Brad is an Avenue Listener

I think we all have our own Avenue story. I was burned out on classic rock, so one day I found myself channel surfing when I heard "Under the Falling Sky" by Jackson Browne. I thought I must have hit the CD player by mistake because they don't play that on the radio in Green Bay. I made a mental note of the station and went to work. A few days later, I went back and heard "Meeting Across the River" by Bruce Springsteen. I've been hooked ever since.

The Avenue playlist is nothing short of amazing. It has introduced me to artists such as Jack Johnson, Keb Mo, and the Milk Carton Kids. Classic rock made me think Rickie Lee Jones was a one hit wonder. The Avenue has shown me what a treasure she is.

Since this is about the listening room, here is what I'm listening to:
Sting and the Police: I was not into the Police in their heyday, but "Invisible Sun" and "Canary in a Coal Mine" have me revisiting them. I have always been a fan of Sting's solo work with "Fields of Gold" and "Seven Days" among my favorites (link)

"When the Coast is Clear" by Jimmy Buffett. I realize Buffett is associated with margaritas and palm trees, but I love his acoustic stuff. This song about the air turning cool always reminds me of Bay Beach closing. (link)

My own basement tapes: I have a very old CD player in my basement next to a huge rack of CDs. Just like the Avenue, I have "nuggets" – obscure stuff I love.

Check these out if you can find them –
Roger McGuinn's "Back from Rio”
David Baerwald's "Bedtime Stories”
Jude Cole's "I Don't Know Why I Act This Way”
Todd Snider's "Near Truths and Hotel Rooms”
"Best of Mike Nesmith”

What's in your basement?

Rob Moore is The Avenue's President and Program Director

It is always cool to discover new things, but sometimes it is the old stuff that that gets stuck in your head.  Lately, for whatever reason, I am hearing the Kinks’ “Sleepwaker," (link) and the Velvet Underground's "Rock and Roll,” (link) which are two underrated old songs that should not be relegated to the wood pile.

You can hear Rob on The Avenue weeknights 7pm to midnight. Tune in tonight for the the Friday Night Spotlight featuring Bruce Springsteen sponsored by Nicolet Bank.

Right now I’m listening to Sturgill Simpson's "A Sailors Guid To Earth.” I like the blend of blues and country with some heavy riffs. On top of that he has good lyrics.  It's the country music I've been waiting for.

Also, Bob Schneider's "King Kong." This is three volumes of music. What I like about this project is that Bob has playful yet serious lyrics. The three volumes consist of Hip Hop, Rock, and folk music. It's quite the blend which keeps me entertained. Sometimes albums begin to mesh together. This does not.

And last, Dan Auerbach's  "Waiting on a Song." This is a solo album from the front man of the Black Keys. It hits me as a pop/blues/folk mesh up. It has some great song writing and catchy hooks. In a few songs you can really feel how personal the songs are to him. One song in particular "Never In My Wildest Dreams" is well worth the listen. (check it out here https://youtu.be/KSHHIPNHIRM)

Kyle recently recorded at Welcome to 1979 Nashville studios. Check out those sessions here:
Wash Away Live https://youtu.be/tTCBJHffoN0
She Got It All/Time and Place Live https://youtu.be/MLSiovk99Go

Performing as Szlachetka, Matthew Szlachetka rolled into Appleton Wednesday night to kick off Mile of Music Presents Wednesday evening series Rhythm & Brews. Rolling Stone magazine considers Szlachetka “one of the 10 new artist you need to know,” and his latest album “a soundtrack for both the highway and the heartland.” Wednesday he provided a night of music and stories to an enthusiastic crowd, including a touching tribute to one of his songwriting heroes, Tom Petty.

We asked Matthew for his picks for Tom Petty listening. Here they are – some are familiar classics and others will encourage you to go deeper. The Waiting, A Face In The Crowd, Love Is A Winding Road, House In The Woods, It’s Good To Be King, Listen To Her Heart, Hard On Me, Don’t Fade On Me, To Find A Friend, Crawling Back To You, Jammin’ Me, Lost Children, Have Love Will Travel, To Find A Friend, Echo, Swingin’, Room At The Top, Counting On You, Lonesome Sundown, Billy The Kid, Like A Diamond, Lost Children.

Look for Szlachetka to be back in our area with his full band in the next months and of course, at Mile of Music. Make sure you know his name – and how to pronounce it! (that’s SLA HET KA!)

Check out this editor’s favorite “A Letter Each Day” https://youtu.be/Z5zAi8U0WVs
and his recent single “Heart of My Hometown” https://youtu.be/FDygfo9Mjp4

Rob Anthony
Singer Songwriter
 
Musically, 2017 has been a year of self-discovery through songs I’ve reconnected with that have been woven into the fabric our lives. As a songwriter sometimes songs just creep up on you from your youth and connect with the most honest of places. They can infect you for hours, days, even months. I don’t think there are too many things I relate to more now-a-days than the words sung so truthfully in these classics;
Bob Seger’s Against The Wind (https://youtu.be/PBJRD1VkxmI),
Blind Faith’s Can’t Find My Way Home (https://youtu.be/6jlLBs6YawM)
and John Mellencamp’s Check It Out {https://youtu.be/8qxDBiiVjlQ)
 
Actually, I’ve fallen in love with these songs so much they are the first in series of renditions I’m putting forth for a short documentary about the power of words and music while exercising the creative muscle writing songs for a new album.
 
You can see Rob’s take on these songs at these links:
http://bit.ly/AgainstTheWindRendition
http://bit.ly/CantFindMyWayHome
http://bit.ly/CheckItOutMellencamp

Chuck Marten
Avenue Listener
 
For new music, I’ve been listening to the Stick Together EP, a new release from the Mutts. I absolutely love this Chicago band!!” Listen for yourself here http://download.muttsmusic.com/album/stick-together
 
I’ve also discovered Low Cut Connie – I think they have a sound that is J. Geils Band meets Jerry Lee Lewis!” Check them out here https://youtu.be/YAiXA68w6Ns
 
And I have revisited Excitable Boy by Warren Zevon. Thirty nine years later and this work totally stands up! https://youtu.be/iDpYBT0XyvA
 
And, of course, I’ve been listening to Tom Petty’s catalogue along with the rest of the world.

What are you listening to and why? We’d love to know! Share with us and turn us on to something new, or make us listen to something familiar with new ears. This week we hear from Avenue Hosts, Amanda Sharon and Steve March Tormé - here’s what’s currently spinning in their homes.

Amanda Sharon

Oh boy! Well you asked for it, it’s radio obscura as I call it…not really one artist that I can't stop listening to but rather an obscure mix. Here’s just a few:
 
I'm obsessed with BellX1's "Blue Lights on the Runway” (take a listen here https://youtu.be/2WuwN42b7As)
 
Always, always, always the Dead's “Sugar Magnolia” and “Truckin’"
 
Everclear because I went to see them for free at Lambeau a few weeks ago and looked up Art Alexakis and his story is insane. Plus he is a family guy and they put on such a great family-oriented show which I took my kids to (because that's the only way I get to see shows anymore ha!).
 
Loving Billie Holiday too. I've gotten to know more about her life and her music since starting at The Avenue.

Steve March Tormé

Currently it's Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" from Songs in the Key of Life because I'm learning it for a show I'm doing next month. Now that I have to memorize the lyrics, it will be stuck in my head until I have it down cold. That's the way I process music. Besides, it's a great song anyway! Listen to it and just TRY not to move! https://youtu.be/hYKYka-PNt0
 
And speaking of SMT - tickets to the Christmas on the Avenue concert are already selling at a steady pace. If you’d like to join Steve as he hosts this holiday tradition get your tickets online here or by calling 877-508-9191