Middle Class Rock Star

My guest this week is Lauren Frihauf. "A rising star in the music industry whose talent was featured in NPR Music's 2022 Tiny Desk 'Top Shelf' and showcased her vocal prowess on Season 19 of NBC's "The Voice," where she impressed on Teams Gwen and Legend, making it to the Knockout Rounds. In 2021, when her promising neo-soul duo project came to a halt before its album, “The Latona EP”, was released, Frihauf found her calendar cleared at a time when most musicians were getting back to touring. Previously putting words to melodies created with collaborators, she was alone, lost, and experiencing the emotional turmoil of entering adulthood after the covid pandemic. From the beginning, her vocal style has been influenced by Nai Palm of Hiatus Kaiyote, whose records she knows, "inside and out". As she began her quest to identify who she was as a solo artist, Frihauf shifted her focus from keys to guitar, which she found to be liberating. Learning to play, “Cactus Tree”, by Joni Mitchell, proved pivotal: she became obsessed with open D tuning. Frihauf now refers to herself as a "Neo-Folker". Her music carries an indie singer-songwriter essence, infused with folk and neo-soul elements, creating a captivating and unique sonic landscape. Her songwriting delves into authentic themes that resonate deeply with listeners. Surprisingly, Lauren's urban vibe stands in stark contrast to the rural farm where she was born and raised, adding an intriguing dimension to her artistry" (laurenfrihaufmusic.com). Note that Lauren has the distinction of being the only Middle Class Rock Star Podcast guest to date to be a former student of mine! If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: www.laurenfrihaufmusic.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

I first met The Wildwoods at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE back when they were just getting started at 14 and 15 years old. I was roughly 21 and on one of my first (if not very first) tours. We've stayed in touch, played shows together, and run into each other at hotel lobby bars at music conferences. Their sound goes beyond acoustic instruments and in-tune harmonies, they're poets with high-level musicianship and arranging abilities. Their success on the road and on social media (nearly 250K followers on instagram and 90K on TikTok) is no surprise, but rather a testament to their hard work and ability to package and deliver their product. In our conversation, we chat about the band's origins, how the three bandmates play to each other's strong suits, supporting Tophouse on their most recent headlining tour, how they implemented a strategy for social media growth, and their new album, Dear Meadowlark, which began gracing listeners ears on April 11, 2025. From The Wildwoods Website: "In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods emerge as a folk/Americana trio, a musical tapestry woven by the husband-and-wife duo, Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), alongside long-time friend and bassist, Andrew Vaggalis. Their story is a symphony of exploration and connection, a journey that has taken them from the Midwest to international stages, carving out a unique place in the folk landscape. Their presence has graced stages alongside artists such as Mighty Poplar, Sierra Ferrell, Aiofe O' Donovan, Melissa Carper, Jamie Wyatt and Joe Nichols at concerts and festivals like Summerfest, FreshGrass and the Oyster Ridge Music Festival. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: www.thewildwoodsband.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

My guest this week is Shane Smith of Shane Smith & The Saints. This show is a rerun of episode 109, which was released on January 25, 2023. It was great getting to catch up with Shane just a few weeks after my band (modestly titled, Andy Sydow) got to open for his band at a sold out Ogden Theatre in Denver. We first met back in 2018 when I got to do an opening slot for Shane Smith & The Saints at the Bluebird Theatre (also in Denver). I'm glad we've stayed in touch over the last few years and finally got to sit down to talk for a while. In our conversation, we chat about growing up in Terrell, Texas, playing college Tennis, how the Saints got their start on 6th Street in Austin, and building a following one fan at a time through years of touring. Shane also talks about his desire to do other things musically, and getting to perform on Yellowstone, the acclaimed TV show starring Kevin Costner. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.shanesmithmusic.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com

"Raised on Vancouver Island, Canada, Zachary is an internationally recognized award-winning actor, musician and writer. Best known for his performances as Buddy Holly, Zach was coined a “dead ringer for dead singers” by the Victoria Times Colonist for his portrayal of the legendary rock 'n' roller as well as Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Phil Ochs. In 2018, Zachary won the prestigious "Jeff" Award in Chicago for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical) for the Buddy Holly Story, a role he's honed in more than a dozen productions of across Canada and the United States. Other acting highlights include Million Dollar Quartet, Hair, Fire, Urinetown, Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Company and Ring of Fire. Zachary is also an accomplished songwriter and active frontman for several bands including his original trio: the Oh Boys, a Tribute to Buddy Holly, and The Fortunate Sons. He's been featured as an original artist at countless festivals including the Ottawa Folk Fest, Blue Skies Festival, Summerfolk, Winterfolk (Toronto), Folk Alliance (Memphis, Ottawa and Kansas City), and the Ottawa Blues Festival" (zacharystevenson.com). If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: https://zacharystevenson.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

"With a quarter million miles under her belt and counting, North Carolina native Emily Scott Robinson travels the dusty highways of America's wild country, capturing the stories of the people she meets and expertly crafting them into songs. Robinson received critical acclaim for her debut album Traveling Mercies-- Rolling Stone named it one of the “40 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2019.” In 2021, Robinson signed with Oh Boy Records, the label founded by the legendary John Prine, and released her follow-up album "American Siren." It made numerous “Best of 2021” lists including NPR, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, and No Depression." (emilyscottrobinson.com) I've been wanting to have ESR on the show for a while, and when I learned she was playing a show with a couple of my friends at the end of 2024, I made them ask her for me! She said yes, and here we are. Robinson currently resides in Ouray, CO, and tours the US and UK consistently. Recently, she supported Ron Pope for a run in the UK. During our conversation, we chat about traveling logistics out of a small town (tisk tisk Southwest!!), her life changing experience at Song School at Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons, CO, and her decision to buy an RV and travel as a full time musician in her 20s. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: https://www.emilyscottrobinson.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

Susan Gibson has a wealth of knowledge in her decades-long songwriting career. She penned "Wide Open Spaces" which was recorded and made into a mega-hit by The Chicks in 1998. She now travels around in her cargo van performing at venues, house concerts, and songwriter festivals. All the while, she educates other writers and judges song competitions. Though she spends lots of time on the road, Texas is home for most of the year, and she spends time in the summer at a family cabin in Montana. Though this is the shortest episode of MCRS to date, it contains some of the best advice for young songwriters that I've ever heard surrounding a healthy mindset, the definition of success, and longevity. This conversation takes place at the 2024 Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival in Cedaredge, CO. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: https://www.susangibson.com/ Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

Colorado based artist and label head Austin Ash Lemon joins me on this week's Middle Class Rock Star. In our conversation, we chat about the origin story of his indie label, Needlejuice Records, as well as Lemon's brand new record, "Backstage" which is released under the artist name, The Odd Ditties. Quoting from Needlejuice Records' website: "Needlejuice Records is an independent record label specializing in strange alternative music. Formed in September 2017, our first release of King Gizzard's Polygondwanaland was a rousing success. We were certainly roused by it, at least. Ever dedicated to the tangible, we're known for making high quality vinyl records, cassette tapes, compact discs, 8-tracks, mini-discs, and if you can believe it, even wax cylinders, all with ambitious aesthetic value." If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: https://needlejuicerecords.com/ https://theoddditties.com/ • The Odd Ditties - Backstage (Official... Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

In this episode, I chat with Seattle, WA based singer/songwriter, Racyne Parker about what it's like moving to a new music scene and how much location is a factor in the age of social media. We also discuss different release strategies, the validation of song contests, and what the future might hold. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: https://racyneparker.com/ Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

This is part 4 of a 4 part series chatting with entertainment/music attorney, Adam Barraza. Adam works at Axley Attorneys in Wisconsin, but is also licensed to practice in Tennessee. He flew out to my studio in Nashville and we talked about a number of current hot button issues in the music industry. In this final segment, I ask Adam about the role of music lawyers and when an indie artists might need to call upon one. A DISCLAIMER ABOUT THIS EPISODE: "This video is solely for informational purposes, and we are not giving legal advice or creating an attorney/client relationship by providing this information. Before relying on any legal information of a general nature, please consult legal counsel as to your particular situation." If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Axley Attorneys: https://www.axley.com/ Contact Adam: ABarraza@axley.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

This is part 3 of a 4 part series chatting with entertainment/music attorney, Adam Barraza. Adam works at Axley Attorneys in Wisconsin, but is also licensed to practice in Tennessee. He flew out to my studio in Nashville and we talked about a number of current hot button issues in the music industry. In this third part, we talk about lawsuits involving generative AI in music and actually play through and discuss real examples involving Suno and Udio. A DISCLAIMER ABOUT THIS EPISODE: "This video is solely for informational purposes, and we are not giving legal advice or creating an attorney/client relationship by providing this information. Before relying on any legal information of a general nature, please consult legal counsel as to your particular situation." If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Axley Attorneys: https://www.axley.com/ Contact Adam: ABarraza@axley.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

Hey folks, Adam here. I have a slight elaboration on the copyright infringement damages issue: Andy's hypothetical asked the question whether he could file suit for infringement of a song before it was registered with the Copyright Office. His hypothetical did not include the publication/infringement timeline, but I just wanted to clarify that if a work is already published at the time of infringement, the author can claim statutory damages if the work is registered either (1) before the infringement starts or (2) within three months of first publication. 17 U.S.C. § 412. I also want to clarify that when we are talking about statutory damages, the damages are calculated per infringed work, and not each instance of infringement. 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(1). I hope you enjoy our conversation! This is part 2 of a 4 part series chatting with entertainment/music attorney, Adam Barraza. Adam works at Axley Attorneys in Wisconsin, but is also licensed to practice in Tennessee. He flew out to my studio in Nashville and we talked about a number of current hot button issues in the music industry. In this second part, Adam talks about copyright in music, specifically how it pertains to AI. A DISCLAIMER ABOUT THIS EPISODE: "This video is solely for informational purposes, and we are not giving legal advice or creating an attorney/client relationship by providing this information. Before relying on any legal information of a general nature, please consult legal counsel as to your particular situation." If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Axley Attorneys: https://www.axley.com/ Contact Adam: ABarraza@axley.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com Other Relevant Links - Listen to our SUNO bluegrass friendship song: https://suno.com/song/670a5983-9fb0-4f3d-b66f-bdfa408267eb Thaler district court opinion: https://www.copyright.gov/ai/docs/district-court-decision-affirming-refusal-of-registration.pdf One of the Copyright Office's decisions regarding Thaler: https://www.copyright.gov/rulings-filings/review-board/docs/a-recent-entrance-to-paradise.pdf Monkey selfie photo: https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/24/us/monkey-selfie-peta-appeal/index.html Space Opera Theater: https://www.copyright.gov/rulings-filings/review-board/docs/Theatre-Dopera-Spatial.pdf Two links for "Zaraya of the Dawn": https://www.copyright.gov/docs/zarya-of-the-dawn.pdf https://www.nixonpeabody.com/insights/alerts/2023/03/09/us-copyright-office-limits-registration-for-ai-created-zarya-of-the-dawn-graphic-novel Two links for “River of Love”: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/ai-can-write-the-lyrics-but-who-owns-the-music-is-up-for-debate https://youtu.be/QX2XCBH-6zQ

This is part 1 of a 4 part series chatting with entertainment/music attorney, Adam Barraza. Adam works at Axley Attorneys in Wisconsin, but is also licensed to practice in Tennessee. He flew out to my studio in Nashville and we talked about a number of current hot button issues in the music industry. This first part is an introduction to Adam where he talks about his musical upbringing and how he got into the business that he's currently in. A DISCLAIMER ABOUT THIS EPISODE: "This video is solely for informational purposes, and we are not giving legal advice or creating an attorney/client relationship by providing this information. Before relying on any legal information of a general nature, please consult legal counsel as to your particular situation." If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Axley Attorneys: https://www.axley.com/ Contact Adam: ABarraza@axley.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Contact me: middleclassrockstar@gmail.com (or) andysydowmusic@gmail.com

Matt the Electrician is Matthew Sever, a quirky, sincere folk/pop singer songwriter based in Austin, TX. He has self-released 11 studio albums, and 2 live CDs since 1998. His most recent release, “The Ocean Knocked Me Down” came out on February 2nd, 2024. (matttheelectrician.com) I first became aware of Matt in college when a friend of mine was playing his clawhammer banjo cover of "Osaka In The Rain." I was stopped in my tracks by the song and when my buddy told me who the original artist was, I became an instant fan. For young songwriters, this is a great episode to listen to! Matt really digs in to his thoughts on the craft and how he goes about construct ing songs. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://matttheelectrician.com/ If you liked this episode, consider listening to one of these next: 66. Phil Cook 109. Shane Smith & The Saints Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

“Ameri-kinda.” That's how Natalie Price describes her music, a combination of catchy melodies and smooth, clear vocals that fit firmly into the Americana genre, with a quirkiness weaved into her lyrics that bends toward indie-folk. During her visit to Nashville last week, Natalie dropped by to chat with me about her self-titled record produced by Mary Bragg (with a slew of other special guests), her journey into writing and performing, the balance of a day job while pursuing art, and co-writing a song with her CPA father. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://natpricemusic.com/home If you liked this episode, consider listening to one of these next: 124. Goldpine 109. Shane Smith & The Saints Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

Goldpine is Kassie and Ben Wilson, a husband and wife duo reminiscent of Shovels and Rope with huge vocals. I first met and became friends with them at Kerrville Folk Festival in 2022. We were both there in attendance as 2021 finalists in the songwriting competition. There's so much that goes in to being an indie artist these days: writing and recording great music, making content, touring, making content, stage presence and image, making content, booking emails.... you get the idea. Ben and Kassie have their system down to a tee. They divide and conquer and literally conquer all of the aspects required to have a successful career as an indie outfit. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Goldpine Website: https://www.goldpinemusic.com If you liked this episode, consider listening to one of these next: 113. Edward David Anderson 122. Flamy Grant Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

A special holiday episode featuring Sam Robbins and Halley Neal. The musical couple is currently on tour promoting their holiday record, "You and Me on Christmas Eve." It's just beautiful, and we had a fun convo chatting about their first duo release, the economics of holiday music, and their journey back home from Nashville. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Sam Robbins Website: https://samrobbinsmusic.com/ Halley Neal Website: https://halleyneal.com/ Purchase "You and Me on Christmas Eve" directly from the artists: https://samrobbinsmusic.com/store If you liked this episode, consider listening to one of these next: 92. Sam Robbins 122. Flamy Grant Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

This week, I spoke with christian drag queen singer-songwriter, Flamy Grant. We first met as Kerrville Finalists back in May of this year, where Flamy ended up being one of the winners. Back in July, their album, "Bible Belt Baby" and single, "Good Day" went to number 1 on the iTunes Christian charts on the same day. They've also been the feature of two Rolling Stones articles in the ladder half of this year. Flamy is a wonderful artist, songwriter, and singer and I enjoyed getting to chat with them about their story and music. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://www.flamygrant.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flamygrant?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc If you liked this episode, consider listening to one of these next: 119. Katie Boeck 106. The Accidentals Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

This weeks episode is a conversation with Schyler Allyn and Mitch Lagge of Big Sky Bonus Tracks. BSBT (based in Red Lodge, MT) films artists singing songs and telling their stories. It's all very high quality, from the filming locations, to the mastered audio, to the video cameras. Since 2022, they've been curating great music from Montana and Wyoming and abroad to build a community out of what they love to do. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: http://www.bigskybonustracks.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BigSkyBonusTracks/videos If you liked this episode, consider listening to one of these next: 112. Jackson Emmer 108. Kalyn Beasley Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

My guest this week is keyboardist, Bill McKay. It's impossible not to hear Bill's name when you're a musician in the Denver area. He's everywhere and plays with everyone! McKay first moved to Colorado for college in 1987, and immediately started playing in bands while working on his degree at Colorado College. He toured with "soul 'n roll" outfit, Band Du Jour from 1990-1995 right out of college, then moved to Atlanta to join The Derek Trucks Band as the lead singer and keyboarding from 1995-2000. Moving back to Colorado, McKay spent the next decade as a member of Leftover Salmon. Bill has also played with Coral Creek, Steely Dead, The Other Brothers, and Bill McKay Band. Towards the end of our conversation, Bill talks about his past struggles with addiction, and getting sober 12 years ago. He invites anyone who is in need of a friend or someone to talk to, to reach out on his website: www.billmckaymusic.com. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: http://www.billmckaymusic.com If you liked this episode, consider listening to one of these next: 73. Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) 74. Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon) 80. Todd Smallie (Derek Trucks, JJ Grey & Mofro) Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

I first met Jordan at the Durango Songwriters Expo about 10 years ago. We've stayed in touch through the years and even jammed together at the Casio booth at The NAMM Show in Anaheim this past February. During the pandemic, Jordan started calling himself "Piano Jordan" on TikTok. He used the platform to play his favorite songs and invite others to sing with him. This grew him a following of over 600K on on the platform. During our conversation, we chat about Jordan's songwriting process, his career as a broadway actor, and being drawn to music because it's a way that he can make other people happy. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://jordansiwekmusic.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pianojordan?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianojordan/?hl=en Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow "Lover and a Giver" by Jordan Siwek "Two Roads" by Jordan Siwek Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

Katie Boeck is this weeks guest and yet another artist I met through the Kerrville Folk Festival. We were both finalists in the 2023 New Folk Songwriter Competition (Katie was a winner!). Boeck's story is a page turner... she studied theater at UCLA, spent years in her early 20s immersed in the rich Laurel Canyon music scene, toured India, and played the lead in the musical "Spring Awakening" on Broadway in New York. This was all before moving to Nashville to study the craft of songwriting. Katie spent 2022 touring the country performing Joni Mitchell's legendary album, "Blue" in it's entirety. In April of 2023, she released a full length album of original material called, "Calico." If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: http://www.katieboeckmusic.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

After a moving hiatus, Middle Class Rock Star is back this week with Erik Stucky. We're both Colorado boys that are currently calling the greater Nashville area home. Erik came over to the new home studio to record this episode live. I don't get to do them live very often these days! (from Erik's website bio): "Growing up in the rugged mountains of western Colorado, Erik Stucky picked up his first mandolin at the age of 8. Following the release of his debut album Stray Clouds in 2017, Stucky packed up his instruments and a single suitcase and pointed his pickup for Nashville. Influenced heavily by New Grass Revival and Lyle Lovett, the Americana artist proved his ability to cross genres from Country, to Soul, to Jazz, all the while maintaining an unmistakable writing style and voice with his sophomore album, Good Vibrations (2021). Performing on the mandolin and guitar, Stucky combines his passion for lyric writing, folk instrumentation, and big band arrangements." If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://www.erikstucky.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

I'm a big fan of Sam Burchfield's music. I was first introduced by a friend several months ago, and he's been in regular Spotify rotation since. We had a great conversation about tai chi, being a touring musician who is also present for their family (not just financially), gigs vs shows, and how Spotify actually CAN help an indie artist pay their bills. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://www.samburchfield.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow FEE FREE TICKET LINK for Andy Sydow Band at the Bluebird Theater June 2: https://www.axs.com/events/480276/andy-sydow-band-tickets/promos/571402?skin=bluebird Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

Jeremy Facknitz has been entertaining audiences with his lovingly crafted music and high-energy performances for over a quarter century. Since the 2002 break-up of his Detroit-based band "The Ottomans" (they earned a 2001 Detroit Music Award for Best New Alternative Band, beating out "The White Stripes"), Jeremy has performed primarily as a solo act, marrying folk-rock and jazz stylings to showcase his intimate stories of life, love, and self-discovery. But from 2003 to 2017, those stories seemed to fall on deaf ears. Facknitz carved out a living performing at bars, coffeeshops, and corporate events while teaching lessons on the side. "I was happy to be making a living performing music, but my original music wasn't being heard - and as the years passed I found myself more and more frustrated playing to little more than the din of drunken conversation." Things came to a head on July 17th, 2017 when Jeremy was diagnosed with viral meningitis. "I came face to face with my mortality, and I realized it was time for a change. I quit performing at bars and spent the next year making the leap to house concerts, touring, and performing solely for listening audiences." The leap has paid off. Jeremy was named a top 24 finalist from over 800 entries in the 2020 and 2022 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competitions at Kerrville Folk Festival. His songs "Ballet of an Unhatched Chick" and "Michigan (Something In The Water)" were awarded semi-finalist distinction at songoftheyear.com, also in 2020 and 2022. While occasionally performing with his 6 piece band in Colorado, Jeremy continues to tour solo - performing at house concerts and listening rooms in the United States, Canada and Europe. His 6th solo album "Smilin' At The Future" is set for release March 31st, 2023. (jeremyfacknitz.com) If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.jeremyfacknitz.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

My guest this week is session keyboardist, producer, and founder of the Little Village Foundation, Jim Pugh. His international performing music career spans 40 years and includes multiple Grammy Award, platinum and gold records. He has recorded and performed with a star-studded array of musicians including B.B. King, Etta James, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, Boz Skaggs, Syl Johnson and Van Morrison. He created Little Village Foundation in 2014 to share the diverse music that has always inspired him and to help other artists, especially musicians no one would learn about without Little Village Foundation's support. (littlevillagefoundation.com) If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.littlevillagefoundation.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

Joel Ansett moved to Denver, Colorado in 2014 and started playing every local open mic he could find. He has since found fans all over the country with more than 14 million streams online, a song placed in Marvel's “The Punisher” , and the title of “songwriter to watch” from The Huffington Post. The songs combine folk and R&B to great effect, and beyond the genre, Artist Review wrote: “This music is soul therapy.” (joelansett.com) Joel and I have been pals for several years now, but we've never gotten to sit down and really talk shop. Unlike the vast majority of indie artists, Joel makes a large portion of his income from streaming royalties. He has over 250,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and his most played song ("This Could Be") has been streamed on the platform nearly 6 million times. In our conversation, we chat about revenue streams, how he invests in his recordings, the role that Christianity plays on his music, and Squid Game! If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.joelansett.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

"Edward David Anderson is an American songwriter and veteran of the road who spent his formative years fronting the revered Illinois band Backyard Tire Fire. Known for infectious melodies and memorable messages he penned 9 releases for the band and played countless shows across the US and Canada. When BTF went on hiatus in 2011 EDA continued to write and play solo and with his band Black Dirt Revival. Backyard Tire Fire returned to the stage to headline the inaugural Black Dirt Music Festival in 2019 and is currently booking select dates and festival plays. With a retooled lineup they released Black Dirt Blue Sky (EP) in Sept. of 2021, produced and written by EDA and released on his own Black Dirt Records in conjunction with The Royal Potato Family label. EDA has been featured on NPR's World Cafe, has twice appeared on the nationally syndicated radio program Mountain Stage, as well as the PBS television show Sun Studio Sessions and has been in regular rotation on radio stations across the globe for two decades. Touring with the likes of Gov't Mule and Rev Horton Heat, playing high profile festivals from Mountain Jam in NY to High Sierra in CA and consistently releasing interesting studio recordings has garnered the gifted songwriter critical praise & a national audience." (edwarddavidanderson.com) If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.edwarddavidanderson.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and performer Sunny War is my guest this week. Extreme emotions can make that battle all the more perilous, yet from such trials Sunny has crafted a set of songs that draw on a range of ideas and styles, as though she's marshaling all her forces to get her ideas across: ecstatic gospel, dusty country blues, thoughtful folk, rip-roaring rock and roll, even avant garde studio experiments (like the collage of voices that closes “Shelter and Storm”). She melds them together into a powerful statement of survival, revealing a probing songwriter who indulges no comforting platitudes and a highly innovative guitarist who deploys spidery riffs throughout every song. It's a style she's been honing for most of her life, at least since she took her first guitar lessons and fell in love with music. True to the punk ethos, her first punk band, the Anus Kings, made music with whatever they had at hand, and what they had at hand were acoustic guitars. That made them stand out among other Los Angeles groups at the time, and today Sunny is the rare roots artist who covers Ween and can drop a Crass reference into a song (as she does on “Whole”). “I don't really make music with a traditional roots audience in mind. I like weird music, outsider music, like Daniel Johnston and Roky Erickson.” Even as she was developing a guitar style that married acoustic punk to country blues, those two sides of Sunny were already at odds. As a teenager, she began drinking heavily, which led to her dropping out of school. She played punk shows, stole and chugged bottles of vodka, and quickly became addicted to heroin and meth. For money she busked along the boardwalks in Venice Beach, recording an album to sell out of her guitar case and letting that self-destructive side win most of the battles. But “the body can't handle both heroin and meth,” she explains. “When you're young, it's hard to gauge that you're killing yourself.” A series of seizures landed her in a sober living facility in Compton, so emaciated that she could only wear children's pajamas. Music remained a lifeline, and she fell in with a crew at Hen House Studios in Venice, where over the years she made a series of albums and EPs, including 2018's With the Sun and 2021's Simple Syrup. Twelve years after she kicked meth and heroin, Sunny is remarkably candid about this time in her life. “Everyone I loved died before they reached 25. They OD'ed or killed themselves. We were just kids who didn't have anyone looking out for us. You're not supposed to know so much about death at such a young age. Maybe that's why I write a lot about not taking shit for granted, because it always feels like something's about to happen.” (sunnywar.com) If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://www.sunnywar.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

Jackson Emmer is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer from Carbondale, Colorado. His work blends humor with heartache, and tradition with exploration. Emmer's writing is often compared to that of John Prine and Guy Clark. He has toured the US since 2009, collaborated with Grammy-winners, and co-written 40+ songs with folk music legend, Tom Paxton. Emmer has opened for Robert Earl Keen, Sierra Ferrell, and Tim McGraw. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, 1200+ Spotify playlists, and 200+ radio stations worldwide. (jacksonemmer.com) If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.jacksonemmer.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

My guest this week is Shane Smith of Shane Smith & The Saints. It was great getting to catch up with Shane just a few weeks after my band (modestly titled, Andy Sydow) got to open for his band at a sold out Ogden Theatre in Denver. We first met back in 2018 when I got to do an opening slot for Shane Smith & The Saints at the Bluebird Theatre (also in Denver). I'm glad we've stayed in touch over the last few years and finally got to sit down to talk for a while. In our conversation, we chat about growing up in Terrell, Texas, playing college Tennis, how the Saints got their start on 6th Street in Austin, and building a following one fan at a time through years of touring. Shane also talks about his desire to do other things musically, and getting to perform on Yellowstone, the acclaimed TV show starring Kevin Costner. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://www.shanesmithmusic.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

On the heels of his new album, "A Matter of Time" (Sept 23, 2022), Kalyn Beasley is quickly becoming an established facet of the Wyoming and Montana country music scene. We met and became friends this past summer at the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival in Red Lodge, MT and the Yellowstone Songwriter Festival in his hometown of Cody, WY. Kalyn also holds the distinction of being my only podcast guest who has also interviewed me. In our conversation, we talk about music and songwriting, rodeo, managing a book store, and getting a pilots license. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.davidstarrmusic.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/davidstarrmusic Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

David Starr keeps a busy schedule between touring and running his own music store (Starr's Guitars) in Cedaredge, CO. He also manages to consistently release music. His 2021 album, "Touchstones" features one original and 11 creatively interpreted cover songs. He released one song per month, following the "new school" path of releasing music. In 2020, Starr released "Beauty and Ruin," a concept album produced by John Oates (Hall & Oates) based on a book written by his grandfather. I think you'll enjoy our conversation! If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.davidstarrmusic.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/davidstarrmusic Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

This weeks guests are Sav Buist and Katie Larson from The Accidentals. It's hard to know where to start when talking about the 3-piece Nashville based (by way of Traverse City, MI) punk-folk outfit. They've made an album and toured with a full orchestra, scored a film, received acclaim from NPR and Billboard, and collaborated with the likes of Tom Paxton, Mary Gauthier, Kim Richey, and Dar Williams. On top of that, Sav just won the overall grand prize in the USA Songwriting Competition. I think you'll enjoy our conversation! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: www.theaccidentalsmusic.com/about YouTube: www.patreon.com/theaccidentals Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

I met Shane McLaughlin at FARM (Folk Alliance Midwest) just outside of Chicago back in October. I was blown away by the performance of his band, Buffalo Rose. Reminiscent of Nickel Creek or Punch Brothers, the 6-piece group is a feel good, high energy group that puts on a theatrical live performance. On top of releasing a group of songs as a collaboration with Tom Paxton back in February, Buffalo Rose just released their newest full length effort, "Again Again Again" on November 18. You can find it in all the usual places. In our conversation, we chat about growing up in Virginia, how Buffalo Rose came to be, music conferences, and of course their new album. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: https://linktr.ee/buffalorosemusic?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=d5c1efe5-8869-40b7-afac-a8d88d02554d Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator Music. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratormusic.com

It was great to have Jason Grishkoff back on the podcast this week. The last time we talked, (April 2020) the world was just learning about Zoom, which opened me up to the possibility of interviewing people not just outside of my room, but on the other side of the world. Jason, who resides in South Africa, founded Indie Shuffle about 15 years ago as an avid music fan. He used his knowledge as a coder and web developer to create his own easy-to-use blog site. At its peak, (2013) Indie Shuffle was getting 6 million listens per month and churning out nearly 10 music reviews per day. Several years later, Jason started SubmitHub as a solution to a problem that he and other bloggers, as well as artists were experiencing... how to sift through gillions of emails per day! Artists were releasing songs and sending stock pitch emails to any blog they could find, while bloggers simply couldn't respond to 300 emails every day. SubmitHub looked to solve the problem by providing a platform where artists could submit their music, and bloggers could easily sift through and say "yes" or "no" to who they wanted to cover. When an artist submits their song on SubmitHub, they answer a few questions to help pair them with the best fitting curators for their music. That way, artists don't just send out a stock email to everyone. That doesn't do anyone any good. As an added incentive for the curators to listen to music they may not have heard about, artists pay a small fee (usually about $1-$2) per submission to the curator for consideration. However, if the curator doesn't respond within 48 hours, the artist gets their money back. This creates a quick, easy transaction between like-minded musicians and influencers. As we well know, the industry has changed significantly over the years, and it's not all about blogs anymore. SubmitHub also lets the artist pick if they are interested in pitching to curators (which includes Music bloggers, Spotify playlisters, YouTube channels and more), social media influencers (on TikTok and Instagram), or record labels. (And with social media influencers, if they don't share your song, you get your money back. They only get paid that small fee if they actually share  your song). There are a few holdouts from bigger blogs such as Pigeons and Planes, Pitchfork, and Stereogum, but for the most part, bloggers, influencers, and curators in general all use SubmitHub to find new music. During our conversation today, we discussed some of SubmitHub's new features. We also talk about some of the new competitors that have popped up in the last couple of years such as MusoSoup, Groover, and HumanHuman. **NOTE that this is Jason's second time on Middle Class Rock Star. Back on episode 37 (which aired May 7, 2020) I shared my screen with Jason and we actually submitted one of my songs to SubmitHub. If you're an artist who is curious about how SubmitHub works, click on the YouTube link just below this, and you can watch Jason walk me through how to use the website's tools most effectively to submit a song.** HOW TO USE SUBMITHUB: https://youtu.be/lmFUeXhsnco?t=2692 If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: SubmitHub: https://www.submithub.com Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratorrf.com

This week I got to chat with my pal, Bryan Reynolds. Reynolds, who goes by Seven Pound Thesaurus when dealing with all things music, is a Washington based singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. We first met at the Durango Songwriters Expo back in Ventura back in February and immediately hit it off. Bryan is all about the song. From the weave of the lyrics, to the vocal melody, to the production and seeing the song come to life, his focus is on the song. In our conversation, we chat about his start and his first cuts with Emmy-nominated songwriter and producer, Scott Krippayne, the art of the creation over the performance, writing across different genres, and balancing a day job with creating music. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: SUPPORT SEVEN POUND THESAURUS ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/m/sevenpoundthesaurus Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsor, Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com narratorrf.com

A native of North Louisiana, Ever More Nest's Kelcy Wilburn (“Kelcy Mae”) is as equally influenced by the gospel, country, and blues of her Bible Belt hometown as she is by the emotional rawness of the artists that consumed her generation: Cranberries, Counting Crows, Tori Amos, Radiohead, et al. At 18, she moved to New Orleans, where open-mindedness and acceptance gave her the freedom to be herself and to find her voice. As a student of creative writing, she fostered a love of language evident across her early releases as Kelcy Mae and across Ever More Nest's debut and sophomore albums. (evermorenest.com) Kelcy and I met at FARM (Folk Alliance Region Midwest) near Chicago this past October. I immediately took a liking to her music and personality, and was excited to get to speak with her on my show. The two of us are also connected through our mutual friends, Louise Baker and Bruce Swan of Baker Booking. (Bruce was on episode 89 of MCRS) Our conversation delves into Kelcy's childhood and roots in music, her new album ("Out Here Now" - Aug 19, 2022), and her extraordinarily written website bio. EMN is also releasing a single, "Happy New Year" on December 2. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://evermorenest.com Ever More Nest on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4SyLT21Hx2AptF6kdopLqL?si=wlxO-iwwRPG1UG0hrAfxZA Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest this week is Canadian singer-songwriter, Taylor Abrahamse. Our paths first crossed virtually last year when we were both finalists in the Kerrville New Folk Songwriters Competition (Taylor was a winner!). We had the pleasure of meeting in person when he stayed with me and my wife back in August during his pilgrimage west to see South Park at Red Rocks. Our conversation is filled with an array of topics (such as our mutual love for Randy Newman), but the core of this episode explores the tale of Taylor and his friend, Bryn Scott-Grimes, attempting to save their beloved studio. Silverthorn Studios was a 7-room, 24-track recording space in Toronto that Abrahamse called home. Suddenly faced with losing the space, Taylor and Bryn tried everything they could to keep it going. In those final weeks, Taylor recorded some 120 songs that he is now starting to release (the first track dropped on November 18, 2022). Since our conversation, he has been working with the legendary Toronto venue, Hugh's Room Live, to bring back the studio better than ever! Hugh's Room is working on purchasing an old East-End church that (if successful) will become a non-profit arts & performance community center - an affordable, inclusive & dearly needed creative hub for the next generation of Canadian talent. (Note that half of all proceeds from Taylor's weekly releases as well as his patreon will go towards Hugh's Room Live). If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow Guest Links: Website: https://taylorabrahamse.ca About Silverthorn Studios: https://www.silverthornstudios.ca Taylor's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/taylorabrahamse Episode Music: Original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

We made it!! Episode 100! A big thanks to all the support that's been given to this podcast over the last four years. My guest for this centennial episode is Michigan based singer-songwriter, Kyle Rasche of Chain of Lakes. Our paths first crossed last year when we were both finalists in the Kerrville New Folk Songwriters Competition. Neither of us were winners, but Kyle got a second shot this year, as he was named a finalist yet again! The competition will take place at Kerrville Folk Festival at the end of this month. During our conversation, we chat about many things including: his new album ("The Catch Album"), his songwriting process, being a full time dad with a full time job and still finding time to be an extremely high level songwriter, touring solo, and our made up side project, Slit Knot. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Website: https://chainoflakessongs.com Episode Music: "Fathershaus" by Chain of Lakes "Catch" by Chain of Lakes **All other music is original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

This week, I caught up with my old friend, Jacob Larson. Though we've both been around the Denver music scene for quite some time, our history connects more through Little League baseball. Jacob is my little brothers age, and I was both an assistant coach on my brothers teams as well as an umpire in the league for several years. Egan (my brother) and Jacob were teammates at one point and I got to know him and his family through weekly practices and games. In the music realm, Jacob leads his own group, Jacob Larson Band, a funk and soul ensemble combining powerhouse vocals, classic instrumentation and an old-school approach to music. Gaining inspiration from the roots of soul religion, JLB shares their own take on such notable influences as Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke and Earth, Wind, and Fire. During our conversation, we chat about his forthcoming album, what it's like leading a 10-piece band, how to entertain a crowd, and his scary battle with COVID 19 at the beginning of 2020 that had him on a ventilator. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Website: https://jacoblarsonlive.com/press-kit Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

Shanna and I had much to catch up on during her second interview on Middle Class Rock Star. She and I first sat down over zoom and chatted back in June of 2020 (episode 44). At that time, Shanna was living in Boulder and was in the midst of winning nearly every notable songwriter competition, including the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Competition. Now, she's living in Nashville (she moved almost 6 months ago) and is finding her stride and place in music city, while also touring all corners of the country, writing songs, and keeping up with her nearly 250 Patreon patrons. During our conversation, we chat about her 60 date bike tour where she biked from Washington to Massachusetts and performed everywhere in between, her debut album (Robots - out May 27, 2022), and how much she values the Patreon platform. At the end, Shanna also gives us her honest take on Nashville and whether or not every aspiring musician needs to be there. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Website: https://shannainadress.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannainadress Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest this week is Nashville based tour manager, Joe Lentini. As of late, Joe has been touring the country working as the tour manager for Daniel Donato. Prior to joining Donato's team, he interned at Relix Magazine and the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville. This podcast episode was truly unique in the way it all came together. I was in Nashville playing a couple gigs in early March. On my off day, I went out to discover a new brewery. What I found was Southern Grist in east Nashville (highly recommend!). As I sat drinking my beer and writing in my journal, I noticed Joe sitting a couple seats down submitting setlists to BMI. I asked him what he did and we got to talking. He was just a cool dude. The kind of guy that knows everyone just by going out and being himself. Before I left, I told Joe about my podcast and that I'd like to interview him because I've never had a tour manager on. He immediately agreed and we made it happen! During our conversation, Joe and I chat about the culture of cosmic country, the ins and outs of tour managing, his tie dye business (Trippy Toes Dyes), and his love for plants. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Trippy Toes Dyes: https://instagram.com/trippytoesdyes?utm_medium=copy_link Daniel Donato: And feel free to share my personal as well Daniels website danieldonato.com Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest this week is Colorado based singer-songwriter and performer, Sweet Virginia. Leading up to her debut record (out April 29 on Gitcha Records), Sweet Virginia has two singles out, "Blue Skies" (Feb 18, 2022) and "Hallelujah, Michael" (March 18, 2022). During our conversation, we chat about the process of making a record, songwriting, promoting yourself, and hair. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Website: https://www.sweetvirginia-music.com Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest this week is entertainment and copyright lawyer, Max Hass. After attending school at Tulane in New Orleans, Max did anything except for law to start his career in the music business. Instead, he worked in almost every other part of the industry as a performer, promoter, manager, and more. After settling in Colorado, Max joined Parlatore Law Group as a partner. His focus is intellectual property and entertainment law, as well as copyright & trademark law, business law, intellectual property litigation, and commercial litigation. In addition, he recently began working as a booking agent at Loose Leaf Talent Agency. On top of all that, he's still a gigging musician. During our conversation, we chat about his upbringing, finding the music business, and answers to questions that all musicians wish they could ask a lawyer! If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Email: max.hass@parlatorelawgroup.com looseleaftalentagency.com parlatorelawgroup.com Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

I first met Marcus at The Blues Can in Calgary. I was traveling through town with my band after playing a week long residency at Blues On Whyte in Edmonton, AB. The next time through town, Marcus sat in with my band and played guitar for a set. At the time he was only about 19 or so! Fast forward a couple of years, and Marcus is calling me saying that he's on a "right of passage" road trip through America and is coming through Denver. We got together for coffee, then he came back to my place and we recorded an episode! (now copying from his website): Marcus Trummer's combination of bluesy guitar playing, soulful vocals, and down-to-earth songwriting is a modern yet familiar take on the sounds of past decades. Dubbed “a precocious guitarist whose vocals possess a wise-beyond-his-years weariness" by the Calgary Herald, the Calgary, AB native has earned a reputation as a busy local performer since bursting onto the scene with his band in 2018. Following their debut release, These Roads - EP (2020), the Marcus Trummer Band were invited to perform as part of the National Music Centre's Gala alongside the likes of Jann Arden and Corb Lund. Trummer was the recipient of the Prophets of Music Emerging Artist Award at the 2019 YYC Music Awards. Supported by The Prophets of Music Foundation he recorded Running on My Own at OCL Studios in 2020. With his debut solo offering Trummer taps into a more reflective sound, while remaining true to his blues, soul, rock & roll, and Americana influences. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Website: https://marcustrummermusic.com Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest today is Nashville based singer-songwriter and performer, Erin Rae. She joins me on the show just days after releasing her latest album, "Lighten Up" (Feb 4, 2022). Produced by Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Billy Strings, Conor Oberst, Erin Rae) and distributed by Thirty Tigers, "Lighten Up" gives us a modern yet retro take on indie folk music. Erin has been making a name for herself in the scene for several years now touring both solo and with a band, and opening for acts like Jason Isbell, Dawes, and Hiss Golden Messenger. During our conversation, we chat about the new record, as well as her childhood, a one semester stint in college, and her first dive into the world of open mics and songwriting. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Website: https://www.erinraemusic.com Listen to "Lighten Up": https://orcd.co/lightenup Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest this week is Nashville based singer-songwriter and performer, Sam Robbins. Sam and I first became acquainted through the 2021 Kerrville New Folk Songwriters Competition. We were both selected as finalists, and Sam was one of the six winners. We've had a steady back and forth conversation happening on Facebook for the past few months, so it was great to finally sit down and talk with him for a while. During our conversation, Sam talks about auditioning for The Voice, attending Berklee College of Music, his transitional move to Nashville, house concerts/touring, and songwriting. We also chat about his debut album, "Finally Feeling Young" (May 14, 2021) as well as his plans to release a new album later this year. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Website: https://www.samrobbinsmusic.com Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

I've known Tony Mason for quite some time. He was one of, if not the first person to put me in a real venue as a college student at CU Denver. A lot of local musicians can say that about Tony. He started off by putting together shows under his promotion company name, Tone Dynamix, then moved on to be the talent buyer at Herman's Hideaway, and eventually became the senior talent buyer for Lost Lake, Larimer Lounge, and Globe Hall. The last time Tony was on the podcast was the last episode I did in person before the pandemic. He came over and we chatted about how his time in Denver was coming to a close, as he'd be moving to Dallas in just a few short weeks to become the talent buyer for the Gas Monkey venues. Then the shutdown happened, and after waiting it out for months, Tony was told that Gas Monkey would no longer be able to offer him a position. Since that time, he's joined forces with Bandwagon Presents to book shows at lots of venues throughout Colorado and Wyoming. Bandwagon has so many venues off of i-25 between southern Colorado and northern Wyoming that they've put together their own circuit to take artists through the two states. During our conversation, I chat with Tony about what's new in his life and the booking industry, and we also share a couple plates of sushi! If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Bandwagon Presents: https://bandwagonpresents.com/ Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest today is Canadian based singer and songwriter Pura Fé. Pura Fé, whose name means "Pure Faith," was born in New York City and an heir to the Tuscarora Indian Nation. She is an artist, an activist, and much more. Her musical journey, running the gamut from folk to mainstream through an artful use of the blues, reflects the concerns of an artist who grew up in the Motown era, while citing Buffy Sainte-Marie, Charley Patton and Joni Mitchell as her true mentors. And, more widely, “traditional music from all over the world, wherever the spirit is connected to our roots.” Pura Fé has studied and performed with The American Ballet Theatre Company, and has been in several Broadway musicals and TV commercials. She has sung for countless jazz, R&B, and rock bands, and has stamped her distinct vocals on many recordings, demos, jingles, music videos and movie sound tracks/trailers throughout her career. She is a founding member of the internationally renowned native woman's a capella trio, Ulali, and is recognized for creating a new genre, bringing Native contemporary music to the forefront of the mainstream music industry. Pura Fé won a Nammy (Native American Music Award) for Best Female Artist for ‘Follow Your Hearts Desire'. She also won an L'académie Charles Cros Award (French Grammy) for Best World Album for "Tuscarora Nation Blues". (above bio copied from Pura Fé's website) If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help me out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Pura Fé Website: https://www.purafe.com Ulali on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2e3DNErHr0z83LSzfhSRPx?si=UC0yFNkqTk2ex3z-g0cC3g Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest today is Asheville, NC based DJ, Bruce Swan. Bruce went to college after of high school and earned his degree just a few short years later. Or at least that's what he thought. Nearly 25 years later, he was informed that he didn't quite finish and would need to go back to fulfill his final requirements. Upon his return to Hunter College in New York, NY, he discovered the college radio station, WHCS. He filled out an application and went in for an interview, and at the age of 50, began his career as a radio DJ. Since his time on air at Hunter College, he's been at several different stations including: 10 years at 89.5 WPKN independent radio in Bridgeport, CT, 7 years at 93.3 WRFR community radio in Rockland, ME, and now he's on air at 103.3 Asheville FM in Asheville, NC. At the start of the pandemic, Bruce started a live remote show called, Music My Mother Would Not Like. The program should not be confused with the show he hosted on WPKN (Bridgeport, CT) bearing the same name. The pandemic version of Music My Mother Would Not Like features 3-4 artists playing in succession on Tuesday nights. Originally, the show was only supposed to be five weeks, but nearly two years later, it's still going strong and is popular among the singer-songwriter community. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to our YouTube Channel help us out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: https://www.musicmymotherwouldnotlike.com/ https://www.ashevillefm.org/ https://www.bakerbooking.com/ Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com

My guest today is award winning singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player, Ray Bonneville. When it comes to playing rack harmonica, Ray might just be as good as it gets. To accompany his truth telling lyrics, he's able to seamlessly pull off complicated finger picking patterns and play elaborate counter melodies on the harmonica between verses. Often called a “song and groove man,” Bonneville has lived the life of the itinerant artist. From his native Quebec, he moved to Boston at age twelve, where he learned English and picked up piano and guitar. Later, he served in Vietnam and earned a pilot's license in Colorado before living in Alaska, Seattle, and Paris. Six years in New Orleans infused his musical sensibilities with the region's culture and rhythms. And then, a close call while piloting a seaplane proved pivotal: After two decades working as a studio musician, playing rowdy rooms with blues bands, and living hard, Bonneville's lifetime of hard-won experience coalesced into an urge to write his own music. Ray recorded his first album, On the Main, in 1992. He's since released nine albums, earned wide critical and popular acclaim, and won an enthusiastic following in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. His awards include a prestigious Juno, the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy, for his 1999 album, Gust of Wind. In 2012, Ray won the solo/duet category in the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge. His post-Katrina ode, “I Am the Big Easy,” earned the International Folk Alliance's 2009 Song of the Year Award, placed number one on Folk Radio's list of most-played songs of 2008, and was recently covered by Jennifer Warnes for the BMG label. Other notable artists who have recorded his songs include Ronnie Hawkins (“Foolish”) and Slaid Cleaves (“Run Jolee Run”). Ray has shared the bill with blues heavyweights Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Dr. John, J.J. Cale, and Robert Cray, and has guested on albums by Mary Gauthier, Gurf Morlix, Eliza Gilkyson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and other prominent musicians. He has performed at renowned venues around the world, including South by Southwest, Folk Alliance, and Montreal International Jazz Festival, and plays over 100 shows per year across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. When not on the road, he resides in Austin, Texas. During our conversation, we chat about his early life and first musical groups, his time in the military, life as a pilot, and the finer points of songwriting. If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to our YouTube Channel help us out the most!! IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated! Guest Links: Website: https://raybonneville.com/ Episode Music: **All original music by Andy Sydow Sponsors: A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF. For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at middleclassrockstar@gmail.com pqmastering.com narratorrf.com