My city of Sacramento, California is located in what we call the great Central Valley. It's truly one of the more prominent topographical features in the United States. It's a long, narrow, flat valley, about 450 miles long, and oh, I don't know, about 50-80 miles wide, depending on where you are. If you took Tennessee and turned it 90 degrees, you'd pretty much have it. It takes up about half of the state of California. Hot and dry in the summer, cold and alternatively rainy and foggy in the winter. Beautiful springs and summers. It's home.
When you think of California, chances are, you've never thought about the Central Valley. Usually, you think of the coastal cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. And people in these well-known places likely think of the Valley as, oh, I don't know—the Australian outback, or the Midwestern prairies of the United States. But I'm here to tell you that 6.5 million of us Valley residents can't be wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Valley_%28California%29
A place this big certainly has some music history. Cake, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Papa Roach, Tesla, and many others started here. (M.C. Hammer lives here!) Some stayed. But there's also a contingent of great indie artists who started here and moved on to other places. Am I sad they left? Sure...but they're now making great music in their new hometowns, and they should be applauded and celebrated. And that's exactly what we do on the Tuesday Night Diner.
Keyboardist Ben Morss was a fixture on the Sacramento scene a decade ago. His band, the Pilgrims, was always a favorite—pop songs, some veering into exuberant wackiness. He made the move to New York City, started Onward Chariots, and has created some brilliant pop gems.
www.myspace.com/onwardchariots
Anton Barbeau was, and still is, legendary around these parts. He's one of the most prolific artists we've ever seen here, and although he's heavily influenced by such eccentrics as Robyn Hitchcock and Julian Cope, he's not above having fun. Well now, we've had to share him with Cambridge, England, on the condition that we get him back here once in a while.
http://www.myspace.com/antonbarbeau
Michael Miller's hometown of Sacramento let him go before they really knew what they were missing (and I say “they”, because, for the record, I had nothing to do with this!). His base of operations is Los Angeles, and he draws upon the huge pool of world-class session talent there to help him put together some really great, mellow Americana music
http://www.myspace.com/michaelmillercrusade
Fresno, our sister city to the south, is where it all started for Rich McCulley. He started with Sparklejet back in the 1990's as one of the singer/songwriter/guitarists for the band. They were making some great roots rock. However, they split. Sparklejet went for the hard rock sound, and Rich followed his heart to the world of Americana. No problem—I now have TWO bands that I love. He's a big part of the L.A. music scene—not just recording his own, but producing, recording, and doing session work for others.
http://www.myspace.com/richmcculley
What do these four artists have in common besides their California Central Valley roots? You'll hear them all on this week's Tuesday Night Diner.
If you'd like to make a request, just drop me a line at mike(at)rechargedradio.com. If you'd like to become an honorary California citizen, drop me a line at the same address. And if you'd like to hear all this great music—simply tune in to the Tuesday Night Diner, Tuesday night, 8:00-10:00 p.m. (GMT), 12:00-2:00 p.m. Pacific, only at Recharged Radio—www.rechargedradio.com.
This note also appears in the News section on the home page of RechargedRadio.com.
See you then!
Chef Mike
mike(at)rechargedradio.com
MN2BDNC
With Music From.....
Masternova - Sounds
Tina Lie - Twilight Hour
Nushu - Another Rainy Weekend
Chad Neaves - Something In My Soul
Duncan Faure - This Is Love This Is Real
Kate Burkart - Cross The Street
Mark Bacino - Happy
Onward Chariots - War Hero
Model Society - Lux
Corner Laughers - The Red Queen
Joey Oskys - Try
Maple Mars - Borrowed Sunshine
Rich McCulley - Just a Few Miles To Go
Twyman/Baird - Repeat Of Tomorrow
Jimmy Catlett - That River
Laurie Biagini - A Face In The Crowd
Nelson Bragg - Tell Me I'm Wrong
50ft Woman - Ultra Violet
The Britannicas - Don't Go Back
The Taters - I'm The One
As I Am - Simple Things
Todd Dillingham - Crimson Spires
Boomchick - Joyland
Vegas With Randolph - The Better Part
Michael Miller - I Made You Up
Maxi Dunn - Always Be My Friend
Bill Mumy - All Wound Up
Laura Pharoah - Sweet Apple
Anton Barbeau - I Used to Say Your Name
Heiskell - The Chubby Guy Song
The Big I Am - Right About Now
Joseph Swidenbank - What Did You Want?
Sarah Stanley - Here I Am
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