Yes! We have made it to 50 episodes!! I think it has taken us over two years to get here, but this is officially our 50th episode. Hope this is a good one!

and here is our playlist with most of the show’s songs

For starters, here is the lineup for this week:

Episode 50

Tidal Wave – Next Year

Margo Price and Sharon Van Etten – Radio

Duran Duran – Black Moonlight

Joanna Sternberg – People are toys to you

Nile Rodgers, Chic, Craig David, Stefflon Don – Sober  

The Hives – Rigor Mortis Radio

Nothing But Thieves – Overcome

The Bankes Brothers – In Waves

Bethany Cosentino –  For a Moment

and a little slide show to get you all in the mood!!

I don’t really have any solid reasons for my picks this week. I am still working off the songs I liked over the summer starting with

Margo Price and Sharon Van Etten – Radio

here is the official video

Here is a great live rendition of Radio and Seventeen from a few months ago

Her forthcoming album Strays is just out representing a change in the focus of her career

Price says, “I feel this urgency to keep moving, keep creating. You get stuck in the same patterns of thinking, the same loops of addiction. But there comes a point where you just have to say, ‘I’m going to be here, I’m going to enjoy it, and I’m not going to put so much stock into checking the boxes for everyone else.’ I feel more mature in the way that I write now, I’m on more than just a search for large crowds and accolades. I’m trying to find what my soul needs.”

The line of best fit

Joanna Sternberg – People are toys to you

Again, I just like this song

This is her second album and it came out at the beginning of the summer.

Always important to be nice, or this may happen to you!

from Stereogum, May 2023

“I wrote this song while I was in a rush walking to the subway with my double bass. I was upset about something and the song sort of wrote itself,” Sternberg said. “The funny thing is that Soundcloud Pro’s ‘who is listening’ feature told me the person I wrote this song about listened to it four times when I posted it on Facebook. Oops!”

The Hives – Rigor Mortis Radio

Yet another band I don’t know, but they have been around for a long time and this is their first release in ten years. Again from Steriogram:

The Swedish rock gods (yes, I said it and I stand by it) will release their first new album in over a decade, The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons, in August. They’ve already shared lead single “Bogus Operandi” and follow-up “Countdown To Shutdown,” and today they’ve dropped “Rigor Mortis Radio.” 

Here is a performance on KEXP from 2012

would love to use this line one day

Now you might feel I cut you down to size
Start at the top and cut a million miles
It’s an astute observation, I must admit
Here’s how much longer I can stand your shit
I’m saying hold it back, this tongue in crack
It’s gotta end I’m not an evening snack
I got your emails saying that you wanna meet
I got your emails saying that you wanna meet
I got your emails yeah, delete, delete

The Hives

The Bankes Brothers – In Waves

Not too much written about The Banks Brothers, so I am using some of their promotional material to get something down about the band. I am thinking this is my only Canadian for this week. From a Victoria site – Do250:

“Produced and recorded by indie legend Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, The Zolas, Mounties), In Waves is the culmination of the band’s wide-ranging influences–from Elvis to The Strokes, Paul Simon to The Pixies—coming together in a way that defies sonic parallels, yet remains welcomingly familiar.”

what is Do250?? – here you go Do250 is dedicated to providing you with the best options of what to do in Victoria. This includes events, concerts, art installations, announcements, new restaurants & bars, ways to get involved in the community, and all Victoria-related updates! 

Tidal Wave – “Next Year” 2018 single

Toronto’s Tidal Wave seems to be categorized as an art-rock band. As they feature strings, the comparisons to Arcade Fire are inevitable. They have been releasing compelling music since 2018.  Let’s spend five minutes with Tidal Wave.

Live they seem an exciting proposition,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VZqse1O-qc

Duran Duran – “ Black Moonlight” from upcoming Danse Macabre

In 2023, what can be said about Duran Duran?  What about, how come they haven’t done a Halloween album?  Well now, apparently they have.  In October, Duran Duran will release Danse Macabre. The album will include Halloween themed covers of Billie Eilish, the Rolling Stones, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Rick James and Talking Heads.  However, both Old Fellas are sadly disappointed that the Durannies aren’t covering Bobby Boris Pickett’s classic, “The Monster Mash”.

Duran Duran share new single ‘Black Moonlight’ featuring Nile Rodgers and Andy Taylor

Duran Duran have shared their latest single, ‘Black Moonlight’ which features Nile Rodgers and former bandmate Andy Taylor.

• READ MORE: Duran Duran: “We’d love to do Glastonbury – we just need the right slot”

‘Black Moonlight’ is the second of three original tracks the band have created for their upcoming Halloween-inspired, mostly covers album ‘Danse Macabre‘. The track sees them reunite with Rodgers, who is their longtime friend and frequent collaborator. The Chic co-founder previously produced Duran Duran’s 1986 LP ‘Notorious’. The track follows the album’s lead single of the same name.

Chic – “Sober”  from 2018’s It’s About Time

Dovetailing nicely with Duran Duran, is this great workout by the legendary Chic  currently called Nile Rodgers & Chic.  Chic has been opening for Duran Duran on their current North American tour.  Nile Rogers is a legendary producer, composer and guitarist who has worked with everybody.  “Sober” features Craig David on vocals.  

Nile Rodgers is a scientist trying to find the perfect equation for funk at the Abbey Road studio in the new video for Chic‘s “Sober.” The answer to perfecting the funk is, naturally, through a ’70s/’80s type dance party full of early ’90s-style music. The groovy, New Jack Swing record gets a fun and colorful visual, directed by Giorgio Testi, to match its party atmosphere. The track also features Craig David and Stefflon Don, though only Craig David appears in the lively video

Duran Duran and Chic have a long history together going back almost 40 years. https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/the-reflex-duran-duran-song-story/

Here they are playing together last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85m1J_hcPoY

Nothing But Thieves – “Overcome” from Dead Club City 2023

Nothing but Thieves are an English rock band, formed in 2012. They have been releasing music since 2012 and are pretty popular in the UK.  Some say their style of music can be compared to Jeff Buckley, The Foals or Queens of the Stone Age.  I hear more the Killers and I suppose when the vocalist gets histrionic, Jeff Buckley does fit.

https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-nothing-but-thieves-share-soaring-new-track-overcome-3442960  This track is drawn from the album that has received decidedly mix reviews.

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/baddiebaphomet/album/628064-dead-club-city/

Bethany Cosentino – “ For a Moment”  from Natural Disaster 2023

Bethany  Cosentino  is one half of the California  band Best Coast.  She has taken a break from band duties and released a solo album. Before we get to this track, here is one of my favourite Best Coast songs.  The catchy, creepy and rackety “When I’m With You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN1XzxOQWrA  . 

Like Nothing But Thieves, Cosentino has gotten middling reviews. Pitchfork Magazine says, https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bethany-cosentino-natural-disaster/

You be the judge, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYMv-bCjweQ