Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico

Punk Rock singer turned Comedian Joe Sib joins us on the show to talk about the road that took him from leading great 90's bands Wax and 22 Jacks, to his life as a touring and recording comic. We also talk about the highly successful Los Angeles based record label (Side One Dummy Records) that Joe started and has been running with Bill Armstrong since 1995, his former 22 Jacks bandmate, Steve Soto...

On this episode, Donni Thayer joins us to talk about some of the most popular early Worcester County(MA) bands that he played in, particularly Pretty Poison and Mad Angel.  Pretty Poison had it all; great songs, cool image, stellar live performance, but their bid for stardom some how fell short. We also pay homage to another member of both those bands who was a great friend to both the guest...

Boston hardcore/metal legends John Sox and Steve Grimes of The FU's join us on this our 200th episode. The FU's are one of the original American Hardcore bands emerging on the scene in 1981, being included on the now famous "This is Boston not LA" compilation. They followed up the compilation with an incredible run with three hardcore masterpieces "Kill For Christ"(1982), "My America"(1983), and "...

On this episode, we are joined by guitarist Curt Florczak, who talks about the journey that brought him from Los Angeles to Boston and all the great bands he has been part of over the years - From B-Movie Rats(LA) to Greg Allen's Fringe Religion to The Mochines. These days he is playing with buzz band Hammered Saint following a long stint with The Hi-End. And did we mention his great solo record?...

Robin Lane has had quite a life and in our fun interview, we get into it all. From her Los Angeles upbringing with parents in the entertainment world, recording with Neil Young, The Chartbusters, Asa Brebner, and her great new solo record "Dirt Road To Heaven". Its all here, enjoy the ride...   Music Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns(theme music) Robin Lane "Woman Like That" Robin Lane "D...

On this episode we are joined by 15 year old Bella Rayne, who despite only playing guitar for 3 years, is turning heads. We also play a track and talk about the awesome new Moving Targets album "In The Dust", which is a real scorcher. Music Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns" Moving Targets "Make It Easy" Avoid One Thing "Right Here Where You Left Me" Zoom Interview: February 2, 2023 This episo...

Suzi Moon joined her sister Liza Graves in Civet when she was a teenager and has been delivering the goods ever since. In our interview, we talk about her Southern California roots, Turbulent Hearts, L.A. Machina, her great fashion sense and style, and of course one of the best albums of 2022 her solo album "Dumb & In Luv". Its a good one... Music Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns" Su...

Jen de la Osa and Henry Beguiristain join us via zoom from Los Angeles to talk about their outstanding pop rock band Aloud. We discuss the band's early start in Miami, their relocation and early success in Boston, and the road that brought them to Los Angeles, where they are readying to release their sixth full length album entitled "Apollo 6".  Music Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns" Al...

On this episode, we are joined by The Legendary Rich Gilbert. Rich has had quite a career starting with his early days in the incredible Boston band Human Sexual Response, followed by the equally popular Zulus. Since then Rich has played with a who's who in music including Frank Black, Tanya Donelly, Wanda Jackson, Eileen Rose etc. We cover a lot of this in our talk and more. Enjoy! Music Milqueto...

On this episode, we are joined by Reid Paley, who in his own unique style has delivered great music to the masses since the early 80's. Reid started his musical journey when he moved to Pittsburgh and formed the outstanding garage punk band The Five. The band soon thereafter relocated to Boston and their buzz grew. When the band imploded Reid moved to Brooklyn and began a successful solo career wh...

On this episode we are joined by 18 year old Katy Nathan, who runs the Joe Perry fan page on Instagram and is a huge fan of Joe's music as well as Aerosmith in general. We also found out that she has an incredible knowledge of many other bands and proves it as she goes toe to toe with the host as they discuss their favorite songs from the Queen catalogue.  Music Milquetoast & Co "Ciga...

On this episode, we are joined by Jason "Ginchy" Kottwitz, guitarist and primary songwriter of the Austin Texas based rock band The Oxys.  "Ginchy", who has had stints with the reformed Dead Boys and Sylvain Sylvain and The Sylvains, and company made one of the coolest new albums ("A Date With The Oxys") to come out in 2022. The boys took the Dead Boys and Cheap Trick and smashed them togethe...

Nat Freedberg returns to the show and plays "The Fastest Gun In Town" from Freeloader 2 live at Voice Motel. We go on to have a great conversation about a variety of topics including the passing of old bandmate Randall Gibson(The Flies, Scruffy The Cat), his songwriting process, his current band Freeloader, and the status of The Upper Crust. Music Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns"(theme music...

This is a replay of a show that originally aired on November 8, 2021 of our interview with Bob Nalbandian, who passed away last week. Bob started covering writing as a teenager and spent his entire adult life dedicated to promoting Heavy Metal as a writer, manager, podcaster, film maker, and even worked for a record label. This replay is a tribute to his life and career. Rest In Peace, Bob Na...

Cowboy Mach Bell returns to the show and shares details about his recovery from open heart surgery and talks about his latest book "I Gotta Rock. Cowboy was a member of Boston rock legends Thundertrain and later went on to front The Joe Perry Project and now has a new project called The Mach Bell Experience(MBE). In recent years he has written two books, the first "Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker"...

Our last episode of the year! 2022 is over and it was a fantastic year for us here at the Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico podcast! This week we take a look back at some of the great moments and guests we had on the show. We also look back at some of the artists that topped various charts and made it an exciting year in music. Music Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns"(theme song) Scrunchies "Par...

This episode is a special double header as we feature not one but two interviews in one show. Firstly, you will hear the host talk to Leah Callahan, a prolific songwriter and performer who has graced us over the years playing in bands like Turkish Delight, Betwixt, and The Glass Set, and now has released a string of impressive solo records. We get into her unique style of how she works with Richar...

On this episode of the show, we are joined by Jonathan Anastas, bassist of one of the original Boston straight edge hardcore bands - DYS . Also a member of the "Boston Crew" and the original bassist of Slapshot, Anastas has deep roots in the early days of American Hardcore. We had a great talk about Jonathan's hardcore beginnings with Decadence, DYS' formation, break up and reformation, and how th...

We had a last minute cancellation at the studio(and we are talking LAST minute), so the host shared his thoughts on Spotify's year end "wrap up" lists and how at least for him, they almost got it right. Scrunchies, the outstanding indie punk band from Minneapolis who appeared on the podcast earlier this year, topped two of his lists! We also were psyched to see both Leah Callahan's "Blameless" and...

On this bonus episode of the show, we are joined by Rob Moss, who was part of the early Washington DC hardcore scene with the bands Assault & Battery and Artificial Peace, and shared the stage with legendary bands such as Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and Black Flag. In 1983 he toured nationally as the bass player of Government Issue and then later that year took what turned into a 30 year hiatus...

The Dogmatics were on a roll in the mid eighties with two great albums out on Homestead Records, huge college radio support, and tour dates across America, when tragedy struck and leader/bassist Paul O' Halloran was killed in a motorcycle accident. They would play occasional shows over the years but returned with a vengence in 2018 signing with RumBar Records. They have been on a roll ever since r...

This very special episode, featuring Lee Harrington(The Neighborhoods, Shang Hi Los) originally aired on November 2, 2020.    Music Milquetoast & Co "Cigarette Burns"(Instrumental version - opening intro) The Charms "So Pretty" (theme song on episode) The Neighborhoods "Tommy" The Neighborhoods "Love Holiday" Episode recorded by Nick Z at New Alliance East, Somerville MA in November,...

James McAndrew, the talented and stylish leader of Milquetoast & Co, joins us for a return engagement to talk about his new material, life in Colorado etc. We are also joined in the studio by Fashion Designer Cibeline Sariano(Seams To Me Podcast) which makes for a fun interesting conversation.  The crew also gives their opinions and views on the 2022 Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame class, includ...

On this special episode of the podcast, we play four brand new songs that we think are really cool. No Way(Holland), Stars Like Ours(Boston), Special Messages(NC), and Abbie Barrett(Boston) have just released some of our favorite new songs. If you like any of these tracks and we think you will, please follow these artists on social media, buy these songs on the bandcamp site or wherever they are a...

On this weeks show we have two guests; Smitt E. Smitty, ex drummer of Figures On A Beach and Fireking, who now resides with Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones and Little Lost Billy, and also media veteran and musician/Elvis lover Charles Rivers. Two completely different conversations jammed into one special episode. And in our "what's trending musically" section - Is Taylor Swift really the...