Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico

On this episode, we are joined by David Wildman and Jim Foster from the band Tell. “If you’re a first-class songwriter, being shut down just might wind up turning you loose. David Wildman has written his share of gems over the years, often in bands that deserved way more attention than they got. His band TELL refines the moody yet pop-centric approach he’s had all along. …But the real news here is...

Juli Kryslur joins us on the show to share stories from her music career — from spinning tracks at college radio station WERS to managing iconic bands like The Dogmatics, The Straw Dogs (formerly The FU’s), and The Bags, as well as her time working at record labels such as Enigma Records. Music clips The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll The Dogmatics "Sister...

On this episode we are joined by the Sioux Falls SD indie rock band Shurr Jr. In 2015, siblings Nick and Frankie began writing music and jamming together in their mother’s garage, drawing inspiration from Elliott Smith, the Avett Brothers, Title Fight, and Charmer. At the time, their sister Kelly Maxwell was teaching herself to play guitar, often listening and vibing along to their creations. The...

In this episode, we’re joined by Christian Dryden of the New York-based band, The Ritualists. Emerging from the underground glam scene in NYC’s East Village, The Ritualists have become a key player in the Lower East Side music scene, a community that deeply influenced Dryden’s musical vision. Immersed in a world that draws inspiration from icons like The Velvet Underground and New York Dolls, as w...

In this exciting live episode, recorded at WMFO, we welcome back the legendary producer and label owner Rick Harte! Join us for an engaging conversation as we explore his work with iconic bands like The Del Fuegos, Mission of Burma, The Neats, The Neighborhoods, and much more! Music The Real Kids "Somewhere West Of Nowhere" Mission Of Burma "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate&...

In this episode, we chat with Gabriel Johns and Loren Molinare of the Los Angeles rock band, Slamdinistas. Formed in 2020, Slamdinistas have been captivating audiences with their powerful blend of hard rock energy and catchy pop hooks, all brought to life by a seasoned lineup of musicians. The band features lead vocalist Gabriel Johns (Shelter, FiDo), guitarist Loren Molinare (The Dogs, Little Cae...

M.G. Lederman, aka Mel Lederman, returns to the show to discuss his new single and upcoming album. We also take a trip down memory lane, sharing thoughts about the hosts deep affection for the Victory At Sea album, "Memories Fade". Music M. G. Lederman "Everybody Moves Away" Additional Music The Charms "So Pretty" The Dogmatics "I Love Rock N Roll" Produced...

On this episode, we are joined by Lilli Dennison, whose first job when she moved to Boston was working as a waitress at the legendary Rathskeller in Kenmore Square. This was the beginning of twenty plus years of involvement in the Boston music scene as an artist manager, booking agent, club manager, club owner etc... We get the whole story, plus did we mention that's she an awesome human being! Mu...

Marc Johnson, guitarist and vocalist of the 1980s Boston thrash metal band Executioner, joins us on the show. Formed in 1984, Executioner consisted of Marc Johnson, bassist/vocalist Ari Vainio, and drummer Dan Scannell. Their iconic track "Victims of Evil" was featured on the legendary 1985 compilation  Speed Metal Hell . Soon after, the band signed with New Renaissance Records and released their...

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...