20.12.11 California Diner - 'Goodbye 2011!'

Well here it is--and I can’t believe it, but 2011 is rapidly racing to an end. But before we get busy with Christmas and then New Years 2012, I just wanted to blast a little more indie music into your speakers! Not a long winded epic blog this week, but just a thank you for a great ride this year. We had everything from live interviews and sessions, including legendary artists Duncan Faure, Sal Valentino, Patrick Campbell-Lyons, Peter Daltrey, and more. Exclusive debuts from Skip Heller, Vegas With Randolph, Maxi Dunn, the Corner Laughers/Agony Aunts, and more. I nominated three artists for Pete Renzullo’s “That Time Of The Month” competition, and so far, you made two of them winners--Lindy LaFontaine and Blake Jones and the Trike Shop. The Whiskey Saints are the third, and you can vote them in as well right now for December’s contest (home page of www.rechargedradio.com, right column, “Vote” section). Personal musical highlights of 2011: I was given the great honor of writing the liner notes for Vegas With Randolph’s album “Above The Blue”. The legendary Debora Iyall of Romeo Void fame invited me to sneak a listen to a couple of remake versions of her 1984 hit “A Girl In Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing)”--on her Ipod! And most fulfilling of all--several radio presenters, dozens of musicians, and many listeners came together in a radiothon back in March, to help raise money to help the people of Japan after the devastating tsunami. Their generosity humbles me. 2011 humbles me. It really has been quite a year. Lots of great music, as always. Thanks to the wonderful artists who give so freely of themselves to make our ears and brains tingle with delight. Thanks to my colleagues at Recharged Radio in London (and Australia, and the Azores), who have supported, encouraged, and let this Yank do two hours of independent radio each week. And most of all, thanks to you, the listeners, who keep an open mind and open ears. We share in this musical journey together, and you make me want to do more each week. I wish you the best of the season. See you in 2012! --“Chef” Mike Lidskin, the California 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 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. See you then! Chef Mike mike(at)rechargedradio.com MN2BDNC Maple Mars - Add The Numbers Joe Algeri & The Sugarbrits - Merry Christmas (around the world) Rob One - Flames Fortune Dwellers - Al's Song Skip Heller - Let's Stay Home Emily Zuzik & Tim Lefebvre - West Coast East Coast The Recusants - Sunday Afternoon Jeff Merchant - Love Yourself Away Braam - Burlington Northern The Whiskey Saints - Every Little Thing Chad Neaves - Something In My Soul The Scratch - I Relax To Spiral Scratch Maxi Dunn - Make It Better Peter Daltrey and Damien Youth - The Wheels Of Romance Kat Jones - He's The One I Need The Most Dead Heart Bloom - Sentimental Cures Sal Valentino - Lovin' Fallin' Jay Fraser - Devil's Play The Shindig Addicts - Not Long Now Bud Rogers - Caught In A Wheel Laurie Biagini - Leave Me Alone Model Society - Tomorrow She Loves Me Cult of Wedge - The Birds and the Bees and Jaime Bill Mumy - I Owe A Little Money Lindy LaFontaine (with KYRO) - Harmonics Hollywood Drunks - Looks Like Christmas Colin Heppell - Poltergeist In High Heels Corner Laughers - The Red Queen Anton Barbeau - Doctor Don't Chop My Knee Mama, Ouch Is Another Word Blake Jones & The Trike Shop - I Roped The Moon Out Of The Sky Go National - Place To Sit Jimmy