On this week's show, DJ Andy Bargerstock honors the British group, Morcheeba (photo) described as "exuding fluffy soul style, pop melodies and trip-hop rhythms ... (while dipping) their toes into the waters of electronica." (Yahoo Music Review) Although Skye Edwards no longer performs lead vocals, the late 1990s tracks played will demonstrate why they are such an engaging group.

The program begins with a strong set of blues/jam performances by The Unseen Guest (Ireland/India), Widespread Panic (USA), James Montgomery Blues Band (USA), and Thunderclap Newman (UK) with a rare recording "Sunshine in My Life." Yes, this is the same Thunderclap Newman known for their late 1969 hit "Something in the Air" which is bound to be given an airing someday. Later, you will hear a couple of additional tracks from last week's Sounds from the Ground electronic feature group from the CD, "Kin". Listen closely for a chillout version of the James Bond theme from Double Zero.  read more »

Sounds from the Ground (SFTG) garners this week's special recognition from DJ Andy Bargerstock. London's electronic SFTG consists of London's Nick Wolfson and Elliot Morgan Jones. Billboard Magazine praises them for their "consistently engaging" sound of ambient, dub, trip hop and chilled electronic music with mesmerizing female vocals on selected tracks. On this week's program, you will hear "New Day" and "Clover". Discover the magic of this group that has been churning under the radar for the past ten years.

Additional, earthy acoustic/electronic contributors from around the world will include OTT (UK), Potlatch (South Korea), and Nightmares on Wax (UK). Continuing to explore the range of world music, DJ Andy will introduce a variety of new groups to the Fringe Toast arena including Sun Kil Moon (a.k.a. Mark Kozelek from US), Yael Naim (France/Israel), and Sven Van Hees (Belgium).  read more »

As spring dawns, nostalgia fills the air. This week DJ Andy Bargerstock takes us back to the Underground music of the early 1970s. The music of Randy California and Spirit (photo) get top billing. You will hear rarely heard track "Cosmic Smile" and three tracks from the incredible LP Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus.

Then, sink deeply into the couch, turn down the lights, bring out the headphones to catch the full effects of these extremely rare tracks: "Church of Anthrax" by John Cale & Terry Riley, "Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge" by Amon Duul 2, "The Mask" by Roger Glover, and "Wayfaring Pilgrim" by Roy Buchanan & the Snakestretchers. As the night unfolds, you will also hear fine tunes from Wishbone Ash, Savoy Brown, Fripp and Eno, Robin Trower, and It's a Beautiful Day. Oh, yes, let's not forget Quicksilver Messenger Service! What a perfect night to gain a better understanding of ourselves and the universe.  read more »

Behold! This week's show will be 3-hours in length starting at 7pm. DJ Andy Bargerstock will be collaborating with Abundant Planet's "Great Taste Show" with Steve Boss and Kathy Dubois. During the program our world-class chefs will prepare a sumptuous meal complemented with fine Fringe Toast music flavored exotically with Springtime and food themes.

The Fringe Nugget Classic for this week is "A Salty Dog" by UK '70s supergroup, Procol Harum (photo).  read more »

This week's show pays tribute to the music of Zero 7, the hip electronic-blues band from UK and Australian lead singer Sia Furler (photo). DJ Andy Bargerstock and family witnessed Zero 7 in concert three years ago at the Park West in Chicago. It ranks as the best music experience among Andy's many concerts. Tonight you will discover the magic of Sia Furler and Company.

The Fringe Nugget of the Week goes to Strange Advance's "World's Away", a rarely heard track from an obscure '80s disco band. But, this 7-minute track was an experimental foray that has a killer guitar/electonics instrumental at the end. Additional fringe should-have-been classics for the evening will include Tonto's Expanding Head Band's (photo) 1971 "Tontomotion", Toad the Wet Sprocket's "Crazy Life" and Souxsie and Banshees' "Kiss Them for Me".  read more »

Joe Walsh and the James Gang ride high on Fringe Toast this week. Their famous 1970 album, James Gang Rides Again, continues to rank among DJ Andy Bargerstock's favorite all-time rock albums. Fast forward to 1999! Fatboy Slim, the UK mixer/producer samples James Gang, "The Ashes, the Rain, and I" for his track, "Right Here, Right Now". DJ Andy will provide a sly mix of the two tracks from 1970 and 1999.

Additional rare tracks from the Golden Era (late 60s to mid 70s) on this night will include the SF Bay Area group, Fever Tree (the week's Golden Nugget with the track, "San Francisco Girls"), jazz guitarist, Larry Coryell, and a delicate confection of humor from National Lampoon Radio Dinner Hour.  read more »

In this week's show, Andy Bargerstock returns from six weeks in China. During that time he has been preparing with considerable glee for this show. 90% of the music will be never before played tracks on Fringe Toast. Tonight's "Fringe Nugget" performance comes from British rock group Spooky Tooth (photo left) from their 1969 album, Spooky Two. Later, we will hear what happened to another '70s British group, the Thompson Twins (photo right below) as they evolved into the current, obscure electronic group Babble.  read more »

Early Fleetwood Mac is the honored group of the week on Fringe Toast. The critically acclaimed yet seldom heard "Future Games" LP emerged as a deep track FM album in 1971. In those days, the group was not well-known. This album marks the beginning of the Christine McVie era (Stevie Nicks came later). John McVie plays bass, Christine on keyboards, Bob Welch and Danny Kirwan on guitars and vocals, and of course Mick Fleetwood on drums. You will hear an extended 20 minute set including tracks, "Future Games", "Sands of Time", and "Woman of a Thousand Years."

From the same time period, you'll hear the group, Love, and It's a Beautiful Day with David and Linda LaFlamme who will play "Don and Dewey" and "Girl with No Eyes". Ah, sweet memories of spring days, frisbee tossing, and student protests. World in transformation....

Later, Seattle-based band, Green Pajamas, conjures up flavors of Tom Petty and the Beatles among their own uniquely creative riffs from the CD, "Box of Secrets". During a set to honor female singer-songwriters, we will hear Beth Orton, Sally Ellyson from the NYC band, Hem, K.T. Tunstall, and Ellis (who performed at Paradiso last weekend). Interspersed throughout the evening, we will be visited by international artists including Zingaia, S-Tone Inc., Luka Bloom, Air, John Mayer and more....

This evening may encourage a double-cup-of-tea and visions of warm toes roasting near an open fire. Certainly your heart will feel the tingling, tangling massage of wonderfully lyrical and melodious sounds.  read more »

This week's program offers a treasure trove of exciting new music. During the show, the Fringe Toast Meister will play back-to-back songs from six different artists. Tune in early to hear the late Chris Whitley (photo left) with his distinctive and lyrical Texas blues-warbling style. Later, you'll hear other b2b sets from Green Pajamas (Seattle), Hem (NYC), Luka Bloom (Ireland), and Flying Dutchman (a.k.a., Eric Stroeve, Maui kitesurfer extraordinaire).

But, the highlight of the evening will certainly be laid at the altar of UK's singer-songwriter, Imogen Heap (photo right). On this evening, you will hear DJ Andy's remix of Imogen's 2002 track,"Hear Me Out," with the underlying Brian Eno soundscape, "The Ending (Ascent)" revealed more obviously without destroying the subtlety of the original recording by Heap. Your heart will sing with joy... and it will be a challenge to keep the song from echoing in your memories. Technically, this song was released under the group name, Frou Frou (an onomatopoeia referring to the swishing of skirts).  read more »

On this week's program, the music of Fairport Convention (photo) will delight your ears and memories of the creative explosion from 1968-72. Often credited as the first English electric folk band, the early Fairport Convention featured singing of Sandy Denny and guitar work of Richard Thompson. BBC Radio rated their 1969 release, "Meet On the Ledge" as #17 on its list of all-time songs. Yet, few in this country have every heard this piece. So, for your delectation and edification, DJ Andy Bargerstock will play this track and part of their 9-minute ballad, "Sloth".  read more »