Crossing the Streams with Brent and Aaron

For their last episode of the year, Aaron and Brent wrap up 2023 by giving listeners a glimpse inside the inner-workings of the podcast.The guys recall some of their favorite "off-air" moments and break down the episodes that were impactful to them this year.They go behind the scenes further by highlighting 2023's most downloaded episode, discuss which episodes listeners should make a point to hear and reveal some of the artists they want to cover in 2024.And finally, Aaron and Brent unveil their list of the Top 10 songs they've discovered through each other's picks this year.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Coming out one week before Christmas Day, Aaron and Brent celebrate the festive nature of the holiday season by welcoming back two special guests for Episode 193's “The Playlist Before Christmas Holiday Spectacular”.For their fourth annual Christmas-themed episode, the guys are joined by Nashville filmmaker Aaron Scott and, in his 20th all-time appearance on the podcast, actor and comedian Ryan King.Featuring songs from artists including Lightnin' Hopkins, Dropkick Murphys, Alex Lahey, and Zach Williams, the guys carry on their tradition of highlighting some of their favorite non-traditional Christmas songs.

This week, Aaron and Brent each pick out three songs from their birth year.Born in the spring of 1977, Brent highlights songs from artists including ABBA, Hall & Oates, and Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane.With a birthday just six months shy of the decade ending, Aaron spotlights music from 1979 including songs by Michael Jackson, Chicago, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron picks out music from a Massachusetts-born singer who has utilized the wide-spread influence of Tik Tok to cultivate a massive following while Brent showcases three songs from a singer who has amassed ten top-ten singles and two number one albums over the course of her career.Gaining a viral hit thanks in part to Candace Owens' reaction to Harry StylesVogue cover, Aaron introduces Brent to three songs from Nashville's Charlotte Sands.Starting as a songwriter and backup singer before breaking out with her own debut album in 2010, Brent submits three songs from Kesha for Aaron.

This week, and for the first time in over a year, the guys revisit one of their favorite topics: Cover Songs.In this 6th installment in the series, Aaron picks out three songs that creatively transform the original while Brent picks three covers that became so well-known, they overshadow the versions that came first.Emphasizing the similarities and differences between the songs, Aaron and Brent showcase both versions of each song pick which include music from The Dip, Black Stone Cherry, Soft Cell, Michael Damian and more.To hear the previous five cover song installments, listen to Episodes 3, 28, 57, 99, and 133.

This week, Aaron introduces Brent to a Los Angeles five piece band that describes themselves as "grouchrock" while Brent spotlights an Atlanta-based band for Aaron that just released its first album in 23 years last month.With no-holds-barred songs that are introspective and honest, despite their name, Aaron picks out three songs from the LA indie-punk band, Spanish Love Songs.Featuring a frontman who has been called "one of America's best singer-songwriters" by Rolling Stone Magazine, Brent highlights three songs from Butch Walker and the Marvelous 3.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Coming up in Episode 188, Aaron introduces Brent to a Dallas-based duo with music that is a throwback to 80s dance anthems filled with synth wave and power vocals while Brent highlights a Brooklyn-born singer who signed to a development deal with Atlantic Records at just 16 years old.Growing up in the same Fort Worth neighborhood as kids but not realizing it until years later, Aaron spotlights three songs from the "retropop" group PRIZM.Initially starting out as a 1980s teen idol before reinventing herself on the theatrical stage by starring in 17 musicals in 17 years, Brent picks out three songs from the career of Debbie Gibson.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This Monday in Episode 187, Aaron highlights a group from Mobile, Alabama that take their name from the state's rust-colored soil while Brent spotlights a Jacksonville, Florida band named after a famous 17th-century axe murderess.Featuring a blend of classic country, rockabilly, gospel-fed soul, and Delta blues, Aaron picks out three tracks from The Red Clay Strays.With a debut album that was slated to be produced by the late Ronnie Van Zant before his untimely death, Brent picks out three songs from Molly Hatchet.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Coming out a day before Halloween, Aaron and Brent once again dedicate an entire episode to songs that have a connection to the ghoulish holiday.For "The Stay-Puft Halloween Episode", Aaron and Brent pick out songs from bands including Phoebe Bridgers, Geto Boys, Motionless In White, Pearl Jam and more.You can also go back and listen to their three previous Halloween specials (Episode 135, Episode 83, and Episode 32) now on the Crossing The Streams Podcast website or any podcast provider platform.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron and Brent highlight music from two different California bands that play their own distinct brand of funk music.Featuring a rotating roster of the best session musicians, singers and producers in Los Angeles known for releasing weekly cover songs, Aaron picks out three from Scary Pockets.Originating from San Francisco with a frontman who is commonly regarded as one of the key figures in the development of funk music, Brent spotlights three songs from Sly and the Family Stone.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron and Brent both highlight artists that had significant mainstream success in the mid-90s, one from Gainesville, Florida and the other from Athens, Georgia by way of Lincoln, Nebraska.Named after a local missionary who ran a homeless shelter, Aaron picks out three deeper cuts from Sister Hazel.Opting to attend college in the same town that served as the home base for R.E.M. and The B-52's, Brent spotlights three songs from Matthew Sweet.

Aaron spotlights music from a New York City-based singer/songwriter who just released her third album in August while Brent highlights a musician who, throughout her career, has performed as a solo artist, a member of The Lemonheads, and as the front woman of her own band.Starting out as a student at Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music before dropping out to fine-tune her songwriting skills, Aaron picks out three songs from Margaret Glaspy.Forming her first band, Blake Babies, while also a student at the Berklee College of Music, Brent picks out three songs from the career of Juliana Hatfield.

In his 19th appearance on the podcast, guest Ryan King returns and furnishes the topic for the week: Great Songs, Bad Albums.This week, Aaron, Brent and Ryan each pick out two songs that are the shining light on otherwise unfavorable albums.From critical disasters and commercial letdowns to fan disappointments, the guys each pick out two standout tracks from otherwise forgettable records including songs from Metallica, KISS, Guns N' Roses, and more.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, in Episode 181, Aaron and Brent circle back to the folk genre to cover music from a Canadian singer/songwriter who just passed away in May and an Irish trio that named themselves after a particular bird that frequents the river Boro in Wexford.With a style of music that is reminiscent of fellow Irish singer/songwriter Dermot Kennedy, Aaron highlights three songs from the band Kingfishr.With both Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson citing him as one of their favorite songwriters, Brent picks out three songs from the late Gordon Lightfoot.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

For their 180th Episode, Aaron and Brent spotlight songs from a renaissance period in country music when artists like Shania Twain and Garth Brooks started crossing over into the mainstream.In the 1990s, hits like “Achy Breaky Heart" and "How Do I Live" helped bridge the gap between the genre's traditional roots and the new pop-friendly sound.For Episode 180, the guys each highlight three standout tracks from country music in the 1990s including music from Blackhawk, Travis Tritt, Collin Raye, and more.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron and Brent explore the stranger side of music in an episode they have dubbed, "What is Even Happening: A Collection of Curiosities".From spoken-word tracks and experimental sounds to bluegrass covers of hip-hop songs, the guys single out three left-of-center picks including music from bands like King Missile, Passion Pit, and Was (Not Was).

This week, Aaron picks out music from an English singer, songwriter and guitarist who was named Best British Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards in 2007 and Brent highlights a singer/songwriter who was nicknamed "Bruno" by his father because of his resemblance to wrestler Bruno Sammartino.Named best-selling male solo artist of 2006 in the UK thanks in part to his debut album topping UK Albums Chart, Aaron singles out three songs from James Morrison.With a career that includes 15 Grammy Awards and 130 million records sold worldwide, Brent spotlights three songs from Bruno Mars.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron picks out music from a Kitchener, Ontario, twin sister group while Brent highlights a Chicago-based band co-founded by Louise Post and Nina Gordon.Born from the ashes of their previous group, Courage My Love, during the summer of 2020, Aaron picks three tracks from the Arn-Horn sisters in Softcult.Taking their name from the spoiled rotten rich girl from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Brent picks three songs from Veruca Salt.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

For Episode 176, Aaron and Brent base their song picks around the very concept that helped birth this podcast: Mix-Tapes.Before the days of instantly discovering new music through Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, you had to rely on word-of-mouth from friends or a meticulously-crafted collections of songs on cassette in order to unearth a band you never knew existed.This week, the guys exchange three song with each other that they introduced someone to or they themselves came upon through musical referral in an episode called, "Heard It From A Friend: A Harmonious Exchange Of Music".Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron picks out songs from a St. Charles, Missouri band that formed in their local record shop while Brent features music from a Dallas/Ft. Worth group that got a career boost courtesy of VH1.Starting out in high school under the moniker Hindsight before changing it again to a name they would eventually title their debut album, Aaron introduces Brent to 3 songs off of Greenwheel's album "Soma Holiday".Included as one of the four groups on the 2001 show “Bands on the Run”, Brent presents Aaron with 3 songs from Flickerstick's debut "Welcoming Home the Astronauts".Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron helps to familiarize Brent with deeper cuts from an artist who found success with two back-to-back radio hits in the late 90s while Brent introduces Aaron to a West Tennessee band that takes their name from a line in the Terry Gilliam film "Brazil".With songs like "I'll Be" and "I Could Not Ask For More" making him a Top 40 staple, Aaron instead picks out three songs from Edwin McCain's 1995 major-label debut "Honor Among Thieves".Starting in 1995 as a jazz fusion group, while simultaneously serving as the rhythm section for their college jazz band, Brent spotlights three songs from 27 B Stroke 6.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron and Brent each try to define what exactly makes a song have a particular vibe to it. As expected, they have vastly different interpretations of the meaning of the word.They each pick out 3 songs that distinctly represent what the concept of the word means to them and give their explanation for each one.The guys highlight tracks from artists including Ásgeir, Deee-Lite, Anna of the North, and more in an episode they've dubbed "That's A Damn Vibe".Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron highlights a band from the suburbs of Atlanta that originally started as a solo project for frontman Andy Hull while Brent spotlights a Louisville-bred band led by singer-songwriter Jim James.Named after the English city home to bands like The Smiths and Oasis, Aaron picks out three songs from Manchester Orchestra.Once featured in the film Elizabethtown as the fictional band Ruckus, Brent singles out three songs from the career of My Morning Jacket.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron introduces Brent to an Atlanta band that just released their first album in 6 years last month while Brent highlights a group from Germany that formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker.Described by NPR as "revved-up Southern hard-rock that howls like Led Zeppelin astride a psychedelic unicorn”, Aaron picks out three songs from Royal Thunder.Featuring a career that has spawned 19 studio albums and over 100 million records sold, Brent spotlight 3 tracks from The Scorpions.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron highlights a Tennessee musician who was once a featured contestant on American Idol while Brent circles back to the outlaw country genre to spotlight a singer who had his fair share of run-ins with the law.Controversially eliminated from the 2008 edition of Idol under his real name, Aaron picks out three songs from Josiah Leming's latest project, Josiah and the Bonnevilles.Born Donald Eugene Lytle before legally renaming himself after a Chicago prize fighter, Brent looks at three songs from Johnny PayCheck.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

With Brent headed out-of-town on vacation, Aaron does the heavy-lifting this week for the ninth edition in the Filling In The Gaps series.”Filling in the Gaps” episodes give either Aaron or Brent a chance to introduce the other to a whole section of music that they may have missed entirely.This time around, Aaron picks out 6 pop-punk songs from bands including Simple Plan, Four Year Strong, New Found Glory, and Bayside.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron and Brent highlight music released by the offspring of famous rock stars and look at how being the next generation can be both helpful and harmful.Stepping away from the shadow of their celebrated parent in order to carve out their own identity, Aaron and Brent spotlight songs from musicians including Nancy Sinatra, Tommy Prine, and Wolfgang Van Halen.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This Monday, in honor of Bevill's birthday, the guys are going with a nostalgic theme for Episode 167.Brimming with soundtracks that were just as significant as the movies themselves, Aaron and Brent each pick out three songs from various films of the 80s.They'll highlight songs from classic, and cult-classic, movies like "Better Off Dead", "The Wizard", "License To Drive", and more.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron and Brent each pick out music from two different bands with Minnesota roots.Formed in 2020 while quarantined at their parent's suburban home in Burnsville, Aaron picks out three tracks from the brother-sister duo Durry.Featuring two members of the beloved Minneapolis/Boston band Lifter Puller, Brent highlights three songs from Brooklyn's The Hold Steady.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron features music from a 25 year old musician hailing from a small seaside town in Northern Ireland while Brent highlights an artist whose songs have been covered by acts ranging from UB40 and The Monkees to Urge Overkill.Finding early support and mentorship from fellow Irish musician Foy Vance, Aaron picks out three songs from the Portaferry singer/songwriter Ryan McMullan.Opting to pursue his passion for music despite early success as a member of the 1960 NCAA men's championship fencing team, Brent spotlights three songs from Neil Diamond.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron picks out music from an Australian band that features two members who also play in the group King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard while Brent focuses his attention on a UK band that broke-up just prior to achieving one of the biggest hits of their career.With a brand new album, "Calm Ya Farm", just released earlier this month, Aaron spotlights 3 songs from the Melbourne group The Murlocs.Acquiring their name from bassist Paul Arnold before departing the band, Brent highlights 3 songs from The Zombies.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron and Brent bring back frequent guest Ryan King for a special episode featuring actor and musician Phil Buckman.Buckman has played with groups like Fuel, Steel Panther, and Filter. He was the featured bassist for Ryan's pick, "No Love" in Episode 160.Aaron, Brent, and Ryan talk with Phil about his music career, including his current band Petty Cash, and his acting career, which has included roles in movies like "An American Werewolf in Paris" along with a multitude of TV roles.Then, each of the guys spotlight a track based around this week's theme: "Song With Great Bass Lines".Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron and Brent return to one of their favorite topics: Soundtracks.With two previous episodes dedicated to the topic, Episodes 13 and 88, this time around Brent goes with a traditional movie soundtrack release while Aaron picks out music from a popular video game series.Featuring music composed by Bear McCreary, Aaron highlights three tracks from the original soundtrack to 2022's God of War Ragnarök.Coming from an album that showcased one of the first full length collaborations between rap and rock, Brent picks out three songs from 1993's Judgement Night soundtrack.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron introduces Brent to an indie folk duo from Eagle Rock, California while Brent familiarizes Aaron with the pre-disco music of a brother band originally from the Isle of Man.Starting as solo artists before collaborating to form a band with harmonized vocals and acoustic guitars at the forefront, Aaron picks out three songs from The Milk Carton Kids.With a catalog of hit songs released before their Saturday Night Fever renaissance, Brent highlights three songs from the early career of the Bee Gees.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

For their 160th Episode, Aaron and Brent welcome back frequent guest Ryan King and, for the first time ever, let him pick out what the theme of the episode will be.This week, the guys each pick out two songs from bands with a member who moonlights as an actor.Aaron, Ryan, and Brent make song picks from bands like Phantom Planet, The Grass Roots, Headstones, and more.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron highlights a Los Angeles-based musician who originally started her career under the name BAUM while Brent spotlights a New York born singer-songwriter whose debut album earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.Having just released her self-titled debut album earlier this month, Aaron picks out three songs from singer-songwriter Blondshell.With an album that, at one time, held the record for having the longest title at 444 characters, Brent picks 3 songs from Fiona Apple.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron highlights music from a group originally from Antigonish, Nova Scotia while Brent looks at the career of a Los Angeles band formed by three distinct vocalists in 1967.Listed among the top 150 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada, Aaron picks out 3 songs from the Hamilton, Ontario band The Trews.With a catalog of songs that features contributions from names like Randy Newman and Hoyt Axton, Brent spotlights three songs from Three Dog Night.

Aaron and Brent both highlight music from two different Manhattan-born singer/songwriters.Starting out in the synth-pop band Chairlift before embarking on a solo career in 2019, Aaron picks out three songs from Caroline Polachek.Acquiring her stage name from a 1984 song from Queen, Brent looks at three tracks from Lady Gaga.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron spotlights music from a progressive rock band from New York known for their concept albums while Brent highlights a band from Chicago's south side that takes its name from the Greek mythology river of the underworld.Featuring a catalog of albums that have been transcribed into a series of comic books and a full-length novel, Aaron looks at three songs from Coheed and Cambria.Originally known as The Tradewinds and TW4 before settling into their current moniker in 1972, Brent picks out three from Styx.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

In Episode 155, Aaron highlights music from a New York City group that got their start as a trio in 2012 while Brent showcases a Grammy-nominated band fronted by Tanya Donelly.With a name that is a gender-swapped play on the polygamous concept of sister wives, Aaron picks out three songs from Mandy Lee and MisterWives.Featuring one of the co-founders of both Throwing Muses and The Breeders, Brent singles out three songs from Belly.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

After being schooled on various Christian Rock bands by Aaron and guest Ryan King last week in Episode 153, Brent does the heavy-lifting this week in Episode 154 by picking out all 6 songs for another edition of the "Filling In The Gaps" series.”Filling in the Gaps” is a recurring episode that allows for Aaron and Brent to introduce the other to a section of music that they may have missed entirely.For Volume 8, Brent goes back to the 80's for a second time to spotlight songs from female-fronted bands and singers including Missing Persons, Quarterflash, Vixen, and more.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron enlists the help of frequent guest Ryan King for another episode in the recurring "Filling In The Gaps" series.For Volume 7, Aaron and Ryan once again collaborate to showcase six songs from the Christian Rock genre.”Filling in the Gaps” episodes give either Aaron or Brent a chance to introduce the other to a section of music that they may have missed entirely.For Episode 153, Aaron and Ryan introduce Brent to music from bands like Bleach, Five Iron Frenzy, Driver Eight, and more.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

This week, Aaron and Brent highlight music from two different California groups: a Los Angeles-based Christian glam metal band and a five piece from Sacramento named after a well-known inventor and electrical engineer.Positioned as one of the most identifiable hard rock bands in Christian music history, Aaron picks out three songs from the Dove Award-winning band Holy Soldier.Originally called City Kidd when bassist Brian Wheat and guitarist Frank Hannon first formed the band in 1981, Brent spotlights three songs from Tesla.

For Episode 151, Aaron highlights music from a soul singer and songwriter from Minneapolis who famously got a “golden ticket” to Hollywood on American Idol while Brent spotlights songs from a Memphis born singer who got his start on Star Search at the age of 11.Citing musical influences as diverse as Randy Newman and Prince, Aaron looks at three songs from Caleb Hawley.Starting his career as a member of The New Mickey Mouse Club in 1993 before joining *NSYNC a year later, Brent picks out three solo songs from Justin Timberlake.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

For the third installment in their yearly Valentine's series, Aaron and Brent each pick out three songs that cover the full spectrum of the heart-focused holiday: Love, Lust, and Loss.Aaron and Brent highlight music from artists like Allman Brown, Meg Myers, Silk, Blues Traveler and more. Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron and Brent recount six artists they discovered when those performers opened up for another musician.Whether it's helping established acts gain exposure, giving newcomers a break or introducing the audience to diverse music genres, most headlining artists incorporate opening bands into their live shows.This week, Aaron and Brent highlight music from some of those standout acts who helped open the show including The Cadillac Three, Vintage Trouble, Amanda Shires, and more.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron and Brent look at two different supergroups: one that features members of Dream Theater and Mr. Big while the other combined musicians from Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, and AC/DC.Formed under an agreement to serve their songs first rather than showboat their own chops, Aaron highlights three songs from the Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan and Mike Portnoy trio, The Winery Dogs.Giving them both an opportunity to play music again after the demise of their previous bands, Brent spotlights three songs from the Paul Rodgers/Jimmy Page project The Firm.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Aaron looks at a Massachusetts-born singer who immersed himself in blues-inspired soul while living in both Clarksdale, MS & Chicago and Brent spotlights a band from Niles, Michigan that rose to fame after a Pittsburg DJ played one of their songs he found in a used record shop.Getting his nickname by donning a newsboy hat that once belonged to his grandfather, Aaron featurings three tracks from Eli "Paperboy" Reed.With a catalogue of songs that have been covered by everyone from Joan Jett & Billy Idol to Tiffany & Prince, Brent picks out three songs from Tommy James & the Shondells.

Aaron and Brent highlight music from two groups hailing from England: one that combine the sounds of synthwave with heavier guitar riffs and the other often cited as one of the earliest and most innovative bands to break into the pop mainstream on a wave of synthesizers and electronic rhythms.Describing themselves as “a retro cinematic experience”, Aaron looks at three songs from the Peterborough band LeBrock.Taking their name from science-fiction board game StarForce: Alpha Centauri, Brent highlights three songs from the Sheffield band The Human League.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.

Coming up this Monday, in the very first episode of 2023, Aaron and Brent highlight music from New England duo who released their fourth album in 2022 and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band that was originally conceived as a hard-edged British blues combo in the late '60s.Formed while guitarist Martin Earley and former drummer Devin Mauch were attending Stonehill College, Aaron picks out three songs from The Ballroom Thieves.Getting their name by combining the surnames of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, Brent highlights three from Fleetwood Mac.Visit www.crossingthestreamspodcast.com for extended show notes.