Podcast appearances and mentions of Jon Langford

Welcome back to Transmissions and we're going to start this week's show with a reading from Jennifer Kelly's review of the new Mekons album, Horror.  “Things are very bad, but then again, they always have been. That's Horror's argument in a nutshell, the 26th album from the legendary Mekons, a Leeds-born gaggle of instigators of punk rock anarchists that has been doing business for half a century now. It's a bracing thesis, enough to make you pull the covers off your head and stop moaning for a minute, because however insane and stupid and evil life becomes, it's oddly comforting to think that it's been this way for centuries...Though exacting and sometimes specific, [Horror] runs absolutely free of footnotes. Instead, its tales of ambition, colonialism, murder and pillage come wrapped in a bumptious swagger of rock ‘n roll noise—dipping into dub, country, punk, new wave and desolate torch singing to make its point." This week on the show, Jon Langford and Sally Timms of Mekons. They join us for one of the most directly political talks we've taped here for this show, as well as how current events shaped Horror, the gee-whiz space race imagination of America in the mid century, Judge Dredd, and much more. You can read a full transcript of this conversation at Aquarium Drunkard, where you'll find 20 years worth of playlists, recommendations, reviews, interviews, podcasts, essays, and more. With your support, here's to another decade. Subscribe at Aquarium Drunkard. Stream a playlist of bumper music featured on Transmissions, as well as selections from our guests. Transmissions is a part of the Talkhouse Podcast Network. Visit the Talkhouse for more interviews, fascinating reads, and podcasts. 

Episode 215: John Szymanski of Even In Blackouts and Jon Langford and the Four Lost Souls talks to us about how EIB Broke John, Music Archeology,  Working at the Famous Chicago Recording Company (CRC), Musicianship, Creativity, and A Choose Your Own Adventure Mentality, Recording with My My My and Even In Blackouts, Recording in Muscle Shoals, Four Lost Souls and the National Number System, plus much much more.Jon Langford's site with many John Szymanski projectsJughead's Basement Patreon

Liar’s Club (1665 W. Fullerton) is set to host two fundraisers for victims of the L.A. fires: Friday, January 24, and Sunday, January 26. The Friday event, featuring Local H, Viceroy and Tuff Sudz, is sold out. The Sunday event, featuring Handcuffs, Jon Langford and more TBA, will go on sale soon (keep an eye on Liar’s Club’s social media for updates). I’m joined by Liar’s Club owner Herb Rosen to talk about the events. We met for ice cream, as kids do, so we could chat over gigantic sundaes from Margie’s on Montrose. ## Car Con Carne sponsored by Easy Automation: easy-automation.net Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules. Get a quote by visiting easy-automation.net, or give Dan a call at 630.730.3728 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, Marc talks with Jim Saah, author and illustrator of “In My Eyes: Photographs 1982-1987,” originally published in 2021 and out in a second edition now. It's a huge, beautiful book of black and white photographs taken by Saah of an astounding array of punk and post-punk groups, from the Ramones to Black Flag to Fugazi to Pavement. It also includes Saah's interviews with artists who work at the cross sections of music and imagery, including J. Robbins, Jon Langford, Shepard Fairey, and Ian MacKaye.As Jim writes, “I went through thousands of negatives to choose the hundreds of photos in this book. It was a joy to revisit all these images and remember how I felt and why I took them in the first place. I took these photos because I had to.”We hope you enjoy Marc's conversation with Jim Saah!

“Lived Through That” is the companion podcast to my book where I look at influential musicians of the 80s and 90s and where they are today. On this podcast, we'll delve deeper into a single pivotal moment in the lives of some of the artists I feature in that book, as well as other artists I love and admire. The stories they tell are open, honest, and inspiring. This week I'm pleased to have Jon Langford from The Mekons on the show.  He talks about the history of the band, their first two singles, and how an accidental meeting changed the course of the band. Musical credits: "Gaddy" by Blue Dot Sessions More about Jon, his many bands, and his art can be found here. Be sure to look out for my books, "Lived Through That" and "80s Redux" where ever you buy your books! You can find out more about my work and the 80s and 90s books at my website ⁠here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textJoin us on Strung Out, the podcast that dives deep into the artistic world, as host Martin Laurence McCormack brings you an in-depth interview with the multifaceted Jon Langford. In this second interview, Martin and Jon explore the intersection of visual arts and music. From Jon's unique artistic journey, his musical inspirations, and the industry's tough realities, to heartfelt songs and fascinating anecdotes—this episode is rich in culture and creativity. Discover Jon's stories about legendary musicians, his personal artwork, and the vivid portrayal of life as an artist. Don't miss the live performances and thought-provoking discussions. Subscribe, hit the like button, and ring the bell for more Strung Out content. You can support Martin's artistic endeavors at martinmccormack.com. Tune in and enjoy!Support the showWe are always grateful to have you listening to STRUNG OUT. Here are some important links:SUPPORT THE SHOW:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MartyfineaKMARTIN'S WEBSITE:http://www.MARTINMcCORMACK.COM (note---you can get my weekly bulletin when you sign up on the list!)MARTIN'S MUSIC: Music | Martin Laurence McCormack (bandcamp.com)Martin McCormack | SpotifyMARTIN'S YOUTUBE CHANNELMartin McCormack - YouTubeFACEBOOKFacebook...

Splash Stories caught up with Mary Byker well known for his work as the lead singer of Gaye Bykers on Acid, Pop Will Eat Itself, Pigface and Apollo 440 and as a record producer and DJ/MC.  We spoke just before he headed off to pick up his new pair of glasses before the start of the Gaye Bykers on Acid's Intermittent Fasting Tour which kicks off 5 Sept 2024 .  GBOA released two indie chart-topping singles, “Everythang's Groovy” and “Nosedive Karma” on In-Tape records before being signed to Virgin Records. In 1987  they released their debut LP “Drill Your Own Hole” which was the soundtrack to an ambitious film of the same name, & toured the US and Europe. During this time Mary made friends with Chicago's infamous Cynthia plaster caster, played Glastonbury Festival, Roskilde, Supported the Red-Hot Chilli Peppers and undertook a memorable European tour with the Ramones and supported Motorhead in Hammersmith. This was followed by the Jon Langford produced critically acclaimed album “Stewed to The Gills” and Mary's favourite track: Harmonious Murder. Mary also played The Splash Club with Hyperhead. Don't miss this lovable rogue and his many memorable talesRead the brilliant  book Grebo!: The Loud and Lousy Story of Gaye Bykers on Acid and Crazyhead https://www.amazon.co.uk/GREBO-Lousy-Story-Bykers-Crazyhead-ebook/dp/B09GW81NSPBykers music can be purchased at: https://gayebykersonacid.bandcamp.comTickets for upcoming Bykers shows: https://www.gayebykersonacid.co.uk/gigsT-Shirts etc…can be purchased from https://www.gayebykersonacid.co.uk/merchThe Intermittent Fasting Tour Dates 05.09.2024 - Portland Arms- Cambridge06.09.2024 - Esquires - Bedford07.09.2024 - Bunkers Hill -Nottingham08.09.2024 - Castle & Falcon- Birmingham13.09.2024 - B2 Brickmakers- Norwich14.09.2024 - Bournemouth20.09.2024 - The Anchor-Canterbury21.09.2024 - The Lexington-London29.11.2024 - Green Door Store- Brighton05.12.2024 - Duffy's - Leicester06.12.2024 - Ivory Blacks- Glasgow07.12.2024 - Cluny 2-Newcastle13.12.2024 - Rebellion-Manchester14.12.2024 – HuddersfieldSupport the Show.Get in touch with Splash Stories : splashclubtv@gmail.comhttps://www.facebook.com/thesplashclubJoin Splash Stories https://www.buzzsprout.com/1891668/supporthttps://www.instagram.com/thewonderstuffofficial/https://www.instagram.com/rickywarwickofficial/https://www.instagram.com/echobelly_official/https://www.instagram.com/officialskunkanansie/https://www.instagram.com/feederofficial/https://www.instagram.com/kcmanc/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/kerbdogband/https://www.instagram.com/sohoradiohttps://www.facebook.com/groups/SoundAsEverhttps://www.pearllowe.co.ukhttps://www.supergrass.comhttps://www.wienerworld.com/product/gary-crowleys-indie-90s-playback-classics-curveballs-and-bangers/Terrorvision Tequila : https://youtu.be/8hLQCA2h8kA?si=7_HfuruL5fFUnMdFhttps://linktr.ee/thesoupdragonshttps://www.merchbar.com/rock-alternative/cj-wildhearthttps://www.facebook.com/CJWildheartOfficial/https://www.instagram.com/cjwildheart/EMF www.emf-theband.comhttps://www.facebook.com/lustforlife1976/...

Send us a Text Message.Join us for an insightful episode of Strung Out, where host Martin Laurence McCormack sits down with artist, singer, and songwriter Jon Langford, a pivotal figure in the alt-country Americana community in Chicago, as well as around the world. They dive into his life as a journeyman musician, touching on significant encounters with legends like Johnny Cash and the stark realities of the music industry.Langford performs heartfelt songs and shares anecdotes about his experiences, including his collaboration with a Welsh Male Choir and his deep appreciation for country music. The conversation also explores the impact of technological advancements on the music industry and the importance of staying true to one's artistic integrity. From amusing Spinal Tap references to deep reflections on the pitfalls of commercial success, this episode is a rich blend of humor and profound insights.Don't miss Langford's live performances and his thoughts on navigating the modern music landscape with authenticity and resilience. Whether you're a music enthusiast or an artist, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration.  A great background on Langford can be found by visiting Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_LangfordSupport the Show.We are always grateful to have you listening to STRUNG OUT. Here are some important links:SUPPORT THE SHOW:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MartyfineaKMARTIN'S WEBSITE:http://www.MARTINMcCORMACK.COM (note---you can get my weekly bulletin when you sign up on the list!)MARTIN'S MUSIC: Music | Martin Laurence McCormack (bandcamp.com)Martin McCormack | SpotifyMARTIN'S YOUTUBE CHANNELMartin McCormack - YouTubeFACEBOOKFacebook...

Jon Langford was originally the drummer for the punk band The Mekons when it formed at the University of Leeds in 1977, but he later took up the guitar as other band members left. Since the mid-1980s he has been one of the leaders in incorporating folk and country music into punk rock. He has released a number of solo recordings as well as recordings with other bands outside of The Mekons, most notably the Waco Brothers, which he co-founded after moving to Chicago in the early 1990s. He is also involved with the Chicago-based independent record label Bloodshot.Langford is also a prolific and respected visual artist best known for his striking portraits of country music icons including Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. Since 2005 he has co-hosted a weekly radio program, “The Eclectic Company,” broadcast on WXRT 93.1 FM in Chicago, and has contributed to This American Life.Langford's first official solo album, Skull Orchard, a look back at his hometown of Newport, Wales, was released in 1998. He followed it with All the Fame of Lofty Deeds, in 2004, Gold Brick in 2006, and Old Devils in 2010. His new album, Where It All Starts, recorded with the band The Bright Shiners, will be released in August 2024. Learn more about Jon Langford at https://jonlangford.deHost Lee Zimmerman is a freelance music writer whose articles have appeared in several leading music industry publications. Lee is a former promotions representative for ABC and Capital Records and director of communications for various CBS affiliated television stations. Lee recently authored the book "Thirty Years Behind The Glass" about legendary producer and engineer Jim Gains.Podcast producer/cohost Billy Hubbard is an Americana Singer/Songwriter and former Regional Director of A&R for a Grammy winning company. Billy is a signed artist with Spectra Music Group  and co-founder of the iconic venue "The Station" in East TN. Billy's new album was released on Spectra Records 10/2023 on all major outlets! Learn more about Billy at http://www.BillyHubbard.comSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.If you'd like to support My Backstage Pass you can make a donation to Billy & Lee's coffee fund at this link https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MyBackstagePassMy Backstage Pass is sponsored by The Alternate Root Magazine! Please subscribe to their newsletter, read the latest music reviews and check out their weekly Top Ten songs at this link http://www.thealternateroot.com

1. (Intro) Ian A Anderson : Goblets & Elms from the CD Onwards (Ghosts From The Basement)2. Jon Langford & The Bright Shiners : Discarded from the CD Where It Really Starts (Tiny Global)3. Flo Perlin : Feels Like Yesterday from the CD Clay (ECN)4. The Wilderness Yet : Cocks Are Crowing from the CD Westlin Winds (Scribe)5. Bowker & Morse : Whose Hands Are These from the DL EP Bowker & Morse (Bowker & Morse)6. Seckou Keita : Ni Mala Beugue from the CD Homeland (Hudson)7. Ahmed Moneka : Treed Trooh from the CD Kanzafula (Lulaworld)8. Teddy Thompson sings Linda Thompson : Those Damn Roches from the CD Proxy Music (Storysound)9. Richard Thompson : Singapore Sadie from the CD Ship To Shore (New West)10. Eliza Carthy sings Linda Thompson : That's The Way The Polka Goes from the CD Proxy Music (Storysound)11. Dylan Fowler : Joy from the CD Ebb & Flow (Acoustic Music/ Galileo)12. Laura Jane Wilkie : Mermaid from the CD Vent (Hudson)13. Conor Caldwell & Ryan Molloy : Bonnie Kate from the DL Oh, Listen To The Band! (Caldwell & Molloy)14. Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian : Nan Ni Wan from the CD From China To Appalachia (Community Music)15. Peni Candra Rini : Jenang Gula from the CD Wulansih (New Amsterdam)16. Paul Armfield : Oak Tree from the CD Trees (Paul Armfield)17. Holly Blackshaw : Blue Mountain from the DL single (Holly Blackshaw)18. Alden & Patterson : Safe Travels from the DL single (Alden & Patterson)19. Phønix : Nådelands Ø from the CD Nådelands Ø (GO Danish Folk Music)20. Maré : Tau, Tau, Tau from the CD Maré (Sons Vadios)21. Robb Johnson : More Than Enough from the CD Pennypot Lane (Irregular)22. Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow : Sweet Greens & Blues from the CD Greens & Blues (Red Guitar Blue Music)23. Rory McLeod : I've Moored Everywhere from the CD Tow Lines (Talkative)24. Grupo Polo Montañez : La Suegra from the CD Joyas Del Guajiro (Lusafrica)25. Atse Tewodros Project : Set Nat from the CD Maqeda (Galileo MC)26. Naragonia : Calimero – Live from the CD 20th Anniversary Concert (Trad)27. Alicia Svigals : Levitt Bulgar from the CD Fidl Afire (Borscht Beat)28. Alula Down : Nailmaker's Lament from the DL Here I Am Where I Must Be (Alula Down)29. Too Sad For The Public feat. Ana Egge : Shake Sugaree from the CD Vol 2 - Yet And Still (Storysound)30. Africa Negra : Lourença from the CD Antologia Vol 2 (Bongo Joe)You can find more details including past playlists and links to labels at www.podwireless.comPodwireless can also be heard streamed live on Mixcloud.Follow the links for previous podcasts.

June's special edition of Roots Rendezvous. It is Valley Rendezvous. A podcast in which we go down into the valley one by one to rendezvous with 18 musicians to hear songs about valleys. PLAYLIST: ARTIST - TRACK. 1 The Civil Wars - From This Valley. 2 The Devil Makes Three - Down In The Valley. 3 Annie Keating - In The Valley. 4 James McMurtry - Valley Road. 5 Rose Cousins - Lost in the valley. 6 Cassandra Wilson - Red River Valley. 7 The Handsome Family - Down in The Valley Of Hollow Logs. 8 Los Lobos - The Valley. 9 Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop - Valley Clouds. 10 Drive by Truckers - The Monument Valley. 11 Bow Thayler - Blackstone Valley. 12 M Ward - Girl From Conejo Valley. 13 Tracy McNeil & The Goodlife - The Valley. 14 Scott Miller - This River's Yours This Valley's Mine. 15 Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers - The Valley Road. 16 Carlene Carter - Lonesome Valley. 17 Jon Langford & Skull Orchard - Death valley day. 18 Robert Plant & The Soweto Gospel Choir - Valley Of Tears . Size: 187 MB (196,336,206 bytes) Duration: 1:21:46

Tony Fitzpatrick joins Rick Kogan to talk about the current Jon Langford show at his Dime Gallery, Richard Lewis' death, and what he is working on.

The untold story of Chicago's pivotal role as a country and folk music capital. Chicago is revered as a musical breeding ground, having launched major figures like blues legend Muddy Waters, gospel soul icon Mavis Staples, hip-hop firebrand Kanye West, and the jazz-rock band that shares its name with the city. Far less known, however, is the vital role Chicago played in the rise of prewar country music, the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary offspring of those scenes. In Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival (U Chicago Press, 2023), veteran journalist Mark Guarino tells the epic century-long story of Chicago's influence on sounds typically associated with regions further south. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and deep archival research, Guarino tells a forgotten story of music, migration, and the ways that rural culture infiltrated urban communities through the radio, the automobile, and the railroad. The Midwest's biggest city was the place where rural transplants could reinvent themselves and shape their music for the new commercial possibilities the city offered. Years before Nashville emerged as the commercial and spiritual center of country music, major record labels made Chicago their home and recorded legendary figures like Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, and Gene Autry. The National Barn Dance--broadcast from the city's South Loop starting in 1924--flourished for two decades as the premier country radio show before the Grand Ole Opry. Guarino chronicles the makeshift niche scenes like "Hillbilly Heaven" in Uptown, where thousands of relocated Southerners created their own hardscrabble honky-tonk subculture, as well as the 1960s rise of the Old Town School of Folk Music, which eventually brought national attention to local luminaries like John Prine and Steve Goodman. The story continues through the end of the twentieth century and into the present day, where artists like Jon Langford, The Handsome Family, and Wilco meld contemporary experimentation with country traditions. Featuring a foreword from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks and casting a cross-genre net that stretches from Bob Dylan to punk rock, Country and Midwestern rediscovers a history as sprawling as the Windy City--celebrating the creative spirit that modernized American folk idioms, the colorful characters who took them into new terrain, and the music itself, which is still kicking down doors even today. Mark Guarino covers national news and culture from Chicago for the Washington Post, ABC News, the New York Times, and other outlets. He was the Midwest bureau chief for the Christian Science Monitor for seven years. Mark on Twitter. Bradley Morgan is a media arts professional in Chicago and author of U2's The Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America. He manages partnerships on behalf of CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM, serves as a co-chair of the associate board at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and volunteers in the music archive at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Bradley Morgan on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The untold story of Chicago's pivotal role as a country and folk music capital. Chicago is revered as a musical breeding ground, having launched major figures like blues legend Muddy Waters, gospel soul icon Mavis Staples, hip-hop firebrand Kanye West, and the jazz-rock band that shares its name with the city. Far less known, however, is the vital role Chicago played in the rise of prewar country music, the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary offspring of those scenes. In Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival (U Chicago Press, 2023), veteran journalist Mark Guarino tells the epic century-long story of Chicago's influence on sounds typically associated with regions further south. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and deep archival research, Guarino tells a forgotten story of music, migration, and the ways that rural culture infiltrated urban communities through the radio, the automobile, and the railroad. The Midwest's biggest city was the place where rural transplants could reinvent themselves and shape their music for the new commercial possibilities the city offered. Years before Nashville emerged as the commercial and spiritual center of country music, major record labels made Chicago their home and recorded legendary figures like Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, and Gene Autry. The National Barn Dance--broadcast from the city's South Loop starting in 1924--flourished for two decades as the premier country radio show before the Grand Ole Opry. Guarino chronicles the makeshift niche scenes like "Hillbilly Heaven" in Uptown, where thousands of relocated Southerners created their own hardscrabble honky-tonk subculture, as well as the 1960s rise of the Old Town School of Folk Music, which eventually brought national attention to local luminaries like John Prine and Steve Goodman. The story continues through the end of the twentieth century and into the present day, where artists like Jon Langford, The Handsome Family, and Wilco meld contemporary experimentation with country traditions. Featuring a foreword from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks and casting a cross-genre net that stretches from Bob Dylan to punk rock, Country and Midwestern rediscovers a history as sprawling as the Windy City--celebrating the creative spirit that modernized American folk idioms, the colorful characters who took them into new terrain, and the music itself, which is still kicking down doors even today. Mark Guarino covers national news and culture from Chicago for the Washington Post, ABC News, the New York Times, and other outlets. He was the Midwest bureau chief for the Christian Science Monitor for seven years. Mark on Twitter. Bradley Morgan is a media arts professional in Chicago and author of U2's The Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America. He manages partnerships on behalf of CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM, serves as a co-chair of the associate board at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and volunteers in the music archive at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Bradley Morgan on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

The untold story of Chicago's pivotal role as a country and folk music capital. Chicago is revered as a musical breeding ground, having launched major figures like blues legend Muddy Waters, gospel soul icon Mavis Staples, hip-hop firebrand Kanye West, and the jazz-rock band that shares its name with the city. Far less known, however, is the vital role Chicago played in the rise of prewar country music, the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary offspring of those scenes. In Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival (U Chicago Press, 2023), veteran journalist Mark Guarino tells the epic century-long story of Chicago's influence on sounds typically associated with regions further south. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and deep archival research, Guarino tells a forgotten story of music, migration, and the ways that rural culture infiltrated urban communities through the radio, the automobile, and the railroad. The Midwest's biggest city was the place where rural transplants could reinvent themselves and shape their music for the new commercial possibilities the city offered. Years before Nashville emerged as the commercial and spiritual center of country music, major record labels made Chicago their home and recorded legendary figures like Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, and Gene Autry. The National Barn Dance--broadcast from the city's South Loop starting in 1924--flourished for two decades as the premier country radio show before the Grand Ole Opry. Guarino chronicles the makeshift niche scenes like "Hillbilly Heaven" in Uptown, where thousands of relocated Southerners created their own hardscrabble honky-tonk subculture, as well as the 1960s rise of the Old Town School of Folk Music, which eventually brought national attention to local luminaries like John Prine and Steve Goodman. The story continues through the end of the twentieth century and into the present day, where artists like Jon Langford, The Handsome Family, and Wilco meld contemporary experimentation with country traditions. Featuring a foreword from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks and casting a cross-genre net that stretches from Bob Dylan to punk rock, Country and Midwestern rediscovers a history as sprawling as the Windy City--celebrating the creative spirit that modernized American folk idioms, the colorful characters who took them into new terrain, and the music itself, which is still kicking down doors even today. Mark Guarino covers national news and culture from Chicago for the Washington Post, ABC News, the New York Times, and other outlets. He was the Midwest bureau chief for the Christian Science Monitor for seven years. Mark on Twitter. Bradley Morgan is a media arts professional in Chicago and author of U2's The Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America. He manages partnerships on behalf of CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM, serves as a co-chair of the associate board at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and volunteers in the music archive at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Bradley Morgan on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/performing-arts

The untold story of Chicago's pivotal role as a country and folk music capital. Chicago is revered as a musical breeding ground, having launched major figures like blues legend Muddy Waters, gospel soul icon Mavis Staples, hip-hop firebrand Kanye West, and the jazz-rock band that shares its name with the city. Far less known, however, is the vital role Chicago played in the rise of prewar country music, the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary offspring of those scenes. In Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival (U Chicago Press, 2023), veteran journalist Mark Guarino tells the epic century-long story of Chicago's influence on sounds typically associated with regions further south. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and deep archival research, Guarino tells a forgotten story of music, migration, and the ways that rural culture infiltrated urban communities through the radio, the automobile, and the railroad. The Midwest's biggest city was the place where rural transplants could reinvent themselves and shape their music for the new commercial possibilities the city offered. Years before Nashville emerged as the commercial and spiritual center of country music, major record labels made Chicago their home and recorded legendary figures like Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, and Gene Autry. The National Barn Dance--broadcast from the city's South Loop starting in 1924--flourished for two decades as the premier country radio show before the Grand Ole Opry. Guarino chronicles the makeshift niche scenes like "Hillbilly Heaven" in Uptown, where thousands of relocated Southerners created their own hardscrabble honky-tonk subculture, as well as the 1960s rise of the Old Town School of Folk Music, which eventually brought national attention to local luminaries like John Prine and Steve Goodman. The story continues through the end of the twentieth century and into the present day, where artists like Jon Langford, The Handsome Family, and Wilco meld contemporary experimentation with country traditions. Featuring a foreword from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks and casting a cross-genre net that stretches from Bob Dylan to punk rock, Country and Midwestern rediscovers a history as sprawling as the Windy City--celebrating the creative spirit that modernized American folk idioms, the colorful characters who took them into new terrain, and the music itself, which is still kicking down doors even today. Mark Guarino covers national news and culture from Chicago for the Washington Post, ABC News, the New York Times, and other outlets. He was the Midwest bureau chief for the Christian Science Monitor for seven years. Mark on Twitter. Bradley Morgan is a media arts professional in Chicago and author of U2's The Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America. He manages partnerships on behalf of CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM, serves as a co-chair of the associate board at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and volunteers in the music archive at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Bradley Morgan on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

The untold story of Chicago's pivotal role as a country and folk music capital. Chicago is revered as a musical breeding ground, having launched major figures like blues legend Muddy Waters, gospel soul icon Mavis Staples, hip-hop firebrand Kanye West, and the jazz-rock band that shares its name with the city. Far less known, however, is the vital role Chicago played in the rise of prewar country music, the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary offspring of those scenes. In Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival (U Chicago Press, 2023), veteran journalist Mark Guarino tells the epic century-long story of Chicago's influence on sounds typically associated with regions further south. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and deep archival research, Guarino tells a forgotten story of music, migration, and the ways that rural culture infiltrated urban communities through the radio, the automobile, and the railroad. The Midwest's biggest city was the place where rural transplants could reinvent themselves and shape their music for the new commercial possibilities the city offered. Years before Nashville emerged as the commercial and spiritual center of country music, major record labels made Chicago their home and recorded legendary figures like Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, and Gene Autry. The National Barn Dance--broadcast from the city's South Loop starting in 1924--flourished for two decades as the premier country radio show before the Grand Ole Opry. Guarino chronicles the makeshift niche scenes like "Hillbilly Heaven" in Uptown, where thousands of relocated Southerners created their own hardscrabble honky-tonk subculture, as well as the 1960s rise of the Old Town School of Folk Music, which eventually brought national attention to local luminaries like John Prine and Steve Goodman. The story continues through the end of the twentieth century and into the present day, where artists like Jon Langford, The Handsome Family, and Wilco meld contemporary experimentation with country traditions. Featuring a foreword from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks and casting a cross-genre net that stretches from Bob Dylan to punk rock, Country and Midwestern rediscovers a history as sprawling as the Windy City--celebrating the creative spirit that modernized American folk idioms, the colorful characters who took them into new terrain, and the music itself, which is still kicking down doors even today. Mark Guarino covers national news and culture from Chicago for the Washington Post, ABC News, the New York Times, and other outlets. He was the Midwest bureau chief for the Christian Science Monitor for seven years. Mark on Twitter. Bradley Morgan is a media arts professional in Chicago and author of U2's The Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America. He manages partnerships on behalf of CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM, serves as a co-chair of the associate board at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and volunteers in the music archive at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Bradley Morgan on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/music

The untold story of Chicago's pivotal role as a country and folk music capital. Chicago is revered as a musical breeding ground, having launched major figures like blues legend Muddy Waters, gospel soul icon Mavis Staples, hip-hop firebrand Kanye West, and the jazz-rock band that shares its name with the city. Far less known, however, is the vital role Chicago played in the rise of prewar country music, the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary offspring of those scenes. In Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival (U Chicago Press, 2023), veteran journalist Mark Guarino tells the epic century-long story of Chicago's influence on sounds typically associated with regions further south. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and deep archival research, Guarino tells a forgotten story of music, migration, and the ways that rural culture infiltrated urban communities through the radio, the automobile, and the railroad. The Midwest's biggest city was the place where rural transplants could reinvent themselves and shape their music for the new commercial possibilities the city offered. Years before Nashville emerged as the commercial and spiritual center of country music, major record labels made Chicago their home and recorded legendary figures like Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, and Gene Autry. The National Barn Dance--broadcast from the city's South Loop starting in 1924--flourished for two decades as the premier country radio show before the Grand Ole Opry. Guarino chronicles the makeshift niche scenes like "Hillbilly Heaven" in Uptown, where thousands of relocated Southerners created their own hardscrabble honky-tonk subculture, as well as the 1960s rise of the Old Town School of Folk Music, which eventually brought national attention to local luminaries like John Prine and Steve Goodman. The story continues through the end of the twentieth century and into the present day, where artists like Jon Langford, The Handsome Family, and Wilco meld contemporary experimentation with country traditions. Featuring a foreword from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks and casting a cross-genre net that stretches from Bob Dylan to punk rock, Country and Midwestern rediscovers a history as sprawling as the Windy City--celebrating the creative spirit that modernized American folk idioms, the colorful characters who took them into new terrain, and the music itself, which is still kicking down doors even today. Mark Guarino covers national news and culture from Chicago for the Washington Post, ABC News, the New York Times, and other outlets. He was the Midwest bureau chief for the Christian Science Monitor for seven years. Mark on Twitter. Bradley Morgan is a media arts professional in Chicago and author of U2's The Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America. He manages partnerships on behalf of CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM, serves as a co-chair of the associate board at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and volunteers in the music archive at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Bradley Morgan on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The untold story of Chicago's pivotal role as a country and folk music capital. Chicago is revered as a musical breeding ground, having launched major figures like blues legend Muddy Waters, gospel soul icon Mavis Staples, hip-hop firebrand Kanye West, and the jazz-rock band that shares its name with the city. Far less known, however, is the vital role Chicago played in the rise of prewar country music, the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary offspring of those scenes. In Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival (U Chicago Press, 2023), veteran journalist Mark Guarino tells the epic century-long story of Chicago's influence on sounds typically associated with regions further south. Drawing on hundreds of interviews and deep archival research, Guarino tells a forgotten story of music, migration, and the ways that rural culture infiltrated urban communities through the radio, the automobile, and the railroad. The Midwest's biggest city was the place where rural transplants could reinvent themselves and shape their music for the new commercial possibilities the city offered. Years before Nashville emerged as the commercial and spiritual center of country music, major record labels made Chicago their home and recorded legendary figures like Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, and Gene Autry. The National Barn Dance--broadcast from the city's South Loop starting in 1924--flourished for two decades as the premier country radio show before the Grand Ole Opry. Guarino chronicles the makeshift niche scenes like "Hillbilly Heaven" in Uptown, where thousands of relocated Southerners created their own hardscrabble honky-tonk subculture, as well as the 1960s rise of the Old Town School of Folk Music, which eventually brought national attention to local luminaries like John Prine and Steve Goodman. The story continues through the end of the twentieth century and into the present day, where artists like Jon Langford, The Handsome Family, and Wilco meld contemporary experimentation with country traditions. Featuring a foreword from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks and casting a cross-genre net that stretches from Bob Dylan to punk rock, Country and Midwestern rediscovers a history as sprawling as the Windy City--celebrating the creative spirit that modernized American folk idioms, the colorful characters who took them into new terrain, and the music itself, which is still kicking down doors even today. Mark Guarino covers national news and culture from Chicago for the Washington Post, ABC News, the New York Times, and other outlets. He was the Midwest bureau chief for the Christian Science Monitor for seven years. Mark on Twitter. Bradley Morgan is a media arts professional in Chicago and author of U2's The Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America. He manages partnerships on behalf of CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM, serves as a co-chair of the associate board at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and volunteers in the music archive at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Bradley Morgan on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

In this bonus episode, Greg pays tribute to John Hyatt of the post-punk band The Three Johns from Leeds, England. One of the other "Johns" was Jon Langford of The Mekons. Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3eEvRnGMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundopsJoin our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Too Much Joy returns to the Chicago area for the first time since the late 90s! The band plays Blue Island Beer Company on September 16 for a can't-miss show that also includes a performance from Jon Langford and Sally Timms of the Mekons!   We talk about the band's evolution from college rock band to major label artist in the 90s. We cover everything: their KRS-One collaboration (“Good Kill”), “Making Fun of Bums,” R.E.M., the band's cover of the dreaded Terry Jacks song (“Seasons in the Sun”) and the unthinkable things Ace Frehley's handlers take care of.   This band is smart, funny and full of pop smarts. Their Blue Island Beer Company show is essentially a once-in-a-generation opportunity!   Car Con Carne is presented by Alex Ross Art. Visit alexrossart.com to see his work and get your hands on an original piece.   Car Con Carne is also sponsored by NINETY DAYS IN THE '90s (www.90daysinthe90s.com), by Andy Frye. Take the “Grey Line” back in time to 90s Chicago and relive all the music, moments and pop culture! Get your copy from Amazon, or wherever awesome books are sold. ##  

Fleetwood Mac [01:08] "I Don't Want to Know" Rumours Warner Bros. Records BSK 3010 1977 Funny how the classic rock radio format ruined so much music for me through it's incessant repetition of what it deemed classic, and yet I still thoroughly enjoy Rumours. A fun little number originally from the Buckingham Nicks days. Deerhoof [04:22] "Twin Killers" The Runners Four Children of the Hoof #1 2006 Maybe it's my Gemini nature (certainly not my killer nature) that draws me to this song. Arlo Guthrie [06:41] "Coming in to Los Angeles" Running Down the Road Reprise Records RS 6346 1969 Some solid country rock on this sophomore album from Woody's son. Support musicians include Clarence White, Ry Cooder, Gene Parsons, James Burton, Chris Ethridge and Jim Gordon. Ah the joys of travelling while holding. Neil Young & Crazy Horse [10:48] "Pocahontas" Rust Never Sleeps Reprise Records HS 2295 1979 Neil, I can probably tell you how she felt. The Rutles [14:10] "Cheese and Onions" The Rutles Warner Bros. Records HS 3151 1978 Yes indeed, the Prefab Four: Ron, Dirk, Stig, and Barry (https://youtu.be/sEwySvgfwLE). While my favorite Rutles song is "I Must Be in Love (https://youtu.be/54KBPA20b9Q)", "Cheese and Onions runs a close second, thank in no small part to the Galaxie 500 cover (https://youtu.be/pAzdSeAwKpg) of that song. Boston Pops/Arthur Fiedler w. Hugh Downs, Narrator [16:51] "Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 (Theme)" Carnival Of The Animals / The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra, Op. 34 RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2596 1964 Benjamin Britten's helpful introduction to the orchestra, interestingly used for an documentary film: Intstruments of the Orchestra (https://youtu.be/vkwgihr1hMM) from 1946. The Philadelphia Orchestra [21:26] "Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 78 ("Organ Symphony") - Allegro Moderato; Presto; Maestoso" Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 78 Columbia Masterworks MS 6469 1963 Hopefully you used your recently refreshed knowledge to listen to this piece, with the addition of ORGAN! Lou Reed [36:36] "Sally Can't Dance" Sally Can't Dance RCA CPL1-0611 1974 Another vivid Manhattan story from Lou's best chart performing album. Neko Case with the Pine Valley Cosmonauts [40:43] "Right or Wrong" Salute the Majesty of Bob Wills - The King of the Western Bloodshot Records BS 029 1998 A fine assortment of late-90s Bloodshot Records luminaries headed by Jon Langford give Neko Case a hand on this jazz standard that Bob Wills turned into a Western Swing classic. The Clash [43:57] "The Magnificent Seven" Sandinista! Epic FSLN 1 1980 Track one, side one from this 3 record release from The Clash. It features a pretty dope bass groove performed by the Blockheads' Norman Watt-Roy. Sarah Vaughan [49:29] "Just Squeeze Me" Sarah + 2 Roulette SR 52118 1965 The plus two being Joe Comfort on bass and Barney Kessel on guitar. A fine rendition of this Ellington standard. Music behind the DJ: "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes" by Terry Baxter and his Orchestra

A story about the time that Phil Banks said stop-and-frisk wasn't a thing, plus a post-credits mini-concert from Jon Langford of the Mekons, performing last week in Alphabet City.

In this TMEP classic, Jon Langford taps the deep, dark bowels of punk rock to share his 1979 prediction that U2's career was "going nowhere"; how Lester Bangs declared the Mekons to be better than REO Speedwagon and Budgie...combined; and about being dissed at the A&M Records Christmas party. This Spinal Tap Moment swap meet was originally released on November 4, 2021. See Jon's art: www.yarddog.com/collections/jon-langford Find out about Mekon's gigs, music, and other stuff on FB @Mekons -------------------------------------------------- Get in touch with Too Much Effing Perspective Contact us: hello@tmepshow.com Website: https://tmepshow.com Social: @tmepshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is punk rock pioneer, Jon Langford, a founding member of The Mekons, who were considered one the first wave punk bands from Britain.  We learn about Jon's melding folk and country music with punk music in The Mekons and several other side projects including The Waco Brothers, which he founded in Chicago after moving to the city in 1992.  We learn of how his music career was a surprise detour that materialized after The Mekons turned some record label heads while Jon and his at-school mates were simply having a blast thrashing about in the 1970's punk scene.  Between record labels and touring with The Mekons, Jon dusted off his paint brushes and found that he was able to make a bit of a splash as a visual artist.  Jon continues to perform and record music sporadically with The Mekons and he plays solo acoustic shows, while continuing to paint, with works in several high profile galleries. Steve and Catherine have a great conversation with Jon and we learn a great deal about his creative process, both as a musician and as a visual artist. Jon's Website:  https://jonlangford.de/Jon Langford at  "thank u, next: and event by the Homewood Arts Councilhttps://www.facebook.com/events/490492629917527 Original music from this epsode:Where Were YouThe Mekonsfrom the album, Hen's Teeth and Other Lost Fragments of Un-Popular Culture, Volume 2Harm's WayThe Waco Brothersfrom the album, To the Last Dead CowboyHey Rockstar!The MekonsNot Enough Love to Go RoundJon Langford and Skull Orchard , Low Noise Music (USA)Performed by Me with Bethany Thomas Spencer Tweedy and John SzymanskiHey Rockstar! and Not Enough Love to Go Round are from Jon's ongoing Lucky 7 series of singles for the Tiny Global Productions label of ValenciaHere's how you can find Kites and Strings out there in the interwebs.Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitesandstringspodcastTwitter:   @KitesandstringsInstagram:  @Kites_and_stringsemail: Kitesandstringspodcast@gmail.comKites and Strings' theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other music in today's episode is provided courtesy of  our guest, Jon Langford (see above).   The Kites and Strings logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.

Jon Langford is a renowned musician, artist, graphic designer, and all-round creative mastermind. He's best known for his role in punk rock art collective, The Mekons. They are are one of the longest running punk bands from the '70s and Jon explains how their originality, fearless approach, and willingness to evolve has seen them pass the test of time. The second half of Jon's career touched other forms of art such as painting, graphic design, and fashion. In this episode, Jon shares insight and stories from an extraordinary creative life. Hear how uniqueness, innovation, and risk taking should be part of every growth plan!

Where conversation flows as life is explored -- that's where the new podcast, Rhythm of Life, begins. Initial episodes include filmmaker Bob Hercules delving into the art of documentary filmmaking including his most recent project, the Peabody Award-winning “Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise.” Subsequent episodes will feature fascinating discussions with producer/filmmakers Steve Ordower and David Kovacs, gospel and R&B legend Mavis Staples, and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). Newton Minow, former chair of the FCC, reflects on how the media and television, which he called “a vast wasteland” have evolved. Stephan Garnett, lecturer at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, shares his perspective on the state of journalism today. Actor Ernie Hudson and musician and political activist Jon Langford chat about the rhythms of their lives in the arts. 

Cocinamos una cuarta y última entrega de estos repasos a la discografía de The Sadies. Sobrevolamos aquí varias curiosidades en el legado de los canadienses, centrándonos en los trabajos que sacaron como banda de acompañamiento de otros insignes artistas. (Foto del podcast por Heather Pollock) Playlist; (sintonía) THE SADIES “The Horseshoe” (Stories of the Rat Fink, 2006) ANDRE WILLIAMS and THE SADIES “Pardon me (I’ve got someone to kill)” (Red dirt, 1999) ANDRE WILLIAMS and THE SADIES “Psycho” (Red dirt, 1999) JON LANGFORD and HIS SADIES “Drugstore” (Mayors of the moon 2003) JON LANGFORD and HIS SADIES “Up to my neck in this” (Mayors of the moon 2003) NEKO CASE and THE SADIES “Wayfaring stranger” (The tigers have spoken, 2004) NEKO CASE and THE SADIES “Make your bed” (The murder ballads EP, 1998) THE SADIES with NEKO CASE “Hold on hold on” (In Concert: Volume One, 2006) JOHN DOE and THE SADIES “It just dawned on me” (Country club, 2009) JOHN DOE and THE SADIES “I still miss someone” (Country club, 2009) ANDRE WILLIAMS and THE SADIES “I gotta get shorty out of jail” (Night and day, 2012) ANDRE WILLIAMS and THE SADIES “One eyed Jack” (Night and day, 2012) GORD DOWNIE and THE SADIES “Budget shoes” (And the conquering Sun, 2014) GORD DOWNIE and THE SADIES “Crater” (And the conquering Sun, 2014) ANDRE WILLIAMS and THE SADIES “I can tell” (Red dirt, 1999) THE GOOD FAMILY “Life passes (and old fires died” (The Good Family álbum, 2013) Escuchar audio

Jon Langford was a founding member of The Mekons, a band formed by art students at The University of Leeds. After moving from Newport, Wales to Chicago, Illinois in the early '90s, Jon formed The Waco Brothers, a country-punk group. In addition to playing music in many bands, he works as a producer on many records. Jon also writes books, has a comic strip, and creates a lot of artwork. It was great to talk with one of my favorite musicians and artists, Jon Langford.Many thanks to This American Life and NPR for permission to use the excerpt from “Musicians Classifieds”. You can listen to the entire episode here.Jon's artwork can be found, and purchased at Yard Dog.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEFind or Sell Guitars and Gear at Reverb Find great deals on guitars, amps, audio and recording gear. Or sell yours! Check out Reverb.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Somewhere between Mexico and Cuba, sat down with the world's longest living country punk rocker, Jon Langford of The Mekons, Waco Brothers and Skull Orchard,  and our dear friend, Dave Herndon, communications director for the City of Santa Fe, NM and did a little reminiscing. We were aboard the Outlaw Country Cruise 6, an amazing 6 day adventure featuring, not only Jon's bands, but Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Rodney Crowell and Emmy Lou Harris. It was six days of fun and frolicking with unbelievable live music at all hours of the day and night, as well as food, drinks, sun and fun (none of us braved the hot tubs, but they were available). Join us as we retell some great times at Brew's-- which was a bit of a sleeper cell of the NYC alt-country music scene in the '90s-- as well as London and Leeds in the late '70s, Austin TX in the '00s and a few random tales of foolishness and fun from elsewhere.

The Mekons, the Waco Brothers, Four Lost Souls, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts—those are just some of Jon Langford's bands, and he's an accomplished visual artist to boot. Since moving to Chicago from England almost 30 years ago, Langford has become one of the city's greatest assets, and during the pandemic he has performed constantly in support of small clubs and other good causes. He recalls the influence of reggae and country music on the early British punk scene, how the Mekons never were in a riot until they were, how the band took on Led Zeppelin, and how much he misses the late Wacos drummer Joe Camarillo. He's also performs two new songs JUST FOR YOU. Listen and enjoy.

Click here to read more, visit http://www.sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2022/2/10/season-5-episode-1     

Where conversation flows as life is explored -- that's where the new podcast, Rhythm of Life, begins. Initial episodes include filmmaker Bob Hercules delving into the art of documentary filmmaking including his most recent project, the Peabody Award-winning “Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise.” Subsequent episodes will feature fascinating discussions with producer/filmmakers Steve Ordower and David Kovacs, gospel and R&B legend Mavis Staples, and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). Newton Minow, former chair of the FCC, reflects on how the media and television, which he called “a vast wasteland” have evolved. Stephan Garnett, lecturer at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, shares his perspective on the state of journalism today. Actor Ernie Hudson and musician and political activist Jon Langford chat about the rhythms of their lives in the arts. 

The State of Sound exhibit writer, Dave Hoekstra, interviews Radio Hall of Famer, Terri Hemmert, live in the State of Sound Studio with special guest Alt-Country legend, Jon Langford in a wide-ranging conversation. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

Jon Langford riffs on what uber-famous band looked like schoolchildren when they opened for his band in 1979; what body part he had immortalized in plaster; and why The Mekons put another band's photo on the cover of their first album. Social: @TMEPshow Website: TMEPshow.com

State of Sound writer Dave Hoekstra interviews Alt-Country legend Jon Lanford along with his collaborator, John Szymanski. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo

The Mekons and Waco Brothers founding singer, guitarist, and punk/alt-country pioneer takes a break from his latest Freakon collaboration to discuss his Welsh upbringing, his art school days with pals Gang of Four, his solo projects, and his successful career as a painter. Jon has a tremendous work ethic, releasing the first of 23 singles from the “Lucky Seven Series” and starting bands and records with any free moment. He’s also a real gentleman…qualities the Troubled Nation could use more of. Topics include roadwork, the Hard Rock Hotel scandal, the Rolling Stones at Jazzfest, vaccine resistance, port cities, Joe Strummer and the Clash, a record deal, LeMieux Galleries, Tom Stern and Blue Velvet Studio, Alex Rawls, OffBeat, Chickie Wah Wah, Steve Watson, Buddy Watson, the Sadies, Midway Pizza, country music, Thatcher and Reagan, union busting, signing to Virgin Records, a mining strike, the Aberfan 1966 mining disaster, moving to Chicago, honky tonk music, “Deserted,” inspiration, Yard Dog Gallery, “Lofty Deeds,” the chicken and the egg, and much more. Support the podcast here. Join the Patreon page here. Shop for Troubled Men’s Wear here. Subscribe, review, and rate (5 stars) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or almost any podcast source. Follow on social media, share with friends, and spread the Troubled Word. Intro music: Styler/Coman Break music: “Memphis Egypt” from “Heaven and Hell” by the Mekons Outro music: “Only The River” from “Jon Langford’s Lucky Seven Series, part 1” by Jon Langford & the Skull Orchard Welsh Male Choir Troubled Men Podcast Facebook Troubled Men Podacst Instagram Jon Langford Facebook Waco Brothers Mekons Jon Langford Artwork

Zig At The Gig with Jon Langford Interview 2021 Welsh rabble-rouser, painter extraordinaire, punk rock pioneer: Jon Langford (born October 11, 1957) is a prolific and well-respected visual artist whose punk rock instincts and unparalleled draftsmanship come together in a painting style that is distinctive, engaging, and challenging. In addition to his paintings and prints, his artwork appears on CD's (his own and other's), book covers, and Dogfish Head Brewery beer bottle labels. His multimedia music/spoken-word/video performance, "The Executioner's Last Songs," premiered at Alverno College in 2005, and has been performed in several other cities, including Austin. He illustrated the comic strip Great Pop Things under the pseudonym Chuck Death. Since 2005 he has co-hosted a weekly radio program, "The Eclectic Company," broadcast on WXRT 93.1 FM in Chicago. He has contributed to This American Life . Yard Dog Art Gallery has represented Langford since 1996. Langford is from Wales but has lived in Chicago since the early 1990's. He was originally the drummer for the punk band The Mekons when it formed at the University of Leeds in 1977, but he later took up the guitar as other band members left. Since the mid-1980s he has been one of the leaders in incorporating folk and country music into punk rock. He has released a number of solo recordings as well as recordings with other bands outside of The Mekons, most notably the Waco Brothers, which he co-founded after moving to Chicago in the early 1990s. Jon's Info https://www.yarddog.com/collections/jon-langford https://www.facebook.com/jonboylangford https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/jon-langford SHOW INFO AUG 5th Music box Cleveland OH https://wacobrothers.com/wb/ Aug 4th Blue Arrow Records Cleveland OH https://www.bluearrowrecords.com/ https://www.facebook.com/bluearrowrecords/  

Pine Valley Cosmonauts' new album, “The Closing Time,” is a song-for-song recreation of Tom Waits' debut album, “Closing Time.” “Patron saint of Chicago music” Jon Langford returns to Car Con Carne to preview the album, and its release show at the Hideout (happening on 7/17). All ticket proceeds from the release show benefit Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVIL) to help secure the future of Chicago's independently owned live music venues. Car Con Carne is sponsored by Siren Records McHenry

Pine Valley Cosmonauts' new album, “The Closing Time,” is a song-for-song recreation of Tom Waits' debut album, “Closing Time.” “Patron saint of Chicago music” Jon Langford returns to Car Con Carne to preview the album, and its release show at the Hideout (happening on 7/17). All ticket proceeds from the release show benefit Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVIL) to help secure the future of Chicago's independently owned live music venues. Car Con Carne is sponsored by Siren Records McHenry

The virtuoso trombonist, arranger, and cofounder of Bonerama and Mulebone has also recorded with a laundry list of stars, including Sheryl Crow, Maceo Parker, R.E.M., and Tori Amos. Having cut his teeth in the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band, he’s more recently served as an arranger/producer with his own Levee Horns. These productions have included concerts for Blackbird Presents such as the Last Waltz 40 tour, Mavis Staples, Merle Haggard, and Dr John, and featured the legendary Don Was as musical director. It seems like Mark can work with almost anyone. Tonight that’s put to the test when he joins the Troubled Men. Topics include cicadas, the oldest woman, the end of school, rental returns, Mother’s Day, prison listeners, a provocative name, high school, Richard Erb, Loyola U., Dave Ferrato, Rum Boogie, a termite swarm, Brian O’Neill, Charlie Brent, Luther Kent and Trick Bag, George Porter Jr., Jon Langford, OK GO, Eric Traub, live dates, and much more. Subscribe, review, and rate (5 stars) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or almost any podcast aggregator. Follow on social media, share with friends, and spread the Troubled Word. Intro music: Styler/Coman Break music: “Frankenstein” by Bonerama Outro music: “Charity” by Mulebone

The virtuoso trombonist, arranger, and cofounder of Bonerama and Mulebone has also recorded with a laundry list of stars, including Sheryl Crow, Maceo Parker, R.E.M., and Tori Amos. Having cut his teeth in the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band, he's more recently served as an arranger/producer with his own Levee Horns. These productions have included concerts for Blackbird Presents such as the Last Waltz 40 tour, Mavis Staples, Merle Haggard, and Dr John, and featured the legendary Don Was as musical director. It seems like Mark can work with almost anyone. Tonight that's put to the test when he joins the Troubled Men. Topics include cicadas, the oldest woman, the end of school, rental returns, Mother's Day, prison listeners, a provocative name, high school, Richard Erb, Loyola U., Dave Ferrato, Rum Boogie, a termite swarm, Brian O'Neill, Charlie Brent, Luther Kent and Trick Bag, George Porter Jr., Jon Langford, OK GO, Eric Traub, live dates, and much more. Subscribe, review, and rate (5 stars) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or almost any podcast aggregator. Follow on social media, share with friends, and spread the Troubled Word. Intro music: Styler/Coman Break music: “Frankenstein” by Bonerama Outro music: “Charity” by Mulebone

We live in an experience economy where the company with the best experience enjoys tremendous competitive advantage. How can you turn your customer experience into competitive advantage? Jon Langford coaches us on the the critical components of an incredible customer experience. One of the most important areas of sales and marketing alignment is around customer experience. This can be a powerful source of competitive advantage if your experience is amazing. The opposite can be true as well. Today we're going to enjoy Jon Langford's session on Customer Experience at the 2021 Sales & Marketing Alignment Challenge. In his previous role as a Disney Institute instructor, Jon helped organizations discover how to create memorable experiences. Today, Jon helps businesses and nonprofits enhance their client experience to maximize results. He'll coach us on how top companies create memorable experiences by making them consistent, personable, and memorable. We'll learn about how we can turn mundane moments into incredible opportunities.

We live in an experience economy where the company with the best experience enjoys tremendous competitive advantage. How can you turn your customer experience into competitive advantage? Jon Langford coaches us on the the critical components of an incredible customer experience. One of the most important areas of sales and marketing alignment is around customer experience. This can be a powerful source of competitive advantage if your experience is amazing. The opposite can be true as well. Today we’re going to enjoy Jon Langford’s session on Customer Experience at the 2021 Sales & Marketing Alignment Challenge. In his previous role as a Disney Institute instructor, Jon helped organizations discover how to create memorable experiences. Today, Jon helps businesses and nonprofits enhance their client experience to maximize results. He’ll coach us on how top companies create memorable experiences by making them consistent, personable, and memorable. We’ll learn about how we can turn mundane moments into incredible opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the best ways to create differentiation that drives revenue is by building a remarkable customer experience. When you look at the resume of today's guest, Jon Langford. you'll find he has worked with many organizations, including the Disney Institute. Jon will coach us on three ways to build a powerful customer experience. Last week we spoke with Joey Coleman, author of Never Lose a Customer Again. Today we're going to continue the conversation about customer experience with our guest Jon Langford. He believes that customer experience is the key way to create differentiation that drives revenue. Jon's resume includes working with Disney and the Disney Institute. He's also helped both for-profit and nonprofit organizations improve their customer experience. In this conversation, you'll learn about the three core elements of creating a customer experience that drives revenue. You'll be challenged to take action to create a remarkable customer experience in your organization.

One of the best ways to create differentiation that drives revenue is by building a remarkable customer experience. When you look at the resume of today’s guest, Jon Langford. you’ll find he has worked with many organizations, including the Disney Institute. Jon will coach us on three ways to build a powerful customer experience. Last week we spoke with Joey Coleman, author of Never Lose a Customer Again. Today we’re going to continue the conversation about customer experience with our guest Jon Langford. He believes that customer experience is the key way to create differentiation that drives revenue. Jon’s resume includes working with Disney and the Disney Institute. He’s also helped both for-profit and nonprofit organizations improve their customer experience. In this conversation, you’ll learn about the three core elements of creating a customer experience that drives revenue. You’ll be challenged to take action to create a remarkable customer experience in your organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

INDIVISIBLE CHICAGO PODCAST SHOW NOTES FOR JANUARY 25, 2021 This week, excerpts from the Indivisible Chicago Inauguration Celebration extravaganza, featuring a panel co-hosted by Tom and ICA's Marj Halperin with Representatives Lauren Underwood, Sean Casten, and Marie Newman. The show was produced by Chicago4Real and hosted by Justin Kaufmann. Musical guests included Michael McDermott (featured in this week's podcast), Jeff Tweedy, and Jon Langford. Music produced by the Hideout Inn. Find the complete video presentation, including all music, comedy and MAGIC segments at http://bit.ly/ICA_Inaug. Support Chicago4Real at www.twitch.tv/chicago4real. Support The Hideout Inn at hideoutchicago.com. Also sponsored by WCPT 820 AM at wcpt820.com. ICP is a member of the DemCast Podcast Network.

Back in the early 2000's when Trance ruled the dance-floors one man (Jon Langford) decided they needed toughening up for the hard dance floors - the result = The K-Series of 12 bootleg remixes. These became very sought after vinyl releases and I was delighted to see them re-released digitally on the 'Hard Drive' label. Ive mixed them all here with a couple of other massive remixes in the same style. Enjoy 1. K-Series - Go (K1) (Original Mix) 2. K-Series - Hole In One (K3) (Original Mix) 3. K-Series - Papua New Guinea (K4) (Original Mix) 4. K-Series - Flowtation (K9) (Original Mix) 5. K-Series - Punk'd (K6) (Original Mix) 6. Euphony - Carte Blanche Tidy Two - Original Mix) 7. K-Series - Sanctuary (K8) (Original Mix) 8. K-Series - Communication (K5) (Original Mix) 9. K-Series - MayDay (K10 Part Two) (Original Mix) 10. Travel - Bulgarian (Tidy Trax - Paul Maddox Remix) 11. K-Series - Strange World (K11) (Original Mix) 12. K-Series - Binary Finary (K2) (Original Mix) 13. K-Series - Fiji (K10 Part One) (Original Mix) 14. Azure - Sunset (Tidy White BOOT04) 15. K-Series - Airwave (K7) (Original Mix)

INDIVISIBLE CHICAGO PODCAST SHOW NOTES FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 This week, Marj Halperin and Tom Moss wrap up Blue Mondays with a deep dive into Illinois politics with guest, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood - underwoodforcongress.com. To discuss the Fair Tax, Anders Lindall, communications co-chair of Vote Yes for Fair Tax - www.YesForFairTax.org And reporter Dave McKinney, who spent nearly 20 years covering the Illinois Statehouse for the Chicago Sun Times. He’s still on the beat, now for WBEZ. Special musical guest, Jon Langford. Member of the DemCast Podcast Network.

Hey! We had 1000 downloads a month!   Also, Country Queer Spotlight is live now! Listen to my interview of Jaime Wyatt!   Also also, I had to scratch the first artist I planned to play because I couldn’t get a hold of those mp3s after all. Hopefully the edit isn’t too weird!   Album of the Week: Bethany Thomas -- BT/SHE/HER   This album is a masterpiece. Thomas, who has played with Jon Langford (hence her connection to Bloodshot Records), is also a classical musician, plays jazz...pretty much everything. No matter what the song sounds like, though, Thomas absolutely RIPS on guitar. Her songs are beautiful, too, relating the life of a queer black person in the Midwest with skill and grace. The album is confident and bold and one of the best this year. Zephaniah O’Hora -- “Living Too Long” (Listening to the Music) Jeremy & the Harlequins -- “Let’s Ride” (Single) Bethany Thomas -- “Walls + Ceilings” (BT/SHE/HER) Half Gringa -- “Transitive Property” (Force to Reckon) Our Man in the Field -- “Thin (I Used to Be Bullet Proof)” (Single) Oceanator -- “A Crack in the World” (Things I Never Said) Jeremy Squires -- “Hummingbird” (Many Moons) Water Liars -- “I Want Blood” (Water Liars) Ozymandias Carter -- “Rebels Like Us” (The Vanishing Crowd) Atta Boy -- “Lucky” (Big Heart Manners) The Wonderful Nobodies -- “Walk That Road Alone” (A/B) Have Gun Will Travel -- “Melancholy Moon (Everything Dies)” (Single) Send me music via SubmitHub! Send me money via Ko-fi or Patreon. Find Rachel and her comic via https://linktr.ee/rachel.cholst

On this week's show, we spend quality time exploring the queer country community, checking out the new Jayhawks record & spinning some tracks we haven't listened to in a minute. All this & much, much less!

An artist whether in music or in art, Jon Langford has had an amazing career. Listen to his stories. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dale613/support

Insurgent Country. Defiant Roots. Bloodshot Records has put out incredible, timeless music since launching in 1994. From the big names (Old 97s, Ryan Adams) through genre-defining acts (Jon Langford, Robbie Fulks, Kelly Hogan) to uncompromising originals (Laura Jane Grace, Devil in a Woodpile, Freakwater), I’ve always enjoyed what they’ve put out. Bloodshot head Rob Miller joins me for a chat about Bloodshot tonight on #QuarantineConCarne. Car Con Carne is sponsored by C&H Financial Services.

Insurgent Country. Defiant Roots. Bloodshot Records has put out incredible, timeless music since launching in 1994. From the big names (Old 97s, Ryan Adams) through genre-defining acts (Jon Langford, Robbie Fulks, Kelly Hogan) to uncompromising originals (Laura Jane Grace, Devil in a Woodpile, Freakwater), I’ve always enjoyed what they’ve put out. Bloodshot head Rob Miller joins me for a chat about Bloodshot tonight on #QuarantineConCarne. Car Con Carne is sponsored by C&H Financial Services.

Websites, we all know that we need an online presence and how important it is to have your website. The question is, how easy is it to maintain yourself? Should it be an in-house activity or outsourced? What key aspects should you consider? SEO what should we be doing? Dave and Marie talk to Jon Langford, MD of Charnwood Web Design. He imparts his business and web knowledge to assist us through the questions around website and things you should be considering.

Today on the show, guest host Bob Hercules welcomes the dynamic musician and visual artist, Jon Langford, to discuss his illustrious career. Jon has lead several bands, most notably The Mekons, The Waco Brothers, and Pine Valley Cosmonauts.Since the mid-1980s, Langford has been one of the leaders in incorporating folk and country music into punk rock.

Episode 10 was a fantastic dive into how we can turn our passions into our vocation. Luke, Chris and Cherie were joined by Jon Langford, longtime Concannon Connection member and all round life-enthusiast.

What does it look like to serve those in our church and community? Jon Langford and Frank Tomberlin share how The Gathering is engaging employees in the entertainment and service industries. We discuss how your congregation can engage in daily interactions to demonstrate the love of Christ. Listen to Episode 12 of the Thriving in Ministry podcast, brought to you by Daily Pastor.

Gaye Bykers on Acid with Mary Byker aka Ian Hoxley with David Eastaugh Gaye Bykers on Acid were formed in late 1984 by Ian Reynolds (Robber) and Ian Hoxley (Mary). They were later joined by guitarist and art student Tony Horsfall and drummer Kevin Hyde. Their first gig was at The Princess Charlotte in Leicester in mid-1985. Their first releases – the single Everythang's Groovy and the Nosedive Karma EP – were both recorded in Leeds with Jon Langford of The Mekons, and released on the InTape label. They then signed to Virgin Records releasing the albums Drill Your Own Hole and Stewed to the Gills. Initial quantities of the vinyl version of Drill Your Own Hole were pressed without a hole in the centre, so it was necessary to drill your own hole to play it. The album spent one week at number 95 in the UK Albums Chart in November 1987. They also played gigs (dressed in women's clothing) under the name 'Lesbian Dopeheads on Mopeds', supporting themselves, and thus getting paid twice. They also performed as a fictitious East German thrash punk band "Rektüm" (they claimed to have jumped over the Berlin Wall), recording an LP Sakredanus and an EP Real Horror Show under the name. However management problems and poor sales meant that they were dropped by Virgin in 1989. They subsequently released the album Cancer Planet Mission on their own record label, Naked Brain. They also recycled and used the band name 'The Purple Fluid Exchange' (PFX) to release their dance cross-over material. It was at this time that Rocket Ronnie joined the band as DJ, sample player and dance advisor. In 1990 they released Pernicious Nonsense, their last studio album, recorded with Jon Langford at the Stone Room Studios and at Alaska St. Studios with house engineer Chelo Zambelli. After difficult tours in the US and UK the band broke up, the final blow being when the label Rough Trade, who distributed their Naked Brain recordings, went bankrupt owing them and many other bands considerable amounts of cash. Two compilation albums were subsequently released on the Receiver record label, From the Tomb of the Near Legendary… (1992) and Gaye Bykers on Acid (1993). A further bootleg compilation of Virgin records studio demo's was sold by their ex-manager (Tracy Lamott) to Cherry Red Records – Everything's Groovy (2001). Tony and Kev collaborated in 1993 to form 'Steroid', releasing one just CD album entitled Jism Harvester on Clay Records, a crazy industrial mish mash of samples and guitar riffs. The groups Total Anthology on DVD is available from Robber Byker at their official site and via their MySpace page. The group often included samples from other artists or films in their music, usually from cult films such as Repo Man, Taxi Driver or Dune. On 22 February 2016, it was announced that Gaye Bykers on Acid would be reforming for a final performance at Indie Daze in October 2016. This was later expanded into a nine date tour.  

The Senseless Things special with Morgan Nicholls in conversation with David Eastaugh Senseless Things formed around the musical partnership of songwriter Mark Myers aka Mark Keds (vocals, guitar) and Morgan Nicholls (bass, originally guitar), who as eleven-year-olds in Twickenham, Middlesex put together Wild Division in the early 1980s. With the addition of drummer Cass Browne (also occasionally known as Cass Cade and Cass Traitor) they became the Psychotics, playing various venues in their local area despite still being at school. Their first gig together as the Senseless Things (named after a phrase used in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Julius Caesar) followed at the subsequently-demolished Clarendon in Hammersmith, London, in October 1986. Auxiliary members at this stage included a keyboard player, Ben, and a guitarist, Gerry, who deputised for Nicholls while the latter was studying for his O levels. The definitive Senseless Things line-up formed in summer 1987 when Nicholls returned to take over bass, with the new recruit, former BBC clerk Ben Harding acquiring the vacant guitarist's role. The band regularly appeared at The Clarendon in Hammersmith, London playing both downstairs in the Broadway bar and upstairs in the main auditorium. Taking their musical cue from the Ramones and the Dickies, and their spiritual lead from fellow guitar outfit Mega City Four, the quartet embarked upon a hectic touring schedule, often playing on the same bill as Mega City Four, Snuff and Perfect Daze. The band's first releases were singles given away with issues of Yo Jo Jo and Sniffin' Rock fanzines. By March 1988 the band had attracted the attention of the BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who invited them to record the first of three sessions for his programme. The "Up And Coming" 12" followed, then "Girlfriend" the following year, both on Way Cool Records. Their first album, Postcard CV, was released in 1989, capturing the energy of their concerts by packing ten tracks into twenty two minutes. Record Collector called it "sprightly pop-punk/ indie with touches of Buzzcocks and the Undertones". The album was rounded off by "Too Much Kissing", which was released as a single and was to become their signature track. In 1990 the band signed with What Goes On Records, just as the label collapsed, resulting in an abortive EP release. The band then signed to Vinyl Solution subsidiary Decoy Records, who released the four-track EP "'Is It Too Late?", produced by Jon Langford of the Mekons. The group stayed with Decoy for "Can't Do Anything", (also produced by Langford), which prefaced an appearance at the Reading Festival; the band then signed to Epic Records at the start of 1991. The subsequent album The First Of Too Many saw the band experimenting with other styles including acoustic songs, and the single "Got It At The Delmar" entered the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. Allmusic praised the album's blend of "bubblegum pop" and "gobstopping hard rock", likening the band's sound to the Who and the Replacements. Two further Top 20singles followed in 1991/1992 - "Easy To Smile" and "Hold It Down". The band toured the United States, supporting Blur, and went to Japan for the first time, appearing on talent show Ika-Ten. Cover art for the first two Senseless Things albums and most single releases around the same period was provided by comic artist Jamie Hewlett, creator of Tank Girl and later Gorillaz. The second single from their third album, 1993's Empire of the Senseless, "Homophobic Asshole" (with promotional video directed by Steven Wells) received critical acclaim but was released reluctantly by their record company due to the band's choice of title and failed to chart highly. Follow-up single, "Primary Instinct", an equally political (anti-racist) lyric but a more radio-friendly title, had slightly more commercial success. In a further Mekons connection, the album shared its title with a track from the 1989 album The Mekons Rock 'n Roll, itself named for a Kathy Acker novel. In 1995, the band released a final album, Taking Care Of Business accompanied by two singles, "Christine Keeler" (renamed from "Christian Killer") and "Something To Miss". The latter's b-sides included a Replacements cover as well as a song co-written with Lenie from Mambo Taxi. Senseless Things went into permanent hiatus the same year after farewell tours of the UK and Japan.

Punk rock “was about how rules were made to be broken and making your own entertainment,” The Mekons’ Jon Langford said in 2004. The idea that punk meant choosing your own path and following your own muse has helped the punk band remain musically and conceptually provocative, and it gave him license to incorporate country, folk, reggae, pop, and glam into the music he has made with The Mekons, The Waco Brothers, The Three Johns, in side projects and on his own. And, it led to Christmas music. Jon Langford is the quintessential indie artist, working his music and art to put together a paycheck and body of work he can live with, and his Christmas recordings reflect that. Each comes from a situation where the marketplace and inspiration overlapped, and in those situations Langford and his co-conspirators on a project found ways to give the songs integrity. In our conversation, we talk about a children’s music project he was involved with, Wee Hairy Beasties, as well as an impromptu Waco Brothers’ Christmas song, and “Christmas Carol, Christmas Ray,” a reflection on the holiday season when he was growing up in Wales that he recorded with the Men of Gwent. Along the way, he mentioned the folk song “Green Grow the Rushes,” so we’ve included a version of it by The Singing Milkmaids, and because he mentioned Slade’s “Merry Christmas Everybody,” we finally get an opportunity to play it. The episode ends with Langford reading a revised version of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” written as a promo for Chicago’s Bloodshot Records, which has released his Waco Brothers’ albums. It’s excerpted in the episode, but here it is in its entirety.   Since his experiences in Newport in South Wales form a big part of this conversation, I’ve posted his video for “Christmas Carol, Christmas Ray”—which we talk about—and a clip of a Welsh holiday tradition that he only heard about as a kid but never saw with his own eyes. He couldn’t explain it, but here it is, with the singing in Welsh.    

The Janitors special with Tim Stirland in conversation The Janitors were Andrew Denton (vocals), Craig Hope (slide guitar, keyboards), Pete Crowe (bass guitar), and Tim Stirland (drums). Denton, Hope and friend Phil Storey recorded demos in Leicester's Highfields which Yeah Yeah Noh's John Grayland brought to the attention of some indie labels. Described as "a mixture of Membranes meeting Captain Beefheart", they signed to Marc Riley's In-Tape label, releasing their debut single, "Chicken Stew" in July 1985 (on which Hope played all of the instruments). It went on to reach the top 10 of the UK Independent Chart. In anticipation of the single's release, Denton and Hope moved to Newcastle to recruit bassist Simon Warnes, however Crowe took his place bringing along fellow art student Tim Stirland as drummer (replacing the drum machine of the first single). Second single "Good to be King" was also an indie hit, reaching number 14, and debut album Thunderhead, produced by Jon Langford of The Mekons, peaked at number 6 on the indie albums chart. The band recorded three sessions for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, one each year between 1985 and 1987. Pete Crowe was ejected over a dispute with Denton and replaced by Jeff Murray. The band then moved to the Abstract label. In 1988 Phil Storey joined on rhythm guitar. After two further singles, their second album, Deafhead, was released in June 1988. The band released one more single and in late 1988, Dentover left the band. American Bobo Nando picked up the mike, contributing to one new song "Billy Psycho". The band dissolved in August 1989. Stirland went on to perform with The Mekons. Hope (Hoppy) is currently guitar technician for Chris Martin of Coldplay. Denton is now an incredible history teacher and top class lad. Jeff Murray formed G.R.O.W.T.H. with Kev of Gaye Bykers on Acid and Tommo of The Bomb party, but they split after one album. Crowe moved to New Zealand. Nando (Paul Touche) sang briefly with Birthmark. Phil Storey died in July 2014.

"Take Me" debuts at the Strawdog Theatre Company on May 20. Co-created by the team of Mark Guarino and Jon Langford (Waco Brothers, Mekons, lots of amazing things), "Take Me" is "a comic fantasia about searching the vast universe for answers when all along they may be found inside." Langford returns to Car Con Carne, and this time he brought "Take Me" actors Nicole Bloomsmith and Carmine Grisolia with him! They performed three songs from "Take Me" in the Mazda, and they were breathtakingly beautiful and cool. You've got to hear them! Car Con Carne is presented by The Autobarn Mazda of Evanston.

"Take Me" debuts at the Strawdog Theatre Company on May 20. Co-created by the team of Mark Guarino and Jon Langford (Waco Brothers, Mekons, lots of amazing things), "Take Me" is "a comic fantasia about searching the vast universe for answers when all along they may be found inside." Langford returns to Car Con Carne, and this time he brought "Take Me" actors Nicole Bloomsmith and Carmine Grisolia with him! They performed three songs from "Take Me" in the Mazda, and they were breathtakingly beautiful and cool. You've got to hear them! Car Con Carne is presented by The Autobarn Mazda of Evanston.

Jon Langford and Sally Timms--of The Mekons and countless other projects--have been part of the Old Town School community in a myriad of ways since the 1990s. Just a few months after Langford was honored as a “Music Legend” by the school, the two friends and longtime bandmates sat down to talk about their memories and reflections on the place. This is part two of our new series, Second Half, putting Old Town School folks and their stories center-stage. Original recordings featured in this episode (in order of occurrence): - “Glory of Love” performed by Big Bill Broonzy live at Circle Pines Center, circa 1950s - StoryCorps interview between Jon Langford & Sally Timms, 6/5/2017 - “The Fox” performed by Jon Langford, live at Old Town School of Folk Music, circa 2000s

A hot and balmy night in Cumbria, playing a host of fantastic of new releases, with the odd classic thrown in to keep everything hunky dory.   Tracklisting: Charlie Ulyatt - Hanging From A Nail - Inaudible Gestures (Self Released) - Buy David Birchall, Andrew Cheetham, Alan Wilkinson - Side A (edit) - Live at Islington Mill (Tombed Visions) - Buy Idris Ackamoor - Beginning Roots Part I (edit) - The Collective (Cultural Odyssey) - Buy Kaido Yutaka - Seven Currents - Various Artists: Clinical Jazz (Clinical Archives) - Download John Dikeman & Aleksandar Škorić - Encore: Ghosts (edit) - ...Again comes the rising of the Sun... (Doek RAW) - Buy OMA - Aberfan (a text by Jon Langford about the Aberfan Disaster 1966, which G.W Sok slightly adapted) - OMA (Tombed Visions) - Buy Tea Rockers -  Transferred To Another Post - Fictions (Self Released) - Buy Gidouille - Zone (Self Released) - Soundcloud Stephen Grew & Adam Fairhall - Salt Line (edit) - Free Piano From The English North (Tombed Visions) - Buy Bella - UN (edit) - UN (Pan Y Rosas Discos) - Download

Jon Langford preaches about how we all have rights and responsibilities. He uses 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 to explain how Paul dealt with the bad people.

A double header this week as Rachel catches up with Jon Langford to talk about discipleship and mentoring for young leaders but throws in a blast-from-the-summer interview with Oli Deeks too. But more importantly... can Martin drink his tea out of a jug?

It's hard to over-state the importance of Norbert Putnam to Southern music. As a teenager he was one of a handful of guys who built the legendary recording scene in Muscle Shoals from scratch. Working with a young Rick Hall and Tom Stafford, plus some fellow musicians, they figured out how to make records and then how to make hit records. And they made history. Then Putnam and several of his studio musician colleagues moved to Nashville and ushered in a new era when a swirl of genres from soul to rock and roll mingled with and drew from the country recording scene that was already well established. Putnam produced important music for Joan Baez, Dan Fogelberg, Jimmy Buffett - and he played for years in studio and on the road for Elvis Presley. He's a figurehead and a great storyteller. Jon Langford meanwhile grew up in Wales but made his name as a founding member of The Mekons, an influential underground band that laid the groundwork for the country punk and alt-country movements. Besides songwriting, which he's done prolifically as a solo artist and collaborator in many bands including the Waco brothers and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Langford's been an admired painter. He's most famous for his graphic visions of the conflicts inherent in and around country music. His work has been shown widely around the US and the UK and a couple years ago, he was asked to do the feature art for the Country Music Hall of Fame's Nashville Cats exhibit. There, he met Norbert Putnam, who invited him to come to Muscle Shoals to make a record. It's title: Four Lost Souls. With guest interviewer/producer Gina Frary Bacon.

Listen to new tunes from The Band Royale, Jon Langford, The Future Stuff, Knox Fortune, Dan Rico, and Man's Body on Sunday night's edition of Lcal Anesthetic.

ROCKTOBER all month long we cover music documentaries here at Sup Doc.George and Paco visit with actress/improviser/musician Tawny Newsome to discuss her experience cosplaying STOP MAKING SENSE-era Talking Heads for Documentary Now and in a cover band. We talk about Second City, her projects with Jon Langford (Mekons, Skull Orchard), the WOOZ of Vacaville, and recording with the legendary Muscle Shoals Swampers!Stop Making Sense (1984) is the concert film of the last Talking Heads tour, shot in Los Angeles and directed by Jonathan Demme. Considered one of the best live concert films of all time!Tawny Newsome is a series regular on Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, frequent guest on Comedy Bang Bang and Spontaneanation, and a singer who collaborates with Jon Langford, most recently on Four Lost Souls on Bloodshot Records.Follow us on:Twitter: @supdocpodcastInstagram: @supdocpodcastFacebook: @supdocpodcastsign up for our mailing listAnd you can show your support to Sup Doc by donating on Patreon.

More on the 1967 Situtationist book. Do we buy Debord's critique? Is any merely partial critique (i.e. no revolution) just more spectacle? Is technology inherently dehumanizing? Don't these passivity/anti-technology arguments even apply to books? Could Debord's model of authenticity catch on in society as a whole? Start with part 1, or get the Citizen Edition. Please support PEL! End song: "Millionaire" by The Mekons (1993); Jon Langford appears on Nakedly Examined Music #22.

Jon Langford talks about grace and how its the gift from God and how he reaches out for us even if we’re in a state of sin because of his amazing grace and how grace is always there but you have to be willing to take it because grace is an undeserved love that is given so freely and even we where distant from God, Jesus came and died for us. Paul says “and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realm in Jesus Christ”.

Jon Langford - BSR Episode #1 by Brain Song Radio

Jon has been a key member of art collective The Mekons since 1977, injecting country/folk/reggae/etc. influences into a seminal punk band to create an inimitable melange that has put out 19 albums, plus he puts out solo albums and is involved with many side projects including the country-punk Waco Brothers. We discuss "Lil' Ray O' Light" from his solo album Here Be Monsters (2014) and two Mekons songs: "This Funeral Is for the Wrong Corpse" recorded in 1991 and released on I Have Been to Heaven and Back: Hen's Teeth and Other Lost Fragments of Un-Popular Culture, Volume 1 in 1999, and "Cockermouth" from Natural (2007). We conclude by listening to the title track from the 2016 Waco Brothers album Going Down in History. Intro/outro music is from "Mephis Egypt" from The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll (1989). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music.

Jon has been a key member of art collective The Mekons since 1977, injecting country/folk/reggae/etc. influences into a seminal punk band to create an inimitable melange that has put out 19 albums, plus he puts out solo albums and is involved with many side projects including the country-punk Waco Brothers. We discuss "Lil' Ray O' Light" from his solo album Here Be Monsters (2014) and two Mekons songs: "This Funeral Is for the Wrong Corpse" recorded in 1991 and released on I Have Been to Heaven and Back: Hen's Teeth and Other Lost Fragments of Un-Popular Culture, Volume 1 in 1999, and "Cockermouth" from Natural (2007). We conclude by listening to the title track from the 2016 Waco Brothers album Going Down in History. Intro/outro music is from "Mephis Egypt" from The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll (1989). Hear more Nakedly Examined Music.

On today's episode I talk to musician Barbara Manning. Barbara is prolific songwriter originally from California, where she spent part of her childhood on a commune. While attending Chico State University in 1983, Manning played bass with the seminal jangle-pop band 28th Day, and since then she's recorded a number of albums under her own name and has played with and fronted a number of amazing bands including World of Pooh, SF Seals, The Go-Luckys!. She's collaborated with everyone from Jon Langford of The Mekons to The Magnetic Fields' Stephen Merritt, and her albums have been released by some of the best indie labels around including SubPop, K Records, Matador and Teenbeat. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

Jon Langford is an artist's artist. He's a member of the Mekons, Waco Brothers, The Three Johns, Men of Gwent and an accomplished solo performer and painter. With a new Waco Brothers album on the way (Going Down in History) and an urge for encased meats, Langford jumped in the backseat to perform a couple songs, enjoy a hot dog and fries and walk through his fantastic career, dating back to the 1970s. For this week's show, the Mazda 3 took the show to Ivy's Burgers, Hot Dogs & Fries in Edgebrook. It was kind of amazing.

In the late '70s, Andy Gill and Jon Langford were schoolmates at the University of Leeds in England. That was where Andy co-founded a band called Gang of Four and Jon helped start a band called the Mekons. Those bands went on to great things, such as helping to invent post-punk — and becoming iconic bands in the process. The Mekons are possibly the longest-running and certainly the most beloved post-punk band. Their music has encompassed punk rock, country music and dub reggae, and they've released a long string of truly great albums like Fear and Whiskey (1985) and The Mekons Rock & Roll (1989). Their history, their music and their perseverance through thick and thin, not to mention their sense of humor, are showcased in the 2015 documentary Revenge of the Mekons. In the late '70s and early '80s, Gang of Four made some classic albums of life-changing, canonical Neo-Marxist post-punk, like Entertainment (1979), Solid Gold (1981) and Songs of the Free (1982). They've influenced everybody from Rage Against the Machine to St. Vincent. With Andy Gill as the sole remaining original member, they released an album in 2015 called What Happens Next. Here, these two smart musicians and old friends recall their common roots, trace the evolution of the concept of punk rock as it traveled north through England, and how it inspired their respective bands. Punk's chief message, according to these guys: "You can really go anywhere you want with it."

As a founding member of the Mekons, Jon Langford has been making music since the 1970s, so we had a lot to talk about in this two-beer chat at Halyards in Brooklyn.  He covers his entire history, from his childhood in Wales, to art school in Leeds, to his migration in the '90s to Chicago, where he formed the Waco Brothers.  Now backed by his band, Skull Orchard, he's just released Here Be Monsters, his critically lauded sixth solo LP.  Langford also explains how he came to design labels for Dogfish Head Brewery, and reveals the greatest gig he's ever seen. facebook.com/jonboylangford drypaintsigns.com 

Movie Meltdown - Episode 263 This week we talk about movies, music and life in general with punk icon and actor... John Doe! John stars in the new independent film "Pleased to Meet Me", so we discuss his chemistry with co-star Aimee Mann, shooting movies in smaller cities, and playing someone in the music business vs. actually being in the music business. Plus of course we discuss his early days, his love of music, his decision to move to L.A., and the musical scene that formed the legendary band X. Then we round things out with Archie Borders, the director of "Pleased to Meet Me", as we find out about how this film came together and the challenges of directing indie films. Plus as we ponder the significance of the "O" in the Hollywood sign, we also mention… CBGB's, Wayne Wang, Illinois, doing accents, John Entwistle, Baltimore, The Screamers, Patrick Swayze, Katie O’Brien, California is epic, The Talking Heads, the East coast, Harry Dean Stanton, ex-NAVY SEAL, outlawing lead bullets, Max's Kansas City, Blondie, The Go-Gos, Tom Hulce, Jerry Lee Lewis, falling off the balcony, opera, Velvet Underground, The Weiroes, A.P. Carter, Rowdy Harrington???, Minute Men,  Oasis, Elliott Smith, John Waters, The Who, The Ramones, Hollywood Boulevard, digging to find your inner Jerry Lewis, Paul Westerberg, classical piano, Andy Warhol, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Border Radio, I blew my knee out, Rocket Man, sarcastic, Divine, Joan Baez, Gary Snyder, The Germs, Allison Anders, hanging out with LAPD, Road House, Universal Amphitheater in L.A., Sid and Nancy, Roadside Director???, musicians from the classifieds, librarian, pop art vs. fine art, Green Day, Jewel, Georgia, shooting in your hometown, I can starve on my own... I can starve in music no problem , The Big Red One, self-depricating, David Hockney, Robert Quine, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Breathless, finishing a tour, Don Cheadle, the King Ad Rock, is it a musician or an actor, movie reality, Mink Stole,  Allen Ginsberg, visable holes even from the flatlands, Joe Strummer, bring that blue and white plaid shirt, Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Killer, Roadside Prophets, don't get off the boat... it's an f-ing tiger, Everyone Speaks Elton John, Nathanael West, Jim Thompson, Charles Bukowski, Diane Wakoski, a concrete structure somewhere where they can do very little damage,Ulu Grosbard, Winona Ryder, John Cusack, a big fish in a medium pond, Jon Langford and I wasn't afraid... for the first time - to rely on what I've done. "That was a total 'pinch me' moment... 'cause we're just hanging out, getting drunk at Sun Studios - playing Jerry Lee songs!"

Jon talks about growing up in Wales, Joe Strummer working as a gravedigger in Newport, opening for The Clash in Leicester, Joe Strummer stories, The Mekons, the  miners’ strike, Billy Bragg stories, his paintings, meeting Johnny Cash four times, Johnny… Continue Reading →

The Bloodshot Records co-owner talks about seeing the Dead Kennedys play Jim Jones’ church, converting an abandoned firehouse into a rehearsal space, the birth of Bloodshot, Jon Langford stories, Ryan Adams stories, musicians without health insurance, being invited to the… Continue Reading →

At the launch of Fear No ART presents The Dinner Party artist Tony Fitzpatrick and musician Jon Langford talk about what makes good art and meeting and getting kicked out of Graceland.

Fear No ART launches The Dinner Party on January 30th, 2012 with artist Tony Fitzpatrick, musician Jon Langford, Jeff Award winning director, Racel Rockwell, and internationally known chef, Homaro Cantu or Moto.

Join host Elysabeth Alfano and go behind the scenes with long-time punk rocker and artist, Jon Langford.

Join host Elysabeth Alfano and go behind the scenes with long-time punk rocker and artist, Jon Langford.

Join host Elysabeth Alfano and go behind the scenes with long-time punk rocker and artist, Jon Langford.

The live show! Fun! Nathan Rabin writes for The Onion's AV Club and is the author of "The Big Rewind" and the upcoming "My Year of Flops". You read his stuff. You like his stuff. Listen to us talk about Lou Pearlman. James Fritz is a stand-up. He's on Red Bar Radio most shows. He's […]

FTB podcast #83 features the new CD by CALEB KLAUDER, called Western Country.  He's a Portland singer with a great retro country sound.  Also new music from JON LANGFORD, NORA JANE STRUTHERS and JUSTIN RUTLEDGE. The full playlist is posted below.  Check the artist's websites and order their CD's or downloads and tell 'em you heard the songs on the FTB podcast.  Please email me with any questions or suggestions for the podcasts. Here's the iTunes link to subscribe to the FTB podcasts.  Here's the direct link to listen now! Please help the Freight Train Boogie podcasts to grow by filling out this short survey... Thanks very much! Show #83 CALEB KLAUDER -  My Time is Gonna Come - Western Country LESLIE STEVENS AND THE BADGERS - Silly - Roomful of Smoke DANGERMUFFIN - Mystery Repeating - Moonscapes MARK OLSON - Little Bird of Freedom - Many Colored Kite (mic break) NORA JANE STRUTHERS - Cowgirl Yodel #3 - Nora Jane Struthers JIMMY LaFAVE - Desperate Men Do Desperate Things - Favorites 1992-2001 LUCKY BUCK & THE WINNERS - Government Money - The Uncomplicated Mind of Lucky Buck CALEB KLAUDER - Pieces on the Floor - Western Country (mic break) JUSTIN RUTLEDGE - Mrs. Montgomery - The Early Widows ZOE MUTH & THE LOST HIGH ROLLERS - You Only Believe Me When I'm Lying - Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers DAVID ROBERT KING - Strange Freedom - Take Me Home JON LANGFORD & SKULL ORCHARD - Getting Used to Uselessness - Old Devils (mic break) CALEB KLAUDER - In The Beginning Western Country   Bill Frater Freight Train Boogie

The Mekon's Jon Langford reminisces about the early days, introduces you to the Mekons and plays some tunes.

The virtuoso trombonist, arranger, and cofounder of Bonerama and Mulebone has also recorded with a laundry list of stars, including Sheryl Crow, Maceo Parker, R.E.M., and Tori Amos. Having cut his teeth in the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band, he's more recently served as an arranger/producer with his own Levee Horns. These productions have included concerts for Blackbird Presents such as the Last Waltz 40 tour, Mavis Staples, Merle Haggard, and Dr John, and featured the legendary Don Was as musical director. It seems like Mark can work with almost anyone. Tonight that's put to the test when he joins the Troubled Men. Topics include cicadas, the oldest woman, the end of school, rental returns, Mother's Day, prison listeners, a provocative name, high school, Richard Erb, Loyola U., Dave Ferrato, Rum Boogie, a termite swarm, Brian O'Neill, Charlie Brent, Luther Kent and Trick Bag, George Porter Jr., Jon Langford, OK GO, Eric Traub, live dates, and much more. Support the podcast [here.](https://www.paypal.me/troubledmenpodcast) Join the Patreon page [here.](https://www.patreon.com/TroubledMen) Shop for Troubled Men's Wear [here.](https://www.bonfire.com/troubled-mens-wear/) Order GR8 Escape Chocolate Chip Cookies/ Use Promo Code TROUBLEDCOOKIE15 for 15% discount [here.](https://velobarcbd.com/gr8-escape/) Subscribe, review, and rate (5 stars) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or almost any podcast aggregator. Follow on social media, share with friends, and spread the Troubled Word. Intro music: Styler/Coman Break music: “Frankenstein” by Bonerama Outro music: “Charity” by Mulebone

Fear No ART launches The Dinner Party on January 30th, 2012 with artist Tony Fitzpatrick, musician Jon Langford, Jeff Award winning director, Racel Rockwell, and internationally known chef, Homaro Cantu or Moto.

At the launch of Fear No ART presents The Dinner Party artist Tony Fitzpatrick and musician Jon Langford talk about what makes good art and meeting and getting kicked out of Graceland.