Brian Johnson’s world was fascinating to read about even way ahead of his time in AC/DC. In fact, his early period with one of the biggest bands in the world makes up a small portion of The Lives of Brian. And when he gets there, you’re going to feel like you yourself just joined AC/DC. That’s how exciting it felt to read about this working-class lad from Newcastle – a non-overnight sensation if there ever was one – joining up with Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd.

This episode is also available as a blog post.

Dan Kurash's article gives readers an on-the-spot feel of how diverse - and dangerous - a cop's job is while patrolling the streets in a car inundated with gadgets. During his time with the dedicated cop, Kurash observed calls that came in about a vehicle potentially holding illicit drugs and a domestic conflict between two neighbors in an apartment.

This episode is also available as a blog post.

Singer Jack Russell is an entertainer who doesn’t hold back when talking to a crowd. On the second night of the Gibson City Harvest Fest, he proclaimed his love for the era that his band Great White emerged from.

This episode is also available as a blog post.

Howie Golub doesn’t have a favorite album by Jimmy Buffett, but there is a lyric by the artist that has always caught his attention: “It never is too late to make a brand new start,” from Buffett’s song “Knees of My Heart.”

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://salnudo.com/2022/11/23/jimmy-buffett-cover-band-keeps-the-trop-rock-going/.

I always liked this article I wrote about the King Family Band for the Piatt County Journal-Republican, though the lead about VH1’s Behind the Music is dated. Published on February 6, 2008, I’m pretty sure it was the first of many music articles I would go on to write.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://salnudo.com/2022/10/03/music-a-tradition-in-monticellos-king-family-band/.

Part of Keith Harden’s appeal to his fans may be his independent spirit. Champaign-Urbana called Harden its own for a long time, and now folks in the northeast get to do the same. It’s a treat to see Harden play live. When he plays the guitar, it sounds as if two people are playing.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://salnudo.com/2022/11/06/songs-go-on-for-keith-harden-fans/.

This article was published in September of 2006 in a Champaign-Urbana rag called The Hub. Over drinks at a campus bar, I interviewed Josh Chicoine, one of the singers and a guitarist in The M’s and a guy I knew in high school and got to know better afterward. I was thrilled to cover such a great rock ‘n’ roll band and regret not talking to one of his band mates, who was sitting near us at the bar, for this article. I skipped out on seeing the M’s play live that night but caught them two other times and was highly impressed. They sounded just like they do on record. Here’s hoping they put out more music someday.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://salnudo.com/2022/10/24/the-ms-gave-pop-a-wake-up-call/.

The down-to-earth Sarah Borges hails from Boston and has been at the music thing for a few decades. She’s one of those artists you want to see succeed.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://salnudo.com/2022/08/20/sarah-borges-rocks-the-rose-bowl-in-urbana/.