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 theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. 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 theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com 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

Mike Baggetta has always loved music. It’s been a constant part of his life. His dad was a guitarist who played for years! Some of his earliest memories are of his dad’s guitar case and amp stacked up after a wedding gig, smelling like old cigarette smoke. He still finds that smell nostalgic. But Mike found his own path into music, writing original songs from the start. He went to Rutgers to study music and even played the Montreux Jazz Festival during that time, with George Benson holding court in the front row! But at one point, he quit music and decided to pursue other opportunities (this is where we find our Yellow Pages connection). But the guitar slowly crept back into his life and wouldn’t leave. So he went with it, releasing an album of prepared guitar as his solo debut. Interesting idea. He’s really big on improvisation and that has led to some killer collaborations and albums, like his latest release, Everywhen We Go. It’s the second release from the trio of Mike Baggetta, Mike Watt, & Jim Keltner. The album title came from guitarist Henry Kaiser and Mike is anxious to see how many times it gets autocorrected.  It’s a great album filled with improvisation that is actually listenable.  You’ll hear clips during this episode but the songs have so much movement that you really need to go check them out in their entirety. So I recommend picking up Everywhen We Go wherever you get new music. And follow Mike @mikebaggetta on Instagram, @mabnotes on Twitter. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on both. Reach out there or email us at theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Now please give a warm welcome to Mike Baggetta on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am pleased to present the episode I recently recorded with Alex Stephens, AKA Strawberry Guy. Since I was involved in a little incident literally just before recording, we naturally discuss our favorite alcoholic beverages. Turns out, Alex is a Straw-Beery Guy! Since you can’t see me winking, it means he made a Strawberry Guy beer! Alex shares tales of his own Performance Anxiety and how that influenced the way he sings and performs. He even practiced in a cafe toilet for a friend to bolster his courage for his first open mic night! He also talks about the name Strawberry Guy and the sweet & sad story about how it came about.  Alex’s song Mrs. Magic exploded after it was used on TikTok. But Alex had no idea until a tweet from a Twitter bot informed him that the song had entered the charts! The song exploded so fast that it was hard to keep up. There are even college essays written about the phenomenon.  The rest of Alex’s catalog is just as good as Mrs. Magic and he tells me about his goal to write music that’s good for your mind and soul as well as his plans for America! Check out his music on Spotify and Bandcamp. Follow him @strawberry_guy on Instagram & @_strawberryguy on Twitter. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on both. Reach out through Social media or email at theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or a non-committal cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now take a deep breath and get mellow with me and Alex Stephens, AKA Strawberry Guy on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Pidgeon is today’s guest. You may know her from one of the ten albums she’s released. Or, you may recognize her from her roles in movies like The Dawning, The Heist, RED, or Bird Box. It turns out that creativity runs in her family. Her mother is a yoga instructor, her grandmother was the editor of Architectural Digest ( a magazine that I used to study like a textbook), and HER sister was celebrated artist Olga Lehmann. So it’s no surprise that Rebecca was drawn into both music and acting at an early age.  She even attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts where she started recording demos with Roger Fife as Ruby Blue. And even though the signed to a record label, she continued to pursue her acting career, as well. She has been able to cultivate both careers successfully over the years, resulting in ten albums and over thirty acting credits in television and movies.  Rebecca’s tenth release is a concept album called Parts Of Speech, Pieces Of Sound . But it’s not about dragons, a dystopian future or even an historical figure or event. It’s a very esoteric topic that means a lot to her. Each song has a beautiful story behind it. We discuss the focus of the album, why it’s so important, and which song got me into a tiny bit of trouble. Go check out rebeccapidgeonmusic.com to check out the album & get social links. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on the socials. Reach out there or through  theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com.  You can be amazing and help support the podcast by buying merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or simply buy us a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s get into the flow with Rebecca Pidgeon on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest makes me feel inspired. I welcome Lex Borrero to the program. He’s the very definition of rags-to-riches. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he emigrated with his mother to the US to start a new life from scratch. His first taste of success came after selling candy and burned CD’s to buy a pair of Jordans when he was a kid. But Lex wasn’t (and he’ll admit, still isn’t) a musician. Instead, he has an innate ability to know a good story and a talent for communication. He talks about his professional arc; how he started as a young producer trying to update the sound of Christian artists. That led to one of two times he was kicked out of church! But Lex always believed in himself, even when he moved to New York City for a music internship and wound up homeless for about a year. But his persistence and altruism has paid off tenfold. He has worked with artists like Tainy, Maroon 5, and Bad Bunny. His architectural approach to building up artists and companies coupled with his drive to create has led to the success of NEON16, AM16, and NTERTAIN. That’s why he has branched into TV and movies. He is the force behiind hit shows like La Firma on Netflix and The Montaners on Disney Plus. His drive is relentless! If you want to know what’s up & coming in music and TV, follow Lex and his companies @lexborrero, @neon16, @am16agency, & @ntertainstudios (w/o the N) on all the socials. You can follow us @PerformanceAnx on those same socials. You can check out merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can slide us some coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now, you can be inspired by Lex Borrero on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a cool episode. Nora O’Connor joins me for the second time, but it’s her first as a solo artist. This time we get a chance to go a bit deeper into her musical past. She talks about being child bartenders at parties her parents would throw where, eventually, everyone would gather together and sing, just for the joy of it. She went to college for music, but mostly for the business side of the industry. She’s been a fixture on tour with Neko Case and she discusses how learning bass for Kelly Hogan eventually led to that gig. But that wasn’t her first musical credit. That would be a prog song by the band It. Nora also talks about rum and making great decisions. Nora has worked on so many great projects and we touch on quite a lot of them, including Urban Twang, The Blacks, Andrew Bird, & The Flat Five. She’s just released her third solo album called My Heart, and it’s not just a hit with me, but also with my 18 year old daughter. So she’s definitely done something right. Pick it up on Pravda Records. Follow Nora on social media. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Buy us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or get merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Reach out on social media or theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Now get ready to learn the secret of Winwoof, by Nora O’Connor on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris O’Rourke, Rachel McNally, and eventually Derek van Beever, collectively known as Sleepyhead, are my guests this episode. All three had very different paths into music. Drummer Rachel didn’t even start playing drums until college and that was really just to be in a band with Chris. Speaking of Chris, one of his biggest influences was a childhood friend, Jon McLean, who is a founding member of Six Finger Satellite. And Derek’s turning point happened during a family trip to Malta. The band has a name that didn’t really match their sound, and I get the story of how that happened. I also hear about how they recorded with possibly the world’s longest drum loop, the difficulties of touring and recording when you’re raising kids, and how a faculty variety show really got the band back together again. And we wrap up with a story about trained chipmunks, so you gotta stick around for THAT! Check out the band’s new album, New Alchemy on Bandcamp, check out sleepyheadrockband.com, @sleepyheadrockband on Instagram and Facebook, and @sleepyhead1989 on Twitter. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. Performance Anxiety on FaceBook. Reach out to us at theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Support the show at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or performanceanx.threadless.com. And now check out Sleepyhead on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we venture away from music for a bit. Welcome actor and podcaster, Michael Pisciuneri. We talk about how he discovered his creative side and some of his early creative endeavors (with air quotes). He’s one of my guests that really does discuss having performance anxiety and what he’s done to combat it. Michael went to college to earn a creative degree and promptly had his dreams crushed, like many of us. But he HAS had the opportunity to live in the disparate worlds in front of and behind the camera. And that is what gives his podcast, Movies Worth Seeing, the authenticity that many movie review podcasts are lacking. We even discuss a few movies that we liked and were disappointed by. And, as with most conversations Michael has, it ends up in a critique about The Simpsons. So go give Movies Worth Watching a listen. Follow Michael @michaelpishpodcasting. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on the socials. You can help the show out with a coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now enjoy something a little different with Michael Pisciuneri of Movies Worth Seeing on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is singer David Reed Watson. This guy is one of the nicest guys I’ve had on the podcast. He’s been singing for years but he was also in the advertising game. But before ALL of that, he was a Marine. While he was deployed to Egypt he had the opportunity to lay in the sarcophagus in the great pyramid of Giza. That changed his life. That and getting hit by a car.  He tells me how a severance package and a promise to his sister before passed away from Sjogren’s Syndrome kick started his musical career. He also shares what the advertising world (including his role in the famous Truth campaign) and the smell of Burger King’s french fries has taught him. David has been a part of many bands. I think the last count was sixteen. But his latest endeavor is my favorite, A Rising Force. It’s been a long journey and he shares a lot of stories, like how the band’s name and their latest release, Eclipse, really have nothing to do with Yngwie Malmsteen, even though David HAS worked with him. Check out risingforceband.com to buy the album, Eclipse. Go to davidreedwatson.com to hear all the other great work David has done. Follow the band @arisingforceband on IG, ARisingForceof1 on Twitter, & A Rising Force Band MN on Facebook. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Email us at theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com. Buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now strap in because this one has quite a few twists & turns. It’s David Reed Watson of A Rising Force on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.   And don't forget about our VIP Experience Contest at pantheonpodcasts.com/nickmason Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’ve said it in the past but it bears repeating…I love doing this podcast for episodes like this one. Mercury from the band Priest joins me to talk about their new release, Body Machine. Electronic music is not my area of expertise, but I had a lot of fun checking these guys out. Mercury talks about growing up with musical parents and starting his musical career in pop music. He joined his first band as a bassist because his mom had a bass in the house. He didn’t tell the band that he didn’t know how to play! Mercury is REALLY candid about his time as Water in the band Ghost and his dismissal from the band. He had already started working on the project that would become Priest, so that became his focus. And with so many visual aspects to the band, it became a full time band very quickly. In the time this band has been in existence, it has gone through some pretty big changes. But things have settled down enough to release a new album called Body Machine. Mercury discusses the concept of Body Machine being part one of a trilogy that’s almost completely written and recorded already! Their touring and working on getting to the US. Apparently it’s not easy to get a visa when you wear masks and use aliases. Check out the band’s website priestnexus.com to get their socials, buy the album, and get tour dates. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. You can help us out with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or by just buying us a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now get ready to get some electronic religion with Mercury of Priest on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest was into music earlier than most. Neil Gust had an obsession with vinyl as a toddler; he would walk around the house with records in his hands. His obsession stayed with him through college where he met Elliot Smith and started playing in bands with him. After graduating, the duo decided they would continue playing together and decided Portland Oregon was the place to go. That’s where Neil & Elliot formed the band Heatmiser. After their third album, Elliot’s solo work began getting a lot of traction and the band dissolved.  Neil decided to continue on with a new band which was accidentally given the moniker No. 2. Unfortunately, the band never really got the label support it deserved. And as the second album was released and things were getting harder, not easier, Neil put down music and began a new career in video editing. That took him to NYC where he found great success creating videos for Jaguar automobiles. But one night, playing Skyrim, Neil had an epiphany and No. 2 was reborn. It was picking up steam when COVID stalled everything. But Neil soldiered on in a Connecticut boathouse. So check out the new album by No. 2 called First Love. Follow their IG account @___numberdeux___, pick up the album from Jealous Butcher or wherever you get music. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Show us some support with coffee at ko.fi.com/performanceanxiety or purchase things at performanceanx.threadless.com. At this point, I present to you, Neil Gust of No. 2 on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heavy metal veteran Jack Starr is our guest today. He’s been playing metal and hard rock guitar since the 70’s. He talks about moving to the US from France when he was a kid. He tells me the best TV shows to watch to learn english. When the music bug hit as a student, he didn’t start off on the guitar. He began his journey as a drummer. But he discovered that he wasn’t coordinated enough to be a drummer. So he shifted his focus to guitar. By the time he was in his teens, he was gigging in clubs. He founded the seminal metal band Virgin Steele. But two albums into that band, he left to start a new band, Burning Starr. After several albums, Jack went a different direction and Burning Starr went on hiatus. But in the early 2000’s Jack revived the band and they have been going strong ever since. They have signed to a new label, Global Rock Records, who are not only re-releasing his entire Burning Starr catalog, but releasing a brand new Burning Starr album called Souls Of The Innocent. Pick it up if you like riff filled metal guitar! And follow Jack Starr’s Burning Starr on social media for more information. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. You can show us a little love with a cup of coffee on ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or with some merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. And I hope you enjoy my conversation with metal legend Jack Starr on Performance Anxiety part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. And remember to enter our contest for a VIP experience with Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets at pantheonpodcasts.com/nickmason Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blues guitarist Albert Cummings is my guest on this episode. And although music is literally in his DNA, he got a bit of a late start playing music. He didn’t even start out on guitar: there was the trumpet and 5 string banjo before he started playing the blues. But after a friend suggested he play at wedding, he was hooked. He formed his first band, Swamp Yankee, recorded his first album, 11 tracks, in one 90 minute recording session! But  it worked! He got a slot as the local headliner at a music festival and one offhand remark, along with that Swamp Yankee album, got him hooked up with Double Trouble. That experience was so good for all them the it led to them recording an album together. He’s also played with legends like Buddy Guy & B.B. King. But Albert tells me how difficult the blues can be. Not only is it hard to sound unique, but once you’re saddled with that classification, it’s not always easy to change your style. He’s got a new album called Ten. And yes, it’s his tenth release. He’s got high hopes for it, too. Pick it up at albertcummings.com or wherever you get music. His social media accounts are there, too. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. You can give us a hand with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or with some coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And leave your blues cliches out here, because Albert Cummings and I are having none of it on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m joined by photographer Paul Natkin. You may not know the name but you’ll recognize his images. He tells me about his father’s own incredible photographic legacy before we get into his own. Paul reveals the exact moment he knew he wanted to be a photographer and the serendipitous moment that thrust him into live music photography. He discusses how two months in 1984 changed his life, starting with Prince’s birthday party. He’s worked with Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Oprah Winfrey, and the 1985 Chicago Bears. Remember the Super Bowl Shuffle? There’s also his stint as Brian Wilson’s road manager. Paul is honest about the decision that cost him 90% of his business and the new rules to shooting live shows. He has a new book, The Moment Of Truth, with over 150 of his best images, from ABBA to ZZ Top. Look for it on Amazon. You can check out his website at natkin.net. Give us a follow @PerformanceAnx on social media. Show us some support with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now get ready for a real behind the scenes discussion with photographerr Paul Natkin on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s give a warm welcome to singer/songwriter Alicia Blue. She’s got an interesting history with music. It starts with her father, who learned English listening to Sam Cooke on his way to America to propose to Alicia’s mom! She and I also decide that maybe we should trade dads for a day.But it wasn’t her father who instilled a love of music in her. It was the relationship she developed with soul singer Malcolm Hayes. His music and friendship changed the path she was on. He also introduced Alicia to another huge influence in an unusual guitar teacher which led Alicia to learn a few songs, phonetically, in Thai! Alicia is also a poet and she describes the differences between her poetry and her lyrics.Now as far as releases go, she’s had a wild ride. Starbucks picked up a song from her first EP. And then two weeks after her first full length album came out, the world went on lockdown. So she decided to do a live stream to promote it instead. Unfortunately she had appendicitis just before the stream and had to cancel. So now she’s got a new EP out called Inner Child Work and the timing seems good! So go pick up the new release & give Alicia a follow @aliciabluemusic.Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Buy a coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or merch ar performanceanx.threadless.com. And now check out Alicia Blue and her music on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.  And don’t forget our VIP contest with Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets. Enter at pantheonpodcasts.com/nickmason to enter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest embodies retro in the most fun ways possible. Welcome Chelsea Nenni of Late Slip to the show. She grew up with music all around. Her dad worked in rock radio since the 70’s. He even gave Carson Daly his first shot. In fact, Carson would often come over to Chelsea’s house for spaghetti. But her lifelong obsession with oldies, Elvis in particular, came from her mom. But Chelsea didn’t go the normal route into rock music. This is the point of the show where I learn about opera outreach programs. Chelsea began performing in operas by the age of eleven. She earned a scholarship to study opera in college at Chapman University. She soon moved to NYC to take her shot in the theater district. This is where she takes a turn into rock, kind of. There’s an interesting detour into a cabaret version of the history of rock in there. Chelsea reveals that she will sometimes write songs during yoga class, which probably doesn’t go over so well with the instructors. After a series of projects and bands, Late Slip was formed and recorded their first EP through a strange set of circumstances involving Amoeba Records. Late Slip has a new album out called I Love You. And I love IT! It’s such a fun trip through the heyday of rock. And Chelsea is the perfect custodian. Not only does she emulate the sound, her album designs are influenced by early rock albums, too. She even wears vintage clothes for the covers! Grab I Love You on Bandcamp. Check out @lateslip on Instagram for more info on shows. Check us out @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & X. Our stuff is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can support us through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Get ready to shake a tailfeather with Chelsea Nenni of Late Slip on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two legends join the podcast for this episode. Danny Kortchmar and Steve Postell hop on to talk about what got them into music in the first place. Steve defines what a musical director does. Danny discusses his Spinal Tap connection and working with Carol King. And while Danny was producing albums with Neil Young and others, Steve was touring Man of La Mancha with Bonnie Raitt’s dad, John.They had very different paths with their careers, but they converged to form The Immediate Family; a cover band that plays all original material. Danny and Steve, along with Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar, and Russ Kunkel are The Immediate Family and they have just released a live EP. It’s a great mix of new songs and classics. But they aren’t covers. Give the band a follow @theimmedfamily on Instagram & @theimmediatefam on Twitter. We can be found @PerformanceAnx on both. Support us with a review, merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And I hope you enjoy Danny Kortchmar & Steve Postell of The Immediate Family on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Chuck Wright. We hit the ground running, talking about his new album, Chuck Wright’s Sheltering Sky. It’s an impressive piece of work with 41 guest musicians on it! It also contains a wide variety of styles and genres, reflecting his own musical career. Chuck reveals some very strange coincidences with this album. And he admits that this album is 100% a result of being in lockdowns.  We also get into Chuck’s history, like how getting a bass changed his career path from the military to musician, his favorite bass players and what they all have incommon, and how he started playing with Quiet Riot, at a very important juncture in music history. Chuck is really proud of this new album, and he should be. But he’s already working on his next project and new bands. He’s got a Field Of Dreams attitude towards touring for Sheltering Sky. He says, if they want it, he will come. But between new music and the Ultimate Jam Night residency at the Whiskey A Go Go, he doesn’t have a lot of free time. Pick up the album anywhere, like chuckwright.com, where you will also find his social media links. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. Support the show with a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. So let’s get this episode started with Chuck Wright on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This show is different from most of the others I’ve done. My guest is Scott Dikkers. He’s not a musician. He is a writer, comedian, podcaster, and co-founder of The Onion. He jumps on the podcast to chat with me about creativity. He talks about his early influences, like The Muppets & Jay Leno, how he gets inspiration from bad comedy, and how he got his start writing the comic Jim’s Journal all the way to writing a New York Times bestseller that was self-published. Scott goes into some great stories about starting The Onion, how it was named, favorite & least favorite moments, and expanding The Onion’s reach simply due to the desire to be literally everywhere. Scott also talks about leaving The Onion, writing books about comedy that actually go step by step through the entire process, and creating a podcast that is just as helpful. Finally we wrap up with what he’s working on now. Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottDikkers and on Instagram @itsscottdikkers. Check out his YouTube page and his website, scottdikkers.com. He’s very approachable! Follow us @PerformanceAnx on the socials. Support the show with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or a coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now get ready for a fascinating journey in comedy with Scott Dikkers on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Janet Weiss of way more bands than I can mention here joins the podcast. She’s here to talk about her latest release, Cockroach In A Ghost Town by her band, Slang. But we go back to find out how that band came to be. We start with her playing guitar, NOT drums. But once she did find drums, it was an instant connection. It was so obvious that everyone else felt it, too. Janet talks about how many lessons she took before joining a band and opening for The Flaming Lips! She also explains her move to Portland, starting a few other bands, like Quasi, who ended up being Elliot Smith’s band for a bit. We also talk about joining Sleater-Kinney, her terrible car accident that could have spelled the end of her career. But she had an incredible support system of family, friends, & fans that kept her recovery on track. We do talk about Slang’s album, how things have changed from a duo doing covers to a full band. And we wrap up on our mutual love of the automobile.Give the band a follow on Facebook, check out @theeslang on Instagram and @realslang on twitter. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on twitter & instagram. You can help us out through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or performanceanx.threadless.com for merch. Now let’s get right into the show with Janet Weiss of Slang on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With two notes, James Calvin Wilsey announced his presence to the music world at large. But by the time Wicked Game launched Chris Isaak, Rowland Sally, Kenney Dale Johnson, & James Calvin Wilsey onto MTV and in front of millions, Jimmy was already living a very rock & roll lifestyle; one that would lead him to crash and burn half an album later. Journalist and author Michael Goldberg joins the podcast to discuss James Wilsey and the new book he’s written about his life, death, & the music he left behind. It may be the most heartbreaking episode I’ve recorded.  Michael discusses Jimmy’s early days in school and how he started playing with The Avengers in San Francisco, meeting Chris Isaak and deciding he didn’t want to play with him, initially. We also talk about his time as a consultant for Apple and in IT for a Hollywood marketing company. But even through his addiction to heroin, Jimmy was always working on music. In addition to the solo album he released, El Dorado, there was so much more, including music with Billy Idol and Lana Del Rey. It’s a heartbreaking and fascinating story. Pick up Michael’s book Wicked Game - The True Story of Guitarist James Calvin Wilsey from HoZac Books. A percentage of the sales will go to help Jimmy’s son, Waylon. There’s a link in the notes. Follow Michael on social media to see what he’s up to. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. Buy stuff at performanceanx.threadless.com. Or buy us a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now get some tissues and check out the story of James Calvin Wilsey with Michael Goldberg on Performance Anxiety, part of Pantheon Podcasts.  https://hozacrecords.com/product/wicked-game/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we welcome Brad Elvis & Chloe F. Orwell of The Handcuff to the show. They have a new album out, Burn The Rails,  that’s inspired by 70’s rock. It’s got big guitars, great vocals, and Mott The Hoople’s Morgan Fisher playing some keys! But before we get into all of that, we go deep into Brad’s extensive discography. We go so deep that Chloe thinks I’m a wizard. Brad talks about his time with The Elvis Brothers got their name, his very unusual drumming style, how he and Chloe met (it wasn’t Farmer’s Only, no matter what you’ve heard), and how Chloe’s humorous review of Mott The Hoople’s reunion resulted in Morgan Fisher playing with The Handcuffs. Follow the band @TheHandcuffs on social media. But the new album, Burn The Rails, on Pravda Records. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Pick up merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or get us a coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And check out all the other great shows on Pantheon. Now enjoy Brad Elvis & Chloe F. Orwell of The Handcuffs on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I don’t even want to do an introduction because I just want to get into these stories. I’m joined by Simon “Spence” Dudfield and Martyn Goodacre of Fabulous. They exploded and flamed out in a span of 18 months. But they accumulated a lifetime of stories in that blink of an eye! They weren’t even musicians when they started the band. They’re STILL not musicians! They had somewhere between 8-10 bassists in that year and a half. They even wrote a song about one. Well, it was Craig Pike and he didn’t technically join the band because he died. But they DID have Keanu Reeves in the band for a minute, after stuffing him in the trunk of their car. Another member just wandered off stage, mid-gig, never to be seen again…almost. And speaking of shows, theirs were so volatile that they only lasted 10-15 minutes and were banned from the majority of venues they played. They were kidnapped and beaten after one particularly intense show.They blew off chances to work with Andy Weatherall, Rick Rubin, & The Beastie Boys. It is a short lived musical career filled with destruction, fights, and regret. And it’s possibly the most insane collection of stories I have ever heard in one place. Check out Fabulous wherever you get music. Follow them on socials @fckdXfabulous. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Support us with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. You can also help with a 5 star rating or review. Now prepare to lose your mind with Fabulous on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a bit of a different episode this time. Kevin Mellon joins the show. And while he DOES have a new EP out called Songs From The Giant’s Chair, there’s a lot more to him than that. He is a comic book creator and a storyboard artist for Archer, Hitmonkey, & The Vampire Diaries. We start of discussing our mutual love of Failure but move into his comic and musical influences like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mark Lanegan, and Phil Collins era Genesis. Kevin explains why he decided against college to attend a place called the Kubert School, how he got into storyboarding, and exactly what a storyboard artist does. He also talks to me about how many albums he wrote and discarded before releasing his new EP. Pick up Songs From The GIant’s Chair wherever you get music. Follow him @mellonmusic on Instagram or Kevin Mellon on Bandcamp. Check out kevinmellon.com. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. Support the show with a review, some coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety, or merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now get ready for a very unique story and an all around great guy with Kevin Mellon on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was so much fun talking with Isobel Campbell. We hit on so many topics; some you’d expect like starting with Belle & Sebastian, working with Mark Lanegan, the effect COVID had on her projects, and what she’s working on now. But we also talk about some things that you might not expect like how church music influenced her, how a cheeseburger and Annie Hall were the reasons she left Belle & Sebastian mid-tour, getting kicked out of orchestra, and what she did during a decade long hiatus from the music business.  Isobel was incredibly gracious to speak with me so soon after Mark Lanegan’s passing and we do discuss their music and relationship quite a bit. And she’s got some great news about some reissues and new projects that should make everybody happy. Give her a follow on social media @isobelcampbellmusic on Instagram, @Isobel_Campbell on Twitter, pick up her music on Bandcamp or wherever you buy music. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. You can help us out with a review, with a coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety, or with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. And I hope you enjoy this chat with Isobel Campbell on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ivan Nahem had no choice but to be creative. Born in the 50’s, his mother was a graphic designer and his father played professional baseball. In fact, his dad, Sam, played a big part in the integration of minority players into Major League Baseball. But Ivan was drawn to music. He wanted to play drums, but he was told he had to learn the accordion first. After some less than constructive criticism about his prowess with that instrument, he decided he wasn’t musical and turned to poetry. After moving cross country twice, playing with a few bands, he formed the band Ritual Tension. Ivan talks alot about that and how that led to him playing dums on two Swans albums. Ivan is open and honest about all of this, his writing, yoga, and even losing his son in 2013.  Ivan has been busy during the past few COVID tainted years. In addition to releasing a new Ritual Tension album at the beginning of the pandemic, he has recorded and just released a solo album called Crawling Through Grass. It’s one of the most unique (in a good way) albums I’ve heard in a while. Think ambient punk. Give Ivan a follow @ivan.nahem or @ritualtension on Instagram and Facebook. Pick up Crawling Through Grass through Arguably Music. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. You can help us out with a review, a coffee (ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety) or buying yourself something nice at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now listen in on the conversation with me & Ivan Nahem on Performance Anxiety,, part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest makes me feel exotic. Welcome David Nagler to the show. David grew up in a very musical house. In fact, his first performance was at age 1 or 2 in a stage production of The King And I. But that was just the beginning. A very early beginning. He began taking piano lessons a few years later.  He began his musical career with the band Stretch. That soon became Nova Social. Same guys, new name. The band was initially a guitar-based band with smart lyrics. But that was the first album. The second took a hard left turn into electronics, still with excellent lyrics. When David decided to go solo, he took yet another left turn. This is where his Brazilian influences began to bubble to the top. He’s written some themed albums; one based on Donald Trump appointees and another written to the poems of Carl Sandburg. David’s latest work is called As For The Future. He tells me how he came up with that unusual name and who else is involved in the band. The project began during the pandemic, so much of it was created remotely. That included Spotify-stalking people to be in the band. The album is filled with masterful songwriting. I love the music and the lyrics fell right in line with David’s previous work. It’s one of those albums that I’ll listen to when I need a break from the heavier rock I normally listen to. Go grab it on Bandcamp or stream it from your favorite service. I recommend the deluxe CD version with the extra tracks on it. Follow the band @asforthefuture and hopefully you can catch a gig in the near future. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. Merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can help support us through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And I hope you enjoy David Nagler on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we speak with Fredrik Saroea of Datarock. He’s had quite the career! Datarock blew UP when their song Fa Fa Fa was EVERYWHERE in 2005. It was in commercials, video games, TV shows, and I’m sure some other synchronizations Fredrik has forgotten about. That led to the band playing over 1000 shows in 36 countries. But it all kind of snuck up on them. Take the first festival they played in Australia. They thought they were going to be on some little side stage next to the toilets. Turns out they were on the main stage supporting James Brown! That has allowed Fredrik to do some amazing things. He performed Datarock: The Musical with a full symphony orchestra. But they only had one day of rehearsal. He’s also released an album called The Rona Diaries where he plays with the BIT20 String Ensemble, again with very little preparation. This one is hilarious and Fredrik and I laugh our way through it. Follow Fredrik & Datarock on social media. You can get the links at datarockmusic.com. Buy The Rona Diaries on Bandcamp or wherever you get music nowadays. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. Support the show with a rating or review, with a one-time coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety, or with merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. So stretch your face so you don’t hurt yourself laughing with Fredrik Saroea of Datarock on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m thrilled to welcome Carré Callaway and Joe Cardamone, AKA Queen Kwong and Skeleton Joe. Carré talks about growing up in a hotel and her dad’s industrial/punk nightclub in Denver. Once she started focusing on music (this would be AFTER her 6th grade band, Population 3) one of her first gigs was opening for Nine Inch Nails and, as she describes it, messing up on a large scale. She’s also written music with him that’s never come out! But she really started finding her voice after meeting Joe Cardamone from The Icarus Line. With Joe’s help Carré has developed a unique, improvisational style of recording albums. In fact, their maxim is the first take may not be the best sounding but it’s the most honest. So they try to stick to that whenever possible. It has worked for her albums as well as the Quarentina film project she and Joe collaborated on. Carré also discusses her late diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and how that has affected her. She’s got a new album out soon called Couples Only. She tells me why she used that name and how much of the record is about reclaiming her voice after a pretty rough divorce. Follow her @QueenKwong on social media. Follow joe_cardamone. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Support the show with a review or money. Merch is available through performanceanx.threadless.com. You can buy a cup of coffee & give it to the show via ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now check out Queen Kwong and Skeleton Joe on Performance Anxiety on Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Felix Bechtolsheimer; and I’m only going to say that once. His band, Curse Of Lono has a new album out called People In Cars. But before we get into that, we talk about a lot of stuff. Felix has my unfailing respect and admiration for being completely open and honest about the path that led him to go to rehab, including a harrowing experience in an experimental opioid addiction program in a German mental hospital! But music is one thing that helped pull him through. He wrote over 100 songs during that period. Soon after that, he started his band Hey Negrita and Felix reveals why they gave themselves that unusual name. After that band ceased, Felix spent some time studying at the London Film Academy before starting his current band, Curse Of Lono. Another unusual name, another interesting story behind it. They’ve just released their latest album, which was no easy feat. It was difficult for anyone to create an album during Covid, but Felix also lost his father, and uncle, his former partner, and eventually, his entire band. But the album is beautiful. There’s even a song inspired by a French punk rocker who robbed a bank, disappeared for 30 years, then turned himself in. Pick up the new album, People In Cars, wherever you get music. Follow Curse Of Lono on the socials. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Support us, won't you, with a review, buying merch at performanceanx.threadless.com, or with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now buckle up for one hell of a conversation with Felix from Curse Of Lono on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If anything good came out of the pandemic, it was projects like the release by The Trypes. I’m joined by founding members John Baumgartner and Marc Francia. The guys talk about how the band formed with the goal of recording one 45 for a local jukebox. But they DO have connections to the influential band The Feelies. They also discuss some of the more unusual aspects of the band, like using a wind-driven keyboard and an experimental 360 degree surround sound effect. The band was only active for about three years. This new release celebrates the band’s 40th anniversary and expands on the original album by adding some live tracks and a couple of songs from a brief reunion a few years ago. It’s amazing that a band that was only around for a short time in the early 80’s got a new life through Spotify. The album is available digitally and on CD through Pravda or Bandcamp. A gatefold vinyl release will be available in the coming months. Follow The Trypes on social media. But make sure it's The Trypes from NJ, not Greece. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. You can help support the show with a coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety, picking up merch at performanceanx.threadlass.com, or even just a review wherever you listen. I hope you enjoy John Baumgartner & Marc Francia from The Trypes on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Colin Peterik. If that name sounds familiar, you know your stuff. Colin is the son of Jim Peterik, who wrote some of the biggest hits of the 70’s & 80’s with Vehicle by Ides Of March Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor, & Hold On Loosely by .38 Special. Colin talks about growing up in the industry. He remembers being woken up at 6am by his dad working out some of these hits on the piano. Colin’s influences are wide-ranging. There’s the obvious link to his dad, but he was equally influenced by prog rock, Steely Dan, & skateboarding. He’s even the singer & keyboardist for a Steely Dan tribute band called Brooklyn Charmers.  His first solo album is coming out. It’s called Everything and Nothing and it is a fun listen. There is such a wide variety of styles. Colin discusses his studio process and if there might be a father/son duet in the future. Check Colin out on Instagram @colin_peterik_music & twitter @ColinPeterik. Pick up the album at colinpeterik.com or wherever you get music. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Rate & review us & all the other great podcasts on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Merch is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. You cam also support us through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Let’s get right into it with Colin Peterik on Performance Anxiety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pierce Turner and I begin this episode talking about castles and end it discussing Patsy Cline & Roy Orbison. But in between we do manage to touch on his career. He’s been playing music since he was a kid in Ireland in the 60’s. He couldn’t help it; it was all around him. His mom had her own band and the family had their own music store. And as a 14 year old kid, he was in charge of inventory! He was even in a 60’s Irish version of a boy band. But he wanted to start writing his own music, so he struck out on his own, which led him and a bandmate to fly to NYC with no plan; not even a place to stay when they landed! His first recordings in America almost ruined his career by attracting a bunch of weird Aleister Crowley fanatics! But he started writing music for modern dance and working with Philip Glass before starting a true solo career. His sound has shifted over the decades, including ditching the traditional band format and working only with string quartets. His new album features David Bowie guitarist Gerry Leonard and a rhythm section of Tony Shanahan from Patti Smith & Beck and Yuvel Lion from David Byrne. It’s called Terrible Good, because that’s exactly what it is. And Philip Glass returns! Check it out in the usual places. Check out Pierce’s website, pierceturner.com for more info. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media, rate & review, if you please. You can show support with a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety, picking up a shower curtain or two at performanceanx.threadless.com. So grab a pint and enjoy Pierce Turner on Performance Anxiety on Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode has been a long time in the making. I initially reached out to guitarist Jeff Young Well over a year ago, but the timing was never right. Well once the timing was right, we made up for lost time. Jeff and I had an epic discussion about his first exposure to listening and playing music (he took viola lessons in 1st grade!). He recounts the BB gun trade that literally changed his life. He moved from Dayton, OH to Hollywood to seriously pursue music. After many false starts, he was about ready to give up and move back to Ohio when he had his first encounter with Megadeth. But it wasn’t his gig, yet. Jeff is honest about his time in Megadeth and why he left the band, his want ad on Headbanger’s Ball, signing with Diamond Dave Management but passing on being Steve Vai’s replacement for David Lee Roth’s band; which led to Jason Becker getting the gig; which Jeff is extremely happy about. But after a while, Jeff DID leave music and went to The WHarton School for Business to help save the family business. But a wild series of events got him back into music, playing Farm Aid & hanging with Willie Nelson on his tour bus, and eventually moving to Brazil to play with members of the legendary Assad family. Now Jeff has a lot of irons in the fire, including the band with his better half called Tenifer Jinn, his YouTube channel Music Lives Live, the streaming show he’s done for over 11 years, Music Without Boundaries, and a MEGA new project that is in the works. Follow Jeff @jeffscottyoung on twitter, @jeffyoungguitar on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on both. You can support us with reviews or with money on ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or performanceanx.threadless.com. Now buckle up for an epic mega episode with Jeff Young on Performance Anxiety on Patheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liz Lamere’s path to her debut album was not a direct one. She was actually a high powered Wall Street lawyer. But she wasn’t your typical high powered Wall Street lawyer. She was the only one with purple hair and a spike in her nose who played drums in a punk band. But she met Alan Vega and everything changed. The couple began working on Alan’s music together, raised a family, and toured the world. Liz talks about all of that; how Henry Rollins & Jared Artaud of The Vacant Lots had life changing impacts on her and Alan; the Vega Vault; and how she finally made the debut album like Alan always wanted. And did you know that she also managed professional boxers? She almost became one, herself. And she shares how boxing continues to have an effect on her music. Pick up Liz’s debut, Keep It Alive, on In The Red Records, give her a follow @lamereliz on Instagram and @liz_lamere on Twitter. If you’re not already, follow us @PerformanceAnx on both. Please consider supporting the show with a review wherever you listen of financially through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or performanceanx.threadless.com. So let’s get ready to…wait I can’t say that. I’ll get sued. Enjoy Round One of Liz Lamere on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a really cool episode. My guest today is Mike Leonard. He plays guitar for The Magnolias, but that’s not what we’re discussing today. Almost 30 years ago, Mike was in a band called The Bleeding Hearts with Bob Stinson of The Replacements. Mike tells me how he got into music and how The Bleeding Hearts formed. He tells me about how he got Bob to join the band. It wasn’t exactly easy. But once he did, he went all in, including moving in with Mike. That, in part, led to the band getting time in the studio and label interest. But soon after the sessions were over, trouble started brewing. Mike talks about all of this, and why it took 29 years for the album to come out. Check out the album on Bar None Records, especially if you like straight up rock and roll. Pick it up from Bar None or wherever you get music. There may be some vinyl left. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & Twitter. Rate, review, and support the show through merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety.com. And check out the other great shows on the Pantheon Podcast Network. And let’s not keep you waiting anymore for Mike Leonard of The Bleeding Hearts on Performance Anxiety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode I talk with Alice Genese & Shaune Pony Heath; two friends who would meet on Tuesdays to talk and informally play some music in their living rooms. Those meetings eventually became the band OV Stars. Alice talks to me about how she grew up a block from the legendary venue, Maxwell’s, in Hoboken, NJ. She began her music career playing bass with Gut Bank and Sexpod. She eventually met up with Genesis P-Orridge and played bass for Psychic TV for the last 20 years. Shaune discusses growing up in Pretoria, South Africa and how the music scene was the ultimate in DIY, sometimes meaning you had to build your own stage from tires and soil, Alice and Shaune had written so much music together that recording was the obvious next step. Shaune tells me about being terrified but how being immediately thrown in the deep end didn’t give him time to overthink the process. So go check out the OV Stars EP, Tuesdays, on Bandcamp. Follow them on all the socials. And if you happen to be in Asbury Park, NJ, stop by The Stone Pony and get one of Alice’s Jell-O shots! Give us a follow @PerformanceAnx on the socials, if you aren’t doing so already. Rate & review. Check out our YouTube Channel. Email theperformanceanxietypod@gmail.com with your thoughts. You can send support our way via ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or get merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now let’s be like Pony and jump right into this episode’s deep end on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is just fun to talk with. It’s Jeff Fielder. I first heard Jeff when researching for Mark Lanegan’s episode. He’s worked with so many people and made so much great music that it’s almost unbelievable. But he started off admiring rock before playing any. He grew up in Alaska with much older brothers. Long haired, Les Paul playing, Barracuda driving brothers. So Jeff got into music early. In fact, he started gigging before middle school in a 17 piece jazz band led by his future middle school music teacher and at one point, probably took one guitar lesson from the devil. His family moved to Seattle in the heyday of grunge. He played in a few bands that should have gone farther than they did. He started hanging out with Dave Abruzzesse and getting into session work. But after a while he put down music completely and became a craft bartender. But working with one artist brought him back. That’s when things started to snowball and they haven’t stopped. He’s played with Mark Lanegan, Amy Ray, Indigo Girls, Satchel, and Painted Shield. And despite his best efforts to the contrary, has made beautiful music with his wife, Tekla Waterfield. Most recently, he’s recorded a wild cover of Megadeth’s Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying with some amazing musicians, including mutual friend, Mike Squires for Couch Riffs. Keep an eye out for Jeff on the road with Duff McKagan and Indigo Girls. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram @jefffieldermusic. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & X. Reach out and let us know who you want to hear from. Support us with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now check out the wild story of Jeff Fielder by Jeff Fielder on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Never in the history of this podcast has a band’s name been so apropos. Ellia Bisker & Jeff Morris of Charming Disaster join me. They were charming. I was the disaster. This is actually the second attempt at a podcast with the goth-folk duo. The original recording vanished into the ether. And once you give Charming Disaster a listen, nothing could be more appropriate.  They tell me all about forming the band as a side project that quickly took over their other bands. Ellia ran away to join the circus at one point. Jeff talks about being in a band with a homeless man, bonding over dead cats, and playing in unusual venues like historic cemetaries, abandoned mines, and the interesting alternatives to the band name Charming Disaster. They’ve released a new concept album based on a graphic novel about Marie Curie. It’s called Our Lady of Radium and it’s so unique; just like Charming Disaster themselves. Follow them on social media. They’re pretty easy to find. You can get the album on bandcamp or their website, charmingdisaster.com You can help the podcast out with a rating, review, and follow @PerformanceAnx; or with some dollars through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or performanceanx.threadless.com. And now…Charming Disaster, take two on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We go international this episode with Tone Of Voice Orchestra’s Trinelise Væring. Her family enjoyed music when she was growing up, but it wasn’t a career choice. She didn’t even think about it after recording two jazz albums while in school, studying architecture! But somehow she wound up marrying a musician. Once she finally made the decision to focus on music, she decided she needed to find her own voice; and it wasn’t going to be in jazz. So she completely changed her musical style, but lost a portion of her audience when she did it. It was also at this point that she decided to write exclusively in her native Danish. Speaking of Danish, I do a pretty good job butchering the language in this episode, including getting several definitions wrong. That leads us to Trinelise’s latest project Tone Of Voice Orchestra. She tells us the difference between her husband’s fantasy of what the band would be and the reality of what it is. Somehow, they managed to get all ten members together to record this album during the pandemic. And they’ll be releasing even more, later on this year. Follow Trinelise and the group @tone_of_voice_orchestra on Instagram and Facebook. You can also check out vaering.com for links to buy the album. Rate & review the podcast! Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Support is accepted via ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or performanceanx.threadless.com. Now let’s get started with Trinelise Væring of Tone Of Voice Orchestra on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam Weber joins me, literally from the road. He and his band had just finished the final show of their tour the night before and Sam was driving their gear home. We begin by discussing his family’s love of music as a big influence on him. In fact his first band was him, his brother, and his father. He also describes how architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright can be considered influences to him.  Sam tells me how much he loves playing in a trio and how that makes it a lot easier for him to be improvisational. For years he road tested all of his songs before committing them to tape. But that obviously wasn’t possible during the pandemic. So his plans for a big album with lush production shifted 180 degrees. But he would prefer that we consider the new album, Get Free, as a celebration of playing music together instead of watching Netflix. Check out samwebermusic.ca for social media links and ways to buy music. Follow us @PerformanceAnx wherever media is social. Help us keep this show going by buying merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s catch up with Sam Weber on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices