Author Archives: Evan Toth

Remembering Joey Molland with a look back from our archives from 2020. —Ed.

Joey Molland has seen it all. During his time in Badfinger, he witnessed the ups and downs of rock and roll stardom, rubbing elbows with The Beatles no less, and being taken under their collective wings to be the big, blockbuster breakout of Apple Records. Badfinger’s power pop legacy is undisputed.

Of course, the highs of every rock and roll story descend to lows and Badfinger’s story is a notoriously bleak and complicated one. But Joey manages to stay positive and spread some feel-good vibes on his latest release, Be True to Yourself which encapsulates much of the Badfinger power pop sound in a modern setting. Produced by Mark Hudson (Ringo Starr, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne) Be True to Yourself also features a cadre of musical friends: Julian Lennon, Micky Dolenz, Jason Scheff, and Steve Holley.

Join us as we discuss the the creation of his new album with Mr. Molland and the long and winding road he traveled to get from there to here.

The new album is called Be True To Yourself and why don’t you tell us a little bit about the title and that particular song?

Yeah, the title, what can I say? The song came from a conversation I had with my brother, Frank. My eldest brother. He was considerably older than me, and I don’t know if you come from a large family, but it was one of the first times in my life that I’d actually had a conversation with my brother. He was already in his 20s when I was born, you know? So I was a little kid, so we didn’t really hang around together. You know what I mean? So I just had a talk with him and yesterday we talked about the future, we talked about faith, and we talked about government stuff. You know, all the things that you talk about with your friends. And that’s where this song was born—from that conversation.

I’d had the melody for a couple of years and I’d never really gotten a hold of a lyric that I wanted to put with that melody, so it was great to finally get some lyrics and it was fortunately for me, when we started discussing doing a record, Mark Hudson and myself, and that was one of the songs that he really liked and really enjoyed. We’ve got at least five songs’ worth of Mark Hudson’s songwriting talent in there, too. I enjoyed it. The idea Be True to Yourself seemed like a reasonable thing to call an album, and that’s what we were trying to do. That’s what I was trying to do, anyway. Write songs that I liked. I don’t know much about writing hit songs. I just have to play what I’ve got, you know? Just like in the old days. I always had the exact same approach. We’d play our songs and the ones we liked, we’d work on them and they’d be the ones we’d record, you know?

I’m happy the people seem to like the stuff that’s on this particular record. It seems to be a good thing, and I think it’s a good title. I think it’s a good way to think about things.

I think it is, too. Tell me about working with Mark Hudson. He’s worked with Aerosmith and Ringo Starr and now Joey Molland. How did you hook up with him, and how did you arrive at working with Mark Hudson on this new record?

Over the years, I’ve done lots of kind of Beatle related events and I started to meet Mark at them. You know, people get him because of his big affiliation with Ringo and his friendship with the other Beatles, and we just started to be friends backstage, really. We think alike. Mark is a hilarious person. I don’t know if you’ve met him, but he’s a hilarious guy. He’s a great guy to hang around with, and of course he’s a brilliant producer. Grammy winning. He’s just a brilliant, super talented guy. Sings like a bird. He’s all about the show and as long as it’s got a song to back it up, and I got really lucky for him to produce. He’s the reason the album sounds so good. The people that he works with like Mario McNulty who he’s another Grammy winner and well known for working with the likes of David Bowie and several other majors.

So, that’s what Mark attracts. People know his talent and they know his way of producing. He’s so focused, you know? And he’s entertaining while he’s doing it. He drives the bus, he really does. He doesn’t really apologize. He’ll pull himself way out, he’ll pull himself in the record with you. I really enjoyed it. It all came together, our friendship. Did I have songs? Would I like to make a record? So I said yes to all those questions. I’m really knocked out, you know?

Read More »

Andy Summers, renowned as the influential guitarist of The Police, reveals a multifaceted creative persona that extends far beyond music. He openly embraces his diverse interests, seamlessly integrating them much like he does with his guitar, weaving them into a cohesive tapestry that defines his prolific body of work.

While the guitar remains his primary artistic tool, Andy’s pursuits extend to photography with his Leica camera and creative writing with a keyboard. His latest endeavor, The Cracked Lens + A Missing String tour, ingeniously merges these passions together. Here, Andy not only performs music but intertwines his photographic art and narratives, transcending a mere recapitulation of his greatest hits. It’s a testament to his belief in the evolution of artistic expression in order to engage varied audiences with his restless visions.

In our discussion, guitars naturally take center stage alongside anecdotes from his iconic Police days; we even muse about guitar hunting. Yet, our focus remains forward-looking. Andy reflects on a journey marked by towering achievements and vast experiences, but he is now afforded the luxury to discover recurring themes and seek the synchronicity in his life’s narrative.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Light and dark have been engaged in an eternal dance since the earliest of times. You’ve all seen the yin and yang which, if nothing else, illustrate that complicated symbiosis between good and evil: you can’t have the hero if you don’t have the villain. It’s just one of those conundrums of humanity. Writers, poets, filmmakers, artists of all ilk have explored this deeply, and will continue to do so as it’s a concept that’s hardwired into the human experience.

You can look at the balance of values through many different lenses. Anastasia Minster has decided to explore light and dark through the experience of love. Her latest album, Song of Songs peels back the layers of common experiences when it comes to that most confounding of human feelings: there’s no greater experience than being in love with someone who loves you back, but there’s possibly no worse feeling than unrequited love, or losing your kindred spirit.

Anastasia joins us on this episode to explain how she perceives love, but she also shares the details of this new album, recorded in Canada with the support of the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. Song of Songs is a fusion of classical and jazz elements that satisfyingly dovetail with Anastasia’s artistic, scholastic, and psychological intellect. You might want to sit in the front of the class so you can keep up. Here, there’s an empty chair right next to me.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Technology’s growth in the last decade has been astounding. I don’t have to tell you how AI has just begun to impact our lives, and we all grit our teeth peeking to witness its evolution. But, through it all, there’s a timeless beauty to the still photograph. Even our 21st century blogs and social media are, in many ways, simply a digital photo book for us to flip through. Humans love looking at pictures and—as with vinyl records—we enjoy that experience even more when it is coupled with a tactile element: the paper, the saturated color, the feel, the smell, and, of course, the artistry behind the lens.

Eilon Paz isn’t so much a record collector, he’s more a collector of record collectors. Paz is a photographer who noticed the uniqueness of record collectors, just as the new wave in vinyl popularity was taking hold. He took his profession and his passion and pointed his camera at record collectors and their collections. First on the web as a blog, his project became a well-regarded book titled, Dust & Grooves which was first published in 2014.

Now, Eilon has released Dust and Grooves, Vol. 2: Further Adventures in Record Collecting, and he’s also expanded his online presence and offerings. Believe me when I say I did not realize the size and scope of the book until I held a copy in my hands. Eilon has outdone himself with a collection of photographs of collectors from around the globe, paired with interviews that describe their methodology and allow a reader into their thought process when it comes to vinyl.

Sometimes, it’s more fun to see someone else’s collection of something rather than have it yourself. In this way, the book and Eilon’s photographic journey is appealing to those outside of the record collecting world as well: it’s an opportunity to see the passion and care that these collectors dedicate to their libraries and the humanity intertwined within. Eilon loves a good record collection, but it’s the collectors themselves that really catch his interest.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Some guys just do it all. Today we speak with Andy Babiuk about the newest release from the Chesterfield Kings who have been rock and roll torch-bearers over the last forty plus years. The album is titled, We’re Still All The Same. Take that musical pathway, connect it with Little Steven—and his Wicked Cool Records label—and first you’ve got a story about a meat and potatoes rock band that continues to preach the garage rock gospel in the 21st century with the help of one of the day’s most active rock and roll champions.

Or, the conversation could shift into Andy’s exhaustively complete authorship of the incredibly successful books: Beatles Gear, Rolling Stones Gear, or The Story of Paul Bigsby. These books delve not into the minutia of famous musicians’ lives, but instead tell the tales behind the instruments that they held in their hands while making the timeless music that they made: the guitars, the amps, the effects, and the studio tools. How’d they get them, what’d they do with them, and where’d they go. All of them, fascinating reads.

There’s even another path available when speaking with Babiuk. It’s possible to simply discuss a day in his life running his own guitar shop in Rochester, NY, Andy Babiuk’s Fab Gear. It’s not just any guitar store, the shop specializes in the vintage instruments that were responsible for the sounds you hear on some of your favorite records recorded in the 20th century. They do repairs too. They worked on the 1964 Fender Stratocaster that Bob Dylan used to “go electric” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival and change the course of music history. You know, stuff like that.

As you can see, there’s no shortage of angles I can take in this chat with Andy and, as you’ll soon hear, I did my best to get to it all, and we even went to a few unexpected places. Luckily, for us, Andy is ready to share his unique insights on his involvement in several aspects of a life spent in rock and roll: you could say he’s an open book. Perhaps the next story he writes will be about himself. There’s certainly plenty there to explore.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

I don’t know when you first found out about the role of a session musician, but for me, it was associated with The Monkees. I remember not quite understanding how a band could make music, yet still not play all of the instruments on the record. Well, my youthful naïveté was obliterated when I learned that there exists a highly skilled, dedicated, professional group of elite musicians who slip in the studio to lay down tracks that uplift whatever the star performer may have created.

On keyboards, there’s one session musician who stands above many others: he’s played extensively with The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and even The Beatles. Not only did he share that rarefied air with those heavyweight champs of classic rock, but his keyboard parts were sometimes integral to the artistic and commercial success of the song. You’ve heard the wild electric piano solo on The Beatles’ “Revolution,” you know that haltingly beautiful piano part in The Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow,” and you’re familiar with the majestic grandeur of the piano part that supports Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful.”

So when you learn about a musician such as Nicky Hopkins, who’s reputation may be a bit unsung, what are you to do? Well, if you’re a filmmaker like Mike Treen, you make a documentary about him. And you gather as many first hand witnesses to Nicky’s expertise as possible, including Peter Frampton, Dave Davies, and even Keith Richards and Mick Jagger.

Mike Treen joins me to talk about his film titled The Session Man. We explore how he pieced together different elements from Hopkins’s life and presented it in a cogent and easy to follow narrative that showcases the ups and downs of this special musician’s life.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

PHOTO: HOLLY WHITAKER | As Bruce Springsteen once sang, “two hearts are better than one” and that certainly is the case with The Heavy Heavy. Not only does the name of the band have a second helping of Heavy, but the group is fronted by two musicians who, you’ll soon find out, act as a team when it comes to decisions about the group’s sound and direction.

About a decade ago, Georgie Fuller and Will Turner met under musical circumstances and haven’t looked back since. While their first musical collaboration leaned toward an acoustic Laurel Canyon sound, this new iteration is different. Will works hard to find the initial spark for his tunes, rummaging through his mental database of vintage rock, pop, soul, and Motown. He brings the composition and riff-laden guitar chops and everything is great, but then there’s Georgie. Georgie packs with her a commanding voice and knows how to employ those vocal dynamics correctly for full effect. But she also knows how to nudge her partner along when it comes to his compositional creations and she is an integral part of shaping the group’s sound in the studio.

The band has found critical success and also have landed plum gig after plum gig. These elements combined allow the group to find an audience for their retro modern sound. In this episode, we discuss their genesis and working relationship and also how they are riding the roller coaster that they’ve recently been on. Luckily for us, I’m able to speak with both Will and Georgie because as Bruce Springsteen sang. Well, you remember what he said.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Sometimes, the only way to find yourself is by getting a little bit lost. Israel Nebeker—lead singer of the band Blind Pilot—experienced this first hand. The band came strongly upon the music scene in 2008, gaining particular media attention for their “bike tour” which brought them from Bellingham, Washington all the way to San Diego, California with nothing but their instruments and bicycles in tow.

Noteworthy activities like these—and two well-received albums—placed them in front of viewers of Last Call With Carson Daly, before audience members at Lollapalooza, and even all the way to Late Night with David Letterman where Dave mistakenly referred to the group as “Blind Spot.” It was a good time to be in an indie-folk band from Portland. However, after the release of their last album in 2016: radio silence. The band went on hiatus as they reconfigured their relationships, struggled with writing, and, of course, made it through that pesky pandemic where no one did much of anything.

However, after a trip to Scandinavia, Nebeker tapped into a well of creativity and inspiration leading him to write enough material for his first solo album and a brand new Blind Pilot record which has just been recently released, In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain. As they say, when it rains, it pours. So, join Israel and me as we dig into the long spiritual and creative journey he’s been on and how Blind Pilot regained their vision.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Imagine hearing a style of music that has become very popular; a genre you might hear on a TV commercial, or maybe on your favorite streaming program, or perhaps coming from a car window as it passes you by the street. Now, try to pretend that the style of music you’re hearing was popularized by your dad.

Seun Kuti goes through this process often and—along with his siblings—have become the next wave of afrobeat music makers who have followed in the footsteps of their famous father, Fela Kuti. Fela was the architect of the afrobeat sound. Its infectious rhythms lifted African sounds to another level, but also redirected those influences as heard in American music back to the homeland. Seun, with Egypt 80, have released a brand new album titled, Heavier Yet. The project finds Lenny Kravitz acting as executive producer and also features Fela’s original engineer Sodi Marciszewer; he is behind the board on this album in the role of artistic producer.

But, wait, there’s more: the son of an Afrobeat pioneer joins together with the son of a reggae pioneer. Damian Marley and Seun collaborate on one of the album’s penultimate tracks, “Dey.”

Seun and I were both a little excited to be having our international chat between New Jersey and Lagos, Nigeria. We both hope you’ll find the technology as enthralling as we did. We discussed his new album, of course, but as you’ll find, Seun is up for talking about anything. Settle in to hear about some history, a few surprises, and some really exciting music.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

You don’t need to be using your vocal cords to sing. There are other ways to do it, you don’t even need to be a human being! Birds sing, the wind sings while you’re standing on the beach watching the surf, and maybe you could even say that an air conditioner sings in the background as it cools your room on a hot summer day. Just because something is singing doesn’t mean it has to come from vox humana. In the case of Delicate Steve, it’s his guitar that does the singing, and it’s a distinctive voice that his instrument has.

On his recently released new album Delicate Steve Sings (Anti), Steve Marion takes the voice of his guitar and applies it to mostly an original cadre of songs, however, he throws in a few covers for good measure, some you’ll definitely know, and a few that may be new to you. But no matter what song he’s playing, he’s working hard on this album to make sure that those songs have the unique singing voice that his guitar has exhibited over the last eight albums that he’s released.

On this episode, we of course talk about his new record, and about how some critics may have misunderstood what he was trying to do on this album, but how it only goes to prove to himself that he’s on the right track. Do you know what your voice sounds like? You don’t have to use your vocal cords, or a guitar. What is it that you use when you really sing?

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

It’s amusing how certain traits and talents seem to run in families—like an unbreakable thread woven through generations. Perhaps you hail from a long line of carpenters or artists, each passing down their skills. Music, in particular, has a remarkable way of flowing through bloodlines. While styles may evolve, the gift of rhythm and melody remains timeless, transcending the boundaries of space and time.

Nikka Costa understands this instinctively. Drawing on the rich legacy of her father, renowned arranger and producer Don Costa, she has infused his best qualities into her own vibrant blend of funky, soulful rock and roll. Though she was young when her father passed away, she carries with her a treasure trove of musical memories—most notably, a hit recording from 1981, “(Out Here) On My Own,” and an unforgettable duet with her father’s longtime collaborator, Frank Sinatra, performed on the White House lawn, no less!

Throughout her extensive career, Nikka has explored various musical styles, but on her latest album, Dirty Disco, she takes a deep dive into the propulsive sounds of the dancefloor. In this episode, she joins me to discuss her new record and how those familial musical influences continue to resonate in her work today.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

It’s easy to overlook, but for some, music isn’t just a passion—it’s a livelihood. While many might juggle music as a side gig or serious hobby, others dive headfirst into a full-fledged career as a musician. As with any pursuit intertwined with money, the path ahead is rarely smooth. Yet, artists like Brian Ray not only navigate this complex terrain but they truly thrive there.

We could delve into his collaborations with Smokey Robinson, retrace the dedication he poured into his years with Etta James, or explore his legendary—and current—stint as Paul McCartney’s guitarist. Today, however, we focus on his latest solo endeavor, My Town, released under Little Stevie Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records label.

Brian has generously shared his musical prowess with others, but a listen to My Town reveals that he still has plenty of expertise left over for himself. Brian and I chatted about the creation of this album, the invaluable lessons he’s gleaned from working with industry icons, and some of the realities of life on the road.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

It’s not exactly a comeback. Instead, the dB’s are reconnecting with their loyal audience, who have always valued their brief but impactful body of work. The New York City band (by way of North Carolina), crafted a distinctive sound by blending edgy late-’70s NYC new wave and punk with the Southern indie-rock essence of Big Star. This fusion produced a unique mix of jagged rock and roll, complemented by thoughtful lyrics and intricate songcraft.

During their peak, the dB’s released just two albums with their original lineup—Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple, Will Rigby, and Gene Holder. Both Stands for deciBels and its quick successor Repercussion came out in 1981. Although the band’s original run was brief, they released a well-received reunion album in 2012. Meanwhile, each member has continued to pursue music outside of the dB’s. This year, the dB’s have partnered with Propeller Sound Recordings to reconnect with long-time fans and attract new ones.

Notably, their first two albums were initially available in the US only as imports. While the albums have been reissued in various formats over the years, this is the first time they will be released on vinyl in America. Both records have been remastered and are available in different color variants.

In this episode, band members Peter Holsapple and Will Rigby join me to discuss their upcoming live performances with the original lineup and their excitement about introducing and reintroducing their music to fans who cherish the sound they created that has captivated so many “in the know” music lovers over the years and how these fresh releases might find new ears, too.

Read More »

TVD’s Radar: The Podcast with Evan Toth returns for a new season on September 9. —Ed.

It’s a real luxury to sit for a while and chat with musicians who have been a part of your life for – well – all of your life. To actually speak with the people who made the sounds that have served as your life’s soundtrack, to ask those things you’ve always wondered about. Who gets to do that? For better, or worse, I’m one of the lucky son of a guns who is allowed to engage directly with many musicians whose work has impacted my life in one way or another for many years. I’m sure you all have some Police records in your collections; what would you ask those fellas if you had a moment of their time?

I asked Stewart Copeland about his newest musical endeavor, it’s called Police Deranged for Orchestra and it features a fresh take on many of the Police classics that you know and love, but they are infused with a new and exciting energy by this musically restless, 7 time Grammy award winning rock star and drumming great. He’s taking the show on the road and wants this new album to serve as a representation of what you might expect in the audience. He’s also completed a new coffee table book titled, Stewart Copeland’s Police Diaries which looks at the lean early years of the Police where Stewart was their drummer, but also their manager.

So, what would you ask Stewart Copeland if you had the chance to chat with him? Well, you’d probably ask questions that are different from mine, but that’s only because his work and music has impacted so many different people in so many different ways that we’d each have our own unique list of comments and questions to bring to him. The best part of speaking with Stewart, however, is listening to him respond! If you’ve ever caught a moment of his interviews, he is funny, candid, intellectual, and straightforward. So, pull up a drum throne; let’s savor the opportunity to speak with one of the greats!

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

TVD’s Radar: The Podcast with Evan Toth returns for a new season on September 9. —Ed.

David Duchovny is one of those rare entertainment birds who has managed to craft a career in show business utilizing his many passions. Everyone is familiar with his portrayal of Agent Fox Mulder in The X-Files and his successful run with Californication, both of which afforded Duchovny Golden Globe awards. But there are other artistic outlets that he continues to explore.

An English major and graduate from Princeton University, it’s natural for Duchovny to express himself with a word processor. He’s written four books which have received strong reviews. His latest is titled, Truly Like Lightning: A Novel (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). But he’s also a songwriter and musician. Music serves to fuse together the literary Duchovny with the on-screen actor. With music, he is able to both write and play a part, even if the part he’s playing is himself.

His newest album, Gestureland is his third record. Duchovny explains in our interview that it focuses on signs and signifiers of our modern culture, and the mysterious interest humans have by trying to find meaning in things that may not mean what we think they mean. Sounds like something Agent Mulder might focus on if he played in a band on his off nights from the FBI.

Join Mr. Duchovny and me as we talk about the creative process, his new record, the fabled Princeton eating halls, and much more. If you’re hoping that he’s as intensely conspiratorial as Fox Mulder, well, you might be a little let down, but the fact of the matter is that—like all of us—Duchovny is grappling with what the last few years of our lives mean. We may not be able to quite discern what that is yet, but like Agent Mulder, we all want to believe.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.