Citywide Blackout

The classic tale “The Little Mermaid” gets a futuristic spin in “Sea Change” by Susan Fletcher. In this story, a gene-hack gone wrong produces babies born with an extra set of lungs and gills. Here’s a look at the story: “Living in a post-climate change world, one young woman lives peacefully among other gene-hacked friends off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. But when she falls in love with a ‘No...

Picture this: A fatal hit and run has been committed, and you think you know who did it. Problem is, it’s someone you know. Do you do the right thing, or protect a person who means the world to you? That’s the choice given to Charlotte Oakes, in Karen Uhlmann’s debut novel , “Intersections” (She Writes Press). We talk all about Charlotte and how this decision impacts both her and the plot. Karen g...

It was two years ago on June 20 that Pamela N. Harris published her young adult thriller “This Town is on Fire.” The book takes on the internet “Karen” and how protagonist Naomi Henry responds when her best friend Kylie is shown in a video calling the cops on two Black teens. The novel dives into contemporary issues that dominate today’s headlines, making it a must-read for the digital age. Harris...

My next guest has just released two new singles, but she’s far from a newcomer to the world of music. In fact, Lana Carter has been recording since she was 10 years old, and her latest releases, “Only at Night” and “Venom” mark a reinvention of herself as an artist. In this episode, Lana talks about what led to this new chapter in her musical journey and how she’s grown as an artist. She goes into...

For this episode, we’ll taking on a very serious topic. Babs Walters’ memoir, “Facing the Jaguar” (June 17, She Writes Press) shares her story of surviving childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and her journey of healing after 70 years of secrecy.  In this interview, Babs talks about her past, and how she embarked on a journey of healing that continues to this day. We talk about her parents, their own bac...

We all like taking the train, right? So safe, so reliable, so what if there’s a chance you’ll be murdered before getting to your stop?   Well, that’s the real risk of public transit in the new five-issue comic series “Kill Train,” out through Mad Cave Studios. In the story, we meet Vanessa, a struggling artist and mother in the midst of a nervous breakdown, who discovers that she, herself, is on a...

For this episode, we’re taking a trip to the town of Cedar Plains, just a quiet place where not a lot happens…except for murder….a lot of it. Joining me is author Maggie Giles for her soon-to-be-released novel, “The Art of Murder.” Maggie talks about the town of Cedar Plains, the real-life inspiration behind its creation and how the murders rock the quiet community. She shares the dichotomy of mai...

In 2020, author Michael Bland introduced is to Dray Quintero and his fight for freedom in “The Price of Safety.” Now, he’s bringing that story to a close with his final book in the trilogy, “The Price of Freedom.” Here’s a look at the story: It’s 2047. The rebellion has been crushed. The Agency is reestablishing control.  Rebel leader Dray Quintero languishes in his cell, struggling against his ca...

This interview is a unique one, because the next guest on Citywide Bytes isn’t calling from the studio or their home, they’re on road, and among the stops will be Boston Calling. Brady Heck and Rebekah Rafferty of the band Holy Roller join me to talk about how it feels to be back on the road after a month away and their upcoming performance at Boston Calling on May 23. We talk about their set and...

From Dropkick Murphys to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the punk band Rebuilder has some memorable times on stage — and later this month, they’ll be making some new memories when they play at Boston Calling. Sal Ellington (vocals, guitar) joins us to talk about what’s in store for their set, and the bands he’s looking forward to seeing. We talk about their times with the Murphys and Bosstones and ot...

From their early days performing free shows in Philly’s Rittenhouse Square, the seven-piece band Snacktime has come a long way, and on May 25, they’ll take the stage at Boston Calling to bring a truly amazing sound to the city. Band founder and sousaphone/bass player Sam Gellerstein joins us to talk about their formation in the summer of 2020 and making their mark on Philadelphia’s music scene. Sa...

As PAX East returns this weekend, we’re sharing some interviews done at the 2024 PAX East by Ben Chou. In this episode, Ben talks with Jim Fitzpatrick for his first game, Mission to Planet Hexx! Ben speaks with Jim about his path as a game creator and journey of developing his game, Mission to Planet Hexx! Following this, Ben chats with Scott "Doeboy" Doe , local Twitch streamer, musician, Esports...

Jeremy D. Baker is a former US Army counterintelligence agent and combat veteran. He’s served alongside US Special Forces in Afghanistan and is a PTSD survivor. Over the past 20 years, his work in national security has focused on intelligence, counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, human trafficking, climate risk and resilience, and cybersecurity. That experience was an integral part in...

Writer/director Josh Mendoza is already well known in the world of film, and he’s used those skills to create his debut novel, “Shadow of the Eternal Watcher.” Here’s a look at the story: Lately, Duster Raines has started seeing an alternate version of reality where he leads a life of importance, wealth, and power. Visions so vivid they seem more real than the life he lives as a PI, scrounging the...

From playing shows to being recognized by WBUR, the Boston trio Falsely Accused has been on the move, and with their new EP, “Unbroken,” they pack a lot into five songs. Band members Mike Azzolino, Matt Tavano and Mark Young talk about the new elements from their last release, “Compression,” and how their music has grown since the 2021 album. We go into the different places the band has played at...

Let’s face it—the ocean is a damn nightmare and our next guest gives us one more reason to stick to shore. Joining us is Julie Hiner for her new book, “Fear of the Deep” out through Torrid Waters, an imprint of Crystal Lake Publishing. Here’s a look at what’s in store: Bailey, a lifeguard with a heavy metal heart and a Jack Daniel's addiction, has long avoided the deep sea since a haunting acciden...

When it comes to sharing their message, Boston alt-rock band Tell has rarely held back. In fact, as David Wildman tells it, one of his new releases is an honest “fuck you” to the internet. Yep, this is not one for the kiddos. In this episode, David talks about the story behind the band’s March release, “Sweet Proximity” their forthcoming single, “Boiling the Ocean.” David talks about being a music...

This May, the Boston-based Nate Perry & Ragged Company will join some of the best musicians today when they take the stage at Boston Calling . Band members Nate Perry (singer), Connor Milligan (bass player) and Mike Chandler (lead guitarist) join us to talk about what being part of BC means to them, the bands they’re looking forward to seeing and what we can expect from their set. In 2024, the...

Fifteen years ago, actor Thomas Jane and David James Kelly co-wrote the script for “The Lycan.” Different attempts to bring it to life fell by the wayside, but the time has come and the first issue is now available through Comixology. Here’s a look at the story: The story takes place in 1777. After a successful expedition in Africa, a hardened band of international big game hunters set out to retu...

It was August of 2023 and Lorenza Wildcard was on the show to talk about the beginning of her musical journey. Today, she has appeared on multiple podcasts and shows, performed all over and received a slew of awards. In this episode, we look at some of the highlights of her career and what keeps her going. She shares some performance milestones, including the famous Dublin Castle in London. She ta...

Our next guest was last on the show in October 2023 for her mystery thriller “Twisted” and now, Maggie Giles is back with “Wicked,” the new title in the series, out on April 22. While the mystery behind the robbery and murders in “Twisted” was uncovered a few months back, there is still a very large loose thread that Detective Ryan Boone desperately wishes to tie up. He convinces his superiors to...

Author Nancy McCabe’s new book, “Fires Burning Underground” takes us through the life of Anny as she copes with the death of a friend, her family’s religious home and questioning her own sexuality. Nancy and I talk about what inspired the book and how it reflects on her own life. She goes into the development of Anny’s character and navigating the many aspects of the story. Nancy shares how it fel...

It was during the pandemic that radio personality Kristen Eck decided to make a long-term dream a reality with the launch of Bumblebee Radio . Five years and hundreds (maybe thousands!) of songs later, the Boston-based station is marking five years on the air. In this episode, Eck joins us to talk about the station’s early days and how it’s thrived since 2020. We go into the ins and outs of runnin...

In his book, “Boy With Wings,” (Koehler, March 15) author Mark Mustian explores the history of the American freak show and what it means to be different in this world.   Johnny Cruel is born with wing-like appendages. Is it a miracle, or is he cursed? Is he an angel or a horror? Struggling to find his place in the world, Johnny ends up in a freak show traveling the 1930s South, where he bares his...

Every band has their firsts—first album, first show, first tour. In this episode, the three-member chiptune band Battlemode talks about their first performance at the upcoming Boston Calling. Band members Biff and Astro talk about how this appearance came to be and the musicians they’re looking forward to seeing. Boston has a great chiptune scene and Biff and Astro take us on a tour of what makes...