And… we’re back from our usual Summer break. The break was long, but without huge shakes in musical world. Also, not too many great records happened in the past two months while we were gone. My favorite record this summer is definitely Rainer Ptacek session with Calexico members that came out now, but it was recorded way back in 1997, mere months before Rainer passed away. The cd is called Roll Back The Years, and I really wish I could. We lost a lot when Rainer left 14 years ago. From Austin, we have new records for The Krayolas and John Wesley Coleman. From Memphis, we have new records for Jack Oblivian and Bo-Keys. We also have new Brian Wilson, whose new record is centered around Disney movies.
In other news, we say goodbye to Zagreb’s Radio SC. The “flashlite” edition of The Little Lighthouse, that is, Internet edition recorded in my room, as opposed to being live in real radio studio, started back in 2008 on their initiative. I am thankful for bringing me back out into the public, but last spring I got a note from them that their funds got shortened and that the radio ceased to exist. All the best to their crew in future endeavors. In the mean time, we keep rocking the (un)free world on this website, and also in Kragujevac on Radio Centar and Athens on Rock XS.
Wolf People – Time;
The Krayolas – Catherine;
The Krayolas – Gonna Walk Down;
Tyla Gang – Styrofoam;
Housecoat Project – Styrofoam (San Francisco CA 1987);
John Wesley Coleman III – Werewolf Soup;
Jack Oblivian – Dark Eyes;
Rainer and Das Combo – Drop Down Mama;
Rainer with Joey Burns and John Convertino – Roll Back the Years;
Tommy Stinson – One Man Mutiny;
Bash and Pop – Friday Night (Is Killing Me);
The Beatles – Why Don’t We Do It In The Road;
Lowell Fulson – Why Don’t We Do It In The Road;
The Bo-Keys – I’m Going Home (feat. Charlie Musselwhite);
Brian Wilson – Kiss the Girl (From the Little Mermaid);
R. Stevie Moore with Dave Gregory – Dates;
Chris McKenna – Maximum Love Vibes;
Poni-Tails – Born Too Late.



Last week we had a pleasure to see Joe Jack Talcum at the Beachland. Joe’s show was a very touching solo acoustic performance. He brought with himself another duet, also based in Philly, called The Bassturds. He also carried a box with the brand new Dead Milkmen CD. They reunited this year to record a selection of new tunes, but this time with Dandrew on bass replacing Dave Blood. So, in the first part of today’s show we listen to new tunes for the Milkmen, Joe Jack and The Bassturds. After that, we have some other artists with new records. Rock legend Duane Eddy is here, as well as Buddy Miller on a Tom T. Hall cover. Beautiful Amy LaVere is also here with her double bass. Black Lips have a new record, and let us not forget The Cajun Country Revival with their portion of Louisiana madness.
The first time I heard of Bill Morrissey was on a very interesting compilation record called Legacy: A Collection of New Folk Music. It included 15 singer songwriters that were all new to me in 1989. It was a new, original take on old folk theme, and gathered an exciting new scene that was budding at the time. Bill was definitely one of the stand-outs. He was based out of New Hampshire and he had several excellent solo records. Check them out especially if you are a fan of Townes Van Zandt or Butch Hancock. But, unfortunately, Bill Morrissey died in a hotel room somewhere in Georgia four days ago and in this show we say goodbye to him. We also have a new song for Detroit Cobras which appeared on the new Buddy Holly tribute. Masonics are a new name at the Lighthouse and they come from London UK. Finally, Disciplina Kicme is also back with a brand new album Uf! and it once again rocks my world.
Grunge is dead. We have Cute Lepers opening today’s show with the new album Adventure Time and if you just hear their sound you’d think they’re from Memphis or Atlanta, but actually they come from the grunge capital of the world, Seattle WA. 1991 was veeery long time ago! We also catch up with Dave Schramm, who played in many band throughout the years. One of them was The Okra All Stars who’s cover of Purple Rain was a popular song 10 years ago when we were on KLSU. Dave is now a part of a great podcast called
Today we start with a large blues set. In it, we listen to newest albums for Dave Alvin, Gadalupe Plata and T Model Ford. We also hear later on new music for two great garage bands: Cleveland’s own New Lou Reeds and Slovenian Res Nullius.
It’s my father’s birthday and I am in my home town. My dad collects music just like I do and I learned a lot from him. So, two of us decided to make a show together. He picked all songs in today’s show. He’s an expert in early rock’n’roll and today’s selection are songs that represent an early history of this musical genre. People typically think that rock’n’roll was created with the first records of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Bill Halley in 1954 or so. However, rock’n’roll evolved very slowly and the term is mentioned as early as 1934! This hour is dedicated to these forefathers (and mothers) of the music that we all like so much. So, dwell into this history and wish my dad Ivica a happy birthday!
We take it easy today. I haven’t heard much from Peter Blegvad in a while, so I hit a search on him. It turns out he’s been putting new songs up on an excellent podcast called
Today’s show is dedicated to Clarence Clemons, the original saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. We start with three E Street songs in which I think Clarence particularly shined. We also have new albums for the Serbian band Eva Braun and college rock legends The Silos. Their new album is an unusually shiny summer deal and it’s call Florizona – obviously a name that connects Florida and Arizona. Talking about Arizona, Howe Gelb also has a new album called Snarl Some Piano. It’s mostly a piano record, and we check it out today as well. We hear, Tommy Stinson is about to finish up recording the new record and some of the songs that will appear on this album were beautifully showcased on Minnesota Public Radio. The one that I picked for today has a part co-written with Paul Westerberg. And finally, we introduce a new name at the Little Lighthouse, his name is Frederick Squire and he has a new single with Kate Maki. The last song on the playlist is an old underground hit for the Cleveland band Death of Samantha. They had a brief reunion last weekend when Doug Gillard, their original guitarist, returned to town.
More bad news this week… Steve Popovich, rock maverick from Cleveland who indebted the world with many great records died last week in Tennessee at the age of 68. Steve was a musical promoter and record label owner in the golden age of ’70s when he helped manage careers of Bruce Springsteen, Cheap Trick, Boz Scaggs, Joe Grushecky, Southside Johnny, Ronnie Spector, Meat Loaf, Johnny Cash – just to name a few. He was a rare breed, a promoter who truly cared for the music he was promoting, someone who believed in what he liked, even if there was no conventional logic for pushing what he pushed. In that way, he is a true inspiration. We also say goodbye to Benny Spellman, a New Orleans singer who also died last week in his hometown at the age of 79. He left behind exciting early rock songs such as Fortune Teller and Lipstick Traces On A Cigarette, both written by Allen Toussaint. We also throw in a few new records. We introduce Dead Rock West from LA, a band clearly influenced by X. Also, we have new albums for Kate Maki and John Paul Keith. Mama Rosin, zydeco band from Switzerland is also back with a collaboration with Hipbone Slim.
Today we have one cause and three obituaries. First the cause… We would like to help the music producer from Arizona Craig Schumacher to raise funds for his battle with cancer. Through the nineties and on Craig helped either as an engineer or a guest musician or a producer on many great records by various bands in and out of Arizona (such as Green On Red and Calexico or Tim Lee 3, Steve Wynn and Neko Case). Craig is now battling the cancer (and the health system) and needs your help. Go to this link and check out what you can do: