Shows
For SongsA Return Conversation with Lisset Diaz of the Sweet Lizzy ProjectEvery album is important to every band, but some have greater impact than others. Look no further than the [Sweet Lizzy Project](www.sweetlizzyproject.com). The now Nashville-based band’s first album Heaven, was released 10 years ago this year and literally changed their lives. Recorded in a humble studio in Havana, Cuba, Heaven ended up in the hands of Raul Malo, lead singer/songwriter for the Miami-based Americana band the Mavericks as he was scouting bands and locations to film the 2017 PBS special Havana Time Machine. One listen and Raul not only included the band in the special, but al...2025-07-1445 min
For SongsA Fourth Conversation with Dan MurphyIf nothing else, music is healing. Look no further than my guest on this episode—Dan Murphy, former lead guitarist from the 80s-90s cowpunk band Soul Asylum and the alt.country super group Golden Smog. The Minneapolis-based Murphy, who thought he had quit the music biz for good roughly 13 years ago, is in the midst of an unexpected musical renaissance. In this episode, Dan and I discuss his band the Scarlet Goodbye’s second album El Camino Adios. We talk about his partnership with band co-founder Jeff Arundel, a few tunes from the record, and how he has redi...2025-05-1649 min
For SongsLive! In the Studio! A Conversation with Kevin & Jarrett from Franklin GothamIt’s a For Songs first! Join me in the studio for this fabulous conversation with Kevin and Jarrett from the rock/pop/indie rock trio Franklin Gotham. This interview was recorded at Jarrett’s Mixtape Studios in Alexandria, Va. We talk about the band’s latest EP Good Times, Bad Times, and three brilliant songs: the rock-pop gem Caroline, their brilliant cover of Life in a Northern Town, and then, well, you just gotta listen to the whole interview to see what Star Words is about. Trust me, it’s worth it. So sit back, grab a beer, and enjo2025-03-1542 min
For SongsA Return Conversation with Yasmin WilliamsPrepare to be transported. Destination? Who knows, somewhere peaceful no doubt. Just get ready and enjoy the ride. My guest for this episode is making her fifth appearance on the show—[Yasmin Williams](www.yasminwilliamsmusic.com), one of the most innovative and talented musicians I’ve ever heard. Yasmin is here to discuss her latest album Acadia, released in October 2024. Coming on the heels of her breakthrough 2021 release Urban Driftwood, Acadia establishes Yasmin as a true force in modern music. In this episode, we discuss the making of the new record—her first on a major label—and how she asse...2025-02-0242 min
For SongsA Return Conversation with Peter Argyropoulos of Sons of SilverIf you are looking for an album so definitive of our times—an album that exquisitely captures the chaos, the churn, the despair, and ultimately the hope of our world—look no further: LA-based Sons of Silver’s newest release Runaway Emotions is absolutely the one. Lead singer/songwriter Peter Argyropoulos has always been a bit of a soothsayer, as the band’s first two EPs so clearly demonstrated. On Runaway Emotions, however, he takes it to a new level. In this episode, Peter joins me again to detail Runaway Emotions, his hopes and fears for the band and world, a...2025-01-1057 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Tales of Never-ending Rage and a Beautiful Disaster, Sweet Lizzy ProjectHappy Halloween! Here’s a special edition of For Songs Singles! This time we bring back old friend Lisset Diaz, singer/songwriter for the Havana-by-Nashville-based Sweet Lizzy Project, probably one of the hardest rocking and hardest working bands around. Lisset joins me to talk about the band’s latest single, Tales of Never-Ending Rage and a Beautiful Disaster, released just in time for Halloween. The song is incredible—a tour-de-force recalling Queen, the Beatles, Living Colour, Faith No More, Guns N’ Rose, and so much more. The only thing better than the music is the backstory behind the song, so buckl...2024-10-2829 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Speedway, The Scarlet GoodbyeBuckle up everyone—it’s milestone time! This episode of For Songs is the nice, big, round number of 70! That’s right, 7-0! And helping me celebrate is the most popular guest I’ve had—Minneapolis singer/songwriter/guitarist Dan Murphy. A co-founding member of one of Minnesota’s biggest rock band Soul Asylum, Dan is making his third appearance on the show. In this episode of For Songs Singles, Dan discusses the first single from his new band’s forthcoming album. The song is Speedway, the band is the Scarlet Goodbye, and the album is El Camino Adios, set for releas...2024-10-0227 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Beware, the Mighty JoshuaSometimes the simplest words say the most. For proof, look no further than my next guest, Richmond, Va.-based singer/songwriter [Mighty Joshua](www.mightyjoshua.com). Mighty Joshua is one of the hottest, sought after reggae acts along the East Coast, and his new album Dreaducation demonstrates why. In this episode, Mighty Joshua talks “Beware,” the first single from the new record. The song is a musical tour de force, with a driving bass line and sharp horn section anchored by Joshua’s percussion and soulful voice. Like the word itself, “Beware” is more than meets the eye—you’ll hear someth...2024-08-1122 min
For SongsA Conversation with Ian HunterEvery now and again I pinch myself when doing this show. It’s been four years and I’ve had some amazing guests. Yet this one—with all due respect to everyone who’s been on—this one has been more than 30 years in the making. Because my guest is Ian Hunter, hands down my favorite singer-songwriter of ‘em all. Ian is best known for his time fronting the early to mid-70s band English band Mott the Hoople. Mott had a major hit in 1972 with All the Young Dudes—look it up on Spotify, trust me you’ve heard it. From t...2024-05-1043 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Find Your Way, Tim EastonSome folks are just a natural for this show. Nashville-based veteran singer/songwriter Tim Easton certainly fits the bill. A renowned tunesmith, Easton has lived a quintessential troubadour life—busking in Europe and living in L.A., New York, and many places in between. Now calling Nashville home, Tim is back with a new album Find Your Way. Tim’s solo work dates back to the late 90s, back when the major labels bet big that so-called alt.country or Americana would be the next thing. In this episode of For Songs Singles, Tim talks about how those big bets...2024-03-3126 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Tell Me This, Sons of SilverIf there’s one lesson songwriters learn over and over again, it’s that sometimes you just gotta let go. Sometimes you just gotta let the song work its way out on its own schedule. Just let it go. That’s the trick my next guest leaned on for his band’s latest single. Peter Argyropolous, lead singer and songwriter for LA-based rockers Sons of Silver, joins me to discuss Tell Me This, a classic, 70s-esque punk rocker released in early 2024. In addition to being a great friend of the show, Peter is also a fantastic interview. Coming off the heel...2024-03-0133 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! I Can't Seem to Drink Her Off My Mind, Ian JonesIf there’s been one constant chronicled on this podcast, it’s that no one knows the future of the music industry. Hell, no one even knows what the next few days are going to be like in the industry. Certainly my next guest, Seattle-based singer/songwriter Ian Jones, is doing all he can to crack the code. Ian is making his third appearance on this show, this time to discuss his latest single, I Can’t Seem to Drink Her Off My Mind. The song is a throwback to Merle Haggard, David Allen Coe, Buck Owens—a true drown-in...2024-01-2824 min
For SongsCelebrating the Life of Barry Lynch: A Conversation with Hannah LynchLest anyone doubt the power of music, I give you the life of Barry Lynch. I met Barry while on vacation in May 2012 at a small pub in the small town of Moy, Northern Ireland, after he led a brilliant Irish session in which he sang and played just about every stringed instrument known to man. I finally brought him onto this show in July 2022 to discuss an album he’d just produced by a band called the Armagh Rhymers. Sadly, Barry passed away suddenly in Spring 2023. In this episode, Barry’s daughter Hannah Lynch joins me to discuss her...2024-01-1344 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Dawning, Yasmin WilliamsWhen we last caught up with Yasmin Williams, her life was just about to change. It was February 2021, the pandemic was slowly but surely starting to ease, and the DC-based acoustic guitar maestro released her groundbreaking album Urban Driftwood. Full of spellbinding, mesmerizing, uplifting acoustic-guitar driven instrumentals, Urban Driftwood took Yasmin from her parent’s house to all around the globe, playing festivals, selling out clubs, and doing gigs with some of her heroes. It’s been a whirlwind—and two-plus years later, Yasmin is back. In this episode of For Songs Singles, we talk about Yasmin’s latest breathta...2023-12-0823 min
For SongsA Conversation with James FearnleyThirty years ago, I popped in If I Should Fall From Grace with God by the London-Irish punk band the Pogues, and my life changed forever. I was 17, socially awkward, and a bit of a loner, but discovering the Pogues opened a whole world for me. Finding their brand of traditional Irish music blended with punk rock was like discovering a new home—comfortable yet dangerous, familiar yet mysterious. So it is such a tremendous honor to welcome Pogues founding member and accordion player James Fearnley to For Songs. James, hailing from outside Manchester, England, joined the band at th...2023-11-2047 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Somebody Wake Me When Its Over, Sweet Lizzy ProjectIf you’ve ever felt like there’s just not enough time in the day, that the world is crashing down and you’re feeling more pressure than you can handle, have I got the song for you. In this episode of For Songs Singles, I welcome back Lisset Diaz of the Havana-by-way-of-Nashville-based [Sweet Lizzy Project](www.sweetlizzyproject.com). Lisset discusses the band’s dynamite new single, Somebody Wake Me When It’s Over. The song is a musical tour-de-force, a blistering rock opera that jumps out of your speakers right into your heart. Lyrically, the song addresses anxiety and the fe...2023-11-0425 min
For SongsA Third Conversation with Louis MichotSometimes life comes full circle. In this episode of For Songs, I welcome back Louisiana-based singer/songwriter Louis Michot of the traditional Cajun band the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Louis first appeared on the show in Fall 2020, at the height of the pandemic. He didn’t know it at the time but he was in the midst of writing and recording his first solo album. Three years later, Louis has just released Reve du Troubadour, which is Cajun French for Troubadour’s Dream. In this episode, Louis discusses how those eerie first few months of the pandemic resulted in creative outp...2023-10-1040 min
For SongsA Return Conversation with Dom FlemonsThe sun is out, life is returning to normal and our favorite bands are back on tour. Not even two years ago this seemed like an impossible dream, as I’ve chronicled on this show. But here we are, in Summer 2023, and things seem, well, pretty good. A new day is dawning. Just ask acclaimed multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter [Dom Flemons](www.theamericansongster.com), who released his brilliant solo record Traveling Wildfire this past March. Dom joins me for a third time to discuss his new record, and how it signals a new beginning for him and the rest of us. Do...2023-08-0442 min
For SongsA Second Conversation with Ian JonesMusic, not unlike life, is about the journey rather than the destination. And perhaps no artist I’ve interviewed knows that better than Seattle-based singer/songwriter Ian Jones. A true song craftsman, Ian knows that getting your big break in the music industry is about luck and being in the right place at the right time. But more than anything, you need killer songs. And while Ian hasn’t quite struck his lucky break, it’s not for a shortage of great tunes. Ian is influenced by the best—Dylan, the Beatles, Jim Messina, you name it. His music would fi...2023-05-1949 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Break Down the Walls, Emma NobleThe best thing about music is no matter how old you are, no matter how long you’ve been listening and loving music, you can still hear something that will stop you in your tracks. Which is what happened to me a few months ago when London-based singer/songwriter Emma Noble’s latest single Break Down the Walls jumped out of my Spotify feed. It was an old-school sound with a fresh twist. Or maybe it was a fresh, new vibe with an old-school feel. Whatever it was, I was hooked. Break Down the Walls sounds like it could’ve bee...2023-04-2323 min
For SongsA Return Conversation with Dan Murphy of the Scarlet GoodbyeJoin me as former Soul Asylum guitarist Dan Murphy makes his long-awaited return not only to this show but to the music industry as a whole! In this episode, Dan talks about his new band the Scarlet Goodbye and its brand-spanking new debut album Hope’s Eternal. The band is a duo, with Dan being joined by fellow Minneapolis singer/songwriter Jeff Arundel. Dan left Soul Asylum and the music biz about 10 years ago, reappearing every now and again for a one-off Golden Smog show. Dan recounts what led him back to music, how much the industry has changed ov...2023-03-2445 min
For SongsA Fourth Conversation with Paleface!Remember last fall? When indie-rock legend Paleface and his partner/drummer Monica “Mo” Samalot came onto the show to discuss their crowdfunding campaign for their new album? Well you should! And guess what? The campaign was a success and the new album is out! Beyond the Bells was released in mid-February, and man is it fantastic. Drawing inspiration from his entire career, which began in the late 80s and early 90s in New York, Beyond the Bells is a masterclass in production and songwriting. Paleface cut his teeth at open mic nights up and down New York, bonding with folk...2023-03-1040 min
For SongsA Conversation with Mark BinghamFrom New Orleans to “Fakersfield,” Mark Bingham has seen it all. The sought-after producer, songwriter, guitarist, arranger, etc., has literally rubbed elbows with music royalty. Bands like REM, artists like Dr. John, Marianne Faithfull have all called on Mark to produce, arrange, you name it. All the while, Mark wrote his own music and now, he is at the beginning of an ambitious career retrospective project to release the 22 albums he’s written over the last 50-plus years. When we spoke in late November from his New Orleans home, Mark had just released the first two records from this projec...2023-01-1337 min
For SongsA Return Conversation with Lisset Diaz of the Sweet Lizzy ProjectIf you love music, if music changed your life, if music made you feel things you’ve never felt before, then this is the interview for you. Joining me once again is Lisset Diaz of the Cuban-by-way-of-Nashville-based Sweet Lizzy Project. We discuss the band’s newest and long-awaited album Pirate Radio/Radio Pirata. Simply stated, this is album for the ages. Pirate Radio is a concept album that traces the life and consequences of a fictional character in Cuba who goes to great lengths to listen to rock and roll music. In doing so, this character becomes almost an acci...2022-11-1848 min
For SongsA Conversation with Nora O'ConnorThere’s a moment in singer/songwriter Nora O’Connor’s new album My Heart when you realize just how special her talent is. By admission, the Chicago-based musician is more comfortable in the background, singing backup and playing various instruments with such Americana luminaries like Neko Case, the Decembrists, Robbie Fulks, among others. But for the first time in 18(!) years, Nora is back with a solo album—her third—called My Heart, released in early October. And it’s about midway through the fourth song on the album “Cambridge Cold” when you understand why My Heart is such an impeccable li...2022-11-0236 min
For SongsA Conversation with John McCutcheonYou think you’ve been productive during COVID? Maybe so, but did you write, record, and release three (that’s right, THREE!!!) albums in two-plus years? No? Well, my next guest did. In fact, folk singer John McCutcheon’s latest album Leap, released in September 2022, is not only his third album since 2020, but his 43rd of his career! John’s love of folk music began as a young teenager watching the 1963 March on Washington; after seeing Bob Dylan, Odetta, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary, he was hooked. He’s been writing and recording folk music since the mid-1970s...2022-10-1040 min
For SongsAnother Conversation with PalefaceAs you’ve no doubt heard in listening to this podcast, the music industry is not for the faint of heart. You need nerves of steel, patience, determination, and, at times, a devil-may-care attitude. You also need support, and lots of it, if you hope to make just enough to get by. In this special episode of For Songs, we are joined again by indie-rock legend Paleface and his drummer/partner Monica “Mo” Samalot. Paleface has seen it all, a veteran of the industry since the early 90s. His songwriting chops sharpened by folks like Daniel Johnston and others, PF has...2022-10-0418 min
For SongsA Conversation with Barry LynchFor me, this episode is 11 years in the making. For my guest Barry Lynch and his group the Armagh Rhymers? We’re talking 30 years. The Armagh Rhymers, a traditional Irish mummers band from Northern Ireland, released their first album in 1992. So now 30 years later, “Vol. 2” is on the streets and, well, you need to take a seat, grab a pint or two, and listen in. Mumming, for those who don’t know, is an ancient tradition, dating back in Ireland to the pagan, pre-Catholic days. It consists of musicians wearing straw masks, becoming characters, and performing a play based on fable...2022-07-1345 min
For SongsAnother Conversation with Peter Argyropoulos of Sons of SilverPeter Argyropoulos has a way with words. The lead singer/songwriter of the LA-based hard-rock band Sons of Silver has his finger on the pulse on what’s happening across the country and, indeed, the world. On his band’s debut EP Doomsday Noises, he presaged the pandemic, the social unrest, and the decaying fabric of society that has been our existence the last two years. Now, a year and half later, the band is back with a blistering follow-up EP called Ordinary Sex Appeal. In this five-song set, Peter and the band capture the angst, divisions, and frustrations that...2022-06-1245 min
For SongsA Conversation with Ben VaughnThere’s something about simplicity and subtlety that sets the best songwriters apart. The simplicity in using the exact, perfect word—and only that word—to describe a feeling in a way that everyone can relate. And the subtlety of taking the listener on an emotional journey with a song that only lasts three minutes. Few artists have attained a mastery of both quite like my next guest, singer/songwriter Ben Vaughn. An exceptionally talented musician, Ben is a persistent writer; indeed, he writes almost every day. The tough part is getting it all down before it goes away. His mu...2022-05-2442 min
For SongsA Conversation with the WaymoresFunny how the world works, at least in the world of music. This is the story of Kira Annelise and her husband Willie Heath Neal, who together make up the country duo The Waymores. When they met, Willie was a seasoned songwriter about to hang it up. He was still singing in bands when Kira saw him performing, and her world changed. A talented singer, Kira had yet to pick up a guitar or even listen to real country music—real being Hank Sr., Johnny Cash, John Prine, etc. After seeing Willie, Kira started playing guitar and writing music. It...2022-05-0741 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Restless Companion, Michael Patrick F. SmithIt’s been a little more than since my next guest first joined me on For Songs. Michael Patrick F. Smith and I go way back. Way way back. To elementary school, middle school, high school, and even church. Michael returns to the show for the first time since January 2021, a few weeks before his book The Good Hand was published. The Good Hand is a blistering read, telling the tale of his journey to North Dakota at the height of the shale-gas revolution that turned parts of the state into a latter-day gold rush. With the paperback version ha...2022-04-1823 min
For SongsAnother Conversation with The Pug--Talking the Clash, Joe Strummer, Big Audio Dynamite & Much More!It’s been a rough two years, to say the least. Music is one of the few things keeping us together, and for some of us, The Clash have been doing the heavy lifting. In this unique episode, Tony from the Pug joins me for an enthralling conversation about music, the Clash, and so much more. The general theme of this conversation is as follows: What Big Audio Dynamite/Joe Strummer solo songs would’ve been great Clash songs? We tried to put in some ground rules, but those quickly went out the door. Aside from the Clash we talk...2022-04-1039 min
For SongsA Conversation with Emily CapellQuestion for you: If you had the chance to spend an hour in the car with one of your musical heroes—you are driving—what music would you play? Believe it or not, this is a difficult, stressful decision. And my next guest, northwest London-based Emily Capell, faced this very dilemma. Emily, who literally grew up on the Clash and its various offshoots, is an old soul. Her music is inspired by, well, the Clash, Big Audio Dynamite, but it goes beyond that. You’ll hear some Sinatra, you’ll hear some ‘60s doowop, you’ll hear a lot of ska, Blon...2022-03-2045 min
For SongsA Conversation with the Whitmore SistersIt is a cliché that blood is thicker than water, but its also true. And my next guests are living proof. Bonnie and Eleanor Whitmore of the Whitmore Sisters have just released their first album as a duo. Ghost Stories is an emotional powerhouse. And it is full of inspiration. Eleanor and Bonnie have been in and around the Americana genre for pretty much their whole lives. Eleanor and her husband Chris Masterson make up folk rock duo The Mastersons, and they also play in Steve Earle’s backing band The Dukes. Bonnie, meanwhile, has released a number albums ove...2022-02-1844 min
For SongsA Conversation with Ian JonesSo if there’s one theme in most all these interviews I’ve conducted the last nearly two years, it’s that the music biz is a tough one, even in the best of times. When you think about it, it’s almost impossible to make money—spotify, pandora, and the Internet have seen to that. And my next guest, Seattle-based singer/songwriter [Ian Jones,](www.ianjonesmusic.com) knows this better than most. Back in the 90s and early 2000s, Ian left his home to give music a go in California, moving to Santa Barbara. While the weather may have been...2022-01-2140 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Keeping On, Franklin GothamHere we go—nearing Year Three of this pandemic. Not to mention the coldest days of the year, hazardous weather, you name it. Days like these, you gotta dig deep to keep going. If you are struggling to trudge ahead as the news seemingly gets worse every day, have I got a song for you. Joining me for this first episode of 2022 is my old friend Kevin Adkins of Franklin Gotham. In this episode, Kevin and I talk about Franklin Gotham’s latest single Keeping On, a tune for our time. It is no doubt one of the catchiest song...2022-01-0721 min
For SongsA Conversation with Nicole AtkinsIt is Christmas time, and while this isn’t a Christmas episode per se, it is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’ve ever heard Nicole Atkins sing, you know there’s something eerie, calm, haunting yet beautiful about her voice. There’s a sense of mystery, a compelling sound that keeps you coming back for more. Perhaps this has something to do with where she’s from, a small town not far from the Jersey beaches, maybe 40 minutes south of New York City. If you’ve ever been to the Jersey shore, you know there’s something in t...2021-12-2641 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Dreaming of a Revolution, by the Sweet Lizzy ProjectThe spark of freedom can be seen anywhere if you look for it. In this episode of For Songs-Singles, we bring back Lisset Diaz of the Sweet Lizzy Project (www.sweetlizzyproject.com) to discuss her band’s latest single, Dreaming of a Revolution/Otra Revolucion. The song is inspired by the protesters in Cuba, who are putting their lives on the line to protest against the existing regime. The song is the first from their forthcoming album Pirate Radio/Radio Pirata. Every song on the album was recorded in English and Spanish. In this episode, we talk about each ve...2021-12-1724 min
For SongsA Conversation with the Mighty JoshuaNever doubt it—music can change lives. My next guest is living proof. Renowned reggae singer The Mighty Joshua certainly had no intentions of singing and playing in front of thousands. In fact he started his musical career in Richmond, Va., as a percussionist in a few reggae bands, content playing a supporting role to others. But at the heavy urging of well-traveled reggae keyboardist Chris ‘Peanut’ Whitley, Joshua embraced his calling and truly became Mighty. Suddenly Joshua was opening for legendary reggae acts in Virginia and elsewhere, and now he’s become a staple of the East Coast reggae s...2021-12-0342 min
For SongsA Second Conversation with Louis MichotWith Hurricane Ida bearing down on his home state of Louisiana, musician Louis Michot felt helpless. After a quick jaunt for his band’s—Grammy winning Lost Bayou Ramblers—first gig outside Louisiana in nearly two years, Michot and his crew raced home to be with their family as the storm approached. An unlucky break during the show led to a short COVID scare, but even more frightening were the cries for help he saw online as Ida pummeled New Orleans and other areas, knocking out power for weeks. Once he felt safe and healthy—he never did get sick, th...2021-11-1938 min
For SongsA Conversation with Jade Jackson and Aubrie SellersIt sounds like a cliché, but sometimes when you expect the unexpected, you might just get exactly what you need. That’s what happened to then-California-based singer/songwriters Jade Jackson and Aubrie Sellers after a chance meeting in 2019. Jackson and Sellers, both accomplished artists on different ends of the country-rock spectrum, began working together on one of Jade’s songs Hush during the start of the pandemic. One thing led to another, and both relocated to Nashville to record the compelling new album Breaking Point, released in October 2021. Breaking Point is a revelation, with both artists pushing themselves into an ea...2021-11-0543 min
For SongsFor Songs Singles! Hesitate, Sons of SilverWelcome to the first episode of For Songs Singles! Instead of four songs, we talk about one. It’s a bit shorter and lets us take a deep dive into the creation and meaning of one song in particular. On this first episode we feature Hesitate, the blistering new song from LA-based indie-rock band Sons of Silver. Hesitate is a musical and lyrical tour-de-force. It jumps out of the speakers with driving guitars and pounding bass and drums. Singer/songwriter Peter Argyropoulos takes the global decline of our discourse, where we wall off those we disagree with, whether they ar...2021-10-1518 min
For SongsA Conversation with Dar WilliamsTime has a funny way of working, right? Some days feel like they last forever, while others are over in a blink of an eye. And the cruel joke is that as you get older, time seems to move even faster. One day you are a bright eyed, bushy tailed 20-something ready to take over the world, and the next, the world has chewed you up and spit you out. Well, maybe it’s not that bad, but you get the point. On this episode of For Songs, singer/songwriter Dar Williams covers these themes and more on her la...2021-10-0139 min
For SongsCatching Up with Dom FlemonsIt’s a #ForSongs first! Check out my in-person interview with the mighty [Dom Flemons](www.theamericansongster.com), singer/songwriter/historian/storyteller/trailblazer. Dom and I chatted about a hour before a mid-August 2021 show just south of Washington. Listen in as Dom discusses the touring life during COVID, what’s changed, and how his connection with his fans is deeper and stronger than ever. We also discuss his important work in changing the narrative of American folk music and highlighting the contributions African-American artists have made throughout the course of history. And if you find yourself with a hankering for...2021-08-2627 min
For SongsA Conversation about #Cuba with Lisset DiazLet me be clear: this is the most important interview I’ve ever done. It is my humbling honor to welcome the amazing singer/songwriter Lisset Diaz of the [Sweet Lizzy Project](www.sweetlizzyproject.com) back to For Songs. Lisset and her bandmates emigrated from Havana, Cuba, to Nashville, TN, in 2017 to record their second full-length album Technicolor. Lisset is a frequent guest of the show, but this interview is different. If you’ve been watching the news, you know there is a once-in-a-generation protest movement in Cuba. Cubans are putting their lives on the line to bring an end...2021-07-1835 min
For SongsA Conversation with Larry Kirwan of Black '47Buckle up folks. This is a special episode of For Songs. My guest is Larry Kirwan, lead singer/songwriter for the seminal Irish-American rock band Black ’47. Black ’47, for a time, was considered New York City’s house band; they had a massive following up and down the East Coast. For folks of a certain age, Larry’s music was their introduction to Irish history, particularly the Northern Ireland conflict. Join us as we talk about three great Black ’47 songs, along with a brand new, exclusive track Rockaway Blue, based on his newest novel of the same name. If you like histo...2021-07-1649 min
For SongsA Conversation with Matt Easton of The Jenny ThingDepending on where you live, one could say that we’re going through a bit of a renewal. COVID cases are dropping, people are eating out, and as we’ve chronicled, live music is back! So it’s appropriate, then, that my next guest and his band are going through a rebirth of their own. Berkeley, Ca., based [The Jenny Thing](www.thejennything.com) first came to be in 1991. Their music blended 80s synth pop with the industrial rock sound popularized by 90s bands like Nine Inch Nails. The band was a West-Coast touring mainstay before calling it quits in 199...2021-06-2339 min
For SongsA Conversation with Sandra the Pie Lady and Tony T. of the PugLive music is here! And not just outdoors! But actual music in actual clubs--like it used to be before March 2020! As things open up, though, our favorite bars and clubs don't just flip a switch and go back to normal. Here in DC, many bars and clubs have been closed for a year and half! That's 18 months of no money, no people, no music, no drinks, nothing. It's not just been a slow week or month--it's been nothing coming in for almost two years! If any bars and clubs made it this far, they are barely hanging on. This...2021-06-0913 min
For SongsA Conversation with Maia SharpMost folks don’t have the kind of year singer/songwriter [Maia Sharp](www.maiasharp.com) just did. In addition to ending a 20-plus year marriage, she uprooted her life, moved from LA to Nashville and wrapped up the recording of her newest album Mercy Rising in late 2019. But that’s not all. In between a tornado blew through her new neighborhood in March 2020 and during the subsequent recovery and rebuild, she caught the coronavirus before most of us knew how deadly it could be. So yeah, Maia’s been through more than most over the last few years. And th...2021-05-2343 min
For SongsA Conversation with Dan MurphyAfter co-leading Minneapolis-based Soul Asylum to stratospheric heights in the 90s, lead guitarist Dan Murphy quit the business cold in 2012. Tired of the grind, Murphy literally hung up his famous Les Paul, seemingly for good. While Soul Asylum carries on with singer/guitarist David Pirner as the only original member, Murphy has focused instead on his online pinup art gallery called Grapefruit Moon. But as they say, life happens. Murphy picked up the guitar again for a family funeral and started again. He’s not back with Soul Asylum, but he still performs one-off gigs with his mid-90s al...2021-05-0750 min
For SongsA Conversation with Emily BrownTake a deep dive into the songwriting process with Berkeley, Ca.-based singer/songwriter Emily Brown. Emily walks us through the making of her latest album A Fish of Earth, which is bursting with lush orchestration, strong melodies, and haunting instrumentation. It is an inspired album, with musical nods to Glen Campbell, Loretta Lynn, and gorgeous musicals like The Sound of Music. The album is made even stronger by her personal-yet-relatable lyrics focused on relationships—relationships with romantic partners, with parents, with expectations, and with religion. She credits her collaborators with the broad, bold sound, but her voice and sp...2021-04-0741 min
For SongsA Conversation with Sandra the Pie LadyIt’s no secret the toll the pandemic is taking on the music industry. Musicians are struggling to get by, they can’t tour, they really can’t play much of anywhere, except their living room. It’s truly become a hand-to-mouth existence. And honestly, the same goes for the independent venue owners too. Being shuttered for more than a year will likely put most out of business; indeed, far too many have closed since March 2020. Those that are still here are hanging by a thread. This is a special episode of For Songs. My guest is Sandra the Pie Lady...2021-03-2620 min
For SongsA Conversation with David ChildersIt’s been said that late bloomers bloom best. Not sure where I heard that, but it certainly applies to David Childers, the singer/songwriter based outside of Charlotte, NC. David’s one of the sharpest songwriters around, mixing southern wit, imagery, and charm with an Americana feel. His latest album, Interstate Lullaby, covers a broad range of themes from climate change to white supremacy. The characters in his songs are rough around the edge, gritty, and far from perfect. He captures their humanity in so many ways that you'd think he’s been at it for his entire life...2021-03-1941 min
For SongsA Second Conversation with Yasmin WilliamsYou know what’s cool? Watching a truly innovative and talented musician start getting her due. Yasmin Williams, the brilliant guitarist from Northern Virginia, is getting noticed by some of music’s biggest media outlets—Rolling Stone. NPR. Pitchfork. The Washington Post. Yep, the world is getting to hear what we’ve known all along—that Yasmin Williams is one of music’s most singular young talents. Her guitar work is breathtaking and her songwriting is hypnotic. And her newest album, Urban Driftwood? It’s a revelation. On this episode of For Songs, Yasmin and I chat about four tunes from Urb...2021-03-0537 min
For SongsA Conversation with Mic HarrisonSome people are born to write songs and play in bands. Knoxville, Tenn.-based singer/songwriter Mic Harrison is one of those people. Music is in his blood, as his Dad gave him a guitar and taught him some early lessons. Then as a member of the influential mid-90s alt.country band The V-Roys with For Songs veteran Scott Miller, Mic came as close as can becoming the Next Big Thing, only to see the band breakup a few years later. After playing with another star-crossed band Superdrag, Mic and his band The High Score have been making...2021-02-1940 min
For SongsA Conversation with Dom FlemonsAlright everyone, grab your seats. Get your pencils and notebooks out and put on your thinking caps. American music school is in session! Our teacher for this episode of For Songs is Dom Flemons, founding member of the Grammy winning, groundbreaking African-American string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Listen and learn how Dom has spent his career unearthing and highlighting the vital role Black musicians played in American folk music. We discuss the breathtaking Prospect Hill: The American Songster Omnibus, his 2014 album that he reissued and repackaged last February, just as the pandemic shuttered life as we know it...2021-02-0538 min
For SongsA Conversation with 3 Pairs of BootsI’m sure we all want to give up our day job for our dream job. As tempting as it sounds, it’s fraught with risk. On this episode of For Songs, California-based 3 Pairs of Boots, featuring the real-life married couple Laura Arias and Andrew Stern, talk about how they did just that. After years of balancing work and family life with the arts, Andrew and Laura reached a point where they needed to give music their undivided attention. And we’re all better off for it. As 3 Pairs of Boots, Laura and Andrew perform California-tinged Americana music—imagine if Stace...2021-01-2238 min
For SongsA Conversation with Michael Patrick F. SmithLots of really bad things have come about because of the internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc. But one good thing is catching up with friends you haven’t seen or heard from in decades. In this episode of For Songs, I speak with singer/songwriter/playwright/author Michael Patrick F. Smith. Michael and I went to elementary school together in the small town of Ijamsville, Md. Not a streetlight or traffic light when we grew up there, but it was home. We went our separate ways after high school--he ventured out to Baltimore and eventually New York to write music an...2021-01-0842 min
For SongsIt's a For Songs Christmas!It’s not Christmas without Christmas music, right? So for the last episode of For Songs for the year, I wanted to highlight some of the best non-traditional holiday music of the last few years. We’ve got two classic covers—anti-folk/indie-rock legend Paleface’s tender, stripped-down version of the Pogues’ Fairytale of New York and DC-based world-music trio Veronneau’s romantic, evocative take on Joni Mitchell’s River. Then we wrap up with two originals—the stunning This Christmas I’m Not Coming Home from Havana-by-Nashville-based Sweet Lizzy Project and the Americana Christmas hymn The Kingdom Has Come by Appalachia...2020-12-1854 min
For SongsAnother Word from Our Sponsor--The PugSo it should this should go without saying, but joking with your servers at a restaurant about the #coronavirus is not cool. It sets off a chain reaction resulting in the server and other staff at said establishment needing to get tested and quarantining until they are well, which of course means lost wages. In this catch-up interview with Tony T of For Songs’ sponsor @thepugDC, he tells us why we really shouldn’t be messing around with those sorts of jokes. But most important, Tony dishes about music and how he creates playlists as a means to keep patr...2020-12-1118 min
For SongsA Conversation with Peter ArgyropoulosLA-based singer/songwriter Peter Argyropoulos was bored. Getting tired of playing acoustic shows, he called some friends to put together a new rock n’ roll outfit. A few of his friends played with some of the biggest bands in the land—Dave Krusen of Pearl Jam on drums, Adam Kury of Candlebox of bass, just to name a few. Add in guitarists Kevin Haaland and engineer/keyboardist Brina Kabler (also Peter’s wife), and you’ve got yourself one helluva a band. Sons of Silver’s newest EP Doomsday Noises is a collection of five blistering songs that chronicle what happe...2020-12-0442 min
For SongsA Conversation with Lisset DiazEvery musician sacrifices something to do what they do. For most, it’s money. I mean, unless you’re already a huge star, the chances of making money in this industry is slim to none. But few artists have sacrificed quite as much as Lisset Diaz and her rock-and-roll band, the Sweet Lizzy Project. Lisset and her bandmates emigrated to Nashville from Havana, Cuba, in 2017. So even before the pandemic, going back home was no easy task. They came here to make a new album after being featured in a PBS special called “Havana Time Machine.” Recording Technicolor took longer t...2020-11-2344 min
For SongsA Word from Our Sponsor--The PugIt’s been months since many of us have been out and about, getting a drink at a bar or hearing live music. For me, the last time I went to a club was in early March in Washington, catching the phenomenal Poguetry tour literally days before the world shut down. I detailed this experience in my interview with Louis Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers, who opened up for and supported Spider Stacy and Cait O’Riordan of the Pogues on that brilliant tour.
As frustrating as it’s been for the fans and musicians, as we’ve...2020-11-1811 min
For SongsEpisode 12: A Conversation with Emily BarkerWhat’s the best way to get a critical message across to your listeners? For Emily Barker, the best way is to make it personal. On her latest album A Dark Murmuration of Words, Emily recounts her travels from her native Australia in her early 20s to England to become a singer/songwriter. She uses her personal experience missing home to make a direct plea in her music for combatting our world’s climate crisis. On this episode of For Songs, Emily talks her passion for the environment, how she drives the point home in her writing, and her musi...2020-11-0938 min
For SongsFor Songs #Election2020 Special!The #election is here! So let’s dig into some of what I think is the best political songwriting of our day. In this episode, we feature four songs by different artists, each taking on different elements related to politics and these times we live in. We explore racial justice, social justice, and how we can create a better, more humane world. We’ve got three returning guests—Scott Miller, Yasmin Williams, and Mark Andersen—and making her first appearance is Australian-born, UK-based singer/songwriter Emily Barker. From urgent punk rock to beautiful instrumentals, and everywhere else in between, we cover...2020-10-2950 min
For SongsA Conversation with Mark AndersenFewer bands in rock history are as human, genuine, and flawed as the Clash, the 70s-80s punk rock band that outgrew its punk roots as it grew in mainstream fame. The band wanted to be one of the biggest in the world, but somehow do so without compromising its politically charged message. Is that possible? In a fascinating book called “We are the Clash,” co-author, music historian, and humanitarian Mark Andersen exquisitely details an unheralded time in the band’s history: the making of the band’s last album, “Cut the Crap.” “We are the Clash” is a spellbinding, am...2020-10-1640 min
For SongsA Conversation with Mackenzie NicoleTwo years ago, pop-leaning singer/songwriter Mackenzie Nicole had hit her rock bottom. With a hit record (2018’s The Edge) at a young age, at a time when she should’ve been on top of the world, she nearly gave up. But after acknowledging and getting help for her mental illness—which she calls “the darkness”—Mackenzie fought back. She catalogued her journey from acceptance to recovery in her 2020 release The Mystic. In this episode of For Songs, Mackenzie talks about how her journey to fight back led to the development of The Mystic. She discusses her great love for literatu...2020-10-0135 min
For SongsA Conversation with Louis MichotCan you remember your last normal night out? For me it was March 7, 2020. We saw @spiderstacy & @rockyoriodan of @poguesofficial on their Mid-Atlantic @poguetrylive tour, backed by the @lostbayouramble. Four days later the world shut down and we’ve been couped up ever since. What was it like to be on tour on those last days? In this episode of For Songs, I chat with Louis Michot, lead singer and fiddler player of @lostbayouramble and @michotsmelody makers, about what happened on those last frantic nights on tour, and then his love and passion for #cajunmusic. We dig into four traditional Ca...2020-09-2040 min
For SongsA Conversation with PalefaceSongwriting is not for the weak of heart or mind. Just ask Paleface (PF), the indie-rock legend who came of age during New York City’s anti-folk scene in the late 80s. In this episode of For Songs, PF and his partner/drummer Monica “Mo” Samalot talk about their latest album, the self-made, self-produced “Go Forth.” We discuss how the album came to be, why it was self-made, and how PF got bit by the songwriting bug after watching the late, great Daniel Johnston perform at open-mic nights in New York in this wide-ranging interview.
Find out more about...2020-08-1742 min
For SongsA Conversation with Yasmin WilliamsWhen I was in high school learning the guitar, I wanted to be a shredder. I wanted to play as fast as Living Colour’s Vernon Reid, Joe Satriani, Hendrix, Steve Vai—you know, the guitar maestros who could tear up the fretboard. No dice. Couldn’t come close. And interestingly enough, Yasmin Williams never wanted to reach those heights. She was influenced by Nirvana and other grunge-rock bands. Then she beat the video game Guitar Hero 2 as a teenager, convinced her parents to buy her a guitar, and the rest is history. After getting bored with the electric guitar...2020-08-0431 min
For SongsA Conversation with The RailsIf you’ve ever wondered how much passion, dedication, patience, and determination goes into writing a great song, I give you the Rails. Consisting of James Walbourne and Kami Thompson, the Rails are an English rock duo with three albums to their name since 2014—each one written and recorded under vastly different circumstances. In this episode of For Songs, Kami and James dissect four of their tunes with disarming candor—Grace of God and Borstal from their 2014 debut Fair Warning, and Dictator and Ball and Chain from 2019’s Cancel the Sun. Listen in as they discuss how much they’ve learned...2020-07-2039 min
For SongsA Conversation with Eli CookEli Cook is a student of music. He’s a sponge, soaking up the elements of the past and putting together a sound that’s even more relevant now. Eli is a brilliant guitar player, inspired by the blues greats of the distant, pre-World War II past. But his voice, his sound, and his songs come from the present. He draws a direct line from the music of the early 1900s with the grunge sound of the 1990s. And it works. His talents have taken him all over the country, opening for such legends as B.B. King and Taj...2020-07-0836 min
For SongsA Conversation with VeronneauYes, music really can change your life. Just ask Lynn Veronneau and Ken Avis of the D.C.-based jazz trio Veronneau. A chance meeting in Switzerland in the early 90s started these two musical nomads down the road that would take them all over the world. The band's story is incredible on it's own--Lynn is a native French speaker from outside Montreal, Ken hails from the North of England, and David Rosenblatt, the incredible guitarist, was raised in Brazil, embracing the music and the language. Lynn can sing comfortably in English, Spanish, Portoguese, and French, allowing the band...2020-06-2240 min
For SongsA Conversation with Kevin AdkinsIf you're like me, you've probably seen a band or heard a song and thought, man this group is gonna make it! You might follow their career, see them live, and if you happen to write for an online music magazine, you might even feature them on numerous occassions. And then you might scratch your head when this band doesn't get it's break. Because you know they are incredibly talented and perhaps the best band onstage at that festival you attended, way better than some of the headliners. And you wonder, what happened? Are they still at it? In...2020-06-0935 min
For SongsA Conversation with Scott MillerFor Songs is a podcast about songs and songwriters. We pick four songs from some of our favorite artists and try to get into mindset when they were writing these tunes. How hard is it? Very hard. In our first episode, we talk with renowned Shenandoah Valley, Va.-based singer/songwriter Scott Miller. Scott’s a mainstay on the Mid-Atlantic roots rock/folk rock scene, splitting his time between making music and running his family farm. Between his first band the V-Roys in the mid-90s to his solo career, Scott’s music has taken him all over the worl...2020-05-2334 min