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Volume 2. Number 2. Are you digging this whole newsletter thing? If so, please forward it to your music-loving friends and encourage them to subscribe.

The Week That Was: Best of 2019 


If it's January, it's the best of 2019. And a whole bunch of cool gift boxes got opened, ya know. 

 

Monday, Jan 13 -  Captain Doug Farrel dialed in from the Wisconsin hinterlands and set us straight on his best of 2019, featuring Amyl and the Sniffers, Nick Waterhouse and Screamin’ Rebel Angels.

Tuesday, Jan 14 -  Niklas Nygards! All the way from Sweden — home to Sahara Hotnights and the Wannadies, ya know — Niklas has us spinning tunes from Wilco, Leo Rondeau, the Regrettes, the Boys With the Perpetual Nervousness, Young Guv, and the Deportees. 

Wednesday, Jan 15 - Jimmy Lonetti lights up the Suburban Party Line™ with musings on Titus Andronicus and Purple Mountains. 

Thursday, Jan. 16 - The greatest trio since Motorhead — Harris King, Mike Snider and Tim Hoffman — are in the 2019 spotlight and there is more Purple Mountains to savor, along with Vampire Weekend and Guided By Voices. 

Friday, Jan 17 -  To cap off the week, it's the only brother duo we like better than the Davies, Josh Lisker and Sam Lisker (yes, those Liskers 😊). The brothers pick tunes from Tyler, the Creator and HAIM as top faves from 2019. Thanks guys!

On Deck: We Keep the 2019 Good Times Rolling

 
More super swell listeners discussing 2019 favorites. Next week features friends old and new.
 

Monday, Jan 20 - Bobby Padavick / Ben Sundin / Jesse from San Antonio, TX

Tuesday, Jan 21 -  Peter Nordgren / DA BISH / Barret Ries

Wednesday, Jan 22 - David Leedy / Keith Jacobsen / Tom Neuerberg

Thursday, Jan. 23 -  Hunter Bennett / Scott Parks

Friday, Jan 24 - Nate Scott / Matt Windeler / BJ Bonin

New! New! New!
 
LISTENER OF THE WEEK: PAUL TRAP
 
It's the debut of a new feature in which we get to know a listener a little better. We debut with the inimitable Paul Trap!

I live in … Omaha, Nebraska

My job is … Editorial cartoonist for Baseball America, cartoonist of the syndicated comic strip Thatababy and freelance artist. Thatababy is a cartoon about parenting and poop, but I do try to squeeze in the rock and the roll when possible. 

I discovered “Rockin’ the Suburbs” when … I read in USA Today about the “old show” road-trippin’ to South By Southwest in an Airstream. I have followed the adventures of Jim and Patrick ever since.

My favorite bands are … Ramones, Stones, Beach Boys, Guided by Voices, Too Much Joy, Velocity Girl.

The most prized record in my collection is … A copy of Pet Sounds signed by Brian WIlson

The first record I ever bought was … Black Sabbath, Volume 4 (as a fourth grader — weird)

The first concert I ever saw was … Bobby Sherman at Milwaukee Summerfest, 1970

The last concert I saw was … Ganser at the Empty Bottle in Chicago  

The best concerts I’ve ever seen were … Prince at Denver’s Pepsi Center in 2004; White Stripes at the Boston Opera House, 2005; SPANG at the National Cranberry Festival in Massachusetts in 2010 (SPANG was our kid’s high school garage band).

 PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK >>> 

 
The truly amazing Bobby Padavick put together this fantastic playlist of tunes to honor the passing of Rush drummer Neil Peart. Rest in Power, Professor. 

Read Bobby's thoughts on the songs on our website. 


 
 

Suburbs Pod Guests On Tour,  Jan 17-Feb 2


Now that the holidays are officially over, it's time to get clubbing!


Chaise Lounge (episode 290)

Jan. 31 - Columbia MD - The Soundry

Jesse Dayton (episode 709)

Jan. 29 - Miami FL - Norwegian Pearl

Mandolin Orange (episode 546)

Jan. 17 - Denver CO - Boettcher Concert Hall (with the Colorado Symphony)
Jan. 18 - Salina KS - Stiefel Theatre
Jan. 19 - Tulsa OK - Cain’s Ballroom
Jan. 22 - Dallas TX - Majestic Theatre
Jan. 23 - Austin TX - Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater
Jan. 24 - Houston TX - White Oak Music Hall
Jan. 25 - New Orleans LA - Tipitina’s
Jan. 28 - Iowa City IA - Englert Civic Theatre
Jan. 29 - Milwaukee WI - Pabst Theater
Jan. 30 - St. Paul MN - Palace Theatre
Jan. 31 - Stoughton WI - Stoughton Opera House
Feb. 1 - Ann Arbor MI - Ann Arbor Folk Festival

Piramid Scheme (episode 364)

Feb. 2 - Washington DC - Black Cat

Chuck Prophet (episode 66)

Jan. 17 - Houston TX - Heights Theater (opening for Josh Rouse)
Jan. 18 - Dallas TX - The Kessler (opening for Josh Rouse)
Jan. 19 - Oklahoma City OK - The Blue Door
Jan. 22 - Easton MD - Stolz Listening Room
Jan. 23 - Baltimore MD - Creative Alliance at the Patterson
Jan. 24 - Staten Island NY - House concert
Jan. 25 - Montclair NJ - Outpost in the Burbs
Jan. 26 - Washington DC - House concert
Jan. 28 - Columbus OH - Natalie’s Grandview
Jan. 29 - Pittsburgh PA - Club Cafe
Jan. 30 - Harrisburg PA - Note Wine Bar
Jan. 31 - Sellersville PA - Sellersville Theater
Feb. 1 - Vienna VA - Jammin Java

Quartjar (“Rockin’ the Suburbs” theme music)

Jan. 30 - Knoxville TN - Waynestock 2020

Maggie Rose (episode 703)

Jan. 23 - Uncasville CT - Wolf Den (free show)

Tommy Stinson (episode 110)

Jan. 17-20 - South Walton FL - 30A Songwriters Festival

Matthew Sweet (episode 183)

Jan. 17-20 - South Walton FL - 30A Songwriters Festival

White Reaper (episode 399)

Jan. 26 - Chicago IL - Aragon Ballroom (opening for Black Keys)

What We're Listening To:




Jim: Rush Permanent Waves
Mary: Dessa "Good for You"
Matt: Jack River "Palo Alto" 
Patrick The Chameleons What Does Anything Mean? Basically
Sam: Ozzy Osbourne "Ordinary Man" (feat. Elton John)
Sami: Reba McEntire Stronger Than the Truth 

Friday New Releases!


Our award-winning new release roundup is the signal for you to hop in the vehicle and speed down to Penguin Feather to grab these slabs. 

AJJ - Good Luck Everybody (AJJ Unlimited)
With the album’s title and songs like “Normalization Blues” and “Loudmouth,” well, it’s not hard to figure out where this Arizona alterna-folk band stands in 2020.

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - X: The Godless Void and Other Stories (Dine Alone)
After a six-year break, these alternative rock stalwarts return with some poppy guitar rock that will lift you up, bring you down and swirl around inside your head for quite some time.

Anti-Flag - 20/20 Vision (Spinefarm)
More protest music for the new year. These Pittsburgh punkers are not subtle about where they stand heading into the next presidential election. But really, can we afford subtlety anymore?

Bombay Bicycle Club - Everything Else has Gone Wrong (Caroline)
Four years after breaking up, this British indie band returns with more twee pop. But never mind that. When Jim was a kid, there was a chain restaurant in Toledo called Bombay Bicycle Club, but it didn’t serve Indian food, just regular American-style stuff like burgers and whatnot. Isn’t that weird?

Eminem - Music to be Murdered By (Interscope)
A surprise album drop by the Real Slim Shady, who spends some of his allotted time apologizing for past transgressions and then other time rapping on a song called “No Regrets.” Oh well, early reviews - and the album’s title - suggest that many of the tracks here are killer.

Futurebirds - Teamwork (VL4L)
This Athens, GA band has been described as “cosmic country,” but really they are just putting out some good laid-back tunes. Hang on to this one for a bit; the perfect soundtrack for when the weather starts to turn.

G. Love & Special Sauce - The Juice (Philadelphonic)
Would you like hippy-dippy grooves with that? G. Love still serves ‘em up hot.

Of Montreal - UR Fun (Polyvinyl)
More music from Athens GA this week, but different from Futurebirds. Invite a bunch of friends over to the house and blow off some steam with these synthy party tunes.

Pinegrove - Marigold (Rough Trade)
This New Jersey band’s fourth album features easy-going indie sounds and introspective lyrics. And if you think we’ve run out of things to write about albums like this … yes.
Fine Printz

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Suburbs Pod Lineup : Sam Lisker (GK), Sami Reed (LW), John Rossman (RW), Mary Edelberg (CB), Matt Windeler (CM), Patrick Foster (F), Jim Lenahan (F). 

Support the Pod on Patreon and it's possible that Jim and Patrick will go record shopping for you. It might take them forever to actually send you the records but they will. And they will go shopping for you. 

Glad? Sad? High? Call the Suburban Party Line: 612-440-1984. Or just stick your head out the window and YELL!

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“It would be a tragedy to spend your whole life desperately wanting to be something that you already were all along.” ― David Berman, from his poetry collection Actual Air. 
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