As you all know by now, I come from the United States, and we have this not-so-little holiday on the fourth Thursday of November called Thanksgiving. So what’s it all about?
The short story--about four centuries ago, a bunch of us left the Mother Country (that would be England), and thought we’d give it a go in the barren hinterlands of North America. But the ones who made the journey turned out to be city dwellers, and as such, there were no cities yet in America. No corner grocery stores, no gas stations, no online internet shopping. No takeout pizza or Chinese food either. All in all, a pretty bleak retail landscape.
But instead of letting us starve, the very hospitable locals put turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, apple cider, pumpkin pie, and chips and salsa on our table and welcomed us. So it’s become a big food holiday, and we celebrate by eating all these foods and more. And I do mean more. (And yes, I was only kidding about the chips and salsa, although if the first Thanksgiving had taken place in California, then chips and salsa would have been part of it!)
So Thanksgiving is the official start of the holiday season! And with it comes all the lights, and the mad rush to get presents for Christmas. “Black Friday” is the craziest shopping day of the year, and people really do start their shopping in the middle of the night.
The way I see it, by crushing all the holidays together, you’re really taking away the fun. And my excuse. I get my best shopping done on December 24th! Lots of excellent snap decisions are made on that day! But it’s also fun to savor the entire month of December, and enjoy everything about the season.
But don’t worry--I won’t get all sappy on you. I usually don’t play that much Christmas music on my shows. I prefer the great indie music that we play all year long here at Recharged. But there are a handful of phenomenal original Christmas and holiday songs that some of my favorite artists have recorded over the past few years, and we’ll dole them out slowly--like maybe 2 or 3 a week.
This week, we’ll hear great Christmas songs from Laurie Biagini--the original rockin’ surf songstress from Vancouver, Canada. We’ll also hear one from Kat Jones--the Fresno/Nashville/Portland indie goddess.
But we’ll also sample some all around indie greatness. Another new pre-release track from Bud Rogers, rapidly shaping up to be one of my surprise faves of the year. (Don’t worry--his album Whiteout is scheduled to release on December 10th, so it still counts as having come out this year.) And how about a new track (for us) from Model Society, a great up and coming electro/alternative/pop band from London, UK!
So let’s feast together. The California Diner kicks into high gear and cooks up some great holiday meals for you!
www.lauriebiagini.com
www.myspace.com/katjones
www.reverbnation.com/budrogers
www.modelsociety.co.uk/
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
Volary - Blackbird Fly
EyeWood - Lawyers and Liars
Jimmy Catlett - Ransom
Baby Scream - Suddenly
Isaac's Aircraft - My Baby Did Me Wrong
Kat Jones - He's The One I Need The Most
Cult of Wedge - The Birds and the Bees and Jaime
Laurie Larson - Endless Thank You Loop
Model Society - Tomorrow She Loves Me
M.A.D.I.S.O.N. - Try
Maxi Dunn - Why Do I Want You?
Kaz Murphy - Midnight Fire
Fractures - Nicotine (Single version)
Rich McCulley - Far From My Angel
Bud Rogers - Caught In A Wheel
Corner Laughers - You Two Are The Ones
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop - Forestiere Gardens
Allyson Seconds - I'm Just A Country Girl
Duncan Faure - Where Is The Music
The Recusants - Sunday Afternoon
Laurie Biagini - Christmas In The Air
The Dashing Suns - Sally Moore
Imani Hekima - Nothing's What It Seems
Lindy LaFontaine (with KYRO) - Harmonics
The Clutter Family - Head
Maple Mars - Transcendental Guidance
Emily Zuzik Band - How Did You Get So Good?
Apple Rabbits - Wrong Again
Fearless Vampire Killers - Fearless Vampire Killers
Sarah Stanley - When I Lose My Heart
This week’s show is a real treat for me, and hopefully for you too. I get to interview Chloe F. Orwell and Brad Elvis, one of my favorite rock and roll couples! They lead the Chicago-based band The Handcuffs.
The Handcuffs recently released their third album, Waiting For The Robot. It’s a fiery, sassy affair, with a lot of personality. And it’s really good.
Brad’s got an illustrious history. He’s a drummer who’s also a prolific songwriter. One of his early bands, The Elvis Brothers, was a mainstay on the Midwest pop circuit. (And don’t question his lineage: his “brothers” were Rob and Graham Elvis. That’s all you need to know.) Lots of fun. A stint in power pop band Big Hello led to a partnership with Chloe, who’s not only got great chops as a powerful vocalist, but she’s a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter as well.
In the mid-2000’s, it was time for Chloe and Brad to start up a new band from scratch, and thus was born The Handcuffs. It’s one of the greatest band names ever, and don’t worry, I’ll ask them about that on the show. Rounding out the lineup with bassist Emily Togni, guitarist Ellis Clark, and newest Handcuff, full-time keyboardist Alison Hinderliter, they’ve got a tough but fun, big sound.
So what do they sound like? A little power pop, a little New Wave. Some crunchy rock, and some glam. Songs like Dirty Glitter, Miss You On Tuesday, and Kiss This Goodbye are the grittiest examples of the classic Handcuffs sound--all attitude, all the time. Chloe lets you know she’s in charge, a la Debbie Harry at her finest. Brisk drums make you snap to attention, and a plethora of sounds and textures--guitars, horns, synths, pianos--serve notice that you have entered Handcuffs turf. But as edgy as all this sounds, they really are a blast and a good time to listen to.
And at the same time, there’s a couple of acoustic, sensitive moments that lend some extra depth to this record. Eight Down features a sympathetic portrait of somebody who got burned, but is getting a second chance. I love the contrast between the near-acoustic verses and the bombastic choruses. It absolutely works--it gets reflective between battles, much like the advice given in the song. And Baby I Love You is the real surprise in this collection. It’s the first time I’ve heard Brad sing in The Handcuffs--he duets with Chloe in a straight-up love song. They extol each other’s virtues, but no, it’s not sappy. It’s fiery, yet acoustic. I’m still not sure how they manage to pull that off, but suffice it to say, it rocks.
If you check out their liner notes, or go to their website (www.thehandcuffs.com)--you’ll see that they look as dynamic as they sound, dressing in sharp, bold clothes--reminiscent of the pop-art 1960’s look. These guys have an image!
Other fun facts about The Handcuffs: Brad’s other job is drummer for the great 1980’s New Wave band, The Romantics. He travels all over the country with those guys, and believe it or not, he’s been with the band longer than the original drummer! And Chloe is a premier voiceover artist--us radio folks would kill to have her kind of poise.
But more than all that, the folks in The Handcuffs are just plain good people. They were right there when several of us radio folks banded together to do a radiothon to help the victim’s of Japan’s tsunami earlier in the year. And they’re putting forth their efforts to aid another special cause.
Tails of Joy is a wonderful animal rescue charity, started by American comedian Elayne Boosler. Their goal is simple: to make the world better for animals and their people. They help the smallest and neediest animal rescue organizations around the United States--the ones that really need the most help. And since it’s staffed by volunteers, 100% of any donations go to help the animals.
The Handcuffs have partnered with Tails of Joy to do something special for the animals who could really use our help. If you buy any Handcuffs CD at CdBaby between now and December 26th, $1.00 of each sale will go directly to Tails of Joy. This works for me on so many levels. You’re supporting great indie musicians. You’re helping to give needy animals a better life. And you’re feeding your ears and brains with some of the best indie music out there. It’s the holidays, so your gift buying problems have just been solved. You’re welcome.
www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheHandcuffs
www.thehandcuffs.com
www.tailsofjoy.net
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
Mark Bacino - Queens English
Green Beetles - The Basement
Tina Lie - Twilight Hour
Bud Rogers - Slave To Passion
Model Society - Tomorrow She Loves Me
Debora Iyall - Stay Strong
Anton Barbeau - Losing You Makes Crucifixion Easy
Laurie Biagini - My Little SUV
The Handcuffs Interview
The Handcuffs – Baby I Love You
The Handcuffs – Eight Down
The Handcuffs – Kiss This Goodbye
The Handcuffs – Dirty Glitter
Duncan Faure - In The Right Place
Baby Scream - Cold Weather Reggae
Maxi Dunn - Messed Up
Peter Daltrey and Damien Youth - Phantom Wheels
Lindy LaFontaine (with Kyro) - Haunted
Jay Fraser - Devil's Play
Onward Chariots - War Hero
Emily Zuzik Band - Motels
Heiskell - The Death of Knoxville Cool
Popdudes - Desperation Time
Natasha Davies - Giggle
Dead Heart Bloom - Sentimental Cures
I can’t believe it, but the California Diner has been on the air at Recharged Radio for two full years! This week, we celebrate show #100!
So how do you celebrate 100 of anything? I can’t very well have a cake with 100 candles on it--the fire marshal would be here in a second with a pickaxe, firehose, and a citation. How about every listener send me 100 US dollars? Nah, although that does sound pretty nice. What if I play 100 songs during this show! Yeah, now you’re talking! But my show would have to go about 6 or 7 hours, and Jordan would wring my neck for going over the allotted 2 hours.
Luckily, I’ve got friends. And a whole bunch of them are going to help me celebrate. We’re going to hear from several of my musician and radio friends from both sides of the Atlantic, as well as a publisher of a Canadian online music magazine. Not only that--but we’ll hear a couple of WORLD RADIO PREMIERE tracks! That’s right--we’ll sample a new song from Bud Rogers (of Joe Swidenbank’s band), based in London, UK. His style reminds me of straight-up 1990’s alternative--the good kind, if you know what I mean. We’ll also hear a song from Los Angeles-based Skip Heller--you may remember him as our guest two weeks ago. His style is Country/Rockabilly/Americana, and he’s agreed to open the vault door just a crack. Best part--these two songs are from forthcoming albums--and their first airplay happens this week, on Recharged Radio’s California Diner!
So all in all, a special show. But it wouldn’t have been possible without my London (and Australia, and Azores) family at Recharged Radio. My very special thanks to our head honcho, Jordan Thomas, for taking a chance on adding a Yank to his fledgling station back in 2009. And not just any Yank, but a dude from California--the most dodgy kind of all! It’s been an honour (note the proper British spelling) to do 200 hours of radio at Recharged. This is the station that cares about the music first and foremost, and I’m looking forward to where the ride takes us next!
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
Terese Taylor - I'm Here
Bud Rogers - Santa Monica Sunshine
Maxi Dunn - Why Do I Want You?
Message from Rob One of Recharged Radio
Rob One - African
The Scratch - Alcohol's A Depressant
Rose Reiter - Wherever
Message from Hillary Burton of Nushu
Nushu - Here's To Feeling Free
Kamp David - Red Hotel
The Taters - Spend a Little Time With Me
Message from Sound Sessions
Sound Sessions - Be My Shaper
The Big I Am - Banging on the Wall
Message from Laurie Biagini
Laurie Biagini - Gonna Do It My Way
Message from Peter Mayer
Peter Mayer - Where My House Used To Stand
Lindy LaFontaine (with KYRO) - Alizee
Message from Skip Heller
Skip Heller - Let's Stay Home
Message from Jim Distortion of Recharged Radio
The Whiskey Saints - Before My Time
Message from Laurie Larson
Laurie Larson - Redefining Home
Message from Joe Montague of Riveting Riffs Magazine
Sarah Taylor - Easy To Forget
Message from Eric Kern and John Ratts of Vegas With Randolph
Vegas With Randolph - The Better Part
Mad Mush - Silent Snowfall
Message from Gidget Bates of Woody Radio
Throwback Suburbia - Asking Why
Message from Claire and Gerard of Note To Self: Don’t Die!
Note To Self: Don't Die! - Hell
Message from Miami Dan Yoe
Miami Dan and the Hayes Street Band - Star Of The Beach
Message from Eric Cocks of WPKN Radio
June & The Exit Wounds - Cathy Dennis
The Handcuffs - Miss You on Tuesday
Message from Suzanne Benorden of Boomchick
Boomchick - Joyland
The Corner Laughers - Stonewords
Message from Lannie Flowers
Lannie Flowers - Turn Up Your Radio
Baby Scream - Powerpop Crush
Skip Heller is a veteran of several music scenes. I wouldn’t be doing him justice if I told you that he makes some of the finest, most honest, straight-up country music out there today. And I’d absolutely be understating things if I told you that his swingin’ little trio plies the waters of Americana, rockabilly, and even jazz. No, it would be more honest if I told you that he does all these things, and more, effortlessly. And that’s in no small part due to his ravenous appetite for anything that sounds good. His style is pretty much a crossroads of American music.
This accomplished Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter/guitarist made his Sacramento debut this past Saturday at the wonderfully eclectic Shine Cafe, in the heart of our downtown area. He was joined onstage by Debora Iyall, of Romeo Void fame. The night was magical and electric, as electric as acoustic can be!
Skip’s had a pretty amazing career, and he reveals an encyclopedic knowledge of American music since, well, 1776, and we had a chance to talk about it at the very same Shine Cafe before the show. Check out the ambiance--espresso machine, doors opening and closing, background conversation, and cars zooming by.
Skip has played with everybody who’s anybody on the L.A. Americana/rockabilly scene. Among his friends are Billy Zoom (X), Ray Campi, and the legendary entrepreneur Rockin’ Ronny Weiser, founder of Rolling Rock Records. One of Skip’s notable gigs was playing guitar on the road with the amazing NRBQ, filling in for Johnny Spampinato, at Terry Adams’ request. It takes talent, and the ability to play any one of over 300 songs at a moment’s notice, to keep up with this band. And talent is one thing Skip has plenty of.
He sings with a rich baritone voice, and makes a beat-up old Alvarez guitar sing beautifully. He’s a little bit country, and a little bit rock and roll. He sings heartbreaking songs about love, and tells stories that really make you feel like you know my old, and his current, stomping grounds of Los Angeles. Skip is putting the finishing touches on his next album, Foolish Me. We’ll meet him in this week’s show, and hear a few examples of why his music should be on your radar.
www.skipheller.com
www.shinesacramento.com
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
Lannie Flowers - Turn Up Your Radio
Emily Zuzik & Tim Lefebvre - E-Vill
Dylan Walshe - Your Belly Not Mine
In Between Echoes - Breeze On By
Laurie Biagini - Leave Me Alone
Onward Chariots - Seven Miles Away
Paul Butler - Wrong Side Of Desire
The Scratch - Alcohol's A Depressant
Sparklejet - Let's Behind That Place
Skip Heller – I Used To Love California
Skip Heller Interview
Skip Heller – The Man I Used To Be
Skip Heller – Tracy Lee
Nathan Brooks - Change
Sarah Stanley - When I Lose My Heart
Sweet Sweet Concorde - Armadillo Man
50ft Woman - Ice Cream Man
The Taters - Such A Good Day
Maxi Dunn - Why Do I Want You?
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop - Send The Band To Liverpool
Joseph Swidenbank - What Did You Want?
Rob Bonfiglio - Blow Me Away
The Handcuffs - Miss You on Tuesday
Kaz Murphy - Midnight Fire
Vegas With Randolph - The Better Part
Kyro (with Lindy LaFontaine) - This Too, In Time, Shall Pass
Tom Alford - Shiloh
Fearless Vampire Killers - Fearless Vampire Killers