No Sleep Til Sudbury With Brent Jensen

Barney Bentall is an incredible songwriter and a terrific man. It was a real pleasure hanging out with him, capped with an unplugged performance of a song of his I've loved since my teens, "Something To Live For". Talk about skin vibration.        Barney and I cover a lot of stuff - his four-night stand at Hugh's Room in Toronto as part of a Gordon Lightfoot tribute, the sabbatical he took from music to chase cows in minus 20 weather, Springsteen's Nebraska, the very first record he ever owned, Ron MacLean's Juno Cup mixtape, and the story behind his cover of the Hip's "Bobcaygeon" as a tribute to Gord. Don't miss this.        Bentall's playlist: Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue Gordon Lightfoot - Shadows Bruce Springsteen - The Rising Tom Petty – Free Falling The Band - King Harvest Has Surely Come KD Lang - Love Is Everything The Tragically Hip - Bobcaygeon

Happy New Year, NSTS is back!  We kick off the year by hosting former Sting guitarist Jeffrey Lee Campbell. Jeff toured the world with Sting in 1987 on his Nothing Like The Sun tour, and he details that whirlwind period of his life in his new book, Do Stand So Close: My Improbable Adventure as Sting's Guitarist.      Jeff obviously has some incredible stories, and he shares some of them on the show - headlining Madison Square Garden with Sting, his years with the Broadway smash Mamma Mia!, and what it was like to give Jon Bon Jovi guitar lessons. Jeff imparts all kinds of musical wisdom during our conversation, and if you're a music fan in any capacity you're gonna love this chat.               Campbell's playlist: Prince – Do It All Night Dyke & The Blazers – Let A Woman Be A Woman (And A Man Be A Man)      Jimi Hendrix – Wait Until Tomorrow     Humble Pie – Hot N’ Nasty     Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair    Gregory Porter – Take Me To The Alley   Frank Sinatra – Silent Night

Here's the second and final portion of my time spent with the great Rik Emmett, going over the Christmas songs most special to him. Our first episode from last week was a massive success, earning the most downloads of any NSTS show in 2018. Hope you enjoy this one just as much.      This week Rik once again provides tremendous insight into the writing of some of our favourite holiday tunes, all while playing portions of them on guitar. He also shares some personal details about the playlists the Emmett family listen to during Christmas, and why. Rik graciously wraps up the show by playing one of my faves, a highlight I won't forget. Doing these shows with Rik was the perfect way to wrap what's been an absolutely incredible year. Thanks sincerely to each and every one of you, faithful listeners. My very best to you and your families over the holiday season. I'm outta here, programming resumes January 8, 2019 - Merry Christmas!     Emmett's playlist: Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around th

Time to get into the Christmas spirit, friends. And who better to help us do that than Triumph guitar wiz and Christmas music guru Rik Emmett?  Rik has once again graciously invited me into his home, this time to record two special NSTS episodes featuring his favourite Christmas songs (Rik insisted it be two episodes - there was simply too much ground to cover). In addition to sharing an immense amount of fascinating musical knowledge and enthusiasm, Rik also takes down one of his electric guitars from the wall to play some of the songs that make his skin vibrate. If you have ANY interest in music whatsoever, you cannot miss this. For me, it just doesn't get any better. What a way to close out a fantastic year, folks. Enjoy!        Emmett's playlist: Vince Gill - Winter Wonderland Bing Crosby - I'll Be Home For Christmas Judy Garland - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song Leroy Anderson - Sleigh Ride   

This week on No Sleep 'til Sudbury I'm joined by former Sportsnet sportscaster and current Outta The Park podcast host Barry Davis. Barry's a big music fan (and the frontman of a Tom Petty cover band!), and we had a really terrific chat.  Among the topics covered by Barry and I are obscure Beatles facts, the future of Van Halen, what Barry's calf tattoo says, Sam The Record Man, Bowie's diet of milk and red peppers, and how Don Felder blew it. Great discussion.        Davis' playlist: The Beatles – In My Life John Lennon – Beautiful Boy Tom Petty – You and I Will Meet Again Van Halen – Dreams Green Day – When September Ends David Bowie – Ashes To Ashes Eagles – Take It To The Limit

She's a meteorologist. She's an author. And she's a big music fan. This week it's my pleasure to welcome my pal Amy Sweezey to the show to talk about our mutual love for 80s hair bands!  Amy and I have a terrific chat about the power of nostalgia, the pressures associated with forecasting the weather, Ron MacLean, suicide, KISS dress ups, Hee Haw, the Vietnam War, music therapy, and how a Tom Cochrane song found its way onto her radar.       Sweezey's playlist:  Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made For Walkin' The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black Tom Cochrane – Life is a Highway  Patsy Cline – Crazy Ron Kenoly - Majesty

This week's NSTS guest needs no introduction. Canadian broadcaster Alan Cross returns to the show to talk tunes! As always, Alan and I have a great musical chat. Highlights include the future of rock, his new gig with Q107, his first impression of U2's "Vertigo", his days as a DJ, some great Beatles recording stories, and what's buried very, very deep in the mix of Pearl Jam's "Alive".         U2 - Vertigo Nine Inch Nails – Head Like A Hole Pixies – U Mass The Beatles – Hey Jude Rush – 2112 Pink Floyd – One of These Days Pearl Jam – Alive

Radio and television broadcaster Todd Miller is my guest on NSTS this week, and he brings with him songs from a wide array of musical genres. I do love when that happens. In this episode Todd and I chat about the career twists and turns of Judas Priest, radio playlist secrets, the dulcet tones of jazz artists Weather Report, the AC/DC song he never needs to hear again, and why Monty Python is good for you.      Miller's playlist: Judas Priest – A Touch of Evil Gary Moore – The Messiah Will Come Again Jeff Beck – Where Were You John Entwistle – Too Late The Hero Weather Report – A Remark You Made David Gilmour – The Blue Monty Python – Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

This week we're doing something a little different.  My guest is Toronto Tabla Ensemble artistic director Ritesh Das, in to talk about his new album Bhumika that launches November 9. Ritesh has performed with The Tea Party's Jeff Martin, Loreena McKennitt, and other notable musicians, and he takes me through the history and cultural significance of the tabla, a percussion instrument originating in the Indian subcontinent.        Das' playlist:  Bhumika  Sare Nau   Faceoff  Casual  Sare Panch  Regenesis  New Routes  

This year's Halloween episode guest is former Spoons and Honeymoon Suite keyboardist Rob Preuss. Rob took me to a studio on 72nd Street in New York City so he could play the spooky songs that make his skin vibrate on piano.  Rob is a ridiculously talented musician and an insightful mind. Rather than go through a specific list of songs, we go over some of the songs you'd expect and some you may not. And I learn a few things in the bargain - like the fact that the theme song from The Simpsons is basically the Devil's Interval, the degree to which Gene Simmons terrified Rob as a kid, and how changing the key of Spoons' Romantic Traffic can make it sound like a funeral dirge.       

Country singer songwriter Kelsi Mayne drops by the NSTS studios this week, and she brings guitar player Annette Haas along to play her latest single "Woman Waiting" live.  Kelsi and I chat about her favourite place to play in Nashville, what separates Nelly from other hip hop and rap artists, what she has to wear when she raps, who her famous 'home girl' is, and how alarmingly different audiences are to play for today. The internet is calling Kelsi Mayne Canada's next great country singer. Listen to these harmonies and you'll see why.    Mayne's playlist:  Wynonna Judd – No One Else on Earth Aretha Franklin – Never Loved a Man Little Big Town – Girl Crush Brothers Osborne – Shoot Me Straight Extreme – More Than Words Nelly - Country Grammar Justin Timberlake featuring TI – My Love

My pal Stephen Stanley is with me in studio this week, and I always love having him in. He was gracious enough to bring his guitar with him to play two songs from his excellent Jimmy & The Moon album - if you haven't heard it yet, you really must.  Mister Stanley brings in a collection of songs representative of his band's recent European tour. Some I knew, some I didn't, but I liked 'em all. Stephen shares his tour experiences through the songs, and it makes for a really interesting conversation. We also address the month-long 'self-prohibition' he imposed on himself following the completion of the tour, and the possibility of him breaking it after we wrap the episode. Will he, or won't he? Listen and find out! Stanley's playlist: David Corley - Zero Moon Prinz Grizzley - Irene Shane Joyce - The Spider Van Morrison - Song of Being a Child Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe Kate Fenner - This Divorce Warren Zevon - Something Bad Happened To A Clown                  

The very talented Christina Martin drops by the NSTS studios with her guitar player Dale Murray this week to play tunes and talk music.  Christina's latest record Impossible To Hold is full of really fantastic songs, and she plays a couple of my faves live amidst chatting about Columbia House, Paul Westerberg, the night she became a vampire, what it was like to have Don McLean open for her, the power of Tom Petty's lesser known tunes, and the grading system her husband uses to rate her bottom.    Martin's playlist: Don McLean - Vincent Tom Petty - Room at the Top Shawn Colvin - Even Here We Are Annie Lennox - Love Song For A Vampire David Bowie - Where Are We Now Stevie Nicks - Stand Back  The Pretenders - I'll Stand By You  

This week on the show I welcome broadcaster and former educator Stephen Hurley to the NSTS studios. In addition to going through Stephen's skin-vibrating songs, our chat is centred around music education, and the fact that in schools, music is often a subject when it should instead be an experience.  I love talking music with guys like Stephen, because he's an old soul that truly cherishes music for what can be learned from it, and what it can tell us about ourselves. The highlights of our chat include critical points in music's evolution, Sting's bass lines, Elton John's piano playing ability, the importance of having a musical 'pusher', and our differing opinions involving Eric Clapton. Fun episode.    Hurley's playlist: The Eagles - Desperado Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing Vanity Fare - Hitching a Ride The Band - The Weight Neil Young - Long May You Run Looking Glass - Brandy Garfield - Give My Love To Anne Cat Stevens - Father and Son Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally             

It doesn't get much better than this, folks. Coney Hatch frontman Carl Dixon comes back for his second episode, and who should turn up to sit in but our pal Canadian broadcasting icon Ron MacLean!      I love hanging out with these guys, and this episode was a real treat for me to do. Lots of laughs and so many great music and sports stories...Lee Trevino's response to Tom Watson's open fly, Gord Downie's surprise answer when he was asked if he was a poet or a rocker, the song that triggered Phil Esposito's trade, the challenges Alannah Myles faced on the road, and much more.      All this, and we wrap up with a Tom Petty group singalong with Carl on guitar. You don't want to miss this.      Dixon's playlist: Queen - Now I'm Here The Who - The Real Me The Black Crowes - Descending Alannah Myles - Sonny Say You Will Bob Dylan - Simple Twist of Fate Santana - The Nile 

Fleet-fingered Brighton Rock lead guitarist Greg Fraser calls into the show this week to talk tunes. Greg is an incredible player and a great dude, and our conversation was a lot of fun.  Topics of interest include technology's impact on today's music, our favourite Zeppelin tracks, the Sudbury-Soo rivalry, Al DiMeola, Steve Harris' favourite song, Michael Schenker's unique response to Greg's dinner invite, and hanging backstage at the Junos with Liona Boyd.        Fraser's playlist: Elton John - Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me Elton John - Your Song The Beatles - Yesterday Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song Liona Boyd - Air on a G String UFO - Love To Love UFO - Try Me      

The No Sleep 'til Sudbury podcast is back with the incredible and irrepressible Molly Johnson. She's got fire, she's got insight, and the lady has stories.  What a discussion - Molly talks to me about the American civil rights movement, what Aretha smoked, Rick James' real name, the politics of tuna, where Jim Cuddy got his voice from, how The Police formed, the genius of Gord Downie, and what all the greatest singers actually have in common (it's not what you think!)     Johnson's playlist: Mozart – Symphony 46 Measha Brueggergrosman – Hymn to Freedom KD Lang – Hallelujah Aretha Franklin – Respect  Miles Davis – Birth of the Cool Moe Koffman – Curried Soul Blue Rodeo – Try The Tragically Hip – Bobcaygeon The Staples Singers – Anything with Pops on guitar Neil Young – Harvest Moon     

If you're a fan of the show, this will be one of your favourite episodes. Singer and vocal coach Teresa Cirillo drops by the No Sleep 'til Sudbury studios for a very honest and personal chat about the music that makes her skin vibrate.   Teresa is enthusiastic, genuine, upbeat, and she doesn't hold back one bit. We talk about the peculiar coterie of characters that comprised Michael Jackson's entourage, what happens to women when Chris Isaak sings, how many octaves Freddie Mercury could cover, Simply Red's connection to her fear of death, the number of people who have cried on my show (including herself), and her Pitbull ban. To close out the episode, Teresa very vehemently invites Jann Arden to guest on No Sleep 'til Sudbury. So, Jann...what do you say?      Cirillo's playlist: Chris Isaak - Wicked Game Live - Lightning Crashes Simply Red - Holding Back The Years Kaleo - Way Down Jann Arden - I Would Die For You Queen - The Show Must Go On Michael Jackson - Human Nature Big Wreck - That Song Eros Ramazotti -

Ethnomusicologist, professor, and writer Gillian Turnbull is my guest on the show this week. Gillian is a fascinating woman with a powerful social voice, and she provides some great commentary with lots of laughs.  Tune in to hear about her boozy encounter with Jim Cuddy, her theory as to why Billy Joel doesn't get as much respect as Springsteen, her love for Rush, and her affinity for Neko Case's scatological emphasis - the lady drops an F-bomb with style.              Turnbull's playlist: Blue Rodeo - Cynthia Ian Tyson - Elko Blues Billy Joel - Scenes From An Italian Restaurant Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl Courtney Barnett - Pedestrian at Best Neko Case - Where Did I Leave That Fire Jason Isbell - Elephant NQ Arbuckle - Hospitals Rush - Working Man  Jim White & Aimee Mann - Static on the Radio Beyoncé & Dixie Chicks - Daddy Lessons    

My pal Ron MacLean comes back to the No Sleep ‘til Sudbury studios again this week to chat about ten more songs that make his skin vibrate. It’s an absolute joy to hang out with Ron - he’s funny, whip smart, super gracious, and he knows his music. In this episode Ron and I discuss his ritual for listening to music in the car, his affinity for Tom Petty, Todd Rundgren, and Carl Dixon, his Olympics exploits, the bond we share through an old French Canadian folk song, Blue Rodeo and smoked sausages, and why music is better when the mistakes are left in. Ron also opens up about Gerry Rafferty in a way I didn’t expect, but certainly appreciated. Great man, great storyteller. Great episode.   MacLean's playlist: Rod Stewart - Maggie May England Dan and John Ford Coley - Love is the Answer Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street Willie Nelson Merle Haggard - Pancho and Lefty Brandi Carlile - The Joke Boston - More Than a Feeling Talking Heads - What a Day That Was Tom Petty - Swingin' Catherine McKinnon – Dominique Blue Ro