Author Archives: Evan Toth

It’s a major concept for a short podcast, but when was the last time you thought about your place—not only in the universe—but within the multiverse? “What is a multiverse,” you may ask. We can thank the Ancient Greek Atomists, namely Leucippus and Democritus, for presenting us with the concept of multiple worlds or universes that construct everything in existence: space, time, matter, information, and all of the physical laws and constants that support them. However, where does music live in this multiverse?

About 25 years ago, multi-Grammy nominated Bobby Sanabria—a Nuyorican drummer, radio show host, educator, and band leader—decided to consider the interconnectedness of all things musical with the formulation of his Latin Jazz group, the Multiverse big band. On May 12th, Sanabria’s group will release their latest album titled, Vox Humana. That album, and much of Sanabria’s work, is an opportunity to not only explore the myriad possibilities within the musical realm, but to also explore the social significance that impacts any group of humans when they join forces to create music.

Musicians are fortunate to be able to communicate and develop works of beauty without speaking the same language, or even being in the same room. They are able to bring their own backgrounds and experiences to the performances and compositions in a way that complements one another, rather than focusing on ways that divide us. In this discussion, Sanabria and I examine this anthropological element in his music. Just when you were getting used to the idea of being a speck of dust in the universe, we go and throw the concept of multi-universality at you. Don’t be intimidated, especially since you have Bobby Sanabria serving as your tour guide. Even if the concepts are a bit daunting, the music is guaranteed to be out of this world!

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Music can have several purposes. Often, its job is to get the body moving, dancing, or working out. The right music at a suitable tempo has a drastic effect on one’s ability to work, exercise, or hone in on the task at hand. Sometimes, however, the goal is to relax, slow down, lower the heart rate, and slowly slip into the moment.

Emiliano Melis is a composer and visual artist originally from Turin, Italy. Several years ago he moved to Brooklyn to meet up with like-minded musicians and artists. His main interest is in electronic and ambient music and his latest album is titled, Outside the Box (Mother West). What’s unique about Emiliano’s approach is his use of the cassette tape as a tool used for composition and production which also includes digital and analog synths, droning tape loops, melodic piano, and downtempo lo-fi beats.

If you’re a fan of chillwave, ambient electronica, and cinematic soundscapes, then Emiliano’s latest release is for you. He also has a large following on social media where he creates imaginative posts illustrating the hardware he employs to create his sonic landscapes.

So, join Emiliano and me as we deconstruct his artistic process, discuss how sound affects space, and how effective music can be during many activities, including no activity at all.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Music releases can be fleeting. Artists work on projects with great skill and care. They might get the right players, use the best studios, and tirelessly craft their compositions. But when the project is released, sometimes it’s lost in the shuffle. Obviously, such an event is disappointing, but every so often, a deserving project gets a second chance.

Kendra Morris is a soul singer-songwriter who has had her music featured in an episode of Ray Donovan and her version of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was used in the trailer for the film, Dead Man Down (2013). However, in 2016, Kendra self-released an EP titled “Babble” and the response didn’t quite meet her expectations. However, the material on the EP was rich and the first 50 vinyl releases even featured handmade album jackets from Kendra as she is also a very talented visual artist.

Her last full-length album—Nine Lives, released in 2022—came out on the Karma Chief Record label (a division of Colemine Records). Kendra and the label have recently re-released “Babble”—including three new tracks—in an effort to give the material another chance to be heard by a wider audience.

Kendra and I have a fun conversation about songwriting, her inimitable style, what she’s watching, and how she is preparing for her upcoming tour. She also explains why “Babble” is so important to her and why you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to love it, the second time around.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Thank you for reading or watching or listening to our 100th episode of Radar! At the risk of sounding like an awards acceptee while the band begins to signal my necessary move from the stage, I’d like to thank all of the wonderful guests who have given generously of their time to share their insights about projects that they are involved in.

Thank you as well to the publicists behind the scenes who serve as liaisons and ensure that these interviews actually happen! And of course, thanks to The Vinyl District for providing a weekly platform to share my chats with you, dear readers and listeners. Of course, thank you—too—to WFDU, 89.1 FM for giving me the opportunity to transmit these interviews over the FM airwaves throughout the greater New York City metropolitan area. We hope you’ll stick around for the next 100 episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to tell your friends about it.

This week, our guest is Robin Taylor Zander, better known as RTZ. As you might have guessed by his unique moniker, RTZ is the son of Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander. Not only is Zander a fabulous musician who has filled in for each member of Cheap Trick at some point prompting Rolling Stone to refer to RTZ as, “Cheap Trick’s secret weapon.” However, he’s also a talented writer and producer who will be releasing his first album in April titled, The Distance. The album was also mixed by the rock and roll dream duo of Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith) and Jay Messina (Aerosmith, Kiss, Lou Reed) who have worked together for 40 years—that is another story all unto itself.

RTZ joins me—ezt—this week as we discuss his excellent new release, the production and composition which went into it, how he navigates inhabiting Cheap Trick’s world, and where he’s going next.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Think about the “what if” scenarios in your life. Not really regrets. Not things you wished had gone differently, but situations in which—because of circumstances beyond your control—you’ll never truly know what could have been or where the road might have led. However, every so often, we get lucky. We get the opportunity to remove the detour from the pathway and we are offered a second chance at taking the road that we didn’t take.

Nearly 30 years ago, way back in the mid-90s, Vanessa Downing was in a Pennsylvania based rock and roll band called Samuel. They were good, they played a lot of gigs, and then things started to get serious. The band was courted by A&R reps and were slated to record their debut with indie/punk engineer and musician Bob Weston (Mission of Burma, Volcano Suns, Shellac). However, as you’ll learn in this interview, decisions were made and the band’s momentum was halted.

While they released a few 7-inches and a EP during their day, recently, the thought was floated among the band members who had continued to keep in touch. What if we revisited some of those old songs? What if we added a few new ones? What if we engaged the flux capacitor and recorded the album that we would have recorded back then?

So, here they are—slightly rebranded as Samuel S.C. with a new album called, High Places (ORG/Art Monk Construction). Vanessa joins me on this episode to explain the rise—and fall—and rise again—of the band and point out some of the sights along the road not taken.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

PHOTO: RALF LOUIS | Sometimes, in order to go forward, you must first take a look at your past. Graham Nash has a rich and undoubtedly storied history behind him and he has recently released a live album titled, Graham Nash: Live which features him performing his first two albums—Songs for Beginners (1971) and Wild Tales (1973)—in their entirety. 

Nash, however, has often focused on the future and shows no signs of slowing down. While he’s excited about this new live release, he’s also recently published A Life in Focus: The Photography of Graham Nash which showcases his longtime affair with photography. And, as we learn in this interview, he’s just completed a brand new solo album which is due to be released in early 2023. But in this chat, Graham and I talk about why he chose to revisit his first two solo albums and the experience of retracing the footsteps he made nearly a half-century ago.

Of course, we also discuss the Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, making long-term musical relationships work and how you can’t really envision where you’re going, unless you know where you’ve been.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Even minimalists have a few knick-knacks tucked away, small objects that aren’t particularly useful, but which remind us of a warm memory, time, or place. When purging or decluttering, a lazy gaze at this bric-a-brac makes us wonder if we’re being too hasty considering parting with the item. But before we harshly “Marie Kondo” these objects, it’s essential that we check to see if they “spark joy,” for if they do, we can be certain that it will always have a place in our heart and our home. We all have tchotchkes.

But is Tchotchke—the band—on your shelf yet? If you collect music with girl group vibes or female fronted bands of the ’60s and ’70s, then New York’s Tchotchke is sure to make it to your library. The band has a brand-new self-titled album out now (Tchotchke Records/ORG Music) which was produced by the D’Addario Brothers from The Lemon Twigs and was mixed at the famed Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Musically, however, the group stretches themselves beyond guitar rock’s confines and even flirts with some proggy influences along the way. This first album is familiar enough to assure quick assimilation, but repeated listenings reveal a band equipped with the tools and talent to grow into something extraordinary.

Anastasia (drums, vocals), Eva (bass, vocals), and Emily (guitar, vocals) join me on this episode to discuss the ghosts who may have visited them during the recording process, the assembly of the album, preparing for an upcoming tour with King Tuff, and what songs are on their shared band playlist. You might declutter your record collection in years to come, but when you arrive at Tchotchke’s latest record, you’ll find it hard to part with. It did, after all, provide you with fun, warm sun-drenched memories. It’s a memento of that experience. How could you let it go? It’s sure to become a part of your permanent collection of tchotchkes.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

PHOTO: JONNO RATTMAN | There is an intrinsic grandeur to the Great American Songbook that we can all appreciate. When the first few bars of those classics begin they can boost our spirit, provide us with a moment of quiet contemplation, or even make us a little bit misty.

For those reasons, the compositions are timeless. However, they do indeed emanate from a specific time and place, one that is far away from the one in which we now live. The classic standards will always remain eternal and most people can enjoy them; after all, that is the whole idea behind being a “standard” in the first place. However, listeners also yearn to hear music from their own eras. While grandma and grandpa—or, great-grandma and great-grandpa—might remember when those songs were new, we often digest that music through their lens, not ours.

Rachael and Vilray have crafted for us a new catalog of music that belongs to the 21st century, but it’s also music that our ancestors—those who remember the release of the original standards—would also appreciate. Rachael Price, vocalist from Lake Street Dive, and Vilray met one another while attending the New England Conservatory and reconnected years later when Rachael caught one of Vilray’s sets where he was performing his own compositions that hearkened back to those great old standards but were completely new. When Rachael heard his treasure trove of tunes, she knew she wanted to be a part of sharing them with a wider audience.

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Modern music listeners enjoy creating personalized playlists containing their preferred musicians and genres, but there’s one thing lacking: the expertly guiding hand of a radio station’s program director—or, even better—a tasteful DJ behind the microphone who loves to share favorite tunes, but also introduces listeners to new music that is worthy of addition to your personal faves. But, current culture has sacrificed the serendipitous nature of the radio in favor of complete control over musical choices, or—even worse—the choices of a faceless corporate AI bot.

Bassist and composer, Esperanza Spalding understands the mystery and magic that a spin of your local radio dial can provide, and in 2012 she released an album paying homage to the spirit of radio. Produced by Esperanza and co-produced by A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, Radio Music Society showcased the breadth of Spalding’s musical aptitude and inhabited the rare musical landscape of being challenging, yet also a lot of fun to listen to.

It’s been 10 years and the Grammy award-winning album finds itself eligible for reissue by Craft Recordings and is given the full anniversary treatment featuring 2 LPs pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. The title will also be reissued in hi-res digital audio. Esperanza and I discuss the continuing role of radio in her current life and she offers a unique and descriptive behind-the-scenes peek into her production and composing process. We also explore her complimentary role as an educator and, of course, delve into what makes vinyl special to her. So, let’s turn the radio dial and search for some serendipity.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Myths are funny things, especially in the 21st century where we find ourselves constantly reevaluating standards that were accepted as gospel only a few years ago. And who knows? It’s feasible to posit that society’s reevaluations will be reevaluated somewhere else down the long road of time. Telling the story of early rock and roll is an interesting exercise at this point in history as many of the music makers are still with us. It’s so important to get the story right so that future generations can grapple with both the facts and the myths.

David Leaf is a Peabody and Writers Guild of America West award-winning writer, director, and producer and has long been regarded as a scholar of rock and pop music, specifically of The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson. He’s spent his career sorting through rumors and myths and facts and—of course, music—and he’s written a book about The Beach Boys history that most rock and rock academics regard as the pinnacle, God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth.

Originally published in 1978, Leaf hasn’t altered the text of the original manuscript, but, rather, has added additional segments and information to create a body of work that will stand the test of time. Leaf joins me on this episode to discuss his updated book, sort through some records with me, and also to provide us all with learned theories about what was singularly unique and enduring about the music created by Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

By way of Dallas, Texas, Frank LoCrasto has crafted a career composing music that recalls a hazy past which Frank himself might not be old enough to remember first-hand. However, he knows what it takes to create a sonic landscape that harkens back to a mystical time when the sun hung low in the sky on a never-ending summer afternoon and everything was varied hues of earthy browns. His music is just what you might expect those nostalgic days to require: jazz, ambient music, Latin, 1960s and 1970s B-movie film scores, and exotica.

Now based in Brooklyn, Frank’s career has amassed quite a track record. He’s released four solo albums—When You’re There (2006), El Dorado (2011), LoCrasto (2015), and Lost Dispatch (2019)—and has written compositions for three feature length films—Sandbar (2012), Union Furnace (2015), Stranger in the Dunes (2016)—including having his songs included in the soundtrack of the 2014 movie Obvious Child, and the 2020 HBO series How to With Jon Wilson. Additionally, LoCrasto has worked with Pat Martino, James Iha, Parquet Courts, Fruit Bats, Okkervil River, and more.

On this episode, Frank joins us to discuss the latest release from his Kolumbo project. The new album is titled, Gung Ho featuring Frank’s signature blend of nostalgic exotica with a modern twist. You’ll hear us discuss vintage synths, the beauty of analog, and how Frank pieced this album together during a global pandemic.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

In the 1980s, the mall was the place to be and there is a reason why modern society is nostalgic for that insulated wonderland of days gone by. Before the internet and our endless stream of information, there was less to process, and fewer things to worry about. Blissfully ignorant innocence was on full display amid indoor atriums, food courts, and all the shopping one could hope for. Most significantly, the mall gave American youth their first taste of adult-level freedom.

When the Muzak wasn’t playing, one might have heard a cavernous echo of sound floating down the corridors and followed the noise to discover its origin. If you were lucky enough, you’d find teen-icon, pop princess, Tiffany performing her inescapable hits in front of adolescent multitudes. These performances were innovative in that they were engineered to bring the music to where the fans already were, rather than the other way around.

A lot has happened since those days: America is different, the malls aren’t the same, and neither is Tiffany. Like the rest of us, she has grown and matured and recently released a brand-new album titled Shadows, which is a hard-hitting rock record looking toward the future with one or two winks at those past golden days. Sure, the mall still exists now, and as you’ll learn, Tiffany might even be found walking the halls, but—for those of us who remember the old days—it’s different, the world isn’t the same. But, Tiffany’s optimism and dedication to her craft invites us to inject a little of that much-needed ’80s buoyancy into our modern world.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

It’s the time of the year when holiday music sounds as fresh as the stacks of Christmas trees being sold at your local firehouse. With some melancholy, however, we know that in another month or so we’ll be dragging those trees down the driveway and onto the curb while searching for music without so much comfort and joy to keep us busy until the birds of spring begin to chirp.

But, we’re not there yet! The days are short, and the novelty of a cozy, warm evening by the fire with a softly murmuring hi-fi in the background has not yet worn off. And what better music to hear than some traditional and popular Christmas tunes? But what to choose? There’s no shortage of places to find the stuff, but it’s not so simple to find enduring holiday classics crafted with care, skill, and class.

Acclaimed jazz and pop singer, Jane Monheit knows her way around a Christmas song or two, and she’s here to prove it with her newest release, The Merriest. The celebrated vocalist has released many albums, several of which have appeared on the Billboard Jazz Charts, and of course, she’s entertained audiences all over the world. Here, however, Jane hand-picks some of her favorite Christmas tunes with a crack band backing her up. John Pizzarelli even comes by with his guitar to join her on a rendition of “That Holiday Feeling.”

Jane and I discuss her relationship with the holidays, the lush production behind the album, some dates she’ll be performing in support of the new album, and much more. If you’re searching for something familiar, yet fresh, to accompany you through the holiday season this year, consider giving Jane Monheit’s new album a spin.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Change isn’t easy for anyone; it’s a risk. When something works, even if it doesn’t work perfectly, the simplest approach is to stay the course, to avoid rocking the boat. However, for an artist, change is often necessary, but—again—doing so can be a frightening prospect both for the artist and for their audience.

Marlon Rabenreither has fronted the group Gold Star for over a decade now. While his previous approach was somewhat more folk and acoustic guitar oriented, the pandemic nudged Marlon to try something new; distorted vocals, aggressive guitars, spacey synths, and propulsive drumming. Produced mostly on computers with his bandmates, Rabenreither created two EPs which are now available as a full-length album, Headlights USA, Parts 1 and 2.

As an artist, Rabenreither knows that in order to grow and create, one must evolve. We also discuss his creation of the album’s cover art, producing the album during the thick of the pandemic, the retro influences on his modern sound, and where his life’s headlights will lead him next.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Tracy Bonham can do it all. You might remember her from the late ’90s when she released The Burdens of Being Upright abum and screamed right into the faces of the alternative rock world. Or, maybe you learned about her through her terrific albums and career that followed over the course of the last twenty years, but now, she’s back and she wants to teach you a lesson!

No, like a real lesson. Tracy takes a studious approach to music and wants to share her musical training with kids who have an interest in learning about it. Her newest project, Young Maestros, Vol. 1 has the goal of instilling into students some solid musical theory without pandering to them or talking down to them (kids hate when you do that!).

Join Tracy and me as we talk about her career and Young Maestros; you might even walk away learning some music theory; maybe even a little math. Did I just use math in an attempt to hook someone into listening to a show? Don’t worry, you’ll love it! Don’t forget to take notes, there might be a quiz at the end.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Sharp Notes each Saturday evening at 6pm and TVD Radar on Sundays at 5AM on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.