Modcast #198: Spring Into Action

Welcome to Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World. Spring is in the air, except in Seattle sadly. In the United States, spring means baseball. Contrary to popular belief, Seattle does have a professional baseball team. The Mariners. And the Mariners have Ichiro, undeniably one of the world's biggest and best baseball stars. So, fittingly I've included a track from The Baseball Project's latest album, "Ichiro Goes To The Moon".

Lots more cool stuff on this week's show. And, here's a bit of news. This will be the first modcast of Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World to be carried on Mod Radio UK. I'm happy to be joining the ranks of some very cool people producing some of the best shows and playing some of the best musuc out there. Not least of which is show I listen to regulary, Dave's Trick Box hosted by Capt. Stax. The show airs on Mod Radio UK, but you can also download the weekly podcast here.

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The Shingles -- Girl On A Train (2005)
Nick Pride & The Pimptones -- Lay It On The Line Feat. Zoe Gilby (2011)
Modus -- Some People Say
The New Fidelity -- All My Soul (2009)
Wicked Whispers -- Amanda Lavendar (2011)
Agony Aunts -- Greater Miranda (2010)
Brinley Schwarz -- I Like You, I Don't Love You (1974)
The Method -- Consider This Your Warning (2011)
The Routes -- A Love Like Mine (2011)
The Baseball Project -- Ichiro Goes To The Moon (2011)
Len Price 3 -- Man Who Used To Be (2010)
The Men -- Four Good Men And True (2010)
Jetty Boys -- Can't Wait (2009)
The Modesty -- Rennaisance Man (2010)

The New Fidelity -- 2nd Once In A Lifetime Girl



Zoe Gilby -- Waters of March

A Bright Future For The Bright White

The picture at the left of two of The Bright White's perfectly depicts the band's split, yet complimentary, personality. On the one side there's the Britpop influence which undercuts much of the band's sound. On the other is an alternative rock sound that isn't exactly pegged to today's indie rock, but probably more to a late 80s early 90s alternative rock with a big power pop influence. It's no surprise then to seem them often compared to bands like Oasis and The Replacements. For me better comparisons might be something along the lines of The Verve and the Mighty Lemon Drops.

The Bright White is tight, tight, tight. The lyrics are tight. The musicianship is tight. And there's a restrained quality to the songs like maybe the band hasn't quite let itself go. When they do, watch out.

The lead track on their debut EP is Red Summer Rose and is likely to get the band instant attention and radio play. The five songs on the EP are all pretty good, but I have to say that the standouts for me are "Upon the Wall" and "We Are More Than Animals".

Since the band has yet to celebrate an anniversary of any note (six months doesn't count in my book) it's pretty amazing what they've accomplished thus far. Imagine what we'll be enjoying from them in a year or two.

The Bright White -- Upon The Wall

From the Vaults: Modcast #50 Wanna Know A Secret?

Once more into the vault my friends, once more into the vault. Step back in time, to a time when the modcast was young and fresh. Take a giant step outside your current listening constraints and journey with me all the way back to the fun filled days of 2007. I've opened up the vaults and dusted off a classic modcast that I think you'll enjoy. Again.

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Welcome to Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World, I've got lots of really interesting music this week inclduing some ska from Canada's Kingpins, some new stuff from Mando Diao and the Kaiser Chiefs, and some very excellent power pop from Permanent Green Light. Not to mention a bit of soul music, not the least of which is from Ms. Amy Wnehouse. If you want to get a look at Amy Winehouse and see her do Rehab live skip down below to where I've got the video posted. It's amazing how much she has perfectly captured the sixties soul sound. If you've got a question for me drop me a line at rob@mistersuave.com.

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• Fingerprintz -- Do You Want to Know a Secret
  
• Permanent Green Light -- We Could Just Die
  
• Naz Nomad & The Nightmares -- Kicks
  
• SheBeats -- Marianne
  
• DC Fontana -- Take Your Time
  
• Betty Davis -- Walkin' Up the Road
  
• Amy Winehouse -- Tears Dry on Their Own
  
• Kaiser Chiefs -- The Angry Mob
  
• Mando Diao -- Morning Paper Dirt
  
• Subways -- City Pavement
  
• Kingpins -- Lot's Wife

Bonus Video: Amy Winehouse -- Rehab

Modcast #197: Mr. Suave's Swingin' Cokctail Loungecast #4: The Now Sound From Way In

Welcome to Mr. Suave's Swingin' Cocktail Lounge. This week on the modcast it's the now sound from way in. That's right, seal your shaker I'm gonna mix up a cocktail concoction that will leave you jonesing for more more more: more loung sounds, more bachelor pad music, and most importantly, more martinis. The show is packed with iconic now sounds from the likes of Syd Dale, Joe Bucci, James Taylor Quartet, Piero Piccioni, Corduroy and more.

For cool now sound lounge videos like the ones below, be sure to check out Uncle Jerry's Pad on Youtube.

Since this is a Swingin' Cocktails edition of the modcast let me swing you a serious sipper. Here's a quick and easy classic. G&T. Gin and Tonic. Nothing says lounge cool quite like gin, and nothing is better for relaxing on a nice spring day than gin and tonic. G&T is perfect when you want brisk, tart, tangy gin goodness. Here's the secret. Don't make them one at a time, I mean what's the point, you've gonna want more than one anyhow right. Make a pitcher at a time. And use fresh ingredients.

Start by juicing five or six limes. You're working on getting as much lime juice out of them as possible, and once you have it set it aside. Take the left over lime skins and cut them into slivers for in just a moment. Now pour one cup of gin into a pitcher, that's right one full cup. Next add those lime skins and mull them around to get the extra flavor out of them, you can mull them with a wooden spoon if you don't have a proper mulling tool. Let that sit for several minutes so that the gin gets good and infused with the limes. Now add your lime juice and four cups of tonic. If you want stronger and fewer G&Ts add less tonic, and if you want lighter and more G&Ts you can add more tonic. Whatever you like. Pour over ice into a highball glass. Now you're set to sit back, relax and turn on some cool now sounds and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

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Les Baxter -- Tropicando
Piero Piccioni -- Easy Dreamer
Allessandro Alessandroni -- Skyscrapers
Neal Hefti -- Man Chases Man
Magnetic4 -- Martini Shake
Corduroy -- Long Cool & Bubbly
The James Taylor Quartet -- Music To Watch Girls By
Chase -- Get It On
Syd Dale -- The Hollywood Scene
The Leading Figures -- Artistry In Rhythm
Joe Bucci Trio -- Topsy


Syd Dale -- Secret Service


Easy Living (music by Piero Piccioni)

DC Fontana releases new video

DC Fontana has a new video out, and as usual, it's fantastic. If you missed my interview/story on the band and their last release Six Against Eight you can check it out here.

DC Fontana -- It Don't Worry Me

It's Time Once Again For Mr. Suave's Hot Rockin' Beats

It's time again for Mr. Suave's Hot Rockin' Beats. Mrs. Suave is bringin' you all the heaviest of hits this time around. You'll be tearing your hair out in no time at all. Promises!

Get it now, ya know ya wanna

Modcast #196: The Modern Mod's Recod Collection

We now return you to our regular program already in progress . . . . For all it's glitzy hype, techonology sure can suck. I've rendered an entirely new MP3 for this week's show, to replace the previous file which got corrupted somewhere along the line. Next order of business is some serious software upgrades. But the show must go on.

Welcome to Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World, and a midweek modcast. This week I'm dusting off the record crates, delving into the modern mod's record collection and digging out some of the best tracks of the 21st century.

The turn of the century brought us a new wave of garage bands updating the garage rock sounds of past eras for a whole new legion of fans. It also ushered in a second wave -- or maybethird wave depending on who you talk to -- of Britpop influenced bands, many of whome weren't even British. Throughout the first decade of this century the momentum of good music has been maintained and there are scores of bands out there that I could have highlighted in this show. I picked just a few, all bands with tracks that I think are worth keeping in your hip pocket. Any mod collection would be well served by their inclusion.

Listen now

Kaiser Chiefs -- Heat Dies Down (2007)
The Hives -- Hate To Say I Told You So (2000)
The Mooney Suzuki -- Everythings Gone Wrong (2000)
The Strokes -- Soma (2001)
The White Stripes -- Lafayette Blues (1998)
Graham Coxon -- Don't Let Your Man Know (2006)
The Solarflares -- Can Satisfy You (2003)
Franz Ferdinand -- Eleanor Put Your Boots On (2005)
The Ordinary Boys -- Boys Will Be Boys (2006)
The Rifles -- Lost In London (2005)
The Last Shadow Puppets -- Separate And Ever Deadly (2008)
Maximo Park -- Shiver (2006)
The Fratellis -- My Friend John (2008)
Mother's Children -- What'll Happen to All the Girls (2010)


The Rifles -- The General


Graham Coxon -- Bittersweet Bundle of Misery

Modcast #195: New to You

Welcome to Mr. Suave's mod mod world. Got lots of new, or relatively new music for you this week. One really great bit of news has to do with the opening track on this week's modcast by a band called Dot Dash. A band I'd never heard of until one of the members e-mailed me. Naturally, when I found out that Dot Dash include members of two my favorite bands --80's mod faves Modest Proposal, and power poppers Julie Ocean-- well I has happier than a pig in shit. Both of those bands produced work that was criminally underrated. But now there's a chance to hit it big. And when you hear the Jam like chords of that first track I think you'll agree they're on their way.

Lots of other really good stuff here as well. Enjoy and I hope you discover at least a couple new things to put a smile on your ears.

Listen
Download

Dot Dash -- Color and the Sound (2011)
The GO! Freaks -- Cannibal (2011)
The Liberators -- Let it Go (Feat. Roxie Ray) (2011)
The Booze -- Straigh to Hell (2011)
Hollywood Sinners -- Have You Ever Been in Jail (2011)
The Types -- Zombie Twist (2011)
The Salteens -- If Love is Gone Where do We Go from Here (2011)
The Corner Laughers -- Transamerica Pyramid (2011)
Agony Aunts -- Tiny Pictures (2011)
Farrah -- DNA (2010)
The Ripe -- Constant Waves (2011)


Agony Aunts -- Adams Rib



The Booze -- Down on your Luck