You Should Check It Out

To celebrate our 300th episode, we thought it’d be fun to ask each other questions in a round-robin interview style. This might be our favorite episode, we hope you enjoy it. Thanks so much for listening.

Joining us for the show this week is Nick’s oldest son, Ciri. He’s reached that formative age (14) where, for music lovers, his appetite for new music is insatiable. He wants to play some songs he’s been really enjoying and get some recommendations based on the tunes.  Songs:  Childish Gambino - “Me and your Mama” Earl Sweatshirt - “Riot!” JPEGMAFIA - “Hazard Duty Pay!” Greg caught Phish...

Jay recently discovered a summer program offered by McDaniel College called Common Ground on the Hill. Created in 1994 by Walt Michael, the program provides the opportunity to teach and study various musical instruments and art forms across various ethnic and cultural traditions. This year features world renowned banjo player Tony Trischka, a particular favorite of Jay’s. We also dive into Tom Buk...

Greg is red hot angry about the news that broke regarding internet celebrity guitarist Giacomo Turra. You can check out the video here ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI4nuce3ppA ). It appears that a large swath of Mr. Turra’s ‘improvised jams’ are note for note ripoffs of much lesser known guitarists that post on YouTube & Instagram. As a result of this news, nearly all of the manufacturers...

Nick kicks us off with some new music from The Hives and checks in with Jay on the announcement that Bruce Springsteen is releasing seven unreleased albums in June. Greg is out this week, so Keith Grasso is kind enough to join us again. Nick takes the opportunity to check in with the owner of Island Music (and five-time cohost) on the state of music equipment sales amid a tariff war. Song: The Hiv...

Jay takes us back to 1997 to revisit the album S.C.I.E.N.C.E. by Incubus. The album preceded their commercially successful 1999 album, Make Yourself. It’s heavier and funkier and was the last album to include DJ Life. It is worth a listen, you should check it out. Songs: Incubus - “Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)” Incubus - “Deep Inside” This week on News with Nick, Snoop & Dre collab...

Greg’s side project, Beck’s Bolero, opened for the Red Not Chili Peppers to a sold out crowd at the House of Blues in San Diego this past weekend. It the group’s first show and Greg shares the experience. The band features Harry Waters on the keys, Greg on guitar, Cain Daniel drums, and Zephyr Avalon on bass. Songs: Beck’s Bolero - “Air Blower” Beck’s Bolero - “Scatterbrain” Whenever Jay has an me...

At the top we have confirmation of a new album by Mars Volta, and speculation of something new from Radiohead. Then, Tempo Music Investments recently acquired a quarter interest in Bruno Mars 2012 song “When I Was Your Man.” The company is now suing Miley Cyrus, claiming exploitation of their copyright for her Grammy winning 2023 hit song “Flowers.” Cyrus claims she wrote it for her ex-husband, Li...

We sprang forward last week and are celebrating our hour lost with three Three for Thursdays. We named our celebration, too. Threes for Thursday. If you, like Jay, are watching the “Primus Interstellar Drum Derby” series on YouTube, then the last episode you saw was Mike Stone’s audition. Prior to the episode, Mr. Stone had recently recorded a song and an album with Secret Chiefs 3. Les Claypool w...

Greg is back with another Heavy Rotation. Spiritbox headlined a recent Periphery show in the UK and Chat Pile returns with “Cool World.” Finally, it’s been 13 years since he left the band, but Mike Portnoy is back with Dream Theater on their new album Parasomnia . Songs:  Spiritbox - “Holy Roller” Chat Pile - “Shame” Dream Theater - “Night Terror” To celebrate the entire Unplugged series now...

Nick brings us a Three For Thursday for Roberta Flack, who passed this week at the age of 88. She grew up in Arlington, VA, and upon graduating high school at the age of 15, she received a full music scholarship to Howard University. She began singing professionally in 1968, was signed to Atlantic Records, and went on to have a whirlwind of a successful career in the 1970s. Her voice touched a gen...

It’s that time of year again, Jay brings us the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees. We each pick five artists/bands from the fourteen nominees and see how we did when they announce the inductees in late April. This year’s nominees are  Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Cindy Lauper, Mana, Oasis, Outkast, Phish,...

Greg gives us a recap of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime and tosses in a “Review the Review” for good measure. "Kendrick Lamar Just Rewrote the Rules of the Super Bowl Halftime Show” written by Andrew R. Chow of Time [ Review Link ] is in the hot seat this week! Song: Kendrick Lamar - “Super Bowl Halftime Show Intro” We discussed, sometime last year, that the Black Keys had cancelled their No...

Nick kicks things off with a recap of the 2025 Grammys. Dawes & friends celebrate L.A, Kendrick Lamar wins big, Beyonce finally wins album of the year, and Chappell Roan tells it like it is. Song: Dawes - “I Love L.A.” Greg is back with Round 10 of “Bangers & Mashups.” This round features mashups from Instagram creators and we listen to the latest from the master DJ Cummerbund. Songs: Harl...

Jay has a game for us this week. While the rules and play follow strict Jeopardy rules, he’s calling this one Danger! Will Greg regain the quiz crown or will Nick defend his one game winning streak, find out on this week’s Danger! Song: Calvin Keys - “Aunt Lovey” Nick has a handful of music stories to share this week in another News with Nick. Song: GUM & Ambrose Kenny-Smith - “Ill Times”...

Greg kicks things off with a remembrance to beloved director, David Lynch. He was a visionary filmmaker, who incorporated music in his films in unique and surreal ways. He died this week at the age of 78. Songs:  “In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)” Twin Peaks Intro Theme Nine Inch Nails - “The Perfect Drug Jay brings a special Three For Thursday. He remembers Garth Hudson, of the Band, ce...

Greg updates us on his situation in Los Angeles following the devastating fires that swept across LA County. Much of the music news this week concerned the fires, the artists affected directly, and the industry’s response. News with Nick catches us up on the latest. Songs: Sam & Dave - “Hold On, I’m Coming” Freckle - “Taraval” Jay is about two weeks into a trial of Apple Music to determine whe...

We’re kicking things off with a special guest. For the past six months, Jay has been playing guitar in a group called Ken Demith Collection, and today, we meet the man himself, Mr. Ken Demith. The band is performing this Friday, January 10th at Earp’s Ordinary in Fairfax, VA with Chèvre. If you’re in the area, please go check them out. Chèvre hits the stage around 7 and Ken Demith Collection plays...

Greg kicks things off this week with a recap of the The Loman Brothers show at Bossa Bistro this past weekend in a ’Tales from the Concert.’ Jay and Nick were in attendance and share their thoughts. If you missed it, it was an incredible show, but you can watch a solid recap of the performance over on Sandi Redman’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knKHDXUYzvE Song: The Loman Brothe...

Happy New Year! Nick kicks things off with Three For Thursday: 2024 Albums of the Year Edition. We’ve heard songs from these albums over the past year, but Nick believes they’re the cream of the crop in 2024. Songs: Ghost Note - “Where’s Danny?” Vampire Weekend - “Mary Boone” Plantoid - “Insomniac (Don’t Worry)” Greg brings us up to speed on a documentary he’s recommending we all watch over the ho...

Jay is out this week rehearsing with the Ken Demith Collection so friend of the show Keith Grasso is sitting in, and he’s bringing a substantial amount of, much needed, holiday cheer. Last year Keith decided to record his own rendition of “Blue Christmas” and he enjoyed the process so much that he’s done it again this year. Songs: Keith Grasso - “Christmastime is Here” Keith Grasso & John Ross...

Greg brings some news & a guest this week. Friend of the show and Greg’s little brother, Austin Loman is back on the show this week! Greg & Austin usually jam over the holidays and decided to book a show this year. If you’re in or around DC on Saturday, December 28, you can catch The Loman Brothers at Bossa Bistro + Lounge from 7:30pm-9:30pm (all ages welcome). Songs: Austin Loman Band - “...

We kick things off this week with “News with Nick.” Joey Kramer closes his coffee line right as Push T launches his own. Meanwhile, Drake’s 2nd petition against UMG claims defamation while Kendrick’s GNX lands No. 1 album. Song - Avishai Cohen - “Beyond” Next up, Greg digs into Lamar’s new album GNX by way of “Review the Review.” The NY Times review by Jon Caramica portrays a provoked Lamar settli...

Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks so much for listening. Jay brings us a Thanksgiving-themed Three for Thursday. The holiday may not be known for its music, but there’s plenty of songs with titles that belong on a Thanksgiving table. Songs: Certainly So - “Turkey Leg” Ray Charles - “Sweet Potato Pie” Dogs on Fleas - “Cranberry Sauce Flotilla” Nick wants to provide some music related news for discussion a...

Bandmates get to know each other really well on the road. Last week Greg spent some time listening to jam bands, a favorite genre of Red Not’s drummer Pete. This week we’re gonna listen to some jam bands (and a song by Chick Corea featuring Roy Haynes). It’s Three For Thursday! Songs: Phish - “Down With Disease (from ‘Bittersweet Motel’)” Grateful Dead - “China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider (5-3-...