Modcast #214: Music To Walk The Dog By

Regular suavesters know that I've got the world's best dog, a yellow lab/red hound mix we call Kali Shiva, after the goddess of destruction. I walk her everyday for 30 minutes or more listening to my iPod. I'm a slave to shuffle. I just flip it on and whatever comes up is what comes up. Music to walk the dog by.

All of this week's songs came up during the past week's walks with the dog. I've taken some liberties in reordering them, but they're honest to dog, dog walking songs. I guarantee you won't need your pooper scooper. No shit in this show.

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Iggy Pop -- King of the Dogs
The Vapors -- Waiting for the Weekend
The Agents -- Modern Girl
The Heartbeat -- Why Don't You Dance With Me
The Martial Arts -- Frost
The Lodger -- Falling Down
The Decibels -- Test of Time
The Moving Sounds -- Turning My Heartbeat Up
Neil & Iraiza -- Age 8 & Up
DC Fontana -- You Strip Me Bare
The Knockouts -- She Gets Around
Locksley -- You Were Right About The High
Ripchord -- Heartbreaker
The Shakes -- Sicker
The Brooks -- Once In A While
Julie London -- Mighty Quinn
Michael Quercio -- You and I are the Sunmmertime


Ripchord - Backstabber


Locksley - Why Not Me (Why Can't I Be You)

Graduate (Tears For Fears) - Acting My Age

Graduate was the band 80s new wavers Roland and Curt of Tears For Fears fame originally cut their teeth on.

Modcast #213: For The Win

Welcome to another modcast jam packed with mod friendly songs, every one a winner. Checking in early in the show are two groups whose line-ups measure up alongside the finest bands.

First, Dot Dash from Washington DC, a new power pop combo that is made up of a bunch of old farts, you know guys my age, from some great bands of the past like Modest Proposal, Julie Ocean, Saturday People and Youth Brigade. Dot Dash is sporting e a cool new album, Spark Flame Ember Ashj, just out from canadian record label The Beautiful Music. It's a great bit of power pop, sort of minimalist and post-punkish in its approach, and overall a good listen. Joining them in the first half is The Kik, a new band out of Rotterdam full of old friends. The Kik includes Dave von Raven, the lead singer and guitartist from The Madd, as well as the Arjen Spies lead singer and guitartist from another great beat band, Mark & The Spies. So you know that The Kik are going to be one kick-ass band.

But wait. Listen now and you'll hear even more like The End, The Funseekers, Nervus Rex, Ko & The Knockouts, The Smithereens, The Mods, Popular Spies, The Yardbirds and more. All shots on goal. All scoring. Like I said, this modcat is For The Win.

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Dot Dash -- Learn How To Fly
The Kik -- Here's Hoping
Mark & The Spies -- Something's Gotta Happen
The Madd -- Her Big Man
The Chob -- We're Pretty Quick
Dave & The Diamonds -- Such Is Life
Popular Spies -- Chinatown
The Shades -- Shake It
The Mods -- Sweets For My Sweet
The Maggots -- Nothing But A Heartache
The Rare Breed -- Come And Take A Ride In My Boat
The Smithereens -- I'm Free
Smoove -- I'm A Man
Gaijin A Go-Go -- 1-2-3
The End -- Shades Of Orange
Ko & The Knockouts -- Cry No More
Nervus Rex -- Go-Go Girl
The Funseekers -- I'm With You
The Yardbirds --Baby What's Wrong


The Madd - Good Evening Girl



The Funseekers - Night Train (From "A Northwoods Holiday")

Button Up -- Listen to your heart (beat)

From the Vaults: Modcasts #90 & #91

Once more into the vault my friends, once more into the vault. Step back in time, to a time when the modcast was young and fresh. Take a giant step outside your current listening constraints and journey with me back to a not so distant past, all the way back to 2008. I've opened up the vaults and dusted off a couple of classic modcasts that I think you'll enjoy. Again.

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Modcast #91: Oh So Pretty
Kicking this show off is the brand new single Supernatural Supercilious from REM. I'm not a big REM fan, but in 1984 they were breaking new ground in power pop to be sure, and here there are 25 or so years later pounding a really great song, one of the best they've produced in a really long time. Got some great stuff for you on this week's modcast including, The Frowning Clouds, The Charms, The Standells, The Expressos, and a little something from the very earliest days in REM's existence. Be sure to check out the bonus videos from The Charms and The Nice down below.

• R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious
• The Charms - So Romantic
• The Frowning Clouds -- I Can't Say
• The Donnas -- The Safety Dance
• The Nice -- Daddy, Where Did I Come From?
• The Standells -- Rari
  Virgin Sleep -- Secret
• The Cortinas - Television Families
• Expressos - Tango in Mono
• The Psychadelic Furs -- We Love You
• R.E.M. -- Gardening at Night

Bonus Videos

The Charms -- Gimme that shot
 

The Nice -- America (How it is 1968)



Modcast #90: I Like What You Say
Welcome to Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World, and do I have a big treat for you all this week. Mike Tholfsen is guest hosting and he's a got a great line up of power pop, jangle pop, pretty much just all great pop, for you. Enjoy, people, enjoy.

• Teenage Fanclub - Sparky's Dream
• The Posies - Paint Me
• Paul Westerberg - As Far as I Know
• The Legends - Nothing to Be Done
• Fountains of Wayne - I've Got a Flair
• Ivy - The Best Thing
• Tahiti 80 - Easy Way Out
• Nada Surf - I Like What You Say
• Death Cab for Cutie - The Sound of Settling
• The Long Winters - Cinnamon
• Super Deluxe - Holly's Dream Vacation

Bonus Videos

Teenage Fanclub -- Sparky's Dream


Tahiti 80 -- Heartbeat
 

Sam Cooke - You Send Me

Like satin sheets.

Modcast #212: Go For Soul

What is it about soul music that has captivated every mod since ... well, since the beginning of time? Or at least since the beginning of the 'rock' era. I guess mods like to dance, and truly there really isn't any better dancing music. Pop music dancing, I'm not talking any sort of stuff you have spend six weeks of lessons learning like tango or swing (a thing I've never done, but someday might thanks to Groupon). Nope I'm talking about the music plays, the notes hit your brain, and your toe begins to tap. For most mods the toe tap becomes a shoe shuffling, body spinning, eyes closed sort of religious experience. My wife knows what it looks like, though she associates it a bit more with gin and vodka than Sam and Dave. So be it. Point is mods love soul music. And I think it's because it makes us dance. Maybe we gotta dance because it's in our genes. Or at least in our blood, thank you pharmaceuticals of all sorts. No matter. When the sound is right you gotta go for soul.

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• Jackie Wilson & Count Basie -- Uptight (1968)
• Bill Cosby & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band -- Funky North Philly (1968)
• Jimmy Lynch -- Let A Woman Be a Woman and a Man Be a Man (1961)
• Sir Joe Quartermain & Free Soul -- I Got So Much Trouble On My Mind (1974)
• Chico & Buddy -- Can You Dig It (1969?)
• Black on White Affair -- Bold Soul Sister, Bold Soul Brother (197?)
• Eddie Jefferson -- Filthy McNasty (1968)
• Ray Barretto -- New York Soul (1968)
• J.J. Jackson -- But It's Alright (1966)
• The Equals -- Police On My Back (1966)
• Gloria Jones -- Tainted Love (1964)
• PP Arnold w/The Small Faces -- If You Think You're Groovy (1967)
• Barbara Lynn -- Movin' On A Groove (1976)
• Gospel Classics -- More Love (1968)
• Smokey Robinson & The Miracles -- Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying (1963)
• The Countdown Five -- Shake Shake Na Na (1969)
• William Bell -- Just As I Thought (1963)
• Marvin Gaye -- You're A Wonderful One (1964)

P.P. Arnold - The First Cut Is The Deepest (live 1967)
< br /> The Equals - Baby Come Back