This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 1327

On Friday night, Dana and I had the honor of appearing at the SAMMYS--the Syracuse Area Music Awards--to present the award for Syracuse's Best Alternative album of 2025. Our eternal thanks to our friend Carol Thoryk-O'Leary for including us, and making us feel like big shots.

This is (approximately) what I said on stage before listing the nominees for Best Alternative:

"Alternative music is a continuation of the punk and new wave rock 'n' roll of the 1970s and 1980s, expanding across genres on trails blazed by the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. A local journalist--I think it was Russ Donahue--said something to the effect that Paul Armstrong--singer, songwriter, really loud guitarist with the Flashcubes, Paul Armstrong--was the one person most responsible for bringing this sound and this attitude to Syracuse in the first place. In my mind, I'm unofficially thinking of this next trophy as kind of like the Paul Armstrong Award for Syracuse's Best Alternative."

Wouldn't that be nice?

I have no illusion of that notion moving to official status, and probably for good reason; maybe we shouldn't name awards in individual genres and categories after specific performers. That's a fair point. But in this space, reserved for rantin' and ravin' about the world of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, we must proclaim that our radio show would never have come into existence without the impact of Paul Armstrong. TIRnRR simply does not happen if PA hadn't helped kickstart the local scene that forged us in the first place. The sound. The attitude. That impact drives us still.

The Paul Armstrong Award For Syracuse's Best Alternative. Even unofficially, it fits.

This is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on a Sunday night in Syracuse this week.

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. 

You can read all about this show's long and weird history here: Boppin' The Whole Friggin' Planet (The History Of THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO). You can follow Carl's daily blog at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do).

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS are always welcome.

Carl's latest book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get Carl's previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.

The many fine This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio compilation albums are still available, each full of that rockin' pop sound you crave. A portion of all sales benefit our perpetually cash-strapped community radio project:

Volume 1: download
Volume 2: CD or download
Volume 3: download
Volume 4: CD or download
Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio:  CD or download

Volume 5: CD or download

TIRnRR # 1327: 3/8/2026

TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold

THE SURFRAJETTES: Easy As Pie (Hi-Tide, Easy As Pie)

LES HANDCLAPS: Surfin' Basrista (Handclaps, Sessions: Brooklyn)

THE BELLRAYS: I Fall Down (Sweet Gee, Heavy Steady Go!)

THE BARBARELLAS: Summer (Sympathy For The Record Industry, Queen Of The Galaxy)

THE BANDWAGON: People Got To Be Free (Kent Soul, Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache: The Best Of 1968-1975)

THE BANGLES: All About You (Columbia, All Over The Place)

--

THE FLASHCUBES: Reminisce (Big Stir, VA: Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes)

THE REALISTS: I've Got A Heart (Cherry Red, VA: Harmony In My Head: UK Power Pop & New Wave 1977-81)

BILLY SCOTT AND THE GEORGIA PROPHETS: I Got The Fever (Ripete, VA: The Beach Music Anthology)

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: Virtually Happy (Damaged Goods, Singles Round-Up)

THE LEGAL MATTERS: It Doesn't Matter (Big Stir, Lost At Sea)

JULES AND THE POLAR BEARS: You Just Don't Wanna Know (Cherry Red, VA: Looking For The Magic: American Power Pop In The Seventies)

--

PAUL DAVIE: You Got Me Tonight (single)

THE MARSHALLS: She's The One (Cherry Red, VA: Looking For The Magic: American Power Pop In The Seventies)

MIKE BROWNING FEATURING ELENA ROGERS: Over And Under And All Around (single)

VENUS AND THE RAZORBLADES: Alright You Guys (Cherry Red, VA: Looking For The Magic: American Power Pop In The Seventies)

THE SUPREMES: Life Beats (Motown, The '70s Anthology)

THE PRIMITIVES: Crash (RCA, Lovely)

--

ORBIS MAX: Don't Lose Me Now (single)

THE GRIP WEEDS: Lady Friend (Jem, DiG)

THE FOUR TOPS: Standing In The Shadows Of Love (Motown, The Ultimate Collection)

MICHAEL CARPENTER; That's Alright By Me (Not Lame, VA: Full Circle: A Tribute To Gene Clark)

ADAM WALTEMIRE: It's OK (single)

THEE HEADCOATEES: Teenage Kicks (Damaged Goods, Punk Girls)

--

DAVID BROOKINGS AND THE AVERAGE LOOKINGS: Encore (Byar, Exposure)

SAM PHILLIPS: Baby, I Can't Please You (Virgin, Martinis & Bikinis)

RINEHEARTS: Call Me Up (Cheersquad, Full Bloom)

MARY LOU LORD: Right On 'Till Dawn (Kill Rock Stars, Speeding Motorcycle)

THE 5TH DIMENSION: Carpet Man (Arista, The Ultimate 5th Dimension)

MATTHEW SWEET: Sick Of Myself (Zoo, 100% Fun)

--

DULCET TONES: As I Am (Reconnection, Back To Bassett)

ROBERT ELLIS ORRALL: I've Got Something To Tell You (RCA, Fixation)

THE JIVE FIVE: My True Story (Collectables, Their Greatest Hits)

sparkle*jets u.k.: You And Your Sister (Big Stir, single)

THE CYNZ: Love's So Lovely (Jem, Confess)

DR. FEELGOOD: She Does It Right (United Artists, Down By The Jetty)

--

The Greatest Record Ever Made!

TAVARES: It Only Takes A Minute (Rhino, VA: Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience)

THE FLYS: Love & A Molotov Cocktail (Cherry Red, Today Belongs To Me)

JIM BASNIGHT: Get It Out (Kool Kat Musik, Under The Rock)

BLONDIE: Hanging On The Telephone (Chrysalis, The Platinum Collection)

BABY SHAKES: Ooh La Love (Douchemaster, The First One)

AMY RIGBY: Heart Is A Muscle (Tapete, Hang In There With Me)

--

THE SPONGETONES: So Long (Big Stir, single)

THE ZOMBIES: Tell Her No [acoustic piano version] (Big Beat, Zombie Heaven)

SLYBOOTS: If We Could Let Go (single)

THE MUFFS: That's For Me (Omnivore, No Holiday)

MONOGROOVE: Autopilot (Kool Kat Musik, single)

THE BUZZCOCKS: Love You More (IRS, Singles Going Steady)

MR. BRUCE GORDON: Every Day You Get To Choose (Futureman, single)

BIG STAR: September Gurls (Ardent, # 1 Record/Radio City)

--

PERDOMO KRAVITZ: Free From The Me (single)

DAVE EDMUNDS: Get Out Of Denver (Wounded Bird, Get It)

CHUCK BERRY: Johnny B. Goode (MCA, The Anthology)

DAVID BOWIE: John, I'm Only Dancing (Virgin, Best Of Bowie)

THE RAMONES: Do You Wanna Dance (Rhino, Rocket To Russia)

THE CURE: Jumping Someone Else's Train (Elektra, Boys Don't Cry)

SPECTRAFLAME: I Always Wanted You To Stay (single)

THE BEATLES: Two Of Us (Apple, Let It Be...Naked)

--

NIKKI AND THE CORVETTES: You're The One (Bomp!, Nikki & the Corvettes)

DANA & CARL at THE SAMMYs

The Syracuse Area Music Awards--aka THE SAMMYs--take place tonight, March 6th, at The Palace Theatre in Syracuse. The show starts at 7:00 pm, and it will include live performances from Brass Inc, London McDaniel, Nate Gross, Stephen Douglas Wolfe, and newly-inducted SAMMYs Hall of Famers the New York Flyers.

Dana and I are honored to have been invited to present the award for Best Alternative, and we thank our friend Carol Thoryk O'Leary for extending that invitation to the lousy likes of us. The nominees in this category are Boustrophedon (for WINTER//STEEL [Remixes]), Clove (for after everything), mistrials (for The Culture Cool-Aid EP), Porch Couch (for Free), and Tame The Giant (for Second Hand Sound). We'll also be there in the audience to cheer for our pal Susan Coleman (of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio Fave Raves Harmonic Dirt), as Susan is recognized with the Jack O Bocchino Spirit Of The SAMMYs Award. Well deserved!

If you're in Syracuse tonight, JOIN US! It's SAMMYS time.

If you like what you see here on Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do), please consider a visit to CC's Tip Jar. You can also become a Boppin' booster on my Patreon page.

I compiled a various-artists tribute album called Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes, and it's pretty damned good; you can read about it here and order it here. My new book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get my previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.

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. You can read about our history here.

Syracuse Area Music Awards: THE FLASHCUBES

Congratulations to Syracuse's own power pop powerhouse THE FLASHCUBES. On Friday night, the Flashcubes' 2023 Big Stir Records release Pop Masters was named Best Rock Album at the SAMMYs, the Syracuse Area Music Awards. It was my favorite album of 2023, and I'm glad the SAMMYs voters agreed. 

(I'm further gratified that our friends Perilous were also nominated in this category for their fantastic album YEAH!!! These world-class current releases from two stellar Central New York groups provides further evidence of what local radio legend Dave Frisina always says: Some of the best rock around can be found right in your own back yard.)

'Cubes guitarist Paul Armstrong and bassist Gary Frenay accepted the award on behalf of their fellow Flashcubes, guitarist Arty Lenin and drummer/producer Tommy Allen. Paul credited Tommy's work and studio wizardry for making Pop Masters such an amazing record, and joked that maybe the album should have been called Tommy. Paul also saluted the late Ducky Carlisle, a producer, drummer, and great friend who had occasionally served as a duly deputized fifth 'Cube.

Gary recalled that the Flashcubes started in 1977, played Syracuse gigs with such luminaries as the Ramones, the Runaways, the Romantics, and the Police, and after more than four decades, the Flashcubes are still the same four guys: Paul, Gary, Arty, and Tommy.

The same four guys.

That's a story we don't hear very often in rock 'n' roll. And it's the story of the Flashcubes, four specific guys who became more than the sum of their parts, a quartet who built a bright light right here in Syracuse and let its glow find its way to fans around the world. It's a story that needs to be told.

And it will be.

As far as I'm aware, there are no more Flashcubes recordings or live shows planned in the near future. But there are two Flashcubes-related projects in very early stages of development. The plans are sketchy, not even blueprints just yet. 

But there's a bright light burning overhead. It's time to make something happen. Stay tuned.

And one more time: CONGRATULATIONS, FLASHCUBES!

Dana and Carl at The SAMMYS [video]

Here's a YouTube link to video of Dana and I presenting the award for Best Rock Album at The SAMMYS Syracuse Area Music Awards on March 4th, 2022.

You can read my previous post about the event here.

Dana & Carl At The SAMMYS

Tonight, Dana and I will have the honor of appearing as two of the celebrity presenters at this year's celebration of The SAMMYS, the Syracuse Area Music Awards. We have been invited to present the award for Best Rock Album.

"Celebrity presenters?" Us? Yes, it would seem that someone at the SAMMYS holds a pretty loose concept of celebrity. Nonetheless, we are grateful and very nearly humbled. There is a warm sense of validation that comes when your work is recognized. To Dana and I, this is a big deal, and we couldn't be happier about it.

And we're also happy that Tom Kenny--an actual celebrity!-- has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award, inducting him into the SAMMYS Hall of Fame. Tom is a great guy, a great talent, and while the world knows him for his prowess as a voice actor, we know him from his roots in the Syracuse music scene. At tonight's SAMMYS show, Tom's SoCal band Tom Kenny and the Hi-Seas (with Andy Paley and the Damselles) will rip the place up with their brand of high-energy rockin' pop dance bop. We're told that Syracuse's own power pop powerhouse the Flashcubes--guitarists Arty Lenin and Paul Armstrong, bassist Gary Frenay, and deputy Flashcube Cathy LaManna subbing for drummer Tommy Allen--will also be joining our Tomcat for a few numbers. Syracuse, man. I'll put Syracuse music up against anything anywhere.

If you're in the 315, we hope to see you under the bright lights tonight, March 4th, at the Crouse Hinds Theater for an epic night of Syracuse sounds. Tickets for the SAMMYS are available here, and tickets for the awards show's livestream are available here.

Always do what celebrities tell you to do: Join us! 

You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon, or by visiting CC's Tip Jar. Additional products and projects are listed here.

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, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.

I'm on Twitter @CafarelliCarl