Basic Folk

Songwriter, author and podcaster Ben Arthur did not know what he was in for on Basic Folk, but neither did I. Most times there is a plan when I approach an interview, however, every once in awhile the plan gets thrown out and we really dig into it. "I didn't expect all the psychological profiling that we're doing... but I'm into it" Ben says after a couple of minutes into the interview.

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Bridget Kearney, bassist for Lake Street Dive, has been deeply immersed in studying music since childhood. From the "super nerds" she met at jazz camp to the nights in her parents' basement transposing songs, Kearney has dedicated herself to the betterment of her craft. In our conversation, we talk about how her experience in playing in orchestras prepared her for collaborative life in a band like Lake Street Dive.

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Matt Smith is a living legend with his unbelievable run at Club Passim, the historic folk venue nestled in a Harvard Square basement. Currently Managing Director at Passim, Matt is the most passionate music lover I know. I met Matt while working as a student at WERS, where he was bringing in fantastic shows into a listening room filled with people who were clambering for honest music in an intimate space.

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Chris Eldridge won his first Grammy this year with The Punch Brothers. After 8 nominations between Punch Brothers, The Seldom Scene and his work with Julian Lage, this award was very overdue! Eldridge, who goes by the nickname Critter, grew up around bluegrass with his dad being a member of The Seldom Scene and being around influential players like Tony Rice.

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Jim Kweskin is maybe the most famous person you might not know. With The Jim Kweskin Jug band, he mixed together folk and jazz which invigorated the straight-laced Cambridge folk scene in the 1960's. A regular at The Club 47, now Club Passim, Kweskin talks about how he came to the jug band style and how his band's relaxed stage presence changed the dynamic of the live folk show in profound ways.

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Corey Laitman is a really interesting musician and person. Their music is vulnerable in a way that you rarely find (Deb Talan, Edie Carey, Patty Griffin) with a voice that basically encompasses all human emotions in 0.5 seconds. It's amazing. Corey's spirit is inspired by their vast imagination and connection to nature. We talk in the podcast about how humans are intrinsically connected to nature, but for most of us that connection is not fully realized.

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Zack Hickman is bound to go down in folk history for his incredible handlebar moustache, but fellow bandmates in his numerous groups know him for his extreme talent and keen ability to bring together musical projects. Born in Lynchburg, VA to physician parents, he grew up on a micro farm where his family grew produce, flowers and (of course) tended to bees. He eventually found his way to Oberlin College where he met and started performing with Josh Ritter, whom he still performs with today.

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David Dye is a public radio music host pioneer. What Dye, WXPN and NPR did with starting the World Cafe changed the landscape of music on the radio for the extreme better. David is a music fan first and was allowed to express that knowledge and love for sharing songs on the radio to a national audience for over 25 years. David is funny and thoughtful and quick with his answers! We go through all my questions!

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Izzy Heltai is brave, curious and charismatic about the world. Izzy is a trans-man who has not yet talked about his gender at length in an interview the way he does on this episode of Basic Folk. He's careful with how he represents himself,  but it's a lovely and informative conversation about finding how to be comfortable in life. He is someone who has a sharp sense of how to achieve that comfort and I'm just as excited as he is about his bright music career.

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Livingston Taylor has managed to carve out an impressive and interesting career as a successful songwriter and extremely effective professor of stage performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Younger brother to the very famous James Taylor, this is an interesting and vast conversation with a fascinating man. Liv generously talks about his relationship with his late brother Alex, Carly Simon and his older brother James.

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