Tag Archives: podcast

Shows

#117 – Jackie DeShannon – When You Walk Into the Room

She dated Elvis and Jimmy Page, toured with the Beatles, and wrote many hit songs – Jackie DeShannon is one interesting lady.

Way before the current crop of women from Lady Gaga to Taylor Swift began ruling the charts, DeShannon blazed a trail in the early 1960’s, showing that a woman could sing, play guitar, write and produce her own recordings.  She penned hits for many artists, including Brenda Lee, the Searchers and Marianne Faithful.  She scored hits of her own with “What the World Needs Now is Love,” and “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.”

DeShannon has a brand new album out, When You Walk Into the Room, where she performs stripped-down renditions of her hit songs, and tunes she wrote for others.  Icon Fetch talks to the Kentucky native about how difficult it was trying to be taken seriously in the male-dominated music business, her famous boyfriends, and the story behind one of her most famous compositions, “Bette Davis Eyes,” a monster hit for Kim Carnes in 1981.

Shows

#116 – Thomas Dolby – A Map of the Floating City

Thomas Dolby, the man behind such enduring hits as “She Blinded Me With Science,” and “Hyperactive,” is readying his first new studio album in 20 years, A Map of the Floating City, an eclectic mix of styles recorded at Dolby’s own home studio, and featuring several guests, including Mark Knopfler and Regina Spektor.  Icon Fetch talks to the video pioneer about doing most of the work himself this time around.  He also tells a great story about playing with David Bowie at the monumental Live Aid concert in 1985. Hear the Icon Fetch interview with Thomas Dolby by clicking below.

We talked with Dolby back in March of 2011 about the release of the EP Oceanea.  He also tells us the story behind “She Blinded Me With Science.”  Listen to that interview by clicking below.

Shows

#115 – Nina Blackwood – Original MTV VJ

Nina Blackwood was one of the original five VJs that played all that crazy music in the early days of MTV.  Unbelievably the network quietly just celebrated it’s 30th anniversary.  Icon Fetch sits down with the former Ohio resident about how she got chosen to join the fledgling network and what those early days were like, when it seemed like new music was spilling over everywhere.  We also touch on some of her current projects, including the nationally-syndicated Nina Blackwood’s Absolutely 80’s, and her daily slot on Sirius/XM’s 80’s on 8 channel.

Shows

#114 – Hiromi Kanda – Days of Yesterday

A Japanese singer doing songs by great American songwriters like Gershwin and Cole Porter sounds like a novel idea, but Hiromi Kanda succeeds through her excellent interpretations, and her expressive voice.  Her new album, Days of Yesterday, features backing by a 50-piece orchestra recorded at the legendary Capitol Recording Studios in Hollywood.  The fine arrangements by Matt Catingub help breathe new life into these treasured classics.  The disc also features the great pianist Joe Sample on three of the songs.

Icon Fetch talks to the current resident of Hawaii about how she got exposed to this great music, how she won a Japanese TV contest similar to American Idol as a teen, and how she whittled down possible songs for the new record from a list of over 100.

Shows

#113 – Kent Crowley – Surf Beat book

That cool music you hear in the movie Pulp Fiction – that’s surf music, and here’s how it all happened.

When most people hear the words “surf music,” they immediately think the Beach Boys, yet there’s so much more to that under-appreciated style.  During a span of about five years between the late Fifties and early Sixties, surf music was king – helping literally shape the sound of the electric guitar, a crucial element to all the rock music that followed, while also producing durable songs like “Wipe Out,” “Miserlou,” and “Pipeline,” that have continued to be included in movies and commercials.  Author Kent Crowley has written a new book called Surf Beat – Rock n’ Roll’s Forgotten Revolution, which chronicles the rise and fall of this genre, as well as it’s resurgence in the Nineties with the movie Pulp Fiction.  Icon Fetch talks to the author about the long process of gathering information for the book, and some of it’s unlikely heroes, including Frank Zappa, Ritchie Valens, and Bobby Fuller.

Shows

#112 – Eric Schenkman of Spin Doctors – Pocketful of Kryptonite 20th Anniversary

Eric Schenkman of Spin Doctors - Pocketful of Kryptonite 20th Anniversary

Their album was dead in the water, but the Spin Doctors kept plugging away…and it paid off.

They’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pocketful of Kryptonite, their debut album, with a deluxe 2-CD set from Legacy Recordings, featuring a remastered version of the original CD, plus an entire disc of rare early recordings from the band that has never been released commercially.  Icon Fetch sits down with Doc’s guitarist Eric Schenkman, who takes us through the early days, how they got signed to a major label, and what influence John Popper of Blues Traveler had on the band.

Shows

#111 – Tommy Keene – Behind the Parade

Tommy Keene - Behind the Parade

–For 30 years, he’s created radio ready music that never gets played on the radio–

Melodic rock, power pop, or just plain good music – whatever you call it, Tommy Keene has been making it for the last 30 years.  Hot on the heels of 2010’s 2-CD anthology, we sit down again with Keene to talk about his brand-new studio album Behind the Parade.  Unique to this project, he recorded most of the instruments himself at his home studio.  Yet, the signature Tommy Keene sound, with chiming guitars, memorable hooks, and big drums (courtesy of session-ace Rob Brill), are all intact.  We also touch on the crazy video he made for the first single, “Deep Six Saturday.”


 

Shows

#110 -Terri Nunn of Berlin – Between the Sheets

Terri Nunn of Berlin - Between the Sheets

–One of her videos was banned in the early days of MTV–

Terri Nunn fronted the Eighties synth band Berlin, who first rose to prominence with their controversial single “Sex (I’m a…)” in 1982.  MTV refused to play that steamy bit of erotica, but did put other Berlin tracks like “The Metro,” and “No More Words” into heavy rotation.  The band eventually hit pay dirt with “Take My Breath Away” from the Top Gun Soundtrack, which rocketed to number one in 1986.  But, that stab at commercialism tore the band apart and Nunn went solo.  Now, she is readying her first set of original material in nine years, which she hopes to release later this fall.  Icon Fetch talks to the former actress about co-hosting the new podcast “Between the Sheets” with Gaye Ann Bruno, recording her new material and the story behind “Take My Breath Away.”

Shows

#109 – Rick Derringer & Gary Wright – Hippiefest

Rick Derringer & Gary Wright - Hippiefest

Rick Derringer was just 17 years old when his band hit with “Hang on Sloopy” – how did he deal with fame at such an early age?

Hippiefest 2011 is coming to a city near you.  Featuring Rick Derringer, Dave Mason, Gary Wright, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, and Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, it proves to be a night filled with great songs and performances.  Icon Fetch gives you a preview of the tour with interviews by both Rick Derringer and Gary Wright.  With Rick’s interview, we hear the story behind the smash hit “Hang on Sloopy,” which he sang on at the tender age of 17.   With Gary’s chat, we hear about his involvement in a new film about his friend, the late George Harrison.  Plus, both give insight into the current Hippiefest 2011, which is touring the country.

Shows

#108 – Mike Molenda – Guitar Heroes of the 70s

Mike Molenda - Guitar Heroes of the 70s

How on earth do you whittle down a list of the Greatest Guitarists of the 1970s to fit in one book?

Mike Molenda has been the editor of Guitar Player magazine since 1998.  He’s just put together Guitar Player Presents Guitar Heroes of the 70’s, a collection of classic interviews with 40 of the most influential guitarists that helped shape that decade.  Included in the book are familiar heavyweights like Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Pete Townshend.  Also featured are lesser-known axemen like Mick Ronson, Larry Coryell, and Lenny Breau.  Icon Fetch talks with Molenda about how he whittled the list down to just 40, how he chose which interviews to use, and his personal favorites