Live from Banjo – Details, episodes & analysis

In Episode 1 (Season 2) I speak with singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, illustrator, and actress, Nicole Atkins. We discuss her pandemic release Italian Ice, and Sinatra-esque reimagining release Memphis Ice. We discuss Nicole’s youth, her family in Neptune City, New Jersey, and her path to now. We commiserate on the acceptance of obsolete technologies and changing vernacular, and our journeys in relapse and navigating sobriety. In this week’s wrap-up, Crystal and I talk a tiny about listening to Traffic…the band, Pocket Rocker’s, Belinda Carlisle vs. Brandi Carlisle, and we go deep on Nicole’s advice to “relax your butthole.” Please enjoy the kick-off to Season 2 and set your reminders. 

Episode Links:

Nicole's Website

Nicole Patreon - Natkins Funhouse

Nicole's Music - Spotify 

Nicole's Instagram

Live from Banjo Website 

Live from Banjo Instagram

In Episode 34, I speak with singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jeffrey Martin. We discuss his most recent single, “I Know What I Know,” Life as a PK in Eugene, Oregon.  Jeffrey’s songwriting, the beat writer’s place in history, “Billy Burroughs,” I fanboy out a little too much on the majesty of Jeffrey’s song Coal Fire, and we discuss the value of a bit of self-reflection. In this week’s wrap-up, Crystal and I talk a tiny about John Prine, a whole hell of a lot about William Burroughs, and a little history of the Beat Generation.  Please enjoy my conversation with the incredibly talented singer and songwriter Jeffrey Martin. 

SHOW LINKS:

• Jeffrey's Shows (Tour Dates)
• Jeffrey's Web Page
• Jeffrey's Instagram
• Live from Banjo Patreon Page
• Live from Banjo Spotify Playlist
• Live from Banjo Instagram
• Live from Banjo Website 

In episode 25, I gained the ear of Mike Marsh.  Mike is a drummer and a producer the currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. Mike has been the drummer for The Avett Brothers since 2012.  Mike grew up in Florida, raised by his brother, and started playing the drums in middle school.  Through the support of Mike's brother and mother, he was able to follow his passion and become a touring musician.  In his late teens, he was in a Boca Raton punk band, The Agency. However, one of his bandmates, Chris Carrabba, started a new band and asked Mike to join.  Mike remained the drummer for Dashboard Confessional for over a decade and discussed some of the ups and downs of the band.  Mike also discusses his entry into The Avett Brothers and producing his most recent album in Papermill Studios. Crystal and I discuss Sunny Day Real Estate, MTV late-night programs, a little Avett Brothers, and going down in a blaze of glory in this week's wrap-up. Please enjoy my fast-paced and meandering conversation with Mr. Mike Marsh.

In episode 24, I sit down with Erin Rae.  Erin is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist based in Nashville, Tennessee. Erin and I discuss her life, growing up in Jackson, TN, and Bellevue, a neighboring community of Nashville.  Erin discusses her journey in music, which started at home, with both her mother and father performing as local musicians and bringing her up in a house steeped in music.  However, Erin didn’t really begin to focus on music until later than most musicians.Though she had always sung as a hobby, she didn’t learn to play the guitar until after high school and didn’t begin to focus on music until she was nearly 20 years old. We discuss her inspirations, musical career, and detachment from persona and labels as she moves into a new phase of life and recent progression in her musical career.  We also discuss sobriety, recovery, and the fear and excitement that result from living life in the present and releasing the reigns of our own experience to something new. In this week’s wrap-up, Crystal and I discuss the history of Red Rock’s Amphitheatre, Jonathan Wilson of Topanga Canyon, Laurel Canyon heroes, Scott Walker, Slim Pickens, origins of heavy metal, Jerry Seinfeld and transcendental meditation, Marcus Gillis, and mindful meditation, and The Coal Miner’s Daughters Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gale, my wife, and wrap-up co-host’s namesakes. Please enjoy my honest and vulnerable conversation with Ms. Erin Rae.

• Erin Rae - GemsONVHS 
• Erin Rae - Instagram
• Erin Rae - Tour 

In Episode 23, The Live from Banjo Podcast hit the road and headed to Lafayette, GA.  With heavy rains just coming to an end and the crowd in full party mode, ready for a series of incredibly acts to take the stage, Jon Stickley and I sat down for a live recording at Forward Festival in May of 2021.Jon is the guitarist and frontman for Jon Stickley Trio.  Jon and I discuss his life as a punk rock drummer, his introduction to bluegrass and the mandolin by his best friend, Leftover Salmon banjo player Andy Thorn.We discuss the many bands, instruments, and inspirational musicians that help cultivate Jon’s unique songwriting and playing.  We walk through Jon’s childhood, marriage, and newly acquired fatherhood. We also take a look at the serendipitous series of events, including a pandemic, that allowed Jon, a nearly non-stop touring musician, to take a year and a half off to be with his wife. Jon remained home for Julianne’s entire pregnancy, and Jon was also home to welcome his son Callum into the world.  It has now been seven months since his son was born, and Jon is finally hitting the road.

He discusses his plans to navigate getting back on the road, with the extreme changes to his life over the past year.  In this week’s wrap-up, Crystal and I discuss legendary guitarists Doc Watson and Tony Rice. We look at the history of legendary indie-punk record labels Lookout Records and Fat Wreck Chords. Crystal discusses her distaste for Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life), and I give a little background on Durham’s own. Merge Records.  Crystal and I also look forward to our retirement plan as honorary park rangers, utilizing my bear-fighting cyborg appendages. Walter, per usual, likes to make himself known to the listeners.  I hope you enjoy this week’s chat with Mr. Jon Stickley.

In episode 22, I sit down at the kitchen table of Daniel Rodriguez. He is a singer and songwriter who has spent the last few years recording and performing as a solo act. He has released one EP and one full-length album as Daniel Rodriguez. He was a founding member of the transcendental indie folk-rock group Elephant Revival and toured with the band for 14 years prior to the Elephant’s hiatus in 2018.  He recently released an album with his hip-hop folk side-project, 21st Ancient. We discuss bourbon, Daniel’s childhood, his introduction to Bonnie Paine and the other members of Elephant Revival, a harrowing bus fire, and Daniel’s upcoming projects and plans.  In the wrap-up, we discuss the incredible life-long success of Fugee’s album “The Score,” The Pharcyde’s, Spike Jonze directed, music video for “Drop,” 19th Century Whaling in New London, Connecticut, and enjoying every sandwich.  Walter makes a couple of guest appearances too.  Now please enjoy my honest conversation with Mr. Daniel Rodriguez.  

In episode 21, I sit down with Joshua Rilko, founding member of Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys and current touring mandolinist for Sierra Ferrell.  Joshua grew up in Saginaw, Michigan.  While a teenager and going to folk circles with his father, he discovered bluegrass and the mandolin.  While in college, he fell in love with bluegrass jams, eventually formed The Flatbellys, and met Lindsay Lou.  Quickly a personal and musical partnership burgeoned, and Joshua and Lindsay spent over a decade touring and recording with a small group of other members. Joshua and Lindsay recorded four full-length Eps together in this time.  Joshua is a talented multi-instrumentalist, hacky sacker, and footbagger and spent a portion of his touring years as a “veggie-bus mechanic.Joshua has spent the pandemic transcribing many of his favorite mandolin tunes and passing this info on to other mandolinists.  Joshua recently recorded his first solo full-length EP and, currently, has a Kickstarter in place to help get the album finalized and out into the world.  Joshua has played and recorded with many of the stars of the bluegrass and Americana scene. He is currently on tour with fellow Nashville artist Sierra Ferrell.  In this week’s wrap-up, Crystal and I discuss the origins of ska music, the inner workings of a veggie-bus symptom, and a moment of weakness.Please enjoy episode 21 and Joshua Rilko’s solo podcast interview debut.

In this week's episode, I talk with Cristina Vane, a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist solo artist that recently released her first full length solo album, "Nowhere Sounds Lovely."  Cristina is of Italian-American and Guatemalan descent. I ask her about food from home. We discuss coming to America to go to Princeton, and how her music brought her to LA and more recently Nashville We also talk about her inspiration for the bottle neck slide, and how a summer tour that involved camping in and around some of America's most beautiful national parks and places inspired  the songs on her new album.  We discuss the inspiration for one of my favorite songs off the album, "Prayer for the Blind," and then she delights me with an impromptu live performance of the song.  Crystal and I deep dive into Italian cuisine history, Michael Keaton movies, national parks, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.  Please enjoy my conversation with the inspirational cross-genre queen, Sister Cristina Vane. 

In this week's interview, I sit down with Taylor Meier. Taylor is the singer, songwriter, and co-founder of CAAMP. In today's episode, we look back at Taylor's start in music and the multiple influences driving CAAMP's sound.  We cover their meteoric rise on Spotify and the subsequent tour with Rainbow Kitten Surprise. CAAMP recently celebrated their 5-year anniversary as a band and recently got in the studio to record their fourth full-length album.  Taylor also has a side project Sumbuck, which released an album in 2020.  As the world and concert venues open back up, CAAMP will surely be back on the road in full force, and at five years in, this band seems to be at the beginning of its journey.  Please enjoy my interview with Mr. Taylor Meier 

In this week's interview, I sit down with David Wax. David is the singer, songwriter, and founder of the incredible "David Wax Museum." In today's episode, we discuss life at the smallest college on earth, living with intention, bringing Mexican folk music to Boston, and making music and conversations that are inclusive. We get back into David Wax Museum's new album, "Euphoric Ouroboric." David and Suz also currently have a fundraiser right now for building a music studio in their backyard.  Please enjoy part deux of my interview with David Wax, and please remember to stick around after the interview to hear Me and Crystal's weekly post-interview wrap-up. She had a headache.