Crash and Ride

Ryley Walker is a guitarist and singer/songwriter, originally from Rockford, IL. He lived in Chicago for the better part of a decade, and has now relocated to NYC. He has an incisive, brilliant wit and he came to my attention through his sharp and funny twitter presence. Digging into his work revealed to me that he is also a thoughtful, gifted, and brilliant musician. We talked about drugs, sadness, the isolation of touring, and his suicide attempt in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

His website is here:

https://www.ryleywalker.com/

His twitter account can be found here:

https://twitter.com/ryleywalker

This week's Crash and Ride Spotify Playlist is here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/79WskNMcalZwjCDprarRVi

The photo I used on this Episode was shot by Galea McGregor, one of the directors at WXPN, which is here:

http://www.xpn.org/

Thor Harris was one of the inspirations for starting this podcast. Thor has been the drummer for Shearwater, the Swans, Thor and Friends, Amanda Palmer, Hospital Ships, Xiu Xiu, Angels of Light, Bill Callahan, Lisa Germano, and a dozen other bands. He's a carpenter, a plumber, a painter, a sculptor, a writer, and a has been an outspoken advocate for getting the help you need if you're suffering from depression. He's written and illustrated a book called Ocean of Despair, a firsthand account of surviving a nervous breakdown. He's basically the man I had sort of hoped to grow up to be. I love his music. I love his fearlessness. I love his commitment to living with integrity. I love his house. I love his dogs. He is a hero. You can watch a short film about Thor's struggle with depression here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGewlMBtDeQ&t= You can find information about Ocean of Despair here: http://monofonuspress.com/store/if-07-out-soon You can hear Thor and Friends here: https://lmduplication.bandcamp.com/album/thor-friends-s-t You can read Thor's essay "How to Tour in a Band or Whatever" here: https://www.constellation-chicago.com/2014/08/08/how-to-tour-in-a-band-or-whatever-by-thor-harris/ And finally, this week's Crash and Ride Spotify Playlist is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6s3qIAfu0mknUQK8YRSjHQ

For Episode 17, I interviewed Richard Salino, an audio engineer working out of Studio G in Brooklyn, a cancer survivor, and a dear friend of mine. Richard talks about how he collapsed on a subway platform from a brain tumor, less than 24 hours after asking his girlfriend to be his wife. We discuss that, his treatment and subsequent recovery from stage 4 melanoma.

Richard has asked me to make his contact information available to anyone struggling with cancer or who has a loved one who is suffering.

You can check out Richard's work and/or reach him via his website:

http://richardsalino.com/ Also, here's this week's Spotify playlist! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2i6ukSkbWtCBMNmQHej9Z5

For Episode 16 I spoke with Patrick Nehoda, a singer/songwriter/guitarist living in Nashville, TN! Patrick is a former wilderness firefighter from Northern California. We talked about nearly being overrun by a forest fire while he was working a fireline, and how that affected his decision to play guitar and write songs for a living instead. We also talked about the death of his mother and how he's coping with that.

You can hear Patrick's music on Bandcamp!

https://patricknehodamusic.bandcamp.com/releases

Also, here's the Crash and Ride Spotify Playlist for Episode16!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LJgYiF0jVJ8l57IUpASS1

For Episode 15 I talked to Boo Ray, a fantastic singer/songwriter/guitar-picker from Nashville! We talked about drugs, sadness, addiction, and trying to get better. It's a good one. We met up in his living room in Nashville, Tennessee, drank about a million cups of coffee and got down IN IT. Thanks, Boo!

You can hear Boo's music here:

https://booraymusic.com/

And here's the Crash and Ride Spotify Playlist for this week!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7sOzwkHgg328GBUm7yjGY4

For Episode 14 I spoke with Sam Paulsen, guitarist in Man or Astroman? and guitarist for Mean Queen. She was also the guitarist for the incredible noise rock band We Versus the Shark. We talked about how she copes with the anxiety and insomnia that has been part of her life since she was very young! We talked about her other career as a nurse! We also reveal some VERY exciting news here for the first time! Check it out! Check out We Versus The Shark here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1r4l4XRxGk (Holy cow, is that good.) Unfortunately, the live Man or Astroman? show in Paris that I loved so much is no longer on YouTube, but here's another festival show in France! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISVI8LQEXQc And, of course, here is the glorious Mean Queen: https://meanqueen.bandcamp.com/album/take-a-cool-pill Here's the tattoo of her grandmother's signature that we were discussing:

Episode 13 is the second part of my interview with Josie Cool. In the first episode we talked about the death of her father and grandmother, her decision to transition, and her life as a trans woman. In this episode, we talk about her thoughts of suicide, self-destructive stage antics, and trying to live a life of self-acceptance. You can hear Teacup Gorilla here: https://teacupgorilla.bandcamp.com/releases Ersatz Robots Bandcamp page is here: https://ersatzrobots.bandcamp.com/releases Great American Housefire: https://greatamericanhousefire.bandcamp.com/

Episode 12 is part 1 of my interview with Josie Cool. Josie is a trans musician from Denver, Colorado. Josie is the guitarist in Teacup Gorilla and a brand new band called Altar Girls. She's also the drummer in the all-trans band Ersatz Robots. She is formerly the guitarist in Great American Housefire. We covered so much ground in our interview that I decided to break it into two parts! Part 2 will be released at 12:01AM on June 2nd, 2019! You can hear Teacup Gorilla here: https://teacupgorilla.bandcamp.com/releases Ersatz Robots Bandcamp page is here: https://ersatzrobots.bandcamp.com/releases Great American Housefire: https://greatamericanhousefire.bandcamp.com/

I interviewed Susie Ulrey from the band Pohgoh! She's a guitarist and singer/songwriter who is living with Multiple Sclerosis. She's a huge inspiration to me as she continues to create great art and thrive despite living with a disease that robs her of her mobility and peace of mind. After our interview, she sent me this fantastic poem and I asked her if I could include it in the show notes: The Thing Is | Ellen Bass to love life, to love it even when you have no stomach for it and everything you've held dear crumbles like burnt paper in your hands, your throat filled with the silt of it. When grief sits with you, its tropical heat thickening the air, heavy as water more fit for gills than lungs; when grief weights you like your own flesh only more of it, an obesity of grief, you think, How can a body withstand this? Then you hold life like a face between your palms, a plain face, no charming smile, no violet eyes, and you say, yes, I will take you I will love you, again. You can listen to Pohgoh here: https://pohgoh.bandcamp.com/

While I was on tour with Pinky Doodle Poodle two weeks ago, I was able to sit down with my good friend Evan Rowe. Evan has survived PTSD, depression, anxiety, electro-convulsive therapy, and multiple inpatient stays. Evan and I share a lot of common history and this one hit me right in the heart. Evan and I talk about finding something that finally worked to quell his worst impulses and how grateful we both are to have found bandmates and partners in life who will stick by us through the worst of it.

Here is Evan's band Maple Stave:

https://maplestave.bandcamp.com/

Here is J Kutchma's bandcamp page: https://jkutchma.bandcamp.com/

Here is Dr Nadine Burke Harris' talk about Adverse Childhood Experiences:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk