Middle Class Rock Star

On this weeks episode of Middle Class Rock Star, I sit down with Colorado-based bassist, songwriter, and producer Ace Engfer, who just released his new solo album, Time Drifts Away (June 6).

Ace has spent years holding down the low end in the Colorado music scene as a longtime member of Grant Farm, and touring with acts like Madeline Hawthorne (Montana) and Kind-Hearted Strangers (Nashville). But in this episode, we go beyond the stage.

We talk about:

• Ace’s journey with sobriety, and how it’s shaped his creativity and career

• His approach to writing great charts and being a reliable sideperson

• Navigating the music industry and release strategies in a streaming era

• What exactly is Cosmic Americana?

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

https://www.acengfer.com/

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]

#cosmicamericana #cosmiccountry #countrymusic #bass #sideman #musician #musicbusiness #musicpodcast

Travis McNamara was last week's guest as well. I split this conversation up into two episodes because most of the first half of the conversation was about Travis' new album and his career as a touring artist and front-person. The second half delves into a topic that piques the interest of almost every creative on the planet... crowdfunding. Travis is the founder of Arthouse Consulting, where he uses his experience to help mid-level artists raise $25K or more on Kickstarter for their upcoming projects. Over the last few years, he's already helped artists raise upwards of $1.1 million.

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

https://arthouseconsulting.co/

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]

My guest this week is singer-songwriter and performer, Travis McNamara. His music bridges on several different styles, but if you're looking for a common thread, start with bluegrass. McNamara, the longtime front-person for CO based, Trout Streak Revival, spent his covid time like many of us, writing and creating. "Moon Calendar" (2023) is McNamara's first plunge into the solo artist world.

He is also the founder of Arthouse Consulting, where he uses his extensive background in nonprofit fundraising (he held down jobs at PBS and the Denver International Film Festival) to help artists raise money for Kickstarter.

Please note, the majority of this episode is about Travis McNamara the artist, and the majority of next week's episode delves more into crowdfunding. Tune in next week to check that out!

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

https://www.travis-mcnamara.com/

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]

My guest this week is Lauren Frihauf. "A rising star in the music industry whose talent was featured in NPR Music's 2022 Tiny Desk 'Top Shelf' and showcased her vocal prowess on Season 19 of NBC's "The Voice," where she impressed on Teams Gwen and Legend, making it to the Knockout Rounds.

In 2021, when her promising neo-soul duo project came to a halt before its album, “The Latona EP”, was released, Frihauf found her calendar cleared at a time when most musicians were getting back to touring. Previously putting words to melodies created with collaborators, she was alone, lost, and experiencing the emotional turmoil of entering adulthood after the covid pandemic.

From the beginning, her vocal style has been influenced by Nai Palm of Hiatus Kaiyote, whose records she knows, "inside and out". As she began her quest to identify who she was as a solo artist, Frihauf shifted her focus from keys to guitar, which she found to be liberating. Learning to play, “Cactus Tree”, by Joni Mitchell, proved pivotal: she became obsessed with open D tuning.

Frihauf now refers to herself as a "Neo-Folker". Her music carries an indie singer-songwriter essence, infused with folk and neo-soul elements, creating a captivating and unique sonic landscape. Her songwriting delves into authentic themes that resonate deeply with listeners. Surprisingly, Lauren's urban vibe stands in stark contrast to the rural farm where she was born and raised, adding an intriguing dimension to her artistry" (laurenfrihaufmusic.com).

Note that Lauren has the distinction of being the only Middle Class Rock Star Podcast guest to date to be a former student of mine!

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

www.laurenfrihaufmusic.com

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]

I first met The Wildwoods at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE back when they were just getting started at 14 and 15 years old. I was roughly 21 and on one of my first (if not very first) tours. We've stayed in touch, played shows together, and run into each other at hotel lobby bars at music conferences.

Their sound goes beyond acoustic instruments and in-tune harmonies, they're poets with high-level musicianship and arranging abilities. Their success on the road and on social media (nearly 250K followers on instagram and 90K on TikTok) is no surprise, but rather a testament to their hard work and ability to package and deliver their product.

In our conversation, we chat about the band's origins, how the three bandmates play to each other's strong suits, supporting Tophouse on their most recent headlining tour, how they implemented a strategy for social media growth, and their new album, Dear Meadowlark, which began gracing listeners ears on April 11, 2025.

From The Wildwoods Website:

"In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods emerge as a folk/Americana trio, a musical tapestry woven by the husband-and-wife duo, Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), alongside long-time friend and bassist, Andrew Vaggalis. Their story is a symphony of exploration and connection, a journey that has taken them from the Midwest to international stages, carving out a unique place in the folk landscape. Their presence has graced stages alongside artists such as Mighty Poplar, Sierra Ferrell, Aiofe O’ Donovan, Melissa Carper, Jamie Wyatt and Joe Nichols at concerts and festivals like Summerfest, FreshGrass and the Oyster Ridge Music Festival.

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

www.thewildwoodsband.com

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]

My guest this week is Shane Smith of Shane Smith & The Saints. This show is a rerun of episode 109, which was released on January 25, 2023.

It was great getting to catch up with Shane just a few weeks after my band (modestly titled, Andy Sydow) got to open for his band at a sold out Ogden Theatre in Denver. We first met back in 2018 when I got to do an opening slot for Shane Smith & The Saints at the Bluebird Theatre (also in Denver). I'm glad we've stayed in touch over the last few years and finally got to sit down to talk for a while.

In our conversation, we chat about growing up in Terrell, Texas, playing college Tennis, how the Saints got their start on 6th Street in Austin, and building a following one fan at a time through years of touring. Shane also talks about his desire to do other things musically, and getting to perform on Yellowstone, the acclaimed TV show starring Kevin Costner.

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe or write a review. 5 star ratings and reviews on Apple Music as well as subscribing to my YouTube Channel help out the most!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

Website: www.shanesmithmusic.com

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

For any sponsorship inquiries, shoot me an email at [email protected]

"Raised on Vancouver Island, Canada, Zachary is an internationally recognized award-winning actor, musician and writer. Best known for his performances as Buddy Holly, Zach was coined a “dead ringer for dead singers” by the Victoria Times Colonist for his portrayal of the legendary rock 'n' roller as well as Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Phil Ochs. In 2018, Zachary won the prestigious "Jeff" Award in Chicago for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical) for the Buddy Holly Story, a role he’s honed in more than a dozen productions of across Canada and the United States. Other acting highlights include Million Dollar Quartet, Hair, Fire, Urinetown, Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Company and Ring of Fire.

Zachary is also an accomplished songwriter and active frontman for several bands including his original trio: the Oh Boys, a Tribute to Buddy Holly, and The Fortunate Sons.

He’s been featured as an original artist at countless festivals including the Ottawa Folk Fest, Blue Skies Festival, Summerfolk, Winterfolk (Toronto), Folk Alliance (Memphis, Ottawa and Kansas City), and the Ottawa Blues Festival" (zacharystevenson.com).

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

https://zacharystevenson.com

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]

"With a quarter million miles under her belt and counting, North Carolina native Emily Scott Robinson travels the dusty highways of America's wild country, capturing the stories of the people she meets and expertly crafting them into songs. Robinson received critical acclaim for her debut album Traveling Mercies-- Rolling Stone named it one of the “40 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2019.” In 2021, Robinson signed with Oh Boy Records, the label founded by the legendary John Prine, and released her follow-up album "American Siren." It made numerous “Best of 2021” lists including NPR, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, and No Depression." (emilyscottrobinson.com)

I've been wanting to have ESR on the show for a while, and when I learned she was playing a show with a couple of my friends at the end of 2024, I made them ask her for me! She said yes, and here we are. Robinson currently resides in Ouray, CO, and tours the US and UK consistently. Recently, she supported Ron Pope for a run in the UK. During our conversation, we chat about traveling logistics out of a small town (tisk tisk Southwest!!), her life changing experience at Song School at Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons, CO, and her decision to buy an RV and travel as a full time musician in her 20s.

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

https://www.emilyscottrobinson.com

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]

Susan Gibson has a wealth of knowledge in her decades-long songwriting career. She penned "Wide Open Spaces" which was recorded and made into a mega-hit by The Chicks in 1998. She now travels around in her cargo van performing at venues, house concerts, and songwriter festivals. All the while, she educates other writers and judges song competitions. Though she spends lots of time on the road, Texas is home for most of the year, and she spends time in the summer at a family cabin in Montana.

Though this is the shortest episode of MCRS to date, it contains some of the best advice for young songwriters that I've ever heard surrounding a healthy mindset, the definition of success, and longevity.

This conversation takes place at the 2024 Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival in Cedaredge, CO.

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

https://www.susangibson.com/

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]

Colorado based artist and label head Austin Ash Lemon joins me on this week's Middle Class Rock Star. In our conversation, we chat about the origin story of his indie label, Needlejuice Records, as well as Lemon's brand new record, "Backstage" which is released under the artist name, The Odd Ditties.

Quoting from Needlejuice Records' website:

"Needlejuice Records is an independent record label specializing in strange alternative music. Formed in September 2017, our first release of King Gizzard’s Polygondwanaland was a rousing success. We were certainly roused by it, at least.

Ever dedicated to the tangible, we're known for making high quality vinyl records, cassette tapes, compact discs, 8-tracks, mini-discs, and if you can believe it, even wax cylinders, all with ambitious aesthetic value."

If you enjoy the podcast, please let others know, subscribe, or write a review!

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST IN A MONETARY WAY, I'M NOW ON PATREON! Please note: new Patreon members get to pick a cover song for me to record especially for them! www.patreon.com/andysydow

Guest Links:

https://needlejuicerecords.com/

https://theoddditties.com/

• The Odd Ditties - Backstage (Official...

Episode Music:

Original music by Andy Sydow

Contact me: [email protected] (or) [email protected]