Our episode features Jonathan Rundman, singer/songwriter from Minneapolis, who has a new Americana rock and roll album called “Waves”.
It is a fascinating and fun talk about 80’s rock music, The Silos and the circle of friends that includes Cracker, The Vulgar Boatmen, and all they that have influenced. If you dig 80s rock, his tales are what you might want. We talk about Bob Seger, the Rainmakers, The Hooters, and lots more.
Born and raised in the isolated Finnish-American communities of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and now based in Minneapolis, Rundman twists smart, cinematic, rock and roll lyrics, pop hooks, and garage attitude into his songs.
In addition to his solo career, Rundman tours and records as keyboardist for legendary New York City-based Americana/rock band The Silos.
Rundman released his first new album in ten years in April, 2025 and is on a Midwest tour opening for the Silos. For the past decade he’s been touring and recording with Walter Salas-Humara and The Silos.
The pre-release single from the album, “Elizabeth, Don’t Waste Your Breath” was co-written with Salas-Humara and the second single from the record, “Let’s Put On An Opera”, champions the artistic process, backed by vintage analog keyboards from the 1960s, including a Wurlitzer electric piano, a Vox Continental organ, and a real tape-powered Chamberlin.
His producer, Ron Gomez, told Jonathan that he should record some interstitial music, instrumental pieces that weave in between the songs. “We talked about albums we liked, featuring these kinds of moments, like the acoustic transition after the song ‘Nights of Mystery’ by the Georgia Satellites.
Referencing “Nights of Mystery”? I’m all in. That’s what I needed to hear.
You like the Vulgar Boatmen?
Del Fuegos?
Replacements?
Gear Daddies?
Cracker?
A little Elvis Costello and Rockpile?
You need to be in too.
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