Performance Anxiety – Details, episodes & analysis

This is such a cool episode. We’re talking all things theremin with Nick Kizirnis and Pamelia Stickney. This episode has been a long time in the making and well worth the wait. There’s some theremin history and some rumors about the inventor. Nick and Pam discuss how the instrument works and what weird things affect the sound and performance. I learn how to tune a theremin, what a thereminist’s worst nightmare is and if anyone has ever done a theremin version of dueling banjos.  Nick has a new album out called Every Moment. Grab it wherever you buy music nowadays. Check out his website, nickkizirnis.com or @nickkizirnis on instagram for more news. Check out Pamelia’s music and all of her bands on Facebook or @blueblut_in_vienna on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send us coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s jump into the theremin on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. It isn’t just for sci-fi anymore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is literally progressive. Let’s welcome Corey Schenck of the band Pangaea to the podcast. Corey was a late-bloomer, musically speaking. He didn’t pick up an instrument until late into high school. But it was such a deep connection that he went to college and received several degrees in it. He talks about how his love of music pushed him through the more challenging college courses. He now teaches music on the college level. He formed the band that would eventually become Pangaea during his studies but the original name was Artica. He explains how they changed the band name to something in a lyric and how some band name considerations became song titles. But before the albums came their cover song period. They would play a huge mix of songs until they decided they needed to focus on their originals. That meant a new name and a focus on their original music, which was more progressive. And while Corey is the main songwriter in the group, everyone contributes to at least one song on each album. Corey describes the prog scene in Tulsa, OK in the late 80’s and early 90’s. But the shows were impressive, especially with their refusal to this day, to use backing tracks. But after years of writing, recording, and gigging the band decided to take a hiatus. That lasted 18 years. Corey also reveals what ended the hiatus and how the idea for a new album happened. That album is now available and is called Beowulf. It has the complex epic tracks Pangaea is known for but it has much more than that. It does contain their most adventurous music to date, particularly the song Wasape, which inspired the album title. Find it wherever you get music now. Check out their website, pangaea.band, for more links to their music, merch, and socials. Check out our socials @PerformanceAnx. Our merch is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. Feed us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now get ready for an adventure with Corey Schenck of Pangaea on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest proves that hard work and patience will pay off. Welcome Tom Kanach of KANAK to the podcast. Tom is from New Jersey, so naturally we start razzing each other almost from the start. Tom talks about manipulating his situation so his brother would get an unwanted plastic drum set in order to start his first band. But he would really get serious about being in a band after a chance meeting in a school bathroom. Relax…everyone is a kid in this story. He’s been writing music longer than he can remember. He even has recordings of some of these songs. Maybe we can get him to re-record Happy Tonk Town for the next KANAK album. After doing what teenagers do (sneaking into clubs underage to see his favorite bands) he played in some bands with potential but could never seem to get the break they needed. But he made some great connections along the way. One of those connections had him playing with Doro on one of her albums. But after a while, life things happened. Tom started a family and got a job. But he never stopped writing. That’s why his first solo release is 30 songs long. Tom has a new project and it’s the best work I’ve heard from him. It’s called KANAK and it’s obviously a palindromic simplification of his last name. But that ended up complicating things, instead. The band and new EP feature some great players like Pete Wood, Jow Rowley, Jonny Rao, & Ed Stasium. Pick it up at kanakmusic.com or wherever you find music now. Follow them at KANAK Music on Facebook or @TomKanach on Instagram. Follow us @Performance Anx. Our stuff is located at performanceanx.threadless.com. Keep us awake with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s get down to some serious business with Tom Kanach of KANAK on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m joined by Buffalo, NY singer Jim Crean. Jim grew up around music. His dad was a drummer and really helped Jim form and appreciate for music. But he was also big into sports, which makes sense for a guy from Buffalo. But once he started playing music, he was all in. He started playing bars at a really young age. He’s been putting out music for decades and is a member of the Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame. So when Carmine and Vinny Appice toured with their Drum Wars bands, they did some scouting before each show so they could include local musicians in the show. That’s how they found Jim and began working with him on a regular basis. Jim also tells the story of why the brothers each pronounce their last name differently.  Jim’s new band (and it IS a band) features Vinny Appice and guitarist Steph Honde and it is 100% the product of the pandemic. This band is different for Jim. Even the songwriting used a different approach. They are playing their live debut in January at the heavy metal Hall Of Fame. So check out the new album Kill The Beautiful. Grab a merch bundle while they last. Check them out on Facebook. Check us out @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. We’re also on YouTube & Facebook. Reach out through all those platforms or at [email protected]. Grab our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or buy us a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prepare to have Jim Crean of Scream Taker take YOUR breath away on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back Mark Bingham and Louis Michot to discuss a special project. Louis’ label, Nouveau Electric, is releasing 22 albums from now through most of 2023, documenting 50 years of Mark Bingham. Mark has made a career out of people not knowing what he’s doing. He has been recording music at an astounding rate. And he doesn’t do that to keep it hidden. Mark & Louis talk about how they began working together and the first two albums in this unreal release schedule. Those would be Goo Seneck, and Mushroom Crowd. But they aren’t necessarily being released in chronological order. Some albums are reissues of old and out of print, others are freshly recorded, and still others are collections of odds and ends. And in the middle of all this, we end up discussing the proper pronunciation of Adele’s name and what happened to Madonna’s face. And I almost choke to death thanks to the story Mark tells of a song slated to be released later in 2023. So go check out nouveauelectric.com to start picking up the albums that start the 50 Years of Mark Bingham project. Follow them on Instagram as well. Follow Mark @markbingham_2666. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & Twitter. We’re also on Facebook & Youtube. Reach out at [email protected] or help support the show at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. And now let’s jump right in to a discussion about 50 years of Mark Bingham with Louis Michot…and Mark Bingham on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you listen to this podcast, you’re most likely a fan of music. And chances are, you’ve seen a live concert. Have you ever wondered what goes into getting a band from one show to the next? What kind of preplanning is needed? And how much more goes into an overseas tour? Well my guest and friend Chris Bergstrom joins me to give us all a taste of what it takes to make a tour successful and how it has changed over the years. He’s worked with some incredible acts, like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Dandy Warhols. But he’s also worked with acts I wasn’t expecting, like The Oregon Symphony Orchestra and country music star Tracy Lawrence. He’s done everything from load-ins & load-outs to Front of house, to tour management. He’s got great behind the scenes stories as well as a collection of live recordings that I would kill for! But it’s not all sex, drugs, & rock & roll. In fact, that stereotype has changed so much over the years. But for many, the hardest part is still acclimating to post-tour (or normal) life. Chris is candid about all of it. So if you want to follow his touring exploits, check him out @blackeyedprod on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on IG & Twitter. You can show us some love through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or with a merch purchase at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now prepare for an insider’s look at touring with Chris Bergstrom on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an episode of a different kind, even for the Side Projects series of the podcast. I’m joined by Larry Hall. Larry is the Chairman of The Jim Irsay Collection; one of the most amazing private collections of musical and historical artifacts in the country, if not the world. Jim Irsay is the owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. But his love of music, history, pop culture, and in many instances, their convergence, set off a spark that resulted in an unbelievable collection of artifacts. The Jim Irsay Collection spans over 2000 pieces and Larry is in charge of it all. He reveals how the collection started with the original 200 foot long scroll of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road and has grown exponentially over the years to include some unbelievable items. There’s Prince’s Yellow Cloud guitar, Jerry Garcia’s Tiger, John Lennon’s antique piano that he used on Sgt. Pepper’s, Kurt Cobain’s Fender Mustang, and a grand piano played by Elton John, John Lennon during his last live performance, Freddie Mercury, AND Paul McCartney at Live Aid. Then there’s the guitar that saved acoustic guitar making in America and Dylan’s guitar from the Newport Folk Festival. Larry also discusses some historical pieces like a hat that was to be presented to JFK on the day he was assassinated, a knife owned by Abraham Lincoln, and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. The collection tours the country, visiting a new city every few months. Larry talks about the logistics and safety measures taken when everything hits the road. This truly was a unique conversation and one that I’m so glad I can share. If you get the opportunity, go see The JIm Irsay Collection. You can check out the website, jimirsaycollection.com to see where the collection is heading as well as the social media links, which are getting a complete overhaul as we speak.  You can follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. You can help to support out collection of great conversation by buying us a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or by picking up our non-historical merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now get ready to be blown away by Larry Hall of The Jim Irsay Collection on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not too many of us know what we want to do when we’re teenagers. Hell I’m still not entirely sure, and I’m coming up on 50. But Jennifer Hartswick did. But she almost didn’t have a choice. Music and entertainment ran in the family. And while she’s best known for playing trumpet with legendary musicians like Trey Anastasio and Phish, Carlos Santana, Tom Petty, & Herbie Hancock (to name just a few), that’s not the instrument she started with. But once she found it, it was all over. In fact, she went to college for music and at one point was asked to TEACH the class instead of attend it. Well, it was at that point that she made an important decision in her life, which was followed by a HUGE coincidence 10 minutes later. Jen talks about the life of an independent touring musician very candidly. We also talk about music’s affect on buying groceries, the amazing advice she received from Herbie Hancock, and the beauty and importance of falling on your ass. Check out her latest album, Something In The Water on Brother Mister Records. Check out jenniferhartswick.com for social media links, album purchase info, tour dates, and more. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. Check out performanceanx.threadless.com for stuff and ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety if you just want to send us a nice cup of coffee. And now get ready to smile a lot with Jennifer Hartswick on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is the one and only Dan Navarro. Dan was so kind to do this interview because he had just arrived in London and it was about 1 in the morning for him when we recorded. His career is as varied as it is long. It started when he was just a kid, with his cousin Dave, but it began several branches earlier in his family tree. Dan has done everything from being a singing waiter to voice over artist, to doing jingles, to writing iconic pop songs. In fact, his job as a singing waiter is where he met his long time collaborator, Eric Lowen. But it wasn’t an instant connection. But once they clicked, it was obvious to them what they had. They wrote, recorded, and toured like crazy. But a personal tragedy almost ended his musical career. But it ultimately resulted in writing one of the most well known songs from the 80’s. And years later, when Eric couldn’t tour anymore due to advancing ALS, Dan forged a new career as a solo artist. He also became a prolific live streamer during the pandemic, streaming 6 days a week. He has released his latest album, Horizon Line and, no surprise, it’s full of great music. There are so many great stories behind these songs and Dan tells me as many as he can before he had to get some sleep! You can get the album at dannavarro.com or wherever you buy music. Follow him on Twitter @dannavarro or FaceBook & Instagram @dannavarromusic. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. You can be our hero by supporting us through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or performanceanx.threadless.com. Now don’t sleep on this episode with Dan Navarro on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of things I love is to see former podcast guests in concert. A while back I had The Ritualists on the show. They came to DC to play a gig, so I went. The band that played before them was a duo called Monsoon and please forgive the pun, I was blown away; so much so that I had to reach out to see if they wanted to be on the podcast. To my delight, singer/guitarist Sienna Chandler was happy to make an appearance. The way she got into music is unlike any other I have ever heard. She attended a local rock and roll type of band camp in Athens, Georgia. It was around that time that she got her first gig. Without a band. By being told she LOOKED like she was in a band. She took the gig and had two weeks to form a band and write music. It also forced her to get out in front and sing! Sienna has some amazing stories like how performance anxiety helped name the band and accidentally moving in to a cult commune. There’s also the time that Toyota used a Monsoon song in a Super Bowl commercial immediately after the halftime show. So you could technically argue that Beyonce opened for Monsoon. Maybe? The band went through a very tumultuous period between albums. But without that, Sienna would not have written an amazing album in Ghost Party. Support indie bands like Monsoon by buying their music and merch through platforms like Bandcamp. Go see them live. Follow Monsoon @monsoonband on Instagram & Twitter. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on both. Support us through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or performanceanx.threadless.com. And I hope you’re as blown away by Sienna Chandler and Monsoon as I was, on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices