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
Vanessa Goldberg, founder of Crystal Ball Records in Bellingham, MA, joins us on the show to discuss the current retail climate, her experience at Nevermind Records, and what's spinning on her turntable.
Music
The Croaks "Big Bug"
Crystal Canyon "Turn Blue"
Additional music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
*The clip at the end of this epsiode is from epsiode 365 with Kenny Chambers.
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
We're excited to welcome back one of our favorite musicians and songwriters, Kenny Chambers of Moving Targets, to the podcast! Kenny joins us to discuss the band's jam-packed 2024 touring plans and give us a sneak peek into their upcoming recording sessions for a highly anticipated 2025 album.
Moving Targets first made their mark in 1984 and have since released a series of standout albums. In addition to his work with the band, Kenny was a key member of Bullet Lavolta and has also put out three solo records over the years.
Music
Moving Targets "Make It Easy"
Additional music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
Mike Fitz of the hard rock band Bad Marriage joins us on the show to discuss the band’s rise to prominence in the Boston hard rock scene, their strong bond with Tesla, and their thrilling experiences on tour across the country!
Music
Bad Marriage "Dangerous"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
audio clip from Episode 272: Britt Lightning
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
On the final episode of 2024, we’re broadcasting live on WMFO (Medford, MA) featuring a special acoustic performance by Jo Krieger from the incredible Boston band JVK.
Music
The Bags "Spread It Around"
JVK "All I Want"(Live)
JVK "Freak"(Live)
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
This episode was engineered by Mike Newman at WMFO
This epsiode features many highlights from the podcast and audio clips from Chris Foley(SSD), Todd Phillips(The Juliana Hatfield 3/Bullet LaVolta), Kurt Davis(Bullet LaVolta), Anna Waronker(That Dog), Brenna Red(The Last Gang), Chris Gates(Big Boys), Juliana Hatfield, Cam Ackland, David Hull, Lenny Zenith, Amber Tortorelli(Sapling), Jackie Fox(The Runaways), Mike Peters(The Alarm), Kelly Ogden(The Dollyrots), Tim Shea(Black Helicopter), Peter Prescott(Mission Of Burma/Mini Beast), and Clif Croce(The Freeze)..
Music
The Outlets "You Don't Need Them"
Applied Knowledge "Not Too Far"
Dag Nasty "Trouble Is"
Avoid One Thing "Next Stop Is The Last"
Gang Green "Out On The Couch"
Vixen "Red"
Additional Music
The Charms “So Pretty”
The Dogmatics “I Love Rock N Roll”
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
Dave Harrison joins us on the show today to talk about his all-star band The False Positives and their new recordings. We also take a trip down memory lane to revisit his work with the late '80s/early '90s band The Voodoo Dolls, along with much more!
The Voodoo Dolls were a garage rock band from Boston, known for their raw, energetic sound that blends elements of punk, rock 'n' roll, and psychedelia. Emerging from the vibrant Boston music scene, the band typically drew inspiration from classic garage rock influences like The Stooges, The Sonics, and The Cramps, while adding their own unique twist.
The band's style featured gritty guitar riffs, pounding rhythms, and rebellious, sometimes cryptic lyrics that reflect the energy and chaos of their live shows. The Voodoo Dolls appealed to fans of underground rock and the DIY ethos, creating music that's raw and unapologetic.
Music
The False Positives "Long Distance Romance"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
#catchingfire #TheHolidays #GarageRock
On this special edition of the podcast, we are joined by Paul Marotta, who played in several legendary Cleveland bands including The Styrenes, The Mirrors, and The Electric Eels. Paul also has the distinct honor as having been the man who hired the host of this show to his very first job in the music business..Yes it's True.
The Electric Eels were a pioneering band in the early Cleveland punk scene, known for their chaotic, raw sound and experimental approach to punk rock. While they didn’t gain widespread recognition during their brief existence in the mid-1970s, they’ve since become influential in the punk and underground music worlds.
The Mirrors were another significant band in Cleveland’s 1970s punk and new wave scene, known for their blend of early punk energy and melodic pop sensibilities. While they never achieved widespread fame, their music and style have become highly regarded by fans of Cleveland’s underground music history.
The Styrenes were another key band in the 1970s Cleveland punk scene, known for their unique blend of garage rock, punk energy, and raw, often chaotic performances. Like many of the bands from this era, they were more influential in the underground scene than they were commercially successful during their time.
Music
The Styrenes "One Fanzine Reader Writes"
The Styrenes "Drano In Your Veins"
The Styrenes "All The Wrong People Are Dying"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
#Cleveland #ElectricEels #TheSyrenes
On this episode we play and talk about some of our favorite songs from 2024...
The Legendary Rich Gilbert “One Ton Tomato”
The Last Gang “Madness”
Egg Drop Soup “One Hit Woman”
Diablogato “Lost Highway”
The Brother Stereo “Time In History”
Already Dead “Rock Bottom”
Linnea’s Garden “Cherry”
Leah Callahan “Super”
The Dogmatics “Library Girl”
The Shang Hi Los “Op Operator”
Spiller “The Sparkler”
Lenny Zenith “One Of Us Should Go”
Gemz “Cycle Stops With Me”
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
Michael Cudahy(Combustible Edison, Christmas) joins us on the show to talk about the release of Propeller Product 4.1 double album.
Cudahy was a founding member of Christmas. Christmas was known for its unique blend of alternative rock, post-punk, and experimental sounds, often with a dark and atmospheric edge. Their music was marked by layered guitar work, unconventional song structures, and a moody, sometimes brooding, tone.
After Christmas, Cudahy went on to form Combustible Edison, a band that took a very different approach, blending lounge music, exotica, and surf rock influences. The group became known for its retro style, incorporating elements of mid-century cocktail culture, instrumental pop, and jazz, but with a contemporary twist.
Vice Magazine piece on Michael Cudahay: https://www.vice.com/en/article/michael-cudahy-talks-about-the-best-label-from-boston-youve-never-heard-of/
Music
Dangerous Birds "Catholic Boy"
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
Lynda Mandolyn( Tiger Bomb, Crystal Canyon) returns to the show to discuss her new maxi single, which includes a heartfelt cover of the classic "I Love How You Love Me." The track serves as a tribute to the late Justine Covault.
Music
Lynda Mandolyn "I Love How You Love Me"
https://lyndamandolyn.bandcamp.com/track/little-dreamer
Additional Music
The Charms "So Pretty"
The Domatics "I Love Rock N Roll"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
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