“The Jehova Waitresses’ ‘Red Sunsets’ was one of those early tunes that just blasted off from ‘The Inner Sanctum,’ ” said Johnson. The station already had music from several local bands in its rotation – which meant that no money from a label pushing its product – “and yes, that [expletive] does happen,” Johnson said. That, in turn, meant there was some resistance from station management.
“I remember Rick Michaels [the station’s program director at the time] actually throwing a folder off the wall after I played him this song [because] he knew we had to add it,” said Johnson.
Rick Michaels – wherever he is – might want to go looking for another folder to heave. The Waitresses have the new “Route 5” album, which came out in July, and another called “Uncountry” that’s ready for a rollout once enough time has passed, said Roy. – Chuck Yarborough
I was thinking about “Red Sunsets (Since You’ve Been Gone),” which got a lot of local airplay here in commercial radio in the mid-’90s. It was to me, the sound of a band getting somewhere and evolving into something that was really impressive. – Matt Wardlaw
Their style is as eclectic as it is serious and fun. – Kath Galasso
This band headed up the resurgence of folk rock in 1990s Cleveland. – Deanna R. Adams
Linda Roy talks to Jeanie Brosius King of Blog Talk Radio