From Akron & Beyond Podcast

With the upcoming Album Release Show for “Lost Language(s)” by the Robert Ethington Quintet Ty, Nick, with the aid of Brad Savage, investigate this Ethington character…. Fiery Ambition! Torrid Relationships!  Futile Gestures!  Hilarious Pretentiousness! Questionable Hairstyles!  (And that’s just Bob). Unit 5, Tracey Thomas Shepard, Tin Huey, Ralph Carney, Half Cleveland, Glenn Lazear, Golems of the Red Planet - and more! It’s all here…. Listen Thursday, August 28, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime, wherever you get your podcasts!

In this episode, we visit with writer/historian Steven Gardner. Gardner’s five volume (so far!) History of Punk and New Wave music in the 1970’s (and beyond!) is about as close to definitive as we’ll ever get.  And - Akron finally gets its due! We discuss Gardner’s inspirations, methods, and his ultimate hopes for this ambitious project. And there’s a lot of great music! Listen Thursday, July 31, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3 - or anytime later, wherever you get your podcasts! ...

With the grand opening coming this weekend, we talk with local historian Caitlyn Conley from the Akron-Summit County Public Library, who is the Center’s Museum Specialist.  We learn about the many exhibits and artifacts, with special attention to the local music (of course!).  Check out (library pun) this episode, and make sure to head downtown and visit the History Center! Listen Thursday, April 3, at 10 pm, and at 11 pm to our related interview with Dave Lieberth), on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime, wherever you get your podcasts!

In this episode, Nick and Bob visit with the remarkable Mac Love, who, with his wife Allyse, founded ART X LOVE, a creative agency that creates and promotes a variety of artistic projects and endeavors throughout the Akron community. Mac brings a lot of passion, creativity, and enthusiasm to his work - and it’s contagious! Listen Thursday, July 24, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or anytime wherever you get your podcasts!

Since our visit last year with Ryan Humbert, the Country Honky Tonk sounds of his band The Shootouts have been getting raves from the music press, and shooting up the charts with their latest album SWITCHBACK. A glowing ROLLING STONE review, becoming regulars at the legendary Grand Ole Opry, and hanging out with new friends like Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell - We discuss what it has taken for Ryan, Emily Bates, and Brian Poston to achieve this level of success, and where they go from here. Featuring plenty of tunes from SWITCHBACK, this is a good one! Listen Thursday, July 10, at 10 pm, on The Summit FM, 91.3, or anytime wherever you get your podcasts!

In this episode we welcome back the host of Revolt Into Style, rock raconteur and musician Dave Swanson.  It’s a free-wheeling, fun conversation about All Things Rock - and we play a lot of great tunes, to boot! Listen Thursday, July 3, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime, wherever you get your podcasts!

Nick and Bob continue their random discussion of memorable album covers. With lots of terrific music! Listen Thursday, June 19, at 10 am on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime wherever you get your podcasts. ...

In this episode, Nick and Bob once again court controversy with their selection of the Greatest Album Covers Ever!  (Well, some of them, anyway).  And needless to say to add, this gives us another opportunity to play some awesome music! Listen Thursday, June 11 at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime wherever you get your podcasts! (Thanks Brad Savage)

In this episode, Nick and Bob catch up with Judges Linda and Tom Teodosio. We learn about their busy and accomplished lives, many interests, and plans for the future. And we remember their late daughter Andrea Rose, whose life they celebrate through the Andrea Rose Teodosio Memorial Foundation. It was our pleasure to speak with this remarkable and giving couple. Listen Thursday, June 5, at 10 pm, on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later, wherever you get your podcasts.

Pure Pop with influences from such odd bedfellows as The Monkees and The Residents (No, really!), this talented duo’s albums on the Big Stir label have been garnering rave reviews and airplay on the BBC. And they’re from Akron! Tune in this Thursday, May 29, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, to hear their story - and a lot of cool music!

Continuing our tribute to the late, great David Thomas, Nick and Bob are joined by Robert Kidney of 15 60 75 Numbers Band. Robert shares memories of his encounters and friendship with Thomas, over many decades. Lots of music! In which we focus on the second half of Thomas’ work with Pete Ubu, and various side projects. Listen Thursday, May 15, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime, wherever you get your podcasts. (For podcasts with full songs, we recommend SoundCloud)

In this first of a two-parter, we celebrate the work of a true American original.  This episode covers Thomas’ early life, Rocket From The Tombs, through the seminal early albums of Pere Ubu. Nick shares his personal encounters with Thomas and the band, and the huge influence they had on music locally - and far beyond. Listen Thursday, May 1, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime, wherever you get your podcasts! (Note: This episode contains a lot of music, so for the podcast we recommend SoundCloud in order to hear complete songs….) Thanks Brad Savage & Chad A. Miller

Back in 1970, inspired by the success of Woodstock, a couple of enterprising Akron lads decided to bring a rock festival to Akron. Filled with peace and love, featuring bands such as the Byrds, Canned Heat, the Rascals, Alice Cooper, and others,  the Piper Rock Festival would be one of the biggest concert events ever to happen in NE Ohio…. That is, until “The Man” got word of what was happening….. A classic tale of idealism, bureaucracy, money, rain and mud, the Piper Rock Festival is the stuff of legend. As is our guest, Ernie Passeos!  Well known in the area for his Harley-Davidson dealership and community good works, Ernie was one of those idealistic entrepreneurs trying to bring the good vibes to Akron in 1970. Join us for a hilarious and fun look back, and ahead, with the remarkable Ernie Passeos!

The Hi-Fi’s were one of Akron’s most steady and beloved bands, featuring the terrific songs of Chuck Keith and the lead guitar wizardry of Denny Coyle.  But in one terrible week, everything changed. In this episode we talk with Rich Roberts, Tren Houseman, and Harvey Gold about the band and its legacy. Listen on Thursday, April 17, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime wherever you get your podcasts!

The much-anticipated Akron History Center opens on Saturday, April 5th.  Just in time for the City’s Bicentennial, we talk with Dave Lieberth.  No one knows Akron and it’s history better than Dave.  In this episode , we discuss the planning and commitment necessary to make the History Center a reality.  Lots of great Akron stories ensue! Listen Thursday, March 27, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime wherever you get your podcasts!

If you’ve been to Downtown Akron lately, you’ve noticed the eye-catching, appealing window displays and artful design and use of public spaces. This is the work of Curated Storefront, an innovative approach to adding art and excitement to our urban landscape. In this episode, we talk with Operations Director Julian Curet about their mission and future projects.   ...

This year, the legendary 15-60-75 (aka The Numbers Band) celebrate their 55th anniversary as a working band.  Kicking things off is a March 8th concert at the Kent Stage. To celebrate the occasion, we visit again with Robert Kidney, Jack Kidney, and Terry Hynde to discuss the band’s origins, the current state of the group, still writing new material, and their relationship to their audience. It’s a revealing conversation (with lots of music). Don’t miss this one! Listen Thursday, February 27, at 10 pm on The Summit FM, 91.3, or later anytime wherever you get your podcasts!

In this, the first of a two-parter, we go “Beyond” to the Motor City and San Francisco (among other places) with our guest John Bellas. John is one of the nation’s premier experts on vintage Rock posters, and he has the collection to prove it. How he built his collection, and his tips on how and what to look for, are all part of this fun conversation.

We welcome back Akron Diva Tracey Thomas as she celebrates two major career milestones: Her new album “Words Can’t Save Us Now”, and the release of her memoir “Little Miss Akron”! Both the album and book were done with the support of singer/songwriter/honkytonker Ryan Humbert, who also joins the conversation. “Words Can’t Save Us Now” is classic Tracey, featuring new original songs, and great covers of some of her favorites.  The book is a highly readable look at her life - “Little Miss Akron” is an honest, funny, complex, and moving memoir. We delve deep into both on this revealing and fun episode! Listen to The Summit FM, 91.3, this Thursday, January 23 at 10 pm, or later wherever you get your podcasts!

Our in-depth conversation continues! Listen to The Summit FM, 91.3, on Thursday, January 16, at 10 pm, or later, wherever you get your podcasts!