I finally talked former Tragically Hip manager Jake Gold into coming to the studio to do a NSTS episode.

As you can imagine, he told some terrific stories – how he came into contact with the Hip for the first time, what the Road Apples record was originally supposed to be called, the dark stories surrounding “Locked in the Trunk of a Car”. But also the special reason why a Cat Stevens song made his list, and what he and Andy Frost thought of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer”. Don’t miss this.     

Gold’s playlist:

Peter Gabriel – In Your Eyes

The Tragically Hip – Locked in the Trunk of a Car

Bob Marley – the Redemption Song

Cat Stevens – Father and Son

Genesis – Supper’s Ready

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I have so much in common with Steve Jones. We both grew up in small towns in Northern Ontario, used music to cope through our small town isolation, went on to write music-based books, and now we both speak on what can be learned from music and applied to various aspects of work and life. And this week, we sit down and shed light on our intriguing similarities.

We chat about Sudbury, The Violent Femmes, Bob Marley’s Canadian connection, the story behind that little laugh that can be heard if you listen closely at the beginning of The Police’s “Roxanne”, and how the music we both chose offered Steve and I the community we desperately needed as kids. A truly enjoyable conversation for me. 

Jones’ playlist:

Morrisey – Suedehead

Bob Marley – Redemption Song

The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter

Warren Zevon – Lawyers, Guns, and Money

Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run

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This week marks the first time I’ve ever hosted a full band in the NSTS studios, and that band was the very talented Jessica Rhaye and the Ramshackle Parade. Jessica’s new record Just Like A Woman dropped last month, and the band stopped in to talk about it and also to discuss some skin-vibrating songs – each band member brought in one each.

They wrap the show by playing Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” live, and you’re not going to want to miss it. It’s damn good.         

Rhaye’s playlist:

Robyn Hitchcock – 1974 (Chris) 

Joe Henry – Our Song (Clinton)

John Hartford – The First Girl I Loved (Bill)

Buffy Sainte Marie – You Got To Run (Sandy)

Jann Arden – Unloved (Jessica) 

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My pal Kevin Comeau, guitarist of Crown Lands, drops in this week for an impromptu chat on the latest with the band and what it’s been like opening up for Jack White and Rival Sons across North America.He came up with his song list on the drive over.           

As always, Kev and I have a great chat, and after we talk about Crown Lands heading down to Nashville to record the new album, the conversation goes into some interesting places – his interest in coffee on tour, why Saskatchewan is so underrated, Jack White’s vocal warmup routine, The Goonies, Tool and modal jazz, and if bands were sandwiches, what Crown Lands, Motorhead, and Queensryche would be. I love this guy.   

Comeau’s playlist:

All Them Witches – Am I Going Up

Elder – Dead Roots Stirring

John Carpenter – Escape From New York Soundtrack

Haim – Nothing’s Wrong 

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