20.03.12 California Diner - 'Born Too Late To Be Old!'

Tuesday Night Diner

A brief history of the world. Way back in the day, commercial radio sounded good. Then people got greedy, and then commercial radio didn’t sound good anymore. The end. Okay, that’s not exactly the kind of bedtime story you want to tell your little ones, unless you want them to stay up half the night, scared and worried about the future. There is actually a happy ending and a bright future to this. Radio was invented about a hundred years ago or so, by a dude named Marconi. So influential, that they even named a street after him here in Sacramento: Marconi Avenue--I kid you not! Once he invented this thing, people saw the potential, but realized that there were about 168 hours every week that needed to be filled with programming. Somewhere around the 1950’s, rock and roll was invented for just that purpose--to make radio sound better! By the mid to late 1960’s, the goal was achieved. And radio programmers got better and more creative, and aspiring musicians knew that getting their songs on the radio was the path to getting their songs heard by a wider audience. My particular favorite era in commercial radio was the “alternative era”, from roughly 1986-1996. That’s about the time that New Wave music and its synthesizers gave way to zoomy, atmospheric guitars, and the vocals became a little less affected and more natural. As you probably know, this all came crashing to a halt, at least here in the U.S., when our airwaves were legally deregulated. This meant that there were no limits to how many radio stations could be owned by the same company. All of a sudden, there were mergers and consolidations like crazy, and some companies suddenly owned hundreds and thousands of stations. This led to mergers and consolidations of playlists, and of course, the music that was played sounded bland and, well, not to my liking. But that doesn’t mean that all music wasn’t good. By the mid-2000’s, musicians, radio people, and music fans now had better tools to do what they do best. And they connected with each other, through internet radio (ta-da!) and social networking sites. And that little thing called YouTube. So these days, I can proudly say that my favorite era in music is: right now! There is so much creativity out there, and there are even some young bands who are making music that reminds my of my favorite era, the mid-1990’s. On this week’s California Diner, we’ll hear a couple of tracks from bands who are too young to have made music back in the ‘90’s, but have that wonderful alternative sound that my brain and ears cherish. Dollface. I have Alex Watson, our intrepid music expert, to thank for this one. This Brighton, UK-based power trio have got it going on. Having all been born in the mid-1980’s, they are truly too young to have made 1990’s music in the 1990’s, unless you count Greg’s stint air-drumming with chopsticks in a Chinese restaurant at an early age. Probably embarrassed his parents, but he eventually wound up as the guitarist for Dollface. Daniel received a drum kit for his Bar Mitzvah (which would be at the tender age of 13), and probably started embarrassing his parents shortly thereafter. And James refers to himself as a failed guitar player (probably embarrassing his parents along the way), who logically turned to the bass. I’m not making any of this up--check their website bios. Leaving a trail of embarrassed parents behind them (just kidding, guys), these guys formed Dollface, and make some really amazing music. Aside from their self-deprecating sense of humor, these are three guys with one big sound they can be proud of. It reminds me of that alternative sound--the soaring guitars, dramatic chord changes, and choruses that I’ll remember long after the song is over. I’ll be playing one of their new songs on this week’s show. www.dollfacetheband.net If you’re a regular listener, then you’re no stranger to The Corner Laughers. Here’s my brief history with them: I started doing this show in mid-November, 2009, and within weeks, they started rocking my world. They forwarded me a copy of their Ultraviolet Garden release, and it wound up as my #1 album for 2010. How did they do that so quickly? Simply by being themselves. Brainy, ukulele- and guitar-driven pop which covers all bases. Alternative, old-timey, power pop, and as they sometimes call it, “chamber pop”. Karla Kane’s vocals and clever wordplay remind me of the other side of 1990’s alternative--think Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies, solo), Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, Belly), Mary Lou Lord, Andrea Lewis (Darling Buds), and others of that amazing ilk. Females with heavenly vocals, yet you need to listen more closely for the deeper meaning behind the lyrics. The music can sometimes get intense: the perfect point-counterpoint. Khoi Huynh, the “secret weapon”--one of the best bassists you’ll find, with fluid instrumental runs that you can specifically hear flowing throughout the mix. Powerhouse drummer Charlie Crabtree urges the songs forward with his muscular sound. As founding guitarist (and provider of aforementioned atmospheric guitars) Angela Silletto left California for the greener pastures of Michigan, KC Bowman, with his considerable musical genius, joined forces. The perfect California storm. I bring this up, because they’re about to release their third album, Poppy Seeds, through the magic of Allen Clapp’s Mystery Lawn Studios and Wesley Stace (John Wesley Harding)’s Popover Corps label. I just want to make sure that you are as ready for it as I am. But to keep the tease going a little longer, we’ll hear a track this week from their debut effort, Tomb of Leopards. www.cornerlaughers.com Hey! Recharged Radio now has a magazine! It’s a free monthly music e-zine called Sound of the Suburbs (not to be confused with our radio show of the same name--oh heck, go ahead and confuse it--we don’t mind!) It’s our joint effort with our friends at Perfect Pop Co-Op. You can get it on the left hand side of the home page of Recharged Radio. Just scroll down a bit, and get reading! If you'd like to make a request, just drop me a line at mike(at)rechargedradio.com. If you'd like to become an honorary California citizen, drop me a line at the same address. And if you'd like to hear all this great music—simply tune in to the California Diner, Tuesday night, 8:00-10:00 p.m. (GMT), 1:00-3:00 p.m. Pacific, only at Recharged Radio—www.rechargedradio.com. See you then! Chef Mike mike(at)rechargedradio.com MN2BDNC Michael Miller - I Made You Up Dollface - You To Lose Sal Valentino - Lovin' Fallin' Nushu - Synthia Ben Swidenbank - Girl (Leave That Animal Tonight) The Pilgrims - Whole Level Down Terese Taylor - I'm Here Maxi Dunn - You Took The Sunshine From My Heart Skip Heller - Fools Like Me Corner Laughers - The Red Queen Rich McCulley - Tell Me, I'm Listening Jesus H Christ & The Four Hornsmen of The Apocalypse - Liz the Hot Receptionist Braam - Burlington Northern The B Goodes - Feel Alright Allyson Seconds - Dig My Pig The Ks - 13 Steps Jet Electro - Waiting For An Autograph M.A.D.I.S.O.N - To Know You Lindy LaFontaine - I Might Not Love You The Taters - Right B4 My Eyes Jeff Merchant - Love Yourself Away Note To Self: Don't Die! - Hell Anton Barbeau - MTV Song The Dashing Suns - Sally Moore Bud Rogers - Caught In A Wheel Laurie Biagini - My Little SUV The Scratch - Alcohol's A Depressant The Handcuffs - Miss You on Tuesday Blake Jones & The Trike Shop - I Roped The Moon Out Of The Sky Lannie Flowers - Circles Emily Zuzik