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This week on the show Chris Eveland stops by the show to discuss, being a studio player as well as a touring one. We talk music, life, and more. 

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Chris Eveland is a dynamic and versatile guitarist whose style emulates many genres. With a

deep passion for music that began at a young age,Chris has spent over 35 years and north of

3000 live shows, honing his craft, developing a reputation for technical skill, emotive playing,

and a unique sound that blends many of his influences.

Chris has performed in Theaters, Festivals, Arenas all over North America and the UK as well. As a composer, he creates intricate, melodic guitar parts that resonate with many listeners and has him known as a go to hired professional. Whether on stage or in the studio, Chris brings an infectious energy and technical precision that resonates with audiences and fellow musicians

alike.

Chris also has acquired an Artist endorsement deal with the Canadian guitar company Godin. In addition to performing, Chris has collaborated and toured with Sony BMG recording artist

Aaron Walpole (3rd place Canadian Idol) and is currently working with a north American touring

Abba tribute. Known for his improvisational skills and stage presence, he brings a fresh and ex-

citing approach to every performance, leaving a lasting impact wherever he goes.

Chris is currently performing, recording and touring with, SOS the Abba Experience, FyRe, John Miles Music, Sammi and the Boys and is regularly hired as a fill-in for many bands in Ontario.

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Bren Holmes stops by the show to discuss music, AI, chasing his dream, and more.

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For thirty-plus years, Bren Holmes has been playing his craft as a musician, songwriter, and bandmate. As an original member of the Irish Rock band The Young Dubliners, this Los Angeles-by-way-of-Dublin Ireland band has gigged all over the world--and lived to tell about it.

In the fall of 2019, Bren decided to part ways with the band in the pursuit of a solo career. After several months, he put together a list of songs he had written and got together with co-producer Bryan Dobbs to record his very first solo album, Everything You Never Wanted.

His debut album was very well received throughout the industry and not too long after it’s release, Bren didn’t waste any time and got right back to work to start on his sophomore album entitled, A Rush To The Start Line… With 10 new songs under his belt, he enlisted his co-producer Bryan Dobbs to complement his previous endeavor. It comprises of a mixture of themes and emotions with not any two songs sounding alike yet somehow strung together gracefully…it deals with a number of themes from a runaway child ("Gloria") to the topsy-turvy life of Sinéad O’ Connor ("Ordinary World") to Mother Earth speaking to humanity as a whole ("Need Some Time") to a couple of breakup songs, which Bren never seems to shy away from ("Satisfied", "Don’t Say You Will").

Bren and Bryan played most of the instruments but brought in some great talent when required, including bassist Paul Bushnell (Tim McGraw), Ben Thomas (Dweezil Zappa) to name a few…

Bren is hoping to take his new album around the country throughout 2026 and beyond. He hopes that it will bring you some enjoyment and solace while listening to it…

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Gerald Jones stops by the show to discuss, his new app, Blessen, trauma, doom scrolling and more.

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Gerald Jones and Kevin Clark's friendship goes back over 20 years, to the night they first met backstage at the Academy Awards. Their bond grew through creativity, shared values, and a deep desire to make a difference. Together, they later won an Emmy Award for a public service announcement addressing school gun violence - a project that reflected their heart for inspiring hope and protecting the next generation.

Beyond their work in media, Gerald and Kevin have also been long-time business partners supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, running programs focused on empowerment and compassion. This commitment to community is woven into everything they do - and it became the foundation of Blessn.

The story of Blessn began in March 2023, when Gerald Jones became sick of doom scrolling on social media, and found himself bummed out after every TikTok session. It occurred to him that maybe there was a better way. There should be a short form video social media that uplifted and encouraged instead. 

At its heart, Blessn is more than an app - it’s a movement. A space where users can share uplifting videos, connect with others who believe in goodness, and replace endless “doom scrolling” with “faith scrolling.” Gerald and Kevin believe that positive scrolling has the power to change hearts, strengthen communities, and remind people that light always wins over darkness.

For more information on the Blessn app, visit: blessn.com (http://blessn.com/)

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Justin Warfield stops by the show to discuss, Deathrock Devotionals Vol II, inner peace, change in perspective and more. 

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After a year of steady build-up, bold reinvention, and dancefloor resurrection, WARFIELD - the darkwave/deathrock project helmed by She Wants Revenge lyricist and frontman Justin Warfield - arrives at a pivotal moment. Today marks the release of Deathrock Devotionals Vol. II (out via Black Heathers/Cleopatra Records), the latest installment in Justin’s ongoing love letter to the early Los Angeles deathrock and post-punk scenes that shaped him. Just two weeks later, on November 28, the saga culminates with the release of the full-length album Deathrock Devotionals - an all-encompassing statement piece that merges narrative depth, goth energy, and propulsive hooks into one darkly luminous body of work.

“Like its predecessor, Vol. II is a continuation, and remembrance of, the early years of goth and deathrock in Los Angeles,” Justin explains. “I’m taking inspiration from 45 Grave, Super Heroines, Rozz Williams, Patrick Mata - all those people who pioneered this thing that not only lives on, but is thriving so many years later it. I’m just continuing that spirit and making something new, fun, full of energy, and from my point of view.” He continues, “In many ways this project, this band, and this record specifically is really the child of a time in the early ’80s in LA when there was a confluence of art-rock punks, East LA punks, Queer culture, late-night diners and after hours, basement shows, dueling live music venues in Chinatown as the epicenter of the scene, and suburban backyard parties. When Hollywood was dangerous and full of possibility, and before the jocks and bros crashed the punk party.”

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Annie stops by the show to discuss music, how Loki's Folly came together, anxiety, new music and more.

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‘Retribution’ is a song looking at the parallels of extreme sides of emotions and how we react to difficult things,” says Annie Kuchenmeister, guitarist and singer for Loki’s Folly, the Minneapolis-based indie-punk trio made up of sisters Annie (24), Nissa (19) and their brother Oskar (15). “The verses are an exploration of defensive and protective anger - wanting to hurt those who hurt you. While there’s gratification and justification to seeking retribution, the chorus creates a vulnerable opposition to these harsher feelings. It’s really about just not wanting to be alone forever and wanting to be cared for after being hurt.”
 
At its core, “Retribution” channels raw emotional honesty through the band’s trademark blend of kinetic guitar work, cathartic drumming, and melodic grit - a sonic space where fury meets tenderness head-on. “This song came out of a lot of feelings of frustration and anger,” Annie continues. “Dealing with those big emotions can be hard, and I really didn’t want to be consumed by them. So, this song became a way to lay everything bare - the good and the bad - and explore it all honestly. The music and lyrics really came together as a unit; as the melody came about, an old lyric idea immediately clicked.”

Following on the heels of their September 2025 single (“King of All Alone”),” “Retribution” continues Loki’s Folly’s evolution toward deeper, more introspective songwriting. This reflective thread connects “King of All Alone” and “Retribution,” both songs were produced by Ryan Smith of Soul Asylum and born from turbulent emotional spaces that transform struggle into strength. Where “King of All Alone” aches with longing and cautious optimism, “Retribution” pushes back with defiant honesty - together forming a striking one-two punch from a band unafraid to confront both the chaos and the catharsis of modern life.  

Formed in South Minneapolis, Loki’s Folly began as a project between sisters Annie and Nissa, later joined by their younger brother Oskar on bass. Their bond - both familial and creative - gives their music a distinct urgency, weaving together themes of identity, isolation, neurodivergence, and resilience. On their debut Sisu, the band worked with legendary producers Ryan Smith (of Soul Asylum), Ed Ackerson (The Replacements, The Jayhawks), Kevin Bowe (Etta James, Jonny Lang), and John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Andrew W.K.), crafting a record that explored the complexities of adolescence and the emotional weight of finding one’s voice in an uncertain world. 

While Sisu introduced listeners to their youthful defiance and eclectic spirit, “Retribution” feels like a step into something more introspective - a song that acknowledges the anger beneath the surface, but also the fragile hope that lingers within it. It’s a fitting next chapter for a band growing up in public, unafraid to document the messy process of becoming.

For more info about the band: https://lokisfolly.com/

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I'm the guests this week to provide and update about changes or the show. Talk about community and more.
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Shari stops by the show to discuss, new music, performing the National Anthem of Nascar, health and so much more....
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Embodying the heart and soul of country music, Southwestern songstress Shari Rowe redefines what it means to captivate. Bringing authenticity, intentionality, and a timeless blend of country and americana, Rowe’s “voice, personality, and story will mesmerize you” (Missy, Center Stage Magazine). From international tours in Poland to charity events, to opening for big name artists like Wynonna Judd and LeAnn Rimes, Rowe has seen all sides of the industry and proven her invaluable talent. Closer to home, the Arizonan continues to champion rising talent and the spirit of true country music as co-host of the local radio series Arizona on the Rise. Shari Rowe isn’t just a trailblazer—she’s a guiding light in modern country music. With every song she reminds us where the genre has been, and where it’s headed next.

After facing a frightening health scare, country singer-songwriter Shari Rowe turned to music for strength. Her upcoming single, “Too Good To Go,” began as a poem written the night she was told she might have Multiple Myeloma, a form of blood cancer. What started as fear turned into gratitude, transforming into one of her most personal and powerful songs to date. Weeks later, doctors confirmed a rare but non-life-threatening autoimmune condition, but the song remains a heartfelt reminder that life is, indeed, too good to go.
“I love that I’ve got so much to lose — that line is the heartbeat of the song.” Shari Rowe
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I'm the guests this week to provide and update about changes or the show. Talk about community and more.

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Shari stops by the show to discuss, new music, performing the National Anthem of Nascar, health and so much more....****Embodying the heart and soul of country music, Southwestern songstress Shari Rowe redefines what it means to captivate. Bringing authenticity, intentionality, and a timeless blend of country and americana, Rowe’s “voice, personality, and story will mesmerize you” (Missy, Center Stage Magazine). From international tours in Poland to charity events, to opening for big name artists like Wynonna Judd and LeAnn Rimes, Rowe has seen all sides of the industry and proven her invaluable talent. Closer to home, the Arizonan continues to champion rising talent and the spirit of true country music as co-host of the local radio series Arizona on the Rise. Shari Rowe isn’t just a trailblazer—she’s a guiding light in modern country music. With every song she reminds us where the genre has been, and where it’s headed next.After facing a frightening health scare, country singer-songwriter Shari Rowe turned to music for strength. Her upcoming single, “Too Good To Go,” began as a poem written the night she was told she might have Multiple Myeloma, a form of blood cancer. What started as fear turned into gratitude, transforming into one of her most personal and powerful songs to date. Weeks later, doctors confirmed a rare but non-life-threatening autoimmune condition, but the song remains a heartfelt reminder that life is, indeed, too good to go.“I love that I’ve got so much to lose — that line is the heartbeat of the song.” Shari Rowe ****If you would like to contact the show about being a guest, please email us at [email protected] us on Social MediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedomIntro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi©2025 Better To...Podcast with D. M. Needom

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This week on the podcast, I sit down with Dexy and Chris to discuss their latest release, their musical journey and more. 

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Dark dreampop duo Magic Wands will release a new album entitled Cascades via Metropolis Records. It includes their current single, "Time To Dream,"as well as the previously issued "Hide," "Armour," "Moonshadow," and "Across The Water."

“Cascades was born from a fascination with how the past lingers inside us and explores transformation and the spaces where timelines blur into one,” the band explains. Shaped by the spirit of centuries-old poetry, gothic romance, and myth, the album pulses with post-punk and dream-pop sounds, shot through with lingering shadows of the old world, bridging the sound of their 2012 debut album Aloha Moon with more recent releases.

Formed in 2008 in Nashville by vocalists/guitarists Dexy and Chris Valentine but now based in Los Angeles, Magic Wands are known for a shimmering, dreamy sound that melds elements of shoegaze, dreampop, postpunk, and goth. Their music utilzes heavily-textured guitars, synth drones, and ethereal vocals to conjure an otherworldly atmosphere, plus song lyrics that are emotionally engaging.
 
The duo has built a loyal fanbase over the course of five studio albums to date, the most recent of which was Switch (2023). Songs from it were subsequently remixed by guest artists and released as Switched later that same year.

Magic Wands is a partnership built on alchemy of dark dreampop, goth-tinged postpunk, and a touch of cosmic romance. 
 
 
 Shaped by the duo’s signature cinematic atmosphere and celestial hooks, they hint at an album that explores transformation, reflection, and the pull of distant horizons. 
 
 Magic Wands make music like portals, each record a doorway into a different century, a different sky. Over a decade since Aloha Moon, their magic is only growing stronger.

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