This Must Be the Gig

This week we're joined by the Alex Ebert. In addition to leading ImaRobot and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Alex also won a Golden Globe for scoring the Robert Redford-starring film All is Lost. And now, Alex has just released his second album under his own name, I Vs. I. In this episode, host Alex discusses the record's inspiration, meeting Jim Carrey, seeing Milli Vanilli as a kid, the sequel to I Vs. I, the concept of the stage persona, and much more.  Head here for more info on Alex Ebert.  Head here for more info on this week's spotlight charity, Raising Hope. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week we're joined by the exquisitely named Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum. The trio was founded after Michael C. Hall met Peter Yanowitz and Matt Katz-Bohen while starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Though they met on Broadway, the three musicians' paths were very different. Peter was a member of The Wallflowers in the band's earliest years, and has drummed for everyone from Yoko Ono to Billy Bragg and Wilco. Matt, meanwhile, has worked with and produced a variety of acts, and has spend the last decade-plus as a member of Blondie. While Michael may be best known for starring roles in Dexter and Six Feet Under, his musical pedigree is impressive as well, including Broadway spots in Chicago, Cabaret, and Lazarus, for which he worked closely with David Bowie. Named at the suggestion of Matt's young daughter, Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum just released their debut EP last week after two years of working out their psychedelic, gothic electrorock. I chatted with the trio to discuss touring with a Broadway production, their first times playing together, the origin of Matt's Jew-tah nickname, their first concerts, Michael's propensity for on-stage mishaps, and much more. Head here for more info on Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Fresh off the March 13th release of their new album, Sister, Nigel Godrich and Laura Bettinson of Ultraísta join This Must Be the Gig to premiere their brand new short film directed by the band and filmed throughout London, featuring a series of interconnected videos for songs off the record. Using the London Underground as a route between the songs, Bettinson hops off at appropriately color-coded locales to deliver the vibrant electronic jams in a variety of surreal environments. In the accompanying episode of This Must be the Gig, Godrich and Bettinson dial in with host Lior Phillips to discuss details on the film's fascinating production, the origins of Sister, their histories as performers and first concerts, and so much more. Be sure to head to Consequence of Sound to catch the short film. Head here for more info on Ultraista. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

As we all continue on our homebound journey, we bring you a conversation with Grammy-winning polymath, prodigy, and musical genius Jacob Collier. And because we know you're all in need of an extra bit of distraction, Jacob and host Lior Phillips built a whole lot of insight and laughter into an extra-jampacked two-hour special quarantine episode! Stay tuned for insights into how to stay creative, focused, and energized even when you're stuck inside—plus much more! Just before the wave of unfortunate tour cancellations and postponements, Jacob and Lior had scheduled a live recording of the show—only to see that unfortunately postponed due to Lior breaking her wrist while falling on a hike. While we await the rescheduling of that live recording, Jacob and Lior got on the phone to connect between their self-quarantined homes to discuss meeting Stevie Wonder and collaborating with Quincy Jones, talk about his new song released today with Kimbra and Tank and the Bangaz, dig into details on the forthcoming third edition of his Djesse series, and learn just exactly how to play the audience as an instrument. Head here for more info on Jacob Collier. This week's episode is brought to you by Stubhub. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We are all coming to terms with the new reality of a world dominated by COVID-19, only one aspect of which is the temporary shutdown of live music. With concerts and festivals being canceled or postponed, fans and artists alike are facing a whole new world, a new way of supporting the musicians we love, and a new way of making a living.  To gain insight into this new reality, I put in a call to Zola Jesus. The intuitive and caring indie artist also known as Nika Danilova shares her experience as an artist suddenly unable to tour, the impact that change has on her livelihood, new outlets that can help temporarily replace the feeling we get from live music, and how fans can best make a difference for artists. Be sure to follow along with us on social media as we share curated playlists, highlight organizations that are making a difference for artists, update exciting live streamed concerts, and so much more. Remember, we're all in this together, even if we're six feet apart. We hope everyone is staying safe and practicing social distancing during this global pandemic. Remember to go to www.who.int/, and stick around for a new take on the Live Show of the Week, brought to you by Stubhub. Be sure to wash your hands before and after listening! Thanks to Rudi Petry for the graphic assist, Ilana Butler for the insight and care, and Zola Jesus for the perspective. Head here for more info on Zola Jesus. Head here for more info on Koir. Head here for Zola Jesus's Patreon. This week's episode is brought to you by Stubhub. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week we're joined by all five members of psych rock outfit Post Animal. The Chicago band recently released their sophomore record, the expansive, mesmerizing Forward Motion Godyssey. The mystic, heady record is the band's star turn, full of many moods and psychedelic swirls. Plus, longtime fans may remember the outfit used to feature Joe Keery, now a star on Netflix's Stranger Things and a previous guest of this very show—so be sure to head back to the archive and listen to that episode. In addition to the roots of this incredible new record, the band and I discuss the dangers of driving the tour van through blizzards, staying connected to DIY scenes, My Chemical Romance dropping some F bombs, whether jazz hands can boost a guitarist’s solos, and so much more. Head here for more info on Post Animal. Thanks to Amor at 2112Chi, for providing space for this interview. This week's episode is brought to you by Stubhub. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week's episode is brought to you by Stubhub. Just a week out from the release of her latest album as Soccer Mommy, Sophie Allison dials into the show to discuss her first gigs, harrowing tour experiences, and much more. After her 2018 album, Clean, blew away the indie rock scene with its assured songwriting and vibrant emotional grasp, Allison and her band returned with the even more propulsive Color Theory: a record in three parts, where each section matches a theme like mortality or doubt to a specific color. In addition to the roots of this incredible new record, Sophie and host Lior Phillips discuss the magical art of finding the right lunch spot in the middle of nowhere while on tour, downloading Kelli Clarkson, opening for Kacey Musgraves, and getting to touch Hillary Duff's hand. Head here for more info on Soccer Mommy. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts.   For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week's episode is brought to you by Stubhub. Frontman of the legendary alt rock band Afghan Whigs Greg Dulli calls into the show this week to discuss his new solo album, Random Desire. Greg's expansive catalog features a vast array of textured, gritty darkness throughout his time with the Whigs, not to mention The Twilight Singers and Gutter Twins. But long before he was a rock icon, Greg was an R&B fanatic, and idolized Prince and has covered everyone from The Supremes to The Fugees. In addition to the roots of this new record, Greg and host Lior Phillips discuss his love of plants, dig up obscure desert island trivia, his earliest concert experiences, and so much more—including an unbelievable story of opening for Neil Young. Head here for more info on Greg Dulli. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week's episode is brought to you by Stubhub. This week we're honored to share a conversation with rock legend Huey Lewis. Whether you’ve been a fan since 1983’s runaway success story Sports, Huey Lewis and the News’ “The Power of Love” playing on the Back to the Future soundtrack, or even his earliest performing days with the band Clover, this chat will still be full of surprises. In addition to those career highlights and others, Huey and host Lior discuss his diagnosis of Ménière’s disease, a set of symptoms which includes partial to complete hearing loss, a tragic fate for any musician—but one Huey faces with an inspiring positivity. Lior and Huey also chat about the News’ upcoming record, Weather, his band’s first album of original music in a decade.   Head here for more info on Huey Lewis and the News. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week's episode is brought to you by Stubhub. Coming to you live from the green room at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom, nestled up tight next to the L train tracks, this week we're excited to share a conversation with Jana Hunter of Lower Dens. The Baltimore band's take on indie pop has been adored since 2010 debut Twin-Hand Movement, and last year's incredible The Competition pushes that momentum into a higher plane of love and protection of the outcast and vulnerable. In this chat, Jana and I discuss queer and trans representation on stage, the first concert he ever saw, touring with Of Monsters and Men, and navigating the industry while staying true to intensely personal social and political messages.  Head here for more info on Lower Dens. For more from Lior Phillips and This Must Be the Gig, follow along on Instagram or Twitter, or like the show page on Facebook. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review via Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app