This was the most informationally entertaining episode we’ve done and probably the first time that anyone has enjoyed discussing cancel culture. It was a lot of fun. Travis Boots and Bryan Mosby bring their A game, breaking down 16 more R&B/funk songs. And Travis says how he would have separated these songs into two different tournaments. Look for the Live Wire private group on Facebook. This episode features discussion of songs by Kool & The Gang, Marvin Gaye, Sly And The Family Stone, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, James Brown, Funkadelic, Otis Redding, The Gap Band, The Isley Brothers, Isaac Hayes, and Prince.

This episode accomplishes exactly what it set out to do. And that’s discuss the first day of polls to cut our 32 greatest R&B/funk songs in half to the top 16. I’m joined by Travis Boots and Bryan Mosby for a dive into these songs. And listen for a brief cameo from Jennifer. Find us on Facebook under private groups at Live Wire. In this episode, we discuss songs by Otis Redding, James Brown, Bill Withers, Prince, Sam & Dave, Stevie Wonder, Lakeside, Parliament, Hot Chocolate, The Commodores, Wilson Pickett, George Clinton, Dr. John, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Jennifer and I break down all 24 of the next week’s #FreshCuts nominations. These are songs so new or so rare that most of us haven’t heard them. It’s also my favorite part of Live Wire, which you can find on Facebook private groups. Send us a join request and get in on a comprehensive music experience. The playlist is shared below on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and YouTube. It features songs (in order) by Wooden Shjips, Orion Sun, Ron Gallo, Eddie Vedder, Spark Master Tape, Culture Wars, Iron & Wine feat. Fiona Apple, Dehd, Spiritualized, Timmy Thomas, Jane’s Addiction, Pailhead, Aphex Twin, Pavement, Sufjan Stevens, Les Claypool, Kitchen Dwellers, The Boomtown Rats, The Arcs, John Moreland, X, Busman’s Holiday, Fleet Foxes, and Robbie Robertson. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2KFwUGqnMdx5HYXMLkdZNY?si=n9F5cXkUT9G4mvztXC4VYA; Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/freshcuts-vol-17/pl.u-MDAW6XgtXv1ok; Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/0c634661167140b88494027cbf498eddsune?ref=dm_sh_PKM7RA93nFbVIfAxO3sVCm2ZS; YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-_NT8UIQqkgVM1Ld3IHjcF_&si=gkmGnCs0YaSYtjig

This is a very special episode of the Live Wire podcast, interspersing 6 guests in and out as we wind our way through our top 25 songs of 2024 so far. We also get into our thought processes of picking new music. If you’re looking for new songs, this episode is for you. And if that intrigues you so much, find us on Facebook under private groups at Live Wire. I won’t give away the actual list here, but artists included in this episode’s discussion in alphabetical order are: The Black Crowes, The Black Keys, Castle Rat, Gary Clark Jr., Greensky Bluegrass, Hurray For The Riff Raff, IDLES, Intervals, Justice & Thundercat, Marcus King, Kendrick Lamar, The Last Dinner Party, Mannequin Pussy, Mk.gee, Kacey Musgraves, Nas & DJ Premier, Paramore & David Byrne, Pearl Jam, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, The Secret Sisters & Ray LaMontagne, Sleater-Kinney, St. Vincent, Taylor Swift, Joey Valence & Brae feat. Danny Brown, The War And Treaty, and Waxahatchee. Hear the playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4oO1ayJCnBguX9I2CBSV0d?si=nArnSYb1SzWK_lUyrfde1w&pi=u-xKbtnoSWT8Cv, Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/2024-so-far/pl.u-EdAVbxbuNykz6, Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/63f720e1e7514e7cb7c43ef00ab97a94sune?ref=dm_sh_W58MVwBjGRNVjr5XrUA6IBBow, and YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-9XMpAtsohti1WiiKgH0Y72&si=u5D0a_YJbmACrUQS

For an immersive music experience, find us on Facebook private groups under Live Wire. I am joined by Bryan Mosby and Steve Strait to discuss the 2nd Chance polls for our greatest R&B/funk songs of all time. And if you could pick one album to hear again for the first time, what would it be? You’ll hear our picks. Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (1990) vs.

Alabama Shakes - Dunes (2015)

Michael Jackson - Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (1979) vs.

Booker T & The MG’s - Green Onions (1962)

The O’Jays - Love Train (1971) vs.

Cameo - Word Up! (1986)

Edwin Starr - War (1971) vs.

Amy Winehouse - You Know I’m No Good (2006)

Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke (1976) vs.

Redbone - Come And Get Your Love (1972)

The Temptations - Ain’t Too Proud To Beg (1966) vs.

Gnarls Barkley - Crazy (2006)

Prince & The Revolution - Erotic City (1984) vs.

Sly And The Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (1970)

I’m joined today by artist and music aficionado Steve Strait. Steve is a longtime friend, and we get into a wide variety of topics. If you’ve ever heard of Deke Leonard, May Blitz, Adam Blessing, or Back Jack, this episode is for you. And if you haven’t, listen and learn. We also reveal the polls for the final day of new songs in our R&B/funk polls for Wednesday, July 3. And we end with a wide-ranging conversation on how Steve isn’t into The Black Keys anymore, bands like Queen selling out their songs, songs being ruined by commercials, and Steve’s adventures with Bryan Mosby. This is a good one.

I’m joined by Travis Boots and Bryan Mosby to discuss the close votes so far in our greatest R&B/funk songs. We also go on a hell of a derailment over recently unearthed 1985 comments from Jerry Garcia about Eddie Van Halen. And with some encouragement, I issue a warning against any suspected hate voting in Tuesday’s polls. Get ready.

Nine episodes in, we already have a lost episode. 😱 If you want to hear how Jennifer and I come up with our votes and the ridiculous levels that can take, this episode is for you. This is a collection of bits from our first attempt at recording Episode 9. It did not go well. But 18 minutes of comedic gold that gets funnier as it goes ensued. Here are those 18 minutes.

With the year half-over, it’s a great chance to pay respect to our favorite songs of 2024 (so far). Jennifer and I review all 50 songs chosen by the Live Wire group. We pick the ones worthy of the top 25 (there are more than 25 worthy!), discuss whether Taylor Swift is more a poet than a singer, ponder the last generation of outside kids, and consider the deeper meanings of each song. We also get into Kendrick Lamar dissing Drake, whether the blues ceases to be the blues when it sounds happy, dying to be born again, songs that sound like they were written about Jennifer, Robert Plant’s shaman genius, and Taylor Swift being easy listening music for young women. This is not one to be missed, even though the episode is twice as long. But when you’re working with twice as many songs as a typical #FreshCuts week, it needs more time. You can also hear Live Wire’s 50 best songs of 2024 (so far) on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4oO1ayJCnBguX9I2CBSV0d?si=va-oVYuiQTusasw_L_T-Mw&pi=u-SBKdEwUFT3y1), Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/2024-so-far/pl.u-EdAVbxbuNykz6, Amazon Music (https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/63f720e1e7514e7cb7c43ef00ab97a94sune?ref=dm_sh_7YEhvExsJrDwOMrmMxpCbGUUQ), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhGwwDGyNc-9XMpAtsohti1WiiKgH0Y72&si=ZR_DDxxRpVhnxAeE).

This is the most fascinating episode we’ve done. Part intervention, part therapy session, all relevant. The Geto Boys were ranked way too low, Biz Markie was ranked way too high, and we get into a pet peeve - voting without listening to both songs. This episode will provoke you. So you might as well give it a listen.