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
In this, the final episode of 2019, Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico host Steev Riccardo not only shares some thoughts on the 2020 "Stadium" tour which will feature Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett, he also talks about another one of his favorite bands, The Neighborhoods, who just released their first album out in years! And it all ends with a bang as we thank everyone we can think of for making the first year of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico an immense success!
Music
The Charms "So Pretty" (Theme Song)
Glenn Matto and AJ Cretin from the Boston based band All Mod Cons, who have been paying tribute to The Jam for over 20 years talk with us about the great influential English band that has influenced many American bands like Green Day and especially Boston bands like The Neighborhoods, The Outlets, and Boys Life. We also hit on All Mod Cons last Boston show coming in 2020 and their final show ever which will be in Las Vegas. Its a very MOD episode for sure!
Rev. Hank Peirce has had an interesting life starting out as a straight edge teenager, becoming a roadie that toured with bands like Snapshot, Uniform Choice, and The Straw Dogs, a cool role in the film American Hardcore, to his life as a Minister. His candid interview is one of our best yet! We also talk about more of our favorite instagram accounts as well as hear a great tune from punk rock legends, The Midnight Creeps. Its a wild ride in this episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico! Theme song "So Pretty" from Boston garage legends, The Charms.
Recorded by Herb Morsiglio at New Alliance
Jill "Chilly" Kurtz, (singer, songwriter, guitarist, harmonica) of Boston punkified blues legends Caged Heat, tells all in this exclusive interview with Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico. We talk about the classic second Caged Heat album which featured an all-star lineup of Boston rockers including Juliana Hatfield, Dana Colley, Asa Brebner, Allen Devine, Bo Barringer, Paul Myers, and Jimmy Ryan and review some great moments in Caged Heat history with stories about James Montgomery, Sylvain Sylvain, and more. Chilly holds nothing back when talking about some of the former members of Caged Heat. Its a classic episode.
We brought in Boston journalist/radio host Charles Rivers and all his expertise to talk about the history of alternative country music from its roots (Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings etc.) all way up to the success of Wilco and of course the host challenges the guest on the merits of Wilco arch-rivals Son Volt! We also play an outstanding song by Boston's Continental in this fast paced fun episode.
In this topsy turvy episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico, we hit on a plethora of topics including Metal Blade Records, The Goo Goo Dolls, Gang Green, and North Carolina's alt country hillbilly rockers Y'Allsberg! Intro and outro The Charms "So Pretty" and special track by Y'allsberg "Fallen Sky". Recorded at New Alliance, Union Square, Somerville MA
Steev flies solo in this episode and tells an incredible story about the late Peter Steele and his band Carnivore (pre Type O Negative) and the Reindeer Brains incident in December 1986 at CBGB. He also talks about one of his favorite topics - the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame and this years nominees and a list of artists that have been overlooked. Yes he rips Radiohead and The Red Hot Chili Peppers inductions once again. Also we hear a great tune by the Ape Hangers ("This Is It") and he praises our lovely unofficial BS model Nina! Must listen episode!
Music
The Charms "So Pretty" (theme song)
Ape Hangers "This Is It"
In this episode we have a great time interviewing rocker Greg Allen, who has a long history of playing music in Providence, New York City, and Boston. We talk about his recordings with New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan, his various lineups and records over the years, and his current project Greg Allen's Fringe Religion. And for fun, Greg shares his favorite records of all time with us, not to be outdone Steev also drops his list. We also play a new track from Greg's latest album called "She's Stoned"!
In this episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico, we are joined by Detroit born and long time Boston based musician, artist, owner of Curve Of The Earth Records and New Alliance Audio, the one and only Alvan Long. We talk the history of New Alliance and Curve and its beautiful roller coaster ride and later have some fun with some Boston Rock/Hoop talk. Along with the into and outdo music supplied by The Charms, we also play a track which we both were proudly involved in - 3 1/2 Girls "Chris B(Wake Up Its Time To Die)"
In this episode, we talk about the passing of legendary musician, songwriter, producer Ric Ocasek, and also Boston garage rock heroes The Lyres, from our new recording studio at New Alliance in Somerville MA!
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