Peppermint Presents...Rat Race!: A Journey Through Youngstown Music History

Peppermint Productions
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In partnership with WYSU, Rate Race takes you on a dive into the archives of Peppermint Productions’ more than 50-year history. Episodes feature locally recorded music and conversations with the musicians that recorded them. Hosts Dean Anshutz (Red Wanting Blue, Kid Mammoth) and Anthony LaMarca (The War On Drugs, The Building) are both touring musicians who connected over a shared love for collecting records that were recorded locally. That passion has led them to archiving and reissuing those recordings. They both also engineer and produce new recordings alongside Peppermint founder, Gary Rhamy.

  1. Jul 31

    Casual Friday - Digital Singles

    We shine a light on some of the lesser know reissues we have released in the past few years.  Just because they're only available digitally, doesn't mean they don't have interesting stories and aren't rippin' jams.  So kick your feet up on the desk as we play some tunes, give a little update on our touring lives and what we've been working on at the studio (and even make a tomato sandwich or two.)

  2. Jul 24

    Shedrick Hobbs

    Every musician in Youngstown's favorite musician is Shedrick Hobbs.  His career began in the 1940's playing in jump blues bands and dance bands in many of the city's Black clubs.  He played with Charlie Parker, James Cleveland, Big Joe Turner, Bobby Marchan, Chuck Jackson.  Locally, he would always be at a jam session, encouraging young players (Anthony learned how to play jazz from Shed when he was a teenager).  He's hilarious and he's always generous to share his experiences and stories.  He also gives us the secret on how to make two dozen donuts disappear between Youngstown and Warren.

  3. Jul 17

    Sonny Hrehovcik

    Call him Sonny...  Call him Sonny Needs Money...  Call him Sonny Boy Hopcheck...  However you know him, wether it's from Underdog Records, Sacksville Rhythm & Blues Band, The Todd...you know that Sonny is one of the best dudes around and a significant figure in Youngstown's musical culture.

  4. Jul 10

    Bull Run

    In 1971 Jim Connor and his trio, Bull Run recorded an album which would not be heard by anyone until 2024.  Jim had played in bands throughout the 60's, but after returning from his service in the military, he wanted to make a statement with his music.  The result was a raw, proto-metal masterpiece that got rejected by every single label he sent it to, and the band got dirty looks from nearly every club owner who booked them.  Decades later his daughter Kim Connor haded us the tapes and entrusted us to tell their story.

  5. Jul 3

    Morly Grey

    Mark and Tim Roller started Morly Grey not knowing that decades after releasing their only LP, "The Only Truth", original copies with sell for over a thousand dollars...even spawning its own hyper-local bootleg market.  This year we reissued that album along with some home recorded demos that they dropped off at Peppermint in 1970.  Mark and Tim are always a joy to chat with.  They always bring us chili dogs from Jay's and we always end up laughing more than anything.

  6. Jun 26

    Casual Friday - Simply Slavic

    If you live in Youngstown, you know that Simply Slavic is the area's largest Slavic heritage festival.  We talk with John Slanina about how he's help build the festival, why celebrating this heritage is important, and the diverse world of regional ethnic music that has sprung out of it.  It's even inspired him to join a tamburitza orchestra.

  7. Jun 19

    Glass Harp

    Glass Harp are one of the best know bands to come out of Youngstown.  We talk with Phil Keaggy and John Sferra about their early days playing together as teenagers, forming their first bands, wearing pointy shoes, and how they recorded "Where Did My World Come From", their 1969 demo LP that we recently released for the first time.

  8. Jun 12

    Marjon - Josh Roman

    Marjon International was a recording studio and label in Hermitage, PA founded by husband and wife duo Martha and Johnny Krizancic.  Though both have passed, we share an interview from 2016 that Anthony and Josh Roman recorded with Martha at her home where the studio was.  We also talked with Josh, who is the owner and engineer at Mindrocket Recording Studio.  Martha and Johnny were mentors to Josh and he is very much the keeper of the flame that they started with Marjon.

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About

In partnership with WYSU, Rate Race takes you on a dive into the archives of Peppermint Productions’ more than 50-year history. Episodes feature locally recorded music and conversations with the musicians that recorded them. Hosts Dean Anshutz (Red Wanting Blue, Kid Mammoth) and Anthony LaMarca (The War On Drugs, The Building) are both touring musicians who connected over a shared love for collecting records that were recorded locally. That passion has led them to archiving and reissuing those recordings. They both also engineer and produce new recordings alongside Peppermint founder, Gary Rhamy.

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