Podcast appearances and mentions of ben tufts

Griefcat: From the German word Kummerspeck or in English “grief bacon,”   the weight you gain from emotional eating or, in this case, the cat you get after a breakup.    Annie Nardolilli: Singer, Songwriter, Guitar Louisa Hall: Singer, Songwriter, Ukulele   What does a Mormon ex-sheriff and an Atheist tech employee have in common?  No, that's not the beginning of an elaborate joke and Griefcat isn't the punchline.  Instead, Annie Nardolilli and Louisa Hall, the masterminds behind Griefcat, are a duo that you can't easily categorize or file into a neat little genre. They are mutually perpetuating forces in matching outfits who together create beautifully blended harmonies and brilliant lyrics, with an unpredictable twist.  They've been compared to Flight of the Conchords, Tenacious D, Norwegian duo Ylvis, and Garfunkel and Oates by fans, but if you ask Annie to describe their sound, she'll say “We're like if Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and Bo Burnham met up at an Olive Garden and wrote a song while eating unlimited breadsticks. Does that make sense? Probably not.”    On their brilliant album Late Stage Capitalism, the nine tracks range from flat out hilarious to unexpectedly thought provoking, each with a unique sound and lyrics to tickle the soul.  An amalgamation of musical talent, these troubadours of the modern age display immense songwriting skills and infinite humor, with topical songs that not only dazzle but also make you smile and laugh while making fun of the world in which we live.  The musicianship stands out on its own too; traditional instruments abound but you will also hear slide guitar, ukulele, trumpet, trombone, violin, and cello peppered throughout the album.  The album explores how unbridled capitalism has invaded every facet of modern life, from workplace politics to interpersonal relationships, and even our most private moments.    They came up with the title in early 2020 when they wrote arguably their most well-known song on the album to date, “Revolution (Poop At Work)” which catapulted the duo to viral infamy and a strong following with over 25 million organic views of their videos, more than 15 million of those views for that song alone.  Even Questlove commented on the song, saying “LOL I feel seen, I see my version as a political act.”  They've also received likes from SZA and actor Alan Tudyk for their posts, among others.    “Revolution (Poop At Work)” is a song about how even the smallest acts of defiance can be revolutionary. “So much of the 2020s feel like the 1920s all over again - the income inequality is staggering, and the rich are getting richer while others are struggling,” says Louisa.  “Late stage capitalism is at the core of our entire album, but this is the song that most explicitly calls this out. We always tell audiences it's our most cerebral song, then we dive into a 1.5 minute poop joke.  Life can be crappy, but it's so much more fun to laugh your way through it!”    Other songs on the album include “I Just Want To Get Inside (Your Bank Account),” an unanticipated, ‘90s-style love song with a hilarious contradiction between two women looking for two different things when it comes to a new relationship.  Are they looking for love or money? It also shines a light on dating culture and how much sensitive personal information we share online every day.  “Crytpobro” is a traditional country tune with all the makings of a hit song.  It's a melodic, catchy, and current, and a breakup song about losing love, in this case to the cult of Cryptocurrency and the church of Elon Musk.  The opening track, “Benevolent Billionaire,” featuring standout vocalist Jarreau Williams along with many of Washington, DC's brightest musical talent, is loosely based on ‘80s supergroup charity singles like “Do They Know It's Christmas?” and “We are the World.”  The song begins with Jarreau singing, “Tired of being broke, ‘cause of all of these rich people,” which is a thesis that applies to the entire record. “Love The Sinner” was written while Annie was working as a deputy sheriff and was inspired by two narrow-minded coworkers she didn't get along with.  “One of our favorite details in the song occurs when we describe the colleague as having a ‘trash bag full of farts' for a soul,” says Annie.  “Fun fact, you'll hear a quick whooshing sound on the track of our drummer Ben Tufts whipping open a trash bag.” It's one of two songs on the album that is based on true events, the other being “Hey There Girl,” a rapid fire duet skewering predatory MLM, boss babe, get-rich-quick-on-the-internet culture.   These songs would never have existed if it weren't for the mind-melding of the opposites attract duo.  Annie, from Arlington, VA is a Mormon and former sheriff's deputy while Louisa, from Alexandria, VA (now lives in Reston VA), is a long-time lapsed Catholic and a career tech employee.  That dichotomy in perspectives has been the key to the duo's success both in songwriting and in their friendship.  They met at a DC-based variety show in 2015 and were the only musicians in a group of comedians performing that night. “Louisa played a song called ‘Barista Boyfriend,' about a barista she had a crush on, and I played a song called ‘Hot Park Ranger' about a park ranger I had a crush on,” says Annie.  “We both realized we liked hot people with jobs!”  They felt an immediate kinship.  After continually running into each other in the singer-songwriter scene in DC and admiring each other's work, they joked backstage at the 9:30 Club in 2018 about how they should form a band together. They scheduled their first rehearsal in 2019, and wrote a song about vaccines and egg rolls, and the rest is (recent) history.   Now, with Late Stage Capitalism, Griefcat has all the potential to be more than just a musical act.  With each live show, they invite their audience to step inside their world, creating a fun and exciting atmosphere that becomes a universally shared experience.  “We want to take away some of the seriousness of the day and help people remember that though life may be chaotic and nonsensical, it's still good. Life is hard and it's okay to laugh at it together,” says Annie.   But the greatest messages they receive are from fans who say their music provides a cathartic experience.  Says Louisa, “We've had folks reach out who couldn't get out of bed due to grief, and they've found us, and it brought them enough joy to get out of bed that day.”  Ultimately they want people to enjoy the music, not just because it's funny, but because it's good – they want fans to feel it in their souls, to love the lyrics, and to have fun singing along.  People often tell them after a Griefcat show that they haven't laughed that hard in a long time, and that's a compliment that inspires Griefcat to keep making music every day.      Stay Connected: Website: https://www.griefcat.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/griefcatpartytime TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefcat Music videos: Cryptobro: https://youtu.be/zOrEZ0I_B2c?si=QP3URS2OXbCbAw-1 I Just Want to Get Inside (Your Bank Account): https://youtu.be/J-fyM3Bylgw?si=VaURz5pzZKQAYm9D Revolution (Poop at Work): https://youtu.be/mN6GXjZ1odg?si=fD7UPXb-c1cD9AqzS     Katie Chonacas  Buy Art: https://www.chonacas.com/links/ Website: https://www.chonacas.com/ X: https://twitter.com/katiechonacas IG: https://www.instagram.com/chonacas/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiechonacas/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/KyriakiChonacas Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chonacas Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2iTpKMr57KoIqdp92xLQb7?si=5Hi9uIcnSxe05XrpNtDL8w Youtube: https://bit.ly/youtube-KatieChonacas IMDB: https://imdb.to/3b2OQG3   Please leave a 5 star and a review!  Thank you so much for tuning in :)  

September 29, 2021: Whirling fiercely in the wake of wildfires, fear-induced headlines and a pandemic in its path was the too-real tornado that struck Nashville in March 2020. Admittedly shaken up by the storm, Folk-Americana singer/songwriter Calista Garcia snapped out of fear by turning to music… specifically, “Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson. As howling winds have continued over the past year, Calista has kept her calm by tapping back into this feeling through renewed awareness of the beauty that remains. On nature walks by her house, for example, she has come to notice how the canopies of leaves wave hello as she walks by; it is from this tender place, she has created a musical world to reflect what she has witnessed. Lending her lyrics now to listeners, Calista Garcia's “A Beautiful World” EP, out October 29th, 2021, provides refuge through the power of rose-colored perspective. “I created ‘A Beautiful World' to be an expression of radical optimism,” Calista shares. “Optimism, not because life is full of sunshine and rainbows, but rather in spite of how tough it can be... I think holding knowledge of the bad and still believing good can prevail is the bravest thing we can do.” As she has accessed hope through songwriting, Calista has found herself writing the EP in solitude from safe places like the park benches nearby, her piano and the floor of her bedroom. Notably, the only co-write on the EP, “After You're Gone,” came from a Zoom collaboration with Rachel Weisbart and Patrick Oberstaedt of the Gender Gnomes; speaking to the loss of family members during the pandemic, this song has already moved listeners to tears including composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa. Produced by Buddy Speir and Calista Garcia at 38 North Studio, “A Beautiful World” was engineered by Sean Russell (Damien & Stephen Marley, Allison Krauss, Bruno Mars), mixed by Grammy Award Winner Jim Scott of Plyrz Studios (The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Sting, Foo Fighters) and mastered by Grammy Award Winner Richard Dodd (Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Boz Scaggs). Featured musicians include Calista Garcia (vocals, acoustic, electric and resonator guitar, harmonica, Wirlitzer electric piano), Buddy Speir (acoustic & electric guitar, Wurliter electric piano, percussion), Harrison Finks (Hammond B3 organ, piano), Eric Scott (bass, backing vocals), Ben Tufts (drums, percussion), Denise Garcia (backing vocals) and Jim Scott (percussion). Without question, Calista Garcia's fiercely-hopeful disposition has continued to propel her music career forward. In spite of its challenges, 2021 has managed to be a hallmark year as Calista was recently nominated Chris Austin Songwriting Finalist at MerleFest, playing a summer of live shows alongside Bad Cameo and as a part of Show X's tour with The Last Real Circus. Previous releases include her critically-acclaimed debut EP “Wild Woman” (2019) which was selected in the 2020 Independent Music Awards for “Best Roots/Country EP,” recognized by the International Music Awards (IAMA), International Songwriting Competition (ISC) and the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest (MASC). In addition, Calista Garcia's extensive musical history includes her title as 2020's National YoungArts Gold Winner in Voice/Singer-Songwriter, 2021 Alicia Key's She is the Music Foundation Songwriting Fellow, 2020 Johnny Mercer Songwriting Project Fellow, 2017-18 Berklee Performance Showcase Winner, 2017 Bernard Ebbs Young Songwriter of the Year and two-time Grammy Foundation Young Songwriter Program Artist. As Calista continues to shine light onstage, tour plans continue with an upcoming show at The Birchmere alongside the renowned Rick Wakeman of “Yes” on October 24th, 2021. In Calista's words, “My greatest wish is that this song helps you as a listener let go of your fears, and feel a little freer from your hangups. This really is a beautiful world we get to live in.” -https://www.themarketingmixtape.com/pressrelease-abeautifulworld --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/loveletterstovirginia/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loveletterstovirginia/support

Episode 29 brought Mark Beeson to the program! Mark owns Fred & Elvis' Guitar Lounge, a recording studio in Farifax, VA, is the bassist of his own music project The Jack Pine and can be seen holding down the bottom end, stage left for country/rock outfit Scott Kurt & Memphis 59. Mark recounts that pivotal moment in his formative years when he discovered The Police and their 1978 debut record Outlandos d'Amour via his older brother's record collection, and recently performed these complex musical arrangements live for a covers project orchestrated by Washington, DC-based drummer Ben Tufts. Enjoy this look back at an important record from the late seventies!

Adam & Keith end up in the biggest pickle they've ever seen! We discover that amphibian divorce court is more serious than you would think, and Popeyes gives us the option to make our own damn sandwich. And hold on just a second: there's such a thing as a LEGAL amount of plutonium? Ben Tufts is playing 9/28 at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA for a TV theme song filled benefit show to benefit the Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Fund.  Follow Ben Tufts at https://www.instagram.com/bentufts/

Drummer extraordinaire Ben Tufts joins the show! Check out all the bands he's in and The Craig Tufts Fund with the links below! Fuzzqueen: https://fuzzqueen.com/ Virginia Creep: https://virginiacreep.bandcamp.com/ Uptown Boys Choir: https://www.facebook.com/UptownBoysChoir/ Craig Tufts Scholarship: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Education-Programs/Craig-Tufts-Educational-Scholarship Intro Music by Selena Benally http://selenabenallydesigns.com/ https://www.facebook.com/theosyxband/ https://moreamthanfm.bandcamp.com/ Recorded at The Monster House http://www.themonsterhouse.info/

Episode #229.  On today's podcast drummer Ben Tufts invites Justin to Claude Moore Park in Loudoun County, Virginia, the 300 acre park where Ben grew up during his early childhood.  Recorded inside Frogshackle Cabin, a tiny log cabin built in the 1700's, Ben and Justin talk about fishing, politics, vinyl, and history.  Go to TheCircusLife.com for more information on past podcasts from The Circus Life and make sure to subscribe for free on iTunes.  

Craig Tufts was not only the Chief Naturalist at the National Wildlife Federation for many years, he was a big influence in many young naturalists lives. On this very special show, listen in as John sits down with Craig's son Ben and NWF staff members David Mizejewski and Ellen Lambeth to reminisce about their memories of a great man.

This episode features special guest: Ben Tufts, a big drummer from DC, and tracks by Broke Royals, FuzzQueen, Exit Vehicles, Crys Matthews, By And By, and Virginia Creep. Announcements, New Releases from this week, Local DC Shows To See for the coming week, Details and important links from this episode are all on this show’s page at www.dcmusicrocks.com/past-episodes

Musicians Ben Tufts & Liss Victory join Comedians Zach Funk, Ben Daniels and Kevin Skiffington discuss the differences in DIY touring in the music and comedy world. From doing coffee houses, basements to loud bar, they dive into what goes into touring and the life of an touring artist. NEW LIVE STAND UP COMEDY DATES July 7-Garlic Head’s Bistro in Richmond, KY July 9-FFOYA House in Bowling Green, KY July 11-Spirited Goat in Yellow Springs, OH July 12-Blank Slate in Elyria, OH July 21-Mother’s Fool in Madison, WI July 22-Opening for Lee Camp at Club Underground in Minneapolis Subscribe to Krish’s Bandcamp for exclusive content & if you liked this episode donate to the Patreon. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/taboo-table-talk/support

This week drummer extraordinaire Ben Tufts joins the podcast to pick out songs from the upcoming Ben Tufts & Friends show this Saturday at Jammin’ Java! Tracklisting: Tomas Pagán Motta – Small As We Are [unreleased] FuzzQueen – Sailing Empty Tonight [single] Cynthia Marie – Oh, Legs! [Harbor] Hypersparks – Glow [unreleased] Jonny Grave – […]

This week on the podcast we’re talking new albums from Jason Isbell and Kacey Musgraves! Both artists delivered highly acclaimed records in 2013 - Southeastern and Same Trailer Different Parkrespectively – and now are back with their hotly anticipated follow ups. Are Something More Than Free and Pagent Material worth the wait? Can these immensely talented artists charged with, for better or for worse, changing the face of country music strike lightening twice? Kevin, Paul and Patrick dig deep into both records and try come up with the answers.But first! Returning to the podcast after what seems far too long, Ben Tufts, the hardest working musician in the DC Scene, swings by the basement to fill us in on his upcoming annual Ben Tufts and Friends Benefit show on August 22nd at Jammin’ Java. Started as a way to honor the work of his father, the all day concert fundraiser has grown steadily from year to year, and this time out it’s bigger than ever.So tune in, grab a seat and get ready for a super-charged, super-informative audio adventure. Coming to you live-ish from the baddest basement in DC, it’s Episode 125 of ChunkyGlasses: The Podcast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s the conclusion of our two part series on Unsung Drummers! Picking up right where we left off earlier this week, Adam Dawson, Ben Tufts and Mike Smirnoff dive even deeper into the drummers that influenced not just them, but a whole generation of musicians. Earl Palmer, Billy Conway, Russ Kunkel and more all get their due in Episode 107 of Chunkyglasses: The Podcast - Unsung Drummers! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On our latest podcast we invite some of DC’s hardest working drummers to the basement for a super-sized, multi-part exploration of UNSUNG DRUMMERS. In part one of our two-part extravaganza, Ben Tufts and Mike Smirnoff join Kevin and Adam to shine a light on some drummers that you probably don't know about, but absolutely should. We're taking a look at drummers who brought something important to the table, and who should have become household names but didn't due to bad luck, bad band breakups, or having no interest whatsoever in becoming a household name. Educational, inspirational, explorational, and super-powered by rock & roll, it’s the biggest podcast we’ve done yet. Episode 106 of ChunkyGlasses: The Podcast – UNSUNG DRUMMERS! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2009, DC-based musico Andy Zipf decided it was time for a change, and thus The Cowards Choir was born. What was initially a “solo” project (there were always collaborators) has developed into a full-fledged band featuring fellow DC-area stalwarts Ryan Walker on bass, Ben Tufts on percussion and Adam Neubauer on drums, and October 4th, the quartet released their latest effort, Cool Currency.Fresh off the release of that EP (and we do mean fresh…as in the morning after the release show), Andy and the guys stopped by the basement to talk about, the making of Cool Currency, the evolution of The Cowards Choir to date, their upcoming slot at the Magnificent Intentions Music Festival, and more.It’s a super-caffeinated episode of ChunkyGlasses: The Podcast that you’re gonna want to put in your ears right….now. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Saturday, August 16th, Vienna’s famed Jammin’ Java will host the Fourth Annual Ben Tufts and Friends fundraiser for the Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Fund. With a promised SEVEN HOURS of music from the best of the regional scene and more, it’s sure to be one of the most memorable events of the year. With his brother Dan and friends, Derek Evry, Ryan Walker, Jasmine Gillison, and Aaron Mason in tow, Ben stopped by the basement yet again to talk in depth about the Craig Tufts Memorial Fund, share stories of how he and his friends met, the music they’ve created together over the years, and much, much more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Straight out of the van to your ears, Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray finish up their “honeymoon” tour right here in DC at the Black Cat on Wednesday 6/4. Yesterday the band, comprised of Erin Frisby (Miss Shevaughn), Chris Stelloh (Yuma Wray), and DC music scene mainstays Ben Tufts and Derek Evry, stopped by the studio to talk about the tour, their new album Lean Into The Wind and much, much more. Whether you’re a fan of their “cosmic Americana”, looking for some tales from the road, or just want to find out why it’s essential for musicians to insure their instruments, this one’s got it all. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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