Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“The Rabbit And The Butcher” An actor of tremendous range and versatility, the Michigan-born and L.A.-raised James Duval has had quite a career. He tore through the '90s, appearing in movies like The Doom Generation, SLC Punk Independence Day, Nowhere and Go, and by 2000, his resume was packed. He appeared as the rabbit Frank in Donnie Darko in 2001 and since then, he’s added over forty films to his CV, including Kaboom, Blue Dream, Chasing Ghosts and Comic Book Villains. The preservation society around Donnie Darko has kept Frank the Rabbit very much alive in the public consciousness. And speaking of preservation societies, it turns out that James and I have been a part of the same one for many years. We’re both massive Jazz Butcher fans and the Butcher Facebook group, which counted the Butcher himself, Pat Fish, as one of its active participants until his death last year, is a very special thing. it’s a tight group made up people who really care about each other and who understand the magic of the music and how its informed their lives. The Jazz Butcher is for sure a band that existed below the radar of the mainstream, but to us, they were the biggest band in the world. And still are. In many ways, the Jazz Butcher are like Frank the Rabbit—eternal and unique and unforgettable to those who know about them. So James and I were at the same JBC show in 1997 and we talk about that and so much more. Great chat, great, great guy. www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com www.stereoembersmagazine.com

“Not Quite The American Dream” They may have gotten their start as the Filberts around 1980, but before too long they rechristened themselves Diesel Park West. They put out a string of singles like When The Hoodoo Comes and Jackie’s Still Sad before their debut album Shakespeare Alabama hit shelves in 1989. To date the band has put out ten records including Decency, Thought For Food and their brand new one Not Quite The American Dream. Influenced by West Coast bands like Moby Grape and The Byrds, The Diesels have had quite a career—they’ve opened for Big Country, been signed by EMI, and had Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Gos cover their track I See No Ships. Singer John C Butler has put out fabulous solo albums—Worthless Bastard Rock is a personal favorite—and the band has released a Byrds covers album, live stuff and bunch of EPs along the way. But the fact remains: the Diesels don’t stop. And why should they? There’s pretty much nobody else who can jangle and chime and roll out hook after hook the way they do, and Not Quite The American Dream is further evidence that Diesel Park West remain vital, dynamic and as fabulous as ever. www.dieselparkwest.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“A Good Sign” Whenever Matt Keating puts out a new record, we get excited. Since the early '90s the New York-based singer-songwriter has been releasing some of the most captivating, moving and powerful albums we've ever heard. With close to 15 solo albums under his belt, it’s hard to pick favorites because they’re all so good. From Tell It To Yourself to Tilt A Whirl to Wrong Way Home to Summer Tonight, you can pretty much just grab a Matt Keating album and prepare to swoon. It’s hard to think of anyone who writes with such lyrical poignancy, observational smarts and melodic finesse than Mr. Keating and he’s been a personal favorite for close to 30 years. His new band is called Bastards Of Fine Arts and it’s a project he’s helming with Steve Mayone who’s played with the Benders and Treat her Right. Their new album A Good Sign is an instant classic. The Hardest Part brings to mind the Jayhawks, the rollicking Can’t Get My Head Around It reminds us a bit of the Replacements and the Violent Femmes and Take The Fall is one of those infectious numbers you can’t get our of your head. The 14 song collection is a joyous and jangly blast of hook-laden indie pop, and we love it. www.bastardsoffinearts.bandcamp.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Going Places” Over the course of his brilliant career, which has spanned roughly 15 albums or so, the Nebraska-born Josh Rouse has established himself as one of the finest singer-songwriters on the planet. Armed with the poetic flourishes of everyone from Paul Simon and John Prine, Rouse’s work is many things at once: subtle but catchy, elegant, graceful and undeniably infectious. Work your way through his discography—maybe grab Under Cold Blue Stars or 1972 or his fabulous new one Going Places and you’ll see what we're talking about. He’s toured with Mark Eitzel and Aimee Mann, had his music used in films like Cameron Crowe’s Vanilla Sky, and won a Goya award for Best Song in Spain, which is their equivalent of the Oscars And speaking of Spain, the Spanish love Josh Rouse. And he loves them right back—his wife and his band are from there, and it’s not an uncommon thing to find him playing in Spain to a packed house. We saw him play to a packed house here in SF, too, so Rouse is crushing it on many shores. We love his new album—it’s got gentle grooves, musical precision, fine-drawn hooks and miles of soul. www.joshrouse.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Age Of Finding Stars” David Long and Shane O’Neill grew up together in Ireland and have been pals since they were six. They were in a band together as teenagers then they went their separate ways, Long to Into Paradise and O'Neill to Blue In Heaven. Both fabulous bands who put out a series of flawless albums. Into Paradise had all the delicious dark drama of Echo and the Bunnymen or The Sound while Blue In Heaven, who were signed to U2’s label before inking a deal with Island, brought to mind a jittery and adrenalized blend of Joy Division and the Triffids. In the late 90s the two friends reconnected as Supernaut and now they’re collaborating again and arguably making the most urgent and stirring work of their careers. Their new EP Age Of Finding Stars is a riveting blend of dramatic soundscapes juxtaposed with introspective lyrics and stirring vocals—it’s infectious and thoughtful and decidedly moving work. www.david4long.bandcamp.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Philadelphia, Mississippi” Over the course of his nearly thirty year career, the Grammy-nominated G. Love has put out close to fifteen albums both solo and with his band Special Sauce. From Coast To Coast Motel, to Yeah, It’s That Easy to The Juice, his catalog is a consistently effortless blend of blues, hip-hop, R&B and alternative rock. Throughout the years G. Love has collaborated with Dr. John and Jack Johnson, played the HORDE tour, acted as the house band for Comedy Central’s "Turn Ben Stein On" series, and helped launch the Coca Cola advetisting campaign for Coke Zero with his own take on the track “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing.” G Love’s new album is Philadelphia, Mississippi and it is just what its title suggests: a seamless hybrid of hip-hop and the delta blues that combines to make the quintessential album of the summer of 2022. Or any summer. This is a summer record—from the breezy bliss of Laughing In The Sunshine to Love From Philly, which features Schooly D., the Luther Dickinson-produced album also features Speech from Arrested Development, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Chuck Treece. It’s got swagger, it’s got soul and it’s got heart. It’s a perfect record. www.philadelphonic.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Volcano, Volcano” Steven Lambke rose to prominence as the guitarist of the mighty Canadian outfit The Constantines. The Juno-Award nominated band are a muscular blend of Fugazi, the Replacements and Creedence Clearwater Revival, and they’re one of those bands that are redolent with integrity and heart. It’s important to note that by the time the Cambridge-Ontario born Lambke joined the Constantines in '99, he’d been in a band called Captain Co-Pilot and had finished his university degree in Physics at the University of Guelph. Over the years he would take a busman’s holiday from the band to release albums on his own under the name Baby Eagle, which featured guest appearances from Folks like John K. Sampson of The Weakerthans and Julie Dorion. Lambke’s artist run label You’ve Changed Records put out several more of his albums, including his brand new one, Volcano Volcano. A swirling blend of fractured folk, spritely indie rock and low-fi bedroom pop all recorded using dollar store shakers and guitars procured at Goodwill, Volcano Volcano is a charming blend of raw and nervy songs that infectiously rip through the delicious chaos. This album is uplifting and weird and lovely and real—and whether it’s the percussive The World Filled To The Brim, or the rolling perfection of Bats In Blue Twilight, this is one of the most delightful, inspiring and wonderfully raucous albums of 2022. www.youvechangedrecords.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“4th of July Special: What's The Point Of A Strawberry?” Well, not counting the fact that they lower your blood pressure, are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants and guard you from cancer, strawberries are pretty much useless. In this wildly discursive 4th of July chat with singer-songwriter Shannon McArdle, the Brooklyn musician talks to Alex about why she’s not into strawberries (or fruit for that matter), why she got on a subway in the middle of a pandemic and how she lost the tip of her finger. Look, this is our perennial and evergreen 4th of July Shannon Spectacular and this conversation not only covers all the bases, it will make you forget that there’s no (legal) firework celebrations this year. This chat covers the genius of the new Dylan album, the durability of Soda Stream machines and the 20th anniversary reissue of Shannon’s old band The Mendoza Line’s We’re All In This Alone. Oh, and Alex worries Shannon might get scurvy. And Shannon doesn’t seem worried about this at all. An hour and a half of comedy, antics and dogs. Enjoy! Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Violent Desires" The Manhattan-born Blake Morgan is a musician, singer, executive, music producer, writer, record label owner, and activist. Raised by activist parents who were also writers—his mother is the poet Robin Morgan and his father is the poet Kenneth Pitchford--Morgan was immersed early on in the arts. By five he was at the piano playing Mozart and writing his own songs and the classical pianist path was being forged. But then he heard the Beatles and that path forked a different way. Educated at the United Nations International School in New York City and later Berkelee College of Music, Morgan graduated and hit the ground running, playing in bands and living the rock and roll lifestyle. He signed a seven-record deal with Phil Ramone’s fledgling label in '96, his debut album featured Lenny Kravitz singing back up, he toured the U.S. opening for Joan Jett and received tons of attention and critical acclaim. Morgan was crushing it, but he was mistrustful of the corporate label life and he got himself out of his contract. In 2002 he decided to form Engine Company Records, which became ECR Music in 2012. ECR has an associate publishing company and the music the label has released has ranged from punk to classical and in 2005, they had five albums in the Top 20. Meanwhile, Morgan kept cranking out great critically acclaimed solo albums. From Burning Daylight to Silencer to Diamonds in the Dark to his new one Violent Delights, Morgan’s music is a crunchy blend of melodic pop, introspective ballads and hook-laden numbers that are played with equal parts muscle and heart. And speaking of heart, Morgan’s is with artists and his political activism is specifically on their behalf. His Pandora takedown alone cost the company’s stock to fall 130 million in less than a day and signaled a major victory for musicians. He’s spent hours with Congress fighting for the rights of musicians which are always being marginalized especially in the digital age. Just Google his Art and Music Are Professions Worth Fighting For essay and you’ll get a sense of who this guy is. He’s one of the good ones. And this is a great chat. www.ecrmusicgroup.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“All Going Out Together” It makes sense that the Massachusetts-born Steve Michener was in three seminal Boston bands: The Volcano Suns, Dumptruck and Big Dipper. The Volcano Suns were an outfit that Michener formed along with former Mission of Burma drummer Peter Prescott, he stepped in on bass with Dumptruck after their first album and he co-founded Big Dipper who were on the Homestead label before signing a big major deal with Epic. I’ve always loved Steve’s playing—he’s steady and strong and his baselines roll with power and groove. And the story today that he’s going to tell is about how he jumped into music and very slowly inched his way out. And I think the inching out is what’s the most fascinating thing here—sometimes people have the ability to look ahead and actually ask: What do I want and is this the best way to get it? Steve did that and he realized the things he wanted could not be attained while playing in a band. And so he stopped. Sort of. Then he really stopped. I’ll let him tell you his story—that seems fair, right? Anyway, Steve is a lovely guy and a voracious listener to music of all kinds—he may have inched his way out of rock and roll, but he’s kept a foot firmly in it on his own terms. www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com