The Wall of Power Radio Hour

Paul Metsa catches up with veteran music journalist Tom Surowicz to rally support for recovering Minneapolis music icon Maurice J. Cox. The conversation then pivots as renowned photographer Jimmy Steinfeldt drops in to swap wild stories about capturing rock royalty from Prince to Johnny Cash through his camera lens.

Paul Metsa catches up with longtime friend, author, and musician Jim Walsh to dig into the release of Jim’s brand new record, One Brave Thing. The two swap stories from the trenches of the Minneapolis music scene, remembering legendary local venues and the city’s influential DIY punk roots. Jim also shares how major historical moments, including the 1934 truckers’ strike and the 2020 uprising, directly shaped his latest songwriting.

Paul Metsa invites filmmakers Greg Mitchell and Lynn Goldfarb to the show to unpack the making of their recent documentary. The conversation traces the historical crossroads where the lives and works of folk singer Woody Guthrie and author John Steinbeck intersected during the Great Depression. They share the logistical realities of securing archival footage and producing historical films without outside funding.

Paul Metsa is joined by Steve Jenkins, executive director of the Bob Dylan Center, to uncover how Tulsa, Oklahoma, became a major hub for American music history. They dig into the careful curation behind the side-by-side Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie archives, exploring everything from preserving thousands of handwritten lyrics to showcasing rare historical footage. Jenkins also shares the story of young Dylan’s pilgrimage to meet Guthrie in New York and highlights special archival film screenings happening in Minneapolis.

Paul Metsa is a legendary musician and songwriter from Minnesota. Born on the Iron Range, he has been based in Minneapolis since 1978.

He has received seven Minnesota Music Awards and has played more than five thousand gigs, including forays to Iceland and Siberia.

Paul Metsa catches up with extraordinary guitarist and Minnesota native Jeff Dayton to swap unforgettable stories about spending years on the road as Glen Campbell’s right-hand man. They trade wild tales of scraped-together early gigs, ruining vintage guitars in junior high woodshop, and the fateful phone call that launched a massive touring career. They also have a full rundown of Jeff’s upcoming string of live performances across his home state of Minnesota.

Join Paul Metsa for a deep dive into Bob Dylan’s mesmerizing recent concert at the brand-new Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee, Minnesota. He’s joined by a stellar lineup of Dylan experts and lifelong fans—musician Robbie Vee, arts curator Colleen Sheehy, and veteran journalist Martin Keller—who share their honest takeaways and favorite moments from the historic gig. From swapping incredible backstage stories about Dylan’s early days to dissecting his ever-changing live sound, it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Paul Metsa reconnects with longtime friend and newly retired reverend Guy Drake to swap incredible stories from his days touring alongside 70s legends like Earth, Wind & Fire, Linda Ronstadt, and Jim Croce. After four decades of writing hundreds of unreleased songs, Guy and his musical partner Tom finally have a brand new Johnson and Drake album out called We Loved Our Freedoms.

Paul Metsa sits down with the incredibly talented Emily LaPlant and Liz Ashworth of the Americana duo LaPlant Road.  The two multi-instrumentalists share the fascinating story behind their musical roots up in Grand Rapids, how a chance encounter brought them together, and the magic of recording their debut album, Finding Home, at the legendary Pachyderm Studio. Stick around for some beautiful live acoustic performances that perfectly capture their signature blend of traditional folk, bluegrass, and rock and roll.

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Host Paul Metsa had a great chat with Dave Ahl (drummer) and Chris Osgood (guitarist) of the legendary Minneapolis punk band the Suicide Commandos in a salute to Steve Almaas (bass) who recently passed away on June 5th at the age of 69. They told stories of the band’s early days, playing at CBGB’s in NYC and the beginnings of the punk rock scene in the Twin Cities. They both shared heartfelt memories of Mr. Almaas and provided the Wall of Power Radio Hour with a worldwide debut of Steve’s unreleased song Fireball 500!