Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico

M.G. Lederman, aka Mel Lederman, returns to the show to discuss his new single and upcoming album. We also take a trip down memory lane, sharing thoughts about the hosts deep affection for the Victory At Sea album, "Memories Fade".

Music

M. G. Lederman "Everybody Moves Away"

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

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On this episode, we are joined by Lilli Dennison, whose first job when she moved to Boston was working as a waitress at the legendary Rathskeller in Kenmore Square. This was the beginning of twenty plus years of involvement in the Boston music scene as an artist manager, booking agent, club manager, club owner etc... We get the whole story, plus did we mention that's she an awesome human being!

Music

Scruffy The Cat "Moons Of Jupiter"

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

Marc Johnson, guitarist and vocalist of the 1980s Boston thrash metal band Executioner, joins us on the show.

Formed in 1984, Executioner consisted of Marc Johnson, bassist/vocalist Ari Vainio, and drummer Dan Scannell. Their iconic track "Victims of Evil" was featured on the legendary 1985 compilation Speed Metal Hell. Soon after, the band signed with New Renaissance Records and released their debut album, In the Name of Metal, in 1986. Seth Putnam(AC), who started as a roadie, joined the band and played on the next Executioner album “Break The Silence.”

Music

Executioner "Death By The Blade"

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

Frank Meyer is back on the podcast to discuss his debut solo album, "Living Between The Lines", upcoming tour plans, his experience performing with Fear, winning a film award for his hip-hop movie, and much more!

With the release of "Living Between the Lines", Frank will embark on U.S. and European solo tours, both solo acoustic and with an electric backing band. He will be performing songs off the new album alongside material he’s written throughout his career.

Music

Frank Meyer "Baby Dynamite"

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes is a unique force in American music, blending sea shanties, early rock 'n' roll, folk, and soul into a sound that resonates with kids and adults alike. For over 20 years, he has toured the world with his band, Dan Zanes and Friends, sharing a joyful, handmade mix of social music. His critically-acclaimed work has appeared on Sesame Street, Playhouse Disney, and Nickelodeon, and he's collaborated with artists like Philip Glass, Lou Reed, and Natalie Merchant. Zanes' musical journey began in the 1980s with The Del Fuegos, but after becoming a father in the 1990s, he pivoted to creating music for families, releasing the hit album Rocket Ship Beach. With his wife, Claudia Zanes, he has also pioneered sensory-friendly performances, and together they've created the beloved Dan Zanes House Partysongbook. Zanes is also an advocate for anti-racism and co-founded a group focused on white anti-racist dialogue.

Music

The Del Fuegos "I Always Call Her Back"

Dan Zanes and Friends "All Around The Kitchen"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

On this episode, we are joined by Bassist Jon Hardy and Guitarist Crispin Wood of The Bags, who along with Drummer Jim Janota recently played their 40th anniversary show as a band!

The Bags were formed in the summer of 1985 by Jon Hardy, Jim Janota, and Crispin Wood, quickly standing out in the Boston music scene with their raw energy and unique sound. In 1987, they released their debut album, Rock Starve(Restless/Enigma), blending punk, rock, and underground influences. The band's recognition skyrocketed in 1989 when they won the prestigious WBCN Rock 'n' Roll Rumble and released the single "I Know / Hide and Seek." Their self-titled album came in 1990, followed by Night of the Corn People in 1991, showcasing their evolution from gritty punk to more melodic sounds. After a long hiatus, they returned in 2004 with Sharpen Your Sticks, followed by Mount Rockmore in 2007 and The Bags '89 in 2008, reflecting on their formative years. Throughout the 2000s, The Bags reunited sporadically, thrilling fans with new material and live performances, their final public appearance being at The Middle East in 2013 as part of WMBR's 50th-anniversary celebration of Boston rock. In 2025, they celebrated their 40th anniversary with a special concert and the reissue of Swamp Oaf, cementing their lasting influence on the Boston music scene.

Music

The Bags "Spread It Around"

The Bags "Sad Minnow"

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

On this week's show, we are joined one of the original American Hardcore Punk legends, Dave Dictor of MDC.

Millions of Dead Cops (MDC) is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1981 in Austin, Texas. Known for its politically charged lyrics and aggressive sound, the band’s name itself reflects its intense stance on political issues—particularly focusing on anti-authoritarian themes, police brutality, and societal injustice.

The band’s music is deeply influenced by the punk rock and hardcore scenes of the early 1980s, blending fast, abrasive guitar riffs with defiant vocals. MDC's lyrics tackle a wide range of topics, from police violence to war, environmental destruction, and social inequalities, often with a provocative and unapologetically confrontational tone.

MDC originally started as a group called The Stains before changing their name to Millions of Dead Cops. They were an integral part of the early hardcore punk scene in Texas and beyond. Their debut album, Millions of Dead Cops (1982), received critical acclaim and helped to establish the band’s reputation in the underground punk community. Over the years, the band's lineup changed several times, but they maintained a dedicated following due to their uncompromising punk ethos.

MDC’s influence extends beyond music, as the band was involved in activism and political movements, aligning themselves with causes like animal rights, anti-capitalism, and anti-authoritarianism. While the band’s popularity peaked in the 1980s and 1990s, MDC continued to perform and release music over the years, maintaining its reputation as a symbol of resistance and a voice for marginalized communities.

Despite facing controversies due to the provocative nature of their name and lyrics, MDC remains an important figure in the history of hardcore punk, contributing to the genre’s political activism and direct engagement with social issues.

Music

MDC "Born To Die

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

Tom Baker of The Dirty Truckers joins us for a live episode at WMFO in Medford, MA, where he performs two tracks from his new album Justine & Me. Tom is accompanied by his friend and fellow musician, Tad Overbaugh, who, along with Mike Newman, takes part in a lively conversation with Tom.

*"Georgia Women" was in fact written by R.L. Burnside

Music

Tom Baker & Justine Covault "You're Still Standing There"

Tom Baker "Coming Back To No One"(Live Acoustic)

Tom Baker "Walk Into The Ocean"(Live Acoustic)

Tom Baker "Where's My Baby Now"

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll'

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccrado

Engineered by Mike Newman(WMFO Radio)

Boston powerhouse trio Astral Bitch join us on the show to talk about their latest single "Haunting You", their inspiring cover of the Psychedelic Furs "Pretty In Pink" and life in the music scene...

Music

Astral Bitch "Haunting You"

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

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Lee Harrington makes an encore appearance on the show to talk about his early life, The Neighborhoods, The Shang Hi Los, and much more...

Lee Harrington is a seasoned musician from Boston, Massachusetts, renowned for his dynamic contributions to the local rock scene. He is best known as the bassist and vocalist for The Neighborhoods, a band celebrated for their high-energy performances and significant influence on Boston's music landscape. In 1987, The Neighborhoods opened for David Bowie at Sullivan Stadium, an event that left a lasting impression on both the band and their audience.

Beyond his work with The Neighborhoods, Harrington is a member of The Shang Hi Los, a Boston-based rock band that blends elements of garage rock, punk, and power pop. The Shang Hi Los released their debut EP, "Kick It Like a Wicked Habit," in 2021, followed by their full-length album, "Aces Eights & Heartbreaks," in January 2023.

Additionally, Harrington has collaborated with Lynda Mandolyn, known for her work with Tiger Bomb and Crystal Canyon, on a project that resulted in the song "Real Love." This collaboration highlights Harrington's versatility and his ability to connect with fellow musicians across different genres.

Music

The Neighborhoods "Love Holiday"

Additional Music

The Charms "So Pretty"

The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"

Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo