From Akron & Beyond Podcast

So, one evening, Nick is watching “Restoration Road”, a home rehab TV show. And there he sees host Clint Harp interviewing Tim Franklin, whose local company is rehabbing an 1884 historic Akron mansion, right near downtown! The above raises the question: How is there a national television show focusing an entire episode on our very own Akron, Ohio, and no one in Akron seems to be aware of it? After...

In this episode, Bob and Nick visit with the very fun and accomplished Marti Jones and Don Dixon. Marti has had a long career as a singer, making numerous solo albums after her beginnings with Akron band Color Me Gone. Currently she is focusing on her first artistic love, painting. Musician Don Dixon is most known for his influential production work on such key “jangle pop” records as REM’s Murmer...

With Susan Schmidt Horning, Debbie Smith-Cahan, and Rich Roberts Bob and Nick are celebrating our 50th* episode on The Summit FM with three guests we’ve been trying to wrangle together since the beginning!  In this 2nd episode of a two-parter, we move on from the Poor Girls to the legendary Chi-Pig, as Rich Roberts joins Sue and Debbie to create one of the most fun and innovative bands to ever com...

With Susan Schmidt Horning, Debbie Smith-Cahan, and Rich Roberts Bob and Nick are celebrating our 50th* episode on The Summit FM with three guests we’ve been trying to wrangle together since the beginning!  Sue and Debbie were members of the historic, all-female rock group The Poor Girls in the mid-late 1960’s, opening for bands like Cream and Steppenwolf.  In this first of a two-parter, we look b...

Matt Anthony 8:26 AM (20 minutes ago)     to me                     Matt Anthony   Digital Media Producer The Summit FM 309 Woolf Ave. Akron, OH 44312 330-761-3096 matt@thesummit.fm “Hangin’ with Chad” You hear him daily on the air playing a wide variety of great (and new) tunes on The Summit FM.  And if you go to a cool concert, it’s very likely that you’ll see him there as well.  No one loves ba...

One of the most important bands to emerge from Akron is The Bizarros.  Making records that bridged hard rock to a proto-punk sound, their influence proved important to many bands, and has been regularly noted in such seminal chronicles of American punk rock as Clinton Heylin’s “From the Velvets to the Voidoids” and Jon Savages’ “England’s Dreaming”, and numerous LP and CD compilations. FROM AKRON’...

  From his large studio in Canal Place, John Comunale has created sculptural art that has come to define many of Akron’s public places. In this episode, Nick and Bob talk with John about his earliest artistic inspirations, his obsession with working with metals, how he created some of his best known works, and frankly discuss the challenges of the life of an artist. This is a fascinating episode,...

A mainstay of the Northeast Ohio Music Scene (and beyond!), Marc Lee Shannon has done it all. From being a West Coast session musician, to his many years with Michael Stanley, to his long  and rewarding career as a bandleader and solo artist, Marc has many stories to share.  And probably none are more rewarding than those regarding his commitment to the sober life and helping others in recovery. I...

A mainstay of the Northeast Ohio Music Scene (and beyond!), Marc Lee Shannon has done it all. From being a West Coast session musician, to his many years with Michael Stanley, to his long  and rewarding career as a bandleader and solo artist, Marc has many stories to share.  And probably none are more rewarding than those regarding his commitment to the sober life and helping others in recovery. I...

If there’s one person in the local music scene who is a Rock Star, it’s Akron’s own Jeff Hardy. None other than critic Chuck Klosterman has compared him to Marc Bolan. ‘Nuff said! He’s known for numerous bands, including CD Truth, Zero Defex, and, of course, the World’s Greatest Christmas Band, Missile Toe.   In this episode, Nick and Bob talk with Jeff about his early years, his many bands, futur...

Whether shredding on guitar, or writing a song a day, no musician in Akron currently is busier or more accomplished than Dave Rich. Not surprisingly, he is the 2024 Arts Alive Award Winner for Outstanding Artist in Music! In this episode, Nick and Bob talk with Dave about his early inspirations, and his work with the legendary band Houseguest, Surf Rock dynamos The Beyonderers, and his current pro...

A major component of the Downtown Akron area is, of course, the University of Akron. And a key player in the planning and design aspects is Jason Segedy.  An Akronite through and through, in this episode Nick and Bob learn about Jason’s love and long involvement with our community.   After many years as planning director for the City of Akron, Jason is now Planning Manager for the University of Ak...

Nick and Bob have been doing our From Akron & Beyond show for over a year now, always with Program Director and Afternoon Host Brad Savage in the studio with us, making sure the microphones work, adding the right music, and editing out (most of) our flubs…. But just Who IS this Brad guy?  What’s his story? Exactly what do we REALLY KNOW about this guy? So, on this episode, we begin our ”Inside...

Located at 923 Bank Street in Akron is one of the coolest places in town - The Bomb Shelter.   A truly unique store, the Bomb Shelter sells (and buys) all sorts of vintage items, from clothes, to furniture, to vinyl albums, to… Well, frankly everything! In this episode, Nick and Bob chat with Bomb Shelter owner Kevin Royer, and discuss his devotion to preserving Akron’s history, the joys (and peri...

From the late glory days of newspapers to the internet, Malcolm Abram has been writing about local and national music scenes for decades.  First known to Northeast Ohio readers from his work at the Akron Beacon Journal, he now is a Music and Entertainment writer for Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer. In this episode, Nick and Bob talk with Malcolm about his career, and how the news and music industri...

In this episode, Nick and Bob pay tribute to some notable musicians whom you may - or may not - realize were from right here in Akron.  Some surprises, and a lot of great music! Tune in to The Summit FM, 91.3 this Thursday, February 29, at 10 pm, or listen later on Apple, Spotify, Google, Podbean, SoundCloud (for complete songs), or wherever you get your podcasts! (Thanks to Brad Savage!)

The homegrown Akron company, EarthQuaker Devices has become world-renowned for their innovative and quality guitar and effects pedals.  Founded in 2004 by Jamie Stillman and Julie Robbins, their products are used and highly valued by musicians such as Paul Simon, Coldplay, the Black Keys, among thousands of others. In this episode, Nick and Bob visit with CEO Julie Robbins.  We learn about their h...

In this episode, Bob and Nick visit with Howard Parr, Executive Director of the historic Akron Civic Theatre.   A beautiful living landmark of Akron’s Downtown, we discuss its fascinating past and it’s vibrant present and promising future. There are many interesting anecdotes and funny stories along the way! Tune In Thursday, February 15 at 10 pm to The Summit FM, 91.3, or check it out later on Ap...

Mark Windt, born in Cleveland, later a resident of Holland, and now back in Ohio, performs under the name Kramies.  Have you heard of him?  We hadn’t. But Patrick Carney of the Black Keys has. So has Jason Lytle of Grandaddy. Kramies has performed with Spiritualized, Yo La Tengo, and Calexico, and currently is on tour with Tyler Ramsey of Band Of Horses.   In this episode, Bob and Nick visit with...

The Nightlight Cinema is a true gem in Downtown Akron. Showing acclaimed new films, interspersed with occasional classics and popular favorites from the past, the Nightlight provides the most comfortable and enjoyable theatre experience a movie lover could hope for.  In this episode, our guest is Jenn Kidd, Executive Director of the Nightlight Cinema. We learn about Jenn’s background and career, t...

In this episode, we pay another visit with historian and archivist Calvin Rydbom, this time with a focus on historical and iconic buildings from the industrial era of Akron.   Listen this Thursday, January 25 at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or anytime later on Apple, Spotify, Google, Podbean, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts! (Thanks to Brad Savage!)

What are your all-time favorite albums?  For music geeks, this is an impossible question to answer.  And yet…. It’s fun to try! In this episode, Bob and Nick dig deep into this futile task, and each conjure up their own respective Top 10 Lists.  Is there some competition at play?  Absolutely! And now, after leaving the first half with five albums to go (that’s called a “cliffhanger”), here’s Part...

What are your all-time favorite albums?  For music geeks, this is an impossible question to answer.  And yet…. It’s fun to try! In this episode, Bob and Nick dig deep into this futile task, and each conjure up their own respective Top 10 Lists.  Is there some competition at play?  Absolutely! This is the first of a two-parter, and a lot of fun. Play along at home! Listen on The Summit FM, 91.3 on...

NIck and Bob are back with new shows!  For our first one for 2024, we are visited by rap artist Floco Torres.  One of the most dynamic and engaging performers working today, in this episode we dig deep into Floco ‘s roots and inspirations, learn more about his solo and Free Black projects, and get his insights on the challenges faced by independent musicians in the marketplace.  Available to liste...

It’s that Most (insert adjective that applies to you) Time Of The Year!  Bob (Cratchet) and  (Saint) Nick happen to love the Yuletide, and for this episode have each chosen some seasonal favorites, and in the spirit of generosity have invited Brad Savage to join in on the fun with a song of his own ! Listen this Thursday, 12/21 at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later on Apple, Spotify, Google, P...