Lost Music SaloonLost Music Saloon: June 16, 2014: 5-7 p.m.: 10th Anniversary Show!
Hard to believe, but I've been bringing you the Lost Music Saloon here on WRIR for 10 years now. My very first show went out on June 18, 2004, back when my show was on Friday evenings and WRIR wasn't even on the air yet – – we were an internet-only station back then. Now WRIR has been nationally recognized as one of the best small radio stations in the country, and we're a perennial favorite radio station for our Richmond, Virginia listeners. We've come a long way in 10 years!
Today's show makes a valiant attempt to put together my very favorite songs released over the past 10 years (2004-2014). There's no way that it's possible to come up with such a playlist that reduces a decade of music down to just two hours without leaving off dozens, even hundreds, of worthy songs. I can hardly believe that today's playlist has nothing on it by someone as well-known and great as Bob Dylan, or as obscure but gifted as Sam Baker – – two artists I absolutely love.
I think that my personal preferences come thru pretty clearly in these songs: (a) I love good lyrics, and am a particular sucker for a good story song; (b) I love strong melodies; (c) a "beautiful" voice is OK, but is definitely not a requirement – – some of my fave songs feature vocals only a mother could love, and sand, grit, gravel, twang, etc, in a voice only adds character in my opinion; (d) a mix of your basic rock band outfit (two electric guitars, bass & drums) along with acoustic country instruments (fiddle, banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, other acoustic strings) hits a real sweet spot for me; (e) I seem to lean strongly in favor of male vocals over female vocals – – not sure exactly why, but my playlist today makes that clear; and finally (f) I strongly favor mid-to-uptempo songs over slower ones. There's a time & place for slow, sad-sack, depressed or lovelorn songs, but not very often on my faves lists.
Anyway, there it is. Kick back and ENJOY!
Lost Music Saloon: PLAYLIST: June 16, 2014: 5-7 p.m.: 10th Anniversary Show!
Bright Eyes: Another Travelin' Song
The Mavericks: Come Unto Me
The Felice Brothers: Frankie's Gun
The Great Unknowns: Lexington
Frank Carillo & the Bandoleros: With Her Pajamas On
Max Gomez: Rule the World
Blitzen Trapper: Furr
Old Crow Medicine Show: Levi
Dan Bern: President
Elizabeth Cook: El Camino
The Fratellis: Flathead
Martin Sexton: Boom-Sh-Boom
Terry Anderson & the Olympic Ass-Kicking Team: Can't Get the One You Want
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit: Codeine
I See Hawks in L.A.: Humboldt
Micah Schnabel: Choir Boys
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan: Ramblin' Man
Ike Reilly: Ballad of Jack & Hailey
Robbie Fulks: Where There's a Road
Social Distortion: Gimme the Sweet & Lowdown
Rodney Crowell: Don't Get Me Started
Brandy Clark: Hungover
Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers: Switchblade
John Lilly: Tore Up From the Floor Up
Shooter Jennings: 4th of July
James McMurtry: We Can't Make It Here (full band version)
Garry, DJ
Lost Music Saloon
WRIR 97.3 FM
Richmond, Virginia