Stay ConnectedBlowing Smoke with Twisted Rico, hosted by music industry veteran Steev Riccardo, brings you weekly conversations with the people who make the music world go round — musicians, songwriters, producers, label execs, roadies, publicists, and more. Each episode also serves up fresh new music picks, honest song reviews, and no-shortage-of-stories rock ‘n’ roll road tales
Follow along on Instagram @blowingsmokewithTR, or reach out to Steev directly at twistedrico@gmail.com.
Copyright: © Steev Riccardo
On this week's show, we are joined one of the original American Hardcore Punk legends, Dave Dictor of MDC.
Millions of Dead Cops (MDC) is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1981 in Austin, Texas. Known for its politically charged lyrics and aggressive sound, the band’s name itself reflects its intense stance on political issues—particularly focusing on anti-authoritarian themes, police brutality, and societal injustice.
The band’s music is deeply influenced by the punk rock and hardcore scenes of the early 1980s, blending fast, abrasive guitar riffs with defiant vocals. MDC's lyrics tackle a wide range of topics, from police violence to war, environmental destruction, and social inequalities, often with a provocative and unapologetically confrontational tone.
MDC originally started as a group called The Stains before changing their name to Millions of Dead Cops. They were an integral part of the early hardcore punk scene in Texas and beyond. Their debut album, Millions of Dead Cops (1982), received critical acclaim and helped to establish the band’s reputation in the underground punk community. Over the years, the band's lineup changed several times, but they maintained a dedicated following due to their uncompromising punk ethos.
MDC’s influence extends beyond music, as the band was involved in activism and political movements, aligning themselves with causes like animal rights, anti-capitalism, and anti-authoritarianism. While the band’s popularity peaked in the 1980s and 1990s, MDC continued to perform and release music over the years, maintaining its reputation as a symbol of resistance and a voice for marginalized communities.
Despite facing controversies due to the provocative nature of their name and lyrics, MDC remains an important figure in the history of hardcore punk, contributing to the genre’s political activism and direct engagement with social issues.
Music
MDC "Born To Die
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
Tom Baker of The Dirty Truckers joins us for a live episode at WMFO in Medford, MA, where he performs two tracks from his new album Justine & Me. Tom is accompanied by his friend and fellow musician, Tad Overbaugh, who, along with Mike Newman, takes part in a lively conversation with Tom.
*"Georgia Women" was in fact written by R.L. Burnside
Music
Tom Baker & Justine Covault "You're Still Standing There"
Tom Baker "Coming Back To No One"(Live Acoustic)
Tom Baker "Walk Into The Ocean"(Live Acoustic)
Tom Baker "Where's My Baby Now"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll'
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccrado
Engineered by Mike Newman(WMFO Radio)
Boston powerhouse trio Astral Bitch join us on the show to talk about their latest single "Haunting You", their inspiring cover of the Psychedelic Furs "Pretty In Pink" and life in the music scene...
Music
Astral Bitch "Haunting You"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
twistedrico@gmail.com
Lee Harrington makes an encore appearance on the show to talk about his early life, The Neighborhoods, The Shang Hi Los, and much more...
Lee Harrington is a seasoned musician from Boston, Massachusetts, renowned for his dynamic contributions to the local rock scene. He is best known as the bassist and vocalist for The Neighborhoods, a band celebrated for their high-energy performances and significant influence on Boston's music landscape. In 1987, The Neighborhoods opened for David Bowie at Sullivan Stadium, an event that left a lasting impression on both the band and their audience.
Beyond his work with The Neighborhoods, Harrington is a member of The Shang Hi Los, a Boston-based rock band that blends elements of garage rock, punk, and power pop. The Shang Hi Los released their debut EP, "Kick It Like a Wicked Habit," in 2021, followed by their full-length album, "Aces Eights & Heartbreaks," in January 2023.
Additionally, Harrington has collaborated with Lynda Mandolyn, known for her work with Tiger Bomb and Crystal Canyon, on a project that resulted in the song "Real Love." This collaboration highlights Harrington's versatility and his ability to connect with fellow musicians across different genres.
Music
The Neighborhoods "Love Holiday"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
In this bonus episode, we take a look back at the Victory At Sea "Memories Fade" album and pay respects to the late Herbie Flowers.
Music
Victory At Sea "Happy For You"
Victory At Sea "Break Of Day"
additional music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
On this episode, we are joined by Justin Keane and Amy Young, the fantastic indie rock duo known as Canyons And Locusts.
Canyons and Locusts is a melodic noise-rock duo from Boston and Phoenix, consisting of Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) from Boston and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals) from Phoenix. The band’s sound is defined by edgy guitar riffs, pulsating drum beats, and emotionally charged vocals, blending indie rock influences with an experimental edge.
Both Keane and Young honed their craft in previous bands before joining forces to create Canyons and Locusts. The duo’s music evokes a raw, atmospheric energy, with each song exploring different emotional landscapes.
The band’s upcoming 2025 concept album, "The Goal Gigolo", is inspired by a vivid dream Keane had about a character of the same name. The album is described as a cinematic journey, drawing comparisons to Robert Altman’s film "The Long Goodbye".
Their 2024 EP, "The Red Angel", marked a significant step in their sonic evolution, featuring the singles "Buck Dharma's Eyes" and "To Art Bell." The track "Anna Save A Life" will appear on "The Goal Gigolo", adding to the anticipation for the full album's release.
Canyons and Locusts continue to push boundaries with their unique blend of storytelling, sound, and emotion.
Music
Canyons And Locusts "Anna Save A Life"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
The interview segment of this episode was originally recorded and aired in October 2022. Congratulations to SSD on their induction into the New England Music Hall Of Fame!
Music
SSD - "Glue"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
SSD interview recorded at Voice Motel by Mike Nash
In this special episode, Warren Zanes joins us to share the incredible journey of his life—from his teenage years playing in The Del Fuegos to his remarkable career as an author. He talks about his books on Tom Petty, Dusty Springfield, and his latest work, Deliver Me From Nowhere, which is soon to be adapted into a film. The book dives into the making of Bruce Springsteen's iconic Nebraska album.
From https://www.warren-zanes.comWarren Zanes is a New York Times bestselling author, a Grammy-nominated documentary producer, and a professor currently teaching at at New York University. As a teenager, Warren Zanes joined The Del Fuegos, making three records for Slash/Warner Bros.. Later, after earning his Ph.D in Visual and Cultural Studies from The University of Rochester, Zanes released Memory Girls, the first of four solo recordings made for Dualtone Nashville. In the non-profit area, Warren was the Vice President of Education and Public Programs at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and, for ten years, Executive Director of The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation. His books include Dusty in Memphis, the first volume in the celebrated 33 1/3 Series, Petty: The Biography, Revolutions in Sound: Warner Bros. Records, and his new book about Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, Deliver Me from Nowhere. With Garth Brooks, Zanes has worked on five books in the artist’s Anthology Series. Among his work in film, Zanes was a consulting producer on the Oscar-winning Twenty Feet from Stardom, a producer on the Grammy-nominated PBS/Soundbreaking series, conducted interviews for Martin Scorsese’s George Harrison: Living in the Material World, and served as writer for The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash. He is an active member of both poet Paul Muldoon’s Rogue Oliphant collective and a family that includes his sons, Lucian and Piero.
Music
Warren Zanes "I'll Never Forget That Day With You"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
Special bonus episode featuring audio clips from various shows by Warren Zanes, Frank Meyer, Rev Hank, Mariel Loveland, Corey Loog Brennan, Dana Colley(Morphine), Britt Lightning(Vixen), Keith Bennett, Pete Cassani, Emily Grogan, Jo Krieger(JVK), Devon Thompson, Emily Whitehurst, Tom Baker, Jim McCarty(The Yardbirds), and Dave Amato(REO Speedwagon).
Music
Ultrabomb "Who Knows"
JVK "Freak"(live acoustic)
Astral Bitch "Haunting You"
Rob Moss and Skin Tight Skin "We Just Don't Know"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
In this episode, we're joined by Destiny Costa, a DJ at Boston's Mark Skin Radio and a contributor to the Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico podcast. Destiny also starred in the 1996 indie film Chalk, delivering a fantastic performance. We dive into all of that, plus geek out over our favorite bands and tunes!
"Chalk" https://vimeo.com/ondemand/chalkfilm
Music
Greg Allen's Fringe Religion "She's Stoned"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
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