The Wall of Power Radio Hour

Paul Metsa and Dr. Kristin Lyerly, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist from Green Bay, WI had a great discussion about the upcoming election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dr. Lyerly lives in Green Bay, WI and also practices in Hibbing, MN where they both met while sitting next to each other at the MN Premiere of A Complete Unknown (the Bob Dylan biopic) on 12/20/24 in Hibbing. Dr. Lyerly spoke of the importance of the WI Supreme Court race and her strong support of Susan Crawford who is currently Circuit Court Judge and the political ramifications of the race. While D...

Paul Metsa and Mary Bue had a wonderful chat about Mary’s dynamite new record The Wildness of Living and Dying and played several tracks off it. They also chatted about Mary’s time in Duluth, her travels internationally leading yoga retreats, and more.

Paul Metsa and Mike Kappus had a great conversation about Mike’s long history in the music business starting with his beginning in Eau Claire, WI booking music shows around town, getting his music bookers license at age 19, a short stint in Milwaukee, WI before moving to San Francisco to create and run the legendary Rosebud Agency for over 50 years. During that time, his agency booked thousands of show featuring a literal Who’s Who of American roots and blues musicians. Some of these great musicians are pictured below including Mike with John Lee Hooker and B.B. King, Taj M...

Paul is joined today by fan favorite Checkpoint Charlie Pierce for the first time in 2025 to discuss politics, news, and music.

Paul Metsa is a renowned musician who hosts the Wall of Power on Saturday nights at 6 PM on AM950. Also, find his books wherever books are sold.

Paul Metsa had a great chat with Terri Thal, author of My Greenwich Village- Dave, Bob, and Me about her time growing up in Brooklyn, and then moving to Greenwich Village. She met, then married, folksinger Dave Van Ronk and also managed a young Bob Dylan when he first moved to NYC. She also taped him live at the Gaslight Cafe. She talks about this and more in this wonderful interview.

Paul Metsa and singer-songwriter Ike Reilly had a great chat about Ike’s new documentary Don’t Turn Your Back on Friday Night, which was produced by fellow Libertyville, Illinois native Tom Morello. Ike talked about his love of Minneapolis, First Avenue, Grumpy’s Bar and more. We also featured several of Ike’s songs. A great chat, just two songwriters talking shop and more.

This week host Paul Metsa was joined by AM950’s weekday afternoon host, the one and only Matt McNeil! They talk about their experiences spending time on the Iron Range and election thoughts.

Paul Metsa was joined by Charlie Pierce for another episode in our “Checkpoint Charlie” series!

Paul makes his first visit to the AM950 studio in a few years on today’s show!

We had a great chat with legendary folk singer Tom Paxton this week. Tom had a treasure trove of stories, and his story about hearing Bob Dylan’s Hard Rain is Gonna Fall the day after he wrote it, is priceless!

We had a lovely chat with Kurt Nelson, a long time beloved member of the Twin Cities music community. We played several tracks from his music career and enjoyed Kurt’s stories, his history, his sense of humor, as his personality shone brightly throughout!

Paul Metsa is an acclaimed musician and host of the Wall of Power Radio Hour on AM950 every Saturday night at 6 PM or podcast on am950radio.com.

Host Paul Metsa is joined by Charlie Pierce for another episode in our checkpoint Charlie series.

Paul Metsa was joined by well-known Minnesota guitar maker Kurt Nelson for the entire hour

We continue our Tribute to Spider John Koerner with three great guests: Tom Nelson (Tom’s Burn’t Down Cafe- Madeline Island, WI), Jack Pasternacki (Cats Under the Stars) and ace guitarist Dakota Dave Hull.

We had three soulful chats as we celebrated the life, times, and music of the late great Spider John Koerner. The guests included folk and blues musician Charlie Parr, longtime Twin Cities folk singer Charlie Maguire, and record store owner, producer and longtime Koerner friend Mark Trehus. The photo includes Spider John, Paul Metsa, and Baby Grant Johnson at Palmers Bar after the Tony Glover memorial.

We continued our series with regular guest Checkpoint Charlie Pierce with a great conversation.

We had a lovely conversation with Mary T. , the owner of Crooner’s Supper Club in Fridley. We talked about the past, present, and future of what Downbeat magazine called “one of the finest jazz clubs in the world.”

We had a great conversation with Minneapolis guitarist and songwriter Tab Laven. We talked about his early years in the Twin Cities, his work with Mary MacGregor and Michael Johnson, and his time in  Nashville where he met  Art Garfunkel who has toured the world with.

We had a great time, with three special guests, saluting the late great Mojo Nixon. First up is Steve McClellan, the man who put First Avenue and 7th Entry on the map as he booked both venues for over 30 years. He talks about working with Mojo and Skid Roper in the early days. Next is Joe Brauner, who booked Mojo in the mid-80’s when he worked for Venture Booking. We round out the interview with guitarist-producer Eric Ambel, who talks about recording Mojo Nixon’s “Otis”, a great record produced by legendary producer Jim Dickinson. A lotta Mojo Love in...

We had a great chat about the upcoming 44th Annual Bluegrass Winter Gathering with the executive director of the event, and a great chat with Kim and Quillan Roe from the Roe Family Singers, and of course, played a few songs as well.

Paul is joined once again by Checkpoint Charlie Pierce as we ramp up the 2024 election season.

Paul Metsa had a blast interviewing his old buddy, and Midwest Classic Country Legend, about his 70 years of playing music. Sherwin has a great new 42 song double CD out called Sunday Drives with Mom and Dad, a collection of songs they would sing together while driving around in their hometown of Watertown, South Dakota. They also chatted about Sherwin’s early career, his time in Nashville, his friendship with Johnny Cash and more.

Paul had a great chat with food critic, author and columnist Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl about her new book The Essential Dear Dara- Writings on Local Characters and Memorable Places, including shared memories of both coming of age on Ridgewood Avenue in Minneapolis, and the wonders of that gateway to South Minneapolis, and Minneapolis at large.

Paul is joined by musician Larry Long as Larry discusses the re-release of his album Sweet Thunder and previews his upcoming Dakota set January 13.

Paul Metsa is an acclaimed Minnesota musician and Iron Ranger who hosts the Wall of Power Radio Hour every Saturday at 6 PM on AM950. He is an expert on Bob Dylan and recently co-wrote a book called Blood In The Tracks about the Minneapolis-based musicians who backed Dylan on his iconic Blood on the Tracks record.

Host Paul Metsa was joined by author Ray Padgett who talks about his new book, “Pledging My Time: Conversations with Bob Dylan Band Members.” Order at: https://www.nextchapterbooksellers.com/book/9798988178118

Paul is joined for another edition of his “Checkpoint Charlie” series with nationally-known pundit Charlie Pierce.

This week host Paul Metsa is joined by musician Jalan Crossland.

When Bob Dylan recorded Blood on the Tracks in New York in September 1974, it was a great album. But it was not the album now ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the ten best of all time. “When something’s not right, it’s wrong,” as Dylan puts it in “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go”—and something about that original recording led him to a studio in his native Minnesota to re-record five songs, including “Idiot Wind” and “Tangled Up in Blue.” Six Minnesota musicians participated in that two-night recording session at Sound 80, bringing their unique sound to so...

We had a great chat with Chris Cunningham from the dynamic duo Storyhill who are hosting Storyhill Fest at Clearwater Camp from August 25-27. Chris told us how they came together in high school, and the highlights of their 30 year career together. they are taking a break after the festival, so this is the last chance you’ll hear from them for at least awhile. We also play 3 songs from different points in their career.

Monte Bute made his first appearance on the show on June 6, 2020 in the wake of George Floyd’s murde, discussing his political awakening and stories from the years.

We had a great conversation with Dirk Schwenk, a great progressive voice on Twitter, founding treasurer of the MadDog Pac, and singer-songwriter. We talked politics, strategy, and featured there of Dirk’s original songs.

We had a great conversation with journalist, musician, author, and songwriter Jeff Slate. Jeff write for Esquire.com, Rolling Stone, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal (a great interview with Bob Dylan.) We talked about Jeff’s background, his own music, and his associations with some other great musicians.

Jeff Slate posing in NYC. March 29, 2023. © Bob Gruen/www.bobgruen.com
Please contact Bob Gruen’s studio to purchase a print or license this photo. email: info@bobgruen.com

We had a great show featuring two musicians playing at Twangfest at Palmers Bar Patio on May 13, 2023. First up was John Magnuson (formerly of the Carpetbaggers) and Doug Collins (pictured here with his band The Receptionists.) Paul then ends the show with a tribute and personal remembrance of opening up for  his hero Gordon Lightfoot in Superior, WI in August of 1955.