Trent Wagler of Virginia-based The Steel Wheels talks about a first song that prioritized rhyme over meaning and the importance of inner motivation.
Clay Parker and Jodi James on The Louvin Brothers, Christmas Songs, and Rolling Dice
Louisiana singer-songwriters Clay Parker and Jodi James talk about the the band’s home on wheels situation and the importance of diversification.
Dinty Child on Wine, Wifi, and The Flying Circus
Boston singer-songwriter Dinty Child recalls starting a house renovation business, names some of the many bands in which he’s played (The Aluminum Egg Corporation, anyone?), and explains why he feels pretty good and music and life.
James Mastro on Owning a Guitar Store and Why Musicians Should Be Loud and Proud
James Mastro talked about avoiding restaurants whose names ends in “’s” and reveals who the best customer is at his Hoboken, NJ guitar store.
Chad Staehly of The High Hawks on First Impressions and One of Touring’s Great Rewards
Chad Staehly, vocalist and keyboardist for The High Hawk’s, talks about Billy Joel, the band Americana, and getting to tour with a band of super friends.
Dan Bern on Open Mics and a Short-Lived Day Job
Singer-songwriter Dan Bern talks about “The Ballad of Andy Fahrquarth”, the first song that he wrote, and the time he left a tour van in an Oklahoma parking lot.
Jolie Holland on Tour Schtick, Weaponized Plagiarism, and Her Side Project “Velour Sewer”
Jolie Holland talks about touring in a microvan, shares an early song lyric, and explains why she is sincerely uninterested in genre .
Philip Lupton of Briscoe on Local Diners and The Experience of Live Music
Philip Lupton of Austin-based Briscoe talks about how the band saves a few bucks on guitar strings and why the love their rehearsal space.
John Baumann on a Stolen Tour Van and How He Found His First Gig
Texas singer-songwriter John Baumann pleads the 5th in response to one of our questions but talks about his food menu while on tour and rehearsing in an Airbnb.
The Pretty Flowers on Renting Vans from Costco and Not Setting Goals
The members of Los Angeles rock band The Pretty Flowers talk about why they need a new rehearsal space and the sisyphean task of making a living in a band.