28.12.10 Califorinia Diner - 'Almost New Years 2011!'

Well, here it is. The last show of 2010. Not much to say, except that it's been a great ride. My friends at Recharged Radio have let me get away with playing all these fantastic artists throughout the year, and hardly raised an eyebrow. And luckily, you listeners haven't turned me in yet. I mean, the variety of music that I get to play is so interesting, it should almost be illegal!

So let's just keep this thing under wraps for another year, shall we? Just our little secret. We'll be seeing 2010 out with a bang, as we play new tracks from the likes of Anton Barbeau, Debora Iyall, Emily Zuzik, and Miami Dan and the Hayes Street Band. Plus lots of other favorites that made 2010 the great year that it was.

www.antonbarbeau.com

www.deboraiyall.com

www.emilyzuzik.com

www.miamidan.com

And finally, thanks so much for listening during 2010. I've had fun, and I've got even bigger and more fun surprises planned for you in 2011. Catch you on the other side!

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 California 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

Karim Fanous - So Long Jenny J 

Maple Mars - The Excursion 

The Britannicas - Don't Go Back 

Maxi Dunn - How Was I To Know 

Jerzey Street Band - Pale Blue River 

Joseph Swidenbank - Coming Up For Air 

Imani Hekima - Nothing's What It Seems 

The Mike Brown Band - Pay 

The Big I Am - Right About Now 

Emily Zuzik - This Time Around 

Twyman/Baird - Repeat Of Tomorrow 

The Corner Laughers - Stonewords 

New Disorder - Sick Feeling As You 

Nelson Bragg - I Dare You (Show Me Love) 

Tangent Sunset - Way Down 

Thinking For Tuesday - Girl In The Red Dress Too 

The Ks - 13 Steps 

50ft Woman - Ice Cream Man 

Tom Alford - Wasp Lands On Sunflower 

Lindy LaFontaine - I Do 

Bill Mumy - I Changed My Mind 

Baby Scream - The Ghost Of Valerie 

Miami Dan and the Hayes Street Band - She Was In Love 

Boomchick - Joyland 

Sparklejet - Let's Behind That Place 

Sarah Taylor - Bad Medicine 

Debora Iyall - Stay Strong 

Anton Barbeau - Fuzzchild 

Blake Jones & The Trike Shop - Forestiere Gardens 

Laurie Biagini - Leave Me Alone 

21.12.10 Califorinia Diner - 'A Very Taters Christmas!'

Well, this is the last show before the big Christmas holiday. And I can't think of a more festive way to celebrate it than with my musical buddies, The Taters.

Craig Evans, Brad Tucker, Greg Marrs, and newest Tater recruit, drummer Chris Mendez are based in Richmond, Virginia. They've been a huge favorite on both of my radio shows for several years now. Their rootsy, family-friendly Americana originals, and their choice covers are always a great draw up and down the Mid-Atlantic coast's (U.S.) live gig circuit. They've released several albums, and even got nice writeups in No Depression and Billboard magazines!

But their quick wit is what makes them an obvious choice to commandeer a full half hour segment of the California Diner this week. In this episode, they're fully out of control in Virginia, while my co-presenter Amber and I don't even attempt to rein them in. Why would we? This makes for genius radio. And their music. In a word—wonderful! They treat us to three original Christmas songs—very nicely done. And did I mention that Richmond is 3,000 miles away from Sacramento? No problem—our good friend Mr. Skype to the rescue. A clear connection makes us feel like we're right in the same room with them, listening to their great songs and witty banter, and smelling their odiferous spicy eggplant-tofu dinner. Really? Well, just give a listen, and you'll hear what I'm talking about.

thetaters.com

We'll have a few other Christmas originals to play for you. But don't worry—your Chef Mike is not getting' all sappy on ya—I'll be spinning loads of the great indie music that you've come to expect year-round on Recharged Radio.

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 California 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

Baby Scream - The Ghost Of Valerie 

Anny Celsi - Christmas in the Pines 

Joe Symes - Lost Along The Way 

Fearless Vampire Killers - Fearless Vampire Killers 

Soundserif - John Titor 

Brian Battles - Christmas In California 

Handcuffs - Resurrection 

Chancellorpink - Muster 

The Corner Laughers - The Commonest Manifesto 

A Very Taters Christmas

The Taters – My Very First Christmas

The Taters – It’s Not Christmas When My Baby’s Not Around

The Taters – The Last Lone Noel

Tina Lie - Twilight Hour 

Kaz Murphy - Hardly Think About That 

Tom Alford - Wasp Lands On Sunflower 

Maxi Dunn – You're All I Need At Christmas 

Wim Oudijk - Love you. Period! 

Dave Stephens - Mr. Wonderful 

Sarah Taylor & Bill Mumy - I've Got Some Presents For Santa 

Go National - Begin, Begin, Begin 

Laurie Larson - Endless Thank You Loop 

Tom Moriarty - Fire in the Dolls House 

Laurie Biagini - Christmas In The Air 

Nushu - ABC Song 

Beth Thornley - A to Z 

Low Water - My Life In Advertising 

Lily Sparks - Bright Christmas 

The Dashing Suns - Sally Moore 

14.12.10 Califorinia Diner - 'Old School and New Wave!'

We are well into the holiday season, and it seems that the musical gifts continue to roll in.  A few noteworthy tracks came my way in the past few weeks, and I'm pleased to debut them on the show this week.

Romeo Void—a huge New Wave band here in the States, were all over radio and TV back in the early 1980s. They played fun, yet challenging and slightly dangerous music. It was always danceable, and always listenable. Their leader, Debora Iyall, has just put out a great solo album called Stay Strong. This week—we'll debut a track off that album. Even bigger news is that Debora will be my in-studio guest on the show in January, so we'll get to catch up with her then.

deboraiyall.com/

And we've got a parallel situation with Chancellorpink. Ray McLaughlin, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania singer-songwriter, has been creating intensely personal music for the the past few years as Chancellorpink—playing every note, and producing every sound himself. One of my favorite songs of his is the self-titled Chancellor Pink—a densely-produced, power pop kind of number that has been stuck in my head and played on my radio shows since 2006. Turns out that this song dates back to the 1980s, with Ray's original band, the legendary Six Gun Jury, favorites in his home town. Ray finally opened up the vaults, and let me have a listen to the original version of this song. It definitely has that New Wave feel, and it's a very optimistic song. Absolutely fascinating to hear Ray in his early 20's, and then later on, after he's lived some life. I think he's defintely grown into his voice, but hearing the two versions is like an audio version of time lapse photography.

chancellorpink.com

We've also got an incredibly hot new track from Joe Symes. He rocked out at the Liverpool International Pop Overthrow festival last May with his former band Buzzradio. Now solo, he proves who put the buzz in Buzzradio! This track will make you drive faster, jump higher, breathe heaver, and live life to the fullest! There have been reports that people who listen to this song earn more money, grow taller, and attract the opposite sex in droves! Okay, maybe not, but it's a damn good song!

myspace.com/1buzzradio

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 California 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

The Scratch - Alcohol's A Depressant 

Debora Iyall - Be My Last 

June & The Exit Wounds - Cathy Dennis 

Joseph Swidenbank - Coming Up For Air 

Get People - Odyssey 

Sexfresh - Dilemma 

Chad Neaves - Something In My Soul 

Rich McCulley - First Word 

Jimmy Catlett - That River 

Maxi Dunn/Elizabeth Racz - Why 

Joe Symes - Lost Along The Way 

Paul Butler - Wrong Side Of Desire 

Kat Jones - He's The One I Need The Most 

Bill Mumy - Can't Complain 

Onward Chariots - Seven Miles Away 

Jesus H Christ & The Four Hornsmen of The Apocalypse - Liz the Hot Receptionist 

The Taters - Such A Good Day 

Jeff Merchant - Love Yourself Away 

Vegas With Randolph - The Better Part 

Allen - Hold Me Tight 

Laurie Biagini - Christmas In The Air 

Nushu - Synthia 

Joey Oskys - Better Days 

The Decibels - Encouraging 

Bodia - Love A Little 

Six Gun Jury - Chancellor Pink 

Kate Burkart - The High Road 

The Clutter Family - Head 

Maple Mars - Christmastime In The City 

Mad Tea Party - Blues Slip In 

07.12.10 Califorinia Diner - 'Cool Holiday Songs—No, Really!'

It's a well known fact that I've never been really big on Christmas music. I don't know, the season and the holidays are great, but when you start fa-la-la-ing me on those silent nights with your one horse open sleighs and your frosty snowmen, well, I turn and run, scared and bored, back towards the “normal” music.

Until now. Over the last couple of years, my indie rock friends have seen the light and shown it to me. Let me be the first to say—it is possible to have holiday music that sounds great too. So great, in fact, that there are a few songs that I've been looking forward to spinning all year. Some of them are destined to become holiday classics. Others, a new twist on Christmas. But I'm finally able to say this: I'm glad to play some holiday songs for you.

Don't get me wrong—I'm not getting all soft on you. We're only playing four of these great holiday songs on this week's California Diner. We still need to make sure that we squeeze in as much indie excitement as possible.

So here's the lowdown: catch the show this week, because Wayne Stately and the Manor's (ake Pete Hackett/Cult of Wedge), Laurie Biagini, Maxi Dunn, and the Hollywood Drunks (aka Eric Winzenried) all recorded some of the coolest Christmas songs ever!

www.myspace.com/cultofwedge

www.myspace.com/lauriebiaginimusic

www.maxidunn.info

www.winzenried.org

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 California 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

Jay Fraser – That's How We Roll

Emily Zuzik - This Time Around 

Rob Bonfiglio - Blow Me Away 

Life In Film - Get Closer 

Domus - Es Mi Ola 

William Cleere and the Marvelous Fellas - Labor Day 

Rich McCulley - Just a Few Miles To Go 

The Clutter Family - Rendering Vat 

Bill Mumy - Heartfull 

Wayne Stateley and the Manor's - We're Exploiting Christmas 

Nelson Bragg - Tell Me I'm Wrong 

50ft Woman - Ultra Violet 

Maple Mars - Beautiful Mess 

Sound Sessions - Move On 

Terese Taylor - I'm Here 

Karim Fanous - Thin Bits 

Live Like Lions - Cecile 

Laurie Biagini - Christmas In The Air 

Duncan Faure - This Is Love This Is Real 

Baby Scream - Powerpop Crush 

The Pilgrims - Whole Level Down 

Melissa Phillips - The Dance 

Todd Dillingham - Crimson Spires 

Snow Byrds - Master Of Ceremonies 

Boomchick - TGTW 

Maxi Dunn – You're All I Need At Christmas

The Dashing Suns - Sally Moore 

Nushu - So Long (Maybe) 

Hollywood Drunks - Looks Like Christmas 

Laurie Larson - Corporate Chew Toy 

Man or Mouse - Jackson