Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“Merry Christmas, Emily” David Lowery does so many things, his CV needs a sequel. He's a professor, a mathematician, a writer, a musician, a producer and an entrepreneur. He's also the singer of two of my all-time favorite bands: Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. Let's start with the former. Lowery formed Camper Van Beethoven when he was a student at UC Santa Cruz in the early '80s. I was so obsessed with Camper Van when I was in high school I cut class to buy their new album--but I had the wrong day, so I cut class the next day to get it. Totally worth it, by the way. Camper Van Beethoven put out a handful of genius albums likeOur Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart and Telephone Free Landslide Victory before temporarily disbanding in 1990. Lowery didn't miss a beat and formed Cracker with guitarist Johnny Hickman and they put out a handful of genius albums like Kerosene Hat and The Golden Age, logged a #1 Modern Rock track with "Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)" and scored three platinum albums. This is only a partial history, by the way; but I would recommend reading up on both bands because they have fascinating histories.Lowery has produced everyone from Counting Crows to Sparklehorse, founded Sound of Music studios, was a seed investor in Reverb.com (), knocked out his PhD and was named a Global IP Champion by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A ferocious advocate for artist's rights, among other things, Lowery launched a pair of class actions alleging major streaming services had failed to properly license and account to independent songwriters. Lowery currently teaches the economics and finance of the music business at the University of Georgia.An authentic career-spanning collection that boasts re-recordings, demos, b-sides and live takes that have never been heard, ‘Alternative History: A Cracker Retrospective’ is out now. It's a deep and privileged dive into the rich and vast Cracker cataloge and to say it's a treat falls short of the mark. It's a musical treasure chest. Cracker are touring now and will be on the road at the beginning of 2025 and Camper Van will be playing dates as well. www.crackersoul.com Www.bombshellradio.com www.stereoembersmagazine.com www.alexgreenbooks.com IG: @Emberspodcast editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"Swept Away" Is this an emergency episode of the podcast? Kind of. And by kind of, I mean...yes. It is. It's actually quite urgent because art is at stake and without art, we have nothing. This show is about the current creative moment in an artist's life and on that front, this episode couldn't be more on the nose. My guest today on the show is currently starring in a Broadway production that, in spite of its massive critical praise, is set to shut down prematurely on December 29th. We have a lot to go over, but the thesis of the show today is we don't want this production to get Swept Away. Adrian Blake Enscoe is currently starring on Broadway in the musical Swept Away, which is based on the Avett Brothers' album Mignonette and written by John Logan. Centered around a group of sailors who have capsized while on a whale expedition, the show opened up to rave reviews from The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Beast, The Wrap and Deadline. So the question is, if the show has been crushing it, why is it closing early? Well, that's what we're here to talk about today. The New York-born Enscoe has been on the show before with his band Bandits On The Run, and he's a lovely guy and it's great to see him again, but this chat is a sobering reminder that those who create art need you to support it. www.sweptawaymusical.com www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) IG: @emberspodcast Bluelsky: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com (mailto:editor@stereoembersmagazine.com)

"Shelters" If you think you recognize the name Josh Lovelace, you probably do. Lovelace's full-time job is the keyboardist of the South Carolina outfit NEEDTOBREATHE, a band he's been with since 2011. Lovelace is a busy dude, but the Tennessee-born musician has found time to not only play with NEEDTOBREATHE, but he's also put out a handful of spirited and charming albums for kids under the moniker Young Folk. There's no doubt that Lovelace's creative endeavors have left him satisfied, but another endeavor had been marinating in his brain for a long time and he knew it was time to put the shovel in the earth and break ground. The result of all that personal digging is Shelters, Lovelace's first solo album under his own name. A stirring 11-track song-cycle that's intimate, personal and deeply moving. Shelters is an unflinching look at the wounds of the past and the results are achingly precise and deeply moving. Filled with melodic finesse and interior harmonies and subtle pop immedi. Shelters is a quietly rousing collection of personal fight songs that reminds us the path to healing is always waiting. Www.joshlovelace.com (Www.joshlovelace.com) Www.bombshellradio.com (Www.bombshellradio.com)

“Shapes & Forms" There’s nothing Sandra Bernhard can’t do: she’s an actor, a singer, a comic, a radio host, an author and a pioneer of the one-woman show and the list goes on. I was going to say that in many ways, Sandra Bernhard is the Shohei Ohtani of entertainment, but that’s not totally accurate because she’s been around longer, so the right way to say it is Shoehei Ohtani is the Sandra Bernhard of baseball. The Michigan-born, Arizona-raised Sandra Bernhard is nothing short of a cosmic force. She’s been in over 40 movies like The King Of Comedy, Playing Mona Lisa and Zoolander and she’s been in over fifty television shows like The Richard Pryor Show, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Roseanne, Will and Grace, The Larry Sanders Show, Dr. Katz, Broad City, American Horror Story and the Sopranos. Her CV is packed with riches, so keep in mind this is just me sifting through the gold and it’s really a partial list because there’s so much. She’s performed on Broadway, appeared on Letterman almost 30 times, put out a handful of great albums, and wrote three amazing books, including the essay collection Love, Love and Love. She’s got a great run of shows on the West Coast as part of her Easy Listening tour, where she’ll play her favorite songs as a kid. Then, under the Shapes& Forms banner she’ll have a multi-night stand at Joe’s Pub in New York City at the end of the month. Along with her Sandyland Squad Band, Bernhard will play new material and old favorites. www.sandrabernhard.com (www.sandrabernhard.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.bombshellradio.com (www.bombshellradio.com) Stereo Embers IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Here And Now” Letters To Cleo may seemed to have suddenly shown up on the pop culture landscape in 1994, but the fact is, the Boston outfit had been grinding it out on the club since 1990. Their single “Here and Now” was an instant classic—a melodic dose of perfect pop stomp that showcased singer Hanley’s powerful vocal delivery. The band tore through the ‘90s, releasing three perfect albums (Aurora Gory Alice, Wholesale Meats And Fishes and Go), appeared as the house band in 10 Things I Hate About You, played SXSW, and playing with everyone from Cheap Trick to Neds Atomic Dustbin. Oh, and I almost forgot: In 1996, playing Mary Magladene, Hanley co-starred with Extreme’s Gary Cherone in the Boston Rock Opera’s performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. In the early 2000’s, Hanley was the singing voice for Rachel Leigh Cook in Josie and the Pussycats and though the band called it a day that same year, they did record 15 new and original songs for the Kids’ WB cartoon Generation O! That will become important in a second, but just to round out the corners here, Hanley toured as a back-up singer for Miley Cyrus’ Hannah Montana venture, put out a handful of great solo releases, sang the National Anthem at Gillette stadium for the Patriots and got to work on her new career, composing all-original songs for animated TV shows like Doc McStufins, DC Super Hero Girls, and Harvey Girls Forever, to name a few. How’s that career going? Well, in 2022 Hanley won an Emmy for songwriting on We The People. So I’d say, not too shabby. On that front, she and her writing partners Michelle Lewis, Dan Petty and Charlton Pettus created Disney Jr.’s Kindergarten: The Musical and Hanley is also co-executive director of Songwriters of North America (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songwriters_of_North_America), an LA-based non-profit which advocates for fair pay and other rights for songwriters. As for Letters to Cleo? Well, the band may no longer be a full-time concern, but they pop up here and there to play gigs. They just completed a mini-November tour and they have a show on Jan 9th in Madison at the Majestic. Get your tickets now. Well, listen to the show, THEN get your tickets. Or multi-task. We know you can do it. www.letterstocleo.net (www.letterstocleo.net) www.bombshellradio.com (www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (www.stereoembersmagazine.com) Stereo Embers: IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"Thanksgiving Day Special" There's a lot of things I miss about being a kid--somebody else driving, somebody else making dinner, not having to pay bills, not having to shave or get gas or pay rent--I was just going mention one or two things, but apparently I'm not pleased about being an adult. The reason why I brought this up is because the one thing I really miss about being a kid are the holiday TV specials that mark time. From The Grinch That Stole Christmas to It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, those specials helped keep me grounded as a kid. They made the calendar kind of stop and forced me to realize where I was and who I was with.They felt like something tangible. I wish I could do something like that for you here on the podcast and the closest I can come is my chat with Justin of 98 degrees. To me, it feels Thanksgiving-ish. At first it's sort of a talking points interview, but then something happens and it just kind of takes off and it takes off in a way that has to do with actually caring about other people. I'm not going to say too much more, but I will say this. This is our Thanksgiving special and I'm very proud of it. I'm thankful for this chat with Justin, I'm thankful he opened up and I'm thankful you get to hear it. And THANK YOU, for continuing to support this podcast. www.98degrees.com www.bombshellradio.com www.embersarts.com www.stereoembersmagaine.com www.alexgreenbooks.com IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Who We Are” The London-born pianist, singer, composer and bandleader Ashley Henry is one of the most inventive, fascinating and altogether thrilling musicians out there. Educated at the Royal Academy of Music, Henry’s work is informed by a love of classical music sure, but also a love of jazz, trip-hop, reggae soul, dub and hip-hop. Imagine if Mozart was a big fan of Digital Underground. It’s kind of like that. Henry has played all over the world, he’s performed in the Unisia International Piano Competition, is the youngest musician to be on the bill at the Piano Trio Festival and he’s covered everyone from The Enemy to Nina Simone.The guy has range. His new album Who We Are, which is the follow up to his debut Beautiful Vinyl Hunter, is a ravishing blend of styles; from the soulful album opener Love Is Like A Movie to the dreamy “Fly Away” to the sax-tinged hip-hop of “All For You,” Who We Are is an assured album that’s filled with self-possession, musical diversity and a heart full of joy. www.ashleyhenrymusic.com (www.ashleyhenrymusic.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com (www.alexgreenbooks.com) www.bombshellradio.com (www.bombshellradio.com) Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"Unbreakable Heart" The Texas-born Amber Martin has no regrets. The singer/songwriter has lived quite a life and it's one that found her moving coast to coast in the name of art. But geography aside, Martin moves relentlessly forward and doesn't look back with revisionist repentance. She'll tell you all about that, so let me fill you in on the other stuff. A brilliant and powerful singer with precise phrasing and improvisational smarts, Martin is a force of nature, her live shows punctuated by comedic tales, observational stories and a classic cabaret sensibility. Her career has a lot of highlights, so let me give you a partial list: She opened for Joan Rivers, sang with Sandra Berhnard, recorded with the Scissor Sisters, performed on Broadway, had several solo art residencies and starred in the live variety show Cassette Roulette with the Tony Award winning John Cameron Mitchell of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The follow-up to her AM Gold album, Martin's Unbreakable Heart is a wicked blast of classic country played with reverence and playful fun. From Devil Came Down The Dancefloor to I Want You To Be A Real Man, Unbreakable heart is played with precision, heart and a lively wink. The album features Mitchell, Rufus Wainwright and Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters. A writer, a singer, a choreographer, and a dancer, Amber Martin is also a fabulous conversationalist. We had a blast and I think you will, too. www.ambermartin.org www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) Stereo Embers Twitter: @emberseditor IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com (mailto:editor@stereoembersmagazine.com)

"Shot Of Blue" Well, if the name Tom DiCillo sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen the movies he’s directed, like Living In Oblivion, Box Of Moonlight, The Real Blonde and the Grammy Award-winning documentary on the Doors When You’re Strange, which was narrated by Johnny Depp. Over the course of his winning career, DiCillo has directed Brad Pitt, John Turturro, Dave Chapelle, Catherine Keener, Steve Buscemi and Kathleen Turner. A man of many talents, DiCillo is an actor, director, writer and a cinematographer. But he’s also a brilliant singer/songwriter whose has just released his debut solo album Shot Of Blue. A meditative and haunting song cycle of love, mourning and hope, DiCillo’s compositions are redolent with rippling guitars, undulating percussion and crooning vocals that soar with cosmic cool. A dark blend of stirring surf and burning balladry, Shot Of Blue is a pure dose of jangling night music made for the restless souls in all of us. It’s stunning work. I can’t wait for you to meet Tom—he’s a great guy and he also happens to be a close friend of mine, so this is going to be fun. www.tomdicillo.com (www.tomdicillo.com) www.bombshellradio.com (www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com (www.alexgreenbooks.com) Stereo Embers Twitter: @emberseditor IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"What About You?" With time running out on 2024, Spooky Mansion are checking in with one of the best albums of the year. The California outfit's new long player What About You? is a rousing blast of scruffy surf and west coast soul. Led by braintrust Grayson Converse, Spooky Mansion are one of the most inventive and exciting bands around.Filled with winning tracks like "Weather," "Long Time Ago,", and "The River," What About You? is filled with horny swagger, bluesy howl and scrappy indie rock. Converse is an enigmatic frontman by night, but by day he works as a contractor and the duality of his life is something we cover in this chat. We also cover a whole lot more--a seafaring father, growing up in California and the reality of romantic notions. This is a great chat--you're going to love this guy. www.spookymansionofficial.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com