Vinyl Emergency

Now displaying: June, 2020

Episode 132: The Jayhawks' Gary Louris 0

Jun 30, 2020

First emerging from Minneapolis in the mid-80's, The Jayhawks have become one of the most noteworthy and influential bands within Americana/folk-rock, releasing a pair of albums between 1992 and 1995 (Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow the Green Grass) that are cited by fans and critics alike as touchstones of their genre. Today, lead singer/guitarist Gary Louris dives into his love of Krautrock, touring the Acoustic Sounds pressing plant, hunting for weird Italian or French LP's, and the one record that cost him a speeding ticket. The Jayhawks' new album XOXO comes out July 10th. Visit jayhawksofficial.com for social media, Gary's acoustic streaming performances during quarantine and more.

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Episode 131: Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC 0

Jun 16, 2020

Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels formed Run-DMC in the early 1980's and, over 35 years since being joined by groundbreaking DJ Jam Master Jay and releasing their first single, the trio is still recognized as one of rap and hip-hop's most influential acts. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Run-DMC was the first rap group to appear on MTV, on the cover of Rolling Stone, to be nominated for a Grammy, and to have albums go gold, platinum and multi-platinum. Since officially disbanding the group after the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay, DMC has written two memoirs, launched a comic book line and co-founded a charity for foster children, on top of making music and touring.

This week, DMC tells us about selling his Marvel comic book collection as a kid to kickstart his hip-hop career, why he and Run hated the cover art for the Raising Hell LP, fighting their label to keep vinyl going as the CD revolution began, and how vinyl itself remains a continual part of his artistic existence. He also speaks to the responsibility he felt to bring rock's protest mentality of the late 60's into hip-hop's golden age, and shares his thoughts on the worldwide protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd. As you'll hear him voice today, "The arts succeed where politics and religion fail." Visit rundmc.com, and follow @thekingdmc on Twitter and @kingdmc on Instagram.

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Episode 130: Caroline Spence 0

Jun 2, 2020

Raised in Virginia, Caroline Spence grew up experiencing vinyl mainly through her dad's taped collection of Beatles records, and later absorbed that collection - along with her aunt's LP's - as she began to make a name for herself as a singer/songwriter both in and outside of Nashville. Rolling Stone heralded her 2019 full-length Mint Condition as "a gorgeous reflection on finding peace amid upheaval and confusion," delivering "deft chronicles of interpersonal complexity." This week, Caroline talks about her debut performance at Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium, the current value of her vinyl releases from before she got signed, having Emmylou Harris contribute to Mint Condition's airy brilliance, and why her first face-to-face interactions with Dave Matthews were as a pissed-off seven-year-old on Rollerblades. For news, social media and more, visit carolinespencemusic.com. Watch her appearance on Craft Recordings' new record-shopping video series at craftrecordings.com/pages/shoplifting.

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