10 Songs is a weekly list of ten songs that happen to be on my mind at the moment. The lists are usually dominated by songs played on the previous Sunday night's edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. The idea was inspired by Don Valentine of the essential blog I Don't Hear A Single.
This week's edition of 10 Songs draws exclusively from the playlist for This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1203. This show is available as a podcast.
THE FLASHCUBES: Nothing To Do
On This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio this year, we've been poundin' the livin' chiclets out of Pop Masters, the current album by Syracuse's own power pop powerhouse the Flashcubes. I'm a heart-on-sleeve kind of guy, and I co-host a radio show with the specific intent of poundin' the livin' chiclets outta stuff I think is cool. Why else even have a radio show in the first place?
Given my (and Dana's) long-standing enthusiasm for the 'Cubes, no one is surprised to hear that Pop Masters is my favorite album of 2023, and we play one or another of its tracks almost every week. Masters of pop! The album took a break from our playlist last week, so we could instead program an older Flashcubes track featuring the late Ducky Carlisle. Proper Pop Masters representation returns this week with the Cubic cover of Sparks' Nothing To Do," and two other Pop Masters tracks are already scribbled in place for our next couple of playlists. These chiclets won't just pound out by themselves, man.
THE RAMONES: Blitzkrieg Bop
I've mentioned a time or two thousand that my daughter Meghan and I agreed a very long time ago that when she got married, our father-daughter dance would be "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett. Obviously. That happy event took place two weeks ago today, and we made good on our promise. Best night ever. Mazel tov, Meghan and Austin.
As the wedding reception sparkled on, the DJ also played my request for something by the Ramones. You can't have a real party without the Ramones. I gave him a choice between "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna Be Sedated," and he opted for the former. Seeing how the dance floor filled to the music of Forest Hills' Finest--prompted in some part by the father of the bride yelling DANCE! Everybody DANCE!!!--the DJ circled back a bit later to play "Sedated" as well. Hey ho, let's GO!
P. HUX: Til The World Looks Right
The brand-new P. Hux album is called As Good As Advertised, and that album will inevitably accrue scores of on-line reviews saying that its title provides its own review. We rockin' pop pundits are so clever.
Well, consider this just one among that score. I tell ya, I'm glad to be part of the crowd in this case. As Good As Advertised makes its TIRnRR debut with this spin of the delectable track "Til The World Looks Right." It will spin again next week. As advertised! Pretty good, my friends. Pretty damned good.
CARLA OLSON: Street Fighting Man
Awright! The fabulous Carla Olson's ace cover of the Rolling Stones' classic "Street Fighting Man" is an advance single from her new album Have Harmony Will Travel 3. One of my first Stones LPs (perhaps my very first) was a beat-up used copy of Through The Past, Darkly, snagged at either Record Revolution or The Record Exchange in Cleveland Heights when teen me was visiting my sister circa Christmas break 1976.
That second-hand Stones best-of record was my introduction to "Street Fighting Man," about eight years after its original 1968 release. It was an instant favorite, and Olson does the tune justice and then some. Tall Poppy Syndrome's Jonathan Lea is one of the guitarists on her version, and it all rocks like it oughta. What can a poor boy do? We'll hear Carla Olson's "Street Fighting Man" again Sunday night. Hell, we'll even throw in the latest from Tall Poppy Syndrome. A sleepy Syracuse town is just the place for "Street Fighting Man."
THE KENNEDYS: Life Is Large
A big ol' Happy Birthday to the phenomenal Maura Kennedy! A bright light then and now, Maura will always be younger than me, and yet she'll also probably remain wiser than me. We love her nonetheless.
The Kennedys have a NEW album, Headwinds, out now. You can buy yourself a copy, and you can fill in the nagging gaps in your Kennedys library, all courtesy of the Kennedys themselves. I'm also still hoping for a Maura and the Bright Lights album maybe someday (perhaps with a guest appearance by Carla Olson, just like Roger McGuinn guests on "Life Is Large"). Vote for the Kennedys of your choice. But VOTE! And sing. And enjoy! Birthday cake goes great with the Kennedys.
DAVE KUCHLER: In It With You
From former Soul Engines guitarist Dave Kuchler's new album Love + Glory, "In It With You" is just insanely, instantly catchy, thoroughly radio-ready, and the irresistible epitome of whatever the hell it is Dana and I do here on The Best Three Hours Of Radio On The Whole Friggin' Planet. It's kinda like when we first heard the Finkers' TIRnRR Fave Rave "Last Thing On My Mind" all those years ago, and I gushed something to the effect that "Last Thing On My Mind" is exactly the sort of record that always made me wish I had a radio show, just so I could play records like "Last Thing On My Mind" on my radio show. Kuchler sounds nothing at all like the Finkers, but my level of immersive thrill is comparable. We HAVE a radio show! We're in it with Dave Kuchler.
WAR: Low Rider
At Meghan and Austin's wedding reception, the DJ also played music to accompany the entrances of various parts of the wedding party. Richard Hernandez and I--the respective fathers of the groom and the bride--bopped in to the percolatin' sound of War's classic "Low Rider." We'll hear the entrance music for the newlyweds' mothers on our next show.
THE VELVELETTES: He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'
The Greatest Record Ever Made!
NEW MATH: Die Trying
A week ago tonight, the great Rochester, NY group New Math presented their last-ever live show, and I'm happy to say that TIRnRR was there. Whatta show! Both 1.4.5. and the Presstones put on incredible, invigmoratin' sets, and New Math provided a commanding capper to their career. My first New Math show was back in 1978, when they played with the Flashcubes at The Firebarn in Syracuse. I only saw them a total of three times--maybe (but probably not) four--when I was in my teens and early twenties. I wish I'd had more opportunities to bask in the glory of New Math live. But I'm so glad I was able to see them one last time this month.
THE GRIP WEEDS: Lady Friend
Your intrepid TIRnRR Good Guys will also be in attendance at the Grip Weeds's first-ever Syracuse appearance. That happens Friday October 27th at Syracuse's home of rock 'n' roll The Lost Horizon, on a bill with 1.4.5., Perilous, Preacher, and Kenne Highland's Airforce. HuzZAH!! We'll open next week's radio program with music from the Grip Weeds (plus 1.4.5. and Perilous), and we get set to anticipate with this spin of a track from the Grip Weeds' most recent album DiG. The group's able cover of the Byrds' "Lady Friend" is a likely lock for a berth on our year-end countdown show of TIRnRR's most-played tracks in 2023. Here it comes again, it's going to happen to me....
And at the Lost Horizon next Friday, it can happen to you. BE THERE!
If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar.
Carl's new book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones is now available, courtesy of the good folks at Rare Bird Books. Gabba Gabba YAY!! https://rarebirdlit.com/gabba-gabba-hey-a-conversation-with-the-ramones-by-carl-cafarelli/
If it's true that one book leads to another, my next book will be The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1). Stay tuned. Your turn is coming.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. Recent shows are archived at Westcott Radio. You can read about our history here.
Hey thanks for the kind words about my newest single Street Fighting Man! Loved playing in Syracuse in 2019 with my friend Todd Wolfe at the Living Room with The Kennedys!
ReplyDeleteWish I could have seen that show. Timing conspired against me.
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