Cara's Basement

OAR will release their seventh album, "King", on 8-2-11. They play a sold out show in Chicago that same night. Marc Roberge checks in from his hotel room to describe the heartache and pain that went into recording the new album, what it's like to tour with Dave Matthews, and more...

Fall Out Boy hasn't officially broken up...yet they are taking an extended "break". Druing this break lead singer Patrick Stump has recorded his first solo album, "Soul Punk". It's due out in October, 2011. He also went through quite a transformation...losing a lot of weight, new hair-do, no more hat...he's almost unrecognizable! He will be playing Lollapalooza this year...hear more about that (and find out if there will be a Fall Out Boy reunion, since Pete Wentz will also be at Lollapalooza) in this conversation!

Here's a phone conversation just a few hours before the big finale of "The Voice", where Adam Levine is one of the four coaches. It's a great show...let's go Team Adam! Maroon 5 headlines two sold out shows at Ravinia Jun3 30/July 1.

Uncle Kracker is at the Hard Rock Cafe' in Chicago this Friday, June 10, 2011. Tickets are only $10 and support a great cause: The Uncle Kracker Music Education Foundation, his way of helping music education survive in public schools. His goal is to pick cities every year that need assistance with funding music education. For 2011 the city will be his hometown of Detroit. That also happens to be my home town - we chat about that, his relationship with Kid Rock, what it's like to meet his fans, and more...take a listen and definitely join me at 101.9 WTMX this Friday night! :)

Material Issue is one of my very favorite bands. It was a very sad day in 1996 when lead singer Jim Ellison took his own life. Such a tragic event for his family and friends. It put an instant end to a band with a very bright future. Now, 20 years later, their infamous "International Pop Overthrow" album is being re-released and there will be a full-on concert this weekend!

You can catch Material Re-Issue this Saturday, April 23rd at the Abbey Pub in Chicago.

Original bassist/vocalist Ted Ansani talks about how the band got together, what it was like to lose Jim, future prospects, and even the joys of album cover art...

Michael Franti is one of the coolest dudes ever. Here's a conversation I had on 2/1/11, just as the biggest blizzard of the century hit Chicago. Michael Franti and Spearhead will be joining Eric and Kathy from 101.9 WTMX on their "Chips, Dip and a Mexico Trip...dos" live broadcast in March. We talk about that along with what it's like to record with Mike Posner and swim with elephants.

Avril Lavigne has a new album coming out March 8, "Goodbye Lullaby". The debut of her 3D video for the first single "What The Hell" airs this Sunday night (January 23) on ABC Family.

We chat about her new album, the cool 3D video, her Abbey Dawn clothing line, and tour plans!

Timothy Ferris authored one of my favorite books, "The 4-Hour Hour Workweek" a few years ago...and now he just released "The 4 Hour Body". He used himself as a guinea pig over the last few years and has published the results. He covers everything from sex to diet to sleep to working out, and more. At the end of this conversation he also divulges his unique way of using music when writing.

Holy cow...

New Kids On The Block is touring with Backstreet Boys! They play the United Center in Chicago on June 17. Jordan Knight describes what to expect - a total collaboration between the two bands and an amazing stage set-up. He also chats about NKOTB's influence on the "boy band" craze and much more...

The song Love Like Woe has well over 6 million downloads on youtube (so far). The Ready Set is actually a one-man band. Jordan Witzigreuter writes the songs, plays the instruments, sings, etc (though he does have a band he tours with). Besides having the worlds greatest hair Jordan also has the worlds greatest work ethic. In this conversation he describes how he became so successful...it most certainly wasn't by luck.