RiYL

For 34 years, Teenage Fanclub has remained remarkably consistent, both in terms of lineup and quality. Emerging from the Glasgow scene at the tail end of the 80s, the band’s 11 records maintain a level of quality matched by remarkably few. The streak continues with the Ominously Named Nothing Last Forever, which arrived this September. The album embraces heavy topics, like aging and loss, all while maintaining a knack for writing a great pop song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a member of both the Modern Lovers and Talking Heads, Jerry Harrison has had a profound impact of rock music. Along with his solo work, he’s also produced some of equally influential acts, including the Violent Femmes, General Public and the Bogmen. Harrison took at extended break from touring, following the end of the David Byrne-free trio, The Heads. His LinkedIn tells the story of a successful businessman, including – most recently – cofounding equity crowdfunding platform, RedCrow. The keyboardist recently returned to touring, however, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Talking Heads’ Remain in Light, alongside guitar Adrian Belew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knowing full well that I've become the interviewer who asks about album names, I can't help but draw a parallel between Isn't it Now and Ram Daas. There's truth in the comparison, stemming from the band's evolving approach to music and the simple act of existing in the world. But there are countless other meanings to extract from those three words. Few things are as simple as they appear in Animal Collective land. David "Avey Tare" Portner joins us to discuss life inside and outside an ever evolving musical act. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For some musicians, touring is a strange dichotomy. In him home of France, Ibrahim Maalouf plays stadiums. It’s a different vibe here in the States where he finds himself playing to a few hundred, in spite of last year’s Grammy nomination. The Lebanon-born musician was up for the award courtesy of Queen of Sheba, his reent collaboration with Angélique Kidjo. Maalouf joins us to discuss how he came to love the trumpet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first Wolfie's Just Fine album arrived in 2016. I Remembered, But Then I Forgot marked a major shift in Jon Lajoie’s music, toward more earnest songwriting.He admits to an initial hesitation. After all, Lajoie built a career around comedy songs, going on to star as Taco in FX’s beloved series, The League. The move worked. An EP arrived in 2018, followed by Everyone Is Dead Except Us, which arrived this summer. Lajoie joins us from a truck to discuss his unique trajectory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Soundtracking a movie was a perfect opportunity to flex new songwriting muscles. As is often the case in life, however, things went nowhere near according to plan. There's not a lot you can do when you and the director don't see eye to eye. But Alejandro Rose-Garcia found opportunity amid frustration. Movie of the Week finds Shakey Graves embarking on his own imaginary film soundtrack, courtesy of AI and endless remixing. It's a perfect outlet for an artist who is every bit as restless as his fans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Play children’s music long enough and something peculiar starts to happen: your fans start having kids of their own. A quarter century after releasing her album, Laurie Berkner is a veritable music institution. She’s racked up more than one million streams and 350 YouTube videos – but most importantly, her work has engaged multiple generations. Berkner joins us to discuss her start and musical growth over the decades. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Set during the first year of the Great Depression, The Man in the McIntosh Suit is a classic noir meets immigrant story. The book follows one-time lawyer from the Philippines, who finds employment as a migrant work, before heading to San Francisco to track down his missing wife. The book is Rina Ayuyang’s third. The Pittsburgh born, Oakland, CA-based cartoonist also runs comics publisher, Yam Books, and cohosts The Comix Claptrap. Word of warning to comics fans: there's some sports talk at the beginning. Proceed with caution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Released on YouTube earlier this year, Shocks & Struts finds Kyle Kinane in top form. The comedian may have intentionally slowed down his breakneck touring schedule, but he remains one of the consistently funny standups in the business. In addition to touring, Kinane also co-hosts the podcasts, The Boogie Monster amd No Accounting for Taste. He joins us to talk about not talking about politics and  competing with Fast & Furious films. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a sense of optimism that breaks through on Messages to God. It’s marked change from the darkest moments of its predecessor. Consistent across all of Sarah Mary Chadwick’s songs, however, is a sense of honesty – however brutal or funny (or both) it might be. Honesty is a trait, thankfully, that is also on full display in Chadwick’s interviews. The musician joins of to discuss her songwriting and life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.