MIKE'S BASEMENT - Mike's Basement

FTB #217 June 2023

6/2/2023

I was going to take a short break but while playing around with some new stuff, inspiration struck and by the time it expired, Episode #217 was left behind. No special theme other than wanting to hear these particular tunes at that particular time. Hope you enjoy it. Recorded during the start of a new month and a nice Spring evening. New releases from Graham Parker & The Goldtops, Ben Folds, Pere Ubu, Thelonious Monk, Inhaler, Buck Meek, B.C. Camplight, Fontaines D.C. and Dwight Twilley. Fleshed out by Wayne Shorter, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Fila Brazillia, Marvin Gaye, R. Stevie Moore & Jason Falkner, Love, The Smiths, Roger Miller, Rosanne Cash, Lewis Taylor, The Rascals, Warren Zevon, Andrew Bird, Sparklehorse and many more.

Simply click HERE and the Playlist is yours!

A Gift of thanks for all the support

5/28/2023

A high quality flac file of each episode can be found here. Thank you for listening and supporting From The Basement.

FTB #216 "Are We Clear?"

5/24/2023

May 24, 2023
Approximately a third of the way into the show the news of Tina Turner’s passing came and two things were now required, getting the show posted tonight and a detour was in order immediately. We will pay respects to Tina in the middle of new music from: B.C. Camplight, Don Dixon, Rufus Wainwright, Young Man in a Hurry, Bruce Tunkel, bar italia, Inhaler, Peter Gabriel, City and Colour and Son Volt. Garnished with goodies from: David Sylvian, Marti Jones, Anne Richmond Boston, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, My Morning Jacket, Maia Sharp, Jimi Hendrix, Kamasi Washington, Cab Calloway, Joe Jackson, Uncle Green, Wolf Parade, Grandaddy, Leon Russell, Lowell George, Joe Walsh, Imelda May, The Band, Neko Case, Doug Sahm and more.
DL

The Playlist is found here when you need it or if you want it.

FTB #215 Brave New World / May 18, 2023 & 1958

5/18/2023

Sixty-five years ago today I was a month away from turning 2 years old, not that I recall the day. “All I Have to Do Is Dream” by Everly Brothers was the #1 song in the USA on that day, and yes I looked it up.

Do you believe in coincidence? Happenstance? I look at it more as having the inner antennae in reception mode. While looking for something else, I happened upon a full episode of Mike Wallace’s early Interview show, his pre-CBS days at ABC. I never realized he existed before 60 Minutes or Biography, the latter a staple of early morning childhood TV, especially if The Stooges or Dead End Kids weren’t on. This was a complete episode (28 minutes) finding Mr. Wallace chatting with Aldous Huxley. The Brave New World author talks to Wallace about threats to freedom in the United States, overpopulation, bureaucracy, propaganda, drugs, advertising, and television. I double checked the date to make sure this was from ‘58 and not ‘68 but Huxley was already dead for 5 years in 1968. I would learn that he was found with about 1,000 mics of LSD-25 under his tongue in 1963.

I was hooked immediately. The phrase “this is from 1958?” kept circling around my head at 3 minute intervals as Huxley laid out his theories of how our civilization could follow different paths depending upon how certain “forces” played out. Once he uttered the tidbit to America and Europe that we can never again be surprised by our own technology and that was, he felt, the real danger at this particular slice of time. I was on fire and once again checked the date of the broadcast. Huxley was in possession of perhaps the most finely tuned antenna of the day.

The program itself was like looking at another civilization. Absolutely no fluff, not dumbed down a whit, these were intelligent humans having a riveting conversation in black and white, not a graphic or crawl to be found. While longing a bit for this bygone time when facts, statistics and possibilities were bantered so everyone could be better informed. No anger or agenda. No keeping on brand or talking points. Our planet was about to enter a whirlwind of change, but there was no fear mongering or hidden agendas.

Thankful for our current technology, it set me on a path of discovery and that’s how we wind up here with FTB #215. While digging for nuggets, the story about Sam Altman the CEO of OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT, talking to a Senate panel regarding the possible use of artificial intelligence to interfere with election integrity among many more things and said it is a "significant area of concern", adding that it needs regulation. I found it quite cool that 65 years apart, the core of these events were definitely linked. But it is sad that after a bunch of modern day coverage, I actually learned more from the primitive 28 B&W minutes with Mike Wallace.

This episode is a bit different but I do hope you enjoy it. Featuring music from: Gil Scott-Heron, Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy, David Bowie, Michael Penn, Spirit, Frank Zappa, Yes, King Crimson, Jimi Hendrix, The Bongos, B.C. Camplight, Lord Huron, The Tubes, Blue Öyster Cult, Be Bop Deluxe, Bruce Cockburn, Leonard Cohen, Anthony Hamilton, Nas/Miles Davis, Lack Of Afro, John Coltrane, Bob Marley, Phil Roy & Julian Coryell, Stevie Wonder, Talk Talk and The The. Plus contributions from George Carlin, Bill Hicks, Carlos Santana and more.

A peak at the PLAYLIST might come in handy. Click here and make it so.

FTB #214 “Guns?” Friday May 12, 2023

5/12/2023

I’m starting to think that “you know who” is in possession of a cache of files that dwarf the legendary dirt library of J. Edger Hoover, allowing him to wear frilly party dresses, yet still inspire terror that his information could destroy anyone’s image, life and career. There’s a reason his idols include Roy Cohen and Adolph Hitler. I witnessed his freak show of graft, the con stiffing and fleecing any mark possible with his Atlantic City facade of opulence. It was abundantly clear that although he was born on third base, yet convinced it was a massive triple that won the game that got him there. He was the chosen one. His golden feedbag was strapped on stuffed with a gluttonous portion of grandiosity and huge balls of bullshit, greed and hate along with his Coco Puffs. The possibility of Donald Trump as POTUS was unfathomable, he wouldn’t even release his tax records. There was no way this guy should be looked at as a leader or masterful businessman, inept, corrupt and selfish to the degree he failed to make money owning a Casino. He manipulated and guided three such laundries into bankruptcy, leaving piles of unpaid bills and ruined lives in his gold plated wake.

As expected his was a record setting administration but not in a good way. The magnitude of mayhem he managed to unleash in a single term is astounding. Coming off an eight year run of President Obama, which gave hope that perhaps we were finally turning the corner on Racism in our society, he proved capable of bringing it back, or more accurately made it perfectly fine if you wanted to stop hiding the KKK hoods some very fine people had tucked away. The clown car was open for insanity on day one regarding crowd size. He was already unhappy with the ratings, not yet briefed there was no script for his latest “reality” show. I believe he has convinced himself he is the actual President right now! Before the ball gets rolling toward his first of a record setting two impeachments, he found time to set a blistering pace toward a new record of spending 307 days of his term, only 58 days shy of a year, golfing at our expense costing taxpayers hundreds of millions.

Like a hopped-up gangster in the glory days of Las Vegas he never let up on the grift. Every single raging day of his thieving, lying, cheating administration brought a new bottom, and questions like “How low can he possibly go?” We watched in disbelief as the GOP seemed afraid to cross him and restore some sense of duty and/or honor to an institution that previously had wrapped themselves in the flag and family values with religious fervor. He said, “Hold my Big Mac” and proceeded to ridicule John McCain saying that he prefers soldiers that don’t get caught. Just one of a litany of insane ranting and pouting that would certainly be the bottom and would mark a path to downfall. But the GOP instead doubled down with the Attorney General becoming more like a personal lawyer, if only Roy Cohen wasn’t dead it may have worked. Barr tapped out toward the end trying to save face and perhaps his last shred of dignity. He along with many others could have put a stop to it but didn’t.

This is supposed to be about the gun epidemic, specifically War Weapons and yet it’s all about “The Man Child” that is still everywhere every single damn day! Fresh off a 5 Million Dollar Guilty verdict of Sexual Abuse and Defamation his latest advice to a population that by all measure would dearly love to see him in handcuffs and gagged, was to tell the MAGA Nation we should default and destroy everything since only he can save us, as long as he first frees all the Insurrectionists, especially the ones found guilty of Seditious Conspiracy! He is completely out of his mind.

New Stuff from: Bruce Tunkel, Dave Hause, James Deely, Pretenders and Queens of the Stone Age. Grifting and gun tunes include: The Chameleons, Charles Mingus, Chuck D, Jimmy Cliff, James McMurtry, Captain Sensible, Damon Albarn, Portugal The Man, INXS, The Undisputed Truth, The O'Jays, Ohio Players, Peter Gabriel, XTC, Thievery Corporation, Jónsi; Elizabeth Fraser, Johnny Cash, Ry Cooder, Richard Thompson, Negativland and a bunch more.

Thanks to all that have helped out. Donation link active through 5/18 CLICK HERE

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FTB #213 “Sunday Will Never Be The Same”

5/7/2023

Back in 2018 criminally overlooked singer/songwriter Will Hoge from Nashville was becoming increasingly concerned about mass shootings occurring more frequently and guns, particularly weapons of war easier to obtain than allergy medication. His song “Thoughts and Prayers” addressed the issue brilliantly. I have never been a gun owner, nor have I ever held a loaded one or even fired one, not counting cap guns or water pistols. Hunting was something that was not a “sport” that held any interest, although I grew up with and have known many that truly enjoy it. As long as they are responsible with firearms and eat what they kill, as a carnivore I have no issue with them, but no desire to join them either. None use an AR15, M16, Tommy Guns, extended clips or bullet proof gear to the best of my knowledge.

As divided as we are said to be these days an overwhelming percentage of both sides of the aisle are in favor of common sense gun laws. So why do we have to show ID when purchasing Sudafed or Claritin, take a test and obtain a license to drive a car or pass any other number of qualifications to society while in many places I could easily plop my money on the counter and leave with a weapon capable of killing hundreds of people in minutes? Six letters are why, GOP and NRA. Enough already. How many children and innocent humans have to be slaughtered? How many more politicians with the blood soaked money of the NRA safely in their Campaign Financing need to utter their hollow “Thoughts and Prayers” message to the media, while filling their pockets and continuing to make it easier to obtain weapons of war, which now total 25% of all gun sales in the USA.

Warren Zevon finally gets nominated for the Rock HOF, finishes 3rd in the public vote and still doesn’t make it. David Letterman gives us his thoughts about the situation. A chat with Rickie Lee Jones is pulled from the archives and there is actually a new album from legendary songwriter Smokey Robinson! Along with new releases from Peter Gabriel, The Lemon Twigs, M Ward, Josh Ritter, The National, Glen Matlock, The Gaslight Anthem, Ian Hunter, Pete Townshend, Marc Almond and Westerman. A deep dive in the library yields attractive musical nuggets from Spanky & Our Gang, The Rave-Ups, Syd Straw, rare live Led Zeppelin, 7Horse, Coleman Hawkins, Frank Sinatra, Bob Mould, The Clash, Jon Auer, Owsley, Myracle Brah, The Beatles, New York Dolls, Wall of Voodoo, The Lucy Show, Mike Doughty, Brother Jack McDuff, The Kane Gang and a bunch more.

Thank you so much for listening and supporting this program, the donation link is active through 5/18 at https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8TnoEM3bg2 If you can afford it we do appreciate it. If you can’t, please don’t let it stop you from listening, we appreciate that too.

I know some of you need a playlist, if you are one of them click THIS and you got it!

FTB #212

5/4/2023

There were 2 songs that I tried to fit into this episode but the proper spot just didn’t present itself, so I will post them here. The first is Neil Young’s “Ohio” due to today being the 53rd anniversary of the events at Kent State. The second is the Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield classic “Ball Of Confusion.” Be it the original recording by the Temptations or the 80’s Love & Rockets remake, it’s these lyrics that play on a loop in my head as I continue to witness our Society degenerate to a cold, dangerous landscape where we now expect daily mass shootings, and a never ending cycle of lies, thievery, greed and gluttony rotating at an alarming rate. Guns are the new religion, fear and loathing are around every corner and the beat goes on.

People moving out, people moving in
Why, because of the color of their skin
Run, run, run but you sure can't hide
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Rap on, brother, rap on
Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the preacher
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration
Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation

Ball of confusion
Oh yeah, that's what the world is today

The sale of pills are at an all time high
Young folks walking ‘round with their heads in the sky
The cities ablaze in the summertime
And oh, the beat goes on

Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul
Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything
And the band played on
So, round and around and around we go
Where the world's headed, nobody knows

Fear in the air, tension everywhere
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new records a gas
And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation
And the band played on

Eve of destruction, tax deduction, city inspectors, bill collectors
Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide, too many bills
Hippies moving to the hills, people all over the world are shouting, end the war

Aside from a few dated references this could have been written last week, instead of 1970. As I have said many times over the last Decade plus, as a highschool student when these events happened, I honestly thought we would be much further evolved as a society 53 years on. Clearly we are not. My only tip to hold on to sanity is to turn the music up.

New stuff this episode: Mountains Like Wax w/Julien Baker, Everything But the Girl, Jah Wobble, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Cowboy Junkies, Easy Star All-Stars, PJ Harvey, The Heavy, M.E.B., Low Cut Connie, Kelley Ryan, Tommy Stinson's Cowboys in the Campfire, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rufus Wainwright and Vincent and Theo.

Library items pulled for play include: Brad Mehldau Trio, Traffic, Prefab Sprout, Jimmy Witherspoon, Champion Jack Dupree, Elmore James, Free, Bobby Womack & Peace, David Bowie, Boogie Down Productions, Sly & the Family Stone, Common, Eddie Floyd, Cassandra Wilson, Charlie Hunter & Lucy Woodward, The Dramatics, J. Geils Band, The Faces, Humble Pie, Ray Charles and so much more

We also say farewell to Gordon Lightfoot and thanks to you have reached our funding goal, but don’t let that stop you as the donation link is good for another 2 weeks. Every little bit helps and is appreciated more than we can express. https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8TnoEM3bg2

As promised on the show, here is what Julian Coryell and David Shwartz wrote about their new project, Vincent and Theo.

(Julian): In April 2020 I got sick with Covid. My symptoms were bad, and I suddenly found I was not able to do much of anything. This was the early days of the pandemic. They didn’t even have a proper test for Covid, and they certainly had no cure. The doctor told me to stay in my house for the next two weeks and hope for the best.
The simplest tasks were now difficult. Going to the mailbox felt like running a marathon. I wasn’t allowed to go to my studio as it was a shared space. It was during this very challenging time my friend David sent me an instrumental track and invited me to contribute something to it.
Pre-Covid I was proud of my belting, brassy singing voice with its flexible range… that was all gone now. I struggled to breathe and was reduced to muttering in low, short intervals to save my breath. When I heard David’s track, I couldn’t have sang in my regular style even if I’d wanted to. But as I listened to it over and over, in the midst of what was now a great depression brought on by a sickness, I started to hear words and felt a feeling emerge. That feeling turned into a kind of character, and that character was yearning to communicate.
I’ve always written. It’s not uncommon for me to write prose for no other reason than to just get it out. Years ago, I used to connect with people by trying to be some kind of rockstar, but had given that up long ago. I never considered my writing as fodder for songs, only a substitute for that old musical connection I once had. But then David sent that track.
During those early pandemic days, we all did our best to keep sane and stay functional. It was very hard to sleep at night sometimes.
One of those sleepless nights, I crept into my living room and put on some headphones. I played David’s track over and over. I listened to his sturdy upright bass, the hypnotic drum beat and the playful harmonic information therein. Before long, a sympathetic relationship emerged. Some kind of intriguing correlation between words and music. I barely had a voice. Breathing was difficult. Not to mention my girlfriend and her daughter were asleep in adjacent rooms. Still, I was drawn to this moment of creative freedom that distracted me from the terror of what we were all experiencing.
I rifled through a drawer and found a cheap microphone. In no way did it resemble the pricey professional ones I had at my studio. I plugged it into my computer, opened up a software program, and imported David’s track. I mumbled a few words over it. Though I couldn’t really sing, and couldn’t even really talk for long, I could speak a line or two, stop the recording, catch my breath and start up again… When I finished, I listened back. I was surprised by what I heard. I had just met, for the first time, a character that later became known as The Storyteller.
The Storyteller was not a part of myself I’d met before, and it turned out he had some things to say. Unsure of what I’d done, I listened one more time, pressed save on the computer, and went to bed.
When I awoke the next morning, I wondered if it was any good. I gingerly went back to my laptop and listened to what had transpired in the wee hours. To my surprise, I still liked The Storyteller. I screwed up enough courage to send a rough mix to David. He responded positively and asked if I’d like to try another track.
And so it was over the next few weeks, David would send a track, I’d wait until late at night, and then sneak into my living room and whisper some prose over it. Weeks turned into months. Covid dragged on and this project saved my ass. It was the lifeline I grabbed and held onto when there was no work, when you couldn’t go anywhere or see anyone… It became the lone oasis in a desert of fear that surrounded the entire world for two years.
And here we are today. The world has changed forever. People are flying again, eating in restaurants. Work has resumed. And yet, this record endures. It’s the most honest thing I’ve ever participated in. It couldn’t have come about any other way. The Storyteller lives. And now he shall be heard.
(David): At the beginning of the pandemic with no work coming in, I realized I wanted to start creating my own music. I decided to create tracks that each started with my upright bass… I sent them to a few of my favorite musicians. Julian Coryell sent back a full song with vocals and lyrics. He asked for more and in a short time we had the 11 tracks that comprise the album. Julian and I both added various instruments and also included a few of our favorite players. Although Julian is one of the world’s great guitarists, he refused to play one note of guitar on this project. Everything about this project is different from what someone might expect from Julian or myself. ?+!

FOR THOSE IN DESPERATE NEED OF A PLAYLIST.... JUST CLICK THIS

FTB #211 "I Hate Hate"

4/21/2023

We really scrambled to get this episode in your ears tonight, #211 which is named for a tremendous new song from the ageless and legendary Ian Hunter. There are also fab new tunes included from Angel Olsen, Howard Bomar, Bitty McLean (w/Sly and Robbie), GoGo Penguin, Rickie Lee Jones, Josienne Clarke, boygenius, Temples and Jim White. Combined and blended into a musical stew with ingredients like Johnny Thunders, Dolorean, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, David Ruffin, Love, Low, Cocteau Twins, Yusef Lateef, Living Colour, Jimi Hendrix, Blind Blake, Leon Redbone, Sam Cooke, Ruthie Foster, Allen Toussaint, James Brown, Willy DeVille, David Johansen and the Harry Smiths, Bob Marley & The Wailers and so much more. Remembering Ahmad Jamal and David Lindley while mildly celebrating The Supreme Court’s decision this afternoon. We ran out of the emergency fund upgrading our gear, but the response already to https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8TnoEM3bg2 has been amazing and appreciated. Thanks for everything and enjoy the show.

Having a playlist before hearing the show is not advised, but if you must... CLICK ME

FTB #211 in pictures.

FTB #210 - Albert & Aly At Your Service

4/18/2023

April 18, 2023

Truth isn’t truth, intelligence is artificial and there is now a clock in Baseball. It sure is weird getting old these days. Now guns have turned into religion, with 1 of every 4 sold a true weapon of war. Makes me wonder why The GOP hasn’t bestowed a Tax Exemption on the NRA. Perhaps they have just not requested one, yet. It does fly past quickly my friends, at least we weren’t misled about that. As a great old friend once said to me on the streets of New York City one night, “Spike, you look over your shoulder… and it’s gone!” At the time my eyes were on the short glass of beer he left the bar with flying over his shoulder and breaking on the sidewalk behind us allowing entry to the eatery we had arrived at. It still makes sense half a lifetime later.

Baseball has been a central part of my life since childhood. I have not watched even a few consecutive innings since the automatic extra inning runner on second rule appeared. It was just a bridge too far. When finding out it would not be used any longer I was ready to return, but now there’s a clock in the game and it just confirms I made the right choice. I’m over it. Baseball was the only Major Sport not governed by a clock, you could argue Golf or Bowling but not in my world. It’s always been about Baseball. Sure I watched The Knicks when Walt Frazier played and the Football Giants every year Lawrence Taylor played, but never with anything near the intensity of Baseball.

Thankfully, the deepest obsession of them all remains. Music. More plentiful and available than ever and such a vast amount yet to discover. New combinations to explore, deep dives and cataloging to be made. We are losing the generation that created the Art and Athletic Mileposts now locked into memory at a fairly steady clip (R.I.P. Ahmed Jamal) which will only accelerate going forward. This is what’s been on my mind leading up to FTB #210. And I guess that makes me officially old. So be it. I’m old, so what? I saw all the cool bands.

New: Lucinda Williams, James Maddock, The National, Walter Smith III, Peter Gabriel, The Wood Brothers, Ben Folds, Neil Young with The Santa Monica Flyers, Joe Bonamassa and Ryan Adams.

Other: XTC, Tim Hardin, Tommy Stinson, Magnolia Electric Co., The Jayhawks, Golden Smog, Soul Asylum, Hoodoo Gurus, Rod Stewart, Nils Lofgren, El VY, New Order, Kate Bush, Syd Straw, Wondermints, Marvelous 3, Uncle Green, DMA's, Robert Pollard, East River Pipe, Talk Talk, Traffic, The Youngbloods, Rosanne Cash, World Party, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Led Zeppelin and a bunch more.

P.s. We needed to empty the Basement Emergency Fund in order to repair and upgrade some essential equipment, so for those that can afford it, there is a new Fund Drive.
Can you help? https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8TnoEM3bg2.

To see the PLAYLIST just click here.

FTB #209 April 9, 2023 “East at Easter”

4/8/2023

Although I was raised Roman Catholic, including beginning in 1962 attending and graduating both Catholic grammar and high school. I actually was an Alter Boy and remember school uniforms, making room for your Guardian Angel everywhere, strict hair and dress codes, the lovely “under the desk” drill if a Nuke was dropped. I figured The Sisters Of Mercy had that under control armed with rulers, pointers and even a clicker. I would not call myself a practicing Catholic these days. That’s not to say I am without faith in something bigger (thanks , Mr. Townshend) but I don’t believe any organized religion has the answers, especially those with preachers that have mansions, yachts, private airplanes and a tax exemption they shouldn’t. They are the absolute worst. I went to a fairly progressive school, although I believe it was the product of the era attended much more than the mile square town I grew up in, which was anything but. Think about the changes in Culture alone from 1962 - 1974. Nixon resigned a few weeks after Graduation, we found out at Roosevelt Park in Jersey City at a CSNY concert… I think! I would not trade coming of age at this time with any other period.

The above preamble is offered to explain that Easter Sunday was THE event that topped the RC Catholic Calendar, #1 with a bullet. It is the single most “Holy” day, leaving Christmas in the dust for true believers. There was always a packed schedule on Easter, no excuses. Church, Family, Bringing flowers to the Cemetery to honor family missing, huge dinners with a kids table or two. Music, dancing, teasing, playing games. A full day, often beginning before dawn and ending far past midnight. With the family you talked and argued about everything, the Italian side much louder and always with amazing food. But no matter what mayhem may have occurred, at the end of the celebration hugs and a kiss on the lips with I love you from the lips of everyone. It may have been the safest and most secure I ever felt. Your cousins were your first best friends and all you came in contact with actually loved you, whether they liked you or not.

I believe those of us born in the mid-1950’s were really the last to have experienced what has often been called “The Camelot Era.” By 1967-68 America was on fire and the migration to the Suburbs in overdrive. Suddenly the bulk of the family were no longer living within a mile or two, some were like an hour away and a few don’t even live in the state anymore! At least we still all experienced major events simultaneously and from the same source. Being on one side or the other you could discuss, argue even fight but at least the facts were the facts. Today? To quote any of my late uncles, “Fuhgettaboutit!”

In the nearly four decades I have put together radio shows, I always attempt to do something meaningful around Easter. Something multi-generational because it makes me think of those days, now long gone but never forgotten. Focus on the possibilities, keep fear away from your door and embrace the potential of harmony if only we accept that love is the answer.

New things will be played from:
Rickie Lee Jones, The National, Graham Nash, Jono Manson, Peter Case, Fences, Susanna Hoffs, Those Pretty Wrongs, City and Colour, DMA's, Bruce Cockburn, The Hold Steady, The No Ones, Gov't Mule, Peter Gabriel and
Mudhoney.

Chipping in are:
Bill Hicks, Negativland, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, The Blue Nile, Joe Henry, Spottiswoode & His Enemies, Robert Fripp, Simple Minds, Tears For Fears, Leo Kottke, Steve Goodman, Early James, Fats Domino, Ben Harper, American Music Club, Patti Smith, Strand of Oaks, Hank Dogs, Josh Rouse, Big Star, David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto, The Teardrop Explodes, Electric Light Orchestra, Public Image Limited, Julian Cope, The Jazz Butcher, Bill Callahan, Alabama 3, Brother Dege, Taj Mahal, Modern Jazz Quartet, Larry Young and more.

DROP THAT CHOCOLATE BUNNY AND CLICK HERE FOR THE PLAYLIST

FTB#208 Tuesday Afternoon April 4, 2023

4/4/2023

Today’s events are going to require a distraction and we think a new episode featuring mini-tributes to Keith Reid and Ryuichi Sakamoto, along with a batch of new and old faves is the way to go. You will meet Kenji Yamamoto, our new Asian music correspondent regarding Sakamoto San and hear new stuff from SunMan, Bettye LaVette, Peter Case, The Waco Brothers, The Zombies, The Arcs, Molina, Talbot, Lofgren & Young, The Hold Steady, William Tyler & The Impossible Truth and more. The library offers up Joe Jackson, Ray Charles, Leon Russell, Mike Bloomfield, John Coltrane, Derek Trucks Band, James Blood Ulmer, Belle and Sebastian, Steven Wilson, Pixies, P.F. Sloan, Dennis Wilson, Aphex Twin, Gil Scott-Heron, Joe Strummer, Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band, Howlin' Wolf, Garland Jeffreys, The Replacements, Dwight Twilley Band, Richard Swift, Skyhooks, NRBQ and a whole bunch more!

Do you need the PLAYLIST? Just Click HERE.

FTB#207 - “Anything Goes” Final Day of March, 2023

3/31/2023

An actual Supenae makes it official. After the seven year endurance test of witnessing the most radical upheaval of our society since the Sixties, we achieve the unprecedented historic landmark of the first ever Indictment of a current or former President. Regardless which side of this Political shit-storm occupied this is, without question, not a time for celebration.

Born in 1956, becoming aware in the Camelot era of Kennedy and at ringside during the historic events and societal upheaval of the Nixon/Agnew Era. Let’s face it, both would have been indicted if not for a pardon and in Agnew’s case his abject fear of prison and general thieving corrupt nature. His followers were every bit as unhinged and uninformed as even MTG today. None of this will be on Mixcloud as there is no room for that much text. I am hoping for Accountability to finally happen.

The best way to describe this episode is to reveal that my state of mind was unsettled, cluttered and desperately searching for a way to shut out the noise and anguish caused by a significant death in the family and a manchild whose 7 year assault on Truth, Democracy, Justice, Reality and basic decency had finally crossed the threshold into what should be the beginning of the end.

Musically, this is where it takes us. New things from: Nickel Creek, Peter Gabriel, Eric Krasno & Stanton Moore, Jenny Lewis, The New Pornographers, The Cash Box Kings, Steve Dawson, Bob Perry, Peter Case, Flyying Colours, Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit, and more. PLUS: Jawbreaker, Negativland, Robert Fripp, Daryl Hall, David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto, O Positive, Robbie Robertson, Over The Rhine, Lloyd Cole, Mose Allison, Alex Chilton, True Believers, Alejandro Escovedo, Whiskeytown, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton, Thad Cockrell, Lewis Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Mercury Rev, Julian Cope, The The, Jon Astley, The Beatles, Peter Bradley Adams, eastmountainsouth, Immaculate Fools, The House Of Love, Jellyfish, Cracker, Slade, Toots & The Maytals, Junior Murvin, Dr. John, Little Feat, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Jimmy Lafave, Bob Dylan, Little Axe, Tom Waits, The White Stripes and more!

If you want it you can have it, Come & get it.... Click for PLAYLIST

FTB #206 Sounds Like Saturday 3/18/23

3/18/2023

New Releases from Hozier, Shame, The Long Ryders, Dry Cleaning, Lichen Slow, Wunderhorse, Rickie Lee Jones, Moby (with- Lady Blackbird), Manchester Orchestra, Johnny Burgos and Inhaler.

What does Saturday sound like? Like everything else, it’s a given that each of us has their own idea, and they are all correct. Here’s my take on a late Winter Saturday a stone’s throw away from Atlantic City. In a few weeks it will change but as I strap into the control center of The Basement the idea is to capture the day, make it this day, in music. There is no grand plan other than to pick a good opener and let the music guide the path. Let’s see where it takes us.

If a Playlist is required all you need to do is click here.

FTB #205 It's Saturday Night March 11th, 2023

3/11/2023

Did you ever have a special Saturday Night or Weekend song to get started? A tune that wiped the slate of a busy week clean, signaling that time to party had begun. I certainly had a few and a pair of them open this Episode as the Saturday Show for this week, shifts to much later in the day. Now don’t feel you can only play this show at night, it’s just this would be my show tonight. Some new releases from The Long Ryders, Robin Lane, Cliff Hillis, Elvis Presley, Fontaines D.C., Ron Gallo, The Minks, Steve Mason, Baaba Maal, Peter Gabriel, Bartees Strange and Marc Broussard. We also keep our eye on the sparrow, bidding Robert Blake a fond farewell. A great, often brilliant, actor he was unique and sometimes odd but his career had work displaying his undeniable talent. Soon we will need to start begging for some coins again.. But not quite yet. Thanks for everything, especially the holes on each side of your head.

If not having a Playlist will harsh your mellow, by all means click this or wow.

FTB#204 The Thursday Rock ‘n’ Soul Revue

3/9/2023

The week delay in delivery was enough to get the studio squared away but also yielded 3 more inspiring artists sent on their way to The Afterparty. That adds a nice sized tribute set to the Rock and Soul goodness already planned. Wayne Shorter, David Lindley and Gary Rossington are remembered and celebrated within and the music is so good, it only adds to the overall vibe. From Sam Cooke to The Replacements, Stevie Wonder to The Smithereens and even Johnny Kidd & The Pirates to The Stooges joining Bo Diddley, The Animals, Bob Seger, Little Richard,, Marshall Crenshaw, Dave Edmunds, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, James Brown, Rosco Gordon, The Isley Brothers, Humble Pie, J. Geils Band, The Ramones and so much more, We think this is the perfect batch of sets to move any party toward the danger zone. Thanks for all the support and most of all, your ears. Not much from the new release bin, but couldn’t resist sharing Mike Peter’s new Alarm music after his second beatdown of the big C. Look for a bunch of new things in Episode #205 soon.

We prefer to be surprised as the flow unfolds but click here if you must get the Playlist.