Episode

NSTS Episode 255 – Stompin’ Tom Bandleader Duncan Fremlin

Whiskey Jack frontman, former Stompin’ Tom Connors bandleader, and author Duncan Fremlin drops by this week to chat about his new book entitled My Good Times With Stompin’ Tom. 

Duncan’s a Soo boy, and he ignites the Sault Ste. Marie – Sudbury rivalry right out of the gate. We do manage to have a civilized conversation about his years spent touring with Stompin’ Tom Connors however, and about the songs that make his skin vibrate. He even got invited back for another episode – maybe Soo guys aren’t so bad after all. 

Episode

NSTS Episode 254 – NSTS Pays Tribute to Jeff Beck

Last week, we were stunned by the news that guitar legend Jeff Beck had died. This week, No Sleep ’til Sudbury returns to pay tribute to a man who was considered by many to be one of the greatest guitar players ever. 

Our tribute reflects on the highs and lows of Beck’s haphazard musical journey – being fired from the Yardbirds, the brief triumphs of two different Jeff Beck Groups, throwing guitars off stage, his love/hate relationship with Rod Stewart, being temporarily deafened during a GN’R soundcheck, his collaborations with everyone from Seal to Ozzy Osbourne, and much more. Through it all, he’ll always be recognized as one of the very best there ever has been. 

Episode

NSTS Episode 253 – Host Brent Jensen Shares a Christmas 2022 Playlist

As the year comes to a close, I wanted to share a fun and personal Christmas music playlist that gets a lot of airtime at the Jensen house around this time every year. Last year’s holiday playlist contained more familiar Christmas tunes – this one, less so. But I do hope there’s something on it you like. Here’s the playlist link on Spotify

Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays to each and every No Sleep ’til Sudbury listener. It fills me with joy that I can share things like this with you, and I appreciate your support very sincerely. Cheers everyone!       

Episode

NSTS Episode 252 – Storm Force Guitarist Greg Fraser Part II

A few weeks back my pal former Brighton Rock and current Storm Force guitarist Greg Fraser and I sat down to chat about his new single, a cover of Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited”. 

As is usually the case when the conversation is good, the show ran long and we didn’t get to Fraze’s skin vibrating songs. So, here they are – welcome to part two of our chat.

Fraze’s playlist:

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow – Man On The Silver Mountain

Boston – More Than A Feeling 

Van Halen – Eruption/You Really Got Me 

Vandenberg – Burning Heart 

Alcatrazz – Island In The Sun

Episode

NSTS Episode 251 – Storm Force Guitarist Greg Fraser

An old friend of the show drops in this week to talk about his band’s haunting new single – a cover of Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited”.  

Former Brighton Rock and current Storm Force guitarist Greg Fraser talks about how the band came up with the unorthodox choice, how former Honeymoon Suite keys player Ray Coburn helped develop the idea, and all the events that led up to the single’s release. 

Episode

NSTS Episode 250 – Singer Songwriter Annabelle Chvostek

I love discovering new music, and I also love sharing those discoveries with others. This week’s guest on NSTS is indie singer songwriter Annabelle Chvostek, and her music is definitely worth sharing.

Annabelle’s latest record is called String of Pearls, recorded in both Canada and Uruguay, and features jazz, tango, and classical musicians from both countries. We chat about how the record was made, her relationship with Bruce Cockburn, 90s art rock, Joni Mitchell, and the influence of The Beatles’ Abbey Road record.

Chvostek’s playlist:

The Beatles – Come Together

Joni Mitchell – Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire

Sarah Vaughn – Honeysuckle Rose

PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love

Bruce Coburn – Night Train  

Episode

NSTS Episode 249: Rob Preuss Has a Surprise For Fans

Former Spoons and Honeymoon Suite keyboardist Rob Preuss and I are working on a special and very exciting new project together, one that we originally started talking about five years ago. It’s in full production now, and this week he calls in to NSTS to talk about it. 

Specific details won’t be divulged until the project is in its later stages, but in keeping with the No Sleep ’til Sudbury theme, Rob brought in a handful of instrumental songs that may or may not be part of it. Enjoy!

Preuss’ playlist (available on Spotify):

Spoons – Trade Winds

Split Enz – Wail

Gary Clark – A Jackson in your Kitchen

Andrew Lloyd Webber – Entr’Acte 

Gary Numan – Trois Gymnopedies (First Movement)

Elton John – Song For Guy – Elton John

Walter Murphy – A Fifth of Beethoven

Episode

NSTS Episode 248 – Metallica’s Debut Record Impacts Two 14-Year-Olds, Almost 40 Years Apart

Something rather unexpected, highly improbable, and absolutely moving happened to me last week, and I was so inspired by it that I wanted to share it on the show. 

It’s a personal story about how Metallica’s very first record impacted two 14 year old kids, almost 40 years apart. One of those kids was my stepdaughter. The other kid was me.  

Episode

NSTS Episode 247 – What REALLY Happened to Jon Bon Jovi’s Voice?

You’re likely familiar with a question that’s been all over the internet lately – “what’s up with Bon Jovi’s singing voice?” 

There are a lot of theories and a lot of positions out there, but I personally think there’s a little more to it than aging, COVID-19, the absence of Richie Sambora, or technical issues. And this week on NSTS I share my perspective. 

Episode

NSTS Episode 246 – Did Colonel Tom Parker Kill Elvis Presley?

The legend of Elvis Presley is tremendous, but his entire story arc is tragic. Towards the end of his career, the poor kid from Tupelo, Mississippi who became the King of Rock and Roll was lonely, exhausted, and depressed, eventually succumbing to the pressures of his own fame. 

Is it conceivable to think that his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, a man with a dark history who lied about his real identity until the very end, was responsible for the death of Elvis Presley?