Album Review: Watchdog by Gringo Star

Poppy, funky, cool – leaving into some classic 50s references – and then some dirty dirty vocals. We don’t watch ourselves and we certainly don’t want anyone watching us – as we search for love. Reviewed on our #18 podcast: Po

Album Review: Alligator Bride by Howlin Rain

Cheerful, legit psychedelic rock from a band that can really really play, and a singer who can really, really sing. The whole album is fabulous. Our favorite song: In the Evening.Reviewed on our #18 podcast: Po

Album Review: Gimme Some Lips by The Girls

Biting drums and pop punk guitars, then a soaring pre-chorus and a primal string of hey-hey-hey-heys! It’s so hard to be a rock star and have everyone tell you that you’re so brilliant. Reviewed on our #18 podcast: Po

Episode 17 – Cinnamon=John Peel

Totally unplanned, HCR bumps into music legends, we go on a small town parade with Sang Sarah and our Seven Nation Army, and Cinnamon is finally revealed as the reincarnation of famed BBC DJ John Peel. As usual Johnny’s musical ability is called into question, but he redeems himself with a bitter-sweet conversation with Mercury Arcs (Jonathan Morgan Price and Sadie Cook-Fender) on the Grey Eagle Porch after their final show. We also have excellent music:

Thank you to our sponsors, Mad Ones Podcast. Thank you to Foot Gun for providing our theme song, thank you to Jonathan Morgan Price and Sadie Cook-Fender for the excellent interview, and thank you to The Asheville Rock Collective, for existing.

Album Review: Wounded Healer by Celebration

Dramatic and different sounds, beautiful vocals, and for-real songs. This Baltimore band is hitting its stride. Our favorite song: Drum and Phife. Reviewed on our #17 podcast, Cinnamon=John Peel

Album Review: Darkness Rains by Death Valley Girls

Beautiful young opti-mystical girls from Los Angeles who are not afraid to rock really, really hard. This is the future. Forget about Iggy Pop. Our favorite song: Disaster (Is What We’re After). (Link to their video of Iggy Pop eating a hamburger is here.) Reviewed on our #17 podcast, Cinnamon=John Peel

Album Review: Righteous Harmony Fist by Blue Orchids

Stumbling blindly onto a band like this may make a music critic like myself feel pretty smart, but it shouldn’t. A first listen to this album will reveal the raw talent and thirty years of experience that went into making it. Honored to have this on our podcast. Our favorite song: Incandescent Artillery.Reviewed on our #17 podcast, Cinnamon=John Peel

Album Review: Megladon by the Krektones

That horn! Those beats! Those riffs! This band keeps themselves deep in the Asheville underground, emerging only periodically to rock some party and then retreat back into the darkness. Our favorite song: Megladon. (Link to their free Christmas album is here.)Reviewed on our #17 podcast, Cinnamon=John Peel

Album Review: Black City by Rich Girls

Everything good from the early 80s post punk: distortion, rhythmic beats, bass, rich voice, and so much living. An important sound and statement about the defiance of an artist in the face of a world which grinds down the outsider and elevates the team player.  Reviewed on our #17 podcast, Cinnamon=John Peel