Mumcast: The Rick Mummey Show

 Kyle Bledsoe is a fabulous musician who has been perfecting his craft for years now. He established himself in the Lafayette, IN scene, and now lives in Indianapolis, where he can be seen regularly doing his acoustic sets at Fat Dan's and other spots (including some Anthem work at Colts games!).  Kyle's new project is "Milkman and the Jugs". Kyle's debut with them will be at the Vogue on 7/20, and there will be many more gigs. This rockin' band has a unique feature of two (count 'em, two) bass players!   We discussed the band, the new music, and being a professional musician with a family, including his son Leo and partner Kali. We also include 2 Milkman tunes for your enjoyment.    When I first met this young man some years ago, I had a feeling he was going to crush it. Consider it crushed.

 On our last podcast, many of you sent us your feelings about live music experiences. The response was great. Now, we want to do a series of podcasts about your musical experiences; the first important song or album, concert experiences, music related to life milestones. You can send your stories to mumcast@rickmum.com.   On this episode, I turned to two favorite people of mine, Dr. Will Miller, a frequent flyer on the Bob and Tom radio show, minister, stand-up comic, counselor. He talked about an early special album, and a U2 concert experience. Then Joe Peters talks about some high school special music, and the thrill of being able to become a musical influence himself. We finished with a song from Joe called, "Kingdom Come", which features Joe and music genius Mike Kelsey.   Let us know your musical stories, and we'll pass them on, and contact some of you for a podcast interview. Enjoy!

 There's always plenty of discussion about the health of live music and its venues. Any town's music scene will have some ebb and flow, certainly. I asked folks on Facebook and Instagram to opine about what makes them decide to go or not go to a live show. Is it venue? Start time? End time? Price? The acts themselves? Quality of publicity? Some combination of all these. We talked about their responses, and gave some thoughts of our own directed to venues, acts, and the General Public. We concluded withy music from a group that did a fantastic show locally, sponsored by one of the premier organizations in our area for bringing in shows. Feel free to comment at mumcast@rickmum.com

 Recently in Lafayette IN (home of our podcast), racial tensions flared due to separate events. There was angry debate, along with substantive discussions. Hate groups had posted racist signs and flyers in prominent places, and two groups were booked to appear locally that many believed to be racist performers. To counter all that, a group of musicians have decided to perform in a show called "No Time To Hate" at the Lafayette Theater.   We spoke to one of those performers, Christopher Lee from the Grateful Dead cover band, Graciously Departed. We talked about the band and its upcoming gigs, especially No Time To Hate, and the idea behind the show. It's something other communities could do to help ease tensions and promote positivity.   We end with a song from one of the participating acts, Sheeza, a brilliant band with a desire for social justice that comes from the heart.

 Jason Wells is a guitar phenom who has been taking his music around the country for several years now. He's brought all that experience, along with three other superb musicians to his new release "Nine Hours". Wells intended for this album to sound like a spontaneous jam feel, and he hit the target. Varied in style, but never lacking intensity, 9 Hours is a piece of work the author can be proud of.  We discussed the album-making experience and got a sense of Jason's intentions for the album. I think this interview would be a good companion to the album. We also provide a taste here, a song called "My Love is Real". The whole album is the real deal, as well.

  Do you have a friend that you can talk to for hours and be entertained and educated? I sure do. He's Dr. Will Miller, author, counselor, clergyman, stand-up comic, frequent contributor to the Bob and Tom radio show..he even did a series of appearances on "Nick at Night". He's a busy and brilliant man. We recently recorded one of our chats, which I have excerpted in this podcast. We spoke about the meaning of wealth, and addressed the recent sexual harassment revelations, and its effect on our appreciation of creative people involved in this movement.   Looking back on the past year plus, we finish with a tune from one of my favorite people and musicians, David Corley, called "Available Light". Happy New Year!

 Jason Wells plays the blues and rock, sells his own coffee blend, runs an open mic night, and generally works his butt off. Which is good for you, since you can see the fruits of his labor on stages across America, and in Lafayette IN on 12/30. His band will perform at the Lafayette Theater with a local band called Graciously Departed (a nice dose of Dead!), and up-and-coming singer songwriter Tara Marlow.  The show will start with Marlow's acoustic music, follwed by the GP and their happy set, then Jason Wells and Friends with some crunchy rockin party jams. Jason talked about his music, his coffee brand, how to run an open mic, and a cool deal for those who buy tickets prior to the show.   We conclude with a Jason jam and a Merry Crimble to all!

 This episode, we spoke to Brittany and Hans Rees of the band Frank Muffin, following their triumphant show at the Lafayette Theater: Sgt. Pepper in its entirety, with 22-piece orchestra. They talked about their view of how things went, the money made for charity, and what might be their next big show.   We also spoke to Jeff Lagaveen of Lafayette Super Group about their upcoming benefit show, a benefit for a friend of Jeff's (details in the podcast). We talked about the LSG, basically a music collective of whatever of Lafayette's finest players can be rounded up. It's a concept that makes for plenty of spontaneity and flexibility in performance.   One awesome gig down, more to come.

 In 1967, we opened our new copy of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", expecting something brilliant and groundbreaking. Turned out to be much more, as Pepper became one of the most influential albums, not only in the Beatles' canon, but in all of contemporary music.  Members of local Lafayette band Frank Muffin, along with 20 musicians from the community and elsewhere, will be staging that album from start to finish, with extras, December 9, at Lafayette Theater. It's a mammoth undertaking, and we spoke to Frank Muffin's Brittany and Hans Rees about the idea and the process of rounding up band members, dividing the labor, and coming up with a fitting tribute to this cultural landmark. Details: Tickets locally at the Theater Box Office, $10 advance, $15 day of show. Also available at People's Brewing, JL Records, and McGuire Music. Proceeds to a wonderful charity, Therapeion, a therapeutic equestrian center in Brookston, IN

 Gail Davis and her Unitarian minister husband Charlie make music to and from the soul. They hope to provoke reflection, understanding, empathy, and peace. They are in the middle of a 4-album journey through the emotions, and the effects of modern life on the soul. The second of the four is recently released and entitled "Scared". It addresses not only fear, but the idea of standing up to it with strength and perspective. The album was produced by Michael Kelsey, musician and producer extraordinaire. His credit on the album says,"Producer, guitars, percussion, mystical vibrations". And those vibes permeate the album. We feature their song, "Amanda", a great example of how this artist-producer collaboration can produce beautiful results.    This pair's discussion of their work is interesting and compelling. And the story of their music is testimony of their desire for peace among us.  

Joe Peters is a natural man. What I mean by that is He spends a lot of time in natural settings, and creates music out of that natural spirit. His latest release "Prophetstown" is no exception. From a lilting, upbeat "Wanderlust Blues", to a personal vignette in "Mother and Her Sons", and the shameful history that inspired the title track, Joe covers the emotional bases. And to do it so well, he works with guitar wizard, studio chief Mike Kelsey. Kelsey is as flexible in the studio as he is crazy good on guitar. Both will be onstage at the beautifully renovated Delphi Opera House in Delphi Indiana on Nov. 3rd for a "Prophetstown" release show, as will a number of other musical friends. Joe spoke to us about the process of creating this one, and where to getcha some. (tickets here)

 Mosey Down Main Street is a music festival that happens throughout the summer in downtown Lafayette Indiana. It has become a perfect example of how the right planning and a willing community of store owners, vendors, and musicians working together to make something unique. The vibe at the Mosey is excellent, which is a big draw for the event. You can wander (or mosey) down Main, get a bite to eat, and hear good bands on 3 different stages. And the musicians are mostly local, which is another good aspect. Steve Bultinck, who along with Ken McCammon, originated this event, is our guest. We talk about the upcoming 50th Mosey Session, and what it takes to put on an event of this nature. If you want to originate an event like this in your community, get with me on Facebook or by email, and I'll put you in touch with Ken and Steve. We finish this episode with some Dr. Fine music. You can see our band at the Mosey at 6th and Main at 6:20 on 10/14.

 The last time we spoke to John Bower on this podcast, we talked about the hard grind that is a career in music. Those careers often include full-time side jobs, bad gigs, math-challenged club owners, sketchy promoters, and more. Now, John is seeing the culmination of all that hard work. In fact, you could say he's "livin the good life". The Good Life is a new tune by Bower and songwriting partner George Domiano, with some bars from Brandon Reed, also well-known in local circles for his solo music, and his work recording and encouraging other artists. The song, included on this podcast, has everything a hit needs. It has a great hook, good vocals, expert recording, and a tasty rap section. Johnny called it "country hip hop", but he did so facetiously, and because Brandon was not in the room.   We can all use a little positivity these days, and Bower and friends deliver that with "Good Life". It's the beginning of a good new phase for the artist, and for us, as well.

 Three Cities is a band on a mission to keep the fun in hard rock. We spoke to Patrick Barry Brown, guitarist for this rock band whose members hail from Indy, Fort Wayne, and Marion, IN. They recorded a live set in May at the Lafayette Theater, in Lafayette, IN. The theater is a beautifully renovated and expertly run music venue that was once an Art Deco style movie theater.    Three Cities' "Live from Lafayette" release consists of a few favorite originals from their previous sets, along with new original music. It all has edge without being an overt attempt at "edginess". That's due to the band's philosophy that "this ought to be fun". And it is, with big ballsy vocals, guitar jams and swooping keyboards. Patrick gave us some band history and his thoughts on music. We finish up with a sample from "Live from Lafayette" called Walkin', which has a cool story behind the tune's origin.

This Labor Day weekend included a tragic loss for the music community. Walter Becker, one half of Steely Dan, died at age 67. The Dan have influenced legions of musicians with their potent mix of jazz, rock, and r&b influences, not to mention the sardonic wit and their brainy, sometimes obtuse take on songwriting. Their music isn't for everyone, a big reason why those who get them love their ethos. We read an excerpt of Rob Sheffield's Rolling Stone article on Walter, which describes and sums up Steely Dan and Becker in an elegant manner. Mungion Update: The band we talked about last time are on the verge of their tour, and are halfway to their GoFundMe fundraising goal. They were recently robbed of $50k worth of instruments and gear, and need your help here. We concluded the podcast with a Mungion tune called "Hindsight". Take a listen, then give til it helps.

    Mungion are an incredible band from Chicago, Illinois. Their music shows a number of influences; pop, rock, jazz, funk. And it's all done with incredible musicianship, intricate arranging, and a great sense of humor. At some point along the way, the Mungions met some guys from out HQ in Lafayette, Studio 37s Scott Ausherman, Noah Freeman, and LD Miller. Noah is Mungion's FOH engineer. The band has done some recording at 37, and Noah has been traveling with them. It was on one such trip that the unthinkable happened. The band was in their Detroit motel room when two guys broke into their truck and made off with $41,500 worth of equipment: guitars, drums, sound gear, the works. They are now involved in a GoFundMe campaign, and are only halfway to goal with a tour in one month!     All of us who love music and musicians have a very familial feeling among our bands. Please help this family member in a crisis.

   In this episode, it's a family affair. We spoke to my 11-year old nephew Cecil. But this is no cutesy give-a-kid-a-mic interview. Cecil Mummey is already a serious composer, and has written a musical produced by his school, and acted in a number of productions. He is now working on a musical about Albert Einstein. He'll talk about the process, and his hopes for getting the piece produced in a larger venue. It's a kid's-eye view of the creative process that you'll find refreshing and interesting. The future of the Arts is in good hands. We end the episode with a song co-written by Joe Peters and yours drooly, entitled "A Mother and Her Sons", about my late mother and her relationship to my brother and me. You'll find it on Joe's newest release "Prophetstown" with a collection of musicians and producer Mike Kelsey known as "The Joedai Warriors". Enjoy!

  Cheryl Fletcher is a gifted songwriter from Lafayette, Indiana, which is fast becoming an incubator of amazing talent. Cheryl, after waiting , writing, and maybe a bit of procrastinating, has issued an EP of original music called "It's About Time". We talked motivation, inspiration, and Pokemon Go. On "It's About Time" Cheryl had help from some stellar musicians, including guitarist Jason Wells (soon to be bluesin' up a venue near you) and wizard Mike Kelsey, who played guitar and worked his production magic. Cheryl's music is poignant, funny when she wants to be, and toe-tappin'! Cheryl's song "Road Trip" finishes the podcast, after another installment of "Every Week I Write the Book", a literary project of mine that includes observations and recollections from our checkered past. Feel free to comment by email at mumcast@rickmum.com.

RickerRocker and Jason Wells are major dudes in the Lafayette, IN music scene. They have organized, for the 2nd time, the Music Matters Festival, a two-day event in Darlington IN this Friday-Saturday 8/4-8/5. A dozen bands over two days, with diverse styles. Locals include Uncle Buck's Mojo Box, Sheeza, Frank Muffin. Rick gives us the details. And we aadd a new segment called "Everyday I Write The Book", which features excerpts from a writing project I'm starting. Love to hear your comments on that. Jason Wells' tune "Friend or Foe" caps the show

Nicky Kerr knew from the start what she didn't want: the picket fence, the Ivy League school, becoming "Suburban Royalty". Her mission is well laid out and accomplished on her new CD "Paper Towns". It's an autobiographical set of 10 tunes, produced by wizard Micheal Kelsey. She'll perform those songs on May 6th at the beautiful Delphi Opera House (a beautiful, award-winning restored building) with Mike (Tickets and details here). The title tune, "Paper Towns", sums up the message about living your own life, folllowing your own path. She does it beautifully, with a pop country feel, and crisp production from Kelsey. Every bit of her Berklee School of Music training is on display here, her debut album, which has been in the making through long hours of teaching, training,and delving into her ever-increasing bag of musical tricks. Paper Towns will be released (along with loads of related merch) 5/6 at the Opera House. Don't miss it. Even if you're suburban royalty.

Our friend Kevin Ludwig reminded us about a live Carrie Newcomer show Thurs. Feb 16th at 8pm. Whether you can see that show or live outside the WFYI area, it will be on Facebook live. We interviewed Carrie last fall about her music, activism, and her release "The Beautiful Not Yet". If you know Carrie, you know it's an inspiring conversation. If you don't know Carrie, find her music at carrienewcomer.com and elsewhere. You'll be glad you did.

Should artists, having achieved fame, use that platform to speak their minds on politics? Opinions run the gamut: absolutely yes, absolutely no, in small doses, etc. Don't drag us through the mud or keep us aware...are either of these options an obligation of artists? Meryl Streep lit things up at this year's Golden Globes with a lengthy dissertation of her feelings on the political climate, waxing eloquent about what are now the standard criticisms of the President-elect. Some folks squirmed, some applauded. Just about everyone in the theater was delighted, not surprising given the mostly-Liberal Hollywood gang. Sound off, leave a comment. I'd love to know where you stand on this. My two favorite moments of the Globes (which I did not see in it's entirety) were the Katherine Wiig/Steve Carrell bit about traumatic experiences seeing animated films as kids and the very last line of Streep's speech, a quote from Carrie Fisher, "Take your broken heart and turn it into art. The podcast ends with my poem based on that line.  

Who doesn't love the holidays? Well, to be honest, a lot of us. But we muddle through. In this episode, we take a little stress off with some stand-up comedy from Michael McIntyre, who talks about our interesting food choices at holiday time. There is an excerpt from Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", as Scrooge parts ways with the Ghost of Christmas Present (which looked nothing like Donald Trump, promise). And what would any holiday observance be without some music? Here we have Kyle Bledsoe, bluesman extraordinaire, who happens to be celebrating Christmas One with his new baby. Check out his happily bluesy version of "Silent Night". Enjoy!

How time flies! We have now done 50 episodes of Mumcast: The Rick Mummey Show! We appreciate all the support we've had and look forward to doing more. On this episode, we selected some interesting nuggets from among our 50 shows, including excerpts from our chats with musician/writer Tim Brouk, Songwriter extraordinaire Scott Greeson, Nashvillian/Musicians Hall of Fame curator/BR-549 bassist Jay McDowell, SF Jazz Collective's Matt Penman, and guitarist/songwriter/great guy Pat McClimans. Music from BR-549, SF Jazz, And Pat. More info here

Joe Peters is an accomplished singer, songwriter, performer, humanist, and world traveler. His songs reflect his varied experiences and his love for people. If there's a theme that runs through all the songs he's written and recorded it would be "Love Yourself. Love Life. Love everybody else." Not the easiest thing in contentious times. We caught up with Joe while he was attending a songwriters' retreat in Michigan. We talked about his music, the idea of honing one's craft, what musicians can do in tough times to distract or to lend a voice to protest. We also talked about the strange circumstances that created his song "Find the Yeti In You" from his new release "Clouds Thick, Whereabouts Unknown". Interesting guy with plenty to say musically and in this conversation.

We thought a long time about what to present in an episode that comes out on Election Day. I decided: Why not try to prevent a brief meditative time folks could turn to and take refuge, if, like me, they'd like to step away a minute or 15? This piece is thunderstorm and ocean sounds, with instrumental music improvised by me on the mighty EWI (electronic wind instrument). Use it on election day or any weird day, of which there will be many. For my two cents on the day, check my blog at rickmum.com. Now, take a few deep breaths, relax, turn off the madness a moment.

  Flat Five are a Chicago group of amazing musicians that bring their individual influences together for a gumbo of quirky covers and originals. To quote the Facebook bio "Alex Hall, Kelly Hogan, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough, Nora O'Connor Kean -- separately, these folks are in-demand touring and recording musicians for bands like Neko Case, The Decemberists, NRBQ, Jakob Dylan, Mavis Staples, Andrew Bird, J.D. McPherson, Robbie Fulks, Wanda Jackson, The Mekons, The New Pornographers, Alejandro Escovedo, and many more -- but collectively they are The FLAT FIVE Chicago -- five talented individuals who play together for the fun of it -- for the sheer joy of exploring all kinds of vocal music. Hopeless harmony junkies, all of 'em. They can't not do it. They just can't."   Their new release, in the making since 2014, is "It's a World of Love and Hope", is a perfect intro to this band. It combines influences from 60s pop, jazz, swing, country. The songs, written by Scott Ligon's brother Chris, have what the label, Bloodshot Records calls a "wide-eyed sweetness". A very apt description of these tunes that vary in genre, but have this thread running through that approaches the world with a wonderful sense of fun that reminds you of NRBQ at times, but is very much the Flat Five's vibe. The tune tunes included here, "You're Still Joe" and "Almond Grove" are examples of the diverse influences that make this wonderful album. "It's a World of Love and Hope"-maybe if we keep saying it, it will be.

Cubs win! Cubs win! Not only the popular mantra after what over the years has been a rare occasion, this has been humming in the brains of Cubs fans everywhere since Chicago won the National League pennant, the first such occurrence since 1945. This episode attempts to explain the phenomenon of Cubs fandom to our friends who aren't into sports. We also make some commentary about our personal feelings and memories related to the ball team, and we end with some clever Cubs-related music from the late, great Steve Goodman. We promise to get back on the music/arts track next time, but we couldn't resist a little Cubitude.

Dr. Will Miller, proprietor of Dr. Will's Neighborhood and The Gathering, educator, counselor, speaker, comedian, took off some of his hats and sat down with us. We had a conversation on satire, and whether these times are so self-satirizing that it must be difficult to try and be more tragicomic than the real events. In times like these, MAD Magazine can just about write itself! We touched on the role of art, music, and comedy to provide the service of sending up the elite, commenting on politics and important issues, or simply providing a useful distraction from modern chaos. Will is a fabulous conversationalist, and you'll enjoy his take on what's happening. We end with a tune from Joe Peters, who will doing a show October 15th with Mike Kelsey at GLM Live in Lafayette (michaelkelsey.com for tickets)

Carrie Newcomer has been plying her trade for a good while, and has grown in musical maturity and audience throughout the years, starting in her early days in Indiana. She now crisscrosses the country, delivering her music and message to the praise of critics and audiences. She has a new release,of which she's very proud, called "The Beautiful Not Yet" (release date 9/16/16), accompanied by a book of poems, essays, and lyrics. She sings,teaches and speaks at conventions, retreats, and other gatherings, delivering a message that encourages us to find and love ourselves. Her music seeks to aid us in withstanding the difficulties and distractions of our troubled times. Our conversation concludes with her song, "A Shovel is a Prayer". You'll hear what the critics and crowds are talking about.

This is, for now, the last Mumcast from Phoenix AZ. It's back to our studio next time! While rummaging about in my dad's stuff, I found a CD, mastered from old vinyl, of my high school jazz and concert bands. They were quite good. Our directors, Herman Matlock and Raymond Grivetti, were superb music educators, the kind every school should have. It's school time again. Does your school district support the teaching of art and music? I suggest you lobby like hell if they do not. I had unforgettable learning and personal experiences via band in Hobart, Indiana. Everyone should have that opportunity. This podcast contains 2 pieces from the jazz band, and ends with a patriotic classic from the concert band and choir. They are from 1970-72. Ancient stuff, kids. No cable, no cell phones, and we rode our pet Dino to school!  

In 2016 so far, we have seen the deaths of a big group of iconic creative people in the music, arts, and entertainment worlds. This episode addresses the stories of three comedy icons who passed on to the Big Stage this year: Doris Roberts, Gene Wilder, and Garry Shandling. Each of these people have left huge marks on their corners of the entertainment business, and have left behind numerous shining examples of their genius which will live forever. Produced with crude tools in the Arizona heat, this one ends with music from our band, Dr. Fine & d'Gleet.

Lisa Parrish Parker and Anne Roscher Parks are two very different artists. Lisa's exhibit at Tippecanoe Arts Federation contains pieces inspired by the found objects of which they're made, and by the artist's desire to bring meaning to those objects. She puts together various elements and portrays a variety of emotions. She recently learned about fractal art, also represented in the exhibit, titled Perceptions of Time and Space, that runs until September 9th (some examples here). She let us in on her process for creation, and we interviewed her while she was in the process of assembling her exhibit. Anne Parks is a painter, with a background in art and art education. She works from her West Lafayette home, and produces beautiful paintings that reflect her love for nature, and the animals and structures found therein. After leving her job at Purdue, Anne dedicated herself to creating art that makes her happy. It is very artful work, that is also accessible to the consumer. She spoke about the importance of art education, and about her motivaton and inspiration. Find her art at anneparksart.com

Friends are great. Talented ones are a bonus! My friend, John Frigo, is an artist, illustrator, music aficionado, and so much more. His art work is well known in the Lafayette, IN area. Many have seen his very cool posters for shows put on by the Friends of Bob music co-op, of which John is still a member. We discuss how the music coop works and has really helped the music scene locally. We discuss the roots of John's work (you can find some samples of his work here on the Friends of Bob Facebook page), and his influences artistic and musical. Among those was Mad Magazine, a favorite of mine as well. John once went on a quest to produce a Drawing a Day, which is tougher than you think. He talked about that experience and his love of passing on his knowledge and love for all things art.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Beatles. Ed Sullivan said those words, and popular music was never the same. We all know the legendary prowess and reach of the group, and of Lennon/McCartney's songbook. There are an incalculable number of cover versions of that magical Beatles portfolio. Our buddy Keith Austin, former radio colleague, ad exec, musician, and Beatles fan extraordinaire, joined us for a discussion of the Beatles tunes, and we examine a tiny fraction of what's out there, from the ridiculous to the sublime. And we end with a spaced-out spaceman sing/talking a classic. It's fab, it's gear, it's a hoot!

Rick Siler is the force behind the Rickerrocker.com team, covering local music events and venues. Rick is sponsoring the main stage at the Music Matters Festival in Darlington, IN on August 5-6 (details here). The fest features 11 bands over the two nights, some of whom have been on this podcast, and some we don't know. It's the brainchild of guitarist/songwriter/band leader Jason Wells, who is also the dad of Gibson Wells, a spectacular teen guitarist, and his not-to-miss band The Edgars. We also touched on some tips for putting your band's name out there, from social media to the proper press kit contents. Rick had a great notion about what keeps bands from pushing themselves, a notion I never had considered. We concluded with one of the festival bands, the Down Low Kickers, who will give you a perma-smile.

What a night! The GLMLive Songwriting Contest was a huge success. Curt Yeoman's awesome Lafayette venue hosted 12 songwriters and their friends for a night of good original music. A tough one to judge for John Bower, Nicky Rood, and Jason Wells. Song subjects varied from walkin' blues, faith, death, and Pokemon Go (that's right: songwriter Cheryl Fletcher went there).The third place winner, Summer, is 16. The first place winner, Jay Thoennes, is 15! Makes you feel good about music's future. Second place finisher Jessica Collasto, a promising writer with an angelic voice, is resurrecting her music interest after some time out for parenting. Our good friends Joe Peters, Kenn Clark, and Brady Joseph brought good songs and their top-notch talents to the scene. A really good night, musicians, audience and venue. As our winner's tunes were mostly hot out of the oven, we'll wait to bring them to you once their published and recorded. So this time we conclude with an instrumental piece by me.  

This is a reprise of our chat with Curt Yeoman, proprietor of GLMLive venue, where a songwriting contest is happening on 7/20. We spoke to songwriters Nicky Rood and Jason Wells about winning songwriting. This will get you ready for the event, as well as providing some interesting points of view on songwriting. Concludes with music from Ms. Rood.

This episode features music from 3 bands/artists that have been on the show and one who hasn't yet. A little gift for whatever device you play things on. First up, from Bellingham, WA, is The Walrus, lead by my friend and former Hoosier, Chuck Dingee. The Walrus are known for their stellar classic rock and Beatles covers, along with originals. The tune is called "Gaia" Pat McClimans, formerly from Indiana, now based in Portland, Oregon spoke with us on an episode about his new release "Friends". Pat is a powerhouse guitar player, singer, composer, and producer. His tune is called "I've Got a Feeling". The Prannies have been around the Midwest for years, and have accumulated a large following for their sometimes pointed, sometimes funny, always engaging style. Their most recent release is called "Did You Mean 'Panties?'" We shared the cut entitled "Hey Pal" (a personal favorite). One of our earliest interviews was with Jeff Lageveen of SpaceWords, a heavy-duty, all-star laden, rockin' crew that continues to amass fans and impress critics wherever they go. The tune is "Bury" There. Stick that in your playlist and play it! Hope you enjoy.    

 About David Corley's album Available Light, Nuvo Magazine said, " The album is a product of a 30-year cross-country odyssey of self-exploration, one of those rare moments when a lifetime of experience comes to bear in a single album you have to hear. It is that experience which shines through, particularly in his gritty, road-worn voice, which he uses to bring the movie of his life into vivid technicolor".   David got his start in Lafayette, IN, but through hard work, learning, traveling and perserverance with a little luck sprinkled in, he now, in his 50s, is touring Europe and Canada with a hit release, plus an EP out there, and a second release on the way. The story is interesting, as is the music, sampled here.        

Sheeza is a 4-piece band that performs in the midwest. Claire and Courtney Tchoula of that band stopped by. We discussed their approach to their music, which includes originals and an eclectic list of covers. As musical and off-stage partners, they have forged a harmonious relationship that informs their music. They have performed numerous benefits, including for Pride and Bernie Sanders. Those performances demonstrate their commitment to issues beyond music. They're a band you should know. Follow them on Facebook and get to a Sheeza gig now! To whet your appetite, they performed a couple new items in our cozy little DIY studio. Enjoy.

Jill Ditmire, who many of you know from her days on WLFI in Lafayette, and from WFYI radio and TV in Indianapolis is a broadcaster, author, producer, writer...But wait! There's more! She is involved in a project on Facebook Live which includes interviews and pieces done from a variety of locations. The FB project will also present live musical and radio theater productions. It will be a fully interactive, very in-the-moment program that is sure to engage the audience in a new way. We talked about the project, her various other projects, her interest in wine culture and more. And we conclude with music from Joe Peters with Mike Kelsey.

Hans and Brittany Rees have played at the taste before with other bands and with their band Frank Muffin. They'll be performing on the Digby's Stage Saturday 6/18 at 8:20pm. They'll be playing a unique mix of covers, as well as their own originals. They have been on the scene a long time, and they're a do-not-miss band wherever they perform. We spoke to them about performing for large crowds, the writing process, the growth of our local arts community, and more. We heard an original called, "In Fond Memory of Al", which is not about anybody in particular. Interesting, right?

Taste of Tippecanoe is a music, art, and food fest in Lafayette IN, and has been going for 35 years. It is a major fund raising event for the Tippecanoe Arts Federation(TAF), which advocates for the arts in 14 Indiana counties. Downtown Lafayette fills with food vendors offering tastes of their wares, artists showing off their work, and some of the finest musicians in the Midwest and beyond. We spoke to TAF executive director Tetia Lee, about TAF's mission, thee importance of the funds raised by the Taste, and the job of maintaining and improving the area's arts scene. Ouur other guest, Richard Fudge, spoke about his work with Friends of Bob music co-op, the state of our music scene, and his band, the Prannies, playing their first Taste. We shared a tune from the Prannies' recent release "Do You Mean Panties?" called "Gladiola". Part two will sample more music you'll find at the Taste.

3 Lane Hill play what they call "Americana Rocknroll with a Fishin' Pole". A unique description of a real good band based in the Lafayette area. They've been at it for a while, and their new release is their first time in the studio, and the first project recorded at Chris Voglund's Lo-Dough Studios. To pick one up, check out the 3Lane Facebook page, buy one at a gig for $10, or $13 by mail to Mike Tripodi 3327 Crawford St., West Lafayette, IN 47906. We sampled the release with a tune called "Riverside". You can hear the river, the critters, and a cold one being opened! Take a trip up 3 Lane Hill sometime, perhaps July 23 at the Down the Street Bar in Monticello, IN. Tell 'em we sent ya.

Win big with your music! On this episode, we were joined by Curt Yeoman, who operates GLM Live, a music venue in Lafayette IN that was made for musicians. They'll be hosting a songwriting contest on July 20, with some great prizes for the winner, including cash, a Fender guitar, studio time with Mike Kelsey, and songwriting lessons from Nikki Rood, a top notch songwriter. Nikki will be a judge that night, as will smokin' guitarist/songwriter Jason Wells. They joined us, along with Curt, to talk about what they look for in a song and composer. Curt had details about the venue and the contest. Nikki contributed this week's song, a real beauty.

Prince on songwriting:"Sometimes I hear a melody in my head, and it seems like the first color in a painting. And then you can build the rest of the song with other added sounds. You just have to try to be with that first color, like a baby yearns to come to its parents. That’s why creating music is really like giving birth. Music is like the universe: The sounds are like the planets, the air and the light fitting together." On this Mumcast, it's part one of a two part discussion on songwriting. I am emceeing a songwriting contest in July (the subject of part two), and decided to see what people think makes a great song. This episode quotes listeners from social media, and some great artists opinions culled from interviews. We spoke to singer/pianist/songwriter Lee Anna Crane Atwell about her process, and sampled a beautiful song of hers, "Dreamer's Lament", on which she's backed on guitar by phenom Mike Kelsey. It's all about what makes a good song, and what makes a song good.

John Bower aka Johnny BHive is a treasure of a songwriter, now spending most of his time in Nashville. He talked about that town, and its diverse music scene.We discussed his personal growth, how the ups-and-downs have impacted his writing, and how changes in the music industry have changed his approach to the business. He shared with us the process by which he and his partner write songs, and about the decision-making process to take a country direction with his new release "Through My Eyes', and we heard a sample from the album called "Remember Me", a song inspired by his experience in a failed relationship. I call it "country with depth". You will too.                        

Pat McClimans, extraordinary guitarist, excellent interview Pat McClimans is a Midwestern boy who lives now in Portland, Oregon. In his home region, Pat fronted a number of successful bands, and is wowing folks in the Northwest now. He has a release out now entitled friends, which will be available on iTunes soon, and can be found here, on a pay-what-you-will basis. It's a good collection of pop and rock tunes, influenced by Pat's love of certain styles and artists he reveals on the podcast. He talks about the recording process in general, and about the two songs on the podcast "Toe the Line" and "Then and Now". He's a tremendous guitarist. Run to your device and get these songs, and catch Pat either in Portland, or at Lafayette Indiana's Taste of Tippecanoe (info here)

WindSync are an amazing wind quintet that perform worldwide, including with our own Lafayette Symphony. The Houston Chronicle calls them"chamber music revolutionaries". They have clearly earned that title with their stunning performances of classical masterworks and commissioned pieces. They travel the world carrying out their mission to educate and entertain, and to bring new blood and fresh ideas to chamber music. Anni Hochhalter is the French horn player in this group. She gave us a sense of what it's like to be trailblazing, performing, and teaching as part of this breathtakingly talented crew. They'll perform May 21st at Long Center as the Lafayette Symphony celebrates the anniversary of Holst's " The Planets"

This episode was recorded in Sun City West, near Phoenix, AZ. My parents have lived there for 14 years. At the time of this recording, my mother, an angelic soprano, was in hospice, and entering the final stages of her life. I knew she'd want me to go about my biz uninterrupted, so I decided to interview my incredibly talented nephew, Cecil Mummey, son of my brother Kevin and his partner Lynn Slobodien. He recently wrote, directed and starred in a musical based on a popular children's book, "Wonder". This fella is amazing. And BTW, if you are ever going to be interviewed, watch and listen to my daughter Sara (a future guest) and 10 yr old Cecil. Music from Brent Laidler. Find his podcast here p.s.-We did this on a laptop mic, android phone, and Wavepad on a PC. Interview in hotel room Those two youngsters in the picture are Marilyn and Bob Mummey, my parents. Look how in love they are. Mom passed 4/17/16. She will be missed.