A few new records premier in today’s show. R. Stevie Moore has a new album called Advanced and it’s as fresh and as exciting as we got used from Stevie. Hipbone Slim who collaborated with Mama Rosin earlier this year, also has an album on his own with his Kneetremblers. Cody Chesnutt who you may remember as a guest on Phrenology by the Roots, is back this year with a new EP called Black Skin No Value, somewhat more ambitious project than his first album Headphone Masterpiece. Calexico are back with a compilation record that contains the best tracks from their tour only discs. The only new name today is the New Orleans street band Washboard Chaz Blues Trio.
We dedicate today’s show to Mark Moogy Klingman, a frequent collaborator of Todd Rundgren and a synthesizer pioneer who died at the age of 61 after a battle with cancer last week.
Freddy Cannon – Tallahasee Lassie;
The Rolling Stones – Tallahassee Lassie;
Israel Nash Gripka – Black And Blue;
Hipbone Slim and The Kneetremblers – King Of The Rocket Men;
Washboard Chaz Blues Trio – Pick Yourself Up;
Mama Rosin with Hipbone Slim and The Kneetremblers – London Zydeco;
Reigning Sound – Watching My Baby;
Cody Chesnutt – The Seed;
Cody Chesnutt – Where Is All The Money Going;
True Sons of Thunder – Bloodclot;
Todd Rundgren – Dust In The Wind;
Todd Rundgren – Just One Victory;
Rainer with Joey Burns and John Convertino – Cheer Down;
Calexico – Griptape;
Walter Ghoul’s Lavender Brigade – Glass Room;
R. Stevie Moore – Carmen is Coming;
Thee Oh Sees – The Dream.
The first block in today’s show is dedicated to the three (fake) brothers – Eric, Greg and Jack Oblivian. We know Jack has a new album Rat City, but the other two brothers are shaking the rock’n’roll scene with new records as well. Greg’s Reigning Sound has a new digital record called Abdication For Your Love and Eric has a really exceptional new record with his band True Sons of Thunder. Their older colleague from Memphis, legendary Steve Cropper has a tribute record, dedicated to Lowman Pete Pauling of The “5” Royales fame. New Jersey singer songwriter Neal Casal is back also with the new record. Canadian lady Kathleen Edwards is a new name for us, but we really like what she’s doing.
We have some new names today. Kitten is a new band, lead by Chloe Chaidez, consisting mainly of teenagers and very young people. They are picked by a big label and sound really great live. Us older folks in the audience were taken by their faithful covers of Joy Division and Stooges. The Spits come from Seattle, they have this classic Ramones sound and they have several records out already. Their fifth LP just came out. Jamie McLean is a guitarist from New Orleans. He was associated with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and now he has his own band and a new record called Time of My Life. We have another new singer songwriter in our show today, his name is Israel Nash Gripka. Although he is from New York City, his sound is very traditionally oriented. We also have Thee Oh Sees and Ian Moore with new releases. Nick Lowe is back with a new album and his old band Rockpile released some live recordings from 1980 on a new CD.
So, Beach Boys finished Smile… I don’t know exactly what to think of it. This album probably never even had a clear vision, and it’s unclear how you can complete it with chaotic pieces that the Boys recorded back in the day. Still, the concept behind it is so intriguing that it will hunt the rock’n’roll forever. It hunts me too. In this show, a portion of the playlist is delivered in Smile format, with a lot of cutting and pasting. Check it out from 14:28 to 28:16 in part 1. The rest of the show brings you new tunes from King Khan and Electric Six. We also have new names Jerusalem and the Starbaskets, Barrarecudas, and The Excitements. Giant Sand has a reissue of Chore of Enchantment and there’s a tribute out there for Ian Dury.