Stereo Embers: The Podcast

"The Very Day" If you're wondering if the Connecticut-born Grammyt Award winning keyboardist and composer grew up with music in the house, the answer is yes--his father Joe Porcaro was a renowned jazz drummer who played with everyone from Sinatra to Stan Getz to Madonna. He also played on hundreds of film and television scores including The Wild Bunch, I Dream Of Jeannie and Edward Scissorhands. He also founded the Percussion Institute of Technology and later the drum department at the Los Angeles Music Academy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_College_of_Music). So, yeah music was the lifesblood of the Porcaro household and at very young ages, Steve and his brothers Mike and Jeff went into the family business. How early of an age you might be wondering? Well, at 17 when most of us were finishing our last year of high school and thinking about who and who wouldn't go with us to the prom, Steve was playing with Gary Wright's band on his 1976 Dream Weaver tour. A year later while most of us were fumbling our way through our first year of college, Steve and his brothers were in Boz Scaggs's band. In 1978 Steve and his brother Jeff along with a few other session playing pals formed their own band called Toto. How'd that work out? Well, 50 million albums later, I'd say it worked out very well, thank you. From "Hold The Line" to "Rosanna" to "Africa" Toto had a procession of hits, became one of the biggest bands on the planet and went on to compose the music for David Lynch's Dune. Steve left the fold in 1987 and went on to compose and score for countless film and television projects, including From Dusk Til Dawn 2, Eddie Murphy's Metro and he did all the original music for Justified. This is just a partial list, by the way--he also wrote the song "Human Nature" which Michael Jackson recorded on his Thriller album, the beginning of several compositions he wrote for Jackson to record. Considered one of the pioneers of analog synths, Porcaro's inventive loops appeared on works by everyone from Elton John to Don Henley. When it comes to artists he's collaborated with, here's a list that's going to knock you out: Hall and Oates, Earth Wind and Fire, Sheena Easton, Diana Ross, Warren Zevon, Jefferson Airplane, Yes, and Michael McDonald. Also a partial list. And speaking of Yes, Porcaro was good friends with Yes's Chris Squire and played in his band The Chris Squire Experiment. Porcaro's second solo album The Very Day is one of 2025's real bright spots. Featuring guest appearances by Stan Lynch, Jude Cole, Michael McDonald, Gardner Cole and his Toto pal David Paich, The Very Day is a stirring song cycle of effortless pop melodies, rootsy grooves and insanely catchy hooks. It's pure magic. And this conversation felt the same. Steve's an open book and a lovely guy and I can't wait for you to meet him, www.steveporcaromusic.com www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereo) www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com IG + BLUESKY: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com (mailto:editor@stereoembersmagazine.com)

"Crashing Dream" Like many aspiring artists of all kinds, the New York-born singer/guitarist Matt Piucci found himself in Los Angeles in the early '80s with his college pal David Roback playing in the band they formed. That band was Rain Parade and they hit the ground running--a stirring blend of 60s jangle and dark post-punk rhythms, Rain Parade put out two instant classics--Emergency Third Rail Power Trip and Crashing Dream, a brilliant live album recorded in Japan called Beyond The Sunset. They were nerve short of critical acclaim and their shows were inspired and rousing, but by 1986 the band called it a day. In 2023 Rain Parade put out their first album in nearly 40 years called Last Rays Of A Dying Sun and the band is back at it, with creative energy running as high as ever. Over the course of their career Rain Parade toured with The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy, the Jesus and Mary Chain and The Church and Piucci has recorded with everyone from The Bangles to the Dream Syndicate. There were personnel changes over the years--Roback left the band early on and went on to form Opal and Mazzy Star while his brother Steven joined the fold and he and Piucci found a creative synergy that was almost cosmic. The deluxe reissue of Crashing Dream restores it to it original vision and it's just glorious. www.rainparadeofficial.com (http://www.rainparadeofficial.com) www.stereoemberrsmagazine.com (http://www.stereoemberrsmagazine.com) www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com Stereo Embers: IG+ BLUESKY: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"Wait For Fire Burning" Formed in Oakland in 1985, Legal Reins were comprised of singer/guitarist Danny Benatar, bassist Eden Unger and drummer Tim Freund. They tore up the Bay Area scene, playing show after show and cementing themselves as one of the best live bands around. This is a band who did the work, got in the reps and eclipsed the Gladwellian idea of 10,000 hours. Opening for everyone from Madness to Killing Joke, Legal Reins proved themselves time and again that they could step on any stage and match anyone in terms of power and heart. Their exhilarating blend of sweeping pop epics and punchy hook laden rock and roll brought to mind everyone from The Sound to Echo and the Bunnymen to the Waterboys. After a bit of a bidding war, they signed to Arista in 1987, put out their debut album Please, The Pleasure soon after and then? Well, then things turned the other way. I'm going to let Tim tell you the story, but let me say this: In 1986 I was the music director of KVHS, an all-metal station located conveniently on my high school campus. I was in the habit of sneaking in The Smiths and The Chameleons in between Accept and Venom just to see if anyone noticed--they did, by the way. It was slightly terrifying to be 16 and getting death threats for not playing King Diamond, but I digress. Legal Reins called me up and they were very kind and I loved their music and one time I played them in between Y&T and Armored Saint and this one guy called up and said, very aggressively, Who was that you played after Y&T? I told him Legal Reins and he was quiet for second and then he said, That was pretty good... TEED: https://open.spotify.com/track/64o01ap4UeiY5Y8fVaqChx www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) BLUESKY + IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"Futility" It's true--the last time I saw Sandy Smallens was in the spring of 1989 when his band Too Much Joy came to the campus radio station to play on my weekly show. The band were incredibly cool and I've never forgotten that they took the time to traipse into the East Bay hills to get to my school and how nice they were. They even played an unrehearsed acoustic version of Clowns at my request, which was awesome. I'd play it for you now, but guess what? After the band left, I took out the tape and found that I hadn't hit record. It's bothered me for years. At any rate, Too Much Joy and Wonderlick which is Tim and Jay from TMJ, have a lot of news coming out their camp, so they do come up a bit in this chat, but really, the focus here is on Sandy's other band Surface Wound. Informed by the undulating jagged basslines of bands like Gang Of Four and Wire, Surface Wound's new album Futility is a riveting blast of post-punk magic. The Scarsdale-raised, Yale-educated Smallens played football in high school and as a result his bass playing has a real athleticism to it and not only that, but his voice has never sounded better. Filled with prowling basslines and muscular hooks, Futility is filled with fight songs for desperate times. Sandy Smallens is a busy guy--he's in a bunch of bands, he hosts the Four Strings And The Truth podcast and as the guy who launched Spotify's original content department, he now runs the podcast company Audiation. Not only that, but he's a massive supporter of the arts . And, he's one of the nicest guys around. www.surfacewound.bandcamp.com Sandy Smallens' podcast: Four Chords And The Truth Podcast: https://pod.link/1733284004 www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com www.alexgreenbooks.com BLUESKY + IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"Baby Man" The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Eric D. Johnson has one of the most consistently wonderful bodies of work you'll ever run to in this lifetime. From his 2001 debut Echolocation to albums like The Ruminant Band, Tripper, Gold Past Life, A River Running To Your Heart to his brand new one Baby Man, Johnson's discography has no dips and or musical unforced errors--every note, every melody, every turn of phrase is deeply affecting and altogether stirring. The Chicago-born Johnson is a prolific songwriter, who, in addition to his Fruit Bats endeavors, was a member of The Shins and currently is one-third of the the exquisite folk trio Bonny Light Horseman. Over the course of their career, the Fruit Bats have toured with everyone from Modest Mouse to The Sadies, had their songs covered by folks like The Decemberists and Guster, had their songs appear in movies like Youth In Revolt and Our Idiot Brother and played festivals like Bonnaroo, Pickathon and the Dave Matthews Band Caravan. By the way, this is a partial list, but here's a few more resume' highlights: they've garnered rave reviews from No Depression, Variety and MOJO, recorded a cover of the Smashing Pumpkins album Siamese Dream and played on late night shows like Craig Ferguson and Seth Meyers. As for the new album Baby Man, it may be hushed and intimate, but it's also decidedly rousing. A spare collection of songs where Johnson handles all of the instruments, Baby Man is subtle, personal and spare, but it shimmers with pure pop majesty. www.fruitbatsmusic.com www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) Stereo Embers: BLUESKY + IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"Crayon Shades" Formed out of the ashes of the late great Australian band Soap Star Joe, the Moderate Lovers are a three-piece outfit from Sydney whose debut EP Crayon Shades is refreshing and swoonworthy blast of indie pop. Fronted by Mick Wilson and rounded out by Saul Foster and Adam Taylor, the Moderate Lovers got going sometime in 2024 and since then, they've been moving from strength to strength, releasing winning singles like "Lucy's Gardening Again" and "Lost City." Filled with guitars that jangle and buzz, and falling somewhere between New Zealand's Garageland and You Am I, Moderate Lovers' compositions are filled with wonder and observational smarts. A hook-laden burst of melodic majesty, Crayon Shades heralds the arrival of one of the most exciting new bands around. https://moderatelovers.bandcamp.com www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com Stereo Embers The Podcast IG +BLUESKY: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"Earthly Delights" The earthly pleasures of the temporal world are fine food, expensive wine, monetary wealth, a long list of friends and raves that last for days. The Miami-born David Archuleta is no stranger to earthly delights--with almost ten albums to his name that have yielded millions of sales and countless multi-platinum hits all over the globe, Archuleta is back with a new six-song EP called Earthly Delights. A smooth platter of pop, R&B and disco, set against percolating beats and synth pop grooves, Earthly Delights finds Archuletla's vocal finesse paired with infectious, textured arrangements. It's lovely work. So why did I open with raves? Well, because David has recently discovered them and along with the freedom, social liberation, acceptance and joy of rave culture, it's also awakened him musically and it really shows on this EP. www.davidarchuleta.com (https://davidarchuleta.com/music/) www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) Stereo Embers: IG + BLUESKY: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"OCD" The Ohio-bornTamar Berk first showed up on my radar in the mid-90s when she sang for the iChicago outfit Starball. Starball were a really great band and they worked with everyone from Material Issue to Steve Albini and their Holstein Park record remains one of my favorite records of the '90s. Tamar's solo output now numbers five fabulous albums like The Restless Dreams Of Youth, Good Times For A Change her new one, OCD,. Weaned on everyone from Liz Phair to the Small Faces, Berk's new album is scruffy blast of melodic indie rock that's doused in reverb put together with vulnerability and honest and coated with some of the most unforgettable choruses you'll hear all year. Now based in San Diego, Berk is on a creative tear, which actuall ties into her new album's title. The compulsive need to create--and this is something I think most artists understand--can bring on a version of OCD that can inform the work, sure, but it can also be a nagging voice that relies on patterns to be silenced. We talk about all of that, and so much more; she's real and honest and funny and sharp and you're going to love her. www.tamarberkmusic.com https://tamarberk.bandcamp.com/merch www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoem) www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) www.bombshellradio.com

"Hangover Terrace" The Ontario-born Ron Sexsmith is one of the great musical treasures on this weird and troubled planet. And we need him now more than ever. Over the course of his decorated career, the three-time Juno award-winning singer/songwriter has put out close to twenty winning albums and here's a quick note about that--his discography is perfect with not even a trace of a dip of quality. In fact, every album seems to top the last one, which is saying a lot because every album is absolutely brilliant. If this sounds like hyperbole, it's not. From his self-titled album to Cobblestone Runway to Retriever to Blue Boy to Carousel One to his brand new record Hangover Terrace, which is one of the greatest album titles ever, by the way, Ron Sexsmith always delivers the goods. It's hard to think of a musician who sings with such elegant precision and poetic finesse. Like Sinatra or Costello, his phrasing is unique and distinct--all it takes is a syllable of a song and you know instantly know it's him. He's toured with John Hiatt, Squeeze, Coldplay and Nick Lowe and his songs have been covered by folks like Rod Stewart, Nick Lowe, Emmy Lou Harris, Feist, Michael Buble, and Stevie Nicks. His 2017 novel Deer Life, A Fairy Tale is just wonderful and this year he made his theatrical composer debut with the internationally renowned Stratford Festival production of ‘As You Like It’ in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. But back to Hangover Terrace. A moving and deeply stirring 14-track song cycle, Hangover Terrace is filled with dark whimsy, wistful ballads and mid-tempo magic. Sexsmith's fluid and free flowing voice is untouched by time, his delivery as free flowing and and as a result this is an album of emotional exactitude and pure indie soul. And this conversation is a real joy. www.ronsexmith.com (http://www.ronsexmith.com) www.bombshellradio.com www.stereoembersmagazine.com www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) https://podcast.feedspot.com/california_music_podcasts/ https://podcast.feedspot.com/california_art_podcasts/ IG + BLUESKY: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"The Song Forlorn" Perhaps best known as the Peter portion of the Swedish outfit Peter Bjorn and John, Peter Morén and his band have put out close to ten albums of catchy indie rock that's yielded worldwide hits like "Young Folks," tours around the globe, international television ads and TV and movie placements in everything from Gossip Girl to Bandslam. Raised in the Swedish countryside, Morén grew up listening to Ride, Depeche Mode, The Housemartins and the Stone Roses and his sonorous and melodic body of work reflects his love of well-crafted pop songs. With four fabulous solo albums under his belt, a side project with members of The Shout Out Louds and The Concretes and handling producer duties for Robert Forster's wonderful new album Strawberries, Morén is a busy guy. And I'm leaving things out, I'm sure. But what I'm not leaving out is his second album under the moniker SunYears. The follow up to the dazzling Come Fetch My Soul, The Song Forlorn is a stirring and rousing song-cycle filled with wistful pop, affecting ballads, fuzzed out psych jams and rootsy instrumentals. Featuring guests like Lisa Hannigan, Sam Genders, Nicole Atkins, and Madison Cunningham, The Song Forlorn is an album that's filled with tremendous stylistic range. There's touches of Aztec Camera and Prefab Sprout, Beatle-esque jangle and spare indie folk. It's percussive, melodic and magical work. https://www.roughtrade.com/en-us/product/sunyears/the-song-forlorn IG: @sunyearssongs www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) https://podcast.feedspot.com/california_music_podcasts/ https://podcast.feedspot.com/california_art_podcasts/ Stereo Embers IG + Bluesky: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com