Shows
The Sharp Notes with Evan TothSami Stevens and Her New Album, "Morning"As large as it seems, the entertainment world is really pretty small. While many folks make the joke about Kevin Bacon and his six degrees of separation from anyone else in the industry, it’s quite possible because everyone in the performing arts world is really only a few steps away from anybody else. I had my own experience with this phenomenon just a few months ago when I hosted bassist Marty Isenberg on this program to discuss his recently released album featuring jazz covers of music from Wes Anderson films. As I enjoyed his record, I noticed th...2023-08-1233 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJohn Rzeznik From the Goo Goo Dolls and Their New Song and TourThere are some musical groups and performers whose music is as ubiquitous as having the lights on in a dark room, or water streaming from a kitchen faucet. Some music is more than just songs, it’s as though the words, phrases and messages are ingrained into our psyche. This might not even have anything to do with whether we like the music, or not! It’s just always there: on the radio, of course, but also in echoing hotel lobbies, in the backseat of cramped taxi cabs, in sprawling, neverending mall hallways, and yes - even the occa...2023-08-0623 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJoanna Stingray's Latest Book and Reflections on the Red Wave AlbumThe Cold War was a time that those of a certain age will remember living through quite vividly and it included a terrifyingly tangible fear of global nuclear warfare. The Soviet Union was simply seen as an evil empire and the media surrounding America during those years had no problem perpetuating that narrative. In my case, during the 1980s, it was films like Rocky IV, Red Dawn or even Spies Like Us that set the diplomatic tone of the time. However, by the early 1990’s, I’d ac...2023-07-2344 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothThe Making Vinyl Conference and Record Store Day with Larry Jaffe and Bryan EkusOnce one delves far enough into a hobby or an interest, they become curious about its inner workings. When it comes to records, you might enjoy those discs on a certain level before you start wondering how music comes from those grooves at all. Who is responsible for producing this material? How are the pressing machines maintained? How does the industry make all of this stuff?Enter Larry Jaffee and Bryan Ekus - both of whom wear many hats - but who oversee - and co-created - the “Making Vin...2023-07-1655 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothDarren Burgos and His Latest Release, "Connections"Artificial Intelligence is a hot button topic of the day. Everyone wonders where the A.I. rabbit hole will lead us and one of those areas of conversation involves music and media production. For years now, computers have been helping musicians to create their music and also to improve upon whatever it is that they’ve made. From autotune to sampled electronic versions of analog sounds, the digital recording landscape has gone too far to completely turn its back on music production in the 21st century. But, how can this relationship grow without us humans relying too much upo...2023-07-0839 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothRob Martinez from Audio Media Grading and the Process of Grading Audio MediaAre there records in your collection that you love so much you might consider the possibility of never hearing them again? Such a concept is counterintuitive to a lover of music or sound. Records are made to be played, not hidden away like the dusty storage unit relics in the concluding scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark! However, I’m sure that by scanning the items on our shelves, there are a few things - perhaps more than a few - that are only there for nostalgic reasons: that copy of our first Be...2023-07-011h 02The Sharp Notes with Evan TothStewart Copeland from The Police, His New Album and Forthcoming BookIt’s a real luxury to sit for a while and chat with musicians who have been a part of your life for - well - all of your life. To actually speak with the people who made the sounds that have served as your life’s soundtrack, to ask those things you’ve always wondered about. Who gets to do that? For better, or worse, I’m one of the lucky son of a guns who is allowed to engage directly with many musicians whose work has impacted my life in one way or another for many years. I...2023-06-2631 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothSam Blasucci and His Latest Release, "Off My Stars"One never knows what might end up in a songwriter’s sketchpad. It could be random musings about the state of the world, hazy memories about family members, or maybe even inspired creations from the works of other masters. A songwriter’s sketchpad is a diary of sorts for an artist, but can also serve to shed light upon the unconscious interests and influences of the artist themself. Sam Blasucci recently released his first solo album titled, Off My Stars on Innovative Leisure Records. Liste...2023-06-1126 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothCharlie Bruber and His Latest Release, "Finding the Muse"Artists need to be inspired to create their best works, and it’s not always easy to have the wherewithal to clearly see the inspiration around us. In fact, for a musician, the insight to this inspiration is often more important than musical or production ability. Listeners love sounds that touch them on an emotional level, but how do you search out that spark? How does the musician find the muse?This is the journey that Charlie Bruber finds himself traversing on his latest album, Finding the Muse...2023-06-0434 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMarty Isenberg and His New Album Featuring Music From the Films of Wes Anderson, "The Way I Feel Inside"One of my old film professors used to say that one had never really seen a film unless they had watched it at least once with the sound off. Audio - be it music, or sound - adds so much detail to a moving picture that sometimes the viewer misses a few visual nuances because they’re also busy listening. While my professor’s approach might be an extreme way to evaluate a movie, there’s no denying that music and film have long had a strong cooperative association. Long before film even had sound, there was always an atte...2023-05-2135 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothChris Thile and the New Nickel Creek Album, "Celebrants"Musical genre can be a very limiting place; it can put fences around the aspirations and creations of musicians, but it can also cause the listener to stay in their own little world without branching out to explore things that they might also enjoy. It takes a strong group of musicians to move beyond those confines and a loyal and dedicated horde of fans and followers who are ready, willing and able to go wherever their favorite artist chooses to lead them. For all intents and purposes, Nickel Creek2023-05-1440 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMay Pang and Her New Film About Her Relationship with John Lennon, "The Lost Weekend: A Love Story"Life is full of twists and turns; unexpected chapters. Sometimes, we recall certain times and experiences and they bear resemblance to vivid dreams, so much so, we might even ask ourselves, did that really happen? We evolve, we move on, but - no matter where we go - we carry those adventures with us, even if we’re not always aware of the influences.The life of May Pang took an unexpected detour in her early twenties when she became romantically involved with one of the most famous people on planet Ea...2023-04-2348 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothGene Cornish From The Rascals and Recent Touring With Felix CavaliereLongevity in the entertainment business is an attribute worth celebrating. While the industry is often focused on brand-new, younger artists, it’s the performers who have been out there for decades that are really the cornerstone of the touring industry. Of course, it’s also helpful if the music that they’ve created has become popular standards.Gene Cornish - along with Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati and Dino Danelli, created The Young Rascals in 1964 and became a smash-hit single recording and touring act. What Gene brought to the table was a unique spin a...2023-04-1613 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothAlexz Johnson and Her New Album, "Seasons"The arrival of each season brings with it some balance. When one element is taken away, another quality takes its place. It’s the old adage of one door closing and another one opening. No matter how hard we want the long, warm days of sunny summer to last forever, the fall brings its own snug serenity (depending on where you live on planet Earth, of course). Alexz Johnson is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress who first gained recognition in the early 2000s by playing the role of the lead character in the Canadian CTV series Ins...2023-04-0234 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJann Klose and His Newest Album, "Surrender"To surrender does not always mean to give up. Sometimes, it takes an incredibly strong person to recognize that the flow of life is trying to tell them something. Often, one’s real power can be found by letting go and allowing the natural direction of things to take their course.Jann Klose’s new album, titled Surrender (Honey Rose Records), is an exploration of many things, but notably that concept as well. His seventh studio album finds this pop/rock singer-songwriter honi...2023-03-2631 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothBobby Sanabria and His Latest Multiverse Album, "Vox Humana"It’s a major concept for a short podcast, but when was the last time you thought about your place - not only in the universe - but within the multiverse? “What is a multiverse,” you may ask. We can thank the Ancient Greek Atomists - namely Leucippus and Democritus - for presenting us with the concept of multiple worlds or universes that construct everything in existence: space, time, matter, information, and all of the physical laws and constants that support them. However, where does music live in this multiverse?About 25 years ago, multi-Grammy nominated Bobby Sanabria - a Nu...2023-03-1954 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothEmiliano Melis and His Latest Release, "Outside the Box"Music can have several purposes. Often, its job is to get the body moving, dancing, or working out. The right music at a suitable tempo has a drastic effect on one’s ability to work, exercise, or hone in on the task at hand. Sometimes, however, the goal is to relax, slow down, lower the heart rate, and slowly slip into the moment.Emiliano Melis is a composer and visual artist originally from Turin, Italy. Several years ago he moved to Brooklyn to meet up with like-minded musicians and artists. His main interest is in electronic and am...2023-03-1223 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothKendra Morris Reissues "Babble" and Readies a TourMusic releases can be fleeting. Artists work on projects with great skill and care. They might get the right players, use the best studios, and tirelessly craft their compositions. But when the project is released, sometimes it's lost in the shuffle. Obviously, such an event is disappointing, but every so often, a deserving project gets a second chance. Kendra Morris is a soul singer-songwriter who has had her music featured in an episode of Ray Donovan and her version of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was used in the trailer for the film, Dead Man Dow...2023-03-0535 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothRobin Taylor Zander's (RTZ) Newest Album, "The Distance"Thank you for reading or watching or listening to our 100th episode of Radar! At the risk of sounding like an awards acceptee while the band begins to signal my necessary move from the stage, I’d like to thank all of the wonderful guests who have given generously of their time to share their insights about projects that they are involved in. Thank you as well to the publicists behind the scenes who serve as liaisons and ensure that these interviews actually happen! And of course, thanks to The Vinyl District for providing a...2023-02-2620 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothVanessa Downing from Samuel S.C. and their New Release, "High Places"Think about the “what if” scenarios in your life. Not really regrets. Not things you wished had gone differently, but situations in which - because of circumstances beyond your control - you’ll never truly know what could have been or where the road might have led. However, every so often, we get lucky. We get the opportunity to remove the detour from the pathway and we are offered a second chance at taking the road that we didn’t take.Nearly 30 years ago, way back in the mid-90s, Vanessa Downing...2023-02-1931 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothTchotchke the Band and their Latest Self-Titled ReleaseEven minimalists have a few knick-knacks tucked away, small objects that aren’t particularly useful, but which remind us of a warm memory, time, or place. When purging or decluttering, a lazy gaze at this brac-a-brac makes us wonder if we’re being too hasty considering parting with the item. But before we harshly “Marie Kondo” these objects, it’s essential that we check to see if they “spark joy”, for if they do, we can be certain that it will always have a place in our heart and our home. We all have tchotchkes.But is Tchotchke - th...2023-02-0531 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothRachael & Vilray and Their New Album, "I Love a Love Song!"There is an intrinsic grandeur to the Great American Songbook that we can all appreciate. When the first few bars of those classics begin they can boost our spirit, provide us with a moment of quiet contemplation, or even make us a little bit misty. For those reasons, the compositions are timeless. However, they do indeed emanate from a specific time and place, one that is far away from the one in which we now live. The classic standards will always remain eternal and most people can enjoy them; after all, that is the whole idea behind being a “st...2023-01-2927 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothEsperanza Spalding and the 10th Anniversary Reissue of "Radio Music Society"Modern music listeners enjoy creating personalized playlists containing their preferred musicians and genres, but there’s one thing lacking: the expertly guiding hand of a radio station’s program director - or, even better - a tasteful DJ behind the microphone who loves to share favorite tunes, but also introduces listeners to new music that is worthy of addition to your personal faves. But, current culture has sacrificed the serendipitous nature of the radio in favor of complete control over musical choices, or - even worse - the choices of a faceless corporate AI bot. Bas...2023-01-2231 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothDavid Leaf and His Book About the Beach Boys, "God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the California Myth"Myths are funny things, especially in the 21st century where we find ourselves constantly reevaluating standards that were accepted as gospel only a few years ago. And who knows? It’s feasible to posit that society’s reevaluations will be reevaluated somewhere else down the long road of time. Telling the story of early rock and roll is an interesting exercise at this point in history as many of the music makers are still with us. It’s so important to get the story right, so that future generations can grapple with both the facts and the myths.2023-01-1539 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothFrank LoCrasto from Kolumbo and the Group's New Record, "Gung Ho"Frank LoCrasto joins us on this episode to discuss the latest release from his Kolombo project. The new album is titled, Gung Ho and features Frank’s signature blend of jazz and exotica. You’ll hear us discuss vintage synths, the beauty of analog and how Frank pieced this album together during a global pandemic. 2023-01-0829 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothTiffany and Her New Album, "Shadows"In the 1980s, the mall was the place to be and there is a reason why modern society is nostalgic for that insulated wonderland of days gone by. Before the internet and our endless stream of information, there was less to process, and fewer things to worry about. Blissfully ignorant innocence was on full display amid indoor atriums, food courts, and all the shopping one could hope for. Most significantly, the mall gave American youth their first taste of adult-level freedom. When the Muzak wasn’t playing, one might have heard a cavernous echo of...2022-12-1134 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJane Monheit and Her New Christmas Album, "The Merriest"It’s the time of the year when holiday music sounds as fresh as the stacks of Christmas trees being sold at your local firehouse. With some melancholy, however, we know that in another month or so we’ll be dragging those trees down the driveway and onto the curb while searching for music without so much comfort and joy to keep us busy until the birds of spring begin to chirp.But, we’re not there yet! The days are short, and the novelty of a cozy, warm evening by the fire with a soft...2022-12-0414 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothGold Star's Marlon Rabenreither and the Band's Latest Release, "Headlights USA"Change isn’t easy for anyone; it’s a risk. When something works, even if it doesn’t work perfectly, the simplest approach is to stay the course, to avoid rocking the boat. However, for an artist, change is often necessary, but - again - doing so can be a frightening prospect both for the artist and for their audience. Marlon Rabenreither has fronted the group Gold Star for over a decade now. While his previous approach was somewhat more folk and acoustic guitar oriented, the pandemic nudged Marlon to try something new; distorted vocals...2022-11-2722 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothRon Sexsmith and His Forthcoming Release, "The Vivian Line"The destination is not always the most important place, sometimes it’s the journey that is most impactful. A life’s odyssey really makes us who we are: the roads we’ve traveled, the mistakes we’ve made, and the lessons that we have learned along the way shape and mold us, these passages give us more tools and experiences to simply be better people, or at least better at whatever it is we do. Ron Sexsmith knows this well. In fact, his latest record - coming your way in February 2023 - is titled The Vivia...2022-11-0634 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJeff "Skunk" Baxter, Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers and his Brand New Album, "Speed of Heat"Meet one of the most celebrated session guitarists of all time - a man who was also once a full member of both Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. Goodness knows that the previous sentence gives he and I plenty to talk about, but we’re here to discuss the fact that Jeff has released his first solo album after being in the music industry for over half a century; the album is titled, Speed of Heat which clues us into another one of Jeff’s interests: missile technology! Music and the arts are...2022-10-3037 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothKaleta and Super Yamba BandThe Afrobeat sound has become a very popular genre in the last few years. Many bands - from all over the world - have embraced this exciting, funky sound that combines elements of West African music and couples it with American funk, jazz, and soul. While these recent creators make some wonderfully exciting music, the Super Yamba Band has a secret weapon that the others don’t have and his name is Kaleta.Born in the West African country of Benin Republic and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Kaleta is a longtime veteran of the Af...2022-10-2327 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothOrganist Adam Scone and his New Album "Brooklyn to Brooklin"The Hammond organ - specifically the Hammond B-3, or C-3 - has a long musical history. But it’s not for everyone; it’s a heavy machine that often finds itself in need of some regular repair and constant maintenance. However - when coupled with a Leslie speaker - the sound of a Hammond organ is difficult to match; its sonorous quality and authoritative heft make it unmistakable in many of what are probably some of your favorite recordings. Adam Scone is a Hammond organ devotee, he’s made the commitment necessa...2022-10-1627 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothProducer Robert Waite and His Daylight Robbery! ProjectYou don’t have to be a musician to make great music. Sounds like a conundrum, right? Well, throughout history, there have been a number of producers behind the control room glass who have coordinated and instructed musicians to produce the music they hear in their heads; the musicians themselves become the producer’s instruments. Meet Robert Waite. He’s not a musician, but he does love music and knows what he wants to hear. The project he has created is called Daylight Robbery! (exclamation point included) and while it’s not a band per se, by definitio...2022-10-1034 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJay Millar from Sundazed Music Explores the Label's Latest ReleasesSince 1989, Sundazed Music, founded by Bob Irwin and his wife Mary, has been the label to go to for hard-to-find reissues of rare surf, psych and garage band rock and roll discs that have been lost over the years and were in dire need of a second life. In fact, in today’s crazy reissue world, it’s interesting to note that Sundazed was a pioneer in bringing long, lost recordings back to turntables all across the world.However, the label is not only just focusing on those few genres anymore. There’s a big wo...2022-10-0258 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothCaitlin Carey's Reissued Album and Her Time in WhiskeytownThe great alt-country band Whiskeytown had only two permanent members during its tenure: one of them was Ryan Adams and the other was Caitlin Cary. While Caitlin’s name will always be intertwined with that band’s history, she’s also got a history all her own. After the group disbanded, Caitlin decided it was time for her to share the songs that may not have gotten the attention they deserved in her previous group. So, after connecting with Chris Stamey and Yep Roc Records, in 2002 she released her first solo album titled, While You Weren’t Looking.2022-09-2530 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMadison Cunningham and Her New Album, "Revealer"Madison Cunningham has only just begun. At 25 years old, Cunningham has recently released her third record and it is definitely a well-crafted work. She’s a born-and-bred Californian songwriter, but that’s only a part of her biography, there’s so much more going on. Madison is also an excellent guitarist with a penchant for funky chords and musical phrases. Even though internet sources lazily categorize her music as “Americana” or “folk,” any listener with open ears will hear that Madison’s influences and creations challenge and oftentimes transcend those niches.Her latest album is titled Reveal...2022-09-1728 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJuana Molina and the Reissue of Musicación 4½Nobody likes to be pigeonholed; we all have different aspects to us that we’d like to be appreciated for. Life is short, and even though it takes a long time to become a master at something, there’s still time to become recognized for something else.Juna Molina comes from a family of artists and entertainers and was one of the most widely recognized comediennes in her home country of Argentina. Even with that success, she still yearned to explore her musical interests. As is often the case with entertainers who...2022-09-1141 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMastering Engineer Michael Graves, His Work on the New Blondie Boxset and Other Highlights From His Grammy Award Winning CareerThe process of creating pre-recorded music has always been shrouded in a fair amount of mystery; one of the most curious figures in the production chain is the role of the mastering engineer. Once a recorded album is completely finished, it is sent to that person who uses their magical and mystically unique skills to tweak the overall sound of the music and inject that otherworldly quality that most professionally recorded materials contain.To help us demystify this enigmatic process is Grammy award winning mastering engineer Michael Graves. Mr. Graves has...2022-08-1540 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMichael Rault and his Second Self-Titled ReleaseMichael Rault embraces the skill that all great musicians are good at: listening. All of his life, Michael has been carefully listening to his influences, and filtering those sounds through his own lens. It seems he’s finally completed the album that he’s been destined to make, his - self-titled - second solo release.Musically, he’s a sponge picking up some of the greatest sounds of the latter half of the 20th century. If your record collection is eclectic, then what Michael creates will fit right in next to the tried and true...2022-08-0733 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothWilder Maker's Gabriel Birnbaum and the Band's Newest Album, "Male Models"The first time I played Wilder Maker’s new album titled, Male Models, I thought someone sent me the wrong link; I assumed that instead of the actual record, I was listening to a mixtape from the record label. The wide-reach and scope of the record seemed to be too much to accomplish from one group of musicians. But, as I listened, I began to piece together similar voices and instrumentation and - maybe, most interestingly - the style of musical composition. Finally, it dawned on me that this was the same band all al...2022-07-3128 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothThe Rascals' Felix Cavaliere and His New Book, "Memoir of a Rascal"Between the British Invasion and the Summer of Love, there was a time when American music was trying to figure out just exactly what it was, what made it unique from the rest of the world. Many might answer - that in that slim window of time - one of the most important American bands on the scene were the Rascals, they were certainly unique: they were soul and R&B oriented, they knew how to rock a house party and they were one of the first rock bands to proudly feature the mighty Hammond B3 as its signature...2022-07-1734 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJames Hunter and His New Release, "With Love"When was the last time you really danced and just lost yourself in the music without caring what you looked like? Analyzing music is a rewarding experience, but sometimes it’s best to just shut up, enjoy what you’re hearing and simply dance. And if you’re going to engage in such an activity, there’s no one finer to provide a soundtrack than James Hunter.Hunter’s 2004 breakthrough album, People Gonna Talk was a refreshing listen back then as it was released just on the cusp of the retro-soul groove revival of the early...2022-07-1026 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothGraham Nash and His Newest Release, "Graham Nash: Live"Sometimes, in order to go forward, you must first take a look at your past. Graham Nash has a rich and undoubtedly storied history behind him and he has recently released a live album titled, Graham Nash: Live which features him performing his first two albums - Songs for Beginners (1971) and Wild Tales (1973) - in their entirety. Mr. Nash will also be performing at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, NJ on July 13th. Nash, h...2022-06-2721 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothBruce Hornsby and His Newest Release, "'Flicted"Some people are just so skilled and talented at their craft that you make judgements, you think they’re going to be one way, but they often turn out to be something quite different. I’ve learned not to judge books by their covers, but sometimes it’s hard to avoid. I have so much respect for Bruce Hornsby, his writing, his performing, the fact that he’s one of the most adventurous musicians alive today; someone who resists looking backwards; he’s one of those rare breeds of artists who have their sights set on a goal off in the dis...2022-06-0536 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMichael Des Barres and the Reissue of Detective's First AlbumIf you consume any kind of media, then you’ve experienced the very talented Michael Des Barres. His media presence is ubiquitous: he’s had a long history performing as a vocalist in rock bands, been on television hundreds of times, worked as an actor in many films and now hosts his own music program on Little Steven’s Sirius XM channel, Little Steven’s Underground Garage. So, it’s almost difficult to focus on just one of his projects without thinking about all of the other work he’s accomplished. On one hand, this episode...2022-05-3038 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothKeith Murray and Chris Cain from We Are Scientists and their Latest Release, "Huffy"Sometimes we take ourselves, and our music, too darn seriously. Of course, there are appropriate times for thoughtful contemplation, but there’s no harm in basking in the enjoyment that comes with creating or consuming art with wild abandon and maybe being a little bit silly at the same time. It helps keep us sane and provides us with a youthful perspective of the mean old world in which we live.We Are Scientists have always imbued some humor into their catalog of music; and what a catalog it is. With se...2022-05-1532 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothNorman Spence From Tank and the Bangas and Their New Album, "Red Balloon"When people think about the music of New Orleans, it’s usually the traditional jazz scene that comes to mind. But, NOLA is also one of the most consistent melting pots in our great country, so it’s bound to birth some amazingly unique and exciting music. Born in the Big Easy, Tank and the Bangas honed their musical skills during their time as backing band in many of the city’s open mics before morphing into the Grammy nominated, NPR Tiny Desk Concert winning, soul, funk, hip hop group that they ha...2022-05-0131 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothORG Music's, Andrew Rossiter and the Label's Releases for Record Store Day 2022Record Store Day is on its way, but do you ever stop to think about the hard work that goes into such an event? All of the special issues need to be cleared for copyrights and publishing. Designs and packaging have to be created and manufactured. Of course, the music must be mastered and actually pressed onto those vinyl discs that we love so much. There’s a lot that happens before you bring your chosen clutch of albums to your local record store clerk for purchase. On this episode, we’re fortunate to speak with Andrew Rossiter, Gene...2022-04-2235 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothCraft Recordings', Mark Piro and the Label's Releases for Record Store Day 2022It’s a crazy world out there, so why shouldn’t we take some time to stand on line, conversate with fellow music lovers and purchase some beautifully recorded and manufactured vinyl records? Record Store Day is just the opportunity to do such a thing and while many record labels have something interesting to offer, Craft Recordings continues to make an enduring name for themselves when it comes to catalog choices and excellent vinyl manufacturing quality. To tell us all about it, Craft head of A&R, Mark Piro, joins me this...2022-04-1750 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothDr. James Beckett Discusses Common Ground Between Record Collectors and Baseball Card CollectorsSpring fever is in the air and Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is just behind us: there’s no better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons than with America’s Pastime. But what do music and baseball have in common? Well, aside from the fact that there have been numerous songs written about baseball - and conversely many classic tunes tht have been used to pump up the energy level at a ballpark - both of them are connected to very voracious collecting communities: like vinyl records, baseball card collecting is also going through a renais...2022-04-1040 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothAvi Wisnia and His Latest Release, "Catching Leaves"Even though listening to and collecting music are wonderful pastimes, it is when you’re able to actually share in the creative process of performing, creating and playing music with someone else that true bonds are forged. Avi Wisnia and I met while both performing at the - now defunct - New Jersey Songwriters Conference which took place, for many years, in beautiful Cape May, NJ. Avi would perform his set, I would perform mine, and many other talented songwriters would perform their sets as well. We all cheered each other on, networked and learned more about each ot...2022-04-0332 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothEden Ahbez's "Dharmaland" as Performed by ÌxtahueleAmerica is very fortunate to have supported many different genres of music: there are composers of every stripe scattered throughout all 50 states. However, there is one style of music that has been long taken for granted and that is Exotica. The genre became popular during the American mid-century and is often associated with the Tiki bar scene and maybe Pee Wee’s Playhouse; it consists of melodies that imbue a certain mysterious quality coupled with percussion and - sometimes - even animal noises and other common jungle sounds. One of...2022-03-2732 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothCarlos Santana and His New Album, "Blessings and Miracles"Rock and roll didn’t waste any time growing up, even in the earliest years of its inception. Like a delicious batch of chili, it heartily welcomed extra ingredients and spices. In fact, it was those accouterments which allowed the revolutionary musical style to splinter and create so many successful sub-genres.Carlos Santana did more than anyone else in those early days to initiate and imbue strong Afro-Latin influences into a traditional rock and roll framework. But he continued - and continues - to grow; finding new musical landscapes to explore with the legendarily ta...2022-03-1127 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothGilbert O'Sullivan and His Upcoming American TourPeople don’t want to be songwriters so much anymore. Sure, maybe they want to write songs, but today it’s a part of some other greater, grander plan: maybe super stardom in one way or another; songwriting in the 21st century is often a means to an end.But there was a time when a musical person recognized that they didn’t want to be the one surrounded in the stage's spotlight, but did want to find the chops to write a song from scratch armed only with their voice, a piano, and maybe...2022-03-0533 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothScott Shannon and the New Z100 Documentary, "From Worst to First"The top of the Empire State Building is an impressive place to say that you’re doing any activity, and it’s even more exciting to say it’s where you’re hosting a radio program. That’s what listeners in the New York City area imagined when they tuned to Z100 on their radio dial. Okay, so maybe in actuality they weren’t broadcasting exactly from that lofty location, but the theatrical panache solidified Z100 into what is now considered perhaps the most influential radio station in the world. However, there was a time when tha...2022-02-2044 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMarc Hollander and the Crammed Discs Record LabelThe idea of being eclectic is a beautiful one, who doesn’t want to experience the depth and breadth of whatever it is they are trying to experience? However, usually, we find that institutions reject the heavy lifting that comes with embracing an eclectic body of work. Be it a restaurant, radio station, or shoe store; most things have some sort of theme, some kind of common thread. It’s understandable, such expectations are necessary; humans like familiarity.However, sometimes we’re excited to buy the ticket and take the ride, no matter where it mig...2022-02-1241 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMarshall Crenshaw and His Recently Reissued, "#447"Marshall Crenshaw bridged an important gap during the end of the twentieth century. His early hits glimpsed into the recent past; recognizing the work of the 50s and 60s masters but soldering it onto 1980s pop thereby creating a sort of vintage-modern hybrid. Crenshaw also portrayed Buddy Holly in the 1987 film, La Bamba which added yet another layer to his aura back then: as if he were saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to nail this Buddy Holly cover right now, but stick around to hear my original music, too.” And there was always plenty of fant...2022-02-0637 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJacob Plasse and Orquesta Akokán's Release, "16 Rayos"Jacob Plasse is the producer of - and a musician in - the critically acclaimed Cuban big band, Orquesta Akokán and he is my guest on this episode. Jacob and the group found great success with their first self-titled, Grammy nominated album and they have returned with another electrifying set of tunes highlighting and elevating their love of Cuban music, specifically within the mambo genre. The new LP is titled, 16 Rayos.Jacob tells us about the dedicated cast of characters involved in this project and he takes us on a deeper dive into w...2022-01-3032 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothMixing Engineers, Arthur Stoppe and Jim Gallagher and The Sound of Philadelphia Box SetsSure, there’s Detroit’s Motown, Los Angeles' famed music scene and we know all about the great records that were recorded and produced in New York City. However, during a certain, special period of time in the 1970s, Philadelphia reigned supreme. Philadelphia International Records was founded in 1971 by songwriting and production team Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and their partner, Thom Bell. During their heyday, the label produced 170 gold and platinum records, many of which still remain radio mainstays.Philadelphia International had its signature sound: slick and professional, full of angelic voices, lush stri...2022-01-231h 01The Sharp Notes with Evan TothCorey Feldman and His New Box Set and Album, "Love Left 2.1"Corey Feldman is an icon: he represents a certain time and place for a generation of moviegoers who existed just prior to the internet’s big bang, before wi-fi conquered civilization. In the 1980s, one didn’t begin watching a film without assuming Feldman might pop up somewhere; he appeared in an astounding batch of pop culture blockbusters; many of which still roundly resonate today: Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985), Stand By Me (1986), The Lost Boys (1987), and many more. Feldman - with his entertainment pal, Corey Haim - was also one half of the eighties showbiz power-duo known as “The Two Coreys...2022-01-1759 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothEric Valdivieso and His New Book, "The Valdivieso Method"We begin the new year by trying something a little different. This week, we focus our radar’s attention on food. And we talk about it with the “highest paid professional restaurant server on the planet.” Meet Eric Valdivieso, he’s a longtime food service industry insider who has a new book out called, “The Valdivieso Method” which explores the idea of applying the tools he learned in the service industry to other service oriented businesses.You’ll hear Eric’s story of how he went through the restaurant ranks and learned his craf...2022-01-0928 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJake Shimabukuro and His New Star-Studded Album, "Jake and Friends"Sometimes, it’s the smallest instruments that make the biggest impact. If you’re of a certain age, you can remember tuning into this new thing called YouTube to watch a young man absolutely shred on a version of the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. What made this musician stand out, however, was that he did it on ukulele. Over the last two decades, Jake Shimabukuro has not only continued to become the preeminent ukelele player on Earth, but he’s also branched out to bring the instrument places it has never gone before. Most...2021-12-1436 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothFrank Maston and his Latest Album, "Souvenir" with the Swiss Band, L'éclairAny good collection has a great number of different niches and subcategories: music and record collecting is no different. Some of us focus on rare soundtracks or hard-to-find instrumental music from Europe and the US that was released in the 1960s and 70s. One could scour record stores for years and spend a great deal of money trying to chase down these revered sounds, or you could just pick up some releases by Frank Maston and be done with it. Frank Maston - who goes just by Maston - is an American musician, composer a...2021-12-0529 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothThe Future of The Cassette Tape With Dr. Iain Taylor from Birmingham City UniversityVinyl gets plenty of love in the 21st century even though streaming offers plenty of convenience and stability, while the venerable CD quietly sits waiting for someone to rediscover it. But what’s left for the cassette? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Iain Taylor who joins us all the way from Birmingham City University in the UK. Taylor is a Lecturer in Music Industries, and a researcher within the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research. As an educator, Iain teaches primarily on the Music Industries degree, leading modules which explore the cultural and emotive value of...2021-11-2927 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothEvan Toth's (Me) Latest Album, "The Show" with Liberty DeVitto and Richie CannataAs you know, this program typically finds me exploring the work of others, but for this episode, I hope you’ll allow me to turn the attention over to myself. The last few years have found me compiling a special project: it’s my new album, it’s called “The Show” and there is an interesting story attached to it that I think you’ll enjoy hearing. Like many folks growing up in the 80s and 90s, I became a big fan of Billy Joel. During Billy’s most successful years, his band consisted of a stable lin...2021-11-221h 21The Sharp Notes with Evan TothThe Zombies' Colin Blunstone and the Reissue of His First Solo Album, "One Year"It’s hard to look back at the British Invasion and not be amazed at the level of skill and talent that came across the pond to impact and influence the revolutionary pop music that was being made worldwide at the time. One of the major bands to break out of the UK was The Zombies who hit it big in 1964 with, “She’s Not There” and continued to have hits throughout the 1960s. The wonderfully romantic and singular voice of the band was that of Colin Blunstone who is my guest this week. The career of...2021-11-1445 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothWayne Johnson from Rockaway Records and the High End Vinyl and Collectibles MarketAs a music lover, sometimes it’s hard for us to differentiate between being fans of music vs. being collectors. What part of our listening is really about enjoying the sounds of our favorite artist and what part of it is merely fulfilling a nostalgic desire? Since 1979, brothers Wayne and Gary Johnson have owned Rockaway Records in Los Angeles, California. Over the last 40 plus years, a mind-boggling treasure trove of music and memorabilia have passed through their hands and their shop still stands strong today. Now, bear in mind, Wayne and Gary don’t just sell your regular, run-of-the-mill item...2021-11-0747 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothLeslie Kogan Discusses Andrew Gold and "Spooky Scary Skeletons"Andrew Gold was a sort of Zelig figure in popular music during his career. If you fell in love with his music in any place, you’d probably be surprised to see him pop up somewhere else. Gold was a talented singer-songwriter with his own string of excellent and underrated solo albums and a Top 10 hit “Lonely Boy”, but there was much more. He was also Linda Ronstadt’s arranger and a multi-instrumentalist on several of her albums and he toured with the Eagles and James Taylor. His song, “Thank You For Being a Friend” was rerecorded for use in the mega...2021-10-2440 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothNYC Artist Ted Reiderer and His Never Records ProjectWhenever the mailman delivers a package that looks like a record, there’s no doubt that I become excited. Such was the case when I received something from Ted Riederer and Never Records. Except, something was off...while the package’s dimensions were correct, the weight was wrong, “this is light,” I thought. The packaging inside was that of a fully designed record sleeve, but - as I was to soon learn - there was no actual record inside, no disc. Intrigued, I began to uncover the story of Never Records and learn its motto which is: you are not list...2021-10-171h 03
The Sharp Notes with Evan TothDavid Duchovny and His Newest Musical Release, "Gestureland"David Duchovny is one of those rare entertainment birds who has managed to craft a career in show business utilizing his many passions. Everyone is familiar with his portrayal of Agent Fox Mulder in the X-Files and his successful run with Californication both of which afforded Duchovny Golden Globe awards. But there are other artistic outlets that he continues to explore.An English major and graduate from Princeton University, it’s natural for Duchovny to express himself with a word processor. He’s written four books which have received strong reviews. His latest is titled, Truly Like Ligh...2021-10-0329 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothVan Dyke Parks Discusses His New Work With Verónica Valerio, "Only In America, Solo En America"It’s not hyperbole to say that musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer Van Dyke Parks is a legendary or mythical creature in pop music folklore. Sure, you know how Brian Wilson recruited him to join his creative process on what was to be the Beach Boys’ penultimate masterpiece, Smile. But there’s so much more to his career: aside from his critically acclaimed solo albums - Parks has historically been involved in a number of notable musical projects, always searching to shed light on music and stories that are astutely sui generis.During quarantine, Parks orchestrated four s...2021-09-2632 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothGordon Anderson Discusses His Record Label, Real Gone MusicMuch of the music we listen to today comes from different generations. It may be an old favorite like Led Zeppelin, or it might be a group that was under the radar for many years before finally having their hey-day long after they’d ceased to exist as a group, like Big Star. Behind the contemporary music scenes, there is a full-blown industry involved in keeping popular records in print and releasing albums that deserve a second chance.Meet Gordon Anderson who has spent much of his life doing both things. He was the co-founder of the ub...2021-09-2037 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothGregory Porter Talks New Tour and His CareerGregory Porter embodies the best of what a popular singer should be: he’s a suave and stylish songbird with the heart of a poet, painting the lyrics he’s reciting onto his canvas while letting his soul lead the way. With six albums under his belt, he’s had the opportunity to do a little bit of everything, and do it well: from traditional interpretations from the Great American Songbook to more contemporary fare. If that weren’t enough, he’s also a talented songwriter.Like all of us, Mr. Porter is ready to get the needle bac...2021-09-1223 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothSuzanne Vega Discusses Recent Release, "An Evening of New York Songs and Stories" and Her Upcoming TourFor some folks, New York City is a place they’ve only seen in movies or read about in books; a mysterious, mystical place full of danger and excitement where fame or fortune - or failure - might be lurking around any corner. For those of us familiar with the Big Apple, we know that description is mostly true. No one, however, has characterized New York City in a song quite like Suzanne Vega. Vega began her career as part of the neo-folk scene that was taking hold in Manhattan in the early 1980s, but she broke through to th...2021-09-0727 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothWillie Nile Discusses New Album, "The Day the Earth Stood Still"It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when troubadours would travail the twilight streets of New York City with a guitar strapped to their back and scribbled lyrics written in coffee shops crammed into the pockets of their Levis. These minstrels would then perform those tunes to audiences who went out specifically to see something new, to learn about new voices and musical directions. Willie Nile can tell you more about it, he was there. Discovered by Clive Davis in the late 1970s, in many ways, Nile was the last of that generation of...2021-08-2229 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothCrowded House's Elroy Finn Talks New Album, "Elroy"Elroy is the son of Crowded House’s Neil Finn and, just like much of his musical family, he is a unique artist all his own. While he is currently playing drums in dad’s band, Elroy also has a brand new album out and it is simply titled, Elroy on Grand Phony Records. Written, produced, recorded, and mixed by Elroy himself, the album is a moody and mellow slice of modern day psychedelia. Elroy joins me all the way from New Zealand to discuss the writing and production of his new album, his musical family and its i...2021-08-1621 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothRobby Takac from the Goo Goo Dolls Discusses Their New Release, "Rarities"Robby Takac can tell you some stories! A founding member of the Goo Goo Dolls in the 1980s: he was there in those rough and tumble hard rock early days and evolved with the band to produce some of the most heard alternative rock numbers of the 1990s. In fact, the band’s song “Iris” was ranked #1 on Billboard's "Top 100 Pop Songs 1992–2012" chart. While Robby and longtime Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik work on a new album, it seemed it was the right time for them to dive into the archives and compile and produce an anthology...2021-08-0227 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothRozzi and Her New Song, "I Can't Go to the Party"It’s unusual to discuss an album that doesn’t fully yet exist yet, but that’s what’s happening here with soul and R&B singer-songwriter, Rozzi who joins me this week to discuss her new song, “I Can’t Go to the Party” which encapsulates the age-old and awkward experience of navigating a social setting with an old paramour, and I won’t say more, just tune in to hear Rozzi explain how the scenario went down.Discovered by Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Rozzi’s voice is full of depth, yearning, and character. Of course, we talk about the so...2021-07-1811 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothSpandau Ballet's Gary Kemp and His New Album, "In Solo"Gary Kemp cut his teeth as a band member of the immensely popular 1980’s New Romantic, synth-pop band, Spandau Ballet. As their chief composer, his participation in the group was fundamental to its success; Kemp is responsible for writing a song that you’ve heard many times - in fact, BMI has awarded it one of the most played songs in American history with 5 million airplays, and counting: the 1983 mega-super- hit, “True.” Kemp released his first solo album - Little Bruises - in 1995, but now he’s come back again with his first new album in 25 years, it’s called...2021-07-1123 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothShannon McNally and Her New Album, "The Waylon Sessions"The work of certain musical artists occasionally transcend the initial audience and genre they were intended for. Waylon Jennings, best known as a cornerstone of country music’s “Outlaw Movement”, produced a body of work during his lifetime that encapsulated a certain place and time in American musical history. But the music he composed, and the recordings he made, are now being re-contextualized from a female perspective. Songwriter and performer, Shannon McNally, has long-since admired the music of Jennings and envisioned looking at his music through a female lens which she’s done on her latest release, The Waylo...2021-06-2732 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothEric Slick from Dr. Dog Discusses Latest Releasd, "Wiseacre"Every so often, there is a member of a well-known band who truly blooms after stepping into the spotlight on their own terms. Such is the case for Eric Slick who is also the drummer from that fabulous band from Philadelphia, Dr. Dog. In 2020, Eric released his second solo recording - Wiseacre - via Bandcamp which - given the current state of the the rabid vinyl buying community - sold out pretty quickly. In conjunction with ORG Music, Mr. Slick has reissued the album on red and yellow vinyl, of course. It’s always a litt...2021-06-2135 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothLaura Benack and Steven Mertens of Bass Race Discuss Their New Album, "Tender Vittles"Laura Benack and Steven Mertens are a duo that go by the name Bass Race. They may have created a 21st century fusion of music on their new release Tender Vittles, but something about them feels comfortably old fashioned. You can feel their familial connections to music and the arts, the respect they have for old-school Los Angeles, and the way they nurture their own relationship in a respectful and fruitful way. As you’ll hear, their musical influences are rich and tasteful and pull inspiration from some of the best r&b, soul and funk music of...2021-06-1429 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothKenny Loggins and His New Compilation, "At the Movies"It’s an understatement to say that Kenny Loggins has achieved massive success in the entertainment industry. He’s been on the Billboard Top Ten charts over 20 times and sold over 25 million records. Many of the songs he’s created have become an important part of the musical fabric of a certain time and place in American history. All that aside, Kenny Loggins has had one of the most successful runs in history creating pop songs for film; so much so, that he’s known in the industry as “The Soundtrack King.” Mr. Loggins celebrates his soundtrack kingdom by re...2021-06-0627 min
The Sharp Notes with Evan TothGary Numan and His New Album, "Intruder"Can you remember the first time you heard the song, “Cars”? At that moment, it must have been obvious that Gary Numan looked at things a little bit differently than you or I do; that he was full of a wisdom and intellect that we mere Earthlings do not possess. The good news is that Gary Numan is still putting his unique insights to music.Gary’s new album is titled Intruder and it is an exploration of the concept that the Earth is tired of us lowly humans kicking it around and has decided to fight back...2021-06-0140 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothGina Schock from the Go-Go's and the Reissue of "God Bless the Go-Go's"If you’re hoping to be a rockstar, you’ve got to have drive, ambition, a sense of luck, faith and - perhaps, most importantly - you’ve got to have a great sense of humor. Gina Schock has all of those attributes, and more, and she needed those tools to hold down the backbeat for the most successful all-female band of all time: The Go-Go’s. If you saw the recent Allison Ellwood directed documentary, The Go-Go’s, you’ll know that the band soared to the highest showbiz highs and sank to some pretty lousy lows. Witnessin...2021-05-1036 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothFrank Ene and His Latest, "No Longer"“What are you about, man?” That’s the question Frank Ene asked himself when writing and recording the music for his latest EP, No Longer. Hearing Frank explain it, this was his opportunity to gaze into the mirror and paint a musical portrait of who he is, or who he was. The music on No Longer is dark, and the 90s kids in the room might hear some influences in the way of Enigma, or late-stage Duran Duran and Frank is happy if that’s what you hear, because he loves those sounds from the 1990s as well whic...2021-05-0221 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothPete Krebs and His New Album, "All My Friends Are Ghosts"Pete Krebs is a musical chameleon. It was the 1990s when his career began in the band Hazel which was a very popular alternative rock and roll group on Sub Pop Records. In those days, Krebs even formed a friendship and musical partnership with indie rock hero and legend Elliott Smith. Yes, I’ve been trying to track down their split-single for many years, but that’s another story. He’s also been inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.Since then, Krebs has continued experimenting and expanding his musical palate. Catching one of his shows, or lis...2021-04-2426 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJon Klages and His New Album, "Fabulous Twilight"Some of us were just born to do the things we do; it’s in our blood, in our genes. Jon Klages is one of those folks whose lineage belies a musical connection. His grandfather was a popular and successful producer during the latter half of the 20th century, Enoch Light. Light was known for his exciting and fun recordings on his own Command Records label. Often his productions were worthy of an audiophile’s discerning ear. Light was also known for the groundbreaking abstract and minimalist album art that graced the covers of many of his recordings: some the...2021-04-1831 min
Glass Houses - A Billy Joel PodcastEP 031 - Awards Show Appearances Part 1 + Conversation with Evan TothBilly Joel is no stranger to awards shows and other accolades. Following 1977’s The Stranger, he’s won a handful of industry awards, was nominated for plenty more, and gave a few memorable — and in, one case, literally show stopping — performances.
And, when you’re tracking award show appearances over three decades, you also start noticing trends and changes within the industry and its major players over the years.
But before taking a look back, we have some exciting news for Billy Joel fans: The core of the classic Lords of 52nd Street band...2021-04-131h 17The Sharp Notes with Evan TothTracy Bonham Discusses Her New Album, "Young Maestros, Vol. I"Tracy Bonham can do it all. You might remember her from the late 90s when she released The Burdens of Being Upright album and screamed right into the faces of the alternative rock world. Or, maybe you learned about her through her terrific albums and career that followed over the course of the last twenty years, but now, she’s back and she wants to teach you a lesson!No, like a real lesson. Tracy takes a studious approach to music and wants to share her musical training with kids who have an interest in learning about it...2021-04-1131 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothSunny War Talks About Her New Album, "Simple Syrup"It doesn’t happen often, but every once in a while, I drop the needle on a record and can feel something special happening; a sort of groundswell. As if something is growing, or getting ready to burst. This was my experience when listening to Sunny War’s new album, Simple Syrup (Hen House Studios). I won’t even pretend that I’ve fully immersed myself in the album yet, as there is a lot left for me to unpack and figure out - lyrics that I’m still uncoiling and processing. It’s an album to revisit for years to com...2021-04-0428 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothSuzi Quatro's New Album, "The Devil in Me"It’s not often we get to throw around the phrase “legend” or “trailblazer” without hyperbole, but that’s exactly what we’ve got on this week’s program. Suzi Quatro is credited as being the first instrument playing female to lead a successful rock and roll band which - when she came upon the male dominated music scene in the early 1970s - was no small feat. Suzi has done it all: several top ten hits throughout the world, a starring role in Happy Days as Leather Tuscadero, and she recently saw the release of an excellent documen...2021-03-2116 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothJude Warne and Her New Book, "America, The Band - An Authorized Biography"2021 marks the golden anniversary of the band America. That’s 50 years of unique and carefully crafted rock music that was always adorned with strummy acoustic goodness, the best harmonies this side of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and sui generis lyrical content. The band has released 18 studio albums (many produced by George Martin of The Beatles) and they still have a formidable presence on the touring circuit. While bands of similar stature have had their histories dissected and anthologized, the story of America has never endured such an investigation. Author, Jude Warne, saw the opportunity to fill the...2021-03-1434 minThe Sharp Notes with Evan TothLorenzo Wolff's Judee Sill Project, "Down Where the Valleys Are Low"Judee Sill was a California-based songwriter who came of age during the peak of the Laurel Canyon scene in the early 1970s and she mingled with the likes of Jackson Brown and Joni Mitchell. In fact, Sill was even the first artist to be signed to David Geffen’s Asylum Records label. But, Judee - and her music - generally tapped into something a little darker; more dangerous than her colleagues did. Sill relied on Christianity, mysticism and occult imagery that could sometimes be comforting and uplifting, yet simultaneously looming and foreboding.Judee released two very well-regarded al...2021-03-0730 min
The Sharp Notes with Evan TothA.J. Croce and His New Album, "By Request"Let’s start with the bad news, so we can get it out of the way. Musician A.J. Croce lost his father - famed singer-songwriter, Jim Croce - before he was two years old. As if that weren’t enough, A.J. went through a long period of blindness as a child, and - in 2018 - he lost his wife from a rare heart virus. Faced with those challenges, most of us might not be able to find the strength to carry on, let alone produce a rich catalog of music and maintain a busy performing schedule, but that...2021-02-2821 min
The Sharp Notes with Evan TothJim Keller and His New Album, "By No Means"The path to success for most successful people in the entertainment business - or any business, for that matter - is rarely a straight one. Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, but it's all about keeping one’s cool and choosing directions that make sense, even if there is a bit of risk involved. Jim Keller knows he didn’t just wake up one morning to become the longtime manager for Phillip Glass who is one of America’s most celebrated composers and a Kennedy Center Honors recipient who was presented with the U.S. National Medal of the...2021-02-2123 min
The Sharp Notes with Evan TothMason Williams and Craft Recordings' Jazz Dispensary Jazz-Funk ReissuesThe good old days of record collecting are over; the cat is definitely out of the bag. You don’t need me to tell you how sales of vinyl records have been increasing in the last few years. There used to be a time when one could walk up to a garage sale, or into a thrift store, and buy grails for a dollar, or less, but those days are now gone. Additionally, Discogs has created an environment where record stores are well aware of the value of the items displayed on their walls; so the chance of a hi...2021-02-1425 min
The Sharp Notes with Evan TothHowie Klein and the 415 Records ReissuesIt’s not always about money and it’s not always about fame; sometimes an artist has a desire to just share the music that they can’t help but create, but every so often the industry gatekeepers also have more of an interest in art and creativity than just dollars and cents. Meet Howie Klein, a writer, concert promoter, disc jockey, music producer, record label founder, record label executive, progressive political activist, and adjunct professor of music. He’s about as music industry as you’d like to get: he was general manager of Sire Records and was the presid...2021-02-0732 min
The Sharp Notes with Evan TothEric Hutchinson's New Album, "Class of '98"Some people refuse to look back, not wanting to see what’s happened in their past, not wanting to question their decisions or reopen old wounds. Most of the time, this is good advice; the past is a cashed check. However, every once in a while, we allow ourselves to wallow in a bit of nostalgia, to crack open the old high school yearbook and pass through the faces and memories of many years ago. Well, what if you wrote an album about it? That’s what Eric Hutchinson has done and what we’re here to talk...2021-01-2420 min
Hockey Related Anxieties and MoreEpisode 38: Interview With Calgary Hitmen Defensemen Evan TothYou are not going to want to miss this! In the first episode of CHL Player Interviews, Andrew and Tyler interview Calgary Hitmen defensemen Evan Toth. Evan talks about his favourite hockey memories, and what it's like playing in the WHL. We also do a little bit of NHL Trivia, BarDown style. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.2020-12-1922 min