Above The Basement - Boston Music And Conversation

Red Shaydez!OK let’s talk some sh**t!Sorry for the potty mouth.  Just trying to introduce my next guest appropriately.Red Shaydez is a Do it your-selfer whose name I have heard countless times over the past few years. She is a busy woman and talent. A hip-hop artist, producer, videographer, public speaker, educator, and youth mentor, Red has been nominated and/or won several Boston Music Awards including Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, 617 Session artist of the year and I am sure there are many more coming.I had the opportunity to sit with her on a rainy day at The Record Co in their brand-new facility, which is gorgeous.I was also fortunate to have a former guest - the awesome Brandie Blaze - join me as a cohost, which is why this episode is a two part-er.I had a great time talking to Red and Brandie – The first episode is just Red and yours truly – part two is when Brandie Blaze enters the room and then we really start talking some sh**t.Argh.  Sorry.  Potty mouth.

Right when I first started ATB in 2016, emails asking to be a guest were few and far between.  One of the first requests I ever got that year was from my next guest, who I never actually met until this past summer.Musician Justine Covault had herself just started her band Justine and The Unclean.  She’s someone who gets stuff done.  From co-founding female-fronted rock festivalWhistleStop Rock to starting a monthly residency at The Plough And Stars with 'The Mess Around', Justine has ventured into new territory with her new label Red On Red Records.Her support and enthusiasm for the Boston music community and for her roster of (mostly) Boston bands are infectious, so much so that the great Sir David Minehan of The Neighborhoods and Woolly Mammoth Sound is collaborating with her to offer Red Mammoth Concerts.I’ll let her tell the story. I just wish she had an extra swizzle stick to give me. 

Linnea Herzog is someone you don’t miss when you walk by her. Or see on stage.  And I would surmise at her day job as a neuroscientist at The Broad Institute, you can’t miss her there either.Musicians are smart.  But some are smarter than others, especially when you get a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Brandeis University where Linnea studied how taste and spatial information are processed in the rodent hippocampus.  Linnea is actually our second musician/scientist we’ve spoken to at The Broad Institute.  A few years ago, we talked with Infectious Disease Expert, Professor at Harvard University, and musician Pardis Sabetti.Anyways, Linnea is all punk and glam and a fearless rock star. Having got to the Rock and Roll Rumble finals in 2019 with her former band Powerslut, when the pandemic hit, she decided to go in a new direction with her new band Linnea’s Garden. Linnea is a do-it-yourselfer, and she certainly does it all.Her debut EP, “Nowhere Friday Nights,” is out now on Red on Red Records and she is preparing

I saw my first show at Once Ballroom in Somerville a few years ago, entering the building, wondering if I just walked into a bar mitzvah, or as JJ Gonson first thought when she saw the room for the first time, a high school prom.But on the raised stage I saw the band, Dada. That was only the first time among many. Mostly I was there for the infamous Boston Emissions Rock and Roll Rumble, where the place transformed into a community of music fans and bands who supported each other and the music for which Boston is famous.JJ Gonson saw the room not as a ballroom, but as an opportunity to share her love of music with the world. That may sound a bit cheesy, but JJ is all about the music.Starting off as a rock photographer, (she is responsible for the Elliott Smith self-titled album cover as well as his Roman Candle album), she eventually began to manage Elliott’s band Heatmiser and then Elliott himself before he left us all too soon.ONCE was to become a catering company but soon morphed into one of the great, uni

Matt Lorenz,  AKA The Suitcase Junket.   Many sounds come from this one-man band.  Sounds from actual suitcases, from guitars found in the trash to any number of odds and ends Matt procures, invents, and salvages. He is an inventive and talented guy.I took a trip out to western MA to chat with Matt in his recently almost finished studio to talk about, well, a whole bunch of things - his latest album The End is New, his upcoming show at the Sinclair in Cambridge MA on August 6th, his life before, during, and after COVID, and the difference between Doom Folk and Swamp Yankee Music, if there is one.I even had my friend Eric Lineback ask a few questions that were more intelligent than mine.Anyways, The End is New, produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, is Matt’s sixth full-length album as The Suitcase Junket and his first for Renew Records/BMG.

Matt Lorenz,  AKA The Suitcase Junket.   Many sounds come from this one-man band.  Sounds from actual suitcases, from guitars found in the trash to any number of odds and ends Matt procures, invents, and salvages. He is an inventive and talented guy.I took a trip out to western MA to chat with Matt in his recently almost finished studio to talk about, well, a whole bunch of things - his latest album The End is New, his upcoming show at the Sinclair in Cambridge MA on August 6th, his life before, during, and after COVID, and the difference between Doom Folk and Swamp Yankee Music, if there is one.I even had my friend Eric Lineback ask a few questions that were more intelligent than mine.Anyways, The End is New, produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, is Matt’s sixth full-length album as The Suitcase Junket and his first for Renew Records/BMG.

When COVID first hit Boston and we were sequestered in our hobbit holes, we decided to offer a window for everyone to see and hear live music for a musical respite from the pandemic.One of our guests on this program that we called #TogetherAtHome was the awesome Wolff Sisters.  These three sisters and musicians, who are also fellow 2020 Boston Music Award winners for Americana Artist of the Year, invited me into their home to chat about their last album Queendom of Nothing.But their most recent release is a single called Boston Town and I immediately put it on my daily playlist.  These talented sisters, with Rebecca on acoustic guitar, Rachael on electric, and Kat on keys, along with their fantastic vocals and harmonies create a sound that The Boston Globe called one of the 15 Best Fall Albums of 2019.They sound great, the harmonies are as wonderful as three sisters singing together can be, and they are looking forward to making more music and hitting the road to reach others in Boston Town and beyond.

I was very happy to sit with Knar Bedian, Founder and Editor in Chief of Sound of Boston music blog.  I discovered Sound of Boston before I started Above The Basement and I am a huge fan.  I asked Knar on in the early days of ATB and she politely refused.  But I kept at it and finally got her on the show.Knar loves Boston, and like many of us, she wants to make sure people know how amazing and vibrant the Boston music scene is.  But even beyond that, as a proud Armenian-American, Knar is a tireless activist, working to draw attention to the terrible violence and oppression happening in her ancestral Armenia.  Sound of Boston has also been vocal about oppression here in Boston, as she recently wrote a great piece called A Musician’s Guide to Black Music History and Anti-Racism Resources, an anti-racism and music-focused educational resource to help create a more inclusive, safe, and just community (and music scene) for everyone.We had a great conversation and I love the line they use on their site -“While the

Like so many of the Boston musicians we have talked to, Avi Salloway from the band Billy Wylder is a very thoughtful guy who has learned that as an activist, you need to understand how to be an ally.   Avi just released a new EP called Whatcha Looking For and we were fortunate enough to hear a few tunes from it. He has played music around the globe, from working with Israeli and Palestinian youth to develop creative nonviolent tools for social change with the Non Profit organization Heartbeat, to his travels to Standing Rock to unite with the native-led nonviolent movement to resist the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.  Avi shows up.  Not only does he show up, but he does so with some pretty incredible musicians, notably Tuareg guitar master, Bombino, and other renowned artists like Jack Johnson, Pete Seeger, Celia Woodsmith of Della Mae, and a slew of other Boston musicians who make this city a great place for the arts.  His belief in the power of music to unite and face challenges is incredible a

Juliana Hatfield!    If you did not know, Juliana is a Boston native and still resides in the city. You may see her finishing up her 10…ok maybe 5k run if you can pick her out from the crowd of masked runners.  She likes the anonymity and this isolation in the time of COVID fit her very well – or at least it didn’t change much for her - as she is a restless artist and will always find something to do with her creativity.  With 26 or so albums under her belt, 19 of those solo studio albums, as well as her latest album 'Blood', she is a terrifically prolific songwriter and artist. If you haven’t heard her Police and Olivia Newton-John cover albums, you are in for a treat.  From her previous bands Blake Babies, Some Girls, The Lemonheads, and her own band The Juliana Hatfield Three, Juliana is a constant force. Her latest album 'Blood' is, and I quote, "...a brutal and critical look at modern human psychology and behavior; at personal and societal sickness." While that sounds pretty deep and dark, Juliana says,

Boston Radio and WBCN legend, Oedipus, is someone who seems to have said yes to everything.  Oedipus got his start as an intern in college radio in the 70’s and worked his way into the WBCN family, creating the Boston Radio powerhouse that BCN became.    With his cutting-edge pink hair and his love of punk and new wave music, the musicians that made up the Boston bands like DMZ and The Real Kids, many of whom slept on his floor in his small Beacon Hill apartment, paved the way for other bands to break out.   WBCN introduced Boston and the world to The Police, The Clash, The Ramones, and U2 to name just a few.  We don’t get to ask too many questions in this episode, which is fine with us.  Oedipus has enough stories to fill several episodes.  But we’ll keep it to just this one. 

What is a Jamoke? Is a chump a jamoke?  We really have no idea.  But we love the question and will begin using the word Jamoke on a regular basis.These are the deep questions we dove into when talking with Jennifer D’Angora and Ed Valauskas. Plymouth native Jennifer D’Angora, also known as Jenny Dee, has been on the Boston music scene long enough to be in more bands than we can count. The Dents, Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents, The Downbeat 5, and the fantastic group of musicians that make up the equally fantastic Band of Their Own which performs mainly to support Hot Stove Cool Music, the annual benefit show supporting the Foundation to be Named Later.Ed Valauskas is the studio manager of the infamous Q Division studios. Ed’s also an accomplished producer and bassist. He plays bass in The Gravel Pit, The Gentlemen, Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, Abbie Barrett & The Last Date, The Prenups, and far too many other bands to count.  Chances are if you are a regular on the live music scene in Boston, one of

We first heard of Destiny Claymore in an article on Vanyaland and then in another piece by the great Jed Gottlieb in The Boston Herald.  A Boston triple threat with an incredible, unique voice and dancing chops, Destiny had a pretty great 2020 - despite COVID.She appears in the upcoming film Free Guy with Ryan Reynolds and not too long ago was also in The Expecting with AnnaSophia Robb.  In addition, she was able to release her album Pretty to rave reviews.  Not bad for a COVID-filled 2020.Her unique upbringing – being the first female born into her family in the past 25 years – reflects her name, which seems to indicate more great things ahead.2021 looks to be a good year. 

We think what makes our conversations interesting is the face-to-face we always have and actually required at one point.  We used to say no to virtual conversations.  But we aren’t idiots, as far as you know, and we are still chatting with our guests virtually because of the evil COVID, and while we are not fans, we still at least get to talk with great musicians who turn out to be great people as well. Two fellas who fall into those two descriptions are Paul Wright and Tim Harrington from the band Tall Heights.Like many, Paul and Tim, or Tim and Paul, depending on who you ask, began their musical journey by busking on the streets of Boston. They soon left the harsh Quincy Market streets for the road, which they now ride in luxury on The Spirit of Beverly, which you will hear about shortly.These guys from Sturbridge – not to be confused with Stockbridge - are road warriors and luckily, they were able to almost finish a tour before COVID hit.  I talked with them about what they’ve been doing lately including t

Part Two!Fans of Phish, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, these fans are all great. But nothing compares to the fans of the homegrown Boston band Neighbor.Whether that is hyperbole or not (Ron will need to find the definition of that word in a dictionary), the fellas in Neighbor would argue that they do have the greatest fans in the world.Neighbor is Richard James, Dan Kelly, Dean Johnston (aka The Dux), and Lyle Brewer. Four guys who serendipitously came together either as childhood friends or were dragged to their first early Neighbor show at the now (sadly closed) Thunder Road.Their musicianship is off the charts, with epic solos and songs that seem to morph into other songs until you realize that they brought us on a different path, only to finish up with the popping of a confetti cannon, a familiar riff we heard 20 minutes ago and ending with a hug or a high five (once COVID is over of course) from your newly formed friend for life in the audience.Does this make sense?You gotta go see a Neighbor show to rea

Fans of Phish, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, these fans are all great. But nothing compares to the fans of the homegrown Boston band Neighbor.  Whether that is hyperbole or not (Ron you can find the definition of that word in a dictionary), The fellas in Neighbor would argue that they do have the greatest fans in the world.Neighbor is Richard James, Dan Kelly, Dean Johnston (aka The Dux), and Lyle Brewer.  Four guys who serendipitously came together either as childhood friends or were dragged to their first early Neighbor show at the now sadly closed Thunder Road.Their musicianship is off the charts, with epic solos and songs that seem to morph into other songs until you realize that they brought us on a different path, only to finish up with the popping of a confetti cannon, a familiar riff we heard 20 minutes ago and ending with a hug or a high five (once COVID is over of course) from your newly formed friend for life in the audience.  Does this make sense?You gotta go see a Neighbor show to really get it.

We had a remote conversation with the Boston band The Devil’s Twins, who we’ve wanted to have on for a while.  We do not like remote conversations, but we did find it was better than having them in person with masks on.  First of all, it is obviously safer to do it remotely, and also it is much more difficult to have a face to face when you can’t even see their faces.  So, we will continue to be remote until it is safe to see people in the flesh.  That said we were lucky enough to have on Nicole Coogan and Jeremiah John Louf, as well as band members Ryan Manning, Eric Ortiz and Aitan Ben-Joseph.  These great people also have a great clan of fans called the 2Crew, of which I am proud to be a member – some of them even getting a 2 crew tattoo to support the band, which is what I hope Ronnie will do one of these days to support me by having my name tattooed on his chest.   You should know, the first rule of the 2Crew is: You do not talk about 2Crew, Except you should talk about them all the time.    I will let y

We sat with DJ, entrepreneur, and the first black woman to own a digital radio station, Ms. Hot Sauce – AKA Danielle O Johnson.This is probably the most raunchy episode we have ever done, which isn’t really saying much because, well, Ron and I are kinda like saints without the two required miracles.  But we do have some inappropriate language in this episode, so block your child's ears as you listen and make this episode go. crazy viral!Danielle started Spark FM just this past year and she has been working hard to build a company that promotes the music and voices that should be heard.  Her own podcast called Henny and Hot Wings is not for the faint of heart as their very popular show is described as an “Exciting, exuberant, and sometimes x-rated personal lifestyle Podcast”.We tried to keep up with the x-rated conversation to try and fit in.  We did our best. Either way, we had some great laughs with Danielle and we are glad you could join us.

Boston born U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo got her start at Wally’s Jazz Café when she was tricked into performing her poetry in front of an audience by her friends.  But her journey reaches much farther than the great Wally’s. U-Meleni spent her youth in Zimbabwe and she credits her late mother as well as her grandmother for her gift of empathy and expression.  Since Wally’s, she has gone on to perform internationally as a poet, singer, speaker, and educator. In addition to her artistic endeavors, she is also Adjunct Professor at Endicott College – Boston and was a Keynote at the Naturalization Ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in 2018 among many other accolades.   She is a fearless powerhouse on stage.  Her critically praised book of poetry is called Soul Psalms. Her work has helped raise awareness for immigrant and women’s voices and her passion for the human spirit is exemplified in her dedication to the youth of this city as well as in her running marathons, most impressively the Boston marathon sever

Anyone who grew up in the Boston area in the '70s will remember the GBH theme music that played on our TV sets while we sat 10 inches away from the TV and watched Sesame Street or the always hip kids show Zoom. No, not the Zoom we all use today, but the 1972 Zoom.  That iconic music (which you will hear on the episode) is embedded in our brains, and we are happy to say it is still being used to this day by GBH (formerly WGBH).  We had the great opportunity to speak with GBH President and CEO Jonathan Abbott. We caught up with Jon during a snow day and chatted about our memories of the early days, their current goals and projects, including their early transformation to digital platforms, their excellent Front Row Boston program, and all that they do to promote the arts and culture in Boston.