ClifTones w/ JC Denison

test of strength, hogan/warrior style.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.

David Pajo is a founding member of Slint, played on two Tortoise records, and has performed in a wide variety of bands, including Stereolab, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol,  and Royal Trux, to name a few. He also has a vast solo output under the monikers Aerial M, Papa M, and Pajo. He sat down with JC to talk about learning to listen, being a father, coping with depression, and more... This episode is sponsored by End of an Ear Recording and Dauntless Distributing.

Heather Fox helped found the legendary Louisville band Juanita, helps run the Louisville Underground Music Archive, and cohosted the radio show 'Fuzzbox' for five years. She has a unique skill set that is no doubt informed by her family's background in radio. She sat down with JC to talk about garage rock, learning guitar from Wink O'Bannon, archiving music, and more... This episode is sponsored by End of an Ear Recording and Dauntless Distributing.

Dennis Stein has an encyclopedic knowledge of electronic music and gear. He performs as Introvert, keeping heads bobbing and feet tapping. He also uses his skills in electronics to make striking visuals for a vast array of Louisville musical artists. And he can tell you what's wrong with your car's engine. He sat down with JC to talk about Ministry, Pet Sounds, sampling, Porches, and more... This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.

Joe Manning is an immensely talented singer, songwriter, musician, and essayist. A Louisville native, he made sure to travel the world at a young age to ensure he had plenty of experience upon which to draw. He published a collection of essays called 'Certain Relevant Passages', and he's released solo recordings and performed with Kings, Daughters, & Sons. His newest project is called Giant Dunes. Joe sat down with JC to talk about writing from experience, driving a taxi, the Louisville Story Program, and more... This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.

Alex Koenig, AKA Nmesh, is a prolific and pioneering electronic music producer. His sample based landscapes exist solely within a computer but feel like field recordings from worlds both real and imagined. With a background in drumming, he's taken his natural rhythmic talents in many enticing musical directions including vaporware, techno, and drum & bass. He sat down with JC to talk about playing in a metal band, live performance in the digital age, sampling technique, and more... This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.

Tim Furnish is a seasoned veteran of the Louisville music scene. His band Crain made waves in the '90's when they released the seminal records 'Speed' & 'Heater'. He then created Parlour, which fuses indie rock, minimalism, and electronica into a wholly new kind of instrumental music. A tireless documentarian and graphic artist, he's spent over two decades creating and capturing some of the most important and visually striking images in the Louisville music scene. He sat down with JC to talk about maintaining a musical life, growing up in the Highlands, Tony Bailey, and more... This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.

Jerika Jones is a cellist, a muralist, an educator, a traveler, an advocate for social and cultural change, and so much more! Formerly of the classical music world, she's taken the skills and discipline she learned there into other arenas with fantastic results. And in January 2020 she took over as Executive Director of Girls Rock Louisville. She sat down with JC to talk about racial politics in classical music, music's relationship to language, her zest for learning, and more... This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.

Sean Cannon is a charismatic and skillful interviewer and podcaster.  A former seminary student, he segued into concert promotion and later hosted his own radio show on WFPK.  Sean has recently branched out from interview-style podcasts to host serialized podcasts which focus on specific musicians, such as Elliott Smith and The White Stripes.  He sat down with JC to talk about existential crises, learning how to say 'no', Christian indie music, and what he had for breakfast. This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.

Cheyenne Mize is a highly talented violinist, vocalist, guitar player, songwriter, music therapist, community organizer, and so much more. As a solo artist, she fuses the gap between more traditional folk music and in your face rock & roll. A consummate collaborator, she's performed with the likes of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Ben Sollee, Daniel Martin Moore, and many others. And she melts minds and hearts as one third of the vocal trio MaidenRadio. She sat down with JC to talk about the healing power of music, community engagement, discovering harmony, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Kogan Dumb is an MC, producer, visual artist, and electrician. Through his solo work, collaborations with local artists, and involvement in BirdZoo, he's had an enduring effect on Louisville hip-hop culture. While he may have been late to the game in regards to age, he's wasted no time breaking barriers and opening the doors to a prolific and exciting musical career. He sat down with JC to talk about bourbon, knuckleheads, East Coast production, Octopus Pirates, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Jackie Royce performs with and manages personnel for Orchestra Enigmatic, plays in Ut Gret, and is currently earning a degree in music performance at U of L. An accomplished bassoonist, she aims to blur the lines between the classical and avant garde worlds in Louisville. Fresh off the smash success of OE's 'Bjork Ball', she continues to work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure its success and sustainability. She sat down with JC to talk about touring, creating original programming, bassoons, and more... This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.

Phillip Olympia founded Louisville music blog Never Nervous, ran the Dunkenstein record label, and currently plays in The Prayer Line. Through relentless community involvement, he and his partners at Never Nervous covered countless musical stories and releases from all over the city and helped expose and bridge musical gaps here. Although NN has shut down, Phillip remains an active champion of local arts.  He sat down with JC to talk about learning how to blog, growing up on military bases, collecting video games, and more. This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. and Dauntless Distributing.

Nathan Salsburg is an incredibly talented and accomplished guitar player and composer. He's also the curator of the Alan Lomax archive. As both archivist and musician, he brings a completely original perspective to writing, listening to, and sharing music. He records melodically gorgeous solo guitar records and accompanies Joan Shelley live and on record. And he used to be a straight edge punk! He sat down with JC to talk about podcasting, creating his style, getting a punk rock scholarship, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.  

Teddy Abrams is the Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra. A passionate composer, conductor, and educator, his musical reach in Louisville, and around the world, knows no bounds. Through his inventive approaches to community musical outreach, he's helped reinvigorate a struggling orchestra and has inserted himself firmly into the broader Louisville music fold. Fearless and focused, Teddy's proving daily that music truly does make a city. He sat down with JC to talk about developing musical personas, breaking classical boundaries, Handel, Bach, Mozart, and more... This episode is sponsored by Crosley and Dauntless Distributing.

Sydney Chadwick sings and plays bass for the incredible WOMBO. Previously, she and WOMBO's Cameron Lowe made waves with the Debauchees. While both bands are markedly dissimilar, they nevertheless showcase the duo's tendency toward writing accessible post punk songs with peculiar rhythmic changes and jarring vocal jabs. With drummer Joel Taylor, the trio have been melting faces all over town. Sydney sat down with JC to talk about acid trips, the perils of divorce, visualizing music, and more...And Jake Reber stops by to talk about the Kent Carney Awards for Comedic Excellence. This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.

Axel Cooper is the creative force behind the band New Mother Nature and has performed with Phantom Family Halo, Sapat, Tyrone, and more. He's also a farmer and a father. For his latest project, he composed and arranged music to be performed alongside a live-action puppet play based on Frankenstein called 'Creature'. He's also recently started playing bass in Louisville instrumental all-star band Copiers. Axel sat down with JC to talk about home-schooling, 4-track recorders, food, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Nextflix.

Dane Waters has belted out beautiful tunes in Softcheque, Sapat, The Louisville Opera, A7A, and so many other musical projects. She serenades our city in several languages and helps bridge the musical gaps between the classical, operatic, and underground worlds. A visual artist as well, she's recently started fusing that with movement and music, creating performance art that is breathtakingly compelling. And she loves to laugh! She sat down with JC to talk about improvising, building musical muscles, John Cage, and more... This episode is sponsored by Zanzabar and Dauntless Distributing.

John King is a musician and artist, but perhaps he's best known in the Louisville music scene for his curatorial skills. He created the Louisville is for Lovers compilation to highlight Louisville bands and explore the depths of love, and he co-founded the Louisville Zombie Attack. Never one to be content with his output, he's also started teaching about glass art and consulting about pop culture. He sat down with JC to talk about the history of local glass, haircuts, losing his vision, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Will Oldham has had a celebrated musical career performing as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Palace Music, and several other monikers. An adventurous collaborator, he's worked with legendary artists like Tortoise, The Cairo Gang, and Matt Sweeney. Will's creativity knows no bounds which is evident in his extensive catalogue and constant challenges he presents to himself and his audience. Oh yeah, and he's a damn fine actor! Will sat down with JC to talk about beer, recontexualizing music, the beauty of spontaneity, and more. This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Cobra Verde, and Dauntless Distributing.

Jonathan Glen Wood hails from West Virginia and has spent significant time in Chicago, but Louisville serves as his true musical home. A skillful guitar player with a one-of-a-kind voice and a penchant for poetic lyrics, his songwriting stands alone and keeps evolving. He's released several beautiful solo records and done stints with Old Baby, Jaye Jayle, Catherine Irwin, and others. He sat down with JC to talk about screaming, discovering synthesizers, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.

Karen Ledford plays drums for the painstakingly persistent punk pop band GRLwood. With her unique visual aesthetic and multifaceted approach to drumming, she has made her self known locally and nationally as a musical force to be reckoned with. Having grown up in Elizabethtown, she slowly migrated from small town to small town, finally settling in Louisville to study philosophy. Ultimately, though, she discovered music to be her true calling. She sat down with JC to talk about being queer in a small town high school, applying for the Navy, playing constantly, the worst movie ever made, and more... This episode is sponsored by sonaBLAST! Records & The Zanzabar

Lacey Guthrie co-founded the band Twin Limb, plays synths in Pleasure Boys, and is also in some new unnamed band. Since having honed her smoky voice and applying her piano skills to the accordion, she's been setting stages on fire all over the country. Oh yeah, and she's a Hoosier! She sat down with JC to talk about growing up in Indiana, harnessing creative confidence, the benefits of saying YES, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Scott Carney is the predominant creative force behind Louisville heavyweights Wax Fang. An accomplished songwriter, guitarist, and drummer, his musical adventurousness knows no bounds. His stage presence and penchant for polished production techniques have garnered his music international attention and legendary local status. He sat down with JC to talk about walking away from Catholicism, medical maladies, showing up on time, and more... This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.

Thalia Zedek & Chris Brokaw helped found the band Come in the early '90's in Boston. Before that Zedek had played in the bands Uzi and Live Skull, and Brokaw drummed for Codeine. Since Come disbanded in the early 2000's, both have gone on to maintain successful solo careers. They stopped by Louisville on a recent living room tour, and guest host Carrie Neumayer sat down to catch up with them. They talked about songwriting processes, the charm of intimate venues, politics in music, and more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, & Zanzabar.

Van Campbell is a damn fine drummer who also sells cheese, owns part of an energy drink company, and just became a father! Whether he's drumming with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Black Diamond Heavies, or King Mud, he brings a uniquely energetic type of propulsive energy to the kit, and has become one of the most versatile drummers around. He sat down with JC to talk about musical mentorship, trying to soak up fatherhood, cheese, chewing gum, and more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.

Chris Maggio is an out of this world drummer who's played for the bands Sleigh Bells, Trap Them, Coliseum, and Wear Your Wounds. His style fuses together a combination of jazz discipline and punk rock ethos, which makes him capable of playing with just about anyone. A native of New Jersey, he moved to Louisville from Florida, and made his mark on the music scene immediately. He sat down with JC to talk about drumming technique, putting up with guitar players, navigating disaster, and (a lot) more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, featuring a live in-store with Tomberlin on October 12, Zanzabar, and Dauntless Distributing.

Anne Gauthier recently took over as lead engineer at Louisville's LaLaLand studio. She moved here from Montreal only 3 years ago but has already made a lasting impact on the music scene here and its recorded output. A former graphic designer and drummer, she seamlessly wove those skills together to become one of the only female recording engineers around. Anne sat down with JC to talk about growing up in Canada, women in sound, Kroger, and more... This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.

Ethan Buckler is the mastermind behind Louisville band King Kong. His music and songwriting is a superb blend of funk, storytelling, humor, and sexuality. He desires to make you dance. Ethan was also a founding member of Slint and appears on their album TWEEZ. He sat down with JC to talk about writing catchy hooks, dancing as rebellion, Lakeside Swim Club, and more... And Will Russell stops by with a few updates. This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee & Dauntless Distributing.

John Timmons founded legendary Louisville record store Ear X-tacy. As owner and operator, he turned legions of local listeners onto all sorts of independent and alternative music; tourists came from all over to dig, too! A critical part of the Louisville music scene for over 25 years, Ear X-tacy played host to mainstream and local bands and served as a communal stomping ground for punks and indie kids. John sat down with JC to talk about starting the store from scratch, 'selling out', getting over letting go, and more... This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.

Kevin Coultas played drums for legendary Louisville bands Rodan, Rachel's, The Sonora Pine, King G. and the J Crew, Metroschifter, and more. His sophisticated and unique approach to drumming has made an undeniable impact on Louisville music. He's also one hell of a radio DJ, has great taste in music, and is a damn fine history teacher. He sat down with JC to talk about musical technique, Jason Noble, cops, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Sara Callaway picked up her first violin at age 6, studied and practiced rigorously, earned a Master's Degree in music, and then still wasn't sure if she wanted to live the life of a professional musician. But whether she found herself in China, Berlin, or Appalachia, music always found its way back to her. Once she settled in Louisville, she started making waves, performing with the likes of Dane Waters, Jacob Duncan, & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. She also co-founded the SONIC Bernheim series and now co-directs the Louisville Academy of Music. She sat down with JC to talk about musical work ethic, connecting to nature, whale watching, and more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.    

Scott Ritcher lives in Stockholm, Sweden, but recently came back to Louisville to batch and promote his own Bedtime Bourbon. Before his exodus, he fronted influential bands Sunspring and Metroschifter and founded the legendary Louisville music label SLAMDEK. He also helped run Initial Records and published his own zine, K. Composite. Oh yeah, and he ran for mayor! He sat down with JC to talk about being an ex-pat, immersing himself in DIY culture, bourbon, and more... This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.