Wow! That’s all I can say. This past Saturday’s show has me pinching myself in disbelief. I got to interview not one, but two amazing artists: the legendary Bill Lloyd, and amazing indie rock band Sunshine Boys. Both of them have great albums out right now, and both of them told me their stories on this show.
You may know Bill Lloyd from his years in popular country duo Foster & Lloyd (he being, of course, the “Lloyd”). He’s also had an admirable career in rock and roll, and is incredibly prolific. Let’s concentrate on that word. During the interview, I accused him of being a “serial collaborator”, and he didn’t deny the charges. Bill loves co-writing songs with other like minded musicians–many of whom you’ve heard of. A good portion of his albums include these co-written songs.
And more about that prolific part–I’ve only known Bill for a few short years. But in that time, he’s released five records–including a couple on Texas-based Spyderpop Records, who sent him out here last year to headline a rock and roll revue tour, along with Lannie Flowers and Danny Wilkerson. We got to hang out over lunch and a little bit of sightseeing here in Sacramento.
His new release, “Don’t Kill The Messenger”, is absolutely wonderful. The songs are timeless and comfortable. Some of them just feel like I’ve known them forever. More info at http://www.billlloydmusic.net (yes, 4 “L”s in the middle!).
A little later in the show, I caught up with Chicago indie supergroup Sunshine Boys. I’ve had them on my Twirl Radio show a few times in their brief history, and this marks their Woody Radio interview debut.
A few years back, guitarist-vocalist Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering, The Slugs), drummer Freda Love Smith (Blake Babies, The Mysteries of Life), and bassist Jackie Schimmel (Justin Roberts, Tiny Bit of Giant’s Blood) came together, fully-formed, as Sunshine Boys. The three of them coalesced immediately into a tight, powerful rock and roll unit, efficiently delivering Dag’s original compositions with a big, alt-rock sound. They’re super nice people as well, and there is literally no discord or band controversy. They’ve all seen that in the past, and would rather just play music with no fuss, no muss.
Their debut album, “Blue Music”, grabbed my brain, heart, and gut, and was easily my album of the year when it came out. Their new album, “Work and Love”, is equally as good. It feels like a continuation of the first album, and as Dag told me, while the production on Blue Music was drawing to a close, he was already writing these new songs. So it’s a really natural evolution, and their playing is even tighter and more powerful. The songs are timely and topical–check out “Infinity Girl”–she is the future. “The Serpent In Spring” is angry and fiery, and you’ll know immediately what it’s about when you listen, “Summertime Kids” is wistful and wonderful–and you need to hear it right now, since it is summer. “A Ghost, At Best”, is self-deprecating, and as the kids say, gets you right in the feels”. Check them out at http://www.sunshineboys.net.
Enjoy this show. It’s one for the ages.
Artist | Title | Album
R.E.M. | Radio Song | Out Of Time
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop | Red White & Blue So Blue | Pop Songs & Kyries
DC Cardwell | Lies Are All You Speak | Crystal Set
honeychain | Pocket Full Of Good Luck | Pocket Full of Good Luck
Sex 66 | Skinny Girl | Grew Up Down
Adam Marsland | Power Pop Days | The Owl and the Full Moon
Gnarls Barkley | Gone Daddy Gone | St. Elsewhere
Bill Lloyd interview
Bill Lloyd | Don’t Kill The Messenger | Don’t Kill The Messenger
Bill Lloyd | Etch-A-Sketch | Don’t Kill The Messenger
Bill Lloyd | Sorry, But I Gotta Take This | Don’t Kill The Messenger
Bill Lloyd | You Got Me | Don’t Kill The Messenger
Natalie Cortez & the Ultra Violets | She’s Better | Stupid Fresh Or Stupid Bad
Lannie Flowers | He’s Got Himself | Home
Lisa Mychols | Loving You | Sugar
Peter Murphy | Cuts You Up | Deep
The Corner Laughers | Changeling | Temescal Telegraph
The Claustrophobes | Clever Minds | Underdog Pop
Felsen | Private Airline | Blood Orange Moon
Chuck Prophet | Willie Mays Is Up at Bat | Temple Beautiful
Flowers Of America | Creepy Creepin’ The Dark Hallway | Videorama
Uncle Tupelo | Graveyard Shift | 89/93: An Anthology
Jeniffer Jackson | Mercury, The Sun & Moon – Jennifer Jackson | Parasol’s Sweet Sixteen – 3
Heiskell | Deep Appreciation | Arriving
Sunshine Boys interview
Sunshine Boys | I Was Already Gone | Work and Love
Sunshine Boys | Moonrise | Work and Love
Sunshine Boys | The Serpent in Spring | Work and Love
The Bye Bye Blackbirds | War Is Still Hell | Boxer At Rest
Piramid Scheme | Beg or Borrow | Seen This Before
The Bobbleheads | Mean Girls | Make Yourself Happy
Trip Wire | Had Enough | Once & Always
Spygenius | Another True Story | Man On The Sea
Rachel Taylor Brown | Mt. Athos | Falimy
NRBQ | Scraps | Scraps
The Lemonheads | Pittsburgh | The Lemonheads
Sally’s Six-Gun Sorrow | Have Another Drink On Me | Single release
The Tuesday Club | Hand Of God | Single release
The Catbirds | The Crutch Of Music | Catbirds Say Yeah
Chris Church | These Daze | Backwards Compatible
Richard X. Heyman | Incognito | Incognito
Eric Peter Schwartz | Annie’s Morning Brew | Winston
The Armoires | Anemone! | Side Three
John Entwistle | Heaven And Hell | Smash Your Head Against The Wall
WOODY RADIO BLOG 