Middle Class Rock Star

My guest today is saxophonist, clarinetist, and founding member of Brothers of Brass, Armando Lopez. Armando and I go back to our teenage years. I had just joined the acclaimed dixieland jazz ensemble at CU Denver, The Claim Jumpers, at the beginning of my sophomore year. Armando (just finishing high school at the time) joined us on reeds and blew everyone away. He was very comfortable with his instrument, and spoke the style fluently. As someone just learning about traditional jazz, I listened to a lot of what he was doing on the other side of the room.

It's been a few years since then, and Armando is doing more than ever. Aside from being a part of Denver's only brass band (Brothers of Brass), Armando is an activist, a scientist with a degree from Colorado School of Mines, and is a member of an Energy Committee in Denver.

In our conversation we chat about all of the above, as well as the recent death of Brothers of Brass bass drummer, Krishnaswami Ramachandran Azad.

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Brothers of Brass Website: https://www.brothersofbrass.band/

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is bassist, Todd Smallie. After his family moved to Atlanta at the age of 14, Todd got very involved with the local scene and attended the Atlanta Institute of Music, where he got to learn from the likes of Jimmy Herring. Connections with Herring, Tinsley Ellis, Col. Bruce Hampton, and others led him to an audition with The Derek Trucks Band in his early 20s. He toured and recorded with Derek up until 2010 when Derek teamed up with Susan Tedeschi to start Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Todd didn't sit stagnant for too long, as he started playing with JJ Grey & Mofro just a few months later, and has spent the last 11 years as a member of that group. (NOTE: The band, Greyhounds, made up of former Mofro members Anthony Farrell and Andrew Trube were my guests on the very first episode of this podcast).

When he's not touring, Todd can be found playing at bars, clubs, and festivals with an assortment of acts all over Colorado.

In our conversation, we chat about getting back on the road for the first time since COVID, his upbringing and history as a player, and all of the new projects he's involved in locally.

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

JJ Grey & Mofro Website: https://www.jjgrey.com/home

Todd Smallie Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Todd-Smallie-232770094105/

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is Omaha based blues guitarist and singer, Hector Anchondo. Though he's been in the scene for two decades, Hector's name was finally heard around the globe when he took home first place in the 2020 International Blues Challenge (solo/duo). He also won the Memphis Cigar Box Award for best solo/duo guitarist.

We had a great conversation about his upbringing, his love for blues, an 18 month tenure in Chicago, living on the road, and the International Blues Challenge (IBC).

He's a really cool dude. You're gonna like him a lot!

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.hectoranchondo.com/

Guest Music:

"Sunshine" by Hector Anchondo Band

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is North Carolina based singer and songwriter, Chuck Brodsky. I first heard about Chuck through our mutual friend, Jeff Lionz. Jeff, who knows about my undying love for baseball, sent me a couple of Chuck's CD's (The Baseball Ballads and The Baseball Ballads 2) in the mail. I put them both in my car and listened on drives for the next two months. I was taken by the stories and the amount of thought and research that was put into each lyric. In addition, all his songs seemed to give life to unsung heroes of the game. Rather than singing about any ol' no-hitter, Chuck sings about the one Dock Ellis threw on LSD. He also has a song called, "Death Row All-Stars," which is a tragic tale about how a warden in Rawlins, WY used baseball to set execution dates.

Though he's a member of the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and has 22 songs in the Baseball Hall of Fame Sound Recording Library, Chuck is far from being labeled a "baseball songwriter." He's written about the hollocaust, politics, and many other topics during his monumental career that spans over three decades.

(now quoting form chuckbrodsky.com)

Chuck and his songs have appeared in several films and on tv. His beloved Philadelphia Phillies featured an interview with him along with his song “Whitey & Harry” in the documentary “Richie Ashburn: A Baseball Life.” The 2003 Sony Pictures release “Radio” included a cameo by Chuck as well as his closing title track. “Moe Berg: The Song” appears in the PBS film “Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story” (2010).

His music has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, NPR’s All Things Considered, Dr. Demento, ESPN, PBS, and by NFL Films.

Kathy Mattea’s recording of Chuck's song “We Are Each Other’s Angels” appears in the film “Dear Mr. Goodlife” (1998). The African Children's Choir Of Uganda also recorded the song on their "Love Is A Journey" CD. “Blow ‘em Away” has been recorded by David Wilcox and many others, and also appears on the Christine Lavin produced “Laugh Tracks.”

Sports Illustrated placed "The Ballad Of Eddie Klepp" among the 25 Greatest Songs About Sports of All–Time. In April of 2019 Chuck was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall Of Fame for his Baseball songwriting. (end quote from chuckbrodsky.com)

Special shoutout to Kerrville Folk Festival!

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.chuckbrodsky.com/

Guest Music:

"Radio" by Chuck Brodsky (BMI)

"Letters in the Dirt" by Chuck Brodsky (BMI)

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is Brent Loveday of Reno Divorce and Brent Loveday and the Dirty Dollars. When Reno Divorce first formed in Florida in the mid-90s, no one would have guessed that they'd go on to become one of the best known punk rock bands that Colorado has ever seen. Over the last two decades, Reno Divorce has been voted "Best Punk Rock Band" in Denver Westword four times, and has toured all over the world.

Their most recent album, "Outsider! Escape from Berlin (Live)" was released on June 1. It's Reno Divorce's first ever live album, and it was recorded at the world famous, "Wild At Heart" in Berlin, Germany.

In our conversation, we chat about the new record, touring Europe, musical influences, addiction, and much more.

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Reno Divorce Website: https://renodivorceband.com/

"Hopeless and Dopeless" Video Premiere: http://bigtakeover.com/news/VideoPremiereHopelessandDopelessbyRenoDivorce

Brent Loveday Bandcamp: https://brentlovedaymusic.bandcamp.com/music

Guest Music:

"Hopeless and Dopeless" by Reno Divorce

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is award winning singer-songwriter, veterinarian, and all around cool dude, Andy Baker. I only first met Andy a few weeks ago through the Kerrville New Folk Songwriters Competition. I was chosen as a finalist this year, and Andy (one of last year's winners) was put in a facebook group with all of this year's finalists as a mentor figure. I caught wind that he was headed to Colorado for a work convention in Ft. Collins and was planning to live stream with Shanna in a Dress (also a Kerrville winner last year, and was on episode 44 of this podcast). So, I reached out and the three of us ended up performing a writers round together at the Littleton Alley in Littleton, CO. After becoming friends and swapping songs, I invited him to come hang out on the podcast.

We cover plenty during this hour-long conversation. As a past winner of several competitions, as well as being a judge, Andy breaks down his thoughts on songwriting as a "competition," as well as what he looks for as a listening judge. We also talk about his career and how he balances his day job as a veterinarian with being a songwriter.

As an added bonus, for the first time ever.... we do a live song analysis! During the episode, we'll have a chance to listen to Andy's song, "Sixteen" and then break down every lyric and his thought process behind the writing. I was so inspired by the impromptu segment, that I might just create a spinoff!

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Website: https://andybakermusic.com/

Guest Music:

"Sixteen" by Andy Baker

"I Know" by Andy Baker

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, AJ Croce. Though AJ is an accomplished songwriter, his new release, By Request, is an album of all covers. As a piano player who grew up playing in piano bars and with bands almost every night of the week, he had the entire American songbook at his disposal. The track listing ranges from Billy Preston to Neil Young.

AJ was very open and frank in our conversation. We chatted about piano styles and production choices, previous collaborators, and what it was like losing his vision as a four year old. We also talked about moving forward after the death of his late wife, Marla, and how hard it can be to not be able to disassociate from his father's (Jim Croce) musical legacy.

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.ajcrocemusic.com/

Link to purchase or stream By Request: https://compassrecords.lnk.to/byrequestWE

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is Leftover Salmon bassist, Greg Garrison. He was also a founding member of Punch Brothers, and has played alongside some of the best musicians in the bluegrass, jazz, and Americana worlds. His performance credits include: Lyle Lovett, Bill Frisell, Chris Thile, Bryan Sutton, Jerry Douglas, and Sam Bush.

I first met Greg as a student at CU Denver back in 2012. I was in my junior year as a jazz piano major, and Greg was filling in for a teacher who was out on sabbatical. He taught my jazz ensemble course and was such a great fit that he ended up staying on at CU Denver. He still teaches there today.

This episode is part 2/2 of our celebration of Leftover Salmon's new album, "Brand New Good Old Days" (May 7). Last week I chatted with founding member, Drew Emmitt. Greg was not just a band member on this record, but also the producer. In our conversation, we chat in depth about the making and production of this project. He also offers some insight on balancing teaching with performing, splitting up with the Punch Brothers, and what he learned about his instrument from playing with Lyle Lovett. To wrap up, Greg talks about current projects he's working on, including a newly released collaboration with Grant Gordy, Alez Hargreaves, and Joe K. Walsh entitled, "Bluegrass and the Abstract Truth."

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Leftover Salmon Website: http://www.leftoversalmon.com/

Greg Garrison Website: https://www.greggarrisonmusic.com/bio

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is founding member of Leftover Salmon, Drew Emmitt. The band formed in 1989, and has spent the last three decades successfully blending bluegrass, rock, country, and Cajun/Zydeco music.

On the heels of Leftover Salmon's new album, "Brand New Good Old Days" (May 7), Drew and I chat about the recording process, the interesting choice in cover songs on the record, how the industry has changed, and what it's like to leave a legacy as one of the pioneering bands in their genre.

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Website: http://www.leftoversalmon.com/

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

My guest today is recording engineer, producer, and pedal steel guitarist, John Macy. John has the distinction of being the "most mentioned" person of all time on this podcast. I don't have an exact count, but he seems to be a part of everyone's story. Whether they recorded with John, played with him, or inturned at one of his studios, he's had an unmistakable impact on the Colorado scene and beyond.

In our conversation, we chat about grammy nominations, pedal steel players, the Colorado music scene in the 70s and 80s, mixing/mastering philosophies, his record label and baseball.

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 our YouTube Channel help us out the most!!

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

You can support my artist career and this podcast for as little as $3 per month. The price of one cup of coffee helps keep this podcast on its feet. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!

Guest Links:

Coastal Bend Music: https://www.coastalbendmusic.com/

"Imagine" Pedal Steel cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5Hoe3c8Ho

Episode Music:

**All original music by Andy Sydow

Sponsors:

A huge thanks to our sponsors, PQ Mastering and Narrator RF.

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

http://pqmastering.com

https://narratorrf.com

Also, a big thanks to Chris K's Colorado Playlist who partners with Middle Class Rock Star to bring 7-10 minute segments of these episodes to nearly 30 FM stations around Colorado. Details about his show can be found here: https://coloradoplaylist.com/