We crack open the correspondence bag and pull out some reactions to Episode 1345, in which Bill Mulligan dropped by Patrick's basement to discuss instrumental tracks from bands that usually feature vocals. 

Steven Routledge and Justin Steiner chime in and Jim has a tale to tell. 

Hit play and don't worry about the singer. 

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

Last month, we served up the April New Music Mega-Blast and this month, we’re back with new music picks from May, this time with a twist. 

We’re trying out Mini-Blasts this month, groups of two or three calls from our community mixed together. Jim and Patrick cap off the series with a Mini-Blast of their own. 

Today we're serving up part three, featuring two picks from two members of the community. Sunny Varney selects Wucan and Medusa's Disco, while Jason Goebel picks Porridge Radio and Lyle Lovett.

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

Last month, we served up the April New Music Mega-Blast and this month, we’re back with new music picks from May, this time with a twist. 

We’re trying out Mini-Blasts this month, groups of two or three calls from our community mixed together. Jim and Patrick cap off the series with a Mini-Blast of their own. 

Here's part two, featuring Liam McIndoe, Barret Ries and Kurt Gallagher. They chose music from ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Troy Kingi, Soccer Mommy and Zach Bryan.

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

Last month, we served up the April New Music Mega-Blast and this month, we're back with new music picks from May, this time with a twist. 

We're trying out Mini-Blasts this month, groups of two or three calls from our community mixed together. Jim and Patrick with cap off the series with a Mini-Blast of their own. 

To kick things off, here's part one, featuring Steve Routledge, Roger Grace and Scott Parks. They chose music from Moon Tooth, Chris Bathgate, Soft Cell, Chappell Roan and Jens Lekman. 

Hit play and get (mini) blasted!

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

Here is the second part of a great pair of episodes (if we do say so ourselves) on visionary American funk artist Betty Davis. 

Part two finds patron and pal Bob Peterson discussing the later half of Betty's career, her fallout with Island Records and eventual retreat from music. 

If you missed part one, be sure to go back and listen to that and then hit play on this one. Thanks very much Bob for this excellent idea and great research.

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

No, not that Bette Davis. 

Today's episode is the first of a two-part Patron chat with Bob Peterson, who tells the story of Betty Davis, funk singer, fashion designer and visionary spirit. 

Bob joins Jim and Patrick from his home in Wisconsin and in today's part one, he relates the tale of Betty's start in the music business (including a brief marriage to Miles Davis) and the recording of her first two albums. 

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

On today's episode, we dive into another edition of What Was First, this time exploring the first release on what a recent documentary says was "possibly the most indie of all indie labels."

That would be Sarah Records, the Bristol, England based label that still turns fans into obsessives — even though they ceased to exist more than 25 years ago. 

Hit play and get ready for some pure UK indie pop. 

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

The week begins with an episode of What Was First! Today, we take a suggestion from some guy named Jim Lenahan to investigate the first release on Island Records. 

One of the most influential labels of all time, the Island story goes back 63 years to the island of Jamaica. So hit play and travel back to 1959 where Lance Haywood and his group are playing at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay.

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

We wrap up with week with a "bite-size history lesson" AKA an episode of What Was First. 

Today's episode is on Triple X Records, a topic suggested by Rob Gates. There is plenty to learn in this episode, including stuff about Jane's Addiction, the Ramones, Dr. Dre and of course, Rhino 39.

Hit play and get learning, peoples! 

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com

Jim takes over the Book Nook today and reports on a volume he read on a recent vacation: I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution.

Get his take on this oral history-style book, with details on controversial videos, hard partying executives and humoring David Lee Roth. 

Hit play and get your MTV!

Subscribe to Rockin' the Suburbs on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or other podcast platforms, including audioBoom, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, iHeart, Stitcher and TuneIn. Or listen at SuburbsPod.com. Please rate/review the show on Apple Podcasts and share it with your friends.

Visit our website at SuburbsPod.com

Email Jim & Patrick at [email protected]

Follow us on the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @suburbspod

If you're glad or sad or high, call the Suburban Party Line — 612-440-1984.

Theme music: "Ascension," originally by Quartjar, covered by Frank Muffin. Visit quartjar.bandcamp.com and frankmuffin.bandcamp.com