Twirl Radio

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #852 – 11/24/2018: In-studio interview with Blaine Campbell!

Blaine Campbell

This week, the radio gods and the geography gods smiled down upon our little show. Blaine Campbell, a Los Angeles-based musician, recently reached out to me. Seems he was going to be in Sacramento over Thanksgiving weekend, spending time with family, and invited me to get together and hang out for a bit, maybe over coffee. When he mentioned that his availability would be Saturday, I smiled, and suggested the timeframe between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. I think you know how this turned out.

Blaine and Mike outside the Twirl studio

So, we had a good time. We played a couple of tracks from his wonderful 2016 album “Blue Mind”, and chatted about his career in music. We spent a segment listening to tracks that he brought from some of his favorite artists, and even fired up the old turntable to spin some rare vinyl treats. I was able to ask the hard hitting questions, and find out who his biggest musical influences were, and even his favorite food. I played some music for Blaine that he’d not heard before, and he played some stuff I’d never heard before. That’s what friends do–introduce each other to music that they like. It was a really fun meet up. https://blainecampbell.bandcamp.com/

Give a listen. I think you’ll like the music and appreciate the conversation.

November 25, 2018
Categories: Playlists . . Author: The Lids . Comments: Leave a comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #851 – 11/17/2018: Double-length episode!

Sometimes, you are given a gift. This week, the gift I was given was the gift of time. Two additional hours, to be exact.

My friend Bill Fuller, who hosts the excellent “Longhair Detectorists Guild” program right before mine, took a well-deserved Saturday off. He was kind enough to offer the additional two hours to me. And my simple one-handed math indicates that, um, I got to do a four hour show.

So what did I do with that time? I rolled out 55 songs. Some brand new releases, debuting on Twirl, from the likes of Melissa Phillips, Kai Danzberg with Lisa Mychols, and Krista D. Some Twirl Radio classics, favorites from over the years by Ass Ponys, Two Dollar Pistols, and Juliana Hatfield. But most of all, you got to hear a lot of great new music, much of it independently released.

The musical variety is astounding. You’ll hear obscure music that deserves to be famous. But if you’re looking for famous music that deserves to be obscure–well, you’ve got the wrong show. That’s those other guys!

Give a listen, and enjoy the extended helpiung of music.

November 19, 2018
Categories: Playlists, Uncategorized . . Author: The Lids . Comments: Leave a comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #850 – 11/10/2018: Woody Radio in-studio meetup with DJ Gidget Marusak and Stephen “Spaz” Schnee!

DJ Gidget Marusak

Well, we weren’t going to let the 850th episode of Twirl Radio go unnoticed. And yet, I kind of did. But for good reason. It turned out to be such a big day, that I simply did not have time to mention that this was show #850.

My good friend, and sister in radio, Gidget Marusak, co-owner of Woody Radio (the other radio station I’m on), was visiting her home region of Northern California, from the Midwest. She’s had a standing invitation to come co-host Twirl Radio with me, live in the KUBU-FM studio in Sacramento. This was the day when it happened. And to round out the picture, I invited my other good friend, our fellow Woody Radio on-air personality Stephen “Spaz” Schnee, to meet up with us on the show.

Stephen “Spaz” Schnee

So how did this visit from the home office go? It was amazing. Before Gidget and Spaz arrived, I snuck in five brand new 2018 tracks, from all over the musical spectrum. And once they got here, the conversation flowed. Freely. We talked and laughed about everything and anything that can be talked about on the air. Gidget brought in some great tracks from bands that she saw in San Jose the prior week, and Spaz brought in a couple of classic tracks to round out the show. The best way I can explain the show, is like this: three enthusiastic music supporters, sitting in a room, gabbing, and treating each other to music that they love. Isn’t that what you would do when you’re with your friends? Join me and my friends, and be part of the party. For the 850th time, we fired up the board, and let it rip. Give a listen!

November 13, 2018
Categories: Playlists . . Author: The Lids . Comments: Leave a comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #849 – 11/3/2018

Enjoy this random photo of the Twirl studio, taken a few weeks prior to today’s show.

Today’s show was the perfect storm–or maybe–non-storm. For the first time in a while, I had no interviews or visitors scheduled. You’d have to go back as far as July 21st for the last time this happened. But today also was a day in which I had a chance to really focus on all the great new music that’s come out in 2018–so far. For those of you who are starting to make your year-end lists for 2018–I’d hold up on that. The great music continues to roll in, and there’s still two whole months left of this watershed year.

2018 has been truly astounding for music, in terms of the quantity and quality that’s been released this year. This seems to be the year where artists I love, who’ve been quiet for a while, have put out some fine work. This week’s show debuts some brand new tracks by Dara Ackerman, Vegas With Randolph, Lannie Flowers, Gail George, Michael Simmons, Banjo Bones, Rachel Taylor Brown, and William Duke. Beyond that, there were a total of 23 tracks played that came out in 2018.

There were also a couple of tracks that although released earlier, came my way this year. The most extreme, time machine example of that was “In Quintessence”, by Squeeze, released on their landmark 1981 album East Side Story. I’d recently mentioned to my good friend, writer/ podcaster/ radio host/ video blogger Stephen “SPAZ” Schnee, that I’d never heard that fine album all the way through, only several of the songs from it. Being that it’s one of his all time favorite albums, he bought me a copy, simply because he wanted to share the experience. Not only is the album one of the greats from its era, cementing Squeeze’s reputation, that leadoff track really grabbed my ear. The thing that really stood out is how Glenn Tilbrook’s and Chris Difford’s voices, singing the same line and melody, but in different registers, locked in tightly to create that familiar soaring but buzzy vocal line that they are noted for. Tasty, retro treat of the week!

So enjoy this thick slice of the latest in indie music. It’s all good, and it’s all current.

November 5, 2018
Categories: Playlists . . Author: The Lids . Comments: Leave a comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #848 – 10/27/2018: Interview with Rachel Taylor Brown!

Rachel Taylor Brown

On today’s show, we got to meet Portland’s Rachel Taylor Brown. She just released her tenth album, “Run Tiny Human”, and it’s really good, but hard to classify. My Windows Media Player software helpfully describes it as “Contemporary Pop”. Well, I don’t know about all that. She doesn’t sound anything like Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, or Ed Sheeran (that I’m aware of). So how can I describe “Run Tiny Human” to you? Well, imagine Danielle Dax driving a getaway car with Tori Amos riding shotgun, and they accidentally collide into another getaway car, this one being driven by Ben Folds. And then Lou Reed rides up on a motorcycle and takes down the police report.

Did that help? No? Well how about this: Rachel’s music is mostly piano based, somewhat quirky and experimental. Some of it is gritty and in your face, some of the messages lurk below the surface, sometimes it just plain rocks, and some of it is lovely and melodic. She captures all kinds of emotions and feelings. As far as subject matter goes, one of the themes of this album is an examination of her hometown of Portland, and how it’s been taken over by people moving there from other places, and making it into a sort of big city hipster haven–more “cool” than it used to be, but also, unrecognizable. That’s a bit of a cautionary tale for a lot of American cities these days. She takes a hard look at the world around us. It’s a very artistic album. Accept the challenge and listen to this record–you’ll grow a bit in the process. We had an engaging and spirited conversation, and it was really fun to talk through all of this with Rachel. racheltaylorbrown.bandcamp.com

While you’re at it–check out the new music from Van Go, Pat Buchanan, and Gail George. I put it right at the beginning of the show, just for you!

Rachel Taylor Brown interview
Rachel Taylor Brown | Up You | Run Tiny Human
Rachel Taylor Brown | Glitcher | Run Tiny Human

October 28, 2018
Categories: Playlists . . Author: The Lids . Comments: Leave a comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #847 – 10/20/2018: Interview with Eric Kern and John Ratts of Vegas With Randolph!

Vegas With Randolph

Vegas With Randolph is a band that we’ve championed on Twirl Radio for a long time–pretty much this entire decade. They’re a hard working bunch of musicians from the greater Washington, D.C. area, who’ve released three exciting albums, and are about to release their fourth, “Legs & Luggage”, which might be their most rockin’ and upbeat to date. I once said that they produce “thinking man’s party music”, and alluded to the fact that you should always listen to their songs driving around town with the windows down (regardless of the time of year). I was given the great honor of writing the liner notes to their album “Above The Blue”, back in 2011.

Well after five years, I welcomed principal songwriters Eric Kern and John Ratts back to the show. As you might imagine, we had plenty to catch up on. I’ve heard most of the new album, and it is wonderful. It is an album of transitions, not the least of which is the passing of their bassist, Dan Aylestock, who looms large in the band’s history.

We chatted about the making of the record, and its imminent release. I know a handful of people in Washington, D.C.–and Eric and John tell a story that pretty much places them all in the same room at the same time! We’ll also hear a couple of tracks from Legs & Luggage. You should get this one once it’s released on October 23rd. https://vegaswithrandolph.bandcamp.com/album/legs-luggage

Addtionally, we played brand new tracks from Karla Kane, The Turnback, and Mod Hippie. We heard Allyson Seconds’ love song to downtown Sacramento. And I played a song from a guy who went to the same high school that I did. I found out this week that Steve Barton, frontman of Translator, graduated from the same high school in Los Angeles that I went to, a few years before I did. Musical greatness did indeed walk those halls!

Enjoy the show!

Vegas With Randolph interview
Vegas With Randolph | The Girl Holding Out For Me | Legs & Luggage
Vegas With Randolph | She’s An Intellectual | Legs & Luggage

October 21, 2018
Categories: Playlists . . Author: The Lids . Comments: Leave a comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #846 – 10/13/2018: Live in-studio visit with Anton Barbeau and Julia Boorinakis Harper!

Anton Barbeau and Julia Boorinakis Harper in the Twirl studios

Well, Anton Barbeau is back visiting his hometown of Sacramento, from Berlin. And that means a Twirl Radio in-studio visit! Don’t get me wrong–I don’t take this for granted. Honestly–it never gets old. I just count myself lucky that he’s back, and here to chat music.

So he and Julia came and spent over an hour with me. We talked about Anton’s career. You know how some people metaphorically put things “on the back burner”? Well, he’s got something on every burner. Several musical projects in the works, in several countries. More albums on the horizon. More collaborations. And even another trip back to Northern California before the year is out. All of this comes out in the first half of the interview.

In the second part, Anton and Julia play DJ. Julia, who is a renaissance woman herself (graphic artist, musician, record label owner, and KVMR radio personality), knows her way around a turntable, going back to her days of doing a music show on the radio. I like to think of my show as eclectic, but the variety of music they both played puts me to shame. Everything from Julian Cope to ABBA to Parliament to a strangely psychedelic band from Wales, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci. It all worked, rather smoothly, if you ask me. It was exhilarating, to say the least.

The audio from this fun show will be coming soon.

http://www.antonbarbeau.com/

Anton Barbeau interview
Anton Barbeau | Secretion Of The Wafer | Natural Causes
Anton Barbeau | Magazine Street | Natural Causes

Lannie Flowers | Another Weekend | LIVE in NYC
R. Stevie Moore & Jason Falkner | Stamps | Make It Be

October 13, 2018
Categories: Playlists . . Author: The Lids . Comments: 1 Comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #845 – 10/6/2018: Interview doubleheader: Christian Havins and Linda Beecroft of Dallas Acid, and Rich Hope!

Dallas Acid

Now this is what I would call a diverse show. We hadn’t done a doubleheader of interviews in a while, and the two artists we interviewed couldn’t be more dissimilar. And the variety is a good thing!

In the first hour, we met Christian Havins and Linda Beecroft, of ambient trio Dallas Acid (interestingly enough, from Austin, not Dallas). They recently had the opportunity to perform in New York with their musical heroes Laraaji and Arji OceAnanda. And after the show, they all decided to spend the next day recording together. So they did an impromptu session. Creativity ensued, and sonic soundscapes were created on the fly. They captured everything, and later on, edited them down to produce the Arrive Without Leaving album. Give a listen to this peaceful, powerful music, and see where it takes you. http://flyingmoonlight.com/

Rich Hope

In the second hour, we chatted with Vancouver rocker Rich Hope. Laboring for many years as one half of “Vancouver’s one and only two man quartet of trashy boogie blues”, he expanded his sound to include a wurlitzer organ and horns. It’s fuzzy, grungy, and throws back a little to a simpler time when rock and roll was an exciting, frightening thing. But Rich’s blues and soul based music never loses its fun. He’s played in venues all over the world, and opened for many like minded musical souls, including The Flamin’ Groovies, Social Distortion, Reverend Horton Heat, and many others. Get this record and rock out…loud! https://www.richhope.ca/

Dallas Acid interview
Laraaji, Dallas Acid, & Arji OceAnanda | This Much More | Arrive Without Leaving
Laraaji, Dallas Acid, & Arji OceAnanda | Evening Reduction | Arrive Without Leaving

Rich Hope interview
Rich Hope | 5 Cents A Dance | I’m All Yours
Rich Hope | Golden Clouds | I’m All Yours

October 8, 2018
Categories: Playlists . . Author: The Lids . Comments: Leave a comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #844 – 9/29/2018: Interview with Kenn Goodman of The Imperial Sound!

The Imperial Sound

Now it can be told: September was a pretty great month for interviews on Twirl Radio. To review: Ronnie Barnett of The Muffs, Sparklejet, Addison Love, and Danny Wilkerson. Most radio people, including myself, would give their eye teeth for a set of interviews like this (by the way–if you find my eye teeth, please let me know!). So to cap off this stellar month, and to begin my favorite season, Fall, I knew we had to do something special. So we had as our very special guest, Kenn Goodman, founder of venerable indie label Pravda Records, and founding member of Chicago band The Imperial Sound.

The Imperial Sound has rapidly become one of my favorite new bands. It was started by Kenn and his longtime musical partner Rick Mosher, as the next logical step beyond their legendary band The New Duncan Imperials. Their sound is big, fun, brash at times, and more introspective other times. It’s grown up and sophisticated, yet still rocks. It’s an amalgam of rock, blues, and jazz. You could say Stax meets Burt Bacharach, but gets hijacked by ska and punk rock along the way, and you’d be pretty close. I admitted to Kenn that on paper, I’m normally not a big fan of music with lots of horns and keyboards–but this band really, really works for me. I am NOW a fan of music with lots of horns and keyboards–it just has to be done the way The Imperial Sound does it. And vocalists–wow, not only do most of the six band members sing, but they had the luxury of bringing in several other guest vocalists on some of the songs. Folks like Peter Himmelman, Nora O’Connor, and Dag Juhlin. (On a side note: Chloe Orwell, of longtime Twirl favorite band The Handcuffs, now sings with The Imperial Sound during their live gigs!) Check them out, and buy their record: http://www.theimperialsound.com

We also spent a few minutes chatting about Kenn’s amazing company, Pravda Records, and the breadth of music showcased there, including Twirl favorites Sunshine Boys and The Diplomats of Solid Sound. Check out this label–you’re sure to find some music you’ll love: www.pravdamusic.com.

Today’s show also started with a world radio debut of a new track from Vegas With Randolph, “You Could Say Yes”. Talk about starting the show with a bang! It’s an uplifting, rockin’ tune from their soon to be released fourth album, “Legs & Luggage”. And for those of you Twirlsters in the know–we’ll be having Eric Kern and John Ratts from VWR on our show in the very near future!

Kenn Goodman interview
The Imperial Sound | Get Along! | The New AM
The Imperial Sound | I Feel Strange | The New AM

September 30, 2018
Categories: Playlists . . Author: The Lids . Comments: 1 Comment

Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #843 – 9/22/2018: Danny Wilkerson interview!

Danny Wilkerson

I’ve known Danny Wilkerson for several years now. He’s best known as the drummer and occasional singer/songwriter for Texas power pop legends The Pengwins, along with another Twirl Radio staple, Lannnie Flowers. I’ve hung out with him in Texas each year for the past 4 years, on what’s becoming kind of an annual music nerd pilgrimage to Arlington, TX. He’s got an upbeat, positive personality, always quick to joke around or offer a kind word. A huge music fan, and a bit of a practical joker too–but I’ll tell you about that another time.

So knowing those things about a person, what would you expect a solo record of his to contain? Maybe upbeat music, positive lyrics, a sense of humor, all crafted with care, and with an understanding of what came before him. Lo and behold–that’s exactly the kind of album Danny released! His solo debut album, “Wilkerson”, is all of those things. It’s a bit of a throwback to an earlier time–when releasing pop music that sounded good to everybody, and could get played on the radio, actually mattered. Several different styles figure prominently on this album–it’s a pop tour de force. He’s got some impressive collaborators, including Bleu McAuley and Roger Joseph Manning Jr. Just get this one. It comes with 180 gram vinyl, a CD, and a digital download card. Big thanks to Spyderpop Records for releasing this masterpiece. www.dannywilkerson.com

September 24, 2018
Categories: Uncategorized . . Author: The Lids . Comments: Leave a comment

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