The Handcuffs – Electroluv
The Big I Am – Right About Now
Wire Train – Spin
Maxi Dunn – Don’t Look Back
Julian Cope – Beautiful Love
Elvis Costello – Big Tears
Domus – Algoritmo
Mark Bacino – Queens English
Al Green – Call Me
Dom Veron – Breakdown Blues
Dean Martin – Sway
Galaxie 500 – Pictures
Vegas With Randolph – Be The One
The Corner Laughers – Thunderbird
The Judybats – Convalescing in Spain
Joe Swidenbank – Empty Handed
Beck – Lord Only Knows
Kate Burkart – Better Then
Tom Alford – Yes It’s You
Winzenried – Ohio
Allyson Seconds – Dig My Pig
Laurie Biagini – Happiness Looks Good On You
Buzz Radio – Don’t You Make A Fool Out Of Me
Nushu – Your Girl
The Jayhawks – She’s Not Alone Anymore
Rich McCulley – Just A Few Miles To Go
Maple Mars – Transcendental Guidance
Katelyn Berreth – The Reason I Am Lonely Cha Cha Cha
The Taters – We Can Work It Out
The Dogs – Charmed
Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #453 – 5/29/2010
Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #452 – 5/22/2010: 2010 IPO Liverpool Special!
The Jayhawks – Wichita
Lou Reed – Sick Of You
Rose Reiter – Where You Are
Mark Bacino – Middle Town
Joe Swidenbank – It’s Different For Girls
Karim Fanous – Thin Bits
Rich McCulley – Tell Me, I’m Listening
David Bash interview Part 1
Cult of Wedge – Uprising
David Bash interview Part 2
Laurie Biagini – Another Old Lazy Lyin’ On The Beach Afternoon
Maxi Dunn/Laurie Biagini interview
Maxi Dunn – Always Be My Friend
Buzzradio – One Too Many
Soundserif Interview –
Soundserif – John Titor
Traveling Wilburys – Dirty World
Allyson Seconds – Bag Of Kittens
Tom Alford – Wasp Lands On Sunflower
The Taters – Such A Good Day
Nushu – Everything And More
Nick Lowe – Dose Of You
Jointpop – Monday Morning Love Situation
Kate Burkart – Cross The Street
The Corner Laughers – The Commonest Manifesto
Rick Nelson – Garden Party
2010 IPO Liverpool Special!
The International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Liverpool festival will be featured in a radio special, hosted by Mike Lidskin. This 45 minute program features interviews with a few of the artists who will grace the stage of the world renowned Cavern Club. We’ll also hear their music, and a special interview with the IPO’s founder, David Bash. Mike chatted with folks in four different countries, and can’t wait for you to hear what it all sounds like!
This special will air twice this week. Catch it on Twirl Radio (based in Sacramento, CA) Saturday, May 22, from 4-6pm Pacific, http://www.twirlradio.com. It will play again on Recharged Radio’s Tuesday Night Diner (based in London, UK) on Tuesday, May 25, from 8-10pm GMT. And if you’re anywhere near Liverpool, you owe it to yourself to check out this amazing collection of musicians!
For more information, go to www.internationalpopoverthrow.com.
Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #451 – 5/15/2010
Luscious Jackson – Naked Eye
Two Dollar Pistols – Gettin’ Gone
Anton Barbeau – Bending Like A Spoon
Laura Pharoah – Rainbow Street
Maxi Dunn – How Was I To Know?
Robyn Hitchcock – Adventure Rocket Ship
Terese Taylor – Hermit
Slave – Volcano Rupture (LP Version)
Buzz Radio – So Sad About Us
NRBQ – Chicken Hearted
Buck Owens – Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass
Little Guilt Shrine – What I’m Thinking
The Wonder Stuff – Full Of Life (Happy Now)
Los Lobos – Mas Y Mas
The Corner Laughers – Stonewords
The Beat Farmers – California Kid
Laurie Biagini – A Far-Out Place
Madonna – Ray Of Light
BoDeans – Hand In Hand
Rob Bonfiglio – React
Jointpop – Monday Morning Love Situation
Joe Swidenbank – Empty Handed
Field – Saturday Soldier
Beth Thornley – There’s No Way
Nushu – So Long (Maybe)
Lucky Ball & Chain – They Might Be Giants
The Taters – Spend A Little Time With Me
Maple Mars – Big Imagination
Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #450 – 5/8/2010
Maple Mars – Transcendental Guidance
Jackson Browne – Doctor My Eyes
Maxi Dunn – Welcome To Soonville
Charlie Cheney – She’s Made For Sunshine
Sex 66 – Girlfriend
Splitsville – Pretty People
The Corner Laughers – For The Sake Of The Cat
Karim Fanous – So Long Jenny J
Joey Oskys – C It
Cult Of Wedge – Uprising
Laurie Larson – Endless Thank You Loop
Laurie Biagini – Crazy People On The Internet
Big Head Todd And The Monsters – In The Morning
Jimmy Catlett – Red, White And Black
Allyson Seconds – Bag Of Kittens
Michael Miller – I Made You Up
Nushu – Like The Sun
Robyn Hitchcock – The Yip! Song
The Handcuffs – Resurrection
The Lemonheads – Being Around
Dionne Warwick – I Say A Little Prayer
Kaz Murphy – Killin’ Wheel
Kate Burkart – The High Road
The Taters – We Can Work It Out
Joe Swidenbank – Different For Girls
Tom Alford – Look To The Stars
The Scratch – Teen Idol
Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #449 – 5/1/2010
Dave Dudley – Two Six Packs Away
The Smith Brothers – How Wrong You Are
Joe Swidenbank – Coming Up For Air
Maxi Dunn – Always Be My Friend
June And The Exit Wounds – Where I’m Taken
Chris Isaak – Notice The Ring
Cult Of Wedge – Highway To Hell
Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hell
Nushu – Another Rainy Weekend
Buzz Radio – Don’t You Make A Fool Out Of Me
Isaac Hayes – Theme From “Shaft”
Robyn Hitchcock – Mexican God
The Taters – That’s Me
Katelyn Berreth – Dandelion Song
Liz Phair – Supernova
Little Tin Frog – Animated Suspension
Rob Swanson – Pony Girl
Cake – Love You Madly
The Who – Leaving Here
Kaz Murphy – Hardly Think About That
Beth Thornley – A To Z
Laurie Biagini – Leave Me Alone
Kate Burkart – Cross The Street
Smashing Pumpkins – Rocket
The Corner Laughers – Space Echo
The G-Men – The Advertising Man
Tom Alford – Strawberry Robot
Rich McCulley – The Last Song
Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #448 – 4/24/2010
The Beatles – For You Blue
Sam Phillips – I Need Love
Maxi Dunn – Pull You Down
Steve Earle – The Revolution Starts Now
Shayna And The Bulldog – Miss You
Domus – Algoritmo
Cowboy Junkies – Southern Rain
The Replacements – I.O.U.
NRBQ – Just Close Your Eyes And Be Mine Ruby
Michael Miller – I Made You Up
Tom Alford – Wasp Lands On Sunflower
Elvis Costello – 13 Steps Lead Down
Maple Mars – Big Imagination
Field – I’m The Enforcer
The Corner Laughers – Yellow Jacket
Kate Burkart – Better Then
Hothouse Flowers – I’m Sorry
Charlie Cheney – Giant Chicken
Brian Eno/John Cale – Been There Done That
The Taters – Walking In The Sunshine
Laurie Biagini – Happiness Looks Good On You
Todd Dillingham – Whitebeard’s Trip
The Who – Pictures Of Lily
Mark Bacino – Queens English
Jimmy Catlett – Everybody Sez
Sex 66 – Numb
Nushu – Your Girl
Rich McCulley – Tell Me, I’m Listening
Nick Lowe – I Live On A Battlefield
The Handcuffs – One More Song
Twirl Radio Playlist, Show #447 – 4/17/2010 – with special musical guest Laurie Larson!
Buzz Radio – So Sad About Us
Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman
Maxi Dunn – How Was I To Know?
The Corner Laughers – Stonewords
Laurie Larson – Endless Thank You Loop
Rich McCulley – Tell Me, I’m Listening
The Handcuffs – Half A Mind
The Taters – Such A Good Day
Maple Mars – Transcendental Guidance
Beth Thornley – You’re So Pony
Joseph Swidenbank – Coming Up For Air
Nushu – Here’s To Feeling Free
Matthew Sweet – Sick Of Myself
Laurie Biagini – A Far-Out Place
Tap – Next Time
Mark Bacino – Happy
The Replacements – One Wink At A Time
Thinking For Tuesday – Falling
Kaz Murphy – Below The Skin
Twirl Radio Playlist, Show #446 – 4/10/2010
Jimmy Catlett – Falling Up
Jesus H. Christ and the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse – Liz The Hot Receptionist
Danielle Howle and the Tantrums – Big Puffy Girl Handwriting
Maxi Dunn – Don’t Look Back
Barenaked Ladies – Some Fantastic
Joey Oskys – C It 2000000
The Onlymen – College 0, Baghdad 1
Low Flying Owls – Swingin’ Sam
Splitsville – Forever
Kate Burkart – The High Road
Joe Swidenbank – Different For Girls
Laurie Larson – Corporate Chew Toy
Buzz Radio – One Too Many
Johnny Cash – Get Rhythm
The Handcuffs – Wonderful Life
Maple Mars – Big Imagination
Cult of Wedge – Uprising
Sex 66 – Skinny Girl
Tom Alford – Shiloh
The Corner Laughers – For The Sake Of The Cat
Michael Miller – Carolina Skyline
Beth Thornley – There’s No Way
Nushu – So Long (Maybe)
The Taters – That’s Me
Laurie Biagini – Crazy People On The Internet
Sam Phillips – Power World
Mojo Nixon – Don Henley Must Die
Bad Examples – Statue By The Phone
Featured Artist Fall 2009: Maxi Dunn
When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. Ever hear that American saying before? In October, I sampled some of the finest lemonade I’d ever gotten my hands on. What makes good lemonade? A touch of sour. An overall sweetness. And finally, a great, memorable aftertaste. In this case, the lemonade is the brand new Welcome to Soonville album by Maxi Dunn, the Twirl Radio Featured Artist for Fall, 2009! I interviewed her on Twirl Radio on Saturday, October 24th, 2009.
Maxi is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool, UK. I first met her on Facebook. She was a friend of several of my other friends. I enjoyed chatting with her–she always had something witty, pertinent, or charming to say. Finally, I heard her music on some other radio shows (so no, I don’t get credit for “discovering” her), and asked her if she’d send me some tracks for airplay. Thus began a six month odyssey, one in which she’d occasionally email me another new track for airplay consideration. By default, I pretty much got to watch the making of Welcome to Soonville, real time! With characteristic modesty, she would often preface her emails with disclaimers like “I’m not sure if this’ll fit your show, but I hope you like it”. And then it would turn out to be a magnificently performed and produced song, which indeed wound up in my playlist. She repeated this procedure several times, and before long, I became familiar with much of the album before the October 12th release.
So what does Maxi sound like? She’s got a very versatile voice–I think she sings alto and soprano parts equally well, and uses each range to good effect, depending on what the song or phrase calls for. A lot of her songs have a bouncy, early 1980’s sound–something like you might have heard from early Madonna or Sheena Easton–but with much more depth of songwriting than you would ever hear from either of those two legendary songstresses. But no–not all her songs are upbeat and fun. Soonville has a range of emotions to explore, and some truths to uncover, and that is reflected in the sound and range of songs. Maxi may have grown up in the 1980’s, but she’s living in the here and now.
Maxi has been a musician for the last twenty years, and had been in a few bands. So what moved her to release this fine debut album in 2009? Well, a traumatic year, in which a long term relationship ended bitterly, was the motivating factor.
One doesn’t even have to know the exact circumstances. The songs say it all. And they divide up into two groups–those written back in the 1990’s with her old band CS Drift, and the ones written this past year. The older ones have a wistful tone–they’re generally about sad relationships. They’re very good. But the ones written this year–these are the focused words of a survivor. These autobiograhical vignettes tell you everything that happened to Maxi. In the course of about a year, she walked through fire, and came out alive on the other side. A little scorched, and wiser for it all. But here to tell us about it.
The songs also break up into two groups soundwise, as well. Songs such as How Was I To Know, Don’t Look Back, Always Be My Friend, Seattle In The Sun, and the epic title track Welcome To Soonville were produced by Pete Hackett from Cult Of Wedge, who supplied the sterling guitar work as well. Paul Wright added some keyboard and saxophone work too. Some of my favorite songs from 2009 emerged from this batch. To my ears, these are the more driving, and in some cases, rocking songs on the album. Most of the newer songs are in this group. Interestingly enough–Mr. Hackett and Ms. Dunn have not yet met in person as of this writing. They live a couple of hours apart. That fascinates me, because the artist-producer relationship is perhaps the most important in music, and it speaks volumes that they could produce such fine songs via long distance–there’s a certain empathy and intuition going on here.
And there are four important songs on the album produced by the production team of Coke Belda and Roque Esteban, otherwise known as Cokeroque. High As A Kite, Waiting To Go Round, Pull You Down, and I Mean That were also created as a result of a virtual collaboration, as Cokeroque are located in Spain. Coke played guitars and Roque, keyboards, on these tracks. These guys generally have a lighter, poppier, almost 1980’s sound, fitting Maxi’s voice very nicely.
So if I had to pick a few tracks to focus on from this great batch of songs, I’d start with the leadoff How Was I To Know. This song sets the tone for the entire album. The great lyrics tell the story of the aforementioned relationship. Some great Pete Hackett guitars. A big sound, very dramatic indeed. And there is a lot of drama on this album. Don’t Look Back follows and continues the theme of lies and contradictions. And then–after all this heaviness comes the happiest song on the album, Always Be My Friend, written for Adam Waltemire’s Pop Garden Radio 4th anniversary show. Entirely different tone from most of the album, but in a way, it fits well. Despite the heaviness of the last year, this is a reminder that Maxi has some good supportive friends out there.
Other memorable songs include Waiting To Go Round from the Cokeroque batch, a tune written back in the 1990’s, which remarkably foreshadows the trauma of the relationship. Pull You Down has Cokeroque stepping out of their mellow sound–it rocks as hard as any of the Pete Hackett-produced tracks. And finally, the title track of Welcome To Soonville. What can I say? It’s got a sweeping, mysterious, James Bond theme kind of sound. Determined vocals. You’ve got to hear this one to believe it. You’ve never heard this song before, but it will instantly feel familiar to you. Destined to become a classic. This is Maxi the survivor. She comes out on top after a harrowing sequence of events. It’s a magnificent song that perfectly closes the album. I’ll often play this one at the end of a set of songs on my radio shows.
It was truly a pleasure to chat with Maxi on my show, and so interesting to find out how this great album was produced. I am pleased to have had her as the Artist of the Month for Fall, 2009, and am looking forward to what 2010 brings for Maxi!
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