Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico

Frank Meyer is back on the podcast to discuss his debut solo album, "Living Between The Lines", upcoming tour plans, his experience performing with Fear, winning a film award for his hip-hop movie, and much more! With the release of "Living Between the Lines", Frank will embark on U.S. and European solo tours, both solo acoustic and with an electric backing band. He will be performing songs off th...

Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes is a unique force in American music, blending sea shanties, early rock 'n' roll, folk, and soul into a sound that resonates with kids and adults alike. For over 20 years, he has toured the world with his band, Dan Zanes and Friends, sharing a joyful, handmade mix of social music. His critically-acclaimed work has appeared on Sesame Street, Playhouse Disney, and Nickel...

On this episode, we are joined by Bassist Jon Hardy and Guitarist Crispin Wood of The Bags, who along with Drummer Jim Janota recently played their 40th anniversary show as a band! The Bags were formed in the summer of 1985 by Jon Hardy, Jim Janota, and Crispin Wood, quickly standing out in the Boston music scene with their raw energy and unique sound. In 1987, they released their debut album, Roc...

On this week's show, we are joined one of the original American Hardcore Punk legends, Dave Dictor of MDC. Millions of Dead Cops (MDC) is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1981 in Austin, Texas. Known for its politically charged lyrics and aggressive sound, the band’s name itself reflects its intense stance on political issues—particularly focusing on anti-authoritarian themes, police bruta...

Tom Baker of The Dirty Truckers joins us for a live episode at WMFO in Medford, MA, where he performs two tracks from his new album  Justine & Me . Tom is accompanied by his friend and fellow musician, Tad Overbaugh, who, along with Mike Newman, takes part in a lively conversation with Tom. *"Georgia Women" was in fact written by R.L. Burnside Music Tom Baker & Justine Covault "You're Still Standi...

Boston powerhouse trio Astral Bitch join us on the show to talk about their latest single "Haunting You", their inspiring cover of the Psychedelic Furs "Pretty In Pink" and life in the music scene... Music Astral Bitch "Haunting You" Additional Music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo twi...

Lee Harrington makes an encore appearance on the show to talk about his early life, The Neighborhoods, The Shang Hi Los, and much more... Lee Harrington is a seasoned musician from Boston, Massachusetts, renowned for his dynamic contributions to the local rock scene. He is best known as the bassist and vocalist for The Neighborhoods, a band celebrated for their high-energy performances and signifi...

In this bonus episode, we take a look back at the Victory At Sea "Memories Fade" album and pay respects to the late Herbie Flowers. Music Victory At Sea "Happy For You" Victory At Sea "Break Of Day" additional music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

On this episode, we are joined by Justin Keane and Amy Young, the fantastic indie rock duo known as Canyons And Locusts. Canyons and Locusts is a melodic noise-rock duo from Boston and Phoenix, consisting of Justin Keane (vocals, guitar) from Boston and Amy Young (drums, backing vocals) from Phoenix. The band’s sound is defined by edgy guitar riffs, pulsating drum beats, and emotionally charged vo...

The interview segment of this episode was originally recorded and aired in October 2022. Congratulations to SSD on their induction into the New England Music Hall Of Fame! Music SSD - "Glue" Additional Music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo SSD interview recorded at Voice Motel by Mike Nash

In this special episode, Warren Zanes joins us to share the incredible journey of his life—from his teenage years playing in The Del Fuegos to his remarkable career as an author. He talks about his books on Tom Petty, Dusty Springfield, and his latest work, Deliver Me From Nowhere, which is soon to be adapted into a film. The book dives into the making of Bruce Springsteen's iconic Nebraska album....

Special bonus episode featuring audio clips from various shows by Warren Zanes, Frank Meyer, Rev Hank, Mariel Loveland, Corey Loog Brennan, Dana Colley(Morphine), Britt Lightning(Vixen), Keith Bennett, Pete Cassani, Emily Grogan, Jo Krieger(JVK), Devon Thompson, Emily Whitehurst, Tom Baker, Jim McCarty(The Yardbirds), and Dave Amato(REO Speedwagon). Music Ultrabomb "Who Knows" JVK "Freak"(live aco...

In this episode, we're joined by Destiny Costa, a DJ at Boston's Mark Skin Radio and a contributor to the  Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico  podcast. Destiny also starred in the 1996 indie film  Chalk , delivering a fantastic performance. We dive into all of that, plus geek out over our favorite bands and tunes! "Chalk" https://vimeo.com/ondemand/chalkfilm Music Greg Allen's F...

Vanessa Goldberg, founder of Crystal Ball Records in Bellingham, MA, joins us on the show to discuss the current retail climate, her experience at Nevermind Records, and what's spinning on her turntable. Music The Croaks "Big Bug" Crystal Canyon "Turn Blue" Additional music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" *The clip at the end of this epsiode is from epsiode 365 with Kenny...

We're excited to welcome back one of our favorite musicians and songwriters, Kenny Chambers of Moving Targets, to the podcast! Kenny joins us to discuss the band's jam-packed 2024 touring plans and give us a sneak peek into their upcoming recording sessions for a highly anticipated 2025 album. Moving Targets first made their mark in 1984 and have since released a series of standout albums. In addi...

Mike Fitz of the hard rock band Bad Marriage joins us on the show to discuss the band’s rise to prominence in the Boston hard rock scene, their strong bond with Tesla, and their thrilling experiences on tour across the country! Music Bad Marriage "Dangerous" Additional Music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" audio clip from Episode 272: Britt Lightning Produced and Hosted b...

On the final episode of 2024, we’re broadcasting live on WMFO (Medford, MA) featuring a special acoustic performance by Jo Krieger from the incredible Boston band JVK. Music The Bags "Spread It Around" JVK "All I Want"(Live) JVK "Freak"(Live) Additional Music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo This episode was engineered by Mike Newman a...

This epsiode features many highlights from the podcast and audio clips from Chris Foley(SSD), Todd Phillips(The Juliana Hatfield 3/Bullet LaVolta), Kurt Davis(Bullet LaVolta), Anna Waronker(That Dog), Brenna Red(The Last Gang), Chris Gates(Big Boys), Juliana Hatfield, Cam Ackland, David Hull, Lenny Zenith, Amber Tortorelli(Sapling), Jackie Fox(The Runaways), Mike Peters(The Alarm), Kelly Ogden(The...

Dave Harrison joins us on the show today to talk about his all-star band The False Positives and their new recordings. We also take a trip down memory lane to revisit his work with the late '80s/early '90s band The Voodoo Dolls, along with much more! The Voodoo Dolls were a garage rock band from Boston, known for their raw, energetic sound that blends elements of punk, rock 'n' roll, and psychedel...

On this special edition of the podcast, we are joined by Paul Marotta, who played in several legendary Cleveland bands including The Styrenes, The Mirrors, and The Electric Eels. Paul also has the distinct honor as having been the man who hired the host of this show to his very first job in the music business..Yes it's True. The Electric Eels were a pioneering band in the early Cleveland punk scen...

On this episode we play and talk about some of our favorite songs from 2024... The Legendary Rich Gilbert “One Ton Tomato” The Last Gang “Madness” Egg Drop Soup “One Hit Woman” Diablogato “Lost Highway” The Brother Stereo “Time In History” Already Dead “Rock Bottom” Linnea’s Garden “Cherry” Leah Callahan “Super” The Dogmatics “Library Girl” The Shang Hi Los “Op Operator” Spiller “The Sparkler” Len...

Michael Cudahy(Combustible Edison, Christmas) joins us on the show to talk about the release of Propeller Product 4.1 double album. Cudahy was a founding member of Christmas. Christmas was known for its unique blend of alternative rock, post-punk, and experimental sounds, often with a dark and atmospheric edge. Their music was marked by layered guitar work, unconventional song structures, and a mo...

Lynda Mandolyn( Tiger Bomb, Crystal Canyon) returns to the show to discuss her new maxi single, which includes a heartfelt cover of the classic "I Love How You Love Me." The track serves as a tribute to the late Justine Covault. Music Lynda Mandolyn "I Love How You Love Me" https://lyndamandolyn.bandcamp.com/track/little-dreamer Additional Music The Charms "So Pretty" The Domatics "I Love Rock N R...

We are joined on the show this week by Lenny Zenith, a trailblazing transgender artist, that has captivated audiences worldwide with his bold exploration of music and his unwavering authenticity. Music Larry Zenith "One Of Us Should Go" Additional Music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" Produced and Hosted by Steev Riccardo

Tim Shea, of the well-known Boston band Black Helicopter, joins us on the show to discuss the band's history, his time with Green Magnet School, WDJM, and other cool stuff... Music Black Helicopter "Army Pup Tent" Black Helicopter "Mousemeat"(bonus track at end of show) Additional Music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6lHFZxDikYIabX6wKCGc...