A little more rootsy

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Hey there, doomed musicheads, Ross here. This time I am getting to some roots. There used to be this show on KRCL 90.9 FM in Salt Lake City called Roots and Blues. I would listen religiously to this show while at work. The host's name was Troy, and he played all this great music that included blues, folk, bluegrass, and country. This playlist is not only sort of a taste of what Troy might play on that show, but an homage, for me, to KRCL in general. This radio station and the on-air hosts there have been responsible for turning me on to a very large amount of music that is out of the mainstream. Stuff that I would not have even thought to listen to, or seek out, had they not turned me on to it. Specifically, (but not limited to) bluegrass, folk, blues, and even hip-hop. Yes, hip-hop ladies and gentlemen, this white boy from Suburbia. (I'm sure I will discuss this with y'all in more detail in the future.)

But, Troy would play stuff that I had never heard before, and sometimes by artists that I knew. So when he did play something I had heard before, it was rare. That's what I dig about indie and internet radio. It's fresh. Not the same recycled hits you have heard for the last 40 years (or however old you happen to be). Thanks Troy, and KRCL!

'Til next time...

Finally, I am here.

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Hey, everybody, Ross here. So, it took me forever to finally write this first entry. Thanks, Paul, for putting it all together. I love music and I love to talk about music. So, right to it then.

In my listening (and writing) here, I am going to try to pick random songs, including ones I haven't heard before. This will help us all to expand our listening tastes.

Foghat for me represents childhood. I remember going to Pegasus record store in Bountiful and reading the backs of album covers. Foghat just seemed dirty to me at the time, taboo, you know. Mom would definitely not approve, therefore, I want to hear it, and of course, love it. "Fool for the City" is a Foghat favorite.

Jump ahead 5 or 6 years, high school. Metallica was all over in the rock n' roll press. Some kick-ass new metal group making waves with their latest album, "Master of Puppets". But they never got played on the radio in Salt Lake City at that time. I never even heard them until I saw them open for Ozzy at the old Salt Palace... they blew my freakin' mind. I have been a fan ever since.

I had never heard this "Battle Theme" from Final Fantasy IV. But my nephews have been learning how to play video game songs since they were old enough to play (games and instruments). I dedicate this one to Eric and Tyler.

This is the first time I ever heard "Gods of War" by Def Leppard. I know it's hard to believe, but I have this "dark period", between July 1987 and February 1990, where I was not aware of any new music that came out. The "Hysteria" album came out during this time. This sucked at the time, but I find that now I hear a lot of music that is still new to me, which I love hearing music that I have not heard before.

I have not heard much Vinnie Moore, but I should have been listening to him since the 80's. I am a huge fan of the guitar virtuosos, and I love Vinnie's style and sound. I can't get enough of those fast runs!

Ahhh... "Walk This Way". Classic. Playing this riff got me in trouble one time. Seriously.

I have never heard of this band Jadis, nor have I heard any more of their songs. But, after hearing "Holding Your Breath", I want more. Cool progressive song structure, and guitar solos. The version I have here is only partial, apparently. Maybe we will hear more from them on this blog.

I love Deep Purple, but I have not heard "Child in Time" before, and I love it! Nobody screams quite like Ian Gillan, and I can't get enough of that heavy organ of Jon Lord.

"Flor D'luna" is another song that I haven't heard before from a band that I have loved for a long time, Santana. This song is beautiful. Carlos is a master.

It just seems fitting to wrap up this session with more Metallica. I had a buddy in high school and his nickname was "Leper Messiah". Wonder what he is up to these days. I should try to find him on Facebook. This one's for you, Danny.

I have had too much fun doing this, so you are doomed to see more from me. Ha ha!
'Til next time...