SEN. TIM KAINE ROCKS OUT ON ‘ROCKIN’ THE SUBURBS’ PODCAST
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
WASHINGTON — Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., whose music fandom came to light during the 2016 presidential campaign, joins “Rockin’ the Suburbs” to discuss his love of ‘80s alternative band the Replacements, bluegrass legend Doc Watson, the Virginia music scene and other topics. An avid harmonica player, Kaine also plays and sings on the episode, which will be available on major podcast platforms starting July 13, 2018.
Kaine’s appearance on the podcast developed from a chance meeting between the senator and cohost Jim Lenahan at a rock concert in Alexandria, Va.
Among the “Rockin’ the Suburbs” episode highlights:
- Kaine developed a friendship with Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson and has performed on stage with Stinson’s new band Bash & Pop. On “Rockin’ the Suburbs,” Kaine reveals his favorite Replacements lyrics, from “Bastards of Young” and “I Will Dare.” Says Kaine: “They combined joyful noise — with an emphasis on the noise — with, I think, just very, very astute lyrics.”
- Kaine grew up a fan of the Who, but turned his attention to traditional American music after a friend introduced him to the music of Doc Watson. Says Kaine: “Doc Watson is not only a fantastic flat-picker but also a superb singer, great harmonica player, performs tons of songs in every genre, not just bluegrass but gospel, soul, blues — could do it all.”
- An avid harmonica player, Kaine once performed with fellow senator Lamar Alexander, R- Tenn., at a music festival in the town of Bristol, on the Virginia-Tennessee line. After much debate over the act’s name, they called themselves The Amateurs.
- Kaine always keeps a bag of harmonicas with him. He pulls out one during the episode to play and sing “My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains” on “Rockin’ the Suburbs.”
The full audio podcast episode of Tim Kaine on “Rockin’ the Suburbs” will be available to the public on major podcast platforms — including Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Spotify, Google Play, audioBoom, Stitcher and TuneIn — on July 13. Listeners can download or stream it for free.
“Rockin’ the Suburbs” is a daily music podcast produced and hosted by Patrick Foster and Jim Lenahan. It features music commentary and interviews. (Jim and Patrick formerly hosted USA Today’s “Dad Rock” podcast.) For more information, visit suburbspod.com
Jim Lenahan