Alabama native Matthew Houck & co have one of the most compelling songs of 2013. Here’s the live TV performance from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’s 4/23 show.
Biography
Mary came to Nashville in 1994 after working in the Albany, NY, market at the pioneering progressive & alternative radio stations WQBK-FM and WEQX. In addition to all the shifts at Lighting 100 (first evenings, then middays, and now morning drive since ... um ... a very long time) she's an enthusiastic supporter of Nashville's arts and food scenes. Read the blog The Great Nashville --- Odyssey for Mary's reviews on local eateries and other occasional food notes
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Phosphorescent – Song for Zula (live on Fallon)
Music City Mayhem Bands Rule!
For the past three years, Lightning 100 has conducted a new rite of spring for Nashville, with our Music City Mayhem contest. Nashville area bands and solo musicians of all stripes and styles are invited to stick their necks out and submit their best to be judged by Lightning 100′s listeners and online users.
There’s nothing scientific about Music City Mayhem, other than the math that adds the votes.
When an artist submits their song, it gets listened to by all of Lightning 100′s full-time jocks, our program director Dave Rossi, web-guy Brian Waters (Music city Mayhem was actually Brian’s brain-child), and Tich McWilliams from our marketing staff. Songs are rated 0-10 and the highest total point-getters go on the air for the rest of the world to vote on.
When I sit down to listen and vote, I don’t start out with numbers. I start out with yes; maybe yes; maybe; maybe no; and no. Then I go back and change “yes” to 10, “maybe yes” to 7, “maybe” to 5, etc.. If I feel that a yes maybe truly isn’t a full 10, I may squeak it down to 9.
For me, yes means it’s something I can play on the air without cringing in any way. It means, if I ask myself, “is there anything about this song that’s not very good or, if flawed, doesn’t transcend those flaws?” the answer is, unequivocally, no.
Sometimes you make some good calls, sometimes no. In the voting so far, two artists whose songs were only a maybe for me scored a big honking yes with Lightning 100 listeners and online voters. On the other side of it, there are some songs I gave 10s to, that only barely made it to the top 32, that turned out to be dark horse candidates that unseated far more well-known and loved Nashville artists.
In 2010 when we started, a band called Hightide Blues walked away with the first title. They didn’t last, but singer Paul McDonald went on to become an American Idol finalist. 2011, none of us had ever heard of Eastern Block but we were blown away with their entry – and so were listeners; in 2012, we hardly imagined the little reggae band we were grooving on would make it all the way to the stage at Live on the Green. Reggae, ruling a Nashville music throw-down? Shouldn’t someone film a documentary about that?
For us at the radio station, it’s been a fantastic way of discovering a number of highly talented artists that, for one reason or another, get overlooked among Nashville’s exploding music scene. When the listeners pick a dark horse candidate over an artist that’s considered either very hot or very cool, depending on how you look at such things, by music industry insiders and scene leaders in Nashville, it’s a signal that we need to recheck our compasses and see what we’re overlooking, and why. I’m thankful for that reality check. Always.
I’ve no idea what the next match-ups and rounds will bring, and can’t begin to try to predict which artist will be this year’s champ and score all that gear, studio time, and Live on the Green slot. Can’t wait to find out.
More than anything, I want to express appreciation for all of the artists who took this opportunity to get heard, at the risk of getting shot down. Thank you all, for the music and the inspiration you provide.
Props.
-Mary
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Win Maui Jim Shades with Your Last Request. Or Not.
Last Margarita?
Okay, so.
The world may or may not be ending next Friday, with all that Mayan calendar business. Don’t know about you, don’t know about what the skeptics say, but I intend to hedge my bets.
It’s entirely possible Friday, December 21st may be my last airshift. Ever. Yup. Or not. Either way, I’m going to indulge myself. And I’m bringing you with me.
Tell me. What’s your last request?
If there was one song in the world that you’d want to hear just one last time before the fit all hits the shans, what would it be? I’ll work in what I can. No, really.
I’m going to throw in a prize, for those of you who plan on being around December 22nd and on: a sweet pair of Maui Jim Cliff House shades! Random drawing from request entries. Winner must be able to pick them up at the station.
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With Your Friends Fest – What It Looked Like from the Go-Pro
—–Parental Warning– Adult Language—–
The traveling rave made its way to Nashville’s Riverfront Park. FOL1 (friend of Lightning 100) Brandon Hammer captured a few of the sights to let the too-cool kids see what they missed.
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1985 Retro Lightning Playlist
As I found out when we announced this particular Retro Lightning, tons of people who were around at the time still marvel at what a great year it was for music! Prince was at the top of his game, dropping gems all over the place; American roots rock was picking up steam; the UK was sending all kinds of bright pop & psychedelia our way. We could easily expand this one way beyond four hours.
A ha - Take on me
Lone Justice - Ways to Be Wicked
Phil Bailey / Phil Collins - Walking on the Chinese Wall
Big Audio Dynamite – e=mc2
Del Fuegos - Don’t Run Wild
Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love
Eric Clapton - She’s Waiting
Bryan Ferry - Slave to Love
Golden Palominos - Go
The Firm - Radioactive
Katrina & the Waves - Walking on Sunshine
Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better
Tom Petty - Don’t Come Around Here No More s
Shriekback - Nemesis
Hooters - All You Zombies
INXS - This Time
Paul Young - Everytime You Go Away
Love & Rockets - Haunted / When the Minutes Drag
Nick Lowe - I Knew the Bride
Replacements - Kiss Me On the Bus
Duran2 - A View to a Kill
The Alarm - Strength
The Cult - Rain
New Order - Love Vigilantes
Local
John Hiatt - Living a Little, Laughing a Little
Jason & the Scorchers – Broken Whiskey Glass
Simple Minds - Alive & Kicking
Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
General Public - Never You Done That
Level 42 - Something About You
Glenn Frey - You Belong to the City
Flash & the Pan - Midnight Man
Pete Townshend - Face the Face
Oingo Boingo - Dead Man’s Party
Then / Now
Til Tuesday - Voices Carry
Aimee Man - Charmer
Bob Dylan - Tight Connection to the Heart
Bob Dylan - Duquesne Whistle
Dire Straits - So Far Away
The Cure - 6 Different Ways
Prince - Pop Life
R.E.M. - Driver 8
U2 - 3 Sunrises
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1992 Retro Lightning
Didn’t you? What a great year ’92 was for music, with diverse sounds coming from every corner of the US and the UK crossing over, as well. Nirvana’s Nevermind kept its hold on our attention, while Cameron Crowe took us even further into the Seattle scene with the soundtrack for his movie Singles. Back on the East coast, Fort Apache was becoming a huge force in Boston and launching the Lemonheads and more. Here’re the tunes …
Los Lobos – Dream in Blue
Stevie Ray Vaughan – The Sky Is Crying
Annie Lennox – Little Bird
Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven
Tom Waits – Goin’ Out West
The Catherine Wheel – I Want to Touch You
Suzanne Vega – Blood Makes Noise
Gin Blossoms – Mrs. Rita
Sophie B Hawkins – Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover
They Might Be Giants – The Guitar
Paul Westerberg – Dyslexic Heart
Smashing Pumpkins – Drown
Alice In Chains – Would?
Screaming Trees – Nearly Lost You
The Sundays = Wild Horses
Jayhawks – Take Me With You When You Go
Charlatans UK – I Don’t Wanna See the Sights
B-52s – Good Stuff
Paul Weller – Uh Huh Oh Yeah
Lyle Lovett – Been to Memphis
Kingmaker – Really Scrape the Sky
Phish – A Cavern
XTC – The Ballad of Peter Pumkinhead
Blind Melon – Tones of Home
Emmylou Harris – Guitar Town
Lucinda Williams – Hot Blood
Barenaked Ladies – Be My Yoko Ono
Cracker – Teen Angst
Wolfgang Press – A Girl Like You
Faith No More – A Small Victory
U2 – You’re So Cruel
R.E.M. – Ignoreland
Morrissey – We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
Black Crowes – Thorn in My Pride
David Byrne – Girls On My Mind
David Byrne/St. Vincent – Who?
The Wallflowers – Ashes to Ashes
The Wallflowers – Reboot the Mission
Judybats – Saturday
E – Hello Cruel World
Soul Asylum – Somebody to Shove
Nirvana – Lithium
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Retro Lightning 1990
If 1991 was “The Year Punk Broke,” 1990 was the year alternative bands softened the door and primed it to be kicked in. The Grammy Awards finally added a category to reflect that, with “Best Alternative Music Album.” That title went to Sinéad O’Connor‘s I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got – in spite of the controversies that broke out on her Summer tour. In the meantime, Jane’s Addiction served up slightly harder harder fare and paved the way for 1991′s crop to gain acceptance in pop culture.
Here’s what we played for this week’s Retro Lightning
- Mary Brace
The Church – Metropolis
Del Amitr – Kiss This Thing Goodbye
Aztec Camera – Good Morning Britain
Sinéad O’Connor – Nothing Compares to You
Bruce Hornsby & the Range – Night on the Town
The Rave-Ups – Respectfully King of Rain
Billy Idol – LA Woman
Bob Mould – It’s Too Late
Bryan Ferry – Let’s Work Together (re-issue)
Vanilla Ice – Ice, Ice Baby (yes, I did)
INXS – Disappear
B-’52s – Roam
Iggy Pop w/Kate Pierson – Candy
The Posies – Suddenly Mary
Dread Zeppelin – Immigrant Song
The Pixies – Velouria
Jellyfish – The King is Half Undressed
Los Lobos – Down on the Riverbed
Cowboy Junkies – Powderfinger
Concrete Blonde – Everybody Knows
Gary Moore – Still Got the Blues
Black Crowes – Jealous Again
Jane’s Addiction – Stop
House of Love – I Don’t Know Why I Love You
World Party – Way Down Now
Local – Human Radio – Me & Elvis
Local – John Hiatt – Child of the Wild Blue Yonder
Local – Bela Fleck & the Flecktones – Frontiers
The Replacements – Happy Town
Bob Dylan – Unbelievable
The Sundays – Can’t Be Sure
They Might Be Giants – Bird House in Your Soul
The Cure – Hello, I Love You
Hindu Love Gods – Mannish Boy
Don Henley – The Heart of the Matter
Charlatans – The Only One I Know
Adrian Belew / David Bowie – Pretty Pink Rose
Then – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Show Me Your Soul
Now – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Look Around
Peter Murphy – Cuts You Up
The Alarm – The Road
Grateful Dead – Franklin’s Tower
Paul McCartney – My Brave Face
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Retro Lightning 1987 w/ Mary Brace
1987 Retro Lightning
Just how awesome was 1987? Pretty awesome. There was fantastic music everywhere you looked and listened, from the LA post-punk scene (Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Original Recipe Americana/Roots Rock (BoDeans, John Mellencamp), and plenty of great, undefinable bands from the other side of both ponds.
David Bowie- Day In, Day Out
Bryan Ferry – Kiss & Tell
Los Lobos – La Bamba
U2 – With Or Without You
The Call – I Don’t Wanna
10,000 Maniacs – Peace Train
INXS – Devil Inside
The Connells – Try
Terence Trent D’Arby – Sign Your Name
Psychedelic Furs – Heartbreak Beat
X – 4th of July
World Party – Ship of Fools
The Cure – Just Like Heaven
Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning
Bruce Springsteen – Brilliant Disguise
Crowded House – Something So Strong
Mighty Lemon Drops – Out of My Hands
Buster Poindexter – Feeling Hot Hot Hot
Jane’s Addiction – Sympathy for the Devil
Replacements – Can’t Hardly Wait
Jerry Harrison – Rev It Up
Siouxsie & the Banshees – This Wheel’s On Fire
Robbie Robertson – Showdown At Big Sky
R.E.M. – The One I Love
BoDeans – Pick Up the Pieces
Fleetwood Mac – Big Love
John Hiatt – Memphis in the Meantime
Steve Earle – I Ain’t Ever Satisfied
The Bears – Fear Is Never Boring
Grateful Dead – Throwing Stones
Love & Rockets – No New Tale to Tell
Sting – Englishman In NY
The Smiths – Ask
Pink Floyd – Dogs of War
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Jammin’ Me
Radiators – Dr. Dr.
Echo & the Bunnymen – Lips Like Sugar
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Fight Like a Brave
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Look Around
Warren Zevon – Sentimental Hygiene
Sinead O’Connor – Mandinka
Billy Idol – Mony Mony
Aerosmith – Rag Doll
John Mellencamp – Cherry Bomb
George Harrison – When We Was Fab+
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So You Want To Hang Out In East Nashville While I24 Construction Is Going On …
New M. Ward on the way! Here’s a taste
While Zooey Deschanel is currently doing her own thing, giving She & Him a rest, M. Ward’s been busy as well. The indie/alternative all-star band on A Wasteland Companion includes Dr. Dog’s Toby Leaman, Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, DeVotchka’s Tom Haberman, the Cardinals’ Jon Graboff and Norfolk and Western’s Amanda Lawrence. The album comes out April 10.
This lush single’s video was directed by animator Joel Trussel.
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Bon Joviver!
Now here’s a Mashup/cover I can get behind. Some people don’t get Bon Iver. Some people don’t like Bon Jovi. This video, from post-rock band Miracles of Modern Science, just might help out both camps.
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Eddie George is a Thespian!
Now starring in Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s production of Julius Ceasar, the former Titans running back sat down with Mary Brace to talk about how his contributions in the local theatre community.
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2012 Artist to Watch: Lana Del Rey
Here’s another American who went to the UK to get noticed. As a result, her major label debut comes out at the end of January, and you’ll see her on Saturday night live, already. Listen to Lightning 100 to hear this song when you’re riding in your car tonight, or just click.
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Crumpet the Elf guest-hosts w/ Mary Brace
True holiday spirit!
Tennessee Rep’s Matt Chiorini is bringing his merry self in this Friday at 8am to get us all in the mood for our holiday shopping. Yay!
If you’re going to be out in the craziness, let us know! Leave a pic on Mary’s Facebook page and share with the rest of the class. You can also leave a question for holiday advice, and Crumpet will respond.
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Ahead of the Curve on Cell Phone Danger Potential
Long before the World Health Organization made public its report on cell phone safety, Lightning 100 listeners heard from epidemiologist Dr. Devra Davis, an expert on cell-phone radiation and its effects on the human brain. Last fall she spoke with Mary Brace about her book, Disconnect.
(If you’re having trouble hearing this clip, use the direct link by clicking here.)
[soundcloud width="100%" height="81" params="show_comments=true&auto_play=false" url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/16339951"] What You Need to Know About Cell Phone Radiation by Lightning100
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House Party: The Apache Relay & Mumford & Sons
Congratulations to The Apache Relay on their #1 showing in Deli Magazine’s fan poll for Nashville bands (#7 on the overall poll and it’s interesting to note that the Jury was oddly, literally out for this terrific little group. But I digress). To celebrate, they threw a house party at guitar player Mike Harris’s Granny White Pike home and major celeb sightings abounded with members of Mumford & Sons and Cadillac Sky showing up to perform, and a late night jam with actor Jake Gyllenhaall made the gossip websites, lol.
Look and listen for The Apache Relay to show up on Lightning 100′s airwaves on March 11 and be a part of our next Anniversary month (yeah, that’s March) celebration. And keep an eye out for their new album, American Nomad, due to arrive in April.
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Jeff Beck brings Les Paul to the Ryman stage April 27
In June 2010 one legend saluted another when Jeff Beff did a two-night stand at New York’s Iridium Club, the Monday night home of the hand that launched a million Gibson guitars, for 14 years. The shows happened on what would have been Les Paul’s 95th birthday. The shows were taped (who imagined they wouldn’t be, right?) and will be out on DVD in late February. This morning word came down the pike that Beck is bringing the tribute tour to the Ryman. No ticket info yet. This video is from the Iridium shows, with Irish singer Imelda May.
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