Inside the Musician's Brain

Inside the Musician's Brain is back for Season 5, and joining Chris to kick things off is one of the titans of acoustic/roots music, Mr. Jerry Douglas. Now well established as the greatest dobro player ever, Jerry fought prejudices against the instrument in the early part of his career, ultimately establishing its place in bluegrass forever more. He takes us through his early collaborations with JD Crowe, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, and other bluegrass legends - a seminal time for the growth and evolution of the music. Jerry would go on to become a member of Strength in Numbers, and later Alison Krauss and Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas, cementing his place as one of the most influential acoustic musicians ever. His insights on performance and recording, not to mention his stories about the history of the music, are endless! This is a must listen for anyone interested in the history of bluegrass, as well as musicians looking to up their game with sage advice from one of the best to ever do it. 

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On this week's episode, Chris chats with Nashville based guitar master Daniel Donato. After cutting his teeth at the honkytonks on lower Broadway, Donato is now out on his own and taking the world by storm with his new sound, 'Cosmic Country.' He takes us inside his world with an in depth look at his songwriting, his life and his vision for what's to come.

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On today's episode, Chris is joined by The Milk Carton Kids - a successful duo with a sound and energy that's all their own. Much of the conversation revolves around the making of their brilliant new album, I Only See the Moon. After completing an initial version of the album, the band made the decision to scrap much of what they had and dig deeper to create something more powerful. Kenneth and Joey describe how that journey unfolded - an inspiring story about what makes any form of expression truly meaningful. 

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Today Chris is joined by the one and only Mike Gordon - bassist, singer & songwriter for the legendary rock band Phish. Mike goes deep into his musical journey, his peak experiences on and off stage and the making of his excellent new solo album, Flying Games. He also gives us an inside look at how Phish stays synchronous and continues to evolve after 40 years as one of the most influential bands in music history. This is an expansive interview that’s packed with inspiring experiences and advice for musicians and non musicians alike!

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Alison Brown is a world-class banjoist, record label owner, and all around trailblazer in the music industry. Her performing/recording career has produced numerous amazing albums, collaborations, appearances and accolades. She's also created a successful record label (Compass Records) and become a leader in the music industry. Alison's excellent new solo album 'On Banjo' features an all star cast of musicians including the legendary Steve Martin, and covers a wide range of musical styles with ease and conviction. She covers it all in this great talk!

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Sam Bush is one of the all-time legends of acoustic music. From his work with New Grass Revival, to Strength in Numbers and his prolific solo career, Sam has set the standard for mandolin in modern day roots music. He's also a gifted singer and writer as well, with a long and storied career that intersects with so many titans of music. Chris talks to Sam about the different phases of his career, his impressions of where acoustic music is headed, the key to an authentic performance and so much more in this episode of Inside the Musician's Brain. 

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Lindsay Lou is one of the hottest up-and-comers on the roots music scene. She's a powerhouse singer who covers a wide range of styles and has performed with countless artists as a special guest in recent years. Her new album, Queen of Time, puts her in the spotlight as a singer and as a songwriter as well. The record has a beautiful concept, incorporating recordings of conversations with her grandmother, all of which Lindsay unpacks in detail during this conversation. She also discusses her development as an artist and producer, and the reality that stepping up in big moments is simply a decision you make, rather than some elusive magic that you don't control. Lots to learn here!

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In their more than 20 years as a band, The Decemberists have established themselves as an influential indie-rock band with an expansive and eclectic catalog of excellent music. Chris Funk's multi-instrumental talents are at the center of their sound. Chris also works as a producer and has been a fixture on the Portland, OR music scene for years. He takes us through the seismic shifts in the music industry during their time as a band, as well as his philosophies on producing, songwriting and much more. 

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Chris Wood is a musical hero. In this talk he gets deep into his experience with music and all he's learned over his long, successful career playing everything from cutting edge jazz with MMW to some of today's best roots rock with The Wood Brothers. He unpacks the challenge of staying present, in music and life in general, and speaks very articulately about what he focuses on to stay in the moment, and stay connected to the truest version of himself. This interview contains some real gold! These are common topics here on ITMB, but Chris gives us more than just his thoughts, he gives us some real tools to find that presence in our own lives, which is really what it is all about. 

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Episode 32 features an interview with the amazing Rachael Price, who is already making her mark as one of the best singers of her generation. Known mainly for her work with Lake Street Dive, she takes us inside her retro side project, Rachael and Vilray, as well as discussing LSD's rise to success and their evolving process of writing and recording, and the myriad challenges and inspiration along the way. Chris also discusses the myth of 'overnight success,' and looks at the kind of perspective and perseverance needed to find your voice and stay committed to whatever you are chasing. 

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