Category: Special Shows

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

February 7, 2025 – International Clash DayFebruary 7, 2025 – International Clash Day

Maker Park Radio’s annual participation in the celebration of International Clash Day featured over a dozen of our DJs playing 60-to-90-minute sets which featured music by The Clash and a variety of other artists. It’s our way to celebrate the spirit and the legacy of The Clash and socially conscious music in general. Here’s our playlist:

  • THE CLASH Capital Radio (Edit)
  • WILLIE NILE Hard Times in America
  • WORLD PARTY Ship of Fools
  • SPENCER TRACY Fanaticism and Ignorance (from “Inherit the Wind”)
  • BAD RELIGION American Jesus
  • WHITE ROSE MOTOR OIL Hateland
  • GARLAND JEFFREYS Reggae on Broadway
  • WYCLEF JEAN Featuring THE REFUGEE ALL-STARS Fortunate Son
  • FAITH NO MORE We Care a Lot
  • THE DROPKICK MURPHYS Worker’s Song
  • MILLIE MANDERS & THE SHUTUP Me Too
  • LITTLE GREEN CARS My Love Took Me Down to the River to Silence Me
  • FRANK TURNER Make America Great Again
  • JOHN MELLENCAMP Rain on the Scarecrow
  • LOU REED Strawman
  • ROD SERLING The Tools of Conquest (from “The Twilight Zone” episode “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”)

December 21, 2024 Playlist – Christmas SpecialDecember 21, 2024 Playlist – Christmas Special

Her pre-recorded voice greets you at the start of each show, but Nancy gets to do it live – and co-host – once a year when she joins me in studio for our annual Christmas show! The entire program is available to restream. Just click right here and get ready to rock the halls!

  • DARLENE LOVE All Alone on Christmas
  • SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS White Christmas
  • NEON TREES Holiday Rock
  • THE PAYOLAS Christmas is Coming
  • THE RONETTES Frosty the Snowman
  • BILLY SQUIER Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You
  • PANIC! AT THE DISCO Feels Like Christmas
  • THE KINKS Father Christmas
  • CHICAGO God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
  • .38 SPECIAL Hallelujah, It’s Christmas!
  • BILLY MACK Christmas is All Around
  • HALL & OATES Jingle Bell Rock
  • BROTHER DYNAMITE It’s Christmas Time Alright!
  • SPIRALING Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM Holiday Road
  • MAVIS STAPLES Christmas Vacation
  • U2 Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
  • LYZA WILSON Christmas in New York
  • SABRINA CARPENTER Buy Me Presents
  • ARIANA GRANDE Santa Tell Me
  • BILLIE EILISH Silver Bells
  • THE CHRIS VANDALAY PROJECT Good Morning Christmas
  • THE GREEDIES A Merry Jingle
  • TOXIC TITO Feliz Navidad
  • LEMMY, BILLY GIBBONS & DAVE GROHL Run Run Rudolph
  • RAMONES Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)
  • DROPKICK MURPHYS The Season’s Upon Us
  • ELI PAPERBOY REED Last Christmas
  • THE WAITRESSES Christmas Wrapping
  • REEL BIG FISH Whatever You Celebrate
  • BAD MANNERS It’s Christmastime Again
  • BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Santa Claus is Coming to Town
  • THE POGUES Fairytale of New York
  • JOHN LENNON Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
  • THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA Merry Christmas All
  • THE SMITHEREENS Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  • DEE SNIDER & LZZY HALE The Magic of Christmas Day
  • TRAIN Shake Up Christmas
  • STEVIE WONDER Someday at Christmas

November 30, 2024 Playlist – From the Church to the CrossroadsNovember 30, 2024 Playlist – From the Church to the Crossroads

This edition of the program explored the connection between the world of spiritual and secular music. The journey from Gospel to Soul and then to Rock ‘n’ Roll is a long and fascinating one, and we conducted a basic crash course with selections from each of those genres, focusing on where they cross paths. You can access the show in its entirety by clicking here.

  • CREAM Crossroads
  • PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC Are You Ready?
  • THE STAPLE SINGERS I’ll Take You There
  • SISTER ROSETTA THARPE & THE SAM PRICE TRIO The Lord Followed Me
  • GEORGE GRANT & THE MIGHTY TEMPLARS Examine My Soul
  • MARVIN GAYE Can I Get A Witness
  • CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD I’m On My Way to a Better Place
  • PAUL SIMON Love Me Like a Rock
  • SHAWN PARSONS Grateful
  • SAM COOKE A Change is Gonna Come
  • LITTLE RICHARD Ride On, King Jesus
  • THE DOOBIE BROTHERS Jesus Is Just Alright
  • ZZ TOP Jesus Left Chicago
  • ARETHA FRANKLIN Border Song
  • RAY CHARLES Let It Be
  • THE IMPRESSIONS People Get Ready
  • CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO Awesome
  • QUEEN Somebody to Love
  • FOREIGNER I Want to Know What Love Is
  • NORMAN GREENBAUM Spirit in the Sky
  • MARC COHN Walking in Memphis
  • LEON BRIDGES River
  • JOHNNY CASH Wayfaring Stranger
  • TALKING HEADS Take Me to the River
  • THE HARLEM GOSPEL TRAVELLERS Jesus Rhapsody Part 1
  • MANHATTAN TRANSFER Operator
  • STEVIE WONDER Higher Ground
  • THE BYRDS Turn! Turn! Turn!
  • BILLY JOEL River of Dreams
  • BLIND FAITH Presence of the Lord
  • U2 featuring MARY J. BLIGE One
  • SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS Call On God
  • THE EDWIN HAWKINS SINGERS Oh Happy Day

October 26, 2024 Playlist – 5th Anniversary SpecialOctober 26, 2024 Playlist – 5th Anniversary Special

We continued our tradition of letting our listeners compile the playlist for our annual anniversary show, and this year, they came up with perhaps the most eclectic hodgepodge they have ever produced. Open your mind as wide as you can and give it a listen here.

  • MC5 Kick Out the Jams
  • T REX Buick Mackane
  • SASS JORDAN Pissin’ Down
  • GUANO APES Kumba Yo!
  • HEART Rock and Roll
  • X RAY LOVE On My Stereo
  • SOCIAL DISTORTION Don’t Take Me for Granted
  • THE DEAR BOYS Gone Viral
  • DOUG AND THE SLUGS Too Bad
  • EDISON LIGHTHOUSE Love Grows Where My Rosemary Grows
  • KING HARVEST Dancin’ in the Moonlight
  • JASON MRAZ Living in the Moment
  • TIM McGRAW Humble and Kind
  • VAN MORRISON Bein’ Green
  • WEEZER Say It Isn’t So
  • COUNTING CROWS A Murder of One
  • RAY PARKER JR. Ghostbusters
  • MISFITS Halloween
  • IRON MAIDEN Killers
  • ALICE COOPER Poison
  • BOB SEGER Roll Me Away
  • .38 SPECIAL Hold on Loosely
  • SURVIVOR Eye of the Tiger
  • SHAWN PARSONS Grateful
  • LOUIS ARMSTRONG What a Wonderful World
  • OASIS Wonderwall
  • PHIL COLLINS Lorenzo
  • WOOF WOOF Dizzy
  • MOTORHEAD Ace of Spades
  • KING’S X Black Flag
  • IDLES Love Song
  • LEE FIELDS Forever
  • BAD MANNERS Walking in the Sunshine
  • SABRINA CARPENTER Espresso
  • FINNEAS For Crying Out Loud
  • MELISSA ETHERIDGE I Run for Life
  • AUTOGRAMM Wannabe
  • McFADDEN & WHITEHEAD Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now

September 21, 2024 Playlist – Ricky BoyanceSeptember 21, 2024 Playlist – Ricky Boyance

It was beer for breakfast as the brewer of Mad Love Beer, Ricky Boyance, stopped by the studio. We did some early day drinking, talked about how he came to be a brewer, and his time as a member of one of my favorite bands, The Atlicic. Pour yourself a cold one and check it out here

  • THE DOORS Roadhouse Blues
  • T. REX 20th Century Boy
  • SEETHER Rise Above This
  • TALK TALK Talk Talk
  • BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet
  • DIVINYLS Pleasure and Pain
  • FIGHTMILK That Thing You Do
  • FUEL Fall on Me
  • MIDDLE AGES Never Mind Blues
  • CANCION FRANKLIN Better Not Let Me Knock
  • SLASH with CHRIS STAPLETON Oh Well
  • THE ATLICIC Shackled
  • KING LIKE MOM Die Cry Hate
  • GRANDMA DRINKS Laundry Day
  • YES Long Distance Runaround
  • JON ANDERSON & THE BAND GEEKS Shine On
  • SNACKTIME The High Life
  • LEE FIELDS Forever
  • THE REPLACEMENTS Beer for Breakfast
  • REEL BIG FISH Beer
  • ZZ TOP Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
  • THE PEAWEES The Wolf
  • THE ALARM 68 Guns
  • THE CALAMATIX Still Rudy
  • JIMMY EAT WORLD If You Don’t, You Don’t
  • KILL THE ROBOT Another Round
  • MODERN DAY MACHINES Vox Populi
  • LINKIN PARK The Emptiness Machine
  • THE ZOMBIES Tell Her No
  • THE GUESS WHO No Time
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Deriving Dariya
  • THE SUBWAYS Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
  • THE OFFSPRING Make It All Right
  • BLINK-182 Every Other Weekend
  • STARCRAWLER She Said
  • EARTH, WIND AND FIRE September

September 7, 2024 Playlist – Randy & Tal BachmanSeptember 7, 2024 Playlist – Randy & Tal Bachman

This edition of the program featured excerpts from an interview I conducted with Randy & Tal Bachman, the Father and Son tandem currently at the helm of the legendary Bachman-Turner Overdrive. They provided insights into their music as well as observations about rock ‘n’ roll that make this episode essential listening. Click here to check it out!

  • JACK BLACK & THE SCHOOL OF ROCK Zach’s Song
  • FREDDY DeBOE Remember the Good Times
  • THE ROLLING STONES Like A Rolling Stone
  • NEW RADICALS You Get What You Give
  • URIAH HEEP That’s The Way That It Is
  • YES Owner of a Lonely Heart
  • RANDY BACHMAN INTERVIEW The Origins of “American Woman”
  • THE GUESS WHO American Woman
  • TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS American Girl
  • OASIS Wonderwall
  • GIFTSHOP Stylish Junkie
  • EDEN JAMES Stranger
  • JET She’s a Genius
  • TAL BACHMAN INTERVIEW The Inspiration for “She’s So High”
  • TAL BACHMAN She’s So High
  • SHERYL CROW If It Makes You Happy
  • CANCION FRANKLIN My My My
  • BROTHER DYNAMITE The Girl’s In Love
  • RANDY & TAL BACHMAN INTERVIEW What do the Bachmans listen to?
  • BUDDY HOLLY Rave On
  • TOMMY EDWARDS It’s All In the Game
  • THE DEL-VIKINGS Come Go with Me
  • LEE FIELDS Save Your Tears for Someone New
  • THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH Smiling Faces
  • RANDY & TAL BACHMAN INTERVIEW Why bands should play their hits
  • ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA Sweet Talkin’ Woman
  • DEEP PURPLE Woman from Tokyo
  • ELTON JOHN Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding
  • MIDDLE AGES Silver Lining
  • FONTAINES D.C. Here’s the Thing
  • KING LIKE MOM Die Cry Hate
  • RANDY BACHMAN INTERVIEW What is the signature B.T.O. song – and why
  • BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE Takin’ Care of Business
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Carry On

August 10, 2024 Playlist – Our Own YokosAugust 10, 2024 Playlist – Our Own Yokos

Shaun Gold and Brian Buchanan of local rockers Our Own Yokos joined us for music, conversation and the acoustic debut of a new song! Catch up on what’s going on and coming up for the boys by listening to the show here!

The playlist:

  • ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS Dirty Little Secret
  • BARENAKED LADIES Alternative Girlfriend
  • BIG COUNTRY Teenage Lament
  • TOXIC TITO Toxic Love
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Sir Chunk
  • DIO Time to Burn
  • AEROSMITH Chip Away the Stone
  • THE SMITHEREENS A Girl Like You
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Deriving Dariya
  • BROTHER DYNAMITE What Are You Waiting For
  • EVE 6 At Least We’re Dreaming
  • CANCION FRANKLIN Just Made Rent
  • GODDAMN WRECKS Away from Here
  • DETROIT COBRAS Stay Down
  • DAN CORIO BAND Heartbreaker
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Painted Lines
  • BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE Taking Care of Business
  • JOE BONAMASSA & TRAIN Hold On Loosely
  • THERINA BELLA Waking Up
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Carry On
  • BOYGENIUS Not Strong Enough
  • REDD KROSS I’ll Take Your Word for It
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Shadows to Defend (Live in the MPR Studio)
  • BLACK ROSE BURNING Fight!
  • SOUR LANDSLIDE Welcome to the Band
  • THE VANDALAYS Ramona
  • THE OFFSPRING Make It All Right
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Follow You Down

July 13, 2024 Playlist – Bleeding RoseJuly 13, 2024 Playlist – Bleeding Rose

Artie Driscoll and Matt Asmat of Bleeding Rose visited our studio to talk about and listen to some rock ‘n’ roll and share some insights into the life of a hard-working cover band. Listen to the show here.

The playlist:

  • SALOON DION Heaven Sent
  • CANCION FRANKLIN with HANNAH SUMMER Hard Times
  • J.D. McPHERSON Sunshine Getaway
  • BOZ BOORER Jackie Brown
  • KHAIR Always
  • SPUTNIK THE BAND King of the L.E.S.
  • YOGABALL HEADACHES Puppy Love
  • THE MOCKS Do You Want Me Too?
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Carry On
  • BOB MALONE Cold Cold Ground
  • ELVIS COSTELLO Everyday I Write the Book
  • ROOTS ROUND UP Relief
  • BLACK ROSE BURNING Black Sun Saturday
  • BLACK SABBATH Paranoid
  • FOO FIGHTERS The Pretender
  • JOAN JETT I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll
  • JOURNEY Anyway You Want It
  • THE KILLERS Mr. Brightside
  • MAROON 5 Harder to Breathe
  • TOM COCHRANE Life is a Highway
  • THE SURFRAJETTES Toxic
  • RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS By the Way
  • FOO FIGHTERS Everlong
  • THE INTERRUPTERS Bad Guy
  • KICK. SNARE. CRASH. What’s the Point
  • AEROSMITH Walk This Way
  • FOO FIGHTERS All My Life
  • LED ZEPPELIN Whole Lotta Love
  • PAT BENATAR Heartbreaker
  • PARAMORE Ain’t It Fun
  • BREWSTER MOONFACE End of the Day
  • LED ZEPPELIN Rock and Roll

June 29, 2024 Playlist – Cancion FranklinJune 29, 2024 Playlist – Cancion Franklin

Country-Blues artist Cancion Franklin joined us live in the studio for an interview and to perform a few of his excellent songs. You can listen to the show here.

  • HEARTLESS BASTARDS Got to Have Rock ‘n’ Roll
  • GOON DADS Katydid
  • THE KINGS This Beat Goes On / Switchin’ to Glide
  • RED KROSS Dancing Queen
  • GIFTSHOP Doncha Know
  • SPUTNIK THE BAND Theme from “A Summer Place”
  • THE DOLLYROTS Brand New Key
  • ALEX SHILLO Had It All
  • BLACK ROSE BURNING Become the Machine
  • THE KILLERS Human
  • BE BOP DELUXE Kiss of Light
  • DEAR BOYS They Say Don’t Waste Your Vote
  • ROVER BOYS TRIO Stop That Boogie
  • CANCION FRANKLIN Seven Whiskeys Down (live in the MPR Studio)
  • ELI PAPERBOY REED Mama Tried
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Carry On
  • MIGHTY JOE CASTRO & THE GRAVAMEN Embers in the Ash
  • CANCION FRANKLIN You Better Not Let Me Knock (live in the MPR Studio)
  • HOWLIN’ WOLF Smokestack Lightnin’
  • JOHNNY CASH Folsom Prison Blues
  • INXS Never Tear Us Apart
  • ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND Melissa
  • CANCION FRAKLIN Just Made Rent (live in the MPR Studio)
  • MIDDLE AGES Silver Lining (Don’t Count Me Out Yet)
  • RHONDA FUNK When Lovers Say Goodbye
  • BREWSTER MOONFACE Used to Have a Lover
  • CANCION FRANKLIN Six String Buck (live in the MPR Studio)
  • SHAWN PARSONS Disco Ball Blues

June 15, 2024 Playlist – Castle BlackJune 15, 2024 Playlist – Castle Black

Leigh Celent and Joey Russo form the extraordinary rock duo Castle Black. They joined the program to discuss their new album “The Highway at Night” and share some insights about their music. (They also revealed their favorite cookies. That’s the type of music journalism you’ve come to expect from us.) Check out the show here!

  • WEDDINGS, PARTIES, ANYTHING Father’s Day
  • GODDAMN WRECKS Almost Homesick Blues
  • LOS STRAITJACKETS Theme from “Game of Thrones”
  • BLACK ROSE BURNING Every Single Time
  • THE DRACU-LAS Fever Dream
  • DREAM PONY In the City
  • MIDDLE AGES Silver Lining (Don’t Count Me Out)
  • CHRIS VANDALAY PROJECT Better Than Before
  • WOOF WOOF Puppy Luv
  • CANCION FRANKLIN Just Made Rent
  • SHAWN PARSONS Hell If I Know
  • DAN CORIO BAND Rolling Away
  • OUR OWN YOKOS Deriving Dariya
  • CASTLE BLACK Fly (Just Try)
  • CASTLE BLACK Heart Can’t Feel
  • CASTLE BLACK Deer in the Lights
  • CASTLE BLACK Bright-Eyed
  • GIFTSHOP We Want You
  • STRESS DOLLS Alone
  • DEAR BOYS (They Say) Don’t Waste Your Vote
  • CASTLE BLACK Premonition
  • THE ATARIS The Saddest Song
  • RAMONES Something to Believe In
  • BREWSTER MOONFACE End of the Day
  • CASTLE BLACK Radio Queen
  • KILL THE ROBOT Another Round
  • BOWLING FOR SOUP Catalyst
  • CASTLE BLACK Linen
  • THE VANRAYS Another Man
  • GRACE POTTER Love Is Love
  • CASTLE BLACK Dead in a Dream