Music

As American as apple pie, the blues have carved an important niche in this nation's musical history. On this episode of the B-Sides with Bolin and Blumberg, we take a look at some of the more recent additions to this legacy.

Joined by Steve Smith, host of Siouxland Public Media's Ten O'clock Blues, we take a trip from coast to coast to coast to bring you some of the more prolific artists tied to this genre.

Country music is one of America's greatest innovations. On this segment of the B-Sides with Bolin and Blumberg, Johnnie and I focus on the most recent formula for this music. In fact, we go coast-to-coast to play country music connected to its roots in the past century.

We start our journey in the mid-section of the continent with Hot Rize, a bluegrass band from Colorado, and K.D. Lang from Canada.

On this episode of the B-Sides with Bolin and Blumberg, we take a deep dive into blues and rock from the great state of Texas. The music comes from Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. And while you've likely heard most of the artists, it's always nice to hear from everybody in one hour.

We start with one of the most popular bands from the Lone Star State -- Asleep at the Wheel. They put their spin on an old Eric Clapton song, Lay Down Sally.

Johnnie and I decided on no theme this week, so I grabbed a dozen cds and played a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

The show starts with Tonio K. and his societal tribute, Life in the Foodchain. This was from his first solo, which is considered one of the best rock albums ever.

First it started with The Beatles (who else?), then came Badfinger and The Raspberries, and then Cheap Trick and Big Star. They all had super melodies and hooks to keep you humming all day.

But for some reason the crunchy, jangly guitars and the driving backbeat never really came into its own. For some reason, radio never picked up on power pop leaving it to be found by a small cult of music nerds, who dug the harmonies and everything else about it.

Southern rock is one of America's tried and true musical genres. On this B-Sides with Bolin and Blumberg we cover the gamut from the 70's to present day.

The show starts off with three bands, Blackfoot and Lynyrd Skynyrd both from Florida, and Point Blank from Texas.

Blackfoot, which is still active, features Rick Medlocke, who is also a current member of Lynyrd Skynyrd quite possibly one of the top five bands in U.S. history. Meanwhile, Point Blank was produced by Bill Ham, best known for his work with ZZ Top.

This week marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most beloved cultural events of the 20th century.  Woodstock marked the way people could celebrate, en masse, in a peaceful and joyful time together on this planet.

And the B-Sides is here to help you celebrate the universal karma that was three and a half days of peace and love.

Johnnie and I believe the event was so significant that we have dedicated two shows to Woodstock, its music and history.

The B-Sides features the Free family tree including four songs from the seminal 70's band, cuts from Bad Company and solo work from Free's original guitarist, Paul Kossoff and his band Backstreet Crawler.

“Saturday in the Park” attracted an estimated 25,000 to Grandview Park in Sioux City on July 6, 2019.

Siouxland Public Media recorded the enthusiasm, music and memories of this year’s event.  

People featured during this special segment:

Phil Claeys – “Star-Spangled Banner” Performer, Sioux City, IA

Linda – Sioux City, IA

Julia Cathleen McGowen – Sioux City, IA

Cathleen McGowen – Sioux City

Brent Stockton – South Sioux City, NE – SITP Committee Member

Jeff Sweezey – Omaha, NE

Another "Saturday in the Park" takes over Grandview Park in Sioux City, Iowa starting at noon on Saturday, July 6.

SITP Committee Member Erika Newton talked to Siouxland Public Media's Sheila Brummer about what's new this year, the musical lineup and festival memories.

The Sioux City Community School District’s music program just hit a high note after a major announcement from a famous performer.

Barry Manilow delivered an important message for students across the country and here locally.

“In second place, Sioux City School District from Sioux City, Iowa.  They get $20,000 for school instruments.”  “Fantastic!”

The Sioux City School District entered a video in a competition with the Barry Manilow Music Project.  First place receiving $100,000.

Joanne Fox joins Steve for this first Cultural Continuum of June. Every week things get a little more like summertime.

This is Jessi Wakefield and you’re listening to Check It Out.

Every now and again there is a book that comes along that leaves you in a state of simple, quiet joy. The book that I would like to recommend to you did that to me. The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce.

On this week's Mix Tape Dance Party, we'll be creating the ultimate house party playlist, with Let's Eat Grandma, Parquet Courts and the War on Drugs.

With our new 9 p.m. Wednesday night time slot, we'll be devoting this week's MTDP to bands just under your radar. We'll hear from The Xcerts, Blood Orange as well as Shannon and the Clams.

On this week's Mix Tape Dance Party, I'll be recreating my old college radio show with bands like the Dead Milkmen, Sparks and Siouxsie and the Banshees. We'll also be playing more contemporary college radio fare such as Beach House and King Princess.

Tune in to MTDP at its NEW TIME beginning WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10th at 9PM!!!

Summer's the time for mindless sequels and Mix Tape Dance Party is no exception. We'll be playing music from Bleachers, Harvey Danger and Nada Surf on Indie Music: Electric Boogaloo on Mix Tape Dance Party with Earl Horlyk.

Our first annual holiday request show went live on Wednesday, December 13, hosted by Shelby Pierce and Mara Hall.     

Today, I’m recommending Born to Run, legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen’s long-awaited memoir. Inspired by his remarkable 2009 Super Bowl halftime show performance with the E Street Band, Springsteen has spent the last several years devoting himself to writing down the story of his life. Born to Run is the extraordinary result.

EDM. Indie jam. Rock ‘n’ beats. Hip hop. Punk. Pop. And metal. There’s a new music festival in Sioux City this weekend. And it’s like… Whatever.

The Triple Good Music Show is a celebration of the music happening here! 

This week, catch an interview with Dylan Sires of SIRES, a pop-rock band from Des Moines, Iowa. 

This week's artists are:

SIRES, a pop-rock band from Des Moines, Iowa.

GhostCat, an indie-rock band from Sioux City, Iowa.

Dylan Bloom Band, a midwestern country rock group from Lincoln, Nebraska.

I was finally able to hang out with Prof a bit , thanks to Skype, and ask about how his songs take their shape; what inspired them to be written and why he writes. 

"I make music, 'cause I hear music, and I have something to contribute," says Prof, "I hear a beat or, you know, a certain drum pattern, a melody... I contribute right away."

Hailing from Minnesota, Prof is excited to be back at the Abe Stage at Saturday in the Park, having participated in the festival in past years.

Le Mars band, Goodbye Old Friend, have been writing together since early 2016. Alex Singer, the band's vocalist, and Colby Bishop, bassist, talk about their songwriting process and how their song Charlatan came together.

"We just try to write lyrics and write music that's gonna open people's eyes to their own lives and reflect upon themselves and start thinking about what's going on in the world in general," explains Jason Rhodes, the band's drummer.

Goodbye Old Friend will be playing on the Abe Stage at Saturday in the Park, next Saturday, July 1st.

Sioux City band, Stop Motion Skeletons, discuss their musical influences, songwriting process, and how they came up with their band name. 

"It's really hard to write music over already written lyrics. It's so much easier to write a melody that you really like and then listen to it over and over and over until you get lyrics to it," explained Shawn Fertig, the band's lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist.

SPM contributor Bertha Iniguez launches a new series that looks at 2nd stage performers at this year's Saturday in the Park Festival. First up, the "folk punk for angsty people" sound of Tapwater Shrimp. 

"Normally I just sit around and be sad on an acoustic guitar and then we make it real fast when we all meet up," Brinkerhoff says about Tapwater Shrimp's writing process.

The band released their new EP, Knife Game, on June 9th, with an album release show at Whiskey Dick's.

The Ruralists are a band of guys who were looking for a band, something that can prove difficult when you live in a small town. They joined Mark Munger in the attic of the The Old Factory Coffee Shop in Orange City to talk about their genesis, the life and workings of a small town band, and how being in a band is more comfortable at this point in their lives.