Mike's Basement - MIKE'S BASEMENT

FTB #230 September 25, 2003

9/25/2023

You should find this episode bright and early Monday morning stuffed with some great new releases in the hope you locate new musical satisfaction to get your ears properly adjusted. You will experience intoxicating new sounds from: Corinne Bailey Rae, Will Johnson, The Folk Implosion, Becca Mancari (with Brittney Howard), The National (with Rosanne Cash and Bon Iver), Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, M. Ward (with First Aid Kit), Glen Hansard, Paul Rodgers, Buddy and Julie Miller, Bark, Jamie Hoover, The Replacements, Teenage Fanclub, Low Cut Connie, Carlos Niño; Friends, Joshua Redman, Miles Davis Quintet, Explosions In The Sky and more. It’s very likely that something unheard will be uncovered among the choice cuts we selected from likes of Cheap Trick, Electric Light Orchestra, Pugwash, XTC, Mike Viola And The Candy Butchers, Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Godfathers, Tommy Keene, The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs, Damien Rice, Sea Wolf, Camper Van Beethoven, Gutterball, Warren Zevon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Darrell Scott, Alejandro Escovedo, The Swimming Pool Q's, Dr. John and others. If you find even one song that makes your day better it will make our week, especially Teenage Eddie’s. Thanks for listening and supporting FTB.

INFO and PLAYLIST are easy to find. CLICK ME.

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FTB Mixtapes A Jersey Summer EP05 "The End"

9/21/2023

Although I truly believe every new day is bonus time, there are certain entries on the calendar that cause a personal shift in the atmosphere. The last day of Summer is a biggie in my world. A marker of time. When young it was “only 2 more Summers and I’m out of school,” whereas these days more “how many more Summers are left?” It’s not sadness but more melancholy, regardless of the year. A mood that perfectly fits the last of part of our Mixtape Series: A Jersey Shore Summer, #5 The End. A tone poem of just what I feel like this spin around the sun. Hope you enjoy it and that Spring gets here soon. DL

The Playlist can be acquired simply by clicking THIS

FTB #229 September 17, 2023

9/17/2023

During the never ending unpacking and purge I uncovered some things unseen and unplayed in a long time. Included is unreleased/live stuff from Ben Lee, who also has a new single in the new release bin making a perfect fit. Other new things are featured like Jenny Lewis, The Len Price 3, Superchunk, Tony Stives, The Pretenders, The Radio Field, Irreversible Entanglements and Van Morrison. Prayers have been answered with a 1974 recording of Beck, Bogert & Appice that I have been wanting to hear since, as only poorly recorded bootlegs could be found. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the unexpected return of legendary Bass Player Derek Smalls, inspired by the overwhelming hype surrounding Barbie, of all things! Will there be a foil covered cucumber sighting is one question making the rounds. Also a short peek into the massive Who’s Next: Lifehouse set needed some attention. Gary Wright was not an artist often associated with New Jersey but as a native and old man music nerd, NJ born and raised Gary and his UK bandmates in Spooky Tooth have been favorites since Jr. High. Same story with Joe Walsh who is thankfully still with us. To mark Gary’s ticket to the afterparty we are presenting a tribute for a safe and peaceful journey to see his dear friend George Harrison. Thanks for listening and supporting this show, which again remains Politics free to serve as a respite while the free-fall de-evolution continues to swell beyond reason. DL

Check out this heartfelt tribute posted by Gary Wright’s Family when you get a chance: click here.

No GPS? Need a roadmap? TRY THIS. or THIS

FTB #228 September 10, 2023

9/10/2023

Twenty-nine years ago today, we became parents for the first (and only) time after 14 years of marriage. Let me just say it wasn’t for lack of trying and I believe was largely due to gradually accepting that it just might not be in the cards for us. We did learn quickly why people younger were better equipped for this level of life upheaval, as opposed to Dad pushing 38 and Mom just 2 years younger. The ensuing years have been what I can only describe as a never ending battle with Gale force winds pushing us in every direction, and dumping us on an out of control emotional Roller Coaster after a mere 18 months of bliss. Our daughter suddenly was in very real danger of not making it to her second birthday. At first it appeared to be Leukemia but that would have been too easy. Thanks to the incredible staff of The Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts in Boston, she was properly diagnosed with Evans Syndrome, a very rare and dangerous immune disorder that neither of us (or anyone we knew) had even a smidge of knowledge about.

But this was one tough kid and she had a stubborn Sicilian warrior Mother that never left her side. I was blessed to be working at Rykodisc in Salem, having moved us there on (what else) Halloween Night from Santa Fe as Deregulation of Radio Ownership rules were blown apart. Blessed because Don Rose owned Rykodisc and even though I had only been running the Promotion Department for a few months, when Mary Reynard (our HR Department) informed him The Floating Hospital was not on our Medical Plan, he instantly said, “It is now!” It has never been routine or easy for her, not even a little and there are some days she is a millimeter away from throwing in the towel but Anastasia Delia Marrone is still with us, thanks to people like that and we will never forget it. And I will never forget that moment in St. Vincent’s Hospital in Santa Fe when she was placed in my arms for the first time. I never imagined I could love anything or anyone that fiercely, a feeling so powerful it will never leave and even all these years later still brings tears to my eyes. Happy Birthday, Sweetie.

This episode contains new sounds from The Chemical Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Low Cut Connie, Joan Osborne, Toyah Featuring Robert Fripp, James Blake, Graham Parker & the Goldtops, Kristin Hersh, Sparklehorse and Adjunct Ensemble. Spice is added from Billy Cobham, Jeff Beck, Beth Hart, Lee Hazlewood, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Smiths, Low, Gene Pitney, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Sly & The Family Stone, Tower of Power, David Bowie, Roy Buchanan, Cream, Willie Dixon, Little Axe, Morphine, Curtis Mayfield, Kenny White, Mose Allison, Tame Impala and more. Thanks for everything, especially your ears. Hope you enjoy the show.

Playlist is just a click away.

DL

FTB #227 Labor Day is not the Last Day of Summer

9/4/2023

Summer lasts until the Autumnal Equinox on September 23, so it’s not even the last week, let alone the last day. We will mark the close of the season with the final 2023 Summer Mixtape around that date. For FTB #227 there’s new releases from Julian Cope, Black Pumas, Hiss Golden Messenger, Annabel Lee, Wreckless Eric, Grandaddy, City and Colour, Cusp, Peter Gabriel, The National, Ghost Of Vroom, Dylan LeBlanc and my current favorite, Billy Valentine & the Universal Truth which marks the rebirth of the legendary Flying Dutchman’s Jazz imprint. Also expect the usual/unusual wide range of sounds including The Police, Fela Kuti With Ginger Baker, The Section Quartet, Little Feat, Gil Scott-Heron, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Bill Withers, Phil Roy, Ray Charles, Limblifter, James Walsh, The Dream Syndicate, The Sound, Marvin Gaye and more. Thanks for all the support and love. DL

PLAYLIST can be found here.

From The Basement episode #226

8/24/2023

New Stuff from: Emil Amos, Peter Gabriel, The Rain Parade, Margaret Glaspy, Wynton Marsalis, Rickie Lee Jones, Graham Parker & The Goldtops, Paul Rodgers, The Headhunters, Nick Piunti, The Grip Weeds, Lisa Mychols; Super 8, Guns N' Roses and Al Green.

Reissues: Talking Heads, Robin Trower and King Crimson.

Ingredients: Charlie Haden, Charlie Hunter, Jack Bruce, Petra Haden, Pagliaro, Phil Seymour, Inhaler, Reno Bo, Louis Armstrong, The Kinks, The Pretty Things, Love, 13th Floor Elevators, Julian Cope, Pink Floyd, Strand of Oaks, Phosphorescent, The Sound, Urge Overkill and more.

SPECIAL NOTE: Show Contains ZERO POLITICAL CONTENT

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If so, here it is.
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FTB 2023 Mixtapes A Jersey Summer EP04 "Asbury Clubs in the Mid-80's"

8/19/2023

Putting Episode 4 of this year’s Summer Mixtape series together felt like I had just emerged from The Time Tunnel with James Darrin, arriving at Rt. 33 in Neptune, NJ in the mid-80s… and it was my night to spin records. I swear I could actually smell the DJ Booth and needed to look around the Basement Studio to make sure nobody was passed out. It was a glorious time indeed, but we knew even while it was happening that these would be the days we longed for if we managed to get old. Not all of us did, and this episode is dedicated to two of the finest, J.T. Copulous and Chopper. Bob “Chopper” Kopcho was already a star DJ in the Jersey Club scene by the time WHTG got off the ground in 1984. It was he and J.T. that kept popping up in my head and I was hoping they were tuned in from the Afterparty. This episode is just shy of 5 hours and there are no interruptions. If you are looking for a soundtrack of exactly what an Alternative Rock Dance Club sounded like in 1985, well you just found it. There will be one more episode to wrap up the Summer of 2023, but for now just turn it up and dance.

Playlist? You want a playlist? Here you go click me

FTB #225 RIP Robbie Robertson

8/16/2023

This show was held up for a very good reason and that is you! Yes, thanks to you I was able to get a new (used) updated computer here in The Basement, so the rewiring and setup takes a bit of time and is almost finished. Is anything ever really finished? We say goodbye to Robbie Robertson this episode, a songwriter that has left standards in his wake, as well as some controversy. My only experience working with him was wonderful and I found him to be warm, open and friendly, so that is how I’ll remember him. I will say that his impact would not have been as large without the voices and musicality of Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, and the last remaining member, Garth. We also note the passing of David LaFlamme of It’s A Beautiful Day and (Sixto) Rodriguez. New releases include: Diane & the Gentle Men (with Alejandro Escovedo), Blonde Redhead, Wilco and some rare Iggy Pop. The library gets raided for sounds that include: Peter Perrett, Mott The Hoople, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Sly & The Family Stone, Willy DeVille, Jason Collett, R.E.M., Glen Phillips, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Radiohead, Bobby Charles, NRBQ, Eric Burdon, Melody Gardot, Bruce Cockburn and a bunch more. Even a shoutout and dedication to my old pal, Matty Love. Thanks for listening and your support and here’s a clip of a recent chat with Mixcloud, https://youtu.be/BFgepGe6jII

PLAYLIST is HERE

FTB #224 Friday Night August 4, 2023

8/4/2023

Even though we have witnessed unprecedented history this week, once again we are keeping the new episode a Politics Free Zone. Beginning with a more thought out tribute to Sinead O’Connor, featuring The The, Bob Marley, Kris Kristofferson and Peter Gabriel, who also delivered yet another new track in addition to appearing in the Sinead Set. There are also new releases from the late Neal Casal, Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band, Joni Mitchell; Taylor Goldsmith, John Dunbar, Ray LaMontagne and Orville Peck. Stevie Wonder’s “Innervisions” album turned 50 this week, a groundbreaking work that manages to still sound fresh. We stuffed the cracks with the usual/unusual compendium of sounds while ignoring genre restriction, a bothersome set of arbitrary guideposts that have nothing to do with music. Thanks to everyone for support, understanding and most of all, your ears.

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FTB Mixtapes A Jersey Summer EP03 "Love Is All Around"

7/30/2023

This year's Mixtape Series has truly been a blast to put together with the only bottleneck deciding what order the topics decided upon should roll out. This episode is not a strict Summer Of Love set due to the fact I was 12 in 1967. And yes I clearly remember experiencing this music for the first time at that age. I was already set as far as what I wanted to do with my life, and music had to be part of the equation. A rough guide to the years covered here would be 1966-1971, and AM was still being listened to but drum lessons were beginning and the Freeform era was soon to be my main drug of choice, with WBGO from Newark covering Jazz. There was now a pad and pen near the radio to fill a list of interesting sounds, with a decision made to toss the large cartons of Baseball cards out and make more room for records. My Mother had nothing to do with it, I clearly remember carrying the three large boxes to the curb and stacking them next to the garbage cans. I would only collect records from this point, what could I do with Baseball Cards? If I only knew at the time that their value would have made a nice down payment on a house 20+ years later. At least three more episodes of this series will be forthcoming with The Laurel Canyon/Singer Songwriter period, A Punk/Powerpop/New Wave/Alternative show focusing on fun years 1984-90 birthing WHTG at The Jersey Shore and an “Anything Goes” personal favorite Summer Tunes of all time episode. If you have suggestions, get them in ASAP. We’re leaning toward the WHTG type show coming next… but you never know. Thanks for everything.

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FTB #223 “Inflection Point With A Planet in Flames”

7/27/2023

This is not a political show. But I am compelled to make this missive just that as I need to get it off my chest. The full text will only be published on my personal web site due to understanding that there’s already too much noise but I simply had to get it out. If that’s where you are and you want to ignore my rant, not a problem at all, skip to the next horizontal line after this.
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I am not a Democrat and to paraphrase Steve Van Zant from I believe the best song he ever wrote, but I sure ain’t no Republican. It was Jackson Browne’s version that I first heard but the message was clear and to my mind perfectly stated. We have been subjected to a badly scripted reality show since 2015. Stuck in a seemingly endless multimedia loop that has nothing to do with Politics. There’s a great old saying, “Don’t piss on my head and tell me it’s raining.” Perhaps a bit blunt but it is spot on regarding our current situation. What happened to Truth, Justice and The American Way? I didn’t run around in a homemade cape as a 4 year old Superman freak for nothing!

The amount of lying, misinformation, good old grift and thievery that we have been subjected to since Tangerine Mussolini came down the escalator is incalculable. We are experiencing a societal outbreak of PTSD. The proud Republican Party, and there is not even a tinge of snarkiness intended, has turned into a Cult. The party of Lincoln, Eisenhower and John McCain to name just a few that I admired, is no different than those who fell under the spell of a self proclaimed “Messiah” like Charles Manson, Jim Jones or so many other charlatans that eventually either wiped out their followers or finally revealed their larceny and/or insanity and broke the spell. While our system of Government is certainly taking on water, there is little hope to begin repair until consequences and justice are imposed.

Perhaps as a New Jersey native, exposure to this entire playbook of eventual devastation left in his wake has closed my mind in advance. Let’s make it very simple. There has never been even a shred of evidence that he was a great or even a modestly successful businessman. How does anyone bankrupt three casinos? Now that I find myself back home in Jersey, living minutes away from Atlantic City, I remain bewildered that his following continues to be strong right next to where he destroyed so many lives. How long do the lies get swallowed? How many creditors need to get stiffed. He is incapable of truth, has no honor and has never done anything for anyone other than himself.

Toward the end of my tenure working in Washington, DC, right before the 2016 Election I wound up in conversation with Michael Steele, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and Chairman Of The RNC from 2009-2011. He’s actually 2 years younger than me, a huge music fan and an honest straight shooter, no fluff, no airs at all. We were talking about everything, mostly music and life in DC and Maryland. He was clearly a regular dude, so before parting company I inquired if I could ask him a real question, purely for my own edification. This was not an interview situation. “Absolutely,” was his instant reply. I told him, as a Dad, that for the first time in my life I was actually afraid of what would happen to our Country if the name I have managed to avoid printing up to this point, actually was elected President. What was his opinion? A loud laugh, a slap on the back and I can’t quote him exactly, but he said “I don’t blame you, we all are! He is way out of his depth and has no qualifications, he doesn’t even know what The Constitution is, let alone what it contains. But don’t worry, they will keep him under control.” I’ve been so tempted now that my brain is restored to reach out to him, but I remain convinced that if by some miracle he gets back in, our Country is finished.

From this point forward I will fall back on the genius of the people of Scotland and not let that name come out of my mouth or keyboard. They have referred to him as everything from Onion-eyed flap dragon and Wee orange rodent to Witless fucking cocksplat and Gerbil-headed, woodstained, haunted spunktrumpet. My current choice is an alternating mashup of Toupéd fucktrumpet and Rug wearing thunder nugget. LOCK HIM UP.
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This episode brings forth new releases (including archival) from: Nina Simone, John Dunbar, Dan Auerbach, Sparklehorse, The Lilac Time, Blur, America, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Chris Stapleton, Bobby Boyd, Joel Harrison, The Who, Lol Tolhurst, Budgie & Jacknife Lee and Kula Shaker. Mini Tributes to Tony Bennett, Sinead O’Connor and Bob Segarini as they head to the after party far too soon and the usual/unusual sidetracks including: Gil Scott-Heron, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Esther Phillips, Brittany Howard, Becca Mancari, The Arcs, Danger Mouse, TTNG, The Psychedelic Furs, The Kinks, The Pretty Things, The Byrds, Yes, Warren Zevon, Dr. John, Treat Her Right, Mark Sandman, Traffic and Love. Thanks to all for the contributions, you keep making an old man weep with gratitude. We fell a little short but it looks like I can make it work. You people are the best.

Full PLAYLIST is HERE

FTB #222 “Tre Deuces on a Joyride”

7/18/2023

When it comes to episodes, much like secret agent men, we always give them a number but occasionally adding a name is also warranted. This is just such an instance. Within three long and winding sets, there are a few new discoveries from Vance Gilbert, Billy Sullivan, Jamie Hoover and old friends The Cucumbers, but the overall vibe reflects the late night hours when it was crafted, as I remain a nocturnal being even in my dotage. This musical “joyride” finds us exploring The Clovers, Jackie DeShannon, Anderson East, Tom Waits, Alice In Chains, Cactus, Ray Charles, Amos Lee, Alice Cooper, Blue Öyster Cult, Bobby Womack, David Ruffin, Gregory Isaacs, Junior Murvin, The Clash, Marshall Crenshaw, The Smithereens, 20-20, Social Distortion, Pink Floyd, Sly & The Family Stone, Charlie Parker w/Miles Davis, The dB's, Hoodoo Gurus and many more, uncovering some classic and previously unheard sounds and even comments. Thanks to all for the support of our computer fundraiser, we are still a bit short but with only one week left hope to rally strong to the finish. If you can, here's the link. https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8VksUE4LLe

To get the full PLAYLIST just click HERE

The Mixtape Series - “A Jersey Shore Summer” Episode #2 “Childhood Memories”

7/11/2023

Episode #2 is arriving late but brought back so many musical memories and culture upheavals that I may need to take a break before deciding what episode 3 will bring. I hope you enjoy "Childhood Memories" even half as much as I enjoyed putting it together. What a magical time to grow up for a music loving kid. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade it for any other as for most of my formative years, it was music that really drove the culture. Literally everything went from black and white to technicolor in what seemed at the time a blink of the eye. In attempting to convey the magnitude there is a clear point in the mix where the explosion occurred. Utilizing more than a 100 songs in a mere 237 minutes will hopefully take you there. Sorry for the delay and thank you for your patience and do me a favor and wish my brother Gerard a Happy Birthday. Please try and help our fund drive to update the computers, your support for this programming has been astounding, it has only another 16 days to remain active at https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8VksUE4LLe

Get your scorecard here PLAYLIST

FTB #221 Saturday July 8, 2023

7/8/2023

A rockin’ new show for a hazy Saturday on the Jersey Shore, with more than a sprinkle of Power Pop goodness for good measure. There are new releases from Peter Gabriel, Big Country, Lucinda Williams, Chris Stamey, old Red House pal Tony Stives, and vault material unleashed from guitar masters Rory Gallagher and Mike Bloomfield. Combine that with library choices that include Lenny Bruce, The Sound, Dirty Looks, Rockpile, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Stereophonics, Nick Lowe, The Records, Spirit, Reno Bo, The Ramones, Tommy Keene, Red Rockers, Translator, The Rave-Ups, The Cars, Cheap Trick, Sweet, Badfinger, Car Seat Headrest, The The, The Call and a bunch more. The 3 and a half hours fly by. Thanks for the continued support as we update our computers, the link is active for another 18 days. Click if you can.

That PLAYLIST you are looking for is found here.

Mixtape Series - “A Jersey Shore Summer” EP01 "Relax"

6/30/2023

From The Basement is proud to present a new handcrafted music intensive series for the Summer! Firmly committed in our quest to get people everywhere listening to more music, and eliminate the neat little Genre boxes and endless repetition of the lowest common denominator. Music does not need to be new in order to discover it, especially in the current environment of more releases on a daily basis than anyone could legitimately audition. When we huddle in the basement mixing up the musical medicine, daily exclamations of “Holy Shit, I forgot about that song” or “How did I not hear this?” These “Mixtapes” will use no gimmicks and have little to zero interruptions. Each will have a different topic, starting with “Relax”... and no it does not include Frankie Goes To Hollywood, although they very well may show up before Labor Day. A complete track list will be posted for every show. If you have an idea for a topic, please let us know. We enjoy feedback. And if you get a chance and have the ability to chip in for an upgrade to the studio computers, the information can be found here: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8VksUE4LLe The fund drive ends on July 26.

Mixtapes usually require a PLAYLIST, by clicking HERE, that problem is solved.