28.02.12 California Diner - 'Sue Leonard Interview!'

So when it’s your birthday, what do you want for a present? In my case, I thought it would be pretty nice to have a chat with a singer-songwriter who’s earned multiple gold and platinum records, appeared on a couple of Grammy Awards broadcasts, and sang and toured with k.d. lang. Pretty far-fetched, huh? Unbelievably, this is exactly what we’re getting on this week’s California Diner! Sue Leonard, Canadian vocalist extraordinaire, is my special guest. Sue’s had an illustrious career. Known first as a session singer, you've probably heard her work before. She traveled in k.d.’s lang’s band on a couple of world tours, and was the backing vocalist on the legendary 1992 hit Constant Craving. We’ll hear an amusing and amazing story about how she got the nod to sing on what has to be one of my favorite “grown-up” songs of that era. She's also sung with Bon Jovi and Bruce Willis(!), and knows everybody who’s anybody in Canadian music. I first caught wind of her talent last year with the “Bend” album, which showcases some powerful jazzy and bluesy vocals. She phrases like a jazzer and belts like a blueser (if that’s a word. If not--it is now!) But Sue’s versatility can be found in her love for all forms of music. She’d been singing all types of music from an early age, and later on, started writing. Nowadays, songs flow into her head during the course of everyday life. She captures them, then interprets what she hears into whatever genre best delivers the goods--whether it’s blues, folk, or even bluegrass. I was able to catch up with her for a lively Skype chat while she was in Hamilton, Ontario. Although always on the go, Sue was able to sit still for 30 minutes and hang with me. We'll hear some great stories, as well as her jazzy, bluesy vocals. All in all, a great birthday present for me! Thanks, Sue! www.sueleonard.ca Hey! Recharged Radio now has a magazine! It’s a free monthly music e-zine called Sound of the Suburbs (not to be confused with our radio show of the same name--oh heck, go ahead and confuse it--we don’t mind!) It’s our joint effort with our friends at Perfect Pop Co-Op. You can get it on the left hand side of the home page of Recharged Radio. Just scroll down a bit, and get reading! 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 Maxi Dunn - Tangled Tree Jet Electro - Walter Cronkite Man or Mouse - Jackson Onward Chariots - War Hero Bud Rogers - Caught In A Wheel Beth Thornley - You're So Pony Jointpop - Please Don't Tell My Inlaws...I'm An Outlaw Sue Leonard Interview Sue Leonard – Drift Away Sue Leonard – Without You Sue Leonard – Dig Down Deep Duncan Faure - Nightfall Sarah Stanley - When I Lose My Heart Laurie Larson - Endless Thank You Loop Colin Heppell - Stronger Than Me Poplord - Death Boomchick - Operation Imperialism Throwback Suburbia - It's You Tom Moriarty - Fire in the Dolls House Nushu - Another Rainy Weekend Sarah Taylor - Easy To Forget Vegas With Randolph - The Better Part Laurie Biagini - Head In The Sand Three Minute Tease - Thanks for Lifting My Leg Chad Neaves - Something In My Soul Corner Laughers - You Two

21.02.12 California Diner - 'Fresno Rocks!'

For some time now, I’ve been alluding to a musical mecca in California’s Central Valley, known as Fresno. It’s nearly a three hour drive south of where I sit in Sacramento. Most people don’t give Fresno its due--it’s inland, and it’s a bit out of the mainstream. When outsiders talk of California--they’re thinking of Los Angeles and visualizing San Diego. If you mention San Francisco, you get an “oh yeah--that’s right, San Francisco”. Try mentioning Sacramento--you get something like “oh--that’s part of California, isn’t it?”. And poor Fresno--if they even got “oh--that’s part of California, isn’t it?”--that would be an improvement. Well I’m here to tell you that Fresno looms large on the musical map. More than once, I’ve found myself playing two or three Fresno artists on a California Diner episode. Well this week, we go all out and play seven(!) different Fresno artists. Some originally from Fresno, but have moved on to other music scenes. Others who continue to rock Fresno. Either way, that should pretty much seal the deal--Fresno rocks! A couple of Recharged Radio debuts come our way this week. Poplord has an album out called “Poplord vs the Universe”, and it’s a good one. These guys roam everwhere from power pop to grownup adult pop, and Tom Magill leads them to some pretty great musical highs. www.myspace.com/poplord Also from the Poplord camp comes Jet Electro--led by Poplord’s Craig Daniel, with an eponymous debut album. This one travels the Americana and power pop roads, and has some amazing hooks to, well, hook you in! Some of the stalwarts of the Fresno scene join forces to help out on this effort. www.jetelectro.net We’ll also hear from California Diner mainstays Blake Jones & The Trike Shop (“mad pop”) and Sparklejet (intellectual hard rock), who continue to keep the Fresno arts scene vibrant. Kat Jones, she formerly of Fresno, now of Portland, checks in with her velvety alto. We’ll play a new track from the legendary Debora Iyall, she of Romeo Void fame, with a cover of one of her solo songs from last year. She takes a moody song and adds to the atmosphere, with a surprise rock ending. She rose to fame in San Francisco, but grew up in Fresno. www.blakejonesmusic.com www.myspace.com/sparklejet www.katjonesmusic.com www.deboraiyall.com And last, but certainly not least, is Rich McCulley. He started in Sparklejet over a decade ago, but moved on to make a name for himself in the vibrant Los Angeles Americana scene, not only as a singer-songwriter, but as a producer and recording engineer as well. If you hear a musical sound in Los Angeles, and it’s got a twang or a jangle, you can bet that Rich had a hand in it! www.richmcculley.com So check out these great musicians. One way or another, they all came from Fresno. Make them part of YOUR music scene! Hey! Recharged Radio now has a magazine! It’s a free monthly music e-zine called Sound of the Suburbs (not to be confused with our radio show of the same name--oh heck, go ahead and confuse it--we don’t mind!) It’s our joint effort with our friends at Perfect Pop Co-Op. You can get it on the left hand side of the home page of Recharged Radio. Just scroll down a bit, and get reading! 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 Poplord - Flower Bomb The Fuegos - Against The World Kat Jones - Those Expensive Eyes Rob Bonfiglio - Blow Me Away Green Beetles - The Basement Last Breath - The Story Ends Jesus H Christ & The Four Hornsmen of The Apocalypse - I'm Around Sparklejet - Let's Behind That Place Peter Daltrey and Damien Youth - Blue Girl Eyes Laurie Biagini - The Invisible Guy The Little Philistines - Hot Phone Blake Jones & The Trike Shop - Here Comes the Bus Nushu - Synthia Baby Scream - The Last Call Winzenried - Ohio Model Society - Horizon Natalie Cortez & The Ultraviolets - Three Times Lindy LaFontaine - I Might Not Love You Rich McCulley - Far From My Angel Wim Oudijk - Love you. Period! The Well Wishers - Escape The Light Girl Muscle - My Head Spins Around Emily Zuzik & Tim Lefebvre - E-Vill Joe Swidenbank - Coming Up For Air Maxi Dunn - Messed Up Jet Electro - For Sale By Owner Anny Celsi - First Love Freezes Debora Iyall - 99 Bill Mumy - Chariots Comin' Chat with Andy from The Scratch The Scratch - Teen Idol Auditorium - The Sex Offenders Ricky Berger - Silly Boy, Goodnight

14.02.12 California Diner - 'The Twirlie Awards!'

No, it’s not the Grammy Awards show. But it is a music awards show, and it does come from the same state--California, of course! I have an annual tradition of missing the Grammy Awards show. Not because it’s a political statement; more because I’m usually not interested. Well apparently, for the first time in a long time, it appears that I really missed a great show! Heartfelt tributes to the late great Whitney Houston, who passed away so young, this past weekend. A 50th anniversary Beach Boys reunion, where three originals and two almost-originals put aside differences and made music. (And don’t forget that California Diner playlist favorite Nelson Bragg played drums in that stellar ensemble!) And in what has been making the rounds amongst music fans as perhaps one of the all time great acceptance speeches, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl reminded us what’s important about music--you could almost hear him saying “Music needs to be driven, not controlled”. I should have watched it this year. Well, I guess that’s why the good Lord invented YouTube, isn’t it? Every year, I do a little awards show of my own on my other show, Twirl Radio. It’s called the Twirlie Awards, and it’s a celebration of some of the top indie music to grace my playlists during the prior year. We honor such categories as Album and Song of the Year, Male and Female Vocalists of the Year, Best Songwriting, etc. And the great thing is that all these artists being honored have been played frequently right here on Recharged Radio’s California Diner, so it’s completely appropriate that I share this event with you. What better time to share the love than on Valentine’s Day? Why not--these great indie musicians have given us the gift of great music all year long, so the least we can do is pass out some awards. We’ll start off by visiting with San Francisco Bay Area musician Kate Burkart, as sort of a warmup for the festivities. And then the awards will fly, fast and furious. So much so that I’ll need help from my co-host, Amber “Waitress Shirley” Alexander, and three tough guy accountants who keep us honest. Don’t miss it. Because unlike the Grammies, this won’t be on YouTube anytime soon. Hey! Recharged Radio now has a magazine! It’s a free monthly music e-zine called Sound of the Suburbs (not to be confused with our radio show of the same name--oh heck, go ahead and confuse it--we don’t mind!) It’s our joint effort with our friends at Perfect Pop Co-Op. You can get it on the left hand side of the home page of Recharged Radio. Just scroll down a bit, and get reading! 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 Album of the Year Maxi Dunn, for her album The Neglected Gambit Album of the Year Runner up Vegas With Randolph, for their album Above The Blue Song of the Year The Whiskey Saints, for their song Every Little Thing Song of the Year Runner up Blake Jones and Tom Magill, for their song Life Turns On A Dime Female Vocalist of the Year Emily Zuzik Male Vocalist of the Year Bud Rogers Ear Candy Laurie Biagini, for her album A Go-Go Girl In A Modern World Best Debut Album The Big I Am, for their album Collecting Skies Best Songwriting Sal Valentino/John Blakeley, for Sal’s album Dreamin’ Man Producer of the Year (tie) Peter Hackett, for Maxi Dunn’s album The Neglected Gambit Producer of the Year (tie) Wim Oudijk, for The Big I Am’s album Collecting Skies Best Line In A Song Juan Mazzola of Baby Scream, for his song The Last Call. The line was “I wouldn’t care about tomorrow, tomorrow never cared for me.” “I shouldn’t care about your sorrow, sorrow never cared for me.” I’m a little disappointed with you….” Best Interview, phone Duncan Faure (former Bay City Roller, now solo artist), 3/12/2011 Best Interview, in-studio Blake Jones & The Trike Shop, 10/22/2011 Best Live Session Skip Heller and Debora Iyall, Shine Cafe, Sacramento, 10/29/2011 Best Rock And Roll Moment 1. Japan Radiothon 2011 2. Writing liner notes for Above The Blue by Vegas With Randolph 3. Getting to hear sneak preview of Debora Iyall’s remake of her Romeo Void song A Girl In Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing)–on her Ipod 4. Reaching 500th show in May 5. Emceeing for the Corner Laughers at their Sacramento gig Top Albums of 2011: 1. Maxi Dunn – The Neglected Gambit 2. Vegas With Randolph – Above The Blue 3. The Big I Am – Collecting Skies 4. The Handcuffs – Waiting For The Robot 5. Bud Rogers – Whiteout 6. Baby Scream – Secret Place 7. Emily Zuzik Band – The Wild Joys Of Living 8. Bill Mumy – Until The Big Bang Whimpers 9. The Whiskey Saints – 24 Hours 10. Anton Barbeau – Psychedelic Mynde Of Moses Top Songs of 2011: 1. The Whiskey Saints – Every Little Thing 2. Blake Jones & Tom Magill – Life Turns On A Dime 3. Braam – Burlington Northern 4. The Big I Am – Collecting Skies 5. Maxi Dunn – Make It Better 6. Mad Mush – Silent Snowfall 7. Scott Brookman – The Man From Operations 8. Popdudes – Desperation Time 9. Rob Swanson/Dennis Holseybrook – Rust 10. Agony Aunts – Me Being Maximum 11. John York and Kim Fowley – Angels And Trucks 12. Laurie Biagini – My Little SUV 13. Cult Of Wedge – The Birds and the Bees and Jaime 14. Anton Barbeau – Skunk Hungarian 15. Ben Swidenbank – Leave That Animal Behind 16. Baby Scream – The Last Call 17. The Scratch – Homely Crackle 18. The Britannicas – Bleed Between The Lines 19. Joe Symes – Lost Along The Way 20. Lannie Flowers – Turn Up Your Radio

07.02.12 California Diner - 'Pure Pop Goodness from California!'

Being here in California, one sure can get spoiled. And I don’t just mean the good weather, the forward-thinking vibe, or the proximity to great hamburgers and Mexican food. I’m talking about the music. So many genres right here, and so many great bands to listen to. This week, we’ll narrow it down a bit and focus on pure pop music. We’re debuting the Well Wishers on the show this week. Absolutely pure jangle pop goodness from San Francisco. Jeff Shelton, the mastermind of the band, was kind enough to somehow find me and send me the new CD, “Dreaming of the West Coast”. And it’s a beaut. The opening track has that early R.E.M. jangle, but without the mysterious vocals. Great harmonies, and uplifting sound, this album’s gonna get noticed! thewellwishers.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming-of-the-west-coast Northern Californian Tom Alford is no stranger to these playlists. His brand of guitar pop has roots in the 1960’s, but it’s informed by the alternative sounds of the 1990’s. In other words, it’s warm, jangly pop with intelligent lyrics and just enough quirkiness to liven up our musical menu. We’ll hear a track off of one of our top albums of 2009, Tom’s “Second Foundation”. www.cdbaby.com/cd/talford/from/absolutepowerpop So you think power pop is just for the guys? You’ve never met NUSHU. Hillary Burton and Lisa Mychols are based in the Los Angeles area, and this amazing duo writes all the songs, plays all the instruments, and trades off on lead and harmony vocals. And wow, those sweet harmonies. The songs are melodic, yet crunchy. Visualize the Go-Go’s on steroids. And here in the 21st century, a great way to get your music out there is through gaming platforms, and one of their songs was wisely added to Rock Band® for XBox 360. Pretty cool, huh? We’ll play a track from their impressive 2010 album “Hula” on the show. www.nushumusic.com Hey! Recharged Radio now has a magazine! It’s a free monthly music e-zine called Sound of the Suburbs (not to be confused with our radio show of the same name--oh heck, go ahead and confuse it--we don’t mind!) It’s our joint effort with our friends at Perfect Pop Co-Op. You can get it on the left hand side of the home page of Recharged Radio. Just scroll down a bit, and get reading! 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 Kitty & The Lost Boys - Rushing To My Side The Well Wishers - Esacape The Light Laurie Biagini - The California Quake Ben Swidenbank - Girl (Leave That Animal Tonight) Melissa Phillips - So Young Vinnie Zummo - Homicidal The Handcuffs - Everybody Waves Hello Jay Fraser - That's How We Roll The Taters - Such A Good Day June & The Exit Wounds - Hey Hey Hey 50ft Woman - Ultra Violet Tom Alford - Wasp Lands On Sunflower The Whiskey Saints - Before My Time William Cleere and the Marvelous Fellas - Labor Day Sweet Sweet Concorde - Armadillo Man Maple Mars - Big Imagination Sparklejet - The Comeback The Ks - Little Plaything Nushu - Another Rainy Weekend Freakish Atlantic - Esther Sound Sessions - Baby's Just An Avatar Maxi Dunn - Why Do I Want You? The Clutter Family - Artist In The Office Nelson Bragg - Forever Days M.A.D.I.S.O.N. - Try Throwback Suburbia - Give And Take Lindy LaFontaine (with Kyro) - Haunted The Mike Brown Band - Pay Volary - Blackbird Fly Vegas With Randolph - Some Time To Live