It's time for another season of benefit concerts! Come join us (and our special guests) on the third Friday of February, March, and April. Our thanks go out to our partners in charity at McKownville United Methodist Church, and all of the fine area musicians who lent their time and talents for the previous events.
Lost Radio Rounders recently debuted "The Home of the Brave: Songs of Soldiers & Sailors" at Coburg Village in Rexford, NY. This new musical/historical program features songs from the French & Indian War (Yankee Doodle) to World War II (Army Life).
The song themes range from patriotic to sentimental to comic, and the program would be a great choice for libraries, museums, historical societies and veterans groups.
The website www.nippertown.com has reviewed our new CD "Heaven's Radio":
"Longtime Albany music scene mainstays Tom Lindsay and Michael Eck first started playing together more than a quarter century ago – back in the early ’80s days as founding members of the roots-rock-and-beyond combo the Chefs of the Future, still one of the best Nippertown band names of all-time.
Years later, they re-connected musically as an acoustic duo with a mutual love of old-time gospel music. They called themselves Gospel Train, focusing their repertoire on a century’s worth of American spiritual and religious songs that spanned the Civil War to the Civil Rights era.
But then they started branching out. They put together a program of Civil War-era songs that they titled "Lincoln and Liberty." They developed another theme program, "American Favorite Ballads: The Songs of Pete Seeger," Then they assembled an evening of Carter Family classics, "Wildwood Flower: Songs of the Original Carter Family."
So the three years ago, Lindsay and Eck decided to change the name of the duo to Lost Radio Rounders in order to encompass their broadening range of vintage acoustic music, which these days includes dipping into the musical legacies culled from the songbags of such iconic troubadours as Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Uncle Dave Macon, Pete Seeger, Grandpa Jones and countless others.
But the twosome has retained a particularly strong affinity for the classic songs of the Carter Family. Last year, they released The Sunny Side, an album of Carter Family songs that featured such nuggets as "I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes," "I Can’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore," "Worried Man Blues" and, of course, "Keep On the Sunny Side."
Now they’ve dipped back into the vast Carter Family catalog again for their new album, Heaven’s Radio, which will be officially issued on Friday (October 19) with a CD release party and concert at the Steamer No. 10 Theatre in Albany. But this time around LRR are once again focusing on their gospel roots, and, in fact, the disc is subtitled "Lost Radio Rounders & Friends Sing Gospel Songs of the Carter Family." The whopping, 15-song collection includes "No Depression," "On the Rock Where Moses Stood," "Gospel Ship" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," just to name a few.
The always righteous, sometimes rousing album was recorded live at the Old Chapel at the McKownville United Methodist Church earlier this year during LRR’s annual series of charity benefit concerts. As befitting the plain-spoken, nothin’-fancy music of a simpler time, the musicians gathered around a single microphone, bobbing and weaving in and out for solos.
Between the two of them, Lindsay and Eck play more than a half dozen instruments on the disc, but they’ve also buttressed their sound with contributions from a number of Nippertown’s finest roots musicians. M.R. Poulopoulos takes over lead vocal chores on a perfectly subdued rendition of "No Depression" that wraps up with a heavenly, hushed a cappella coda. Kim Kilby (formerly of the Tern Rounders) steps up to the microphone to deliver the goods on "The Poor Orphan Child" and "On the Sea of Galilee." The Red Haired Strangers’ Ryan Dunham spikes the procedings with harmonica – sometimes haunting, sometimes howling – and Ramblin Jug Stompers’ Steven "Cousin" Clyde lays down a rock solid foundation on upright bass and harmony vocals.
Yes, Lost Radio Rounders’ Heaven’s Radio harkens back to a simpler time. No overdubs, no studio sweetening, no trickery. It’s about honesty, not irony. Listen closely, and you might hear a stage floorboard creak or the rumble of a truck on Western Avenue outside the church. It’s real music, played by real musicians in real time. That’s all too rare these days, and it’s something to be cherished…"
Michael and I team up in the world of journalism as as well as music. The current issue (#26) of The Fretboard Journal features an article on Woodstock musician/businessman Happy Traum. Michael wrote the piece and I supplied the photography.
This is our third such effort for Fretboard Journal, past articles featured Pete Seeger and luthier Joe Veillette. Check the FB website at www.fretboardjournal.com . 
We do love our musical collaborations (just see the posting below!) and we are happy to announce another one.
We are pleased to welcome vocalist Amaal Yehia as our first Lost Radio Rounders music intern. Amaal is a pre-med student at the Albany College of Pharmacy, and during her 2012-2013 academic year she will be performing with us at select LRR dates (please watch our calendar for specific shows). Amaal will also be assisting us with photography and video projects, so you may find her behind a camera as well.
Miss Yehia is a big fan of contemporary Americana artists the Avett Brothers, and is one of the few college students we know who shares our great appreciation for the music of The Carter Family. When you see her be sure to say “hi,” and welcome her aboard!
Those of you who have seen us perform live know that Lost Radio Rounders are the acoustic duo that is sometimes a trio, quartet, or…well, you get the idea: we like performing with other musicians. It’s just plain fun!
Here is a partial list of performers who have sat in with us since January of 2007. Upright bass players Bob Ristau, Steven “Cousin” Clyde and Dick Solberg; banjo players George Ward, Paul “Bowtie” Jossman and Ben Davis; female vocalists Ashley Pond, Sarah Pedinotti, Caroline “MotherJudge,” Kim Kilby, Carolyn Perrotta and Beth Lawton; guitarists M.R. Poulopoulos, Jim Gaudet, Bobby Long and C.B. Smith; harmonica players Ryan Dunham and Kyle Miller; and percussionists Sam Zucchini and Greg “Wild Bill” Haymes.
We look forward to more great collaborations in the years to come.
Many of you already know that Lost Radio Rounders (in addition to playing concerts & club dates) present themed programs of historic American music for libraries, museums and historical societies. I guess you could say we are in the "info-tainment" business.
Our latest program is "The Land of the Free: Songs from the War of 1812" and we we debuted it last night for a lively crowd at the April meeting of the New Scotland Historical Association. Please contact if your group is interested in this, or any of our themed programs!
Don't let anyone tell you that weekly newspapers are dead. The Spotlight News (serving Albany County here in upstate New York) ran a wonderful full page feature on us in a recent issue, and the result was a standing room only audience for our Lincoln and Liberty program at the Guilderland Library.
Thanks to Jacki Domin for her time and interest. Check 'em out at www.spotlightnews.com .
Wow! Time flies. Our recent show at Maple Ski Ridge marked five years as an acoustic duo for Michael and I. I can't imagine having a better musical partner than Mr. Eck, and I am grateful to all the other musicians who have shared the stage with us in our half decade. A recent check showed that we have played over 280 different American songs. I'm sure we'll hit 300 this year!
Thanks for listening,
Tom
Lost Radio Rounders recently appeared on Crumbs Cafe, a music and interview show on WEXT radio. If you missed us on 97.7, don't worry, you can find the show at http://crumbs.net/radio/crumbsCafe.swf?episode=episodes/cafeBumper112 . It's episode 112. Check it out when you can! 
In 2010 Lost Radio Rounders videos began appearing, first on YouTube, and then on this website. Our latest videos are now on YouTube in HD! We started out our HD career with "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", an old Appalachian folk song.
Check out "Rhody", and then search "Lost Radio Rounders" on YouTube and watch any of over 30 posted videos!
Micheal Eck and I have had many musical collaberations since the early 1980's. Some involved recording, some involved performing live, and a few involved both. Our current endeavor (as an acoutisic duo) is now four years old, and we feel as though we are just getting started.
Thanks to all the venues and organizations that have booked us, and all of you who have listened and enjoyed our musical offerings. As they say in presidential elections:
"Four more years, four more years!"
-Tom
From time to time Michael and I play at a place called the Jonesville Store. This is a head scratcher for folks who have not been there, but what is now a restaurant/deli/entertainment venue was once an old country store.
It is a cool, historic place to get a great meal (or just a great desert) on a Friday or Saturady evening when they feature live acoustic music from 6:30 to 9. Solo, duos and trios are the order of the day at Jonesville, and it's a perfect fit for us with the historic American music we present.
Come see us there; you'll enjoy great food, drink, and music with no cover charge.
Once again writer Michael Eck and photographer Tom Lindsay have teamed up for an article in Fretboard Journal (you may recall their Pete Seeger piece from fall 2009). This one is about Woodstock guitar builder Joe Veillette who has crafted instruments for Eddie Van Halen, Neal Schon of Journey, John Sebastian, Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads and many, many others.
You can find the magazine online at www.fretboardjournal.com and at select bookstores and music retailers. Look for the Winter 2010 issue.
You’ve got to have friends…who are musicians.
Michael and I have just finished a three month run of shows that saw us partnering with some really cool musical friends. They included:
Ryan Dunham, vocalist and harmonica ace of Red Haired Strangers;
Jim Gaudet (vocals, guitar) and Bob Ristau (bass, harmony vocals) of Jim Gaudet & the Railroad Boys;
Kim Kilby, vocalist and guitarist with the Tern Rounders;
Albie, guitarist and lead singer for the Black Fuel;
Sam Zucchini, drummer for the Zucchini Brothers;
George Ward, folklorist and folk musician;
Sarah Pedinotti, singer and harmonica player for Railbird;
Ben Davis, Railbird banjo man and vocalist;
Mother Judge, singer, songwriter and open mic host;
…and Kyle Miller, talented young acoustic bluesman.
It was all quite wonderful!
At our recent Cafe Lena concert, Michael and I decided to play...uh, let's say a "few" instruments. I played six and twelve string guitars, and my McNally Grand strumstick. Michael played guitar, dobro, mandolin, tenor guitar, uke and jaw harp. Which only begs the question: why would we have left my autoharp and his banjo at home?
Hour by hour, minute by minute, and second by second, millions of humans (and a few thousand monkeys) are typing on computer keyboards attempting to fill the internet with the useless information that makes this modern world go round.
Until recently, Michael and I haven’t been doing our fair share in this endeavor, but we have just posted the actual set lists for many of our shows on this website. No one needs this information, but if want to find it go to the bottom of our “Calendar” page and click “show past dates”…or you could do something productive instead.
-Tom
Well, well, well, here it is. I've been very excited about this new model from The Loar for some time, and mine has finally arrived. I've done a bunch of gigs with it already and I am very enamored of this little machine. As your probably aware, Tom and I endorse products by The Loar, and the hand-carved mandolins are top quality instruments available at a ridiculously affordable price. The F-style mandolins (like my LM 600 VS) are fancier models but I've always had a soft spot for the classic teardrop look, and this particular mandolin incorporates features of The Loar's top end model, the LM 700 VS, but with the simpler A-style body.
Please do come out and hear it some time!
Over the past three and a half years, my musical partner Mr. Eck has played mandolin, guitar, dobro, banjo, uke and more. Add to the list another new instrument...the crow call. This is because we recently began playing an old-time song called "The Story The Crow Told Me". Head to our video page to see Michael playing his new "instrument".
-Tom
Ah, technology! It's a blessing and a curse. For the blessing, check out our new video page! Just click "Video" on the menu bar.
Many of you are aware that Lost Radio Rounders are official endorsers of musical instruments by The Loar, but those good folks do not make a 12-string guitar.
I have had more than a few instruments come into my life and then leave because they weren't quite right, but my Taylor twelve is here to stay. It's tough to make a great sounding twelve that stays in tune and plays well up the neck, but the folks at Taylor nailed it with this one. I bought it used in 2002, and I can't imagine how the original owner was ever able to part with it.
-Tom
The new Lost Radio Rounders CD is called "Acoustic Roadshow". It is a live CD recorded as part of the Third Sunday at Three concert series in Gloversville. It features 13 tracks and our first recordings of Tom playing his McNally Strumstick (the strumstick is a modern take on the Appalachian dulcimer).
Songs range from serious (Hard Trials) to silly (The Man Who Rode The Mule Around The World), and you can get your copy of "Acoustic Roadshow" the next time you see us live.
You may have already read about Pete Seeger coming to visit with us before our show at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY. What Michael did not mention is that he asked Mr. Seeger to autograph his banjo head. Of course he obliged, he's a friendly fella!
-Tom
Some of you only know my musical partner Michael Eck as a member of Lost Radio Rounders and Ramblin Jug Stompers, but Michael is an accomplished singer/songwriter as well.
His new release "In My Shoes" is a treat, full of smartly written originals and one well chosen cover tune. Head to www.michaeleck.com for all the details. Lost radio rounders will be taking a small break while he promotes this new CD, but we'll be back before you know it!
-Tom
Here is Michael performing "one more raindrop" at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY.
You might remember from these occasional updates that last year Tom and I did a story on Pete Seeger’s banjo and 12-string guitar for Fretboard Journal magazine. And we also do a show called “American Favorite Ballads: Songs From Folkways,” that features the music of Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly.
Well, on Friday night (Abe Lincoln’s 201st birthday), we were in Beacon (Pete’s hometown) preparing to do our “Lincoln and Liberty!” program at the beautiful Howland Cultural Center, when in walks Pete.
He explained that he had a Clearwater event he needed to be at for the evening, but that he wanted to stop by and see us on the way; and to tell us that he is happy that Lost Radio Rounders are carrying the torch for Historic American Music.
“It’s so important that you are doing this,” he said.
He then told us wonderful stories about Lincoln and personal stories about Folkways founder Moe Asch, and how he got into the recording biz.
It was a magical moment for us, and we feel that we have received Pete’s blessing, and we thank him – beyond words – for that.
He truly is a national musical treasure.
-Michael