Recently, Seattle-based singer-songwriter-rocker Irene Peña sent me a couple of new songs for airplay consideration. Both great songs; one is an original, and the other, a Fountains of Wayne cover. But it got me to thinking–I’ve known Irene for several years now, and have played some of her great songs on my radio shows–but never actually spoken with her before. If 2020 is good for anything, it’s becoming the year that I’m finally getting around to inviting some of my very talented musical friends onto my radio show for some good conversation.
And good conversation is what we had. Since we hadn’t spoken before, Irene walked us through her career, from her start in Southern California’s busy music scene, her days of hitting the road on tour as rhythm guitarist for Pink Slip, and her move to Seattle, and trying to re-establish herself there. She’s been successful and innovative at every step of her career. She’s challenged herself to write and record a song a week, and she’s done a lot with her YouTube channel. Most recently, in response to the staying at home that’s been made necessary by the pandemic, she partnered with Arielle Eden to found a weekly online music festival called “Musicians Unite! Together, Wherever.” They’ve put on lives shows for the past 18 weeks, with performances by well over 100 bands. Remarkable.
Irene’s music is mostly high-energy and rocking. She’s got a strong voice, and writes catchy songs that stick with you. At the same time, her songs scale to fit the quieter, acoustic pub scene, which she’s done a lot of in the Pacific Northwest. We had a really fun chat–lots of laughs, and you’ll learn who her early musical inspirations were–a little bit surprising, but on the other hand, not surprising at all. We promised each other not to wait so long before talking again on the radio. I really think you need to hear her music. You can check out her Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/irenepena, or her website: https://www.irenepenamusic.com/
Oh–and now, I’m part of the Woody Radio Saturday Thing! Mike DeAngelis joins us with his great show, “There Once Was A Note”, on just before mine. And Blasphemer is back–he rejoined Woody Radio a few weeks ago, and is on right after my show. Big shoes to fill–they both make me better for it!
Enjoy the show–lots of great music to be had!
Artist | Title | Album
Poplord | Flower Bomb | Poplord vs The Universe
Dionne Warwick | Walk On By | The Very Best Of Dionne Warwick
The Brothers Steve | She | #1
Sean O’Brien and His Dirty Hands | Sleeping With Me | Mistakes
Big Head Todd & The Monsters | Greyhound | Strategem
Easy Love | Alright | Wander Feeler
The Armoires | (How Did You Make) A Mistake Like Me? | Zibaldone
The Taters | Thingamajig | Taters Party
Sparklejet | Let’s Behind That Place | Beyond The Beyond
The Who | Leaving Here | My Generation (Deluxe Edition)
Lisa Mychols & SUPER 8 | Honey Bee | LISA MYCHOLS & SUPER 8
Yung Wu | Shore Leave | Shore Leave
Peter Murphy | Cuts You Up | Deep
Michal Towber | Old | No Resolution
Elk City | No Depth | Everybody’s Insecure
The Living Dolls | Everything That Happened | Everything That Happened (Big Stir Digital Single No. 18)
Migrant Pickers | Rossetti | Beat This Town
Piramid Scheme | Modern World | Seen This Before
Lannie Flowers | C’mon Over | Circles
Alpha Cat | Mona Lisa In A Comic Book | Thatched Roof Glass House
Lou Reed | Sick Of You | New York
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop | At Every Train Stop (Big Stir Mix) | Big Stir Power Pop & More: The First Year (2018 Reissue)
The Claustrophobes | Con Man | Underdog Pop
Sunshine Boys | The Serpent in Spring | Work and Love
The Clash | Police On My Back | Sandinista!
Chandler Travis Three-O | The Mayor of Drunktown | Backward Crooked From the Sunset
Nolan Voide and His Own Bad Self | Mid Life Crisis | Single release
The Church | Metropolis | Gold Afternoon Fix
Felsen | Lay Kenneth Lay | Accidental Drowning
Gail George | He’s an Exclamation! | Follow Your Bliss
The Bobbleheads | Mean Girls | Make Yourself Happy
Natalie Cortez & the Ultra Violets | She’s Better | Stupid Fresh Or Stupid Bad
Irene Peña interview
Irene Peña | Not From Around Here | Single release
Irene Peña | Shimmer Away | Single release
Irene Peña | It Must Be Summer | Single release
Trip Wire | Act Fast | Once & Always
Rogers & Butler | Noel Coward | Poets & Sinners
Sex 66 | Your Stinkin’ Bones | Grew Up Down
Anton Barbeau | Beautiful Bacon Dream | Kenny Vs. Thrust
Coke Belda | Oh Why | Coke Belda 4
Grateful Dead | Hell In A Bucket | In The Dark
The Corner Laughers | Sisters of the Pollen | Temescal Telegraph
Bill Lloyd | Sorry, But I Gotta Take This | Don’t Kill The Messenger
June & The Exit Wounds | Cathy Dennis | A Little More Haven Hamilton, Please
Rachel Taylor Brown | Maker | Run Tiny Human
DC Cardwell | Stay At Home With Your Cat | Crystal Set
The Bye Bye Blackbirds | You Were All Light | Boxer At Rest
Molly Grue | Anyway | The happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story
Madonna | Ray Of Light | Ray Of Light
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