Citywide Blackout

Picture this—It’s 1,000 years into the future, and Earth is a dying world. The ocean itself has become The Caul, a predator that lures in and devours anyone that goes near it. Humanity has fled the planet, and few people dare to return.  Mae Jameson is an octogenarian former Service agent who arrived on Earth 30 years ago to find her lover. When she encounters Siofra, a mute girl, wandering alone...

Hey everyone, let’s take a trip to Exorcism Island! It’s a tropical paradise with sunny skies, pristine beaches…..but with demons. Lotsa demons. But don’t take my word for it, here’s a look at the story: Following a terrifying confrontation with a possessed woman, Father Gigi Amato finds himself sent to a remote Caribbean Island run by the Vatican to join a group of priests tasked with looking aft...

At 13 years old, Kristina Amelong's brother predicted his own death with unsettling accuracy. No one believed him – until it happened exactly as he said. Haunted by this, Jay’s death sent Kristina into a spiral of addiction and recklessness. Decades later, determined to understand the meaning behind his prediction, she embarked on a journey that led to resilience, healing, and a deeper exploration...

Author J. Lee returns with his newest book, and this one has an ending you’ll never see coming. The murder mystery “Coach’s Corner” will be released out on Oct. 14. Here’s a look at the story: In a small rural town of 1,500 people, life is usually quiet — until the summer of 1997, when Charlie’s best friend, Barry Ray, is arrested for murder. Convinced of Barry Ray’s innocence, Charlie sets out to...

In his debut book, author Todd Brown weaves a dark tale in the Southern Gothic “When Shadows Burn.” Here’s a look at the story: In the heart of Raven’s Cross, Virginia, the decaying Scott house looms. Its broken-window eyes watch a town desperate to forget. When Roxy, a teenage girl, vanishes into a sweltering night, long-buried fears erupt, and suspicion turns savage. The townspeople turn on the...

In the recent Comixology release “Outer Lands,” a young prince living in a seemingly Ancient Grecian world is exiled to a prison isle to keep him from assuming the throne, he unintentionally discovers a massive global conspiracy. It’s a great story with a twist that will really surprise you. Series writer Matthew Arnold joins us to talk about how the series lived for awhile in his mind, writing so...

In author Pamela Harris’ newest book, “Through Our Teeth,” we open with the death of Hope Jackson, and while it appears that she took her own life, her friend Liv doesn’t believe it. But as the investigation unfolds, we learn that things are not what they seem. Join us as Pamela talks about how this grew from an idea she had 10 years ago, the complex characters she’s created, the social issues she...

At 60 years old, author Anne Abel did something completely out of character – she flew halfway across the world by herself to follow Bruce Springsteen’s tour in Australia. Eight concerts. Five cities. Twenty-six days. No guidebook, no plan. Just a desperate hope that his music might save her life. This story is the heart of her new memoir, "High Hopes," released on Springsteen’s birthday, Sept. 23...

As they say, all good things must come to an end. After six books, award-winning The Vega and Middleton series by Sue Hinkin is about to come to a close with “The Snake Handler’s Wife” (Oct. 1, Literary Wanderlust). It’s the final mystery for Los Angeles TV news journalist Bea Jackson and best friend, photographer Lucy Vega, and we talk about the final story as well as how the series got its start...

On May 28, 2013, Jocelyn Rasmussen woke up and realized, with profound clarity, that she had cancer. This was later confirmed by a doctor, after which Jocelyn was told she had a small chance of survival. Today, Jocelyn is a cancer survivor for 12 years and living a life of love, adventure and music.  During her treatment, Jocelyn began speaking with other patients with life-threatening illnesses a...

What if you could lead an entirely different life, changing the choices you once made? Would you be willing to leave the old life behind? That’s the story behind author C.B. Giesinger’s new book, “The Wall That Divides the Ocean.” Here’s a look at the plot. Anna is satisfied with the life that she has built with her husband, Chris. Her steady, but lackluster job, and their cushion-stain-free lifes...

Derek Smith of Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures is back with a brand new three-part album called Temporary Circus. Act 1 was released back in May, with the second act slated for Sept. 12. The music is a wonderful, eclectic blend of sounds that showcases Derek’s wide-ranging style. In this interview, Derek talks about the origins of Temporary Circus and what we can expect in Act 2. He shares wha...

Born and raised in San Francisco, author Brian Brady has blended the city’s endless inspiration with his lengthy career as a police officer and security executive to create his series of books. The newest, “Greed,” begins with an art forgery and theft, traveling from San Francisco to Paris to Amsterdam, but takes a twist when one of the perpetrators gets too greedy. In this episode, Brian talks ab...

Heidi Yewman’s memoir “dumb girl” (Aug. 19) chronicles the physical, emotional and sexual abuse she suffered for years, and how that pain was transformed into purpose following the tragic shooting at Columbine High School. Among the victims was her beloved basketball coach. For years Yewman has worked as a gun violence activist, producing the award-winning documentary “Behind the Bullet,” and has...

In her memoir “Maya Blue: A Memoir of Survival,” Brenda Coffee takes us through the good and the bad of her eventful life, reminding us that if you keep your voice and your wits, you can survive almost anything.    In this interview, Brenda talks about how she opens the book, with a burly man telling her and hr husband that their lives wee in danger. We talk about how she chose what to include and...

Rock band One Time Mountain has undergone a lot of changes in recent years, including a brand new lineup in 2020 when the band at that time went their separate ways. Guitarist Brian Murphy decided to keep it going and recruited Ethan Garman, Zach Rizzo and Alec Smith, creating a lineup that brings a lot of fire and past music experience with them. In this episode, the band joins us to talk about t...

Rob Tonkin’s new book “Asshole” is an honest look at his own life, from self-destruction to eventual redemption, with a lot of hard-won insights into authentic living. In this episode, Rob talks about his career in the music and radio industries, which while very successful, covered up wounds from his past. Rob talk about these experiences and what led him to get help from a variety of sources, an...

Hendrika de Vries was just a little girl when she experienced brutal violence and hunger in WWII Amsterdam. She immigrated to Australia as a professional teenage swimmer, and in her new book, “Open Turns: From Dutch Girl to New Australian,” she chronicles her experiences during this time, and how they reflect what young women go through today. In this interview, Hendrika shares her youth in Amster...

JP Behren’s new book is a crime noir book with a unique take. “Murder in the Monashee Mountains” is the second book in the Travis Daniels Investigation series. Here’s a look at the story:  After escaping the cursed streets of Arkham and Miskatonic University, Travis Daniels is on the run with his ward, Leslie Owens. While searching for a safe place to hide, they witness a savage murder in the wood...

My next guests have had one hell of a 2024, with big wins at the Rock and Roll Rumble and Boston Music Awards. Let’s see how 2025 is going with The Ghouls . Band members George Danahy, Peter Trainor and Jacob Babcock join me to talk about taking first place at Boston’s 2024 Rock and Roll Rumble and winning “Rock Act of the Year” at the Boston Music Awards. We go into the release of their debut alb...

The Chelsea Curve have had a busy 2025.   From West Coast shows with the UK band Sharp Class to being back in the studio, this band — inspired by Boston and British culture — has done a lot, with much more to come. In this episode, Curtis and Max talk with band members Linda Pardee and Tim Gillis about recent shows and tours of the UK, along with some of the great bands they’ve met and venues that...

My next guest’s recent single “Almost There” really caught my attention, and now he’s here to talk about this and a lot more. Singer songwriter Ben Hutcheson joins me to share the real-life inspiration behind his March release, “Almost There” as well as what motivates him to pick up the pen and write a new song. Ben’s part of the UK country scene, which has been around for a few years now. We talk...

We’ve been a fan of the band Western Education for years now, and with their new full-length album, “Millennial Youth” they’ve hit a new high point with their music. Band members Greg Alexandropoulos (vocals, keyboards) and Will Hunt (bass, production) return to Citywide to talk about the stories told throughout the album, and how it all got started. Will and Greg go into their favorite songs, and...

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the sounds of my next guest The Far Out and in just a week, they’re releasing their debut album. Ryan Fremont-Smith and Drew Phillips (AKA The Drum and Bass Connection) join me to talk all about the “Greetings From the Far Out,” out on July 11. We take a deep dive into the sound of the new album, which includes a wide range of instrumentation and a story that brings i...

Boston-based Hallelujah the Hills have released a brand new project called “Deck” a 52-song, four LP collection of music more than two years in the making. It’s an epic collection of songs that encompass all sorts of styles and has been in the mind of band member Ryan H. Walsh for the last 25 years.   In this episode, Ryan talks about the origin of “Deck” and the multi-year process to complete it....