Performance Anxiety

Today’s guest brings me back to a simpler time. Welcome Natalie Ribbons of Tele Novella. I learned about her family connection to radio and her parents’ decision that she should be a concert pianist after they inherited a piano. While Natalie may have disagreed, it IS what got her singing and steered her to a performing arts high school (after getting kicked out of her previous school). That’s where she took secret guitar lessons.

She formed the band Agent Ribbons where everything was first time DIY. So they may have overdone a few things, maybe took a wrong turn or two. For example, after building up a following in California, moving to Texas because of two Weimaraners. And Natalie tells the story of the event that spelled the end of Agent Ribbons but how it simultaneously spawned Tele Novella. And it’s STILL a rollercoaster ride. They weren’t happy with the way things were going and Natalie left music for about three years. But leave it to good ol’ PBR to bring ya back in. (That’s beer for those who don’t know). But the Pabst connection actually helped shape the sound of the band. Tele Novella has a new album out called Poet’s Tooth. The music is reminiscent of the great western sounds I (and my dad) grew up on, like Marty Robbins. Listening to makes me feel like I’m right there with the band in Lockhart, TX. It’s on Kill Rock Stars, so grab it, download it, or stream it. Follow tele_novella_tx on IG and TikTok, Tele Novella on FB. We are @PerformanceAnx on socials. Get our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. There’s a new design up there you might like. Coffee can be shared at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Let’s take a walk through the West with Natalie Ribbons of Tele Novella on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me feel free. I can’t help that one and you’ll see why in a second. My guest is Malcolm Bruce. In addition to being the son of legendary bassist Jack Bruce, he is, himself, quite a gifted and accomplished musician. In this episode we figure out where we’re going wrong, discuss growing up as Jack Bruce’s kid, and when he began writing, music and other things. This was so much fun because it was the epitome of a casual chat. We talk about the generational Bruce/Baker energy, get a brief history of Cream, and repeatedly bring up spandex for some reason.

Malcolm has recently released an album titled Heavenly Cream and it’s a very different type of Cream tribute. It’s an acoustic album that really makes you focus on the brilliant songwriting more than the extended jamming of the band. And in addition to Malcolm, the album also features guests like Deborah Bonham, Peter Bullick, Maggie Bell, Joe Bonamassa, Bernie Marsden, Paul Rodgers, and a lot more. Malcolm also reveals some other projects that might possibly see the light of day in 2024. So check out the album on Quarto Records, at malcombrucemusic.com, or wherever you get music these days. Follow him on facebook, Instagram and X are @malxbruce. Follow the show @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & X. Reach out there or [email protected]. Buy stuff at performanceanx.threadless.com or contribute to our coffee intake at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now prepare for more than just a Spoonful of Malcolm Bruce on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me feel velvety. And that works on a lot of levels here. Welcome Stan Demeski, drummer for The Feelies. They’ve released their first ever live album. But there isn’t a Feelies song to be found on it. It’s all Velvet Underground, all the time. But before we get there, Stan talks about his early days; being a product of New Jersey school bands, his early recording history, and how he started playing with The Feelies. 

He also talks about how the band was dropped by A&M records…in a fax! But after that, he landed a gig playing with the band Luna. He talks about how he met and began playing with Dean Wareham and the band. And after years of being disbanded, The Feelies reunited. And both Sonic Youth and REM played a big part in getting that done. All of this resulted in the bands new release on Bar None Records, Some Kinda Love. As stated earlier, it all live and all Velvet Underground covers. Stan also talks about the time the band played with Lou Reed! So check out Some Kinda Love on Bar None, wherever you listen to new music. Get updates on The Feelies Facebook and Instagram pages. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. You can show us support with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now prepare for some Rock And Roll, Velvet underground style with Stan Demeski of The Feelies on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guests make me feel informed. I’m joined by electronic artists Moe Espinosa (AKA Drumcell) and Surachai. But we didn’t get together to talk about electronic music, DJ’ing, or producing. We are discussing their business venture, Onyx Record Press. Of course we start off talking about their earliest musical experiences and how they started their careers. Moe and Surachai tell how they met the other two main players in Onyx, Gil & Cyrus (it’s quite a romantic story) and how an email response from another vinyl press really put everything in motion.

Surachai & Moe go into amazing detail about not only the physical process of making a record and how a vinyl press actually works, but they also break down what most major record presses do, and why they are different and a better choice for independent artists (like having the sexiest record presses around). I highly recommend checking them out if you have a need for vinyl. Go to onyxrecordpress.com and contact them for a quote. Follow ALL the social accounts: @onyxrecordpress, @drumce11, @surachais, @belief_defect, & @blknoise. Follow the podcast @PerformanceAnx. Checkout our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or send coffee money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now sit back and relax while Moe Espinoza & Surachai learn ya on how to make a record on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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In this episode, we discuss something I have no idea about. How is that different from any other episode, you ask? Well in this one, I’m joined by Benjamin Wright of Benjamin Jayne and Jeremy Toback of Renee and Jeremy and Brad. We all got together to talk about music and psychology. That’s a pretty broad brush but since Benjamin is a psychologist during the day, I felt we were in good hands. We begin by asking the question, are there common psychological traits among creative people? But then we move to other topics like music’s role in psychological healing, how your mindset changes when you add people to the writing process, and how one song can be interpreted differently between kids & adults. I learn what a morphogenetic field is, how a breakdown on tour changed how Jeremy looks at things, and Benjamin’s thoughts on psychology today, as a creative as well as a medical professional. This conversation goes all over the place. And I know I learned a lot. And I also got to listen to a bunch of great new music. Check out the latest Renee and Jeremy and Benjamin Jayne albums on Spotify, Bandcamp, or wherever you listen and buy music. Look for new solo music from Jeremy Toback, as well. Follow Jeremy @jeremytoback and @reneeandjeremy. Check out reneeandjeremy.com for more info. Benjamin is @benjaminjaynemusic and benjaminjayne.com. We are @PerformanceAnx, performanceanx.threadless.com,& ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now let’s get all up into each other’s minds with Jeremy Toback & Benjamin Wright on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me feel honored. It’s Jad Fair and he doesn’t do many interviews. So when we were able to make this happen, I was thrilled. Jad is one half of Half Japanese (¼ Japanese?). And he’s not even actually Japanese! I learned that and a lot more in this episode. OK, I knew he wasn't any Japanese before doing this podcast. But what I DID learn was how Jad creates his unique music. It began when he and his brother David began creating music back in Michigan in the early 70’s. That music came to the attention of a pre-Teller Penn Jillette. 

But Penn isn’t the only collaboration Jad has had. In fact, that was just the beginning. Jad has played with some amazing people like Moe Tucker, Steve Fisk, and Daniel Johnston. 

And Jad’s music isn’t the only unique art he creates. He draws, makes paper cuttings that become album art, and even designed his own guitar that is held together by rubber bands and can be folded in half to make it easier to travel. We also touch on the different hurdles there are to getting noticed in music and how that has changed since Half Japanese started recording.

Follow him on Instagram @jad.fair. Find his music on Kill Rock Stars, Joyful Noise, Fire Records, and Moon Records, and Bandcamp. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. Merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And prepare to enter the magical world of love songs & monsters with Jad Fair on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me feel artificially intelligent. Welcome back Fredrik Sareoa of Datarock. And with his band’s new release and their use of AI in different aspects of the album, I thought he’d be the perfect person to have on for a discussion about artificial intelligence in music. But that’s not all we talk about. Fredrik gives new bands some wardrobe advice, how he’s always worried about being sued, Superman’s sex life, what he REALLY wants people to know about Datarock’s music.

Fredrik tries to describe a crayon, DOES describe what Gorby’s are and how he connects them to Lil Pump. And somehow all of that becomes a tribute to the Beastie Boys.

Datarock created their own version of AI called Call Me HAL that uses Trevor Noah’s voice (see the above comment about getting sued). And he’s confident that while’s there’s a lot that AI can and will be able to do, there’s also a lot that it will NEVER be able to do. Fingers crossed, there, Fredrik.

Follow Fredrk on Instagram @fredriksaroea or @datarock_official. Datarock is also on Facebook, and now on TikTok, thanks to management. Get the new album, Media Consumption Pyramid wherever you find new music.

Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. We’re also on Facebook. Reach out there or [email protected]. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or buy us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s go down the AI rabbit hole with Datarock’s Fredrik Saroea on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me want to be more international. I’m joined by Paul Chastain. You may know him from his band The Small Square. Or you may remember him from Velvet Crush. Either way, he drops in while traveling to Wisconsin to talk about his early fascination with harmony, when and why he started singing, and meeting Ric Menck to form Velvet Crush. He reveals why the band moved from the midwest to Rhode Island, how they decided on the name Velvet Crush, and their long-term relationship with Matthew Sweet. 

Paul tells me why Japan is so important to him and the band and what ultimately made him decide to move there.

Paul’s latest band, The Small Square, have recently released their second album, Ours & Others. He talks about playing tag team piano in the studio, recording music that he wrote for someone else and how it doesn’t really feel like it’s his, and his connection and ghostly tribute to Tommy Keene. Check out smallsquaremusic.com or farmtolabelrecords for album info. Follow them at The Small Square on Facebook or smallish.square on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. You can buy our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or feed our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prepare to be crushed by Paul Chastain on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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This episode makes me want to relive the glory days. This episode of Side Projects focuses on the connection between music and sports. And I’m joined by four friends who are athletes, musicians, or both. Welcome my friends Chris Stringfellow, Chris Heim, Tony Cuchetti, and fashionably late, Robert Henson. They’ve played sports at different levels and have different connections to music. Whether it’s getting hyped, calming down, bonding with teammates, getting you into or maybe even taking you out of the moment, music plays a big part in sports. Follow the podcast at @PerformanceAnx on social media, reach out there or [email protected]. Support us with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or pick up merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. And I hope you enjoy our discussion about music & sports as much as I did on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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This guest makes me want to go back and revisit some old favorites. Welcome drummer Stephen Hodges to the podcast. And man, we hit on a whole lot in this episode, like the importance of hanging out, how once upon a time, musicians could make a living playing a club 5 to 6 nights a week, the importance of playing with more than just sticks, and the difficulties of playing without cymbals. THAT started after meeting and playing with Tom Waits and learning his unusual percussive desires. But his career began way before that as an accompanist in college for the dance department. In addition to playing with Tom Waits, he’s played with some other legendary artists like Billy Preston, David Lynch, Marc Ford, Stevie Wonder, and Mavis Staples. He was also in one of the strangest touring versions of Smashing Pumpkins.

Stephen talks about how he began his long-term gig with Mavis Staples. In fact, they had to cancel their first two gigs because they rehearsed so hard that Mavis had to rest her voice! His job with Mavis has also given him a fascinating look into the unique relationship between her and Bob Dylan, which almost led to him filling in for Dylan’s drummer. Almost. He has a new album with mssv, his band with Mike Baggetta and Mike Watt, called Human Reaction. This band is a unique mix of jazz and punk. It’s fascinating! Stephen talks about the band, how they write and play the music live, well ahead of recording it. The music is challenging and fun. You really never know where each song is going to go! Check it out at mainsteamstopvalve.com or mssv on Facebook and grab the new album Human Reaction. Check out the podcast @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram and Performance Anxiety on Facebook or reach out at [email protected]. Check out our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can send coffee money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety.

Now enjoy a wonderful history lesson with Stephen Hodges of mssv on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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