Episodes
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Episode 44: Grace Weber 5.9.12
Brooklyn, New York-based singer and songwriter Grace Weber is living the dream of many a young girl from countless small towns who dream of making a big noise in the big city. She has come a long way since she joined Inner City Youth Gospel Choir in her hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the tender age of ten. Weber has earned her way with a work ... read more -
Episode 43: The Burn Riffs 5.2.12
Two guitars, bass and drums is standard issue rock band territory, so it's often other, more intangible factors that make or break a new act. Usually, it's some indescribable voodoo combination of luck and hard work that gets a band noticed. Luck, as they say, favors the prepared, and that's where the hard work comes in. For the Los Angeles based ... read more -
Episode 42: Jess Penner 4.25.12
Once upon a time, musicians and songwriters shied away from having their music associated with a product or service in a TV commercial. Remember the revolutionary uproar about Nike using a Beatles song to sell running shoes in 1987? Some major artists still hold fast like a bulwark for what they perceive to be artistic integrity. It's easy for Bruc... read more -
Episode 40: Cody Hudock 3.28.12
Cody Hudock, like so many young musicians, started a band to attract the attention of girls. After slogging it out playing keyboards in the LA-based indie band, Marvelous Toy, he ended up finding one to marry - his wife, Joanna, who now sings with him in his semi-eponymous band, Cody the Band. His music is filled with pop hooks, inventive chord ch... read more -
Episode 39: Andrea Hamilton 3.21.12
Folk-pop chanteuse Andrea Hamilton was well on her way to a successful music career when she was stricken with a mysterious ailment while returning from a tour in Vietnam. Doctors and specialists couldn't seem to determine just what it was, but they did tell her that she'd never sing again. Not content to give up on her dream, Hamilton put her trus... read more -
Episode 38: Alyssa Graham 3.14.12
When jazz-influenced singer Alyssa Graham set out to record her new record, Lock, Stock & Soul, she opted to do something few artists attempt in the age of recording albums on laptops. Rather than build the album track by track by overdubbing, she and her producer assembled a group of talented musicians and put them in a room. Together. At the sam... read more -
Episode 41: Craig Elkins 3.7.12
Craig Elkins' story is a familiar one in the new music universe. Elkins was a founding member of the band Huffamoose, which played the main stage at Woodstock in 1994, got signed to Interscope Records, cracked Billboard's charts, played on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and garnered some effusive praise from rock impresario and film director Cameron... read more -
Episode 37: Honeyhoney 2.22.12
Honeyhoney is 4th generation country music. Maybe even 5th or more. Their musical thread goes back to early American rural styles and moves forward through time picking up the best elements of every twist and turn of America's other, twangier indigenous music style until it arrives fully formed in our modern hybridized and decentralized musical uni... read more -
Episode 36: Sunken Ships 2.15.12
Singer/songwriter Ray Argyle and his band, Sunken Ships, have a sort of musical identity crisis. They bill themselves as playing "a darker shade of folk," but it's their disparate influences that wrest for prominence in their sound. Sunken Ships flirts with organic Americana elements - the standard-issue acoustic guitars are here, but there is some... read more -
Episode 35: Scott Bennett 1.18.12
Scott Bennett's musical resume reads like no other in the business. There are few aspects of the music industry that he hasn't dabbled in... successfully. He has fronted acclaimed rock bands like A Fine Mess and The Falling Wallendas in his hometown of Chicago. He honed his skills as a first rate multi-instrumentalist on buzzy albums like Liz Phair... read more -
Episode 34: Joe Jencks 1.11.12
Joe Jencks is one of God's own prototypes. He's an award winning, internationally touring, full-time performer and songwriter. He has played venues ranging from intimate house concerts all the way up to New York's Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He has shared stages with Pete Seeger, Utah Phillips, John McCutcheon and countless others. Jencks has... read more -
Episode 33: Geronimo Getty 1.4.12
Geronimo Getty's scratchy indie-folk plays like the love child of Billy Bragg and John Lee Hooker. Gritty slide guitar wrestles with a perfectly off-kilter fiddle. Loping bass lines snake through the mix between stabs from cracking snare snaps and ramshackle hi-hat flurries. And holding the whole thing together as it careens forward is the band's c... read more -
Episode 32: Countless Thousands 11.30.11
The sound that the three-piece band Countless Thousands makes can only be described as aggressive-uptempo-hard geek-rock. But words don?t adequately describe what these guys do with their instruments. They?re punk, but refined; loud, but tight; aggressive, but articulate? and they?re anything but boring. And maybe this should be expected from a ban... read more -
Episode 31: Brokedown in Bakersfield 11.23.11
In some circles, the names Merle, Buck and Gram don't require surnames. They're patron saints of a style of music that continues to inspire countless imitators - and although imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, Brokedown in Bakersfield is no cheap knock off. Assembled from the cream of the crop of Bay Area musicians, the 6-piece ban... read more -
Episode 30: Manhattan Murder Mystery 11.9.11
Riffs, snappy songs, raw vocals and post-punk attitude are what the Los Angeles-based band Manhattan Murder Mystery brings to their powerful music. Somewhere between the bottle that singer and guitarist Matt Teardrop turns to for inspiration and the pathos of a hardscrabble life of heartbreak lies the emotional center of the band. They joined us s... read more -
Episode 29: Tony Piscotti 10.26.11
Tony Piscotti is an intricate guitarist and inventive songwriter. Not intricate-bad, as in ponderous or pretentious, but intricate-good, because his catchy and facile compositions draw you in. Not one to just strum a G-chord under his lilting melodies, Piscotti isn't afraid to explore alternate tunings on his acoustic guitar in order to establish ... read more -
Episode 28: The World Record 10.19.11
Andy Creighton gets around, and by that we mean that he plays in a number of buzzy LA bands - among them Apex Manor, Big Search and The Parsons Red Heads. Somehow, he still has time to front his own project called The World Record. Stylistically, The World Record resides somewhere in the neighborhood of the king of the garage rockers, The Kinks. ... read more -
Episode 27: Brandon Schott 10.5.11
In the world of crafty pop songwriters, there is a rift between devotees of The Beatles' watershed, Sgt. Pepper's, and those who think that the more innovative album was The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Scruffy songsmiths have spent countless hours in bars debating the relative merits of both albums over clove cigarettes and cheap beer. Los Angeles-bas... read more -
Episode 26: Monica Lewis 9.28.11
Try and imagine a simpler time - a time before on-demand entertainment and endless digital distractions. One might call it a golden age, and legendary singer and actress Monica Lewis was there for all of it. A true Hollywood beauty with bona fide talent, Lewis was known as "America's Singing Sweetheart," and her resume includes turns with more st... read more -
Episode 25: Brian Felsen of CDBaby 9.21.11
CDBaby is a beautiful anomaly. As the music industry has contracted and become a bastion of seemingly soulless corporate behemoths, the little website that founder Derek Sivers created in 1997 to start selling his music online has grown to handle CD sales and digital downloads for nearly 300,000 artists - and they did so by embodying a genuinely i... read more -
Episode 24: Neighborhood Bullys 8.31.11
Just like The Dude, out there taking it easy for all of us sinners, The Neighborhood Bullys have taken up the flag of no-BS rock and roll for the good of everyone. In a world of manufactured synth-pop divas, wannabe metalheads and softhearted boys wearing eyeliner, the Bullys' elemental ethos is a breath of fresh air that hits you with gale force. ... read more -
Episode 23: Glen Iris 8.24.11
The origin of Glen Iris can be traced to the symbiotic relationship between poet and singer Debbie Miller and musician Steve Marr. Miller's carefully penned poems longed for music to inhabit and Marr's songs and melodies lacked lyrics to help them fly. When they met in 2007, they quickly discovered that their combined talents formed a cohesive who... read more -
Episode 22: Jack Littman 8.17.11
LA native Jack Littman started off being inspired by classic rock stalwarts like Neil Young, Bob Marley and Roy Orbison. But Littman is also part of the new generation of artists who grew up with ever present hip-hop and alternative styles on the radio. Since looking back wasn't enough, Littman dumped all his influences, old and new, into a blender... read more -
Episode 21: Nikki Lang 8.10.11
Singer and songwriter Nikki Lang is indeed young, but her comfortable and confident style shows more promise than many artists twice her age. Since penning her first song by the age of twelve, Lang has been on a tear - touring far beyond her hometown of Los Angeles, recording an EP called Feel Better and working with some heavy hitters in the indu... read more -
Episode 20: Nick Bobetsky of Plaid Elephant Management 8.3.11
Bobetsky loves independent music and he pulls no punches when talking about the changes in the music business. His dynamic company, Plaid Elephant, provides artists with a wide range of services: from consulting to music management, music supervision and music licensing. He has watched the industry change around him and kept abreast of the latest... read more -
Episode 19: Don Bodin 7.27.11
Bodin got his start like a lot of kids did, woodshedding guitar in his bedroom for hours and playing in local bands. But Bodin had bigger plans. After a stint producing bands such as Kill Hannah and American Jet Set in Chicago, Bodin packed up and moved to Los Angeles with the goal of getting his music on the big screen - and he has succeeded. In a... read more -
Episode 18: Eugene Edwards 7.20.11
Edwards is a Los Angeles-based songwriter, indie pop journeyman, performer, guitarist, vocalist, actor and consummate frontman who leads his eponymous Eugene Edwards Band. Eugene and his band espouse a Springsteen-esque work ethic combined with an Elvis Costello sensibility. read more -
Episode 17: Morgan Margolis and Bruce Duff of Knitting Factory Records 7.13.11
The new media environment is a tumultuous place. Many companies are holding on by diversifying - record labels aren’t just making records anymore. Morgan Margolis and Bruce Duff have eked out careers in a business that started out as a live music venue. Knitting Factory then branched out into the record business and artist management. How do th... read more -
Episode 16: Marc Nathan 6.29.11
Nathan has the kind of experience in the music business that is at once rare and common. He hustled his way in working for a record label when he was only 15 years old and rode the wave of the heyday of rock & roll. Since his early start he has worked in A&R, promotions, artist management and for a major music electronics company. His dance card in... read more -
Episode 15: Calexico co-founder, John Convertino 6.22.11
Calexico is the seminal desert noir band. Their music is a melting pot where traditional Latin and southwestern elements of mariachi, conjunto, cumbia and Tejano styles peacefully and harmoniously coexist with alt-country, indie rock and a trace of jazz. Founded in 1996 by singer Joey Burns and drummer John Convertino at the University of Californi... read more -
Episode 14: Loch and Key 6.15.11
Sean Hoffman's brilliantly facile guitar work and Leyla Akdogan's hushed vocals form the nucleus of the duo Loch and Key. Their debut album, Jupiter's Guide for Submariners, is a love song to the artistically area just north of downtown Los Angeles. Their ethereal mix of bossa nova, folk and pop perfectly complements the band's beautifully endearin... read more -
Episode 13: Patrolled By Radar 6.8.11
Singer-songwriter Jay Souza and his quartet are journeymen on the LA music scene. They play a confident and catchy amalgam of folk, rock, country, blues and soul that is cohesive enough to make people think that it's really just one style - rock and roll. Their core sound flirts with both rock and country without making the other feel jealous. Th... read more -
Episode 12: Correatown 6.1.11
Correatown is the brainchild of singer and writer Angela Correa. The band is an anomaly in the fertile scene centered in Los Angleles’ east side and Echo Park area. Rather than flirting with the traditional twangy folk and indie rock of the local bands, Correatown molds its complex sound out of washy guitars, pop-y synths and ethereal harmonies... read more -
Episode 11: Ross Flournoy 5.25.11
Flournoy first made waves on the LA scene with The Brokedown - the band that eventually would become indie darlings The Broken West. The Broken West toured nationally and garnered critical praise and a loyal fan base. When the band folded in 2009, Flournoy cured a case of writer's block with a little help from NPR and then picked up where he'd left... read more -
Episode 10: Rick Shea 5.18.11
Shea is a journeyman guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer and singer who wields his Telecastser with a deft touch reminiscent of Mark Knopfler and the best of Bakersfield twangers. He grew up in San Bernardino, California, back when the town was an outpost at the very farthest reaches of Los Angeles’ empire. San Bernardino in 1978... read more -
Episode 9: Dafni 5.11.11
Dafni is a singer/songwriter who centers her melting pot of folk, jazz, pop and other styles with her breezy vocals and several albums’ worth of accessible songs. She'’s a true professional with a work ethic that gets her scores of gigs while other musicians are still trying to decide which hat to wear to their shows. She’s a modern day ren... read more -
Episode 8: Maxim Ludwig 5.4.11
Ludwig is the bastard son of a Born To Run-era Bruce Springsteen and country rock pioneer Gram Parsons. In other words, his music is replete with roots rock earnestness in a time when wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve may not be in fashion. His confident melodies will get you singing along in no time and his able backup band, The Santa Fe Se... read more -
Episode 7: Mason aka Jason Taylorson 4.14.11
Mason is a man of many talents. Aside from being an artist, musician and music producer, he made a name for himself by building a music scene centered around the Taix 321 Lounge, located within the Taix French Restaurant in Echo Park. Mason built this scene the only way an honest working guy from Chicago could… by building it from the ground up... read more -
Episode 6: Omar D. Brancato 4.6.11
Brancato is a musical chameleon… he can be found writing, arranging and recording band and theme park arrangements in his studio, odibeestudios. You can also find him onstage acting and playing bass simultaneously in the musical: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. And if that isn’t enough, you just might find him putting on a little make up and ro... read more -
Episode 5: Leftover Cuties 3.30.11
Leftover Cuties play infectious Edith Piaf-influenced modern cabaret pop. They'’re starting to make waves around town… their music can be heard on FX’s Justified and Showtime’s The Big C, starring Laura Linney. They have an EP called “Game Called Life” and will be releasing their full-length debut, “Places to Go” (produced by Tony ... read more -
Episode 4: John Hoskinson 3.23.11
Hoskinson is a songwriter’s songwriter whose most recent record is Pancho Fantastico. The album is a tour de force of crafty songwriting, unforgettable melodies and Hoskinson’s signature vocal style. read more -
Episode 3: Robbie Rist 3.16.11
Robbie is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, actor, voiceover artist, radio personality and all around interesting guy who possesses a manic wit and an unparalleled level of verbosity. read more -
Episode 2: Brian Whelan of Wheelhouse 3.9.11
Brian is perhaps the youngest journeyman on the LA music scene, racking up an impressive list of credits as a band member and sideman with artists like The Broken West, Mike Stinson, Randy Weeks, Tony Gilkyson, Eugene Edwards, Dwight Yoakam and a host of others. He has stepped out of the shadow next to the drum riser, swapped his bass for a Teleca... read more -
Episode 1: Jason Mandell of The Coals 3.2.11
Mandell writes Townes Van Zandt-inspired songs for the new millennium - backed by a tasteful and musically mature band. Mandell’s songs about world-weary ramblings are laid on the dusty but hallowed altar in the House of Gram. The Coals’ new CD, Bring Your Love On Back. includes guest vocals by Sarah Watkins of Nickel Creek. read more