Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico

Erich Thaler traces his path from the Spokane, WA music scene to Boston, where Stompbox earned a major label deal with Columbia and became one of the city's most talked-about bands in the early '90s. When things unraveled, Thaler hit some dark times — but he bounced back with D-CON, eventually made his way to California, got straight, and rebuilt his life. Music The Charms "So Pretty&...

On this episode of the Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico podcast, we are joined by Boston hardcore legend/artist Dave Tree. Dave, who fronted the outstanding 90's hardcore band TREE and is making waves these days with his band SEE THIS WORLD, lets loose on music, politics, art and life, in a raucous way only he can. This is show is heavy and fast the way Dave plays music and creates some of the best...

On this episode of the podcast, sixteen year old Nate Zucker tells us how he made not one but two records since the pandemic started and answers every  question we toss at him, including questions from one of his 16 year old fans (Nina) from across the Country. He gets an "A+" from the podcast host. Also a few words about the passing of New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain, who playe...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by long time Government Issue guitarist/music fan/record collector Tom Lyle. We talk about GI's influence on the early DC punk scene, how they were one of the most active bands in the eighties, how their legacy lives on today, departed singer John Stabb, and more... Music The Charms "So Pretty"(intro music) Government Issue "Public Stage" Government Is...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by ex Descendents/Dag Nasty bassist/songwriter and one of the most energetic punk rock guys around Doug Carrion,  who now resides in Field Day with ex Dag Nasty vocalist Peter Cortner. Doug and I take you down memory lane and talk about his early days with the Descendents and the incredible "Enjoy" album, how he ended up becoming pals with Brian Baker...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by one half of the iconic alternative pop duo Jackopierce, as Jack O'Neill calls in from New York City and shares some great stories from the band's long and magical run. Our host was in the right place at the right time in 1993 when the band signed with A&M Records and was able to join them on the road to experience the excitement of a Jackopierce...

Greg Allen( Greg Allen's Fringe Religion, Jerry Nolan & The Profilers) and our host Steev go head to head on what were some the best records to come out between 1970-1973 arguably one of the best timespans for rock n roll of all genres. The boys jab on The New York Dolls, MC5, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, David Bowie, and much more. We also hear a great tune from Greg's band ("S...

Ben Deily, a founding member of The Lemonheads, joins us and delivers a treasure trove of stories from the band's early days — his first jam sessions with high school friend Evan Dando, Jesse Peretz's role in the mix, and what life on the road as a Lemonhead was really like. He also breaks down the Dando/Charles Manson connection and the LA reunion sessions featuring Dando, Juliana Hatfiel...

On this episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico, we are joined by  Northern Skulls and former Gang Green/Mallethead bassist Glen Stiphen.  Glen shares some great stories on how he joined Gang Green as a teenager along with his brother Chuck and went on tour and of course all the chaos that ensued including the making of the legendary "Another Wasted Night" album, arguably the bes...

Collibrina returns for a Blowing Smoke encore — and this time, she's holding nothing back. The alt-model, sex worker, naked yoga practitioner, and OnlyFans star answers every question we throw at her. All of them. She's the coolest, and she proves it again. Plus, we spin a demo from Boston up-and-comers Loretta and a legendary cut from the Ace of Hearts catalog courtesy of Tomato Monkey. M...

Singer, Songwriter, Keyboard wiz Merrily Ruth Rosso joins us for a lively conversation about surviving in Brooklyn during a pandemic and shares a plethora of fun stories about her time in Portland Oregon, Phoenix AZ(including meeting and hanging out with Steev), and how she settled into the NYC scene and lifestyle. We also hear a song from the brand new Jimmy D'Angelo "Picture Frame" CD, which was...

Al Quint has been deep in the punk and hardcore world for decades — music critic, editor of Suburban Voice, host of Sonic Overload Radio, and a die-hard Discharge fanatic. He joins us for a wide-ranging conversation covering Government Issue, the early Boston hardcore scene, and plenty of war stories from a lifetime of shows. Music The Charms "So Pretty" Government Issue "Where You...

Neighborhoods bassist, all around cool dude, and old friend Lee Harrington joins us on the show for a fun conversation about the history of one of Boston's greatest bands, making records, touring, hanging with David Bowie, working with Aerosmith's Brad Whitford and more.  We also play two of Lee's best contributions to The Neighborhoods and why he thinks the newest album is worth listening to over...

Boston musician, film maker, photographer, designer, huge music fan and last minute guest Duncan Wilder-Johnson joins the podcast with a stack of Black Flag books and a lively discussion about his favorite band. We also talk pandemic survival and the what the future of live music looks like. Plus a celebration of and a song from Aloud's "Exile" album which recently turned ten years old.  Musi...

Alt-model, experimental filmmaker, vocalist, and naked yoga queen Collibrina teams up with photographer and tattoo artist Chad Cote for a wide-ranging conversation that covers plenty of ground. We also spin new music from Pittsburgh metal stars Lady Beast and an oldie from the short-lived but never dull Boston band 3½ Girls. It's a wild ride, baby. Music The Charms "So Pretty" (Theme...

Legendary Boston producer Rick Harte joins the show to talk about his label Ace of Hearts and four decades of stellar records. The list of bands he's worked with is mind-blowing — Mission of Burma, The Lyres, The Neighborhoods, The Nervous Eaters, The Neats, The Real Kids, The Classic Ruins, Tomato Monkey, and plenty more. Music The Charms "So Pretty"(intro and outro music) Mission O...

Cowboy Mach Bell returns to the show to talk about the audio release of his incredible book/diary "Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker" and his 2 1/2 year experience touring and recording as the lead vocalist of The Joe Perry Project. Cowboy also elaborates on some of the great stories in the book and also talks about playing with his outstanding band Thundertrain and what it was like hanging out and p...

On this episode of the show, we talk about Boston metal heroes Wargasm and the rough road they had to endure once they got a record deal and how they are not the only band to get shafted by their label once signed. There's a long list.  We also hear a great track from one of the best records to come out of the Boston scene in years by the band Reverse. Steev also shares some memories about be...

On this episode of the show, Steev shares a few more chapters from his unreleased auto-biography "Independent Record Scum", including the first time he saw rock bands playing in clubs and the great Wormtown battle of the bands that turned into an all out brawl. We also answer a couple of really good listener questions and hear great music from Boston music legends Flexie and a new song from Jersey...

On this episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico, we hear a few early chapters from Steev's unreleased book entitled "Independent Record Scum", Delve into the remarkable rise, fall, and rise again of soul legend Bobby Womack, and hear incredible new songs from Portland Maine's Tiger Bomb and Jersey City's 50 Ft. Furies.   Music featured in this Episode The Charms "So Pretty" Tiger Bomb "Com...

On this episode, Steev talks about how his time at his college radio station (WDJM-Framingham) paved the way for his long music career. Chilly Kurtz (Caged Heat) then crashes the show and joins Diya and Herb in a lively conversation about a myriad of topics including our least favorite concerts, what we would call our band if we could start one, our ideal age, and yes one of us would perform naked...

On this episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico, we are all over the place as we talk about healthy living, embarrassing  ourselves in front of rock stars, our least favorite songs, brunettes vs redheads (of course the host said blondes), and a mutual dislike for a certain lead singer. Also, Steev talks about one of his favorite all time bands, the legendary Outlets, who helped frame the e...

The Crew talks about survival techniques during the Pandemic, including dating and food. We play a great new tune from ex Dag Nasty Members Doug Carrion and Peter Cortner's Field Day, and a classic from one of our favorites, Motion City Soundtrack.  Also, Diya introduces us to a new segment called Rock N Roll Road Stories in which Steev digs deep into his memory  and shares random storie...

In this episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico we talk about some of the greatest club shows and legendary venues our host Steev has been to and witnessed over the years, plus the slow miserable death of these revered venues all over America. Something that was already happening even before the Virus came along and has shut down even more venues all over the Country.  From CBGB in NYC, to...

On this topsy turvy episode of Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico, we talk about the Porn industry, some of our favorite podcasts, the time Steev met the great Ian Hunter, and our equal love and admiration for Amy Schumer. We also play a brand new tune from the Jim Weeks Band and a brilliant cover of The Charms "Star Rider" from one of our favorites - Merrily! Music The Charms "So Pretty" (intro musi...