The Lightning – A Guitar Pop Journal, Vol. 2. Duh, of course as a big fan of Lauden’s writing I was honored at the request. But I had a better idea. I asked him if he’d like to take over the show for a couple of sets. So tonight’s episode includes eight tunes from bands covered in this fabulous book, along with Lauden’s commentary.
    But obviously that’s not tonight’s entire show, and honestly I had to do a quick change after news came out earlier this week that power pop legend Dwight Twilley had passed away. A big fan of is first hit, “I’m On Fire”, along with his comeback albums of the early 80s, I quickly put together some originals and covers to help tell the story of a man who deserved a better fate in the record business.
    It’s also story time on this week’s Ledge, as I recently attended the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not only was I honored to be a part of the induction of the publication I wrote for in the 90s, Tempest, but I became acquainted with a surprisingly great record from Randall Zwarte, the former leader of a pretty big 80s/90s biker band, Zwarte.
    Of course, there is also the continuing “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” series, and this week we head to Germany for a 2018 cover by Muff Potter. Like 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 info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #544: Power Pop, Pt. 2 (The Present)

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    Last week’s show featured classic power pop tracks from the past. This week, we take a look a the current state of the genre with 40 tracks of fabulous guitar-driven pop music. In fact, the vast majority of these tracks are from 2022, with a handful of tunes from 2021 and 2020. The oldest song of the bunch dates back to 2014, and that tune from The Cry! was selected to be paired with the brand new single by lead singer Tommy Ray.

    It should be to nobody’s surprise that a good portion of the show compiles highlights from Big Stir Records as they are the without a doubt the gold standard of new music of this type. Author S. W. Lauden’s influence also extends beyond the books he compiled with co-author Paul Myers. Not only does he appear on a couple of the Big Stir tunes broadcast in this episode, his suggestions resulted in quite possibly the most exciting set of the show.

    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

     

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  • The Ledge #536: Covers

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    As I have stated quite often during these cover tune broadcasts, I have a special folder where I place remakes as I come across them. Once that folder is full, it’s time to do a show.

    This time around, that folder grew at a pretty rapid pace. Of course I’m going to air Ultrabomb’s version of “Sonic Reducer”. I don’t think anybody is surprised by the inclusion of “Borstal Breakdown” from that new live Replacements album. But many may be shocked by the inclusion of two tracks from the 1968 collaboration between Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood. Honestly, I had never heard these bonkers tunes until one day I hung out in my friend’s record store. Seriously, that version of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” is something everybody should check out.

    But what made it essential that I do this theme this very week are two special records that arrived a few days ago. The first is All The Covers (And More) by The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs. Released on September 30 on Rum Bar Records, this 38 track compilation gathers together all of the remakes the band has recorded in their 25 year history.

    The other is the latest project by Geoff Palmer. Standing In The Spotlight is a track by track recreation of Dee Dee Ramone’s infamous 1989 “rap” album. Palmer, along with friends such as Kurt Baker and Brad Marino clearly show their love and respect for the man on this album, which was released today (September 18), Dee Dee’s birthday.

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

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #486: Odds and Ends

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    The “odds and ends” format seems to have worked the last few times I’ve done it, so why not do another show of this type? For those new to The Ledge, the show consists of material I’ve been listening to in my home over the last few days. Some selections are faves from a few years ago that I haen’t pulled out in a while (Sarah Shook, Lydia Loveless). Others are recent purchases that don’t quite fit the new release shows (live Bob Mould, Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows). Add to that my recent fascination over everything involving Ncio, thanks to the new book, You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, and you get a handful of tracks featuring her beautiful, haunted vocals.

    Of course, news of a new box set including previously unreleased tracks by The Replacements takes priority over everything. This October, a 40th anniversary reissue of their first album, Sorry Ma Forgot to Take Out the Trash will hit the stores, and features 100 tracks, 67 of them previously unreleased. Expect to hear a lot from this in the next few months!

    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!

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #467: Rum Bar Records

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    Loyalty is an important word in my life. I try to be as loyal as possible to not only friends and family, but also the bands that I love. I’m even loyal to certain record labels. In the 80’s it was Twin/Tone and SST. Merge and a few others fit that category in the 90’s, and I’ve got a handful of current labels these days whose artists I will always check out. One of those is Rum Bar Records.

    No label has been more loyal to what I do with The Ledge than Rum Bar Records. Head honcho “Malibu” Lou Mansdorf has not only kept me in the loop with his constantly growing stable of releases, but he also routinely tosses a care package of physical releases to my mailbox. It’s because of people like Lou that this show has continued to prosper for over a decade.

    But it also turns out that loyalty is an important word to Mansdorf, as proven by the testimonials from his artists that pop up throughout this marathon all-Rum Bar broadcast. Most have been his friends for decades, but even recent signing have nothing but glowing words for him.

    Tonight’s show features tracks from the entire Rum Bar discography, including reissues of his earlier releases under the Melted Records moniker. The centerpiece of the show is a lengthy set that includes two tracks each from three fabulous records that were released today by Beebe Gallini, Electraluxx, and Indonesian Junk.

    The Ledge is even teaming up with Rum Bar for an Instagram contest. Three lucky winners will receive a Rum Bar prize pack for entering via my personal Instagram account. The rules are super simple, and the deadline is Thursday, March 25.

    Special thanks must go to Brent Dowell for helping select tonight’s tracks, and also to the following people for their contributions: Luke Metz, John Lynch, Geoff Palmer, Kurt Baker, Nato Coles, The Right Here, “Muck”, Justine Covault, Hayley Crusher, Miss Georgia Peach, Scott Dennis, Rick Dennis, Daniel James, and Brad Marino.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! 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!

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #450: New Releases

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    In all the years of doing this monthly new release show, this may be the most varied I’ve ever done. After initial sets of folk-ish, acoustic rock, this month’s supersized show gradually built up the intensity until a final set of veteran hardcore bands. In between was almost all genres of rock and roll, including indie, garage, post-punk, and so much more. It’s a great guide to new tunes!

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! 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.

     

    Download MP3 here


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  • The Ledge #421: Don’t Stand So Close To Me

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    I understood pretty early on this week that it was going to be impossible to come up with a new theme this week. The pandemic is the only thing any of us are thinking about these days, especially with the situation being more grim every day.

    Since last week’s “isolation” theme went pretty well, as far as I’m concerned at least, I decided to put together another week with a similar collection of songs. Last week’s was confined primarily to recent releases, however, outside of a few older tracks that I definitely wanted to include. This week I opened up the major Hudson music archives and did a few searches with the same key words – “isolation”, “flu”, “ghost town”, etc. Of course, I always need to be guided by the great words of Paul Westerberg, so he also gets his share of play in this episode.

    After listening, please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! Touring artists are having an especially tough time these days with the cancellation of SXSW and the closings of most venues.

     

    Download MP3 here


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