In episode 106, international woman of mystery Audra Santa makes her return to No Sleep ’til Sudbury. And, she brought an electric guitar and an amp with her!

This time around, Ms. Santa and I chat about her upcoming gigs, her chance encounters with various Barenaked Ladies, the mystique of Kate Bush, Arkells’ very noble Juno gesture, and the examination of her dark side. All this and a live performance too. You’re welcome. 

Santa’s playlist:

Tori Amos – Caught A Lite Sneeze

Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill

Barenaked Ladies – Lovers In A Dangerous Time

Fever Ray – If I Had A Heart

Arkells – Relentless

Cubicolor – Mirror Play

Haelos – Dust      

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It was my privilege to welcome legendary Canadian musician Murray McLauchlan to the show this week. I grew up listening to his music, and he’s an engaging conversationalist with some pretty terrific stories. 

Join us as we talk about the unique musical charity Murray supports, the time John Prine opened up for him, his insightful interpretations of Ray Charles, his opinion of grunge, why Blossom Dearie always makes him cry, microwave popcorn, and how he, Jim Croce, Tom Waits, and his other musical counterparts of the day used to sit around trying to impress each other with new songs.             

McLauchlan’s playlist:

John Mayer – In The Blood

Tony Joe White – Polk Salad Annie

Ray Charles – Come Rain or Come Shine

Chet Baker – Little Girl Blue

Blossom Dearie – Now At Last

Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall

John Prine – Paradise 

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Dr. Gillian Turnbull, professor and author of Sonic Booms: Making Music in an Oil Town, returns to the NSTS studios this week with a whole new batch of tunes to talk about. It’s always fun to chat with Gillian – she’s a smart woman who really feels music. 

Listen in as the good doctor discusses Kathleen Edwards’ gift, the life of a cowboy, her love of yodeling, who she wants to be when she grows up, and the time she made Jack White cry. And at one point, Gillian actually turns the line of questioning on me and things get pretty deep for a few moments. Fantastic conversation.    

Turnbull’s playlist:

Cowboy Junkies – Sun Comes Up, It’s Tuesday Morning (live)

Kathleen Edwards – Maria

k.d. lang – Big Boned Gal

Suzy Bogguss – Night Rider’s Lament

Maggie Bjorklund – Insekt

Calexico – Maybe on Monday

Neko Case – Sleep All Summer

Neko Case – Ragtime  

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97.7 HTZ-FM music director and on-air personality Siobhan Woodrow joins me this week to chat about a most impressive list of skin-vibrating tunes. 

The HTZ-FM website says she loves punk rock, and she clearly does – L7, Rancid, and Mr. Bungle grace her list – but it’s balanced with songs by Stevie Wonder, Janis Joplin, and Lauryn Hill. She explains this perspective during our chat, in addition to talking about what it was like to have to announce the news of Chris Cornell’s death on air, who her favourite singer is (you’ll never guess), and why you never outgrow punk rock. All in suitably salty language.

Woodrow’s playlist:

Patti Smith – Summer Cannibals

L7 – Shitlist

Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Janis Joplin – Turtle Blues

Elvis Costello – I Want You

Mr. Bungle – Pink Cigarette

The Clash – Police On My Back

Rancid – Nihilism

Lauryn Hill – I Find It Hard To Say

Amy Winehouse – Back To Black

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My guest on NSTS this week, singer Stacey Kay, is no stranger to the spotlight. She’s advanced to the final rounds of America’s Got Talent, performed live at Massey Hall with k.d. lang, and has been praised by the likes of Fergie and David Foster. She’s also a proponent of positive body image and speaks on the topic at schools. 

During our chat, Stacey tells some great stories about going viral with a rap in a Walgreen’s, how she really feels about Bob Dylan’s voice, what an 11 o’clock number is, and the k.d. lang Coke can conspiracy. Inspirational lady, great conversation. 

Kay’s playlist:

Queen – Somebody To Love

Travis Barker – Let’s Go

Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You

Pentatonix – Natural Disaster

Justin Timberlake – Drink You Away

Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind

Christina Aguilera – Lady Marmalade

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Juno-nominated jazz songstress Barbra Lica joins me in the NSTS studios this week for show number 101. CBC Radio 2 recently called Barbra one of Canada’s top female jazz singers, and you’ll see why after listening to her perform at the end of this episode.

Barbra brings with her a fine assortment of tasteful songs, some of which I’ve added to my own personal playlist. I’ve also been playing her single “You’re Fine” lately, which comes highly recommended. Enjoy! 

Lica’s playlist:

Corinne Bailey Rae – Put Your Records On

Dala – Horses

Melody Gardot – If The Stars Were Mine

Rachael Yamagata – I’ll Find A Way

Gillian Welch – Barroom Girls

Ella Fitzgerald – They Can’t Take That Away From Me  

Norah Jones – Carnival Town

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I thought it would be fitting to celebrate the one hundred episode milestone with a look back at some of the great moments that took place on the way to getting here. Of those there were many, and while I regret not being able to include them all, I did gather a good number of them for this special retrospective.

There are laughs, tears, insights, insults, interesting facts, and some incredible conversation compliments of the wide array of guests I’ve been lucky enough to have – Stephen Stanley, Kelsi Mayne, Ron Tite, Tara Slone, Christopher Long, Rachel Sumner, Rik Emmett, Ron MacLean, Suzi Kory, Terry Moshenberg, Andrea Ramolo, Jay Jay French, Brad Jemmett, Kevin Comeau, Bob Mayo, Sean Beaudoin, Rob Preuss, Amy Sweezey, Phil Collen, Greg Fraser, Audra Santa, Jeffrey Lee Campbell, Alan Cross, and so many others. 

THANK YOU for listening. I honestly could not have done it without you. Here’s to the next hundred, true believers.

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NSTS episode number 99 features Ashley Jane and Timor Wientzek of folk pop duo In The City. It’s always a treat to host organic musicians on the show, and these two did not disappoint. They were good enough to perform their current hit single “Best Time”, a moving song about loss.

During their visit, we chatted about Ryan Adams covering Taylor Swift, Jon Bon Jovi’s mp3 dilemma, Tragically Hip lyrics, Timor’s unexpected reaction to Joni Mitchell, the pros and cons of streaming, and why Ashley called me ‘every musician’s dream’. Is the trumpet real? Listen and see for yourself!     

In The City’s playlist:

Phoebe Bridges – Emotional Motion Sickness

Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now

The O’Pears – Find the Sun

Haerts – Your Love

Big Thief – Shark Smile

Big Red Machine – I Won’t Run From It

Barr Brothers – Defibrillation

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The happiest person on planet Earth, singer Suzi Kory, returns to the NSTS studios this week to chat about all sorts of fun things. 

It’s always a pleasure to host Suzi, and during this episode she catches us up on everything she’s currently doing – her foray into country music, the video shoot for her latest single Pretty Little Things, learning to play guitar, and who her girl crush is. Bonus: I tell Suzi a deep dark secret about Dolly Parton from my childhood.   

Kory’s playlist:

The Dixie Chicks – Not Ready To Play Nice

Miranda Lambert – Tin Man

Elie King – Ex’s and Oh’s

Little Big Town – Girl Crush

Dolly Parton – Jolene   

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This episode is definitely for the low-fi indie rock crowd. I travelled to Seattle late last year and chatted with co-founder of premier indie label Barsuk Records Barry Gordon at the Starbucks Center. My good pal Kevin ‘Wyatt’ Reid also drops in for a few laughs.

Barry’s music IQ is deep and sophisticated, and we talk about his role in discovering Death Cab for Cutie, watching Arcade Fire ascend to fame, loving The Smiths and Rush simultaneously, how to play ‘guess-the Pitchfork-score’, The Strokes as an opening act, and Bowie’s unmistakeable influence on indie rock. It’s fascinating to listen to Barry’s musical acumen, coulda talked with him all day. Enjoy! 

Gordon’s playlist:

Throwing Muses – Two Step

Ramona Falls – Clover

Sugar – Explode and Make Up

Death Cab For Cutie – Company Calls Epilogue

Maria Taylor – Xanax

Morrissey – Southpaw

David Bowie – Lazarus 

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