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Here we go again my friends. Yet more dental trauma has paid me a visit. Ever since the life saving REPOCH-Chemo regimen that I went through in 2018, I have been the victim of tooth loss, which has not only messed with my voice but also my head. I thought I was finished but the other night and an implant that cost me over 20K in 2013 literally just fell out. Once again, I am Gumby, damn it! I’ve tried to enlighten those that tell me how I kicked cancer’s ass, oh no, nobody kicks cancer’s ass, it’s all about surviving the treatment. I no longer have the bone mass to get another, not that I could afford it anyway, so I will need to have dentures fitted and just hope for the best. Hopefully this will all be worked out before “Agent Orange” manages to actually start WWIII and we all get evaporated. The unhinged messiah has certainly been on a non-stop rampage of greed and insanity to the point where I have ceased wondering how much lower before he finally hits the bottom. At this point I’m convinced there simply isn’t one. And I’m so damn tired of hearing that whiny voice and seeing his painted pout adorning the front of his brainless noggin. He has tortured us long enough.
But as that great old tune from War says, he can’t take away our music. You won’t hear that in episode #026, but there’s a bountiful selection of new, old and in between sonic delights to keep our minds enlightened and entertained. Stevie Wonder and Barack Obama have new messages for you and there are new releases from The Dandy Warhols, Joe Pernice (with Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub), The Afghan Whigs, The Third Mind, The Black Crowes, Snail Mail, Pulp, Craig Benedict Badynee, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Son Little, The Pale White and the 50th Anniversary deluxe edition of the Zappa/Beefheart collaboration “Bongo Fury.” I raided the archives for the late great John Hammond recorded live on my Coyote Radio show in 1994, and busted open my secret stash of Cold War era madness just in case. As always, thanks for the support and encouragement. It is your ears and heart that really keep this ship above water.
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Back at the turn of the century I was deep into the process of building a channel tentatively called Clean Air for XM Satellite Radio in Washington, DC. My only staff was the most amazing production Dude I have ever had the pleasure to work with by the name of Pants. That’s right… Pants. Although we were told at the hiring bonfire celebration we would each have plenty of help, once we got down to it, that was not to be due to (what else) money. This special collection of weirdos, misfits, actual respected broadcasting stars and perhaps the last of the true radio rebels were gathered in the palatial and muddy property of Lee Abrams. The day’s mission was to bring any radio paraphernalia from a lifetime in the radio trenches, specifically from bad gigs. Our job would be to drink, jam (backline was all set up), chant and circle a giant bonfire while burning the faded prize closet memories of how disgusting the programming and environment of radio had become. To a person, everyone there started their radio journey in love with radio, music and broadcasting. By the year 2000 Corporate America had surgically excised the creative, passionate professionals that lived to keep the spirit of adventure and excitement for music discovery and human connection alive on the airwaves. From coast to coast, as well as Canada, Jamaica, The U.K. and beyond, Lee Abrams and Dave Logan had searched and somehow convinced all of us to move to the Washington, DC area and work in one of the absolute worst areas of the District. The days would be long, it was not very safe to leave the building so food would need to be brought in, there would be no posted time-off for at least 2 years, the building was up and running 24/7. I averaged at least 80 hours a week during those years, and with 1 or maybe 2 exceptions so did every member of XM Programming. It was the best job I ever had. Every day was an adventure, the creative energy in the building and studios was palpable, alive and buzzing with activity, purpose and excitement. I stayed for 17 years. I don’t regret it and remain proud of the work I did, but I should have left a year after the takeover disguised as a merger. I’ve been thinking about this lately due to the daily grind of greed, stupidity, blatant lies and grift that has our country in what can best be described as a death grip. Every single time this regime hits a new low I hope for the clown show to finally implode. But you know what? Fuck hope. There is another reason that I found my mind drifting back to my XM days and it has to do with this very episode of Planting Seeds, namely the new album from Bonnie “Prince” Billy, “We Are Together Again.” Back at the beginning of The Loft, I was not as familiar with the work of Will Oldham, aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy, as well as Palace, Palace Music, Palace Brothers and Palace Songs. Spooner Oldham, yes but not Will. Even before the station went live everywhere, when we were still in Beta Test mode, I was getting regular messages from one particular person concerning Will/Bonnie. In essence I was a complete dick for not including him in my programming. OK, I’ll bite. Maybe I am. No one can know everything. As the frequency of messages increased, again from just one person. I was getting a bit pissed to be honest, but as usual I searched out some of his stuff, found it interesting and eventually played it a bit. That’s how I came across Bill Callahan (aka Smog), who I immediately liked a whole bunch more, and when one of my heroes Gil Scott-Heron recorded the Smog song “I’m New Here” and used it as the title track of his final album, that sealed it. Over the past few years I have been enjoying Will’s music a lot more, finding it really did grow on me. In fact one of the songs on the album he and Bill Callahan put out in 2021 is a veritable favorite I play quite often, “OD’d In Denver.” I didn’t even realize it was a cover of a Hank Williams Jr. song until this week. See, no one can know everything. So I cracked open the new album and I’m enjoying it but reaching track #5 I feel as if I was just hit in the head with a brick. Within 30 seconds there are tears streaming down my face and catching my breath is a problem. The song is called “(Everybody’s Got a) Friend Named Joe.” BOOM! I certainly had a friend named Joe. My best pal, Joey Bolt aka Joe Cerach. He dropped dead at 60 from a massive heart attack, not even a month after we moved into Absecon. I think about him every day and have started dialing his number countless times over the past few years. They broke the mold with Joey and the song opens this episode after the intro. From The Basement #111 from 2021 was a Joey Bolt Memorial episode and is still up at Mike’s Basement if you get an itch to check it out LINK. Now that I was already sad, of course I realized we are approaching what would have been the 70th Birthday of the only other Best Friend I’ve ever had, John Coakley aka “Max.” Max passed in September of 2022 and I found myself pulling up FTB #188, which was his musical memorial for the first time since I made it and hope somehow he got a chance to hear it as he would have loved it. That one can still be found HERE. Gersheft is Gersheft Dr. Max. Needless to say there are many “feels” contained in ps025, with new things from the aforementioned Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Bill Callahan, as well as Brian Jackson w/ Masters At Work, Mark Lockheart, Huw V Williams & Jay Davis (Shapeshifter), Crooked Fingers, Gnarls Barkley, Cee-Lo & Danger Mouse, Nine Inch Nails and Captain Wilberforce. Raided the library for connective sonic tissue from Ken Nordine, Sigur Rós, John Lennon, Jimmy LaFave, David Sylvian + Ryuichi Sakamoto, Eddie & the Hot Rods, The Fall, Spooky Tooth, Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes, Eels, Tom Waits, A Tribe Called Quest, James Brown, The Devlins, Placebo (w/Michael Stipe), Lou Rawls fronting Les McCann Ltd and a batch more. Thanks for your ears and heart and all the support. Keep a good thought for Max and Joey and give yourselves a hug from me.
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A quick turnaround due to wanting to give the new studio gear a bit of a workout, absolutely loving this new setup. Another factor was the new U2 EP, with Larry Mullin Jr. back at full strength I feel this to be their strongest work in some time. Speaking of new, Peter Gabriel releases the “Dark Side” mix of “Put The Bucket Down” and in addition to some remastered recordings, an unearthed live performance of Jimi Hendrix sitting in with Eric Burdon and War at Ronnie Scott’s in London was more than enough reason to get the studio fired up.
Thanks, as always, for your ears, heart and support.
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I am a certifiable creature of habit, some good and a few plain dumb. No excuses or justifications. If I didn’t realize this trait by now, the hole in my head might serve as all the qualifications needed to join the current administration. While more than 90% convinced of this for the last decade and a half, or more, the crossing of the finish line happened very recently. Considering I was completely out of pocket for a total of about 12 days, and not quite up to half of snuff for at least another 5. That I am still not caught up proves the hypothesis of too much music, not enough time. There are much worse things to deal with, especially these days.
Listen for brand new tunes this episode from Langhorne Slim, Hiss Golden Messenger, Ásgeir, Peter Gabriel, Robin Trower, Kula Shaker, Van Morrison, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gogol Bordello, Mariachi El Bronx, James Deely, Silversun Pickups, Congratulations and Steven Wilson. Contributions came from long time favorites Julian Cope and Andy BoppAretha Franklin, Mimmi McGriff, Jeff Beck, Tunji Oyelana, Dire Straits, The Gaslight Anthem and much more. Thanks for everything, especially your ears and heart. 24Bflac
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I’ve made no secret of my distaste for the Christmas Season and the new year has given me yet another log to toss on the pile of pain. The only time in the last 3 decades there was joy in my tinsel was when my daughter still believed in Santa Claus. Like most trauma, it likely began in childhood and continues throughout my life, I wind-up getting sick at and during the Holidaze. Actually managed to make it through the first two weeks of 2026 feeling alright, except for another weird, painful blister erupting on one of my fingers. This was the third month in a row getting a finger lanced at the walk-in clinic, but I chalked it up to the variety of skin issues that have taken hold post-R-EPOCH Chemo in 2018. I really try to not complain about the fallout from what amounted to 30 full days of 3 different brands of poison being pumped into me round the clock. It feels ungrateful when it has given me 8 years so far on this side of the turf. Wouldn’t have made it even 1 without it. This time the doctor sent a sample for a culture as neither of us could explain why it was happening.
In a week we had a diagnosis. MRSA antibiotic resistant bacterial infection. What the what?!? I’m the boy in the bubble. No baboon heart, but I rarely leave the house. All I could do was isolate myself from the wife and daughter, finish the prescription, which had been changed to a drug that actually works and hope for the best, which consisted of hoping it clears before entering my bloodstream and lymphatic system. That would kill me. The day after I finished the meds, it wasn’t completely gone but it was definitely clearing. Within 12 hours I was suddenly very tired and foggy and by the end of the following day had slept for the bulk of it and sparing you the gory bathroom details, was very sick. We called the ambulance and my blood pressure was stuck at 80! My body temp was also seriously low along with my oxygen level and it was off to the hospital ASAP. After bags of intravenous medication and fluids, a massive dose of Vincristine also direct into the vein, more sleep and no food I got home a few days ago. Healing and feeling human. To quote The Godfather of Soul, “I Feel Good.” You have to admit that I get the weirdest shit wrong with me. One of the things that made me very happy was the honest support I felt when I got in touch with Bill at Radio Paradise to bring him up to speed. Full understanding instantly, zero pressure. The last time that happened was way back in my Rykodisc days with the incredible Don Rose. That last place I was employed didn’t give me any time or help while I was dealing with Bell’s Palsy for a spell. I had to push my chin up on the affected side to speak as normally as possible. Of course it was post-merger… hostile takeover. The episode is stuffed with goodness and clocks in at a tidy 3 hours and 45 minutes. New stuff from Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Buckley, Waves_On_Waves, Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel, Peter Gabriel, SHOLTO, The New Pornographers, Courtney Barnett, Arctic Monkeys, Shackleton, Beck. The Black Crowes, Death Cult and Robin Trower. Connective tissue courtesy of Luka Bloom, Inara George,Jimmy Cliff, Led Zeppelin, Hoyt Axton, Neil Young, Alejandro Escovedo String Quintet, Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Charles, Dolorean, Buffalo Springfield, Metro, Bill Nelson, Brian Eno, David Bowie, Devo, Lyres, The Clash, The Verlaines, Procol Harum and a bunch more. Thanks for listening and the continued support and love.
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The final episode of 2025 is ready for your ears, but be warned that the opening set just might be the most rockin’ to emerge from the basement studio to date. The entire episode clocks in at exactly 3 hours and 43 minutes with no Holiday songs, countdowns, wrap-ups, tributes or mini specials marking the turn of the calendar. A blur of psychedelic mood lighting seemed to put the recording process on cruise control and I swear the radio muse was in and out the door a few times.
This is dedicated to the inherent magic of radio and to all the wonderful listeners that have encouraged and propped us up with support and encouragement over the past 7 years. Even though I am actually employed part time at Radio Paradise, the plan is to continue doing regular new episodes as long as inspiration is in the air. Thanks for listening and I wish you all the love in the world.
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December 8 is significant for religious holidays like the Immaculate Conception, historical events such as John Lennon's death (1980) and FDR's "Day of Infamy" speech. Big stuff, indeed. Aside from the new Beatles Anthology and some wisdom from John Lennon, episode #020 has nothing to do with any of those events. The simple fact is that like every other show I have ever done, it only exists to display that all music is inherently good and intrinsically connected.
New efforts from Wreckless Eric, Snarky Puppy’s collaboration with Metropole Orkest and Jules Buckley, John Scofield, The Avett Brothers with Mike Patton, the return of Eric Bachmann’s Crooked Fingers and Ryan Adams mix it up with Alejandro Escovedo’s String Quartet, Ray Charles, Humble Pie, Graham Parker, The Four Tops, Thin Lizzy, Frank Sinatra and even The Sphincter Ensemble to hopefully create a greater whole. We remember artists like Hilly Michaels, drummer Gilson Lavis with something from Squeeze that would fall apart without his impeccable time and the brilliance of extraordinary musician Jack DeJohnette through a few pieces recorded with Freddie Hubbard and John Abercrombie. And that just scratches the surface of the full episode. As always, thanks for listening and your continued support (click for info), and above all thanks for believing, appreciating and encouraging the beauty and power of music.
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It appears the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee really is making up for lost time, or perhaps it’s just a “hoax” or coincidence. All I know is this year filled a pair of enormous holes on my mental tally of artists deserving recognition. Warren Zevon and through Bad Co.’s enshrinement, the brilliant Paul Rodgers. This episode includes a brief tribute to Paul as the DMCA prevents us from doing the long form retrospective that he (and Warren) certainly deserve. That’s quite alright, we’ll take it.
New sounds from Arthur Buck, The Waterboys, Ed Harcourt, AVTT/PTTN, Curious Volume and the return of Nightmares on Wax and Cheap Trick, join vault and reissues from Drive-By Truckers, Jimi Hendrix, Prince and The Rolling Stones in this episode’s musical stew. As usual, the library was raided for connective tissue courtesy of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Dumptruck, Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians, Lenny Bruce, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Smith, James Brown, Morphine, Charles Bradley, Dennis Wilson, Kirsty Maccoll, The Triffids, Crowded House, Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Damned, The Only Ones, Dramarama, The Tragically Hip, The Orwells and so much more. As we watch our country implode due to political insanity and a commander in chief that desperately needs either a diaper change or a new pacifier, we keep our focus where it belongs. It’s all about the music. Thanks to all for listening and supporting our efforts (donate here) we couldn’t do it without you.
PLAYLIST AND MORE HERE
I must begin by thanking everyone who reached out with congratulations and good will regarding the news concerning Radio Paradise. I really am overjoyed to link up with Bill and his great staff. I have the utmost respect for the values, mission and integrity that has been front and center since they launched a few decades back. We have so much in common when it comes to music and broadcasting, regardless what vehicle gets the signal to the audience. Further, the fact that Josh Cunningham and Felton Pruitt are already on staff and I had the pleasure of working with both on the original XM Programming team. Solid humans who know how to get the job done with love and respect for all music. I was able to video into a few of their retreat and brainstorming sessions over the past week and if I was a bit younger and fully healthy I could think of few places as wonderful as Humboldt County to relocate. But I have made my last move.
Now let’s clear up some details regarding exactly what I will be doing. I simply cannot work full-time as I do need to be careful. While fortunate to come through two cancer situations on the right side of the turf, I am wired to slide immediately into 15 hour workdays, every day. That would be a disaster. My immediate duties will be behind the scenes, exploring and expanding the RP Music Library. I will continue to do Planting Seeds episodes through Mixcloud.com, HEARTHIS.AT and mike.marrone.com. We’ll see how everything shakes out over the long term, but my initial focus will be making the music library of Radio Paradise the deepest, widest and most complete anywhere. I will confess that I haven’t been this happy or excited in about 8 years. Bill Goldsmith had this to say, "There are only 2 radio programmers whose opinion I respect when it comes to my Main Mix. Mike Marrone is one of them. I couldn't be more excited. Well, I could be, but it might hurt me." OK, so what to expect in the way of Planting Seeds #018? We have a batch of incredible new releases from Mavis Staples, Saintseneca, Guided By Voices, Lucinda Williams, Soul Coughing, The Len Price 3, The Mountain Goats, Bartees Strange, Jeff Tweedy, AVTTPTTN, a super deluxe edition of “Who Are You” and Winterpills. The library was raided for selections from Justin Hayward & John Lodge, The The, Chick Corea, Modern Jazz Quartet, Harry Nilsson, Game Theory, Sparklehorse, The Cars, Red House Painters, GoGo Penguin, The Last Poets, Julian Cope, Jim Carroll Band, Translator, Warren Zevon, The Replacements, Golden Smog, Maia Sharp, Rod Stewart and more. Thanks so much for listening, the incredible support and for just being you. Love to all!
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I can’t quite explain it but over the last couple of days it feels as if we have shifted into a new gear, or a secret switch has been thrown in the back room of the ever tightening circle of power, masquerading as our Government. Face it, this regime has been stripping our military of professional and trusted personnel and it commenced on the first day of the takeover, continuing unabated in literally every government agency. What is going on is in no way business as usual and it’s starting to smell bad. Granted there has always been an odor surrounding our diaper wearing chief executive, but all signs point to a full blown stench on the horizon that no amount of bleach will erase. Cathy and I will be out there on Saturday, all we have is our voices to protest PEACEFULLY. I predict a massive turnout across the entire USA.
I was inaccurate above. Aside from our voices we have music. This episode helped calm my psyche while creating it and I hope you dive right in. New releases from Patti Smith, John Lennon, Madi Diaz, Ronnie Wood (w/Chrissie Hynde), Mocean Worker, Joe Alterman, Jon Batiste, Don Was, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Robert Plant, Headshadow (feat. Jon Auer) and more. Our massive library offers up the wide variety necessary to make everything fit just right. Includes: Love Spit Love, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Steve Forbert, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Freedy Johnston, Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Herbie Hancock, The Gun Club, Willy DeVille, Warren Zevon, Dave Edmunds, Frankie Miller, Ry Cooder, David Bromberg, Savoy Brown, Mose Allison, Les McCann Ltd., The Rascals, Low, Gil Scott-Heron and a ton more. Massive thanks for listening, sharing and supporting the program. Donations are always welcome and appreciated (HERE) but not required to enjoy the music.
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Mike MarroneDad, Husband, DJ 
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