The Musical Mitten

The Musical Mitten has never been partial to a particular decade of music, but it's about time we got back to some 90s jams. Electric Six, a band out of Royal Oak, has us mapping out the suburbs of Detroit and discussing the Spice Girls this week, and we're so excited to get you all in on the conversation. 

Following this season's theme of trying new things, the Musical Mitten is taking the chance to talk about an instrumentalist. Your hosts, as two former band kids, are super excited to talk about Pepper Adams, a saxophonist born in 1930, from Highland Park, Michigan. 

A Musical Mitten tradition that we've had almost as long as we've been doing this show has been to bring artists on to talk to them at least a few times a season. The first of these of season 3 is Pat Deneau of The City Lines. 

The Musical Mitten is back again this week with an artist you probably know and love, even if you don't know the band's name.  Doug Fieger, lead singer of The Knack, is from Michigan, and this is a run down of his life and the song most often associated with this band. 

When it comes to major bands, members can come from all over the world, so it's hard to imagine them being from the same place you are. However, it's not unheard of. In fact, one of Metallica's bassists is from our own backyard.  This week on the Musical Mitten is Jason Newsted and his roots with Flotsam and Jetsam, Metallica, and where he is 20 years after leaving the band. 

Almost a year to the day before this episode aired, the Musical Mitten went live with the first installment of their radio show. That first show? All about Motown and some of its artists. This was quite the undertaking for Maggie and Bree back then, but a year later they look back with fond memories, and reflect back on the beginnings of Hitsville USA. 

Going into their second year of producing the Musical Mitten, Maggie and Bree jump right back in with an episode that, while one of his songs might contradict the back to school theme, makes for an epic start for their third season. Alice Cooper has been on the Musical Mitten's list since the very beginning, but now they can finally do him justice. 

Back in early March, one of our hosts was able to attend the opening of the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame museum exhibit at the Bay County Historical Museum. It was there she met the founder, Dr. Gary Johnson. From there, we were able to Zoom with him and find out about what that process was like from beginning to end, and talk about some of the people he met along the way. 

After a recital concert broadcast on WOCR 89.1 the One, The Music Mitten  asked Justin Hatt to Zoom in to the studio and talk with us about his experience with classical guitar in higher education, and his plans for after he completes his Masters degree. 

At the tail end of the British Invasion and under the influence of Detroit, The Romantics took on the 1980s and power-pop and brought it all together. The Musical Mitten reacts to the band behind a popular 80s song that gets stuck in both of their heads. 

Stemming from conversations about who we have and haven't covered, as well as who we meant to cover on the radio, the Musical Mitten flashes back to their Top Picks episode with We Came as Romans. Filled with throwbacks to the radio show days, laughs, and a surprise blooper reel from the show so far, we're glad to be back in the studio this week. 

Back in February, The Musical Mitten traveled to a concert upstate, where we got to meet more than just the headlining act. August the Band are an absolutely incredible group from  the Grand Rapids area, and it was great to sit down and talk to them about their music, their process, and their upcoming shows

It's been another weekend of traveling for the Musical Mitten, and we were so excited to meet the lovely May Erlewine beforehand. Hit play to learn about her, her inspiration, and her favorite kinds of coffee, and don't forget to watch for her latest album within the next few months. 

Just kidding! We actually love podcasts along with all things Michigan and musical theater. And what do those have in common? Brian d'Arcy James. Listen to Bree and Maggie as they geek out about their past musical theater phases here on the Musical Mitten. 

Country music is a bit of an unfamiliar territory for the Musical Mitten, partially because country artists from Michigan aren't the most common. Frankie Ballard however practically grew up not too far from where we got started, so we were very excited to find out more. 

Back before the Musical Mitten was a podcast, it was a radio show where they covered up to four artists per show. In this episode of the Musical Mitten, Maggie and Bree are recalling one of those artists, and get to experience them in a brand new light. 

Welcome back to the Musical Mitten! Maggie and Bree return, this time in a podcast, and they're more excited than ever to tell you about artists from Michigan. First on the list is Marshall Mathers, more commonly known as Eminem, who grew up in Detroit. Join them as they get to talk about his journey, and branch out on a new part of theirs.