Performance Anxiety
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Today’s guest really makes me want to be more experimental…somehow. It’s Michael Wiener of The Children…(with the ellipses). They have just released what is technically their second album. But good luck finding the first. Michael’s household growing up was not typical. His mother was a pioneering photojournalist and his father was a child Holocaust survivor. And they encouraged his pursuit of the arts and culture, which led him to violin and piano lessons. But his initial professional foray into music was not via a band, but as a critic. This is how he met his future bandmates in The Children… Jim Coleman and Phil Puleo. The band has a very loose way of creating music. They do a lot of improvising and build their structure on that. Michael also explains how the band writes in layers, the malleability of memory, as well as the difficulties of writing in a band when it’s everybody’s side project. The Children…have a new album out called The Craving on Erototox Records and it is…unique. It is delicate, heavy, menacing, and frenetic depending on what you’re listening to. It is a fascinating listen. Get the album on Bandcamp, from Erototox or wherever you get music (make sure you use the ellipses). Check out their Instagram page @thechildren_now. Follow us at @PerformanceAnx. Grab some merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or keep us awake with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now check out Michael Wiener of The Children…on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me wish I had studied more in school. Meet Jason Achilles. This guy’s breadth of talent and interests just blows my mind! He’s not just a talented musician but he’s also an engineer who has recorded the sounds of Mars from a microphone system he was in charge of on the Mars rover. And apparently this kind of professional diversity runs in the family. By the way, he uses one of the microphones that didn’t make it to Mars on the podcast! But the podcast starts off with an admission by Jason about the amount of info he decided to share with me. We talk about his early musical endeavors, including how he started playing solo and improvisationally. So you now know that Jason has worked with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, but he’s also worked with Jerry Cantrell, Doug Kershaw, Geezer Butler, Dizzy Reed, and a ton of other people. I’m really not sure which of those is more impressive to me. Jason reveals how he started working with NASA, getting involved in the Mars Rover project, and recording exclusively in analog. He obviously gets more creative the more limitations he has! He also reveals some news about a Carnegie Hall performance, putting together a planetarium tour, and thanks to a student at the University of Alabama, Huntsville, he’s asked probably the most intelligent question that’s ever been asked on this podcast (Thank you Triston Tindell). Check Jason’s music out on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your music. Go to jasonachilles.com for his music as well as Sounds From Mars and more info on upcoming events. He’s @jasonachilles on X. We’re @PerformanceAnx on the socials. You can keep us going with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Visiting our sponsors also helps out a lot! So let’s check out Jason Achilles on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guests exemplify the virtue of patience. Please welcome Jim Suhler and Buddy Whittington of the band Texas Scratch. Their debut album was released recently…14 years AFTER it was recorded. And if you’re asking why, I’m not even sure the band can answer that. Texas Scratch is a Texas blues album that was recorded in New Jersey. Maybe that’s why it took so long…the universe couldn’t believe such a great blues album could have been made in the Northeast. Jim and Buddy have played with some incredible musicians like John Mayall, George Thorogood, AC/DC, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Gibbons, and more. Speaking of Billy Gibbons, Jim reveals the very special place Billy has in his marriage. So we start off talking, like we usually do, about each guitarists musical history; what inspired them to play guitar, how they started professionally, and how they found their current gigs. But the most amazing part is how the whole Texas Scratch album came together, almost spontaneously, and how it stalled after it was slated for release. Go get the album from Quarto Valley records, Amazon, Itunes, Apple music, or wherever you get music these days. Follow them on Facebook and maybe Instagram at this point. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. You can send coffee money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. You can get merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now prime your ears for some killer blues and a debut album that is very late to the party on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Side Projects, I am joined, once again, by London’s Modern Guilt. Or at least most of them. Scott, Jaz, and Andreas are joined by their producer Mikey Buckley of Desert Ships. Missing during this recording are Dan and Glyn. And Glyn is especially missing, as he has left the band; but they tell me it was on good terms. We’ll see about that. But that situation actually factors into the topic of this episode: the importance of building solid foundations. The band talks about having three foundational, core members who do the writing while the other one or two members (depending on what time we’re referencing) supplement that. That foundation is evident in the trust they all have, not only in each other, but also with Mikey. That’s why they can do a guitar solo by committee or let Mikey let them know when a song needs to stay vulnerable and stripped down. The foundation of Modern Guilt’s first EP, You’re Welcome, has allowed the band to be more experimental and exploratory on the new EP, We’ll Always Have Vegas. It sounds more like the band than the bands they are influenced by. We also talk about T-shirts, borrowing things from The Stone Roses, and the effective use of space. Follow these guys @modernguiltofficial on social media. Go to their Bandcamp page and buy the EPs. If you’re able to, go see a show! Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Support the podcast with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or by buying merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Let’s talk about solid foundations with Modern Guilt on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me want to push through the rough times. Please welcome Blake Lewis. You might remember him from Season 6 of American Idol. But there is so much more to Blake than being one of the most unique contestants on one of the hottest properties on television. He grew up with his mom playing bluegrass banjo, which is why he rebelled into electronic music. He was the first contestant on Idol to beatbox. So, naturally, Blake talks about where that began and how that helped get him into his first professional band, Kickshaw. Soon after he was insanely busy playing shows, making music, and doing a musical improv show that he really was not all that interested in auditioning for American Idol. But he went to support a friend and things got crazy from the moment he registered. Blake is honest about how his season went, how it ended, the immediate aftermath, and what happened when the depression and anxiety kicked in. It’s a fascinating story that has shaped his professional career to this day. He talks about the differences between the show and the Idol tour and what he was and wasn’t allowed to do on both. Blake has released four studio albums and one live release. To me, each one is better than the previous and he has a lot of new music slated to come out in 2024. Check the music out wherever you buy and stream music; blakelewisofficial.com is a good place to start. Follow him @blakelewis on Instagram or the website for the latest news. Pick up a little of our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or send us coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now get ready to get your box beaten…no, I don’t like that. How about, here’s Blake Lewis on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest is revelatory. I’m extremely happy to welcome author Joel Selvin to the podcast. He’s written a book called Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey Of Jim Gordon. The title tells it all. It’s the story of one of the (if not THE) greatest drummers of all time and his mental health battle that ultimately ended in tragedy. Joel masterfully tells the story from Jim’s beginnings, how he started playing drums,to touring with The Everly Brothers immediately after graduating high school, and how he broke into the world of session musicians. He was a vital part of legendary tours like Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour and writing classic songs that are still played every day, like Derek & The Dominos’ Layla. Jim had a gargantuan appetite for alcohol and drugs; both legal and illegal. And that is one possible reason that no one realized the truth behind his mental decline. He had been suffering with schizophrenia for a long time and had been successful in hiding the symptoms. But the voices in his head eventually began to rule his life with command hallucinations. They ended his professional career and eventually were the reason he murdered his mother. Jim’s entire professional career was a short 15 years. But his impact is still felt. After he was sent to prison, he was minimized and all but erased from music history. But after Jim’s passing in 2023, the pendulum has begun to swing the other way and Joel’s book is leading the charge. He tells Jim’s story honestly and sympathetically. Like Joel said, he wrote a few good lines but it’s Jim’s story. And it doesn’t matter if you know anything about Jim Gordon or not; this book is hard to put down. Order it from joelselvin.com and you can thank me later. Check out our stuff at performanceanx.threadless.com or buy us some coffee at ko-fi.com/performancenaxiety. And this is Joel Selvin on Jim Gordon on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guests make me appreciate the patience of others. Please welcome, for the third attempt, Andre and Terence from Locrian. What you’re listening to is our third attempt at this episode. The first was scrapped due to a computer malfunction. The second had an iphone issue. So take three was the final attempt! And it was worth it. Locrian has a new album set to release so the timing couldn’t have been better. Terence and Andre tell me about their early bands and sounds and how they met at a “metal night” party. They tell me about their first gig and the band name. But they also reveal their early band philosophy of saying yes to everything and how that got them booked at a birthday party. We create a new genre just for Locrian. I call it Aggressive Atmospheric. And it makes sense when you consider their influences are artists like Popol Vuh, Emperor, Twisted Sister, and Bert Jansch. So you kind of expect sound shifts when you hear how the band has evolved over the years. They keep their fans on their toes, but the reverse is also true. Fans are behind their recent release of archive recordings (keep messaging them about Setting Yr Jetta On Fire). The latest release is titled End Terrain and it’s a pretty heavy dose of reality. The themes are pretty dark but the musical palette expands with more synths and more structure. Order Locrian’s End Terrain on Bandcamp, stream it, check it out on Profound Lore Records. Check out the show’s stuff at performanceanx.threadless.com and ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Reach out @PerformanceAnx on socials. And buckle in for Take 3 of Locrian on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me want more names. It’s Jeremy Wilms and we’ll go through all his different names throughout this episode. But each one has a reason. Jeremy is his family’s musical version of “3rd time’s a charm”. He’s managed to study and play guitar with some amazing people. After college, he moved from Duluth, GA to NYC and kept studying in the form of open jam sessions with his neighbors and some naked people. Jeremy is a guitar player but started getting actual work after he picked up the bass. That led him to playing with the legendary Chico Hamilton and Antibalas. His time in Antibalas opened more doors for him; like the time the band literally split in two when one half played live shows and the other half (Jeremy’s half) eventually played on Broadway in the show based on the life of Fela Kuti. THAT led to an unusual and slightly awkward session with Jay-Z and Beyonce that has never been released. Jeremy also talks about being in a wedding band with Elvis Costello and tells the story of Ornette Coleman’s leftover Burger King. These are perfect examples of his being open to new and unusual experiences, like arranging strings for Run The Jewels, studying with Michael Mossman for a Master’s in composition, and moving back to GA during COVID. That’s been a big turning point in how he writes and you can really hear it in his new album, The Fighter. Definitely check that out on Bandcamp or jeremywilms.com. Follow him on Instagram @jere_wilms for album and tour info. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. You can show us your love with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or buying merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now get into your fighting stance and check out Jeremy Wilms on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes this episode kind of literal. Meet Elisa Di Napoli, AKA Elyssa Vulpes. She does so many things, it’s really tough to pin it down. However, one of the areas she specializes in is hypnotherapy. She has an entire program to help artists over come…wait for it…PERFORMANCE ANXIETY! But you don’t just start out in life as a hypnotherapist. Actually, Elisa’s first career choice was a cartoon singer. Elisa talks about her global childhood and the roundabout way she got into guitar. And her way of rebelling was moving from Italy to Scotland when her parents decided to move to New Zealand (although New Zealand was not their first choice). Elisa suffered from some pretty intense performance anxiety but kept trying to overcome it by just getting on stage and performing. But that was just making it worse. That’s when she began studying. And studying. And studying. We talk about the assumptions of hypnotherapy; which are accurate and which are not. And why some level of anxiety is actually good. Elisa has put together a comprehensive program to deal with performance anxiety and has even set up a free 45 minute master class that my listeners can take for free at elisadinapoli.com/performanceanxiety! So do that, and browse the website to see what else she offers. Follow her @elyssavulpes on social media. Follow us @PerformanceAnx, buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Feed our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now prepare to have just the right level of Performance Anxiety with Elisa Di Napoli ON Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest brings me back to a simpler time. Welcome Natalie Gordon of Tele Novella. I learned about her family connection to radio and her parents’ decision that she should be a concert pianist after they inherited a piano. While Natalie may have disagreed, it IS what got her singing and steered her to a performing arts high school (after getting kicked out of her previous school). That’s where she took secret guitar lessons. She formed the band Agent Ribbons where everything was first time DIY. So they may have overdone a few things, maybe took a wrong turn or two. For example, after building up a following in California, moving to Texas because of two Weimaraners. And Natalie tells the story of the event that spelled the end of Agent Ribbons but how it simultaneously spawned Tele Novella. And it’s STILL a rollercoaster ride. They weren’t happy with the way things were going and Natalie left music for about three years. But leave it to good ol’ PBR to bring ya back in. (That’s beer for those who don’t know). But the Pabst connection actually helped shape the sound of the band. Tele Novella has a new album out called Poet’s Tooth. The music is reminiscent of the great western sounds I (and my dad) grew up on, like Marty Robbins. Listening to makes me feel like I’m right there with the band in Lockhart, TX. It’s on Kill Rock Stars, so grab it, download it, or stream it. Follow tele_novella_tx on IG and TikTok, Tele Novella on FB. We are @PerformanceAnx on socials. Get our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. There’s a new design up there you might like. Coffee can be shared at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Let’s take a walk through the West with Natalie Gordon of Tele Novella on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me feel free. I can’t help that one and you’ll see why in a second. My guest is Malcolm Bruce. In addition to being the son of legendary bassist Jack Bruce, he is, himself, quite a gifted and accomplished musician. In this episode we figure out where we’re going wrong, discuss growing up as Jack Bruce’s kid, and when he began writing, music and other things. This was so much fun because it was the epitome of a casual chat. We talk about the generational Bruce/Baker energy, get a brief history of Cream, and repeatedly bring up spandex for some reason. Malcolm has recently released an album titled Heavenly Cream and it’s a very different type of Cream tribute. It’s an acoustic album that really makes you focus on the brilliant songwriting more than the extended jamming of the band. And in addition to Malcolm, the album also features guests like Deborah Bonham, Peter Bullick, Maggie Bell, Joe Bonamassa, Bernie Marsden, Paul Rodgers, and a lot more. Malcolm also reveals some other projects that might possibly see the light of day in 2024. So check out the album on Quarto Records, at malcombrucemusic.com, or wherever you get music these days. Follow him on facebook, Instagram and X are @malxbruce. Follow the show @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & X. Reach out there or theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Buy stuff at performanceanx.threadless.com or contribute to our coffee intake at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now prepare for more than just a Spoonful of Malcolm Bruce on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me feel velvety. And that works on a lot of levels here. Welcome Stan Demeski, drummer for The Feelies. They’ve released their first ever live album. But there isn’t a Feelies song to be found on it. It’s all Velvet Underground, all the time. But before we get there, Stan talks about his early days; being a product of New Jersey school bands, his early recording history, and how he started playing with The Feelies. He also talks about how the band was dropped by A&M records…in a fax! But after that, he landed a gig playing with the band Luna. He talks about how he met and began playing with Dean Wareham and the band. And after years of being disbanded, The Feelies reunited. And both Sonic Youth and REM played a big part in getting that done. All of this resulted in the bands new release on Bar None Records, Some Kinda Love. As stated earlier, it all live and all Velvet Underground covers. Stan also talks about the time the band played with Lou Reed! So check out Some Kinda Love on Bar None, wherever you listen to new music. Get updates on The Feelies Facebook and Instagram pages. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. You can show us support with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now prepare for some Rock And Roll, Velvet underground style with Stan Demeski of The Feelies on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guests make me feel informed. I’m joined by electronic artists Moe Espinoza (AKA Drumcell) and Surachai. But we didn’t get together to talk about electronic music, DJ’ing, or producing. We are discussing their business venture, Onyx Record Press. Of course we start off talking about their earliest musical experiences and how they started their careers. Moe and Surachai tell how they met the other two main players in Onyx, Gil & Cyrus (it’s quite a romantic story) and how an email response from another vinyl press really put everything in motion. Surachai & Moe go into amazing detail about not only the physical process of making a record and how a vinyl press actually works, but they also break down what most major record presses do, and why they are different and a better choice for independent artists (like having the sexiest record presses around). I highly recommend checking them out if you have a need for vinyl. Go to onyxrecordpress.com and contact them for a quote. Follow ALL the social accounts: @onyxrecordpress, @drumce11, @surachais, @belief_defect, & @blknoise. Follow the podcast @PerformanceAnx. Checkout our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or send coffee money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now sit back and relax while Moe Espinoza & Surachai learn ya on how to make a record on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we discuss something I have no idea about. How is that different from any other episode, you ask? Well in this one, I’m joined by Benjamin Wright of Benjamin Jayne and Jeremy Toback of Renee and Jeremy and Brad. We all got together to talk about music and psychology. That’s a pretty broad brush but since Benjamin is a psychologist during the day, I felt we were in good hands. We begin by asking the question, are there common psychological traits among creative people? But then we move to other topics like music’s role in psychological healing, how your mindset changes when you add people to the writing process, and how one song can be interpreted differently between kids & adults. I learn what a morphogenetic field is, how a breakdown on tour changed how Jeremy looks at things, and Benjamin’s thoughts on psychology today, as a creative as well as a medical professional. This conversation goes all over the place. And I know I learned a lot. And I also got to listen to a bunch of great new music. Check out the latest Renee and Jeremy and Benjamin Jayne albums on Spotify, Bandcamp, or wherever you listen and buy music. Look for new solo music from Jeremy Toback, as well. Follow Jeremy @jeremytoback and @reneeandjeremy. Check out reneeandjeremy.com for more info. Benjamin is @benjaminjaynemusic and benjaminjayne.com. We are @PerformanceAnx, performanceanx.threadless.com,& ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now let’s get all up into each other’s minds with Jeremy Toback & Benjamin Wright on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me feel honored. It’s Jad Fair and he doesn’t do many interviews. So when we were able to make this happen, I was thrilled. Jad is one half of Half Japanese (¼ Japanese?). And he’s not even actually Japanese! I learned that and a lot more in this episode. OK, I knew he wasn't any Japanese before doing this podcast. But what I DID learn was how Jad creates his unique music. It began when he and his brother David began creating music back in Michigan in the early 70’s. That music came to the attention of a pre-Teller Penn Jillette. But Penn isn’t the only collaboration Jad has had. In fact, that was just the beginning. Jad has played with some amazing people like Moe Tucker, Steve Fisk, and Daniel Johnston. And Jad’s music isn’t the only unique art he creates. He draws, makes paper cuttings that become album art, and even designed his own guitar that is held together by rubber bands and can be folded in half to make it easier to travel. We also touch on the different hurdles there are to getting noticed in music and how that has changed since Half Japanese started recording. Follow him on Instagram @jad.fair. Find his music on Kill Rock Stars, Joyful Noise, Fire Records, and Moon Records, and Bandcamp. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. Merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And prepare to enter the magical world of love songs & monsters with Jad Fair on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me feel artificially intelligent. Welcome back Fredrik Sareoa of Datarock. And with his band’s new release and their use of AI in different aspects of the album, I thought he’d be the perfect person to have on for a discussion about artificial intelligence in music. But that’s not all we talk about. Fredrik gives new bands some wardrobe advice, how he’s always worried about being sued, Superman’s sex life, what he REALLY wants people to know about Datarock’s music. Fredrik tries to describe a crayon, DOES describe what Gorby’s are and how he connects them to Lil Pump. And somehow all of that becomes a tribute to the Beastie Boys. Datarock created their own version of AI called Call Me HAL that uses Trevor Noah’s voice (see the above comment about getting sued). And he’s confident that while’s there’s a lot that AI can and will be able to do, there’s also a lot that it will NEVER be able to do. Fingers crossed, there, Fredrik. Follow Fredrk on Instagram @fredriksaroea or @datarock_official. Datarock is also on Facebook, and now on TikTok, thanks to management. Get the new album, Media Consumption Pyramid wherever you find new music. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. We’re also on Facebook. Reach out there or theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or buy us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s go down the AI rabbit hole with Datarock’s Fredrik Saroea on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me want to be more international. I’m joined by Paul Chastain. You may know him from his band The Small Square. Or you may remember him from Velvet Crush. Either way, he drops in while traveling to Wisconsin to talk about his early fascination with harmony, when and why he started singing, and meeting Ric Menck to form Velvet Crush. He reveals why the band moved from the midwest to Rhode Island, how they decided on the name Velvet Crush, and their long-term relationship with Matthew Sweet. Paul tells me why Japan is so important to him and the band and what ultimately made him decide to move there. Paul’s latest band, The Small Square, have recently released their second album, Ours & Others. He talks about playing tag team piano in the studio, recording music that he wrote for someone else and how it doesn’t really feel like it’s his, and his connection and ghostly tribute to Tommy Keene. Check out smallsquaremusic.com or farmtolabelrecords for album info. Follow them at The Small Square on Facebook or smallish.square on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. You can buy our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or feed our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prepare to be crushed by Paul Chastain on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode makes me want to relive the glory days. This episode of Side Projects focuses on the connection between music and sports. And I’m joined by four friends who are athletes, musicians, or both. Welcome my friends Chris Stringfellow, Chris Heim, Tony Cuchetti, and fashionably late, Robert Henson. They’ve played sports at different levels and have different connections to music. Whether it’s getting hyped, calming down, bonding with teammates, getting you into or maybe even taking you out of the moment, music plays a big part in sports. Follow the podcast at @PerformanceAnx on social media, reach out there or theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Support us with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or pick up merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. And I hope you enjoy our discussion about music & sports as much as I did on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This guest makes me want to go back and revisit some old favorites. Welcome drummer Stephen Hodges to the podcast. And man, we hit on a whole lot in this episode, like the importance of hanging out, how once upon a time, musicians could make a living playing a club 5 to 6 nights a week, the importance of playing with more than just sticks, and the difficulties of playing without cymbals. THAT started after meeting and playing with Tom Waits and learning his unusual percussive desires. But his career began way before that as an accompanist in college for the dance department. In addition to playing with Tom Waits, he’s played with some other legendary artists like Billy Preston, David Lynch, Marc Ford, Stevie Wonder, and Mavis Staples. He was also in one of the strangest touring versions of Smashing Pumpkins. Stephen talks about how he began his long-term gig with Mavis Staples. In fact, they had to cancel their first two gigs because they rehearsed so hard that Mavis had to rest her voice! His job with Mavis has also given him a fascinating look into the unique relationship between her and Bob Dylan, which almost led to him filling in for Dylan’s drummer. Almost. He has a new album with mssv, his band with Mike Baggetta and Mike Watt, called Human Reaction. This band is a unique mix of jazz and punk. It’s fascinating! Stephen talks about the band, how they write and play the music live, well ahead of recording it. The music is challenging and fun. You really never know where each song is going to go! Check it out at mainsteamstopvalve.com or mssv on Facebook and grab the new album Human Reaction. Check out the podcast @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram and Performance Anxiety on Facebook or reach out at theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Check out our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can send coffee money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now enjoy a wonderful history lesson with Stephen Hodges of mssv on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guests make me thankful. I welcome Klaire and Chachy from Guji. And what a wild story this is. Guji is based in Shanghai, but Chachy is from the US. He tells me about growing up in Chicago and Florida and how he got into music stateside. And Klaire talks about growing up in China and learning to play the traditional Chinese violin. But at points, each of them stopped playing music to pursue other interests. Chachy took the advice of a friend and moved to China. But he didn’t get back into music immediately. He taught English. But music eventually clawed its way back into his life, even in communist China. He founded the band Round Eye and describes how insanely different it is to create, sell, and tour music in China. Not only is it a tough as you probably think, it’s actually gotten even more difficult since COVID. And that’s how Guji came about. Klaire and Chachy met through a dating site and soon found that they harmonized really well. So when the country shut down with COVID restriction, they started playing music together and Guji was born. They have a fascinating mix of pop synths, doomy guitars, and provocative lyrics. But what might be even wilder is what the band has to go through just to get their music on the state-run Chinese music streaming service. It’s unbelievable! But we can all listen to the debut EP through Godless America Records. And check the band out on Facebook. Other social media sites could be coming, but you know…China. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram, Performance Anxiety on Facebook. You can reach out to us at theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send us coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now get ready to be thankful with Guji on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guests make me want to do this podcast outdoors. That’s because I’m join by Tim Lee and Susan Bauer-Lee from the band Bark. When we recorded this, they were just hanging outside on a beautiful Mississippi evening. And the way this band came together is really wild. Actually, the way the previous band, The Tim Lee 3, came together is wild. Bark was just the natural progression of that. Tim grew up with church music all over the place as his dad was a minister. And Susan’s first concert was The Monkees with The Who opening up! Or at least she’s been told that. Tim has been in bands since the 80’s like Let’s Active and Marty Jones, but took a decade off during the 90’s and went back to school. Tim reactivated his career during the early 2000’s. Susan quickly joined him after she woke up one morning and told Tim the she was going to learn bass guitar. In 6 months she was playing in a band. She did the same thing with drums. And oh yeah, she sings at the same time, too! Bark was formed to simplify things. But the music isn’t simple. It’s so good, it’s won awards! Bark is Tim and Susan. That’s really it. And they have a new album out, aptly titled Loud! We talk about the journey to get from Beat Temptation to Bark and what they’re doing differently, if anything, with this new album. Check them out at bark-loud.com to order the album and get their social media links. Follow them and us on Instagram; we’re @PerformanceAnx, they’re @bark.timlee3. You can support us, too! Go to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety to send us coffee money. Go to performanceanx.threadless.com to check out our new design! And now…it might get loud on a beautiful Mississippi evening with Bark on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode made me think. A lot. I like Steely Dan. But the band and their music has always been a bit mysterious to me. Apparently it has also intrigued my guests. I’m joined by Jason Thomson of Vast Robot Armies, Jordan Zadorozny of Blinker The Star, and Paul Malinowski and Jason Gerken from Shiner. If you’re not familiar with the Steely Dan approach to music, it’s different than your typical way of making music. Each of my guests has experienced this in the studio, as part of of a live band, or both. Not only do they pull back the curtain on how Steely Dan worked, they also talk about how that has influenced some of the work they’ve done on their own.And Gerken gives us a tour story like no other I’ve ever heard. Speaking of their own work, check out what each guy is doing. Paul and Jason are working on new Shiner music, among other things. Jordon is set to release a new Blinker The Star star album called Animal Math. And Vast Robot Armies has just released their latest album, The What Gallery. Check them all out on bandcamp. On Instagram, check out @shinerkc, @blinkerthestar, @vastrobotarmies, & @PerformanceAnx. And you can support the podcast with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. So let’s learn a little about Steely Dan on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me not want to dream. So maybe it’s fitting that this is released on Halloween. Welcome Emily Whitehurst of Survival Guide to the podcast. And throughout this episode, it’s clear that her band is aptly named. From her start with the bands Plinky and Tsunami Bomb, she’s always had a part in writing lyrics and melodies. And it served her well as Tsunami Bomb played on Warped Tours and had some pretty great opening slots. But with her next band, The Action Design, Emily expanded her musical palette and the music just got better. Again, she scored some great opening slots with bands like Social Distortion and earned a bunch of new fans. When The Action Design ended, she and her bassist decided they wanted to keep writing music. So they forged on as Survival Guide, expanding the music even more. But when the other half of the musical duo left, Emily took a hard look at the band and made the decision to continue on. She kind of had to. You can’t dissolve a band called Survival Guide! Her first full length as a solo project is called deathdreams because that’s what some of the songs are about, dreams where Emily died! She has obviously changed how she writes now that Survival Guide is just Emily, and it my favorite release in her catalog. The music is varied and well written and sometimes spooky. Pick up deathdreams at srvvlgd.com or wherever you buy music. Follow her @srvvlgd on X, @survivalguidemusic on Instagram and Twitch. Check out her Patreon page. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X and Instagram. Feed our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Our merch can be found at performanceanx.threadless.com. And I hope you don’t have deathdreams after hearing Emily Whitehurst of Survival Guide on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guests make me happy and hungry. Marc Broussard and Jay Reifel join me to talk about the connection between music and food. Each guy has dipped a toe into the other’s wheelhouse, which makes this a very interesting conversation. We talk about the worst jobs in ancient kitchens, Marc’s best meal ever, and I get excited about aspic. We discuss doing musical and gastronomical covers. Jay explains what a cockenthrice is, what kind of bear meat is best in stew, and which recipe is like sewing an old boot. We also learn some odd ancient ways of measuring time and quantities, the reason cookbooks may have actually been written, and Marc's dream ancient apprenticeship. And there is some exciting news for Marc Broussard and Joe Bonamassa fans. Follow Jay at @jayreifel and @ediblehistorynyc on Instagram. Buy his cookbook, A History of the World In 10 Dinners from Rizzoli New York wherever you buy books. Follow Marc @marcbroussard on Instagram. Pick up SOS 4 on Keeping The Blues Alive. And check him out on one of his endless tours. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X an Instagram. Support our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now grab a drink and bite and enjoy Jay Reifel and Marc Broussard discussing food and music on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest makes me joyful. That’s because it’s Shemaiah Gonzalez, author of the Substack and soon to be book, Undaunted Joy. And true to the Substack, it really was a joy speaking with her. I first learned of her work through past guest Joseph Massey and I couldn’t be more grateful. And like all good podcasts, we start with alcohol. Shemaiah has known for a long time that she wanted to be a writer but her early ideas of what that meant were very different from what she has found herself doing. She started off hoping to be an academic writer, but that’s just not what God had planned for her. One thing He DID have planned for her was an inclusion of one of her works in Pope Francis’ book, Sharing The Wisdom of Time. She tells me why it’s important to get excited about trash bags and how she started her Substack, Undaunted Joy that will become a book in the not too distant future. Shemaiah and I discuss writing to help with depression and the difference between happiness and joy. I also uncover her fear of capybaras and how a British Abbott is connected to The Night Stalker. Give Shemaiah a follow on X @shemaiahng and on Instagram @shemaiahg. Check out Undaunted Joy on Substack and look for Undaunted Joy the book in 2025. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. Subscribe to us everywhere. Pick up merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Support our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And let’s get joyful with Shemaiah Gonzalez on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest made me question my preconceived notions. It’s singer/songwriter Tony Cuchetti. And even though it sounds like he’s from New Jersey, he’s not. He’s actually from a Partridge Family type of performing group. As a kid, his family moved from Detroit to Florida and began performing as a musical act. And there were a LOT of family members. Tony talks about literally growing up on the road, performing all over the country. But when the family band stopped, Tony had a tough time adjusting. He excelled in sports, even playing minor league baseball. But music kept calling to him. He’s just released his latest album, Freer Street and it’s a cool progression of his Americana sound. Tony and I talk about his recording approach; like not letting the musicians hear the music until they were in the studio, recording only a few takes of each song, and playing live in the same room. He also tells how legendary musician Gregg Inhofer got involved! Tony emphasized how important it was to being open to the direction the music wanted to go, not trying to force it one way or another. We also touch on the fading art of sequencing an album. Check out his album Freer St on streaming platforms. Go to tonycuchetti.com for physical copies. While you’re there, check out his socials. And check out ours, too, @PerformanceAnx. Feed our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Buy some merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now get ready for an unusual ride with Tony Cuchetti on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guest made me protonic. I don’t even know what that means, but welcome Conan Neutron to the podcast. I get some great insight into the Neutron house, growing up. For example, Conan started playing guitar because a friend of his came to the front door with a bass and told Conan he needed to get a guitar so they could start a band. Well it worked out alright, because he’s been in some pretty awesome bands with some pretty awesome people, like Dale Crover. But according to Conan, the important part is planning the band’s breakup ahead of time so it goes smoothly. Conan Neutron and The Secret Friends has released some great stuff, like an album about Hannibal Lecter and a concept album about depression and mental health. And Conan also has his own podcast, Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal. He has just released a new album called Adult Prom. Make sure you get that right. It’s a split LP with the band Lung. Pick it up wherever you get your music. Follow Conan @conanneutron on Instagram. Check out Conan Neutron’s Proton Reversal. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X and Instagram. Send us coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Buy things at performanceanx.threadless.com. And sit back get ready for some hearty laughter with Conan Neutron on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today’s guests teach me things; specifically symbolism in music. It’s one of those things that I always feel everyone else gets more than I do. So I was beyond happy to have Alexander Hacke, Danielle DePicciotto, and Raven Chacon guide me through their experiences creating work heavy in symbolism. And we go beyond music into visual arts, as well. Hackedepicciotto have released a new album that is full of symbolic music. But the symbolism in Keepsakes is much more personal, this time. Raven discusses his connection to John Cage, growing up listening to Navajo songs and heavy metal. And Alexander explains the three layers of symbolism. And all three guests tell me how far the symbolism can go, even extending to the intended audience. Give them all a follow on social media @hackedepicciotto and @ravenchcn on Instagram. Pick up the album from Mute Records or on Bandcamp. Check out hackedepicciotto.de for more info. Check out Raven’s past work and stay up to date on new pieces at spiderwebsinthesky.com. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. Our pieces are available at performanceanx.threadless.com. Support our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And hopefully you learn something new with Alexander Hacke, Danielle DePicciotto, and Raven Chacon on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This guest definitely spells his name correctly. Welcome singer Marc Broussard to the podcast family; and man does he have soul! His voice reminds you of the greats like Otis Redding, Al Green, and Sam Cooke. Marc talks about the movie that started his career, at the ripe old age of five and a half; the influence of his dad, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductee Ted Broussard, and he tells me about how he got his first record deal and why he asked to be released from it. That started the story of how Marc went independent and began his series of SOS albums, recorded for various charities. Marc even wrote a children’s book as a companion piece for one of those albums. Marc has released his latest SOS album with a focus on the blues. To that end, he recruited his good friend and blues guitar legend Joe Bonamassa, to help out. This album pushed Marc out of his comfort zone. But in doing so, he has received some of the highest praise of his career, particularly from his peers. Marc has learned a lot throughout his career and he shares a lot of it here, particularly about the writing process he goes through. He’s on tour constantly, as we learn. So check him out on Instagram @marcbroussard. Pick up SOS 4, Blues For Your Soul at ktbarecords.com or wherever you get music. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. Pick up our stuff at performanceanx.threadless.com or send coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prepare to get lost in Marc Broussard’s voice on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This guest made me float. It’s an unusual episode. Today’s guest is Julee Cruise and was recorded in April of 2019. For reasons I have forgotten, the episode was delayed and ended up slipping through the cracks in an old Work In Progress file. Unfortunately we lost Julee in June of 2022. In this episode, Julee is very candid about her work. You’ll find out why, early on in the discussion. She talks about how she got into singing, acting, and playing the french horn. And although she didn’t want to spend too much time discussing her work with David Lynch, she does talk about meeting him, the first thing he ever said to her, and trying to get him to sing. She did get a record deal based on her work on Blue Velvet but that’s not where the strangeness ends. At one point, she was guest on a TV show overseas, seated next to Muammar Gaddafi! Julee also talks about the luxury of touring with the B-52’s and the moments when she had some severe performance anxiety. She released two albums that were heavy on the David Lynch sound. However, she had much more involvement in her final two albums, which deserved a lot more recognition than they seemed to get. Please check them all out. You definitely won’t regret it and you might actually be surprised! Remember to give us a follow @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. You can show us a little love with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or purchasing merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now get ready to float into the night with Julee Cruise on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
