Icon Fetch

A Japanese singer doing songs by great American songwriters like Gershwin and Cole Porter sounds like a novel idea, but Hiromi Kanda succeeds through her excellent interpretations, and her expressive voice. Her new album, Days of Yesterday, features backing by a 50-piece orchestra recorded at the legendary Capitol Recording Studios in Hollywood. The fine arrangements by Matt Catingub help breathe new life into these treasured classics. The disc also features the great pianist Joe Sample on three of the songs.

Icon Fetch talks to the current resident of Hawaii about how she got exposed to this great music, how she won a Japanese TV contest similar to American Idol as a teen, and how she whittled down possible songs for the new record from a list of over 100.

That cool music you hear in the movie Pulp Fiction – that’s surf music, and here’s how it all happened.

When most people hear the words “surf music,” they immediately think the Beach Boys, yet there’s so much more to that under-appreciated style. During a span of about five years between the late Fifties and early Sixties, surf music was king – helping literally shape the sound of the electric guitar, a crucial element to all the rock music that followed, while also producing durable songs like “Wipe Out,” “Miserlou,” and “Pipeline,” that have continued to be included in movies and commercials. Author Kent Crowley has written a new book called Surf Beat – Rock n’ Roll’s Forgotten Revolution, which chronicles the rise and fall of this genre, as well as it’s resurgence in the Nineties with the movie Pulp Fiction. Icon Fetch talks to the author about the long process of gathering information for the book, and some of it’s unlikely heroes, including Frank Zappa, Ritchie Valens, and Bobby Fuller.

Their album was dead in the water, but the Spin Doctors kept plugging away…and it paid off.

They’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pocketful of Kryptonite, their debut album, with a deluxe 2-CD set from Legacy Recordings, featuring a remastered version of the original CD, plus an entire disc of rare early recordings from the band that has never been released commercially. Icon Fetch sits down with Doc’s guitarist Eric Schenkman, who takes us through the early days, how they got signed to a major label, and what influence John Popper of Blues Traveler had on the band.

–For 30 years, he’s created radio ready music that never gets played on the radio–

Melodic rock, power pop, or just plain good music – whatever you call it, Tommy Keene has been making it for the last 30 years. Hot on the heels of 2010’s 2-CD anthology, we sit down again with Keene to talk about his brand-new studio album Behind the Parade. Unique to this project, he recorded most of the instruments himself at his home studio. Yet, the signature Tommy Keene sound, with chiming guitars, memorable hooks, and big drums (courtesy of session-ace Rob Brill), are all intact. We also touch on the crazy video he made for the first single, “Deep Six Saturday.”

–One of her videos was banned in the early days of MTV–

Terri Nunn fronted the Eighties synth band Berlin, who first rose to prominence with their controversial single “Sex (I’m a…)” in 1982. MTV refused to play that steamy bit of erotica, but did put other Berlin tracks like “The Metro,” and “No More Words” into heavy rotation. The band eventually hit pay dirt with “Take My Breath Away” from the Top Gun Soundtrack, which rocketed to number one in 1986. But, that stab at commercialism tore the band apart and Nunn went solo. Now, she is readying her first set of original material in nine years, which she hopes to release later this fall. Icon Fetch talks to the former actress about co-hosting the new podcast “Between the Sheets” with Gaye Ann Bruno, recording her new material and the story behind “Take My Breath Away.”

Rick Derringer was just 17 years old when his band hit with “Hang on Sloopy” – how did he deal with fame at such an early age?

Hippiefest 2011 is coming to a city near you. Featuring Rick Derringer, Dave Mason, Gary Wright, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, and Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, it proves to be a night filled with great songs and performances. Icon Fetch gives you a preview of the tour with interviews by both Rick Derringer and Gary Wright. With Rick’s interview, we hear the story behind the smash hit “Hang on Sloopy,” which he sang on at the tender age of 17. With Gary’s chat, we hear about his involvement in a new film about his friend, the late George Harrison. Plus, both give insight into the current Hippiefest 2011, which is touring the country.

How on earth do you whittle down a list of the Greatest Guitarists of the 1970s to fit in one book?

Mike Molenda has been the editor of Guitar Player magazine since 1998. He’s just put together Guitar Player Presents Guitar Heroes of the 70’s, a collection of classic interviews with 40 of the most influential guitarists that helped shape that decade. Included in the book are familiar heavyweights like Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Pete Townshend. Also featured are lesser-known axemen like Mick Ronson, Larry Coryell, and Lenny Breau. Icon Fetch talks with Molenda about how he whittled the list down to just 40, how he chose which interviews to use, and his personal favorites

He started the record label from his kitchen table. That was 35 years ago.

For 35 years Holger Petersen has run Stony Plain Records, an independent label out of Canada specializing in roots music. Among the artists that have released music through the company are Maria Muldaur, Jeff Healey, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and Asleep at the Wheel. To celebrate, they’ve just released 35 Years of Stony Plain, a two-CD/one DVD collection featuring all those listed above, plus many more. Icon Fetch talks to Stony Plain’s president about starting the label in his kitchen and some of the fabulous artists on the collection, including several rare performances by blues legend Robert Nighthawk.

If you like country music, you’ve heard his songs. Now he gets a chance to sing them his way

Songwriter Gary Nicholson may not be a household name, but you’re sure to recognize the impressive list of artists he’s collaborated with – Delbert McClinton, Gregg Allman, George Strait, BB King, Ringo Starr, Vince Gill, Fleetwood Mac, and many others. He’s just released Texas Songbook – giving him the chance to do his own versions of songs he’s written for others. Icon Fetch talks to the Dallas/Fort Worth native about the stories behind many of the songs, having actor Jeff Bridges sing one of his tunes, and the upcoming Sandy Beaches Cruise, which he is a part of.

As a teen, he hitchkiked across Europe, at one point ending up at a party at Bridgette Bardot’s house

Songwriter Michael Franks has just released his 18th studio album, Time Together, a delectable blend of gentle melodies and clever wordplay – both signatures of Franks’ almost 40-year career. Icon Fetch talks to the jazz singer about the long, five-year gap between recordings, reuniting with some old friends, and Hearts United for Animals, a charity he supports.