Performance Anxiety

Today’s guest makes me happy. It’s legendary drummer, Chris Slade. From his humble beginnings, he became the go-to drummer for some of the biggest names in rock. He tells me about the entertainment gene that runs through his family, buying his way out of school so he could play drums, and how working in a show shop got him a gig with Tom Jones. And speaking of Tom Jones, Chris tells what really happened with the infamous Tom Jones panty story. Chris had the opportunity to record with Joe Meek, who fascinates me. After Tom Jones, Chris found himself in a band with Olivia Newton-John where he was payed and didn’t play a note. But some of Chris’ most well known work was yet to come. He played on the biggest hits by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (yes, including Blinded By The Light).He tells an amazing story about both David Gilmour and Jimmy Page. I discovered Chris during his time with Jimmy and the band The Firm. After that, he joined AC/DC for five years and played in the enormous Russian show for 1.5 million people!

He has a new album out with his own band, Chris Slade Timeline. It a double album with one disc being originals and the other covers of songs from his long and storied career; hence the name Timeline. Check out chrisslade.com for links and ways to buy the album. Check out @PerformanceAnx on socials and performanceanx.threadless.com for merch. And if you’re feeling generous, ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety to send coffee money. Now buckle up for a wild ride with Chris Slade on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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This episode of Side Projects honors the legacy of the late, great, legendary keyboardist Bernie Worrell. His friend and colleague Evan Taylor talks about the posthumous album he produced called Wave From The WOOniverse. It contains 12 previously unfinished Bernie Worrell compositions and 1 unreleased Funkadelic song. It’s been a two year labor of love for Evan and Bernie’s widow, Judie. And the amount of guests on this double album is staggering. There’s Will Calhoun from Living Colour, Mike Watt, Norwood Fisher from Fishbone, Marc Ribot, Fred Schneider, Sean Ono Lennon, Bootsy Collins, and a lot more. 

Evan tells me how he met and began working with Bernie, initially, and how they hung out at Evan’s parent’s house in New Jersey. He talks about his history with Bernie and how he and his record label, Loantaka Records, were tapped to head this project. It wasn’t always easy to get the music together, but it gave some great stories, which he shares. So grab the album wherever you get music. Follow Evan @evantaylorthe artist or @loantakarecords. You can also check out @bernieworrellofficial. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our stuff is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now, let’s enter the WOOniverse with Evan Taylor on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest has done so many things that I would like to do. And he tells us all about it. Welcome bassist and founding member of A Monkey Shine, George Tolias. George joins us from Athens…Greece, not Georgia. He got a late start in music. He didn’t start playing until his wife bought him a bass about 20 years ago! But he’s a quick study. Once he got comfortable, he started playing in a cover band. But they had an unusual set list. 

George describes what it’s like to play non-Greek rock music in Athens and how he wound up in New Orleans. After staying quite a bit longer than expected, he moved to France…to become a chef. But no matter where he goes, he’s joining bands. After moving back to Greece, George decided to get serious about his own band, A Monkey Shine. But then COVID hit so it essentially started as a solo project. But it has grown by leaps and bounds. George also gives up the origin of the band’s name, the difficulties of finding a singer who could sing well in English, and the secret origin of his bass. He also talks about the most special song on the album that he wrote for his mom, which also features Duke Garwood.

A Monkey Shine’s debut is out and there’s a vinyl version, too! Check it out on Bandcamp. He’s also working on some tour dates in the near future. So follow him @amonkeyshine_official on Instagram or look for them on Facebook. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Slide us some coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now it's time to get up to no good with my friend George from A Monkey Shine on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me feel a little bit country AND a little bit rock and roll. Welcome singer/songwriter Pamela McNeill to the podcast. She has accomplished so much in her career. But it all started in Winona, MN. She talks to me about the music scene there and what event set her mind on being a musician. She talks about some unusual things about her like being a massive fan of Rush, working as a clown at the Ground Round restaurant and how that led to her first real musical job. Soon enough she was playing cover bands, which led to a gig with the legendary Lamont Cranston, where she got a real education in the music business. That led to a gig opening for the one and only Etta James! But a serious relationship led her to the UK where she entered the orbit of the man himself…Rick Astley, back in his first heyday. That led to a bit of karmic retribution for one particular member of Bananarama. 

And all the while, she’s writing her own music. She wrote Yanni’s first lyrical song, wrote for Wynonna Judd, wrote with Pam Tillis, and many others. And when she finally made her own albums, she blew it out of the water. She has been releasing music steadily since 1998 and has a new EP out called Wave After Wave on Farm To Label records. Think Fleetwood Mac playing country music and you start to get a feel for it. Check it out wherever you get music. Go buy it and follow her on socials @pamelamcneillmusic. Check out pamelamcneill.com for tour and music info. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Pick up merch at performanceanx.threadless.com including our new Spinal Tap inspired logo. Pay for our coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. So get ready for a story with so many twists and turns with Pamela McNeill on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest should probably do his own podcast. Welcome John Ford Coley to the show. He’s a great storyteller with a lifetime of stories to share. He grew up outside of Dallas where he was classically trained on piano as a kid. He grew up on opera, show tunes, and church music. But rock and roll wormed its way into his soul and he struck a deal with his piano teacher to show him how to play popular songs. While John is most well known for his band England Dan and John Ford Coley and what is now known as yacht rock. But his early bands were a bit heavier. At one point, he even opened for Vanilla Fudge and Led Zeppelin. But that’s when John and Dan started creating their softer music. 

John talks about how he met his musical partner, Dan Seals, and how they got their monikers, England Dan and John Ford Coley. He reveals the greatest mistake he’s ever made, the coincidence that got him in the studio to watch a Joni Mitchell session, and working with former podcast subject, Jim Gordon. After hits like I’d Really Love To See You Tonight, Sad To Belong, & We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again, the duo had run its course. John played in some other musical projects before getting into acting. His Godfather connections helped out there. He eventually left music all together. But he couldn’t stay away forever. The emergence of yacht rock revitalized his career (except in The Philippeans, where he’s basically royalty). He tours, playing his hits and telling stories. I’ve seen him live and it’s a treat. Check him out on Facebook at John F, Coley. His music is streaming and also on his website johnfordcoley.com where you can stay up to date with him. You can follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. We accept coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s party like it's 1979 with John Ford Coley on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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This is such a cool episode. We’re talking all things theremin with Nick Kizirnis and Pamelia Stickney. This episode has been a long time in the making and well worth the wait. There’s some theremin history and some rumors about the inventor. Nick and Pam discuss how the instrument works and what weird things affect the sound and performance. I learn how to tune a theremin, what a thereminist’s worst nightmare is and if anyone has ever done a theremin version of dueling banjos. 

Nick has a new album out called Every Moment. Grab it wherever you buy music nowadays. Check out his website, nickkizirnis.com or @nickkizirnis on instagram for more news. Check out Pamelia’s music and all of her bands on Facebook or @blueblut_in_vienna on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send us coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s jump into the theremin on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. It isn’t just for sci-fi anymore.

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Today’s guest is literally progressive. Let’s welcome Corey Schenck of the band Pangaea to the podcast. Corey was a late-bloomer, musically speaking. He didn’t pick up an instrument until late into high school. But it was such a deep connection that he went to college and received several degrees in it. He talks about how his love of music pushed him through the more challenging college courses. He now teaches music on the college level. He formed the band that would eventually become Pangaea during his studies but the original name was Artica. He explains how they changed the band name to something in a lyric and how some band name considerations became song titles. But before the albums came their cover song period. They would play a huge mix of songs until they decided they needed to focus on their originals. That meant a new name and a focus on their original music, which was more progressive. And while Corey is the main songwriter in the group, everyone contributes to at least one song on each album.

Corey describes the prog scene in Tulsa, OK in the late 80’s and early 90’s. But the shows were impressive, especially with their refusal to this day, to use backing tracks. But after years of writing, recording, and gigging the band decided to take a hiatus. That lasted 18 years. Corey also reveals what ended the hiatus and how the idea for a new album happened. That album is now available and is called Beowulf. It has the complex epic tracks Pangaea is known for but it has much more than that. It does contain their most adventurous music to date, particularly the song Wasape, which inspired the album title. Find it wherever you get music now. Check out their website, pangaea.band, for more links to their music, merch, and socials. Check out our socials @PerformanceAnx. Our merch is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. Feed us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now get ready for an adventure with Corey Schenck of Pangaea on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest really brings back some memories. Please welcome Sheila Shukla from Magnolia Street String Band. Sheila and I go way back. Like WAAAAAY back, all the way to elementary school. There’s a little bit of catching up in this episode, sprinkled throughout Sheila’s story. She talks about how she used to force her sister, Rita, to help her figure out harmonies she was hearing before they could go out and play. And eventually, growing up in 80’s and 90’s New Jersey, she got into metal and alternative music pretty heavily. 

But at one point, she became mesmerized by bluegrass. She tells exactly what happened and when it happened. She became so obsessed with the sound in college and had a great support system to help her learn guitar and figure out how to play what she was hearing in her head.

But life snuck in and put some of the musical ambitions on hold for a bit. But music has a tendency to make its way to the forefront. And so it did with Sheila. She met some like-minded folks and formed Magnolia Street String Band in 2013. The band has a very impressive pedigree and a beautiful classic bluegrass sound.  After some false starts, they released their debut in 2019 and then had to wait with the rest of the world for things to open up post-COVID to play again.

Sheila and the band have a new album coming out and it’s unique in the bluegrass world. It’s called By The Light Of The Moon and it’s basically a children’s album that doesn’t sound childish. It’s written for kids, keeping in mind that parents have to listen to it at the same time. So why not make it enjoyable for both? Look for it starting on National Children’s Music Day, October 4th. Follow Magnolia Street String Band on Facebook, @mssbmusic on Instagram, or go to magnoliastreetstringband.com. Give us a follow @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & X. Merch is available at performanceanx.threeadless.com. Support our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And get ready for a very sweet episode with Sheila Shukla of Magnolia Street String Band on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest exemplifies perseverance; and not just with his music but with this podcast. There were a few technical issues which have, hopefully, been overcome with clever editing. Welcome the one and only Robyn Hitchcock. He’s written a memoir about his life in 1967. In fact, it’s called 1967, How I Got There And Why I Never Left. It’s a very unique take on a memoir that works so well. But before we hit on the book, Robyn helps me set things up by going over his life BEFORE 1967. He also talks about things that happened AFTER 1967, like forming The Soft Boys and why they broke up and then reunited at one of Matthew Seligman’s parties. 

Robyn talks about his solo career, why he went solo in the first place, and why he considers himself the reverse of an innovator. We also discuss some of the unique aspects of his solo work; like teaming up with Grant Lee Phillips, doing a film project with the late, great Jonathan Demme, and after decades of being a singer/songwriter, releasing an album that is entirely instrumental.

Once we do get into the book, itself, there are even more amazing stories, like discovering Bob Dylan, learning a bit about guitar, and attending The Happening with Brian Eno. Did you know Eno was the app, developed in 1967? That’s a science fact. 

Another science fact is how good his memoir is. So go grab it from Akashic Books, Little Brown Books, or wherever you buy books these days. Follow Robyn @robynhitchcockofficial on Instagram & @robynhitchcock on X. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on both. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Contribute to our coffee fund at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Let’s take a trip back to 1967 with Robyn Hitchcock and maybe we won’t leave either on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest has been through it. But he hasn’t let it stop him.Welcome T Bear to the show. Born Richard Gerstein, he grew up spending time in both New York City and the Caribbean. He was playing pretty early on. In fact, he was invited to his first studio session at the age of just 17…by Richie Havens! Soon after, he was discovered by the KISS camp and began writing with the band. That helped him secure his first record deal, which led to the name change and a disco smash hit called Sunshine Hotel. Yeah the 70’s were wild! Now rebranded as T Bear, he continued writing, recording, and playing with artists like Stephen Stills in Manassas and Crosby, Still, & Nash as well as his own solo albums. He has some great stories about recording the Daylight Again album. But after spending time writing with Stills and working with Greg Kihn and others, T Bear went on a 25 year hiatus. He talks about what happened, what he was doing instead of music, and what (and who) brought him back. He has recently released a new album that has some amazing cameos and a killer core band. It’s called The Way Of The World and if you like songs that tell stories, you’re going to love it. T Bear opened up and was very candid about some of the rough times he’s gone through and I’m grateful I can now call him a friend. Go grab the album, on Quarto Valley Records. Follow him on social media @richard_tbear on Instagram and T. Bear on Facebook. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Grab our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Feed us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now it’s time for some stories with T. Bear on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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