Center Stage: An Abandoned Albums Podcast

Jeff Garber is a versatile singer‑songwriter and composer whose musical journey stretches from indie‑rock roots to TV soundtracks. In the ‘90s, he led the  Champaign‑Urbana group Castor, known for shifting time signatures with effortless flow (Castor, Tracking Sounds Alone). He later fronted National Skyline and Year of the Rabbit, showcasing his range across shoegaze, post‑punk, and alt‑rock. These days, Garber’s focus has shifted toward composition—he scores for Netflix hits like Virgin River and Full Swing, plus other series including Nancy Drew, Pretty Smart, and The Company You Keep. His trailer work includes music for Marvel’s Daredevil and Disney+ content. From underground indie to streaming soundtracks, Jeff Garber continues to evolve—crafting music that’s both emotionally honest and sonically adventurous. LINKS Castor on Bandcamp National Skyline on Bandcamp Year of the Rabbit on Bandcamp

Dauzat St. Marie—that’s dō-zaht saynt mah-ree—the husband-and-wife duo of Mat Dauzat and Heather St. Marie can strip a song to its bare bones and still hit you right in the heart. They started out in the alt-rock-leaning Hydrovibe, but traded the volume wars for something sharper: acoustic-forward, harmony-rich, folk-Americana with a backbone. Their debut EP Falling Again set the tone—grit, heart, and zero filler—and they’ve been relentless road warriors ever since, sharing stages with Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Rick Springfield, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Schuyler Fisk. Along the way, they’ve had viral success, deeply personal triumphs, and globe-spanning side gigs—Mat with Seal and The Buggles, Heather turning her breast cancer recovery into an anthem for the American Cancer Society. With new music like “Burn” and their soulful cover of Seal’s “Crazy,” Dauzat St. Marie continues to make music for midnight highways, small rooms, and the moments you need a voice—or two—in your corner. This is our conversation with Heather and Mat of Dauzat St. Marie. LINKS Dauzat St. Marie on the web Dauzat St. Marie on BandCamp Dauzat St. Marie on YouTube Dauzat St. Marie on IG

In addition to being an actress, Schuyler Fisk (pronounced Skylar) is a noted singer/songwriter. From the beginning, she has marched to the beat of her own drummer, carving a low-friction, roots-pop path that favors sincerity over flash and homegrown hustle over industry hype. After signing with Universal Records and experiencing a bit of major-label chin-channery, Fisk trusted her gut and asked to be released from her contract to pursue an independent path. Schuyler recently stopped by Thunderlove Studio to talk about that independent path, and this is our conversation. LINKS Schuyler Fisk Anna K The Chicken Sisters

Fishbone is a genre-defying band from Los Angeles that emerged in the early 1980s, blending ska, punk, funk, metal, and soul into a high-energy, explosive sound. Known for their chaotic live shows and fearless musical experimentation, Fishbone challenges genre and racial boundaries in the alternative rock scene.  With landmark albums like Truth and Soul and The Reality of My Surroundings, and despite commercial ups and downs, Fishbone remains a cult favorite and a vital influence on artists across rock, punk, and funk. LINKS Fishbone online Fishbone on IG Fishbone on YouTube Fishbone on FB

Jay Ryan is a Chicago-based musician best known as the bassist for the instrumental post-rock trio Dianogah. Formed in 1995, Dianogah earned cult status for their unique two-bass lineup and collaborations with recording engineer Steve Albini. Ryan’s melodic, percussive playing helped define the band’s heavy and cinematic sound. Named after the garbage-loving monster from the original Star Wars film, the band consists of Jay and fellow bassist Jason Harvey in tandem with drummer Kip McCabe. Dianogah is one of the pioneers of the emerging mortgage core scene. Outside of music, he’s the founder of The Bird Machine, a screen-printing studio famed for its hand-crafted gig posters for bands like Shellac, The Decemberists, and Andrew Bird. Jay Ryan bridges the worlds of indie rock and visual art with distinctive creativity and DIY ethos. LINKS Dianogah on Bandcamp The Bird Machine

Bad Mary—fronted by dynamic vocalist Amanda Mac, her husband Mike Staub on bass and vocals, her father Bill Mac on drums, and David Henderson on guitar—is a Long Island-rooted glam‑punk outfit known for wild energy and sharp wit. Formed in 2011, draws on ’70s punk (Ramones, Blondie) and theatrical rock influences, blending classic punk, glam, and pop-punk elements into a sound that’s loud, fast, and fun. A staple of NYC venues like Arlene’s Grocery and Pianos, they’re also expanding via live podcasts and indie collaborations—embracing evolution without losing edge. Mike and Amanda join the repeat offenders club as they stop by to talk about the release of their upcoming live album "Live on Long Island." This is our conversation. LINKS Bad Mary on Bandcamp Bad Mary on YouTube Bad Mary on IG Bad Mary on FB Are You With the Band Podcast

Rachel Fannan is a versatile American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and poet. She gained prominence as co-lead vocalist of the psychedelic rock band Sleepy Sun and later fronted the Los Angeles-based rock band Only You. Fannan has collaborated with various acts, including UNKLE, Anywhere, Black Mountain, and Pussy Riot. Her solo work spans genres like pop, rock, jazz, and folk. Beyond performing, she is an Emmy-winning commercial vocalist and has contributed to video game soundtracks, such as "Crimson Cloud" for Devil May Cry 5.  This is our conversation with Rachel Fannan. LINKS Rachel Fannan on Bandcamp Rachel Fannan on IG Rachel Fannan Web

This week, we welcome multi-hyphenate Dave Paulson into Thunderlove Studio to talk about Sandusky, Ohio, the album he wrote as a tribute to the Chris Farley movie "Tommy Boy."  It evolved into a career-spanning conversation with Dave, which included music journalism, major label record deals, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is our conversation with Dave Paulson. LINKS Sandusky, Ohio, on Bandcamp The Privates on Bandcamp The Pink Spiders

Tricia Halloran is a Los Angeles-based music supervisor and indie music curator with a career spanning radio, film, and television. She hosted Brave New World on KCRW for 15 years, introducing artists like Death Cab for Cutie and The Eels to wider audiences. Her music supervision credits include Dead to Me, New Amsterdam, Tully, and Sound of Freedom. Halloran also shares monthly indie music recommendations through her Substack newsletter, Brave New World. LINKS Brave New World Tricia on IMDB

Bill McShane is the lead vocalist and guitarist of Ultimate Fakebook, a power pop trio formed in 1994 in Manhattan, Kansas. Alongside bassist Nick Colby and drummer Eric Melin, McShane helped craft the band's signature blend of catchy hooks and energetic performances. Their 1999 album, This Will Be Laughing Week, garnered critical acclaim. After disbanding in 2003, McShane explored other projects and later reunited with Ultimate Fakebook for new releases like 2020's The Preserving Machine. LINKS Ultimate Fakebook on Bandcamp Ultimate Fakebook on Spotify Ultimate Fakebook on IG Ultimate Fakebook on FB