Category: Badass Guitarists

We Start a New Month With Tuesday Bluesday and Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and a Woman Named Ellen McIlwaine, November 1, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! We kick off a new month with da blues, including someone you may or may never have heard. Her name is Ellen McIlwaine. If you’ve never heard her, you can get to know her today.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan In Session at CHCH-TV Studios, Canada, December 6, 1983

This little blues session was filmed for television at CHCH-TV studios in Hamilton, Ontario back in 1983. At the time of the filming, Stevie Ray was 29 years old and King was 60. Two great bluesmen together is always a thing of joy.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Revolver (2022) by The Beatles

Today is the second airing of the Giles Martin curated edition of this great Beatles album that is part of the just-released boxed set. We will be adding all of the tunes from the 5-CD pack to our general rotation tonight.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Ellen McIlwaine NEW!

We finally bring this great Canadian blues singer to The Mermaid Lounge. I remember her in my youth. We were as dumb as rocks back then. We “didn’t like” her because we thought she was imitating Bonnie Raitt. In truth, Ellen McIlwaine was always her pure self, and maybe that’s what kept her from hitting it big in the states, even though she found a measure of success in Canada. I had almost forgotten her until I read her obituary in The Washington Post. We leave you that obituary here because it’s much more than an obit. It’ll give you plenty of background on the woman known as the Goddess of The Slide Guitar.

We’ve got a brand new month on the horizon and a great Tuesday Bluesday all lined up. We have listeners on from Canada, India, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Russian Federation, New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania and beyond this morning. Join your community of friends with excellent musical taste.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our Big, Bad Blues EP, Albert Collins ‘Live’ at The Fillmore, and Our AOW in Between, October 25, 2022

Happy Tuesday Bluesday, blues lovers! We’ve got your covered today with Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues and some live Albert Collins. In between, we’ve got some psychedelia for you.

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

9:00 a.m. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues: Various Artists

We’ve got a few blues playlists here, but this is the grand kahuna. You’ll hear music up and down the blues spectrum with Delbert McClinton, B.B. King, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, Ry Cooder, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, The Animals, Albert King, Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, The Yardbirds, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Bobby “Blue” Bland, The Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Elmore James, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Robert Cray Band, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, J.J. Cale, Koko Taylor, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, James Cotton, Susan Tedeschi, Duane Allman, Marcia Ball, Roomful of Blues, Howlin’ Wolf, Tracy Nelson, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus by Spirit

Just a short break for some psychedelic music here as we bring you what is considered the final psychedelic masterpiece of the original psychedelic music era.

7:00 p.m. Albert Collins Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, December 26-28, 1969

Some ‘live’ Albert Collins recorded over a three-day stretch at one great venue, The Fillmore West. We haven’t heard this one for a while and it jumped right out. We have been remiss. Enjoy.

Here I go again: Why not join our listeners? There’s absolutely no cost to you. We are not a corporate entity, nor do we have the desire to become one. We just play music. We are not all things to all people. We do not play rap. And if we did, we certainly would not be playing anything that came out of Ye’s mouth. We do not play head-banging hard rock. We do not play hip-hop or disco. But we play just about everything else.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

Happy Birthday, Tom Petty! Today It’s ‘Live’ Petty Twice, Once With Mudcrutch and Once With The Heartbreakers! (And Our AOW in Between.) Join the Party. Thursday, October 20, 2022

Good Morning, Pettyologists! Today we celebrate the 71st anniversary of the birth of Tom Petty as we wind down Tom Petty Month, but we still have some great stuff to go, including some never-before-heard here on #BecomeUngovernable Radio. Stay tuned!

Here’s today’s musical excursion:

11:00 a.m. Mudcrutch Live at The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, CA, June 26, 2016

One of my great regrets in life was missing this Tom Petty tour with his “other” band, the band that left Gainesville all those years ago. They didn’t make it as Mudcrutch, but they did morph into The Heartbreakers. Later, Petty would pull this band back together and make it count, including this amazing 2016 tour. Their performance of Hungry No More at Boston’s House of Blues blew the doors off the place. And I missed it. Today we’ve got their performance at the Fonda Theatre in Cali.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Their Satanic Majesties Request by The Rolling Stones

We’re winding down on this one, folks. This is our next-to-last airing, the final one coming sometime on Saturday. On Sunday, we’ll continue on with the psychedelia.

7:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live and Loving It!

We have several more Petty musical programs left in the month, so we’re dedicating this slot to our favorite live Heartbreaker performances here in The Mermaid Lounge. They come to you from a variety of venues. Enjoy.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers is one of our House Bands (the other being The Beatles) and they hold a special place in our hearts. We struggle daily with the impulse to overplay our house bands, so we keep it on the downlow. But none of that nonsense on the man’s birthday. Enjoy the trip. It’s worth it.

Happy Birthday, Tom Petty!

We’re at Midweek With Our Multi-Artist ‘Folk Music From A-to-Z’ EP and Chuck Berry In The Spotlight, Wednesday, October 19, 2022

We hit our midweek stride with a great EP focused on folk music and folk-rock. We play both the great pure folk artists (like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan), along with those who pay homage to the musical genre (like The Beatles and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers). Later, we put Chuck Berry front and center.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

10:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-to-Z: Various Artists

We’ve got them all here in this playlist. You’ll hear John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Jackson Browne, Guy Clark, James Taylor, The Carter Family, Harry Chapin, Linda Ronstadt, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Chuck Berry NEW!

Tonight we put a rock n’ roll pioneer, one of its Founding Fathers, In the Spotlight as we celebrate his birthday (belatedly, it was October 18). John Lennon once said this about Chuck Berry, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.'” Indeed.

Before, in between, and after we’ve got that great wide Open Stream all day and all night long, because we run 24/7, not just when we have programming. You are in the hands of The Music Mermaid who, as you well know, has impeccable taste in music.

Happy Birthday, Chuck Berry!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With The Blues Project and The Robert Cray Band with Stevie Ray Vaughan on October 18, 2022

Good Morning, Blues Lovers! We have got a dandy lined up today with The Blues Project doing a ‘live’ gig in Central Park and SRV out there with The Robert Cray Band. In between, it’s our AOW.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday line-up:

11:00 a.m. The Blues Project Reunion in Central Park, New York, October 24, 1973

This reunion, recorded at the Schaefer Festival in 1973 is amazing, in light of their nasty break-up six years prior. The band that helped pioneer blues-rock included Andy Kulberg, Roy Blumenfeld, the great Al Kooper, Steve Katz and Danny Kalb. They were all on the same page for this one and, if there was any acrimony remaining, it certainly didn’t show.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Their Satanic Majesties Request by The Rolling Stones

We interrupt our blues programming for a bit of psychedelia from The Stones with the second airing of our Album of The Week. Funny thing is, the Rolling Stones are steeped in the blues, so there is a symmetry here.

7:00 p.m. The Robert Cray Band with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Club Redux, Dallas, TX, January 21, 1987

Two blues greats on stage at Club Redux in Dallas. What is not to love here?

Another Tuesday Bluesday rolls around. We expect our usual full house today, and it also marks the first time we’ve had listeners from Iran tune us in. It’s always one of our busiest days in The Lounge. You should give us a try. Hell, we won’t cost you a thing but a little bit of time. We’re totally free and we are on air 24/7, not just when we have programming scheduled. That’s because we have The Music Mermaid running the show here.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

We Kick Off Tom Petty Month Today and Give You Some ‘Live’ Hendrix and Neil Young To Boot, Monday, October 3, 2022

Good Morning, Pettyologists! This is the month we remember the leader of one of our house bands as we modestly dip our toes into Tom Petty Month. Hard to believe he passed five years ago yesterday.

Welcome to Tom Petty Month

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Traveling Wilburys

We kick off Tom Petty month modestly today with the greatest supergroup of all time In the Spotlight today. Tom was only part of this band, but he was an important cog in the wheel of friendship that made this band work.

3:00 p.m. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Live at The Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA, October 22, 1978

We’ve got Neil Young and one of his most consistent back-up bands live for you at mid-afternoon. We haven’t aired this one for a while, so tune it in.

7:00 p.m. Jimi Hendrix Live at The Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA, May 30, 1970 NEW!

Hendrix performed this one just a few months before his untimely death. It’s also brand new to the station; we’ve never heard it before ourselves.

Before, in between, and after we’ve got that great wide Open Stream, and a little later today, we’ll be adding music to that stream to make it even better. The Music Mermaid demands it. We’ve got our usual cast of listeners on from around the globe. Join us (and we mean that rhetorically; there are no joining requirements except that you push that button below).

October is Tom Petty Month!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday with Our ‘Best of Chicago Blues’ EP and ‘Live’ Johnny Winter Bringing Up The Rear, September 13, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! Here we are again in the midst of another Tuesday Bluesday! Today we take a trip to Chicago for some blues.

We start off Tuesday Bluesday with our big, bad Chicago blues EP!

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

We travel to Chicago for a dose of the blues with Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Son Seals, Sonny Boy Williamson, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann and more!

7:00 p.m. Johnny Winter Live at The Bottom Line, New York City, NY, September 5, 1978

One of the best bluesmen of all time here, albeit a bit overlooked at times. Winter was not only a great blues guitarist and singer, known for his high-energy blues albums and live performances in the late 60s and 70s, but he also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for the great Muddy Waters.

9:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Electric Music for The Mind and Body, Country Joe & The Fish

We close out the day’s programming outside the realm of the blues with one of the first psychedelic albums to come out of San Francisco.

Tuesday Bluesday in The Mermaid Lounge is always a great take, so why not join us today. If you’ve never experienced #BecomeUngovernable Radio before, this would be a great day to start. We’re on with our friends from around the world already. Join us. We’re totally free and ask for no information. The only requirement is curiosity, a computer, a free tab and the will to switch to a better music source.

Welcome to Tuesday Bluesday!

Monday Brings Two ‘Live’ Gigs, One From Hot Tuna and One From Mudcrutch, Later It’s Open Stream With Trifectas, September 12, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! Monday has reared its head here in The Mermaid Lounge and I’ve got a morning mission of mercy on tap. The Music Mermaid, however, is here to take care of our musical musings for the day.

Here’s your musical landscape today:

12:00 p.m. Hot Tuna Live at Sweetwater, Mill Valley, CA, January 27-28, 1992

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard this one, so step right up and get yourself some live acoustic blues from a great band that knows how to deliver.

4:00 p.m. Mudcrutch Live at The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, CA, June 26, 2016

Speaking of great bands, we’ve got the tour I deeply regret missing when it pulled into Boston’s House of Blues where the definitive live version of Hungry No More was recorded. I haven’t yet gotten over my short-sightedness on this one. It is a Monday and this is Mudcrutch and, while I’m not declaring it Mudcrutch Monday, it technically is. I felt the need to say that.

After Mudcrutch, it’s wide Open Stream with the Mermaid in charge. I hear she’s got some unannounced Trifectas planned, so I’d better leave it that way. She says you’re just going to have to listen to find out who’s on tap at the top of selected hours. Some of them are new. But my lips are sealed.

Monday, Monday.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday and We’ve Got Two Great Live Performances and Our Album of The Week On Tap, September 6, 2022

Happy Tuesday Bluesday, Kids! Today we give you two great live performances sandwiched around our Album of The Week by Roberta Flack.

We kick off the programming with Peter Green’s Splinter Group live from Germany!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Peter Green’s Splinter Group Live From The Capitol Theatre, Mannheim, Germany, sometime in 2003 NEW!

Another great live performance where the date is not readily apparent, but no matter. We have a few of those and we keep looking knowing that we’ll find it…someday. Peter Green was a fine bluesman, and the very first leader of Fleetwood Mac, which was originally a blues band before turning mainstream pop. Today we have Peter Green’s Splinter Group live from Germany for your listening pleasure.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: First Take by Roberta Flack

At mid-afternoon we give you the second airing of Roberta Flack’s debut album, and a fine one it is. This album is considered by many to be one of the best R & B releases in popular music history, and for good reason. She doesn’t shy away from issues like racism either.

7:00 p.m. The Jeff Beck Group Live From The Boston Tea Party, Boston, MA, May 6, 1969

We go back in time to a legendary venue in the Boston area with a great blues-rock band for our programming finale tonight. We’ve aired this one before, but it’s been a few minutes, as they say. You’ll love this one!

Another fine Tuesday Bluesday rolls around and we deliver the blues. We’ve got a great collection of blues music and it’s growing as we speak. We’re continually shopping around for artists, music, and live performances as we move into the winter months when music becomes even more important. We’re here 24/7 at no charge to the general public. Come and join your friends from around the globe.

Welcome to Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Saturday in The Mermaid Lounge With Our ‘Psychedelic Express’ EP, Desmond Dekker In The Spotlight, LIVE DEAD! and The Final Airing of Neil Young’s AOW, August 20, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We have a very full Saturday here for you but, nevertheless, our wide Open Stream dominates on the time scale. We never give you too much programming…just enough.

It’s time for our monthly trip into the land of psychedelia!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Songs for Judy by Neil Young FINAL AIRING!

We bid Neil Young an early fond farewell today as we kick this one off early for our overseas listeners. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new album for you all when you finally wake up!

12:00 p.m. The Psychedelic Express: Various Artists

We’re back with our trip to psychedelic music land where you’ll hear Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, The Beatles, Electric Prunes, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Donovan, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Canned Heat, Tommy James & The Shondells, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Mudrutch, Blind Faith, Grateful Dead, The Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Desmond Dekker and The Aces NEW!

Another trip down Reggae Road here with Desmond Dekker, a Jamaican Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady singer-songwriter and musician. Together with his backing band, The Aces, he had one of the first international reggae hits with his song Israelites. I remember hearing that song on the radio over and over and I loved it. But I didn’t really have a total appreciation for Reggae then as I do now.

10:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD! The Grateful Dead Live at Boston Garden, Boston, MA, May 12, 1980 NEW!

Another great concert from a great jam band. This one comes from my hometown back in 1980. We’ve had a few from Boston, but not from 1980 yet. Tonight, we’ve got that one too.

Well, once again, allow me to tell you that it would be a great day to spend with us here in The Mermaid Lounge if you can spare some time. It won’t take long for you to get hooked. Trust me. We’re not about charging money so you can build Internet playlists. If you want to do that, you can go pay Spotify. We’re all about being radio. And we don’t clog our airwaves with mouthy DJs and commercial advertising.

Join us in The Mermaid Lounge!