New and improved The Radio Sessions host indie gods Yo La Tengo

The Radio Sessions (formerly The SugarHill Sessions), radio program on KPFT 90.1 FM, has a new name but the mission is the same: to profile independent artists to the city’s diverse listening audience. Host Rhonda Garner attributes the name change to reflect “the exciting new direction that the sessions are taking.” The show centers on live, in-studio performances, followed by in-depth interviews focusing on the artists’ impetus for their work.

The Radio Sessions at SugarHill continues this groundbreaking series by hosting New Jersey’s indie rock national treasure, Yo La Tengo (Matador). The session was tracked at the legendary SugarHill Recording Studios by engineer wunderkind Steve Christensen.

Many years ago, in a land known as Hoboken, NJ, Ira Kaplan met Georgia Hubley. They fell in musical (and literal) love and Yo La Tengo was born shortly thereafter. Their name comes from an obscure baseball reference, and translates to “I’ve Got It!” in Spanish. The band has been a quartet, a trio, or just the two. The husband/wife duo, formed the band in 1984, added bassist James McNew in 1992, and with more than 15 albums released over a period of twenty years, they have demonstrated unusual longevity in the indie-rock scene.

Their skill and talent is showcased during an annual covers-by-request fundraiser for NJ free-form radio station WFMU; it not only draws a huge listening audience but also garners the band an annual comedic platform (and recently spawned a CD compilation entitled Yo La Tengo Is Murdering The Classics.)

They’ve collaborated with everyone from Daniel Johnston, Jad Fair, and Ray Davies to Yoko Ono, and even appeared as the Velvet Underground in the film I Shot Andy Warhol. If Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore are considered the iconical Godmother and Godfather of the noise scene, then Yo La Tengo are certainly destined for indie rock Sainthood.

Their recent release, “I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass” prompted a national tour and gave Rhonda Garner an opportunity to interview the band about everything from rehearsals, being married to one’s band-mate, songwriting techniques to the iPod age and Marfa (TX) and included breathtaking acoustic performances of favorites like “Bean Bag”, “Let the Grass Go”, “Ruler of my heart” and “Mister Tough”.

WHAT: The Radio Sessions at SugarHill with Yo La Tengo

WHEN: 2 p.m. CST, Friday, June 29, 2007

WHERE: KPFT 90.1 FM or live streaming from www.kpft.org

MORE: For more on The Radio Sessions, visit: www.theradiosessions.com
For more on SugarHill Recording Studios, visit: www.sugarhillstudios.com
For more on Yo La Tengo visit: www.yolatengo.com

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Sara Hickman returns to Houston to collaborate with Dan Workman

July 9, 2007- Texas singer song writer phenomenon Sara Hickman has begun collaboration with producer, and SugarHill Studios owner, Dan Workman on two songs in preparation for a her new full-length album.

Raised in Houston, Texas, Sara Hickman launched her professional career at age 14 while performing at a Houston Oilers party. Since then she has released 15 albums including three children’s albums.

As an advocate of numerous charities and health organizations that benefit women, children and animals, Hickman donates her time and often contributes proceeds from her record sales. Her community endeavors include working with organizations such as Safe Place, Habitat for Humanity, House the Homeless, the SPCA and the Race for the Cure.

Hickman has served as the National Ambassador for Half Price Books and on the Board of Directors of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), where she met Dan Workman.

Workman’s professional discography reads like an atlas of the musical world.
Besides being retained by ZZ Top for several years, he has worked on projects with Smashmouth, Clay Walker, Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé. Workman has also contributed to numerous film soundtracks including Charlie's Angels, Down To Earth and Osmosis Jones.

Workman commented on their effort: “Sara and I have very different backgrounds and musical styles, but we have an intense desire to work together based on our friendship and mutual respect. Working together, outside our respective comfort zones, is exciting. It has already produced some amazing music.”

For more on Sara Hickman, visit http://www.sarahickman.com
For more on Dan Workman, visit http://www.danworkman.com

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The Radio Sessions at SugarHill host M. Ward

July 10, 2007 – The Radio Sessions at SugarHill (formerly The SugarHill Sessions), radio program on KPFT 90.1 FM, has a new name but the mission is the same: to profile independent artists to the city’s diverse listening audience. The show centers on live, in-studio performances, followed by in-depth interviews focusing on the artists’ impetus for their work.

The Radio Sessions at SugarHill continues to thrill independent music fans this month by featuring M. Ward (Merge Records) in the latest installment of the series. The session was tracked at the legendary SugarHill Recording Studios by engineer wunderkind Steve Christensen.

After a six-year stint as frontman for the trio Rodriguez, M. Ward began sketching out songs deeply rooted in the classic traditions of American country-folk. He touts artists like, The Beatles, Brian Wilson, John Fahey, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and actor Kris Kristofferson among his greatest influences. His solo career began when Howe Gelb of Giant Sand released Ward's debut disc, Duet For Guitars #2, on the Ow Om label.

Soon thereafter, he released End of Amnesia on the Future Farmer label. In 2003 he signed with Merge Records and released Transfiguration of Vincent, followed by Transistor Radio and Post-War. His latest CD is “To Go Home”.

Ward has been a featured guest on recordings by Cat Power, The Court & Spark, Bright Eyes and My Morning Jacket, has co-written tracks with Beth Orton and co-produced an album for Jenny Lewis.

Ward recently visited Houston while touring with Norah Jones. While in town, he stopped by SugarHill to visit with The Radio Sessions at SugarHill host Rhonda Garner. He discussed everything from his music-making formula, Conan O’Brien, The Beatles, the music revolution, what inspires him to what he feels is tearing America apart. He also performed acoustic versions of crowd favorites like “Poor Boy”, “When I Saw You” (by the Ronettes), “Here Comes the Sun Again”, “Chinese Translation” and “Rollercoaster”.

WHAT: The Radio Sessions at SugarHill with M. Ward

WHEN: 2 p.m. CST, Friday, July 27, 2007

WHERE: KPFT 90.1 FM or live streaming from www.kpft.org

MORE: For more on The Radio Sessions, visit: www.theradiosessions.com
For more on SugarHill Recording Studios, visit: www.sugarhillstudios.com
For more on M. Ward visit: www.mwardmusic.com/

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New Heart Music Ministries records 10th Anniversary CD at SugarHill Recording Studios

June 19, 2007 — Chinese Christian evangelical music choir, New Heart Music Ministries just completed tracking fifteen songs for their 10th Anniversary album entitled “Let the Whole World Know” at SugarHill Recording Studios. The project was tracked in SugarHill’s Studios A and B and mixed in Studio C by SugarHill’s Chief Engineer Andy Bradley.

New Heart Music Ministries is a non-profit organization committed to Christian “ushering people into the presence of God through music”. The ministry was formed in 1992 when a group of Asian classical musicians united to promote their ministry through Christian music sung in their native Chinese language.

In order to support their ministry in music, New Heart books between 60-70 tour dates annually in North America, Canada and throughout Asia.

“Let the Whole World Know” is the choir’s twelfth release and the seventh of which the vocals are sung in the Mandarin language. Several of the groups’ previous releases have been sung in Cantonese. The album features Daniel Yeh (drums), Jonathan Li (violin, acoustic guitar), Judy Wu (cello), Czarina Cheng (piano, synth), Isaque Tseng (bass, acoustic guitar), Pei Chao (flute), Yenn Er (piano, violin) and a 23-person vocal choir.

The album is set to release in September.

For more information on New Heart Music Ministries, visit www.newheartmusic.org
For more on SugarHill Recording Studios, visit: www.sugarhillrecordingstudios.com

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Andy “Mort” Bradley on Radio Birdman

Q: Why was Australia’s legendary rock band Radio Birdman visiting the equally legendary SugarHill Studios?
A: Breakfast, a studio and tape archive tour, and an interview for The Radio Sessions at SugarHill. After the festivities the band was back on the road to Atlanta, Georgia with a stop over in Mobile, Alabama. The morning interview and a live recording during their Texas tour were done both at The Meridian (Houston) and Emo’s (Austin) for broadcast on KPFT 90.1 FM.

Q: What’s the historical connection between Radio Birdman and SugarHill?
A: They came to our studio for two reasons: First, this is the place where a lot of their musical influences were recorded, (The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, the Bubble Puppy, the Sir Douglas Quintet, Roy Head and many others) and the other second is me, Andrew ‘Mort’ Bradley. In late 1976 and 1977 I was the bands’ touring sound engineer. In 1978 and 1979 I did the same for Chris Masuak and Warwick Gilbert’s spin-off group, The Hitmen. I helped get that ensemble off the ground by being their first fan, tour manager, and cohort.

I wrote articles about both bands for Rolling Stone, New Musical Express (NME), BOMP!, JUKE, and RAM magazines. Radio Birdman is also the reason I am a recording engineer and currently one of the owners of SugarHill Studios. The band is also featured in the book, ‘HOUSE OF HITS’ which will be published by University of Texas Press, co-authored by noted author Roger Wood and myself.

Through the 1980’s Deniz Tek recorded with me here in Houston on several independent releases. In 1990 Masuak’s, ‘The Hitmen’ came to Houston to record what would be their last album, “Moronic Inferno” for Shock Records. I was partly responsible for getting Deniz Tek to come to Houston and make a guest appearance on that record. That sowed the seeds for Tek and Masuak to repair their broken relationship and eventually resulted in Radio Birdman reforming in 1996/7.

In 1991 Tek also recorded his first solo album “Take It to the Vertical” on Red Eye/Polydor/PolyGram Records here at SugarHill. This album featured Masuak together with legendary Stooges drummer Scott Asheton, and sax great Grady Gaines. Masuak also recorded four cuts with Houston drummer/producer Robbie Parrish that appeared on Phantom Records in Australia. Masuak’s new band at the time was ‘The Juke Savages’, and the CD was simply titled, “Juke Savages”. Deniz Tek appeared on that record as a featured guest.

Deniz came to Houston in September of 2002 to make a guest appearance on two cuts of the (yet un-named) Gold Star/SugarHill re-make-the-hit double CD which will also commemorate the history of this building. With the rhythm section of Houston group, Clouseaux and Rob Landes (keyboardist of 60’s legend, Fever Tree) he re-cut the classic “Wake Me Up Girl” by The Continental Five. The original was recorded here in 1967. He also joined up with Roy Head and a group of all-stars to re-record the giant hit originally recorded here, “Treat Her Right” (Roy Head & the Traits-1965). Of the forty some new recordings for the double CD, these two cuts may become classics in themselves. I will be asking Radio Birdman’s permission to use their explosive version of the 13th Floor Elevators classic, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” as a bonus track.

I was unable to join the band on their first tour of the USA in September 2006. So I vowed to not miss their Summer 2007 swing through the ‘deep south’ on their way up to New England, Canada, and the Midwest. The band agreed to let me record them live for the radio broadcast, so I arranged with fellow recording engineer Fran Schmidt (who owns a terrific mobile recording rig and is a fellow rocker) to record all three Texas shows; Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Please realize that I had not seen the band play live since their final show at Paddington Town Hall in 1977. Thirty years later and DEEP in the Heart of Texas…

DAY ONE
Fran and I left Houston on Sunday lunchtime the 24th of June and drove the 180 odd miles from my house to Austin, Texas where Birdman was playing Emo’s with two opening bands, Awesome Color and The Queers. The road crew arrived in from Ft. Stockton with the band’s gear at 5PM. The band arrived at 6PM. Fran, the “Bird-crew”, the Emo-crew and I were ready. Many hugs and “hello-Mort”s, and we were on to the sound check. Hearing the songs “Smith & Wesson Blues” and “Alone in the End Zone” again made me misty eyed (sorry all you testosterone people). These guys still had it (new drummer and bass player not withstanding) from my heyday with them. These guys could rock and it was still just a sound-check following a six-hour drive. (Jim Dickson, the current bassist and I were in college together in 1972.)

Both opening bands acknowledged to the crowd that Birdman were influences on them and that they (the crowd) were in for a treat. Deniz sat next to me at the recording position while The Queers were playing. We yelled at each other while watching. I told Deniz that the crowd looked exactly alike as the one at Paddington Town Hall back in ‘77; spiky red-green-blue-purple hair, a few mohawks, fishnet hose, miniskirts and vibrant enthusiasm. He placed a hand on my shoulder and said, “Mort, those kids are our grand-children!” I should have felt old but instead I felt glad that my homeboys were still making music thirty years later. Most of the audience wasn’t alive when I last saw these guys play together.

Birdman went on stage at about 10:45 that night and blew through a 75-minute set that included a four-song encore. Emo’s rocked that night and memories of many shows and tours of Australia flooded through my mind. This band is as good as the old band in their heyday, but it was different. Their 21st Century sound is a bit more modern and possibly more sleek and defined. With Chris, Deniz and singer Rob Younger on the front line it was vintage Birdman all over again. The twin guitar attack of Tek and Masuak is still unparalleled. I’ve recorded individual players as good as these two, but together…

DAY TWO
Dallas cancelled the Monday show, not enough pre-sales. (Two-thirds of the Emo’s full house was walk-ups. I guess the Dallas folk were too busy watching their lousy baseball team lose another game.)

DAY THREE
Tuesday, Fran and I met up with SugarHill & The Radio Sessions staff engineer Steve Christensen at The Meridian about 3PM. I asked both he and Fran to record the Houston show so I could bound around and just be a fan that night. The crew arrived and 5PM and band at 6PM. Sound check was great and the Meridian rocked. Man it was loud. After the sound check Deniz, manager John Needham and I went to the ‘China Garden’ for dinner. The Meridian is near the Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets and the restaurant frequented by many basketball fans.

Opening act was the Kimonos. Singer/Keyboardist Gina Miller and her husband/bassist Major, make up half of the tight retro-pop punk outfit. Gina is also our Studio & Promotions manager at SugarHill. Awesome Color was second on the bill and their set in Houston was stronger than Austin. Birdman (naturally) totally blew the house down in Houston. The small but enthusiastic crowd knew every lyric to every song both old and new. The band responded and just exploded on the stage. They changed a couple of songs from the Austin show, which gave us more to choose from. The people who missed quite an event the show, I hope, will listen to the radio broadcast. My partner, Dan Workman and wife, Christi danced all the way through the show and had a blast.

DAY FOUR
10:30AM - Wednesday, the 17th June the two vehicle touring party arrive at the studios. Tacos, tamales, hot sauce, OJ and coffee are ready. This is Rusty, Jim, and Rob’s first visit here: same for John Needham and the three-man crew. Before breakfast I gave them a guided tour of the 66-year-old studios that ended in the tape vault. I showed them the original reel that contained “She’s About a Mover” by The Sir Douglas Quintet. Rusty took photos while Jim placed his hand reverently on the vintage reel. They stared in awe at the original tapes by The Bubble Puppy, Roy Head and Bobby Bland. On to breakfast and then the interview for KPFT. Rob, Deniz, Chris, and Jim participated while I was the guest interviewer (filling in for Rhonda Gardner). She sent me a list of questions and I added a few. The road crew left about noon and headed for Mobile, AL. The band left about 1PM wishing they could stay longer. We got some great photos at the studio and more are on the way from the live show.

EPILOGUE
To see my Favorite Band In The Universe again was cathartic. To record them live and then mix these songs for radio and possibly for some other future use goes beyond pure happiness. These walking legends passed through our doors on their way to another round of greatness. I hope New York, Canada, and Ann Arbor. I hope they had as much fun as we did…

On July 18th in Melbourne, Australia, Radio Birdman was inducted into the ARIA HALL OF FAME. For thirty years this band has (arguably) been a major artistic influence both in that country and all over the rest of the world. They have influenced many generations of kids. The band was inducted into the Hall of Fame by one of those kids, Silverchair's Daniel Johns. He was born in 1979, a year after Birdman’s first incarnation came to a sad end in Britain, but in a pre-recorded induction speech he acknowledges the band's influence.

"Regardless of musical style," Johns says, "any artist who thinks of themselves as 'underground' or 'independent' or 'alternative' is walking in the footsteps of Radio Birdman." Silverchair has even covered Birdman’s anthemic, “New Race” with Deniz Tek making a guest appearance. Today the band is recognized internationally as one of punk’s most important progenitors, alongside the Stooges, the MC5 and the New York Dolls.

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