Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“What You Get Is What You See” Jessie Wagner has seen a lot. As a touring vocalist with Duran Duran, Little Steven and Lenny Kravitz, the Virginia native has not only seen the world several times over, she’s seen how pros like the aforementioned artists run their businesses, handle their affairs and keep their careers on track. Now commandeering her own solo career, Wagner made the decision to employ what she learned all those years on tour. On her debut album Shoes Droppin’, the charismatic singer checks in with an album of spunky soul, groovy R&B and stirring roots music. Falling somewhere between the work of Roberta Flack and Fleetwood Mac, Wagner’s album is refreshing, stirring and rousing. In this conversation she talks to Alex about finding her voice in college at a pageant, missing her best friend’s wedding to play a gig with Kravitz and how a post-college pharmacy career was not the career she really wanted. Candid, open and honest, Wagner speaks about the tricky art of putting out an album during Covid, how much she misses the stage and the sacrifices we make for our art.

“We Sure Could Use A Smooth New Day” Euripides once said, "Life is a short affair; we should try to make it smooth and free from strife….” Well, if you’re having trouble in the free from strife department, throw on some Dave Koz and let the smooth begin. Kos’s new album A New Day is as smooth as it comes—not only does it feature guest performances from Brian McNight, Earth Wind and Fire's Ralph Johnson, and David Sanborn, it’s Koz’s first album of new material in almost ten years. From the rousing title track to the affecting reading of the Beatles “Yesterday," A New Day demonstrates that not only is Koz a deft player with finesse and groove, he’s still as smooth as they come. In this conversation, the saxophonist talks to Alex about trying to stay positive, coming out at 40 and how growing up his instrument became a haven for his pain.

“I Am A Complicated And Potentially Agonizingly Frustrating Person" John Vanderslice may describe himself that way, but as far as interviewees go, Vanderslice is the least difficult guy around. Genial, open, and forthcoming, Vanderslice will chat about anything. In this conversation, the Florida-born singer/songwriter talks to Alex about politics, taking drugs, his rejection of conventional life and why he had to leave San Francisco. They also talk about his newfound love of Los Angeles, owning up to his mistakes and doing an interview with Alex in 1993. Vanderslice is one of the most inventive, innovative and fascinating musicians around and his new EP EEEEP! is a textured song cycle that’s rich with synth loops, acoustic guitars and subtle, but catchy choruses.

“I’m Worried About America” I’m worried about America the country for obvious reasons. But I’m worried about America the band, too. With COVID-19 decimating the live music industry, the legendary band haven’t been able to tour and the future, for the time being, is uncertain. But with a new album on the way and a mammoth box set called Half Century out now, things have never been better for America. Except for the not being able to tour part. In this interview with Dewey Bunnell, the singer/songwriter talks to me about his level of anxiety in the Covid age, his lifelong friendship with Gerry Beckley and staying creative during lockdown. He also talks about working with legendary Beatles producer George Martin, growing up in an English/American household and his love of the blues.

"The Indie Rock Grand Slam" Alright, so Tanya Donelly is one of the few to have completed the indie rock grand slam. In tennis, it’s the Australian, the French, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and in music terms, it’s being in three undeniably great bands and then having a successful, critically acclaimed slo carer. Think about it—how many people can you name who have done this? Donelly was in Throwing Muses, the Breeders and the Grammy nominated Belly and her critically acclaimed solo career, bolstered by albums like Love Songs For Underdogs is impossible to deny. The Rhode Island-born musician is not only a magnetic figure, with tons of onstage charisma, she’s a brilliant and evocative lyricist, whose work is a dreamy blend of Anne Sexton, Wallace Stevens and Leonard Cohen. Heavily imagistic and loaded with mysterious symbols that shimmer and fade and turn to gold then dissolve in the dark and rise again as stars with colors you’ve never seen before, Donelly's work really sticks with you. There are shipwrecks, and moonbeams and rain and weird lights and dogs with seek through skin—you know, the kind of skin you can see through. The fact is, Tanya Donnelly is a fascinating and brilliant writer as well as being a fascinating and brilliant singer. Her vocal gymnastics are subtle, powerful and deeply arresting. She’s a mysterious and captivating artist and on her new album along with the Tarkington Sisters, Donelly covers some of her favorite tracks by The Go-Go’s, Leonard Cohen, Kirsty MacColl, Split Enz, Linda Ronstadt, The Pretenders, Wings and Mary Margaret O’Hara. In this chat, Donelly talks to Alex about being an introvert, her love of Echo and the Bunnymen and how long it took her to feel comfortable onstage. She also talks about how a clean house is perfect for writing, being creative in the time of Covid and why Elvis Perkins knocks her out….

“In And Out Of The Light” Peter Milton Walsh of the Apartments is the Dean of the darkness and the light. Like an indie rock Virgil, in his work the Brisbane-born singer/songwriter expertly guides us through the roughest waters and brings us back to solid ground. It’s hard to think of anyone else who’s oeuvre' is so devastatingly perfect. A songwriter of poetic precision, spellbinding stillness and wrenching balladry, Walsh is practically peerless. His band’s new album In And Out Of The Light is mesmerizing, heartbreaking and unreasonably beautiful. After the band broke up, Walsh played in the Go-Betweens and Ed Kuepper’s Laughing Clowns before getting the second incarnation of the Apartments going. In this conversation the genial Walsh talks to Alex about how his recording process has changed, the creative and editorial synergy of Robert Forster and Grant McLennan,the tricky sequencing of the new album and what becomes of beauty in the physical world...

“Golf, Tennis And Reggae” You might not expect a conversation with Robby Krieger to cover those three topics, but this one does. Look, the former Doors guitarist has been interviewed to death and we wanted to try to offer a different kind of chat with this rock and roll legend. The L.A. born Krieger is one of the greatest guitar players of all time and although he might be best known for his riveting work with the Doors, his seven solo albums really showcase his dexterity a player. His work is inventive, deft, experimental and classic. His phrasing, his innovations and his freedom as a player, make you realize that Krieger works from an expansive canvas. His new album The Ritual Begins At Sundown makes that abundantly clear—produced by Arthur Barrow who played bass for Frank Zappa, the instrumental album has a Zappa cover, a new reading of The Doors’ “Yes, The River Knows," and 8 other tracks that showcase Krieger’s mastery and finesse. In this conversation Krieger talks to me about why he was never a huge fan of Frank Zappa, sinking his second boat and why Jim Morrison was the best collaborator he ever worked with. He also talks about getting hit in the eye with a tennis ball, how playing the guitar may or may not be like playing golf and his upcoming reggae record.

"Don't Let People Mess With You" Self empowerment isn’t easy. We tend to think of other people and how they’ll receive us so we try to mold our responses and desires to that expectations. But by doing that, we forget about one thing; ourselves. It’s true. You can go a whole lifetime forgetting that what you feel is important. So, the basic punk rock version of empowerment is this. Don’t let people mess with you. And if they do, mess with them right back. Nobody can mess with Imogen Clark. Not anymore. The Australian singer songwriter has felt that over the course of her career she was carrying out an image of what other people expected of her and the fact is, she got sick of it. Imogen starting playing gigs in bars at 13, so it’s understandable that someone so young could get caught up in catering to what other people thought she could be artistically, but by 25 she’d had enough. Nothing like romantic wreckage, stoning self doubt and artistic frustration to make someone state themselves down and take ownership of what happens next. And that’s what Imogen Clark did. Weathering all those storms, taught Imogen something. She could do it. And if she could do it she could do a nothing. and so she did. Her new EP The Making of Me is an exhilarating rebirth of an artist whose taken command of her career and is burning with confidence. Imogen clark is no longer feeling artistic claustrophobia. She’s staring at the open road and she’s pushing the petal to the floor. And it sounds awesome. In this conversation she talks to Alex about taking command of her life, her love of Gang Of Youths and her friendship with Emma Swift. She also talks about her bold new rebirth, gives a little relationship advice and talks about life during lockdown….

"Plague Dogs Are Coming" Okay, so I met Tim May about a year ago when he contacted me about a documentary he was making about one of my all time favorite bands, Del Amitri. Tim had read my essay about the band’s album Waking Hours and the plan was for him and his crew to fly from the UK to SF, interview me for the film, hang out, and then fly back. I was totally excited--I cleaned the house, got a haircut and then, well, you know how this part of the story ends. The virus hit and it big and that pretty much sent that plan careening off the road. That’s the bad news—by the way, the documentary might still happen, which Tim will talk about in our chat, but let’s get to the good news. Tim has a band with DA guitarist Ian Harvie and that band is Aliens. The music they make is just phenomenal. It's a dreamy groove of thoughtful indie pop, that swirls mightily away with otherworldly melodies, infectious choruses and atmospheric instrumentation that’s indicate, thoughtful and immensely satisfying. Tim’s the singer of the band, but his story didn’t start there. I’ll let him tell you all about his life—from being in an band in the '80s that seemed to be on the brink of stardom, immersing himself in Latin at Oxford, making movies, and having a talented daughter whose own career in music is shifting into full swing. And we talk about Aliens upcoming sophomore album Plague Dogs. This is a great chat with a fascinating and lovely fellow.

"A Punk Who Reads Proust” Remembering Walter Lure. As a member of The Heartbreakers, Walter Lure may have tenured in one of the most hedonistic, wild and downright feral punk bands of all time, but there was a lot more to this native New Yorker than met the eye. For one, before Lure joined the Heartbreakers he had finished college, graduating from Fordham with an English major and a minor in Chemistry. Lure survived the Heartbreakers and went from being a punk rocker to being a stockbroker. Not a normal punk trajectory, but Lure is a man of great texture and he speaks frankly and honestly to Alex about working on Wall Street, getting off drugs and how a nice college boy found himself in one of the wildest bands on the planet. He also talks about Johnny Thunders, his relationship with Richard Hell and why you shouldn’t trust anything Nick Kent writes. And speaking of writing, the interview ends with a reflection on Proust….