June 28, 2020

Modcast #455: Endless Bummer

DJ Ken & Michael Simmons are at the controls this week, dialing in the summer season. 


Dobie Gray -- New Ray of Sunshine (2001)
Michael Simmons -- First Days of Summer (2018)
Pearlfishers -- We'll Be The Summer (2001)
Linus Of Hollywood -- Cabin Life (2018)
Astral Drive -- Summer of '76 (2018)
Popdudes -- Ridin' In My Car (2020)
Raspberries -- Drivin' Around (1972)
Latin Soul Syndicate -- In My '64 (2003)
Rob Bonfiglio -- Passenger Seat (2018)
Dean Friedman -- Summer Days (2002)
Orange Peels -- Seaside Holiday (2020, 2009)
American Breed -- Cool It (We're Not Alone) (1968)
Alan Boyd -- Channel Surfing (2004)




Remember the Thunder - Aurora Model Motoring



June 22, 2020

Modcast #454: 3 Chords, 3 Minutes & Skinny Ties II

Three minutes, three chords, and skinny ties is one of the best recipes for music. This week I've got your full meal deal of mostly late 70s and early 80s power pop. The tracks here are what I fondly call lesser lights, not as a slight, but rather as an acknowledgement that they should've been so much more. There are at least a dozen shoulda been hits right here in this modcast.


The Fans -- You Don't Live Here Anymore (1980)
The Official Secrets -- Fooling With My Heart (1980)
The Innocents -- Every Wednesday Night At Eight (1980)
The Click -- Just Another Monday (1983)
Expressos -- Want (1981)
The Really 3rds -- Daptapper (1981)
Shivvers -- Teenline (1980)
The Spoil -- Dream On (1983)
The Telefones -- Brave New World (1981)
Nines -- Holiday (1982)
The Tweeds -- I Need That Record (1981)
Mod Lang -- Because Of You (1982)
Crash! -- Alright On The Night (1981)
Ivy & The Teachers -- Angry Faces (1980)
Start -- No Direction (1980)
Terminal Spectators -- Another Day Another Dream (1982)



June 6, 2020

Modcast #453: Better Things

What a time to be alive. None of us has ever lived through a pandemic like this. Around the world people are affected in different ways and to different degrees. One thing that for me is a constant comfort is music. I've been listening to a lot of classic tracks the past couple of months. Like comfort food, this is comfort music. I love my comfort foods from ice cream to mac and cheese to chex mix. And of course all the cocktail accompanists. So motown to lounge, power pop to jazz, and all manner of genres in between. I call it ear candy, and it is helpful in soothing the soul.

I thought I'd reach out to some friends, various musicians, DJs, artists, and so on and find out what it is they're listening to during these tough times. What's their go-to comfort music? Joining me are Neal from Modest Proposal, Don from The Inciters, Dfactor Dave, Andrè M, Mike from Vista Blue, Wayne from The Ice Cream Man Power Pop & More Podcast, and Parka Pat from the Addicted to the Needle podcast.

Here then is what they came up with, mixed in with a couple of sets of my own picks, one from the sixties and one from the eighties. I hope it makes you feel as good as it does me.


Neal Augentstein | Fountains of Wayne -- Better Things
Parka Pat | Les Hou-Lops -- Pas Besoin D'un Docteur
The Miracles -- Shop Around
The Temptations -- Get Ready
The Four Tops -- Standing In The Shadows Of Love
Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames -- Baby Please Don't Go
Wayne Lundquist Ford | Terry Reid -- This Time
Don Roland | Phyllis Dillon -- Perfidia
Small Faces -- Tell Me Have You Ever Seen Me
The Who -- The Real Me
Pretty Things -- SF Sorrow Is Born
The Doors -- Break On Through
Mike Patton | Fountains Of Wayne -- Radiation Vibe
DFactor Dave | The Strokes -- Brooklynn Bridge To Chorus
Manual Scan -- Nothing Can Be Everything
The Untouchables -- The General
Salvation Army -- Mind Gardens
The Crooks -- Modern Boys
The Jam -- Ghosts
Swing Out Sister --  You On My Mind
Culture Club -- Church Of The Poison Mind
Andrè M | Big John Patton -- Along Came John
Don Roland | The Blasters -- I'm Shakin'

Fountains of Wayne -- Better Things