Tag Archives: NC artists

#290 – Peter Holsapple – Don’t Mention the War

Legendary melodic songwriter Peter Holsapple is back with a new vinyl 45, his first new solo project in 20 years.

Peter was a touring musician for both R.E.M. and Hootie & the Blowfish

If you trace the roots of Power Pop,  in the Seventies you had the Raspberries, Badfinger & Big Star.  Later in the Nineties you had artists like Matthew Sweet, the Gin Blossoms & Weezer that were able to have commercial success.  But, during the decade in the middle there – the Eighties, it was all about funny hair and keyboards, and it was hard going for the power pop guys.  There were bands like North Carolina’s the dB’s, who released a string of hook-laden albums that gained only a cult following, but are now considered classics.

Singer/guitarist Peter Holsapple not only led the dB’s, he’s also been a member of the alternative supergroup the Continental Drifters, and was a touring member of R.E.M. and Hootie & the Blowfish during their peak years.  Holsapple has just issued a vinyl 45, his first new solo outing in 20 years called “Don’t Mention the War.”

We talk radiofreesongclub.com, the project that helped spur on this recent burst of creativity, plus the excellent music video that accompanies the song.

#281 – Seth Walker – Gotta Get Back

We talk to the man behind one of the best albums of the year

Remember when an album was a collection of great songs that you wanted to play over and over?  Seth Walker does, and he’s recently issued Gotta Get Back, his ninth album, full of his signature soul-blues hybrid.

The new record finds him returning to his roots, enlisting family members to play on the album, and embracing the music that set him down his life’s journey.  It’s easily one of the finest albums of the year.

We talk to him about some of the unique stories behind these great new songs, and how Stevie Ray Vaughan changed his life as a young college student.