Author: General Manager

The July 30 edition of The Boris Rock Show turned the spotlight on Connecticut bands.

If you missed it, here’s the archive.

Given the formidable challenge associated with such a diverse mix of groups and artists with roots in Connecticut, Boris focused solely on the rock genre when it came to curating music for the program.

His selections included material from the 1960s through the present and such groups/artists as Miracle Legion, Goose, Tom Guerra, Deep Banana Blackout, The Wildweeds, Max Creek, The Sawtelles, Yesterday’s Children, Toto (the three Porcoro brothers hailed from Hartford), The Remains, The Alternate Routes, Audio Jane, Sister Funk, Liz Phair, Bronze Radio Return, Little Village and Fountainhead to name just a handful.

An interview with Brian Dunne — singer/songwriter and co-founder of Fantastic Cat — was part of a feature on the July 28 edition of The Devo Rock Show.

Devo caught up with Dunne at a recent Fantastic Cat show at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, N.H. Dunne talks about his 10-year career and provides some insight to Fantastic Cat, the New York City-based group he formed in 2021 with Don DiLego, Anthony D’Amato and Mike Montali.

Dunne also discussed his own work, including the upcoming release of Clams Casino (Missing Piece Records), his sixth solo album, which is out Sept. 5. Devo will play a few brand new singles.

Included in the program was music from Dunne’s last solo record, Loser On The Ropes (PMD Records) and Fantastic Cat’s latest, Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat! (Missing Piece).

Dunne was born and raised in the Hudson Valley area of New York and currently resides in Brooklyn. His self-released debut solo album, Songs From The Hive, came out in 2015.

His music features his unique sense of humor and insight into the world around him. He plays acoustic and electric guitar and provides powerful vocals both in Fantastic Cat and as a solo artist.

Dunne has appeared at The Philadelphia Folk Festival and has performed on National Public Radio’s Mountain Stage.

He’s currently on tour with Fantastic Cat until the beginning of August and then will be out on his “Clams Tour” to support his new solo effort with dates across the U.S. in the fall. Fantastic Cat also has live dates this fall and early winter.

The July 20 edition of Strictly Roots featured an in-studio interview with members of the New Haven-based punk reggae band Solgyres.

Formed in 2020, the now 10-piece band released their self-titled debut album in 2024. The 14-track effort included an appearance by G. Love of G. Love & Special Sauce who added vocals to “Immortal.”

Solgyres recently played the Rose Arts Festival in New London with Mighty Mystic and are slated to appear at the Burn & Learn Reggae Festival at Holy Ghost Park in Shelton on July 26.

The July 12 edition of Greasy Tracks was a brass-laden affair as new releases by All Things Swamp and Terry Hanck were featured.

Here’s the archive, while a playlist is here.

Saxophonist Hanck and trombonist Dan Gordon of All Things Swamp were interviewed and discussed their respective New Orleans-inspired offerings.

The jazzy, eight-track Dressed (Little Village) from All Things Swamp is the result of a series of informal, yet spirited sessions the nine-piece line-up — like-minded players who only occasionally play together due to being scattered up and down the coast of California due to their regular gigs — recorded.

The selections — while all covers, are a curious, yet extremely complementary mix. Joe Zawinul, Hoagy Carmichael and Robert Palmer are disparate as far as writers go, but their material interpreted by All Things Swamp just swings, in a funky, albeit greasy fashion.

The group is donating all proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley.

Chicago-born, but Florida-based veteran horn man Hanck brings a great blend of bluesy originals combined with a handful of blues, R&B and soul covers to Grease To Gravy (Little Village).

There’s 1950s gems such as the Dave Bartholomew/Chris Kenner-penned “Sick and Tired” that Fats Domino made his own and Ray Charles’ “Come Back Baby” to some 1960s classics, including James Oden’s “Goin’ Down Slow” and Albert King’s “Overall Junction.” According to Hanck, the leadoff track, “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You,” was influenced by Wilson Pickett’s definitive version from 1970.

A number of WRTC programs had a connection to the Independence Day holiday, some albeit a day late.

The America-themed programming started with Friday Class on July 4. Here’s the archive. The theme continued that evening with Crashing The Ether. Check the archive here.

The July 5 edition of Greasy Tracks had a similar aural approach. Here’s the archive.

Following that was a special edition of The Soul Express with Dean Farrell who put together a two-part medley of all 160 singles that went to No. 1 on the Billboard soul chart between 1965-73. If you missed it, here it is!

Part 1 featured the 1960s top of the chart tracks, while Part 2 covered the early 70s.

An interview with Little Feat founding member/keyboardist Bill Payne was part of the June 28 edition of Greasy Tracks which will also featured the group’s latest release, Strike Up The Band (Hot Tomato Records).

Here’s the archive, while a playlist is here.

There was also be a spotlight on The Blackberries, a powerhouse female backing vocal group active in the 1970s,

Strike Up The Band follows Sam’s Place which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 2024. It’s also their first studio album of original material since Rooster Rag in 2012.

Contributing to Feat’s traditional sound of New Orleans funk colliding with blues-rock fusion are guest appearances by Larkin Poe, Molly Tuttle, Kristen Rogers, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams. Memphis horn men Art Edmaiston (sax) and Marc Franklin (trumpet) add some tasty brass to a handful of tracks.

In addition to talking about the new album, the current tour — which includes a return to Europe in July and a planned live album recording during “Feat Fest,” a three-night run at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, N.Y. — Payne shares insight on Carnival Ghosts, a memoir he’s set to to deliver next spring.

Formed in 1969 by Clydie King, Venetta Fields and Sherlie Matthews, The Blackberries trace their roots to the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Ray Charles and Motown. During their decade-plus together, they were first-choice backing vocalists in the studio and on the road for numerous artists, ranging from Humble Pie to Pink Floyd.

The music of and an interview with Suzanne Vega was part of the June 12 edition of The Land of Misfit Tunes.

If you missed it, the archive is here.

Vega, who is out supporting her new release, Flying With Angels (Cooking Vinyl) appears at The Ridgefield Playhouse on June 15 and Infinity Music Hall in Hartford on June 17.

The June 7 edition of the Soul Express was a three-hour dance party as host Dean Farrell puts the slow jams on hold!

 Here’s the archive.

Listeners can shake their booties, groove things and moneymakers to the Boogaloo, Twist, Shingaling, Cool Jerk, Twine, Breakdown, Dog, Karate, Duck, Bird, Barracuda, Uncle Willie, Tighten Up, Funky Broadway, Monkey, Popcorn, Temptation Walk, Swim, Bird, Boston Monkey, Georgia Slop, Hitch Hike, Skate and more.

The May 31 edition of Greasy Tracks featured a five-and-a-half-hour career overview on Jesse Ed Davis, including an interview with author Douglas Miller who discussed his recently published, Washita Love Child: The Rise of Indigenous Rock Star Jesse Ed Davis (Liveright).

The program caps a month-long celebration of 30 years of Greasy Tracks at WRTC. Here’s the archive, while a playlist is here.

In addition to going deep into Davis’ extensive catalog, there were interviews with those who knew and worked with the gifted, yet enigmatic guitarist, including Jim Keltner, Gary Mallaber, Ben Sidran, John Simon and Jim Waggaman.

We also played a number of tracks from the recently released, Tomorrow May Not Be Your Day: The Unissued ATCO Recordings 1970-1971 (Real Gone Music) — 17 unissued recordings from the ¡Jesse Davis! and Ululu sessions. Copies of the CD will be given away during the show.

Davis was a highly influential Native American guitarist known for his exceptional versatility and soulful playing. Born in 1944 in Norman, Okla., he was of Kiowa, Comanche and Muscogee heritage.

He rose to prominence in the late 1960s and 1970s as a sought-after session musician, contributing to albums by legendary artists such as Taj Mahal, George Harrison, John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Jackson Browne. His guitar work was marked by expressive phrasing and a deep blues sensibility, blending rock, blues, and country with fluid ease.

Davis first gained attention as a member of Mahal’s band, contributing standout guitar solos on Mahal’s self-titled debut and The Natch’l Blues. His distinctive style, emotional depth and technical skill earned him a respected place among rock’s elite. Despite his professional success, Davis struggled with substance abuse, which ultimately affected his career.

Later in life, collaborating with John Trudell, he became involved in efforts to support Native American rights and music, helping to inspire a new generation of Indigenous musicians.

Davis died in 1988 at the age of 43, but his legacy endures through the timeless recordings he left behind and his influence on countless guitarists who followed.

The May 25 edition of Strictly Roots will celebrate the music of “Junior” Byles who passed away May 15 at the age of 76.

The program airs 6-8 p.m. and streams here.

Born Kenneth Thaddeus William Byles, Jr., in Kingston, the singer began his career in 1967 as a member of the Versatiles, a vocal trio he formed with Louie Davis and Dudley Earl. They released a number of singles for Nu Beat, Crab and Amalgamated Records, amongst other labels.

Byles left the group in 1969 following the release of their most popular single, “Lu-Lu Bell,” opting to focus on going solo, but also working with Lee “Scratch” Perry.

Byles and Perry would collaborate on numerous singles between 1968 and 1974, including “Curly Locks” and “Beat Down Babylon.”