The Musician's Guide To Everything

Where to even start with this renaissancewoman.  Jeremy “Bacpac” Franko is an Architect, acoustician, writer, poet, DJ, dancer, prolific mural artist and instigator.  She played guitar with the European punk band the Raincoats in the 70's. And now she is making video art too.  A powerhouse of energy and creativity and an inspiration for how to live a long, interesting, and exciting life.  Come on in for some great stories and a healthy dose of warm energy from this amazing artistic soul.

Here's a great story!  Cody Blackbird was drawn to the Native American flute at 8 years old.  He took that early inspiration and honed it into his own Alter-Native genre incorporating rock, R & B and funk with, of course, a heavy dose of soulful flute magic.  Here we discuss the wildly improbable way his band got started in Alaska, years of touring, his inspiring activism and a wide variety of other stuff just for fun.  

With a smile a mile wide, Mean Gene has transcended his physical limitations and proved that a fired-up soul is the main requirement for making great music.  He's been writing and performing his grungy desert alt country songs for years now as a solo artist, as Mean Gene and the Soul Scorchers, Rockin' Chair, The Blinding Suns, and Mean Gene and the Green Sardines.  And he's just getting started.  Big goals, big dreams, and a big heart will no doubt take him far.  Come on in for a glimpse into the life and times of this inspiring human, great songwriter and all around lovely man.

From poor farmer to guitar shop owner to Chief Luthier at Gretsch, to setting up guitar factories in Asia, Donnie Wade has had a very, very interesting life.  His passion for music started at a very young age where he risked severe punishment to sneak out and get just a glimpse of the happenings at the strictly forbidden local underground (black) music hall where Freddie King was driving 'em wild.  His stories are wide ranging and wildly entertaining with a sharp wit and a lovable disposition.  Get in here and learn something!

When you're good, and you're cool, everybody wants you.  Max Crawford has been charming his way into playing with loads of great bands with his warmth, ripping sense of humor and adventurous attitude.  He came by and shared generously  a few of his adventures in this realm of  music.  Not only is he a founder of an in-demand horn section called Total Pro Horns, he's played with Wilco, Poi Dog Pondering, and the Mekons just to name a few.  Come on in and be amazed and wildly entertained by this champion of a human and teller of great tales.

Here's a treat!  Arizona's preeminent music historian, archivist and scholar came up for a rollicking, laugh-filled, wildly informative discussion about Arizona music history, becoming a DJ as a kid, his wide ranging career in the music business and his tireless efforts to preserve and document the music of Arizona.  His Audio Ranch podcast is absolutely filled with interesting, well-curated song selections  that will keep scratch your musical itch for a very long time.  He's been deep in the music scene for a very long time and has the stories to prove it!  Get in here and get some.

Head slammin.  Feet shakin.  That's how you do it.  Meliza Jackson plays guitar for the Darts (US) and is having a blast doing it.  Their new album is on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label and is on the verge of release into the wild.  Come on in for a lively discussion about life on the road and making shit happen in the music biz.

The more you look, the more you love.  There is a mountain to discover where this man is involved.  An influential writer, creative director of Hello Merch, overseer of the world of WASTOIDS, neck deep in Aquarium Drunkard and Transmissions, and pushing great music on Range and Basin.  Look them all up.  You'll like them.  He's also a musician under the moniker JPW with a recent solo release called Something Happening/Always Happening on Fort Lowell Records.  And he's in the band Kitimoto taboot.  Damn.  Drop in for a wide ranging chat with this stalwart of the desert cultural experience.

Instruments to drool over.  Fantasize about.  Lust after.  Stephen Stratton has been building stringed instruments since graduating from the Roberto-Venn School of Lutherie in Phoenix in 1998.  He now creates playable works of art from his shop in the Sacremento Mountains of New Mexico.  Stephen stopped by the Goldwater Building to chat about, you guessed it, guitars, as well as the life and times of this remarkable craftsman.

Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew came through town again with their band The Boxmasters.  And being the generous chaps that they are, gave us an invite to come hang out on their tour bus for a bit and get the lowdown on their current adventures.  

He's a busy man, but we finally got him! Jim Bachmann is a wizard of words and an Americana master with his signature "good timing Stonerbilly"  sound and a presence of wisdom and authenticity.  He's been making music solo and and along with his band The Day Drinkers for over a decade now and is still making the rounds.  From playing "professional busker" gigs on a sidewalk downtown to  opening  for Billy Joe Shaver, Whitey Morgan and the 78's, Dallas Moore, Shinyribs, Reckless Kelly, The SteelDrivers, Ramsay Midwood, Mike and the Moonpies, Jeremy Pinnell, Paul Cauthen and more he's been grinding it out with the best of 'em.  Settle in and enjoy this warm conversation with a lovely man and a great hang!

He's a prolific songwriter, an alt-country pioneer, a damn good talker and a fountain of thoughtful insight about music, touring, and keeping a band together for over 30 years.  He's the primary songwriter for the Old 97's with 12 studio albums and a long list of song placements in movies and TV shows.  He has also released 7 solo albums in his spare time.  On top of all that, he's got a damn good podcast of his own called “Wheels Off” about the messy reality of living a creative life.  And the list of guests is indeed impressive.  We caught up with Rhett on the tour bus after the Old 97's sound check for their Phoenix show as they tour the US and later head over to Europe.  Come on in and enjoy this thoughtful conversation with an artist that has truly stood the test of time and is still going strong.  

He's a writer of songs. He's a player of guitars.  He's the winner of a multitude of songwriting competitions and is a regular performer at a long list of venues all over the southwest and beyond.  From the bars, to the coffee shops to the theaters and festival stages he's been pouring out his special blend of bluesy folk for the last 20 some odd years. To know him is to love him and he's right here laying out his warm, thoughtful, hilarious insights into songwriting, touring, family and making it all work.  Come on in a share some laughs and some great experiences with one of the valley's musical treasures.  

Brace yourself!  Pastor Carl Wiman is about to preach!  He's the head of a little church out in Whitman, AZ and is always bringing music to the people and giving whole heartedly to his community both locally and abroad.  He started playing in bands when he was 12 years old at the Moose Lodge in Ajo, Arizona which started him on a path of musical pursuit which took him to making records, producing radio shows, and combining church services with pro wrestling matches!  He's a barrel of laughs and a geyser of great stories so grab a download and prepare yourself for a great time with this lovely, talented, big-hearted man!

Ali Hedrick has been booking bands since the 90's and has the experiences and stories we all wish we could have been there for.  From interning at Touch and Go Records to starting one of the largest independent booking agencies in the country she has been working hard to get your favorite bands into the places where they can blow you away with their performances.  She has worked with an impressive roster of bands.  From Nick Cave to Mumford and Sons to Bon Iver to Death Cab for Cutie to Arcade Fire she has provided the essential support that these acts need to grow their audiences and realize their full potential.  She's also a joy to hang out with and a great story teller, so grab a download and prepare to be both wildly entertained and educated about the life and business of booking.

Magnificent solo artist and, of course, front man for The Wallflowers, Jacob Dylan is one of the greats.  Grammy's, mega-hits, quadruple-platinum, all of that.  But it didn't come easy.  Jacob had to grind it out in the clubs and had frustrating record label problems like so many other musicians.  But the greatness of his songwriting prevailed and the body of work speaks for itself. We snuck onto the tour bus while The Wallflowers were playing in Tempe, AZ and grabbed a quick but intense conversation with this hard-touring, hard-working songwriter and musician thriving in his element.  You gotta hear this. 

At 15 he was playing in bars.  By 25 he was writing huge hits as a member of the Gin Blossoms.  And 30 plus years later he's still writing great songs and conjuring great sounds as a solo artist, collaborator, session player, producer and composer for TV and film.  He's pretty much done it all and he was nice enough to stop by and tell us all about it.  This is a lovely, warm, wide ranging conversation about life and the love of music so come immerse yourself in this magic.

They've threatened to do this for a while now.  And it's on the verge of release!  Jon and Blaine discuss the making of their fabulous new record and the great fortune that was showered upon them.  Loads of heavy hitters showed up to contribute and the results are fantastic!  Come on in and get the inside scoop on who's involved, where the songs came from and how this all came about.

This guy has pretty much done it all in the music business.  For over 50 years he's been a performing and recording musician and played all over North America, Europe, Africa, you name it.  He's released 17 albums and the list of great bands he has opened for is way too long to list here.  He was the owner of the Sun Club in Tempe which was a big part of the scene that helped launch a number of huge bands.  You want stories?  Here they are.  The good ones.  Come on in and get a nice, healthy dose of knowledge and wisdom from one of the great musicians of our time. 

Cofounder of Calexico, Joey Burns and long-time compatriot Sergio Mendoza stopped by for a warm chat about what's going on with this prolific band.  With a unique blend of folk, indie rock, and Americana,  and with great respect to the traditions of Mexico and South America, Calexico has become synonymous with the sound of the desert southwest.  Decades in, they are still blooming with new material.  Their most recent release, recorded in Tucson, AZ at Sergio Mendoza's home studio, continues the tradition, sounding as if it is floating from the windows to the streets of some narrow-walked Mexican town.  We're talking recording, touring and plenty of other savory topics so come on in and give a listen.

Billy Bob Thornton has done an excellent job of not letting his acting, writing, and Academy Award winning get in the way of his music career.  He's been in bands since middle school and has made music a central part of his enviable life.  J.D. has also been busy as an in-demand audio engineer and composer working with artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Pussycat Dolls and Will Kimbrough as well as contributing to various TV and film projects.  Put these massive musical minds together and you get The Boxmasters.  The accidental band that since 2007 has turned out about a dozen albums, toured with Willy Nelson, and played all over North America.  The guys stopped by the studio for a casual chat before their sold out show at the Rhythm Room.  When you get a few people like this in a room, you know there are going to be some outrageous things said.  And that they are probably true.  Don't miss it.  

What a story.  What an inspiration.  A young hockey player, from a long line of hockey players, excels to the point of being chosen to train for the Olympics.  But he's also a killer musician and forms a band called Five Speed.  This band is so good they get a major record label deal and record some albums.  So the aspiring Olympian changes gears and tours the US with his band and they are on their way to superstardom.  Things go south and the band gets dropped by the label. The band breaks up and it is time to change gears again.  So he decides to combine his passions and go to work helping people with intellectual disabilities by getting them involved in things to get them out of their shells and into the world.  One Step Beyond is the organization and Jared is a key component of their effort to enrich peoples lives with various programs from culinary training to life skills and of course music and hockey.  Here is a great conversation with one of the good ones.  Full of life and positivity and an avalanche  of the attitude  we should all strive for.  

Pedal steel.  The crying machine.  Like flying a helicopter while standing in a hammock.  A few brave souls have applied themselves to this mysterious instrument and mastered it's unique, voice-like sound.  John Rickard is one of them.  He's been obsessed with this contraption since he was a boy and has played with damn near every band that has ever utilized a pedal steel in their act.  He's also an in-demand guitar tech and has traveled the world with numerous bands in that capacity.  He's full of great stories and loves to laugh so come on in and enjoy this raucous hang-out with one of the greats.

She's been on the front lines of the record store business for over 20 years and still loves the thrill of helping people find their new favorite band. She's a huge part of the long-time taste-making record store Stinkweeds that has always been a well curated and super hip place to find your next musical listening adventure. No wading through piles of crusty Engelbert Humperdink records here. She's also a damn fine bass player laying down the low end for bands including Fatigo, Pick and Holler, Snow Songs and The Sunpunchers. Lindsay stopped by for a very cool conversation about the up's and downs of the music industry, art and commerce, and maybe a few ghost stories too.

Need some guitar work done?  We know a guy.  Brendan Dezember is one of those cool underground guitar guys that is good enough that word of mouth is all he needs to have a steady stream of repair work coming in.  He's a graduate of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery and has been doing this important work for years.   Super talented and humble in equal parts, he's a cool hang and great to talk with.  We chat about  running a business, being in a band and, of course, guitars, guitars, guitars.

Canadian martial artist, musician, Covid nurse, etc.  You know the type.  He's a songwriter, a lover of humanity, a giver of aid and a teacher of competitive physical interactions.  Full of insights about a great many topics.  We had a good time and a lot of laughs as well as some serious discussion of the state of the pandemic.  Welcome to the show. 

What do we do now?  A quick, laugh-filled chat about how we're all doing, healthcare for musicians, and whatever else comes to our frantic little minds.  

He's a man of the road.  So much so that he's technically homeless.  And he likes it that way.  He's been touring with all your favorite bands for the last 20 odd years as a tour manager, and engineer.  From Boz Scaggs to Bright Eyes to My Morning Jacket to Neko Case to Spoon and Father John Misty, he's been all over the world making shows happen.  He's the guy you want on your team when you're out on tour.  This is a great conversation about life on the road and how to make it work long-term.  A lot of great info for aspiring tour folk and a lot of laughs as well.  Give it a listen.

Darren Baum is the owner and engineer at Sonic Piranha.  He's the one-man band Ripples in Runoff.  He's the technician behind the podcast. He's the fun-loving, easy-going engineer/producer of quite a few wonderful records.  We're talking about the history of Sonic Piranha, recording, studio life, and the art of music and what to expect when going into the studio.  

A powerful voice, amazing songs, and an inventive, curious mind conspired to form this lovely human's intriguing musical adventure.  From Vancouver to the Sonoran desert to Chicago, Vermont and beyond, she's been enriching music scenes, recording loads of critically acclaimed records, and touring the world.  And all on her own terms.   The New Pornographers, Case/Lang/Veirs, The Sadies and many others have all benefited greatly from collaboration with this wellspring of energy and creativity.  You will definitely want to hear this insightful and joyful conversation with one of the greats.  

Ethnomusicology.  That's right.  Rich is an expert on human cultures and their musical goings-on.  Which comes in handy when you are curating one of the largest collections of musical instruments in the world, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM).    But it's not all just book learnin'.  He's a champion banjo player and not too shabby on the guitar and mandolin too.  He's also a driving force in the effort to communicate the value of art and music in people's lives.  Come on in and enjoy this wide-ranging conversation about instruments, music and the human drive to create it.

An interesting life makes for an interesting dude.  And Joe Vallee has had a very interesting life.  He builds and repairs guitars, teaches at Roberto-Venn school of Luthiery, and has been the long-time guitar tech for the Doobie Brothers.  He's been all over the world and rubbed elbows with quite a few of the biggest bands of all time.  He spent some time as a runner in Chicago where he was responsible for such things as getting a couple  hundred pounds of dry ice for Pink Floyd and retrieving Phil Lesh's briefcase from his hotel room.  Find out what was in that briefcase and much, much more in this fun-filled episode.

Dana Armstrong.  A strong name for the stronger force behind the pioneering Phoenix music machine known as Valley Fever.  The legendary Sunday night country music party where she  spins loads of her favorite country vinyl and even lets some bands play.  Her Quarantine (way before COVID) shows are legendary for their all-day fun and huge roster of bands and the creation of one of the best country music scenes anywhere.  Dana is also one of the founders of the reinvented music venue, restaurant and bar called The Dirty Drummer in Phoenix.  She's get talent, ambition, vision and is one of the coolest, most genuine people you will ever meet.  Come on in and see what she's up to!

Where to start.  Actor, author, punk rock pioneer John Doe called in from the road in Montana where he is no doubt thrilling throngs of campers with his riveting campfire performances.  Add this to the long list of contributions to the world of musical and performance arts.  We talk about his new book about the early LA punk scene, his continued work as co-founder of the legendary punk band X, his unusual acting career and his thoughtful insight into living in the times of COVID.  He's truly one of the greats so come on in and get a brain-full of truth and wisdom from this legendary human.

You may know him as the organist for the Boston Red Sox, or as a keyboard player for bands such as The Split Squad and Jim's Big Ego, or for his live-streaming show "7th-Inning Stretch", or from his work at a small school referred to locally as Harvard University.  This Boston icon is a very busy man and we are very excited that he took the time to hang out for bit and share some fantastic stories and unique experiences.  Come on in and join us for a great hang with a damn fine human being.

Country-soul singer Sundance Head calls in from the road to talk about winning "The Voice" and living a life on the road.  He's a touring machine playing hundreds of shows a year and has some valuable insight into what happens after you win one of these iconic contests.  Spoiler alert, it's not that great.  He's got a big personality and a big voice and tells a great story so come on in and hang out for a bit. 

Arizona native and Phoenix institution Mark Zubia comes to the studio to talk about his bands, his songs, and his enviable career as a musician.  He was a founding member of the band Chimera who later morphed into the Pistoleros and scored a major label recording and publishing deal.  Mark continues to write, record and perform solo with his band Los Guys and various acoustic projects.  He's a great songwriter, a fountain of stories and a damn fine human being so grab a download give it a listen.

Jason Verlinde is many things.  He is a Co-founder, publisher, editor, and author at the beautiful and interesting magazine Fretboard Journal , a podcast host for numerous podcasts including "The Truth About Vintage Amps", "Fretboard Journal", and "Sweep the Floor", a great storyteller and an outstanding individual, just to name a few.  Join us for a casual discussion about Jason's experiences as a successful podcaster and 73 other interesting topics.  

He may look like a spritely young man, but this guy has been drumming all over the country with a lot of cool cats for decades.  You'll hear about his struggles in the early years and his later successes that sprouted from a positive attitude, finely honed stick skills and a solid work ethic.  He's a hell of a good story teller too so come on in and bathe in the glory of a lovely man who is spreading the grooves and smiling all the way.

A far reaching discussion with a great guitar builder, a great teacher of lutherie, and a founding member of The Noodles, John Reuter.  We'll talk about everything from building guitars for some of the best guitar players of all time to how he met Jon Rauhouse in the prime of the Tempe music scene to relearning to play guitar after  losing multiple  fingers.  A veritable fountain of stories and knowledge awaits!

How to do merch, streaming, social media and steering your own ship.

He's bald, he's beautiful, he was on a musical game show.  What a dick.

The time we tried to find out who this guy is and what makes him tick. 

Jon Rauhouse and Blaine Long sit down for one-on-one about Covid, touring, getting a podcast started,  and how important it is to be kind.