Mike's Basement

To Pop. Happy Father's Day.

6/20/2021

This is a weekend that happened very occasionally during my formative years. My Father's birthday is 6/22, mine is today (6/20) and Father's Day is always right around both. Sometimes it would wind-up on his or mine but whether or not it happened, it was always a special week. This year Father's Day is mine as I turn 65, my Dad made it to 70 but he got sick at 65. I have already done that and miraculously made it to the other side, albeit more than a little damaged. This year, for the first time in 4 years, my brain is almost back to fully functioning. If by some Time Tunnel magic Pop was still around he would be turning 101. He'd be amazed at what life in 2021 is and I suspect sad regarding how much our human interaction has changed, but thrilled that I could hook him up with a tiny machine that would play all his favorite music wherever he wanted instantly.

He deserved to live longer. He was a good man, a kind man, fiercely loyal and taught me things that in retrospect were quite ahead of their time. I never heard him use "the N word" and he made sure from early childhood that I understood regardless of what is visible on the outside, all humans were the same. We all have the same color blood. That was his thing, I believe he learned in WWII but really don't know for sure as he would never talk the war with me or anyone that I know of. He received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, which he stuffed in box and wouldn't talk about either. That was not the general mindset of first generation males of Italian heritage growing up in Jersey City, NJ during that time period. He taught me a lot of things, but I can safely say that his attitude in relation to race was much more of a gift than handing down his ability to switch hit in Baseball. I am quite sure he would be disgusted that our country has still not settled an issue that should have been resolved decades ago. I miss him terribly still and it's hard to wrap my head around the fact that it has been 31 years since he passed. I absolutely still do think of him every day. So Happy Father's Day, Pop. I miss sitting you down and playing some of your favorites in glorious Hi-Fi, so I'll do it here. And Happy Birthday, too. Love You.

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ATTN: episode 003 FIXED

6/19/2021

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Once again there has been a glitch to the end of the Mixcloud upload which cut off the final 17 minutes of the episode. Click the link to download the full show. Thankfully Roy Thinnes had finished posing for his section of the cover, interrupted his quest to find The Invaders and fixed it.

Here you go. It should open up in a new tab once you click the button. See, this interweb thingy can fix things sometimes..

Download BADepisode003

To stream the full show use this player.

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Basement After Dark episode 003

6/18/2021

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We are already on the third instalment of Basement After Dark and this one definitely ups the weirdness quotient. There is a distinct part 1 and 2 and even a brief encore as that mysterious and often frustrating radio muse was conjuring sounds from every corner of the library. Milton Berle, Walter Cronkite, Chris Whitley, Pink Floyd, The Left Banke, Lou Reed (with and without Velvet Underground), Morphine, Nektar, Julian Cope, Mark-Almond, E, Traffic, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger, Laura Nyro, Alice Coltrane, Sphincter Ensemble, Vivian Stanshall, Chick Corea, Traffic, Mark Hollis, The Mars Volta, The Shins, Charlie Parker, The Chi-lites, David Sylvian, Frank Zappa, Childish Gambino, The Sound and so much more find themselves signposts along the way. Inspired by the freeform and free wheeling FM Radio of my youth, especially Allison Steele, Vin Scelsa, Tom Donoghue, Ed Sciaky as well as the guy who killed it, but tried to bring it back, Lee Abrams. My Birthday and Father's Day are one and the same this year and I am so thankful to be feeling more like myself after the last few years of illness, piggybacked onto an actual pandemic. Also, since it is key to our survival, humbly appreciative of the support from all that have shown the love at https://paypal.me/pools/c/8beKwFWlHR.

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From The Basement #133

6/14/2021

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Old pals Marti Jones and Don Dixon drop in for some fun and tunes. It wasn't planned and that is always the best kind of visit. This episode is stuffed to the brim with new things from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Brad Mehldau, Sleater-Kinney, Crowded House, Ryan Adams, Gary Louris, Daniel Lanois, Gang Of Four, Mathew E. White, Hiss Golden Messenger and the return of Kings Of Convenience. Spiffy new reissues arrived from The Church and Squarepusher, and we took a side trip for some Bossa Nova, a sparse new remake of “Head Like A Hole, George’s Duke and Harrison, Van Der Graaf Generator, Peter Gabriel, St.Vincent and much more. Thanks for the love and support at https://paypal.me/pools/c/8beKwFWlHR.

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Basement After Dark episode002

6/7/2021

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The second episode of Basement After Dark required over 200 individual pieces of audio and includes contributions from some unlikely voices; Whitney Houston, Dennis Wilson, Mark Kozelek, Mark Hollis, Robert Wyatt, Anne Haslam, Rachel Maddow, Klaus Doldinger, Curt Cress, Holger Czukay, Gil Scott-Heron, Pete Huttlinger, Elliott Smith, John Legend, Robert Downey Jr., Sinead O'Connor, Amiri Baraka, Eric Burdon, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, Gary Wright, Scatman Crothers, Bill Laswell and more than a hundred more. Produced in the middle of the night of June 7, 2021, underground in Absecon, New Jersey in honor of and tribute to Alison Steele, Bob Fass, Tom Donoghue, Vin Scelsa, Rosko, Pete Fornatale and especially this week Jessie Scott, who celebrates 50 years on the radio today... doing it her way. Listen with an open heart and open ears, definitely after the sun goes down. The later, the better. With love. Once again, the tracklist or playlist is not in order.

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June 07th, 2021

6/7/2021

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FROM THE BASEMENT #132

6/4/2021

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Inspiring Ian Hunter is perhaps the youngest and most vibrant 82 year old human specimen any of us will encounter in our lifetime, and has been a personal musical hero as long as I can remember. Clearly FTB#132 can’t let this Birthday pass without sharing some rare musical tidbits to celebrate. We have the final session recording of the legendary Rusty Young from old friend Colin Devlin and while there dig up some rare live Devlins. The archives get quite a workout as Art Damage managed to uncover some forgotten Radiohead recordings and new music hit the studio from Mdou Moctar, Moby with help from Mark Lanegan, Kris Kristofferson, Jim James and Mindy Jones is delightfully diverse and wonderful. There’s new Blues from Robert Finley and Eddie 9 Volt and Cheap Trick’s new album has a perfect Summer Cruizin’ Tune. It’s another jam packed episode that leaves no box unchecked as we try to get June started with a proper sonic blast. Thanks as always for the love and support at https://paypal.me/pools/c/8beKwFWlHR

PLAYLIST IS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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BASEMENT AFTER DARK... DEBUT

5/31/2021

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episode001

The debut of Basement After Dark. episode001 was recorded late at night during a rainy and cold Memorial Day Weekend in Absecon, New Jersey. There will be a track listing posted but it will not be in order. Designed for late night listening with love, attempting to access the mysterious radio muse. May is history.

no detailed playlist for this show but here's a list of everything played. NOT IN ORDER.

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From The Basement #131 BEACH BLANKET BASEMENT

5/27/2021

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Beach Blanket Basement is the subject of FTB #131 and we marvel at the attention to detail and Beach Music knowledge of our pasty colleague from across the sea, Art Damage who will whip up a frenzy with his “Dune Buggy” Damage persona. It’s a long episode as in addition to the extensive Beach Party atmosphere, Mike made sure to spotlight some new offerings from Jackson Browne, Counting Crows, Joan Armatrading, Dylan LeBlanc, Lord Huron, Leon Bridges, Maia Sharp and old friends, The Cucumbers. Everyone involved had a blast putting this together but don’t forget the real purpose of the Holiday and take a moment to thank all the brave men and women that gave their all for the United States of America. Speaking of giving, thanks are always in order for the continued support we have received at https://paypal.me/pools/c/8beKwFWlHR. Love to all, be safe and have a great weekend.

PLAYLIST IS >>>>>>>>>>>