The Ledge (mp3)

The bad news came just a few minutes before I was going to once again put the needle on the record. David Berman, former leader of Silver Jews who had just reemerged after ten years with the excellent Purple Mountains, had died. One of rock and roll’s most unique songwriters, it was an obvious decision to make the first half of tonight’s show a tribute to him. Thanks to Dan Nissen of Total Drag for a few song selections to help tell the story of this gifted artist.

After that there’s an hour of some great recent used record finds, including old favorites by The Undertones, X, Old 97’s, and many others.

I’m back! Yes, I had to cancel a couple of Live Ledge shows due to a little bb-sized stone that decided to mess with my kidney. Two ER visits and lots of pain meds later, I’m here with another new release episode!

And it’s a great collection of brand new tunes. Tons of garage rock and power pop. Some fantastic releases on Rum Bar, Spaghetty Town, and Stardumb. Big names and brand new acts. It’s a great summer listen!

Despite what you may believe, archive releases come out throughout the year. It’s not just for the Christmas holidays or Record Store Days. During the year there are tons of compilations, live records, remasters, and other odds and ends.

Tonight’s show collects a number of these. Acoustic versions of classic Graham Parker and Superchunk albums. A collection of acoustic covers recorded by Buffalo Tom’s Bill Janovitz. Live albums by Johnny Thunders, Die Toten Hosen, Paul Kelly, and so much more. A riveting triple-disc compilation of Billy Childish’s 40 year careeer. All these and more!

Listen and then please go purchase those tracks you enjoy! It’s that simple.

Look, it gets hard to describe the monthly new release shows. It’s like the others. Two hours of great new tunes from all over the world. Listen and then go purchase those you enjoy! It’s that simple/

As I’ve stated almost every week this week, this has been a fabulous year for new music. Tonight’s show is proof of that fact. It’s the last show of June, which means we’ve hit the halfway mark of the year. Tonight’s show is the “2nd Quarter Report”; a presentation of some of the great releases from April, May, and June.

A celebration of the punk the UK was listening to in the summer of 1979!

It’s the second part of this month’s collection of new releases!

It’s a supersized episode of great new tunes, including releases from Rum Bar and Spaghetty Town Records. Part one of a two part series.

Minutes before the planned second episode devoted to 1989 was set to record came news of the death of legendary pyschedelic garage rocker Roky Erickson. A half hour or so of Roky’s music is aired at the beginning of the show before going into the original playlist.

No, this show is not about Taylor Swift. It’s the first part of a look at the final year of the 80’s. Was it as dismal as we’ve been led to believe?