Jonny's Secret Stash

This is episode one of the adventures of Jon Goldman and Scott Dresden as they explore improvisational music.

Scott Dresden is the newest guitar player for the Edgar Wilbury band.  He is also a big fan of the Grateful Dead and other Jam Bands.  Check out our conversation and Scott's awesome renditions of Jerry Garcia's "Run for the Roses" and The Grateful Dead's "Eyes of the World."   And who knows, you might hear Scott and I doing a different show featuring improvisational rock.

Nathan Graham is a singer songwriter out of Chicago, Illinois.  He cut his chops playing the blues at the clubs around Chicago and gained a reputation as a backup blues guitarist and session musician.  In October 2023 he released his debut album called Saint of Second Chances.  A cool mix of soul, americana, and blues, the album tells his story.  Check him out on December 31 at the Acorn Theater where he will be opening for Shemekia Copeland.

The Erly is a Niles, Michigan based "modern disco" band consisting of drummer Fran Gleason, Bassist Collin Mattiford, Guitarist Trevor McDonald, and keyboardist Alyssa Serviss.  Their new album, "Culture Fever," comes out on November 3 2023.  Don't miss their album release party at the Acorn Theater on November 3.

Jon Goldfine and Ben Wright are the founders of the Chicago based Bluegrass band, The Henhouse Prowlers. Last week they issued their 10th album, "Iron and Lead."  On top of that, for the last 10 years, they have acted as Bluegrass Ambassadors through the US State Department and otherwise bringing American culture to distant parts of the world.  They have also taken those presentation skills and created a non-profit that brings music programs to schools around the country.  Make sure to check them out at the Acorn Theater on October 27.

Bowmanville is a Jazz band based out of Chicago with with a Hot club jazz from 1930's Paris style.  It was a pleasure talking with Ethan, Mason, and Graham.  Check out their show on August 18 at the Acorn.

Luke and Adrienne are the owners of the Collective Yoga studio and Rebel Cafe in Benton Harbor.  Aside from their regular awesome offerings, the are excited to share their big event, Karma Yogafest.  The two day event features a farm to table meal, The Resiliency Project, Kundalini, 108 Sun Salutes, Khirtan, a light ceremony, and other events.  More information is at Karmayogafest.org. Check it out!

Jim Bilger's knowledge of Grateful Dead lore runs deep.  So, it is no surprise that he has gathered outstanding musicians around him to create a Dead cover band that is mindful about the Grateful Dead's roots when performing.  Trouble Ahead has only been around for about 6 years, but they know their Grateful Dead music and pride themselves on their improvisational skills.  Check out their show at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks on August 4.

Naomi Ashley got her start in music after moving to Chicago and working in Comedy Improv.  Initially, her songs were part of the joke and then she got serious in her writing.  She gave up improv and began playing folk/country music in the early 2000s and since then has issued at least two albums and is getting ready to go into the studio to make another.  In 2018, Ralph Baumel saw her perform a Pretenders song on stage and something clicked.  They formed the Real Pretenders and have been delighting audiences since.  Check them out at the Acorn Theater on May 28 performing the entire Pretenders "Learning To Crawl" album and Lucinda Williams 1996 album, "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road." 

Jim Peterik is a true legend.  He formed the Ides of March in 1964 at the age of 14 while attending high school in the western suburbs of Chicago.  They had their first big hit when he turned 16 and then in 1970, their song "Vehicle" hit number 2 on the Billboard chart.  This lead to him opening for some of the huge bands of the time, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, and Led Zeppelin.  In 1973, The Ides of March took a hiatus and he formed the band Survivor.  In 1990, he returned to his roots with the Ides of March and they have been playing ever since.  In almost 60 years of being a professional, he has written approximately 5,000 songs (many cowritten for others) and has collected 100s of vintage guitars.  A very interesting guy for sure; check out the show! 

Brian McClure is the Irish music expert around Harbor Country.  He learned to play the violin as a kid and played in the school orchestra, but it wasn't until a local bar asked him to play Irish songs that he dug back into his past, taught himself irish songs, and began playing.  Since he moved to the area approximately 3 years ago, he has made music his full time gig.  Look for him on most weekends playing at the bars, breweries, and wineries around harbor country.

Kofi Baker is on a mission.  Some musicians are happy to play other's music as a tribute to the original musician.  Kofi has worked most of his life to hone his drumming skills to honor the legacy of his father, Ginger Baker.  From the early age of 3 when his father first began teaching him to drum to the present where he has brought together outstanding musicians to carry on the legacy of his father's music, Kofi worked hard to learn everything his father could teach him and is taking it to the next level.  It wasn't an easy path, but he has come through it with grace and honor.  Looking forward to seeing him play at the Acorn Theater on February 3.

What a pleasure to have my old friend Ron Spears on the show with the awesome and talented Dino Jackson.  Ron and Dino recently formed a duo (as yet unnamed) to play blues standards.  We were fortunate enough to hear them play "Freight Train" and "How Long Blues."  Don't miss their appearance at the Acorn Open Mic on January 13.

Very happy to have my old friend Brian Barber back on the show.  Got to hear his newest song, "Hollow", which he is planning to release in February with an EP of other songs.  Look for it on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, or wherever else you get your music.

Matthew "Wayne" Gillon is the multi instrumentalist drummer from the band Skirt with musical influences ranging from Hip Hop to Reggae.  He played for years with local band, Midwest Hype, and then moved to San Diego, CA where he honed his guitar skills only to decide that what he really wanted to do was be a drummer.  After connecting with Nate and Kyla Webb at an open mic in Michigan City, they decided to form the band Skirt.  Check them out at the Acorn Theater on New Years when they open for the Edgar Wilbury Experience. 

Kyla Webb began her career as an actress where she was perpetually typecast in school plays as the "little sister" or "neighbor".  She began to shine when she started doing variety shows where she could show off her witty writing and stage banter.  She really hit her stride, however, when she formed her band Skirt with members of Midwest Hype and other friends who she met at the open mic at the Shoreline Brewery in Michigan City, IN.  Her next step is to begin recording an album and taking her band to the next level.  Don't miss her at the Acorn on New Years where she will be opening for the Edgar Wilbury Experience.  She can also be seen most Tuesday nights at the open mic at the Shoreline.

Abbie Thomas has been playing music since she was a little kid, but it took the birth of her own child for her to realize that the corporate life was not for her and she should be playing music all the time.  She has since released an album, an EP, and just released a single of White Christmas (just in time).  Look out for her collaboration this spring with the Elkhart, Indiana symphony orchestra.

Buddy Pearson is a working jazz bass player from South Bend, Indiana.  From funky to traditional, he gets opportunities to do it all.  He has been playing as Freak Johnson and the Buddy Pearson 3.  Check him out with Freak Johnson at Leroy's Hot stuff in December 16.

After getting comfortable on the violin and guitar, Calvin Conway first learned to play blues harmonica when he worked at the House of Blues.  He got the inspiration for his album, Dark House Deluxe, after taking a cross country train ride from Chicago through Austin to New Orleans.  He has developed a musical style reminiscent of old time delta blues that is rare these days.  Check out the interview and look for him playing at one of the local establishments in Harbor Country.

Jack Adams (aka St. Joe Jack) is a local guitarist and singer songwriter.  Raised on classic rock, he brings his bluegrass inspired tunes to people all over Southwest Michigan.  Check it out!

Bruce Katz has been playing some kind of keyboard since he was 5 years old.  He is not only formally educated in music, having attended the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory in Boston, but he has also had a lifetime of education playing jazz and the blues.  The list of musicians that he has played with includes John Hammond, Big Mama Thornton, Delbert McClinton, and Ronnie Earl.  He has also enjoyed a significant career playing with the Allman Brothers and different manifestations of that group, including Greg Allman, Butch Trucks, and Jaimoe, and Oteil Burbridge.  Don't miss his show at the Acorn Theater on October 21, 2022

Cam Mammina has been playing guitar since he was about 8 years old and recording music since his teens.  He is one of the founders of Slim Gypsy Baggage and a recent addition to Michigan based Bonehawk.  When he is not selling real estate or playing music, he can be found taking care of business at his awesome new bar/food/music concept called Sideyard in Sawyer, MI.

Tim Vanderlin is a long term guitar player.  Of the three bands he's played in during his life, he continues to play with two.  Chester Brown was formed in the early 2000s when Tim was just learning the guitar.  20 years later, he joined Chester Brown guitarist Mike Knealand at his side project, Stealin the Farm.  Now, Tim gets to play extended jams and create on the fly all the time. When Tim is not actually performing, he is busy organizing Chester Brown's annual festival, Brown Town. On its 12th year, Brown Town features all the best local jam bands in a tranquil setting along the Tippecanoe River in Northwest Indiana.  Listen in to Tim's stories of getting started as a musician, his guitar set up, and what it takes to put on a festival every year.