Category: Special Shows

Check out the local artists, themed shows, and more that have been featured on The Rocker!

February 7, 2026 Playlist – Gary WeissFebruary 7, 2026 Playlist – Gary Weiss

February 7, 2026February 7, 2026|

Gary Weiss began his love affair with the drums at age 10, and his devotion to the kit led him to a successful career backing some of the biggest names in the business. He had tales to tell and tunes to share and we could have used a few more hours to get to them all. Listen to what we managed to squeeze in by clicking here.

  • LOS STRAITJACKETS Aerostar
  • MICHELLE SHOCKED Anchorage
  • CHEAP TRICK Reach Out
  • LED ZEPPELIN Misty Mountain Hop
  • LIVING COLOUR Crosstown Traffic
  • SANTIAGO-WEISS Stop and Go
  • DION Ride With You
  • GARY U.S. BONDS Every Time I Roll the Dice
  • SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY Walk Away Renee
  • DAN CORIO Stay Gone
  • SONNY THURNALL Taste of Your Own Medicine
  • BROTHER DYNAMITE Violet
  • SAINTS IN EXILE Our Love is Dead
  • DARLENE LOVE Among the Believers
  • GRAND FUNK RAILROAD Bad Time
  • BADFINGER No Matter What
  • TITO PUENTE Oye Como Va
  • FOO FIGHTERS Times Like These
  • URIAH HEEP Stealin’
  • THE DUPREES You Belong to Me
  • THE SHANGRI-LAS Remember (Walking in the Sand)
  • THREE DOG NIGHT Shambala
  • THE GRATEFUL DEAD Sugar Magnolia
  • THE SCORPIONS I Can’t Explain
  • FREDA PAYNE Band of Gold
  • TWELVE DAYS IN JUNE with STRESS DOLLS Every Rose Has its Thorn

Read MoreRead More

January 24, 2026 Playlist – Nancy GlennonJanuary 24, 2026 Playlist – Nancy Glennon

January 24, 2026January 24, 2026|

Sometimes, the best laid plans get wrecked by life’s nasty little gremlins. Such was the case with this edition of the program. Unfortunately, our “Breakfast On The Rocker” contest winner, Nancy Glennon, also had to endure their mischievous misdeeds. We’ll make it up to her by having her on again in the not-too-distant future. If you’re interested in hearing the mayhem unfold, click here to listen to it in all its ragged glory. (Songs with an * were selected by Nancy.)

  • HOUNDS OF JUSTICE Wisdom Teeth
  • DROPKICK MURPHYS Who’ll Stand With Us?
  • WEEZER Pork and Beans
  • THE CLASH Should I Stay or Should I Go
  • THE BEATLES I Want to Hold Your Hand *
  • BLINK-182 All The Small Things
  • THE MONKEES I’m A Believer *
  • SPUTNIK THE BAND They Don’t Know
  • THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY I Think I Love You *
  • JOURNEY Separate Ways *
  • IAN HUNTER Just Another Night
  • THE CARS My Best Friend’s Girl *
  • REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO Heart Has Had Enough
  • BROTHER DYNAMITE Violet
  • LINKIN PARK Waiting For The End
  • RATT You’re In Love *
  • CARMEN TOTH Time Bomb Heart
  • INXS What You Need *
  • BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Brilliant Disguise *
  • TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS Breakdown
  • THE KILLERS Runaways *
  • GREEN DAY Tired Of Waiting For You
  • TRACY CHAPMAN Fast Car *
  • BILLY JOEL The Stranger *
  • WAR Low Rider
  • DONNA SUMMER & BARBRA STREISAND No More Tears *
  • MELISSA ETHERIDGE Like The Way I Do *
  • DAN CORIO BAND Hold On
  • COUNTING CROWS Round Here *
  • THE 1975 Love Me *
  • SOMBR Canal Street
  • MATCHBOX TWENTY If You’re Gone *
  • THE CRETONES Mad Love
  • SABRINA CARPENTER Espresso *

Read MoreRead More

December 13, 2025 Playlist – Rockin’ ChristmasDecember 13, 2025 Playlist – Rockin’ Christmas

December 13, 2025December 13, 2025|

Nothing like being able to combine my love of rock ‘n’ roll with the sounds of my favorite season. This edition of the program featured a somewhat unconventional playlist of holiday tunes that I think are every bit as cool and rich as a glass of spiced egg nog. (I really like egg nog.) Check it out by clicking here.

  • GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS Rock and Roll Christmas
  • LEMMY, BILLY GIBBONS & DAVE GROHL Run Run Rudolph
  • THE GREEDIES A Merry Jingle
  • GREEN DAY Xmas Time of Year
  • MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE Every Snowflake’s Different
  • SPIRALING Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • AC / LEE C Dirty Deeds ‘Round the Christmas Tree
  • MAVIS STAPLES Christmas Vacation
  • CHEAP TRICK I Want You for Christmas
  • BROTHER DYNAMITE It’s Christmas Time, Alright!
  • LOUVERS Retro Christmas
  • TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS It’s Christmas All Over Again
  • THE MAVERICKS Hey! Merry Christmas!
  • SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS 8 Days of Chanukah
  • ADAM SANDLER The Chanukah Song
  • REEL BIG FISH Whatever You Celebrate
  • JOSE VAN HALIANO Ain’t Talkin ‘Bout Feliz Navidad
  • DROPKICK MURPHYS The Season’s Upon Us
  • WHEATUS Christmas Dirtbag
  • THE SONICS Santa Claus
  • ANNIE LENNOX & AL GREEN Put a Little Love in Your Heart
  • MOSSY LEDGE Christmas Lights
  • SPUTNIK THE BAND Baby, Please Come Home
  • THE OFFSPRING Please Come Home for Christmas
  • THE PRETTY RECKLESS Where Are You, Christmas?
  • REEL BIG FISH Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
  • BAD MANNERS It’s Christmas Time Again
  • JULIAN CASABLANCAS I Wish it Was Christmas Today
  • MxPx Punk Rock Christmas
  • SIMPLE PLAN My Christmas List
  • ELI “PAPERBOY” REED Last Christmas
  • JACKSON 5 Santa Claus is Coming to Town
  • KING FALCON Dear Mrs. Claus
  • THE KINKS Father Christmas
  • BOWLING FOR SOUP Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy
  • THE REGRETTES Marshmallow World
  • THE PULLTOPS I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
  • THE LINDA LINDAS Groovy Christmas
  • BLONDIE We Three Kings
  • BAD RELIGION O Come All Ye Faithful
  • BILLY IDOL Yellin’ at the Christmas Tree
  • HALL AND OATES Jingle Bell Rock
  • THE OLD 97s Here it is Christmas Time
  • LOS LOBOS Christmas and You
  • STEVE AUGERI Home This Christmas Time

Read MoreRead More

November 29, 2025 Playlist – Joan CaddellNovember 29, 2025 Playlist – Joan Caddell

November 29, 2025November 29, 2025|

The incredibly talented Joan Caddell was our guest on this edition of the program, and she gave us exclusive access to her forthcoming “Butterflies and Cardinals” EP. She also provided us with some fascinating stories about her songs, career and creative process. In addition, we debuted new music from some of our favorite independent artists, as well as a few from some well-established rockers. Enjoy at your leisure by clicking here.

  • BROKEN PEACH It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
  • PARKER BARROW Make It
  • CHEAP TRICK A Long Way to Worcester
  • GRAND PEPPER OF REALITY Let’s Be Easy
  • MERESHA Night Sky
  • BLACK ROSE BURNING Winter Fields
  • HALESTORM & BAD COMPANY Shooting Star
  • LIZZY BETH GOLDMAN Red Red Wine
  • DAN CORIO BAND Not Tonight
  • MIDDLE AGES On the Loose
  • JIMMY CLIFF The Harder They Come
  • JIMMY CLIFF You Can Get It If You Really Want
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Piece of Heaven
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Forever Right Now
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Oklahoma Dust
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Little Miss Audacious
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Home Sweet Home
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Divine Women
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Paul McCartney Night
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Butterflies and Cardinals
  • JOAN CADDELL & JULIA GARGANO A Man Like That
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Cinderella
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Miss Misery
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Somebody Else
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR When?
  • RELIENT K Silver Bells

Read MoreRead More

November 1, 2025 Playlist – Lisa SchermaNovember 1, 2025 Playlist – Lisa Scherma

November 1, 2025November 1, 2025|

The extraordinarily versatile singer and songwriter Lisa Scherma was our guest in the studio. She performed four unrecorded songs from her extensive genre-defying repertoire. As two Brooklyn kids from opposite ends of the same neighborhood, our conversation flowed free and easy. Check out the show by clicking here.

  • THUNDERMOTHER We Fight for Rock and Roll
  • ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO Real as an Animal
  • IGGY POP Something Wild
  • JOOLS HOLLAND featuring JAMIROQUAI I’m in the Mood for Love
  • FRANK TURNER I Still Believe
  • SAMANTHA FISH Can Ya Handle That
  • TOXIC TITO The Music Died
  • BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Atlantic City (Electric Nebraska Version)
  • LONESOME DAVE FISHER I Got My Education (Rockin’ to the Radio)
  • LISA SCHERMA Fight The Past
  • LISA SCHERMA Southern Fried Country Blues
  • LISA SCHERMA The Damsel
  • LISA SCHERMA Something in the Water
  • LISA SCHERMA Save Myself (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • ALLMAN BROTHERS Revival
  • LISA SCHERMA I Gotta Go to Church
  • BONNIE RAITT Angel from Montgomery
  • LISA SCHERMA Alone
  • LISA SCHERMA Play Dead (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • LISA SCHERMA The One Who Loves You
  • THE CHIFFONS Sweet Talking Guy
  • LISA SCHERMA Last Night
  • LISA SCHERMA When the Wrong Thing Feels So Right
  • LISA SCHERMA Commonality (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • MELISSA ETHERIDGE I’m the Only One
  • B.B. KING Every Day I Have the Blues
  • LISA SCHERMA Jump and Shout
  • LISA SCHERMA Good Soul (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • LISA SCHERMA Wrong Impression

Read MoreRead More

October 18, 2025 Playlist – Listener Appreciation DayOctober 18, 2025 Playlist – Listener Appreciation Day

October 20, 2025October 20, 2025|

We take a great deal of pride in our work. Our eclectic playlists are carefully curated to charm the ear of an open-minded listener. Each year, on our anniversary, we relinquish those duties to the members of our radio family. It’s our way of saying thank you for all the support. Click here to check it out.

  • THIN LIZZY Dedication
  • WYLDLIFE Saturday Night (Requested by Karen Kalreiss, Staten Island)
  • DROPKICK MURPHYS Who’ll Stand with Us? (Chris Cappello, Valley Stream, NY)
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Follow You Down (Gwen Gibson, Philadelphia, PA)
  • DES’REE You Gotta Be (Heather Ostrowski, Streamwood, IL)
  • THE KINGS It’s Okay (Neil Mitchell, Staten Island)
  • THE JAGS Back of My Hand (Vito Roca, Staten Island)
  • BAY CITY ROLLERS Keep on Dancing (Cindy Swinnamer, New Glasgow, NS, CAN)
  • MODERN ENGLISH I Melt with You (Cala Roberts, Cheviot, OH)
  • MAGUERBES Per Vermeio (Verdiana Godoy, Brasilia, Brazil)
  • ROXY MUSIC Love is the Drug (Beth Rollinger, Savannah, GA)
  • BETTE MIDLER Otto Titsling (Karen Cheema, London, UK)
  • CRILLZ Cinema (Anthony DeSimone, Staten Island)
  • DEPECHE MODE Never Let Me Down Again (Camille Pontrello, Buffalo, NY)
  • BILLY JOEL We Didn’t Start the Fire (Aaron Parker, Huntington, IN)
  • LUCID DREAMERS Under the Moon (Kimbra Eberly, Staten Island)
  • GLASS TIGER I Will Be There (Tracy Sminnamer, Toronto, ONT, CAN)
  • DAN CORIO BAND The Ballad of That Night (Joan Hickman, Old Bridge, NJ)
  • KELSEA BALLERINI Hole in the Bottle (Rob Fortunato, Staten Island)
  • ACE FREHLEY New York Groove (Richie Saccomagano, Staten Island)
  • CHEAP TRICK The Flame (Nancy Glennon, Staten Island)
  • THE BANGLES Eternal Flame (Ed Fortunato, Ellicott City, MD)
  • VAN MORRISON Have I Told You Lately? (Donald Salvato, Staten Island)
  • LED ZEPPELIN Thank You (Stephanie Echevarietta, Staten Island)
  • THE ALARM Devolution Working Man Blues (Matt Kutner, Staten Island)
  • WOOF WOOF Jaegermonster (Rasputin Ovaltine, Staten Island)
  • TESLA Modern Day Cowboy (Susan DeVito, Lebanon, CT)
  • H BLOCKX Ring of Fire (Sabrina Lutzenkirchen, Dorsten, Germany)
  • CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE Too Late to Turn Back Now (Dean Antosiewicz, Mahwah, NJ)
  • THE BEATLES Tomorrow Never Knows (James Smith, Springhill, FL)
  • JASON MRAZ I’m Yours (Maria Mameli, Staten Island)
  • CANCION FRANKLIN Six String Buck (Flynn Ferguson, Staten Island)
  • ELOUR Ha! (Matt Townsend, Brooklyn)
  • KISS A Million to One (Lisa Tardo, Aberdeen, NJ)
  • EMPERORS Be Ready When I Say Go (Steve Pascale, Staten Island)
  • KISS Detroit Rock City (Anthony Villiarola, Staten Island)
  • KING PLEASURE Moody’s Mood for Love (Daryl Gaskin, Perth Amboy, NJ)

Read MoreRead More

September 6, 2025 Playlist – Dan CorioSeptember 6, 2025 Playlist – Dan Corio

September 6, 2025September 6, 2025|

On his latest trip to his hometown from his second home in Nashville, singer / songwriter Dan Corio made some time to join me in the MPR studio. We did some catching up and he performed several new tunes which will be released in the weeks and months to come. Click here to access the show in all its sonic glory.

  • CHUCK BERRY School Day
  • DAN CORIO BAND Heartbreaker
  • DELTA CIRCLE Here’s to a Small Town
  • JON CASPI & THE FIRST GUN New Record
  • ELVIS COSTELLO Red Shoes
  • DAN CORIO Not Tonight (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • THE CALL Let the Day Begin
  • REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO Heart Has Had Enough
  • RHONDA FUNK When Lovers Say Goodbye
  • DAN CORIO Stay Gone (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • JOAN CADDELL & THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR Divine Women
  • QUEEN TIPSY Beware the Dog
  • LISA SCHERMA Jump and Shout
  • LIVVA JONES Same Page
  • DAN CORIO The Ballad of That Night (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Deriving Dariya
  • JACUZZI FIRE Wasted Daze
  • INDIGO GIRLS Nashville
  • CANCION FRANKLIN Just Made Rent
  • DAN CORIO BAND Hanging Up the Phone
  • LUCINDA WILLIAMS Rock and Roll Heart
  • DAN CORIO & LIVVA JONES Stay or Go
  • BREWSTER MOONFACE End of the Day
  • TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS Breakdown
  • GREEN DAY Tired of Waiting
  • DAN CORIO Used to Love the Rain
  • ERIC CHURCH Springsteen
  • JESSE MALIN & THE ST. MARKS SOCIAL All the Way from Moscow
  • MIRANDA LAMBERT & CHRIS STAPLETON A Song to Sing
  • DAN CORIO BAND Still Ahead
  • BON JOVI Red, White and Jersey
  • STEVE EARLE Someday
  • MARSHALL CRENSHAW Grab the Next Train
  • DAN CORIO BAND Hold On
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Embers in the Ash
  • THREE CHORD MONEY Hope and a Hard Road
  • AZTEC CAMERA The Crying Scene
  • B52s Deadbeat Club
  • DAN CORIO BAND Forever With You
  • LITTLE VILLAGE Don’t Think About Her (When You’re Trying to Drive)

Read MoreRead More

August 23, 2025 Playlist – Mickey EhrlichAugust 23, 2025 Playlist – Mickey Ehrlich

August 24, 2025August 24, 2025|

Whether he’s performing with his band Middle Ages or playing his songs on his acoustic at a coffee shop, Mickey Ehrlich’s music resonates with honesty and sincerity – and zero pretense – that is almost immediately apparent to anyone fortunate enough to be listening. He was my guest on this edition of the program, which you can access by clicking here.

  • THE HIVES Legalize Living
  • THE STRUTS Rock and Roll Fantasy
  • BLINK-182 All the Small Things
  • ABSOLUTE LOSERS At the Same Time
  • BLACK ROSE BURNING Into the Black
  • THE CLASH Should I Stay or Should I Go
  • SAVE FERRIS Get Dancing
  • THE PLANET SMASHERS Things You Do
  • DAVE BARRY Fight the Bumble Bees
  • ZZ TOP Legs
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Feel Alright Tonight
  • RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Hangover and Out
  • MIDDLE AGES Nevermind Blues
  • THE WHITE STRIPES Seven Nation Army
  • THE YARDBIRDS Heart Full of Soul
  • DAN CORIO BAND Hold On
  • MIRANDA LAMBERT Gunpowder and Lead
  • JON CASPI & THE FIRST GUN Last Ride Home
  • WEEZER Pork and Beans
  • SAMMY DAVIS JR. Theme from “Baretta”
  • WAR Low Rider
  • SANTANA with STEVE WINWOOD A Whiter Shade of Pale
  • MICKEY EHRLICH Sheepshead Bay (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • THE RONNETTES Be My Baby
  • BOB DYLAN Mozambique
  • DOLLY PARTON Jolene
  • MIDDLE AGES Silver Lining (Don’t Count Me Out)
  • MANIC HONEY Problems
  • CARMEN TOTH Pretty Dresses
  • SOUND SIREN Washed Hands
  • THE ATLICIC This Year
  • MICKEY EHRLICH Down in The Narrows (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE I Don’t Love You
  • SPUTNIK THE BAND They Don’t Know
  • STYX Lady
  • MICKEY EHRLICH On the Loose (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • HOUNDS OF JUSTICE Wisdom Teeth

Read MoreRead More

August 9, 2025 Playlist – Ozzy TributeAugust 9, 2025 Playlist – Ozzy Tribute

August 9, 2025August 9, 2025|

It was 99% Ozzy on this edition of the program, and even with three hours to work with, we couldn’t fit in everything that we wanted to play. We touched on all the decades of Ozzy’s recording career and hopefully painted an accurate picture of who he was as an artist: a true rock ‘n’ roll rebel. Click here to listen at your leisure.

  • All selections performed by Ozzy Osbourne unless otherwise specified.
  • LIGHTNING STRIKES
  • CRAZY TRAIN
  • PARANOID (Black Sabbath)
  • WAR PIGS (Black Sabbath)
  • MR. CROWLEY
  • THE WIZARD (Black Sabbath)
  • AIR DANCE (Black Sabbath)
  • CHANGES (Black Sabbath)
  • SNOWBLIND (Black Sabbath)
  • SWEET LEAF (Black Sabbath)
  • FAIRIES WEAR BOOTS (Black Sabbath)
  • RAISE ‘EM HIGH (Jon Caspi & The First Gun featuring Dez Cadena & Jesse Malin)
  • THIS MODERN AGE (The Chris Vandalay Project)
  • INTO THE BLACK (Black Rose Burning)
  • IN MY LIFE
  • SO TIRED
  • GODS OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL (Ozzy with Billy Morrison & Steve Stevens)
  • PHANTOM X (S’ain’t Anthony)
  • DIXIE QUEEN (The Thing)
  • SHOT IN THE DARK
  • SHOCK THE MONKEY (Coal Chamber featuring Ozzy)
  • BOMBERS CAN OPEN BOMB BAYS (Bill Ward featuring Ozzy)
  • I AIN’T NO NICE GUY (Motorhead featuring Ozzy)
  • ORDINARY MAN (Ozzy featuring Elton John)
  • I DON’T WANNA STOP
  • FLYING HIGH AGAIN
  • SABBRA CADABRA (Black Sabbath)
  • MAMA, I’M COMING HOME
  • MIRACLE MAN
  • LIFE WON’T WAIT
  • DREAMER
  • SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE
  • IRON MAN (Black Sabbath)

Read MoreRead More

July 25, 2025 Playlist – Violet SkyJuly 25, 2025 Playlist – Violet Sky

July 27, 2025July 27, 2025|

No one I know does the eighties like Violet Sky. The look, the style, the sound – she does it all. That’s remarkable when you consider the fact that she wasn’t even born in the same century as the subject of her fascination. She’s received press coverage on both sides of the Atlantic, and judging by her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, she’s not alone in her obsession. Click on this link to hear how she took her initial attraction to an obsession and a career, all to tune of an eighties-centric soundtrack.

  • BOWLING FOR SOUP 1985
  • OZZY OSBOURNE Crazy Train
  • OZZY OSBOURNE A Shot in the Dark
  • LITA FORD & OZZY OSBOURNE Close My Eyes Forever
  • ASIA Only Time Will Tell
  • BIG COUNTRY In A Big Country
  • MOTLEY CRUE Looks That Kill
  • WARRANT Down Boys
  • Q-FEEL Dancing in Heaven
  • ZZ TOP Sleeping Bag
  • KILLING JOKE Eighties
  • VIOLET SKY I Found Love
  • SHY TALK Excuse Me
  • LIFE BY NIGHT Phone to Phone
  • PSYCHEDLIC FURS Pretty In Pink
  • ANNIE GOLDEN Hang Up the Phone
  • E.G. DAILY One Way Love
  • DEAD OR ALIVE You Spin Me Round
  • VIOLET SKY What’s a Girl To Do
  • JULIE BROWN Shut Up and Kiss Me
  • MADNESS One Step Beyond
  • GENERAL PUBLIC Tenderness
  • THE BUGGLES Video Killed the Radio Star
  • DEPECHE MODE Just Can’t Get Enough
  • ERASURE A Little Respect
  • YAZ Only You
  • VIOLET SKY A Heartbeat Away
  • THE ESCAPE CLUB Wild Wild West
  • ABC Poison Arrow
  • CULTURE CLUB Time
  • ALPHAVILLE Forever Young (Remix)

Read MoreRead More