Rock Is Lit

Calling all metalheads out there in podcast land. Have I got the novel and episode for you. John Wray is here to talk about his brand-new novel, ‘Gone to the Wolves’, which author Raven Leilani describes as “a love letter to metal that captures both its brutal kinetics and its nearness to the sublime.”The novel follows Kip, Kira, and Leslie Z, three teenagers living on Florida’s Gulf Coast in the late 1980s. All three come from unhappy homes, of one sort or another, but forge a friendship centered around their love for metal.If you’ve been waiting for a novel to come along that treats metal with respect rather than parody, your wait it over. But even if you didn’t grow up watching ‘Head Bangers Ball’ or hoarding Metallica or Slayer records, there’s something in this novel for everyone.In the last segment, Jon Verno, from the Metal Mayhem ROC podcast, and Tom Gigliotti, co-host of Shout It Out Loudcast, school me on several subgenres of metal mentioned in ‘Gone to the Wolves’, including death, thrash, black, and glam metal. MEDIA AND MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Clip from the ‘Today’ show from May 26, 2023—book review by Isaac Fitzgerald of ‘Gone to the Wolves’ Royalty-free Doom Metal Instrumental “The Witch” “Wunderbar” by Tenpole Tudor “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue "Denial of Life” by Death “Transmission” by Joy Division “I Want You” by Hanoi Rocks “Thus Spake the Nightspirit” by Emperor “Ace of Spades”by Motorhead “Witches’ Dance” by Mercyful Fate “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest “Fade to Black” by Metallica “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath “Hammer Smashed Face” by Cannibal Corpse “Deathcrush” by Mayhem (Dead on vocals) “Seasons in the Abyss” by Slayer  LINKS:Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Video of Tenpole Tudor’s song “Wunderbar”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bx7QFFlV9M John Wray’s ‘Gone to the Wolves’ playlist for Largehearted Boy: https://largeheartedboy.com/2023/05/22/john-wrays-playlist-for-his-novel-gone-to-the-wolves/ John Wray’s website: http://www.johnwray.net/John Wray on Twitter: @John_WrayJohn Wray on Instagram: @thejohnwrayJohn Wray on Facebook: @JohnWray Shout It Out Loudcast website: https://www.shoutitoutloudcast.com/ Metal Mayhem ROC website: https://www.metalmayhemroc.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Brett Marie joins me to talk about his fabulous debut novel, ‘The Upsetter Blog’. Author John Lingan said of the novel, “ ‘The Upsetter Blog’ takes us back to the turn of the century, when the Internet was still a wilderness and ‘new media’ had not yet upended cultural coverage. [Brett Marie’s] finely drawn characters look to rock and roll for redemption, fame, love, and intimacy, caught between old ideas of stardom and new possibilities of communication. A roaring road-novel debut.”The literary alter ego of rock 'n' roll musician Mat Treiber, Brett Marie is a contributing editor for the online literary journal ‘Bookanista’, and a staff writer for the website ‘PopMatters’. His short fiction has appeared in various magazines, including ‘New Plains Review’, ‘Words + Images Press’, and ‘The Impressment Gang’. His story “If It Had Happened to You” was shortlisted for LoveReading UK’s first Very Short Story Award in 2019. He currently lives in England with his wife, singer-songwriter musician and writer Roxanne Fontana, and their daughter, Miss Marie.MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Royalty-free indie rock background music “Anemone” by the Brian Jonestown Massacre “Victoria The Queen” by Mat Treiber “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC “(Eat the) Morning Glory” by Roxanne Fontana/Jean-Paul Sartre from Roxanne’s album ‘Phantasmagorgy’ “Little Marie” by Chuck Berry “Poor Boy” by Mat Treiber “It’s OK Today” by Mat Treiber “Go All Around the World” by Mat Treiber and Roxanne Fontana “Keep a Knockin’ ” by Little Richard “Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis Presley “She’s Got It Good” by Mat Treiber and Roxanne Fontana LINKS:Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350  Mat Treiber on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063108855116Mat Treiber on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mattreiberMat Treiber on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0s1hBgEdOtav69JtRYcpnSMat Treiber on Twitter: @MatTreiberRocksBrett Marie’s website: https://brettmarietellsstories.wordpress.com/Brett Marie on Twitter: @brettmarie1979‘The Upsetter Blog’ on Owl Canyon Press’s website: https://www.owlcanyonpress.com/product-page/the-upsetter-blog Roxanne Fontana on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/lachanteuse-1  Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Garth Risk Hallberg is my guest in this episode of Rock is Lit. Full disclosure, Garth is the son of my late husband, Bill Hallberg, who was also a writer and teacher. Garth is here to talk about the new Apple TV+ series ‘City on Fire’, which is based on his 2015 international bestselling novel of the same title.The first three episodes of this eight-episode music-driven mystery thriller premiere Friday, May 12, 2023. You can catch one new episode weekly through June 16, 2023.If you haven’t seen the show trailer or read the novel yet, here’s a very brief synopsis of the plot: “A college student is shot in Central Park on July 4, 2003. The investigation connects a series of mysterious citywide fires, the downtown music scene, and a wealthy uptown real estate family fraying under the strain of the many secrets they keep.” MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Royalty free indie instrumental music “Knuckleduster” by Muzz “No One Knows” by Queens of the Stone Age “NYC” by Interpol Clip from CBS This Morning on Garth—Focuses on NYC 1977 Blackout “Miami 2017” by Billy Joel “The Rat” by The Walkmen “You Only Live Once” by The Strokes “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs   LINKS:Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350‘City on Fire’ Apple TV webpage: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/city-on-fire/umc.cmc.r6vntb5r9wwbjwtt58xmyuz9Garth Risk Hallberg, Lit Hub Interview on the TV series ‘City on Fire’: https://lithub.com/garth-risk-hallberg-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-city-on-fire-adaptation/IndieBound website, where you can locate indie bookstores to purchase the novel ‘City on Fire’ by Garth Risk Hallberg: https://bookshop.org/shop/indieboundChristy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE HERE. Before there was Led Zeppelin, before Jimmy Page first bowed his electric guitar or worked his magic on the theremin, there was The Yardbirds—the legendary 1960s British psychedelic blues band that launched the careers of three of rock’s greatest guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. In this special episode of Rock is Lit, one of the original members of The Yardbirds joins me, and I couldn’t be more excited. Drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jim McCarty is here. Jim is recognized world-wide for the innovative drumming style he introduced in the 1960s on songs that are now classics, such as “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Shapes of Things,” “The Train Kept A-Rollin’,” “You’re a Better Man Than I,” “Over Under Sideways Down,” and “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago.” Since the end of The Yardbirds in the ‘60s, Jim has formed a number of successful bands and released three solo albums of his own songs. He is the author of the book ‘Nobody Told Me: My Life with the Yardbirds, Renaissance and Other Stories’, published in 2018, and the 2021 book ‘She Walks In Beauty: My Quest For The Bigger Picture’, both written with Dave Thompson. Rock is Lit is a podcast about rock novels, and I’d originally contacted Jim to be a guest in the episode celebrating the audiobook release of my rock novel, ‘Searching for Jimmy Page’, but we were not able to make that happen. Later, after that episode aired and after I read Jim’s book ‘She Walks In Beauty’, inspired by the loss of his beloved wife, Lizzie, and his quest to connect with her following her death, AND after Jim and I finally did make contact and scheduled an interview, I decided to devote an entire episode to him. In this episode, we talk about Jim’s family and childhood during WWII-torn Britain, his music career and experience as a member of The Yardbirds, his interest in and exploration of the paranormal and spirituality, his endearing and enduring relationship with Lizzie, and ‘She Walks In Beauty’, the fascinating book that details that relationship as well as Jim’s quest for the bigger picture, as the book’s subtitle states. The interview is uncut and only minimally edited. I hope you enjoy it. It was an honor and a thrill to spend some time with one of rock’s legends: Jim McCarty. LINKS:Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Jim McCarty’s website: http://www.jamesmccarty.com/Jim’s 2018 album ‘Walking in the Wild Land’ is available to stream and download now: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02dnzoj4U768gqvbrEc4Ma7F8HHfqhTLLRTPP7CrEXh4izsgTyuiueN3QFaVeg4q9Xl&id=100063547871100*Purchase Jim’s books and albums at his website*All of Jim’s social media links can be found on his website Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m excited to welcome acclaimed musician Jessamyn Violet to the podcast to talk about her novel, ‘Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar’, a gritty, glittery, queer YA debut about a teenage musician who jumps at a chance to play in her favorite rock band on their upcoming world tour, only to realize her heroes have their own agenda and might be leading her down a dark path. If you’re into the 1990s Los Angeles music scene, in all its glory and decay, you’re gonna love this novel and episode. Speaking of the 1990s LA music scene, in the last segment of the episode, ‘LA Weekly’ Culture & Entertainment Editor, Lina Lecaro, joins me to talk about that very thing as well as some of the women who were rockin’ the town and the world at that time.MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:  “Surf Basement” by Movie Club “Doll Parts” by Hole “Venice Bitch” by Lana Del Rey “Moonbow” by Movie Club “Who Will Save Your Soul” by Jewel “Sullen Girl” by Fiona Apple “Applause” by Lady Gaga “Trap Door” by Movie Club “Black Flamingo” by Movie Club “Crucify” by Tori Amos Clip from ET about Christina Applegate performing with the Pussycat Dolls “Shitlist” by L7   LINKS:Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Jessamyn Violet’s website, where you can find Reading, Rocking, Rainbow Tour dates and info on tickets, and info on her band Movie Club: https://jessamynviolet.com/bioJessamyn Violet on Twitter and Instagram: @jessamynviolet Read Lina Lecaro’s work in ‘LA Weekly’: https://www.laweekly.com/guest-author/lina_lecaro/Read Lina’s piece in ‘Vice’ “This is My Reality as a Woman Music Journalist”: https://www.vice.com/en/article/695zx3/being-a-female-music-journalistListen to Lina’s archived ‘Hot Licks with Lina’ radio show on https://luxuriamusic.com/shows/hot-licks/Lina Lecaro on Twitter and Instagram: @LinaLecaro Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do yoga, the Y2K freakout, Finland, and Bob Dylan have in common? Cheryl J. Fish, that’s what. Cheryl brings them all together in her debut novel from Livingston Press, ‘Off the Yoga Mat’, set in that crazy year 1999, when everybody feared a looming mass technological meltdown and started filling their garages with buy-in-bulk toilet paper and miscellaneous canned goods (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?). Cheryl is here to talk about her novel.Later, my go-to Bob Dylan guru pal, Lucas Hare, co-host of the fabulous podcast Is It Rolling, Bob? Talking Dylan, drops by to talk about what Bob Dylan’s career looked like in the late 1990s/very early 2000s—the period during which Cheryl’s novel is set. FYI: Dylan was a whole lot more active than you probably remember or might imagine, so stick around to hear Lucas and me geek out over that phase of Dylan’s multi-faceted career. MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Copyright free Bob Dylan x The Beatles Type Beat “No One to Blame”/Classic Rock Beat “You’re a Big Girl Now” by Bob Dylan “Idiot Wind” by Bob Dylan “Jealousy” by Iggy Pop “I Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore” by The Snake Oil Willie Band Comedians on Yoga/Tim Hawkins “1999” by Prince “Things Have Changed” by Bob Dylan “Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum” by Bob Dylan “Can’t Wait” by Bob Dylan” (snippets of three versions) “Love Sick” by Bob Dylan  LINKS:Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Cheryl J. Fish’s website: https://www.cheryljfish.com/Cheryl J. Fish on Twitter and Instagram: @CherylJoyFishCheryl’s essay “How I Published My Debut Novel Off the Yoga Mat”: https://authorspublish.com/case-study-how-i-published-my-debut-novel-off-the-yoga-mat/ Is It Rolling, Bob? Talking Dylan Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-it-rolling-bob-talking-dylan/id1437321669Link to Rock is Lit EP9, with Lucas Hare (about Dylan 1966): https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/danaspiottaandlucashare Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a fan of David Bowie—be it Ziggy Stardust, Halloween Jack, The Thin White Duke, Major Tom, Aladdin Sane, and/or The Blind Prophet from the ‘Blackstar’ videos, or all of the above—you’re going to love this episode. Lance Olsen is here to talk about his latest novel, ‘Always Crashing in the Same Car: A Novel After David Bowie’, a story that fictionalizes the life of David Bowie from a wide variety of angles.In the last segment of the episode, singer, songwriter, music producer, and host of the Music is not a Genre podcast, Nick DeMatteo joins me to talk about David Bowie’s Berlin years (a period that figures into Lance’s novel) and the albums Bowie made during that time, known as The Berlin Trilogy.  MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: “Starman” by David Bowie (instrumental piano version played by Sam Yung) “Ashes to Ashes” by David Bowie “The Bewlay Brothers” by David Bowie “Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie “Changes” by David Bowie Montage of David Bowie saying his name “Golden Years” by David Bowie “Blackstar” by David Bowie “Always Crashing in the Same Car” by David Bowie “Art Decade” by David Bowie “Heroes” by David Bowie   LINKS:Lance Olsen’s website: https://lanceolsen.com/Lance Olsen on Facebook: @LanceOlsen Nick DeMatteo’s website: https://www.nickdematteo.com/Music is not a Genre podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MUSICisnotaGENRE Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In lieu of a regular episode this week, I’m coming at you from the Rock is Lit Vault. I’m excited about interviewing Rex Weiner, author of ‘The (Original) Adventures of Ford Fairlane’, tomorrow night (3/24/2023) for an upcoming episode of Rock is Lit. Since half of Rex’s Ford Fairlane stories take place during the early ‘80s punk rock scene in LA, I thought it would be fun to revisit my chat with Pleasant Gehman about that period. This outtake from my interview with Pleasant is from Episode 4 of Rock is Lit, which features Janet Fitch’s novel ‘Paint It Black’, set during that time and place.Listen to EP4 of Rock is Lit here.Pleasant Gehman is a writer, musician, and host of The Devil's Music podcast, also on the Pantheon Podcast Network.Stay tuned for the next full episode of Rock is Lit, which will drop next week. MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THIS VAULT EP: Copyright-free punk instrumental music Excerpt from the movie ‘The Adventures of Ford Fairlane’ “Los Angeles” by X  LINKSInfo about Jessamyn Violet’s Reading Rocking Rainbow Tour: https://jessamynviolet.com/events-wavChristy Alexander Hallberg's website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram and Twitter: @ChristyHallbergChristy Alexander Hallberg on YouTube: @ChristyAlexanderHallbergPleasant Gehman’s website: https://pleasantgehman.com/tarotreadings/Pleasant Gehman Twitter, @PleasantGehman1Pleasant Gehman Instagram, @princessofhollywoodThe Devil’s Music with Pleasant Gehman podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-devils-music-with-pleasant-gehman/id1513014547 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello, Lit Listeners. If science fiction is your jam, this is the episode for you. Sarah Pinsker is here to talk about her sci fi rock novel, 'A Song For A New Day’, a story that takes place after a global pandemic makes public gatherings illegal and concerts impossible, hence the rise of DIY music venues.In the last segment, Rock is Lit veteran Nabil Ayers drops by to give me some insight into the world of DIY music venues. Nabil Ayers was also a guest on Episode 10, which you can listen to here. MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: SciFi Music for YouTube videos, no copyright “State of Confusion” by The Kinks “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?” by Fairport Convention “Not Guilty” by George Harrison From Dubioza Kolektiv Quarantine Show—Episode 4 “A Change Would Do You Good” by Sheryl Crow From Dubioza Kolektiv - U.S.A. (Live at Quarantine Show) “Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather” by The Stalking Horses Miss Gulch’s theme from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ “Probably Will” by The Stalking Horses “You Have the Sky” by Sarah Pinsker  LINKS:Sarah Pinsker’s website: https://sarahpinsker.com/Sarah on Twitter: @sarahpinskerLink to Sarah’s short story mentioned in the episode, “Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather,” originally published in ‘Uncanny’: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/where-oaken-hearts-do-gather/Link to the song “Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather,” which Sarah recorded with her band The Stalking Horses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_PrliX7XGA Nabil Ayers’ website: https://www.nabilayers.com/aboutNabil on Twitter and Instagram: @nabilayers Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallbergRock is Lit Vault, Interview with Nabil Ayers about his memoir, ‘My Life in the Sunshine: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jenniferhauptandcharlesrcrossandnabilayers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I hope everybody’s doing well out there in podcast land. In lieu of a regular episode this week, I’m coming at you from the Rock is Lit Vault. I’ve got some news and announcements I wanted to share with you before we move on to the next full episode, which will drop next week.In this Rock is Lit Vault Bonus Episode, you’ll find the following info:·     Previous Season Two Episodes Recap·     What’s Coming Up in Season Two/Teasers·     Jessamyn Violet’s Book Launch and Rock is Lit Episode·     My April 2023 Trip to Los Angeles·     Gram Parsons and My New Novel/Sequel to 'Searching for Jimmy Page'·     Thank You For Getting the Word Out About Rock is Lit, The First Podcast Devoted to Rock Novels/How You Can Continue to Help·     Rock is Lit Internship OpportunityLINKSChristy Alexander Hallberg's website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/Christy’s email: christyalexanderhallberg@gmail.comChristy on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube: @ChristyHallberg'Searching for Jimmy Page' YouTube audiobook trailer'Searching for Jimmy Page' audiobook on Amazon'Searching for Jimmy Page' audiobook on Audible'Searching for Jimmy Page' audiobook on iTunesTo Add a Comment/Rating for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451To Add a Comment/Rating for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Info about Jessamyn Violet’s Reading Rocking Rainbow Tour: https://jessamynviolet.com/events-wav Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices