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 episode of the show, we are joined by lead singer Amanda Mac of the Long Island NY high energy rock n roll outfit Bad Mary. We have a fun conversation with Amanda about the band's roots, their unique family ties, and how their popularity continues to soar in Japan, where they just completed their second tour of the foreign land. We also listen to two new songs from their fantastic latest release, "Trash & Glamour".
Music
The Charms "So Pretty"(theme music)
Bad Mary "Are you With The Band?"
Bad Mary "The Floor Is Lava"
Contact: Steev Riccardo twistedrico@gmail.com
Support the podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blowingsmoketr/subscribe
#BadMary #LongIsland #BlowingSmokewithTwistedRico
This week we are joined on the show by guitarist Alejandro Necochea, who has played a big role in three very popular Boston based bands; Bang Camaro(who he co-founded with Bryn Bennett), Worshipper, and Township(sometimes referred to as The Family Township). We get into Alex's journey that brought him to the states from Chile and what has been a great rock n roll ride so far with much more to come... Enjoy!
Music
The Charms "So Pretty"(theme music)
Bang Camaro "Too Fast To Fall In Love"
Worshipper "Lonesome Boredom Overdrive"
Interview audio recorded by Herb Morsiglio at CCTV.
Support the podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blowingsmoketr/subscribe
Contact: Steev Riccardo twistedrico@gmail.com
#BangCamaro #Worshipper #Township
This week we are joined by a real Rock N Roll warrior. Lead guitarist Dave Amato grew up outside of Boston, played in some pretty cool bands like Ice and August, and then set out for Los Angeles in 1980 with one goal in mind, to be a rock star. Since then he has shared the stage with many greats such as Cher, Ted Nugent, Jimmy Barnes, Kim Carnes, Julian Lennon, and even sang background vocals on a few Motley Crue records and played on a Richie Sambora solo album. In 1989, he joined REO Speedwagon and has been "riding the storm out" ever since. He also has one of the most impressive gear collections, you'll ever see. We had a fantastic fun conversation, enjoy!
Music
The Charms "So Pretty"(theme song)
REO Speedwagon "Run Away Baby"
Support the podcast: patreon.com/twistedrico
Contact: Steev Riccardo twistedrico@gmail.com
#DaveAmato #REOSpeedwagon #BlowingSmokewithTwistedRico
This episode originally aired on August 16, 2021. We re-air it today as a tribute to Justine Covault, who recently passed away.
Music
The Charms "So Pretty"(theme Song)
Justine And The Unclean "Scorpion Bowl To Go"
Lee Harrington & Lynda Mandolyn "Real Love"
Recorded by Mike Nash at Voice Motel, Somerville MA on August 9, 2021
please support the podcast Patreon.com/twistedrico
contact: Steev Riccardo twistedrico@gmail.com
This past week, we caught up on zoom with four members of the new Boston supergroup The Long Wait. Live from their rehearsal space the band gave us the scoop on how a Slapshot reunion show led to the band's formation and a big buzz in the Boston underground. Consisting of Bassist Jamie Sciarappa(SSD), Guitarist Steven Risteen(Slapshot), Drummer Mark McKay(Slapshot), Guitarist Daryl Sheppard(Kind, Slapshot), and singer Glen Dudley(Wrecking Crew), at the time of this interview the Long Wait had only played one show but were already high on everyone's list, including ours... we have a fun talk, enjoy!
Music
The Charms "So Pretty"(theme song)
The Long Wait "Let It All Burn"
The Long Wait "Your Plight"
Contact: Steev Riccardo twistedrico@gmail.com
Support the podcast: patreon.com/twistedrico
#TheLongWait #SSD #Slapshot
Mike Peters is a true rock n roll warrior in every sense of the word. He has not only been making consistently great music as the singer of The Alarm (23 studio albums) as well as other projects (solo etc.) since the early 80's but he has looked death right in the eye while doing so(more than once). His story is one of real inspiration and perseverance. The new Alarm album entitled "Forwards" is one of the most personal records you will hear. Take the track "Whatever" for instance.
Here in Mike's words is what the song is about
"I think of John Lennon a lot because like many people of my generation, his music is often heard in my house. As a long time survivor of various aspects of things derived from the word beginning with a big C, I have particularly loved his song ‘Whatever Gets You Thru The Night’, and it has helped me on countless occasions when I have been in the hours of need we all get to experience at various times. It came on the hospital radio one day, and I took his idea of getting through one night, and applied to a longer intent as in Whatever Gets You Through Life? When I was in Ward 11 with a drain attached (through my back), into my lung, I had to lie still and on one side for 7 days while 5 litres of blood was extracted from my partially collapsed lungs. To stay sane I started to imagine what a new Alarm record would sound like and what kind of songs I would need to populate the space between the record cover and also get me through this predicament. As soon as I was out of hospital, I set up my recording gear and the songs burst forth from my imagination. It was as if they were writing themselves, and I knew the music had got me through and back a place where I could begin to live again."
Music
The Charms "So Pretty"theme song"
The Alarm "Whatever"
Contact: twistedrico@gmail.com
This episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico is supported by Joe's Albums(Worcester/Northampton MA), Baby Loves Tacos(Pittsburgh PA), and Spectacle Eyeware(Boston, MA)
Carlos Alomar is a true music legend. He started out playing in his Father's ministry, became a member of the house band at the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, where he backed everyone from Chuck Berry to James Brown, who he also toured with. He was a member of The Main Ingredient. As a studio musician at RCA Records recording studio he backed up many greats, but his life changed dramatically when he met David Bowie during a session with English pop star Lulu. He went on to tour and work with Bowie on 11 albums starting with "Young Americans" and became the leader of his band. Did we mention he recorded and co-wrote "Fame" with Bowie and John Lennon. His list of credentials is remarkable. He also worked with Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Cyndi Lauper, Iggy Pop, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and the list goes on and on. Carlos Alomar will be at the David Bowie World Fan Convention which takes place at RACKET NYC (431 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011) on June 17-18, 2023 Music The Charms "So Pretty"(theme song) #CarlosAlomar #DavidBowie #IggyPop Contact: twistedrico@gmail.com This episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico is supported by Joe's Albums(Worcester/Northampton MA), Baby Loves Tacos(Pittsburgh PA), and Spectacle Eyeware(Boston, MA)
Louise Post is part of the outstanding Chicago band Veruca Salt who along with Guitarist Nina Gordon, Drummer Jim Shapiro and Bassist Steve Lack made a huge impact the minute they arrived on the rock scene in 1992. The original lineup released two highly popular albums("American Thighs"/"Eight Arms To Hold") and a host of EP's before Gordon left the band and was followed later by Shapiro and Lack. Post continued on using the name Veruca Salt and released two more records("Resolver"/"IV") and the original lineup reunited in 2015 with the album "Ghost Notes". This brings us to 2023 and Louise's first solo record entitled "Sleepwalker". She joins us on the show to talk about her upbringing in St. Louis, college years, and formation and early years of the band.
*Due to circumstances beyond our control, the interview ends at 45 minutes. Stay tuned for part 2.
Music The Charms "So Pretty"(theme music) Louise Post "Guilty" Louise Post "What About" Please support the podcast: patreon.com/twistedrico
Contact: twistedrico@gmail.com
Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico is supported by Joe's Albums(Worcester/Northampton MA), Baby Loves Tacos(Pittsburgh PA), and Spectacle Eyeware(Boston, MA)
#LouisePost #VerucaSalt #BlowingSmokewithTwistedRico
Cherry Vanilla has seen and done it all. She starred in the Andy Warhol UK production of "Pork," was part of the team that launched David Bowie in America, worked with New Age star Vangelis, and got signed to RCA Records as a recording artist — and that's not even half of it. In 2010, she released her no-holds-barred memoir, Lick Me: How I Became Cherry Vanilla, detailing her outrageous rock 'n' roll lifestyle.
In our interview, Cherry details her intimate relationships with Bowie, Burton Cummings, Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson, and others. She also had Stewart Copeland and Sting in her backing band, and counts director Tim Burton among her friends. It's a fairy tale and a fascinating story about sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, and Warhol. Enjoy the ride!
Music on this episode
Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns"
Cherry Vanilla "The Punk"
Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo
Please support the podcast: patreon.com/twistedrico
Contact: twistedrico@gmail.com
#CherryVanilla #DavidBowie #AndyWarhol #BlowingSmokewithTwistedRico
Linnea Herzog joins us on the show to talk about her groovy project Linnea's Garden, her previously cool band Powerslut, growing up in the Minneapolis area and moving to Boston. We also got into the current state of the Boston music scene, gender, her PHD, and more.
Music
Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns"
Linnea's Garden "No Bra"
Linnea's Garden "Cut & Paste"
Please support the podcast: patreon.com/twistedrico
Contact: twistedrico@gmail.com
Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico is brought to you by Light Street Media. This show was supported by Joe's Albums(Worcester/Northampton MA), Baby Loves Tacos(Pittsburgh PA), and Spectacle Eyeware(Boston, MA)
#LinneasGarden #Powerslut #BlowingSmokewithTwistedRico
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