Today’s show kicks off with the new single for John Petkovic (Cobra Verde) and Pat Carney (Black Keys), together as Sad Planets. We also introduce the new releases from Motorpsycho and Specials who reunited after many years. We introduce Low Life from Sydney Australia and Katla from Iceland. Shagg is a new quartet from Cleveland and we also hear one of their songs recorded live. Sara Romweber, drummer of Let’s Active, Snatches of Pink and Dex Romweber Duo passed away at the age of 55 on March 4th, and today’s show is dedicated to her memory.
Nikki Hill – Take The Ride (It Don’t Matter);
Sad Planets – Not of This World;
Specials – Breaking Point;
Specials – Ghost Town;
Sunwatchers – New Dad Blues;
Motorpsycho – Psychotzar;
Katla – I Will Hunt You.;
Outrageous Cherry – Last Nice Guy In Detroit;
Coldcock – I Wanna Be Rich;
Low Life – Lust Forevermore;
Shagg – Switchblade Baby;
Shagg (Live in CLE);
Dex Romweber Duo – Jungle Drums;
Snatches of Pink – Thing of the Past;
Let’s Active – Ring True;
The Lemonheads – Magnet;
NRBQ – Magnet.
Paul Hamann worked as the recording engineer at Suma Studios in Painesville, OH. The first time I saw his name was back in my old home town, when I was reading the liner notes to fIREHOSE album fROMOHIO. But, when I spoke to him about that record, it was just one of many that he did. His breakthrough happened with the first Pere Ubu album The Modern Dance. In the following years, Hamann recorded almost all Pere Ubu records and many of the essential Cleveland underground records: The Girls, Human Switchboard, Pagans, Pressler Morgan… Hamann had a way to capture raw power from almost any band that asked for his services. Part of it is an excellent set up at his Suma Studio, but also, his ear and unmistakable instinct to press the recording button at the right time. That was recognized by many of the Alive Records bands, who used his services. Black Keys made another huge mark on modern rock’n’roll and a large part of it was due to the spirit of Suma embodied in Paul Hamann. His departure is leaves a big void in the recording world. This episode of The Little Lighthouse is dedicated to his work.
Today’s show goes out to the two blues musicians which we lost within one single week (not in the same day as I said in the show). First Keef Hartley went away, English drummer who has worked in the late 60s with several different bands, most notably his own Keef Hartley band. Then Hubert Sumlin, the legendary Chicago blues pioneer left as well. It’s sad to see them go, so we remember their work in today’s show.
Mixed bag today, folks. Soul, blues, glam, power pop… and the stones. Yeah, the reissue of Exile On Main Street is scheduled for May, but as the record company decided to put out a special single out on the record store day with a song dug out from the Exile vaults called Plundered My Soul. When you think of that the Stones actually had so many good songs those days that they just threw out something like that… Another reissue for this year is Elvis Costello’s Live At The Hollywood High ep this time expanded to a full blown long playing CD reissue. Red Shoes sound particularly good on that one. We also check out new albums for the Black Keys and for Sharon Jones. Moaners are here again with some demos that they keep putting pretty much regularly on their myspace page.