On episode 22 of Live from the Avant Garden, the astro stage is visited by aliens from Planet Glam: Shelley Star and the Galaxy! Shelley Star, Alan Xtra and James Rocket (3/5ths of Shelley Star and the Galaxy) talk about the community of talented musicians, producers, designers, make-up artists and more helping to propel a DIY pop outfit from the punk capitol of the world into intergalactic stardom! They share innovative methods for making invasive spotted lantern flies suck less and we chat about how to grow your own sauce garden. Then we are treated to a rare performance of pared down original pop anthems that will transport you to another universe!

Music starts at 37:29

Go check out more of Shelley Star and the Galaxy at her website then immediately follow them on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook!

Shelley Star and the Galaxy is:

Shelley Star: vocals

Alan Xtra: keyboards

Bass: Ben Denissen

Drums: Chris Hoffman

Producers: Tungsten Lungs & Sylva Woolf

Keep up with what's blooming in the Avant Garden by following the show on Instagram and YouTube. Please save, download, subscribe, share, support and review this podcast to help it bloom!

Live from the Avant Garden and its theme song is written, recorded and produced by V.J Hyde (2026)

On episode 21 of Live from the Avant Garden, host, VJ Hyde, and guest, Rachel Brassie, confess to separate counts of insecticide in the course of talking about Brassie's journey as a rising indy star. She recounts memories of picking fresh fruits and veggies in her Grandma's garden and gives listeners insight into her approach to collaborating with artists from around the world while staying grounded in her roots. It's not as garden core murder mystery as it sounds, but comfortably compelling nonetheless. Then Brassie performs her incredible original songs and a cover tune by Raye that makes it worth looking the other way for her crimes;)

Music starts at 47:30

You can give Brassie an alibi by following, streaming, downloading and sharing her music on Instagram, YouTube, Tik Tok and Spotify!

Live from the Avant Garden can be found lurking around shady websites such as Instagram and YouTube, but caution is advised if encountering this podcast in the real world! If this occurs, immediately alert authorities by clicking the little bookmark icon in your podcast app to subscribe and be sure to tell your friends you survived a close encounter with the best garden party podcast in the world!

Live from the Avant Garden and its theme song was written, recorded and produced by VJ Hyde (2026)

Happy Gardening!

Live from the Avant Garden turns 20 and we celebrate the passage of time with none other than Garland of Hours aka Amy Domingues! Amy is a Peabody-trained musician whose C.V. ranges from the Washington Bach Consort to Fugazi and beyond! She has accompanied or been accompanied by the most influential musicians in the past 30+ years such as Mary Timony, Ted Leo, Bob Mould, and that's just the beginning. Some of Amy's notable acts beyond her solo and accompaniment work includes groups like Tsunami and Telegraph Melts. Basically, you're in for a real treat! We somehow find time from reviewing her mind-melting discography to find out what she has been growing in her backyard garden! So pull up a toadstool and get ready to fertilize your ears.

Music starts at 45:37

You can find out more about Amy Domingues here! Also be sure to support her directly by streaming/buying Garland of Hours at Bandcamp and/or Dischord Records. Keep up with Garland of Hours on Instagram to learn when she will be performing at a garden near you!

Thanks for all the love and support for this little podcast! Please consider following it on Instagram to get sneak peeks of future guests! We're just getting started!

Happy Gardening!

Live from the Avant Garden and its theme song were recorded and produced by V.J. Hyde (2026)

Episode 19 of Live from the Avant Garden features Sean Grapin, AKA Boy Grapes! Host, V.J. Hyde learns about Sean's experiences as a prolific self-produced multi-instrumentalist, composer and performer. Big shout outs to the local open mic/ jams all around the DMV in this episode and another round of accolades for the scene's hardest working live music archivist/ videographer: Sandi Redman! The grape vine then gets an ear full when Sean performs original music that you can hear on a stage near you or by looking online at the links below!

Music at 36:00

To hear more Boy Grapes, head down to a local record store and look for his LP or check out his website, to order directly. You can also support him on BandCamp, all other streaming platforms and follow him on Instagram for upcoming show announcements and more.

Keep up with what's sprouting in the Avant Garden by following the pod on IG and YouTube. Please save, download, subscribe, share, support and review this podcast to help it bloom!

The debut episode of Live from the Avant Garden Season 4 features DC's Sam Elmore! Sam and VJ haunt the Astro Stage and chat about Sam Elmore and The Ghosts recent release, It's All On Fire. Sam then plays some unplugged versions of his incredible songs that you might have heard him play with his amazing band the Ghosts.

Be sure to support him on BandCamp, and follow him on Instagram and YouTube today!

Keep up with what's sprouting in the Avant Garden by following the pod on IG and YouTube. Please save, download, subscribe, share, support and review this podcast to help it bloom!

Live from the Avant Garden's last episode of 2025 disproves the adage, "never meet you heroes" as the AstroStage hosts the one and only Devin Ocampo (Faraquet, Medications, The Effects, Smart Went Crazy, Beauty Pill...). It's a family affair as Devin is joined by his wonderful wife and musical collaborator, Renata Ocampo (Warm Sun, Crowd Scene). We add more entries to the Dischord Diaries while gabbing about the origin of Devin's influential band Faraquet who who recently returned from a reunion tour in support of the 25th anniversary of their acclaimed album, TheView from this Tower. We get to learn about Devin's musical influences and the paths his talents have led him down over the years and Renata fills us in on their prolific and ever-expanding family of plant babies! In the second part of the show, the Avant Garden goes electric when Devin plugs in and performs selections from his current solo project!! So make a resolution to download and share this very special episode!

Music starts at: 56:24

Find out when Devin will be playing at a garden near you on Instagram

Live from the Avant Garden is recorded and produced by V.J. Hyde (2025). Theme song and interstitial music by VJ Hyde (2023). Follow Live from the Avant Garden on Instagram, BlueSkyand Youtube for updates on new episodes as well as behind the scenes pics and videos of this and previous episodes.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/live-from-the-avant-garden/exclusive-content

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/live-from-the-avant-garden/exclusive-content

This episode is blessed by a song witch!!! That's right, Waxing Crone sets both the sage and the stage on fire in the 16th installment of Live from the Avant Garden! Meagan Perkins discusses her experiences as the bassist of DC punk royalty, Princessed and her time bringing farm fresh goodness to urban tables while working at Shalom Farms near Richmond, VA. Then we get to hear her incredible original songs and more bewitch the bees and call in the harvest!

Music starts at 33:23

Waxing Crone can be found on Instagram, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Youtube! Meagan's new band Waxing Crones will be hitting the stages soon so be sure to follow them on Instagram and show your support!

Live from the Avant Garden is recorded and produced by V.J. Hyde (2025). Theme song and interstitial music by VJ Hyde (2023). Follow Live from the Avant Garden on Instagram, BlueSkyand Youtube for updates on new episodes as well as behind the scenes pics and videos of this and previous episodes.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/live-from-the-avant-garden/exclusive-content

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/live-from-the-avant-garden/exclusive-content

Episode 15 of Live from the Avant Garden proves that the kids are alright with none other than Petrichor. This band of 8th and 10th grade friends and family members have been hitting big and small stages all across the DMV and the east coast after forming thanks in large part to the vital work of GirlsRock!DC. They played their first gig with the help of Hot Mic'd Punks, which is a rapidly growing network of youth bands and solo artists spreading their talents throughout the DC area. In this episode, we get to hear about Petrichor's origins, influences and future plans, in addition to what's growing in their gardens. Then we are treated to a refreshing mix of original and cover tunes that will give you a sense of relief for the future of music!

Music starts at 22:42

You can hear the self-titled EP by Petrichor on Spotify and see them in their element on YouTube. Learn about what is coming up next for Petrichor on their Instagram page. Also be sure to watch the PBS Student Labs documentary, This is Petrichor.

Live from the Avant Garden is recorded and produced by V.J. Hyde (2025). Theme song and interstitial music by VJ Hyde (2023). Follow Live from the Avant Garden on Instagram, BlueSky and Youtube for updates on new episodes as well as behind the scenes pics and videos of this and previous episodes.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/live-from-the-avant-garden/exclusive-content

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/live-from-the-avant-garden/exclusive-content

Jeff Barsky aka Insect Factory (Bedmaker, Shadow Riot) graces the astro stage in episode 14 of Live from the Avant Garden! In the first part of the show, Jeff talks about sharing his hands on Kibbutzim and on fretboards for acts such as Time is Fire and his (sometimes) solo project Insect Factory. In the second part of the show, we get an exclusive acoustic improv performance by Insect Factory. We also get some other 'sclusies like our largest audience yet including cameos from Bonnie Schlegel, Antonia Tricarico and Joe Lally! V.J. even joins in on the fun for a guitar duet on the last tune! This is an episode to get lost in!

Music starts at 42:15

You can hear Jeff Barsky's newest solo record Voice Paintings out now on UK imprint Chocolate Monk and Bandcamp

Live from the Avant Garden is recorded and produced by V.J. Hyde (2025). Follow Live from the Avant Garden on Instagram, Blue Sky and Youtube for updates on new episodes, BTS pics and unedited video of this and previous episodes.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/live-from-the-avant-garden/exclusive-content

Episode 13 of Live from the Avant Garden proves your superstitions that Izzy Burke and Don Potter's project, Letters to Delphi, is a direct line to the muses. We test the bounds of recording in the great wide open and Don and Izzy prove their mettle as inimitable forces in the DMV music scene! The first part of the show offers you insights into their respective paths growing to the top of your ears in influential local hard hitters such as Outerloop, Cherub Tree, and Modest Goddess while planting seeds as music mentors through vital programs such as Girls Rock NOVA and Girls Rock DC. The second part of the show gives you a front row seat to Letters to Delphi's hot new music including their scorching single, Winter Elegy. We also get exclusive listens to solo Izzy Burke tunes that will be gracing stages and headphones in the near future! Don't forget to also check out "The First EP" by Izzy's band, Modest Goddess, out now everywhere good music grows!

Music starts at 37:22

Follow Letters to Delphi on Bandcamp, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify

Live from the Avant Garden is recorded and produced by V.J. Hyde (2025). Follow Live from the Avant Garden on Instagram and YouTube for updates on new episodes and exclusive behind the scenes footage!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/live-from-the-avant-garden/exclusive-content