Performance Anxiety

Today’s guest makes me believe in inevitability. Mario Quintero is the singer and guitarist for the band Spotlights. He started the band with his now wife, Sarah. They met at the studio Mario owned. But before all of that, Mario was a kid from Colombia who grew up on his sister’s albums and traditional hispanic music (like Mario Quintero Lara). He went to college for recording but veered off into the jazz program, playing guitar. After college he opened a studio, where he met Sarah and that’s where our coincidences begin. It turns out that we all not only share a wedding anniversary but also ran into each other (Mario during the last Failure tour and Sarah at the last show I saw before the pandemic, Wovenhand & Om). The pair connected and began playing together soon after. Mario talks about the band’s name, working for some amazing other bands in many different capacities, and the difficulties in keeping a full time job when you're touring with bands like The Melvins and Deftones. 

Spotlights’ new album, Alchemy For The Dead, is awesome and if you like heavy, melodic music, you’re going to love it. Pick it up wherever you get your music. Follow them @spotlightsmusic on Instagram. And if you get the chance, go see them live. 

You can help the show out by following us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. You can support us through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety with some coffee money or by buying merch on performanceanx.threadless.com. 

And I hope you enjoy Mario Quintero from the ultimate husband and wife project, Spotlights on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me want it to be 1990 again! It’s Brenda Sauter, bassist for the bands Wild Carnation, The Feelies, Speed The Plough, & The Trypes. But she didn’t start off on the bass. In fact, she started off playing the piano before moving to guitar. She began playing with her friends, which makes sense. Music basically defined her friend group at that point. She was playing a lot of folk music. Around this time, Brenda began playing…melodica! Yes melodica, the instrument all guitarists secretly wish they could play. One of the groups she was in even won a talent show judged by famed New York DJ, Cousin Brucie. 

But there were too many guitars in the bands she was in, so she began playing bass. That proved fortuitous. 

After sitting in with The Trypes, the eventually approached her about joining the band. That started a connection that eventually led to joining the band Wild Carnation. Not only did she join the band, she replaced famed bass player Michael Imperioli. He’s also dipped his toe into acting. Maybe you’ve seen some of his work. It took a little while for Brenda to accept because she didn’t have a cassette player in her truck and couldn’t listen to the demos! But once Brenda joined, they started working on their debut, Tricycle. She just didn’t know she’d be playing bass and singing, too. The album has been remastered and re-released. In addition to that, there is a treasure trove of extra tracks! And there’s more good news; Superbus, the follow-up to Tricycle, will be given the same treatment in the fall. So follow Wild Carnation on Facebook. Pick up the album on Bandcamp. And keep checking back for updates. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. Help support the show with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or by buying stuff like shirts, coffee mugs, or shower curtains at performanceanx.threadless.com. So let’s jump right into today’s episode with Brenda Sauter of Wild Carnation on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me wish I had a middle name…or two. But it’s OK. He gave me one of his. It’s Danny Lee Blackwell of Night Beats. I’ve wanted to have Danny for quite a while. So I have to thank our mutual friend Paula. Without her, this episode would probably not have happened. Danny and I soon discover that we have another mutual friend, Clyde Mays. And he keeps popping up when you least expect it. 

We open the show with a cameo by Sam Cooke’s Night Beats album and my dogs, Albert and Hammond. Danny grew up in Texas and talks about his unusual influences like Indian classical music and his brother’s influence on his musical taste. He started off playing drums just to get into bands. That led him to playing out by the age of fifteen. But he had serious stage fright. But that anxiety helped reaffirm that this was his calling.

Danny left Texas for Seattle because he loved everything about the city. Plus his sister was there. That’s where he started Night Beats. Danny talks about being open to magic in the studio and keeping things as raw as possible. He’s worked with a lot of great musicians, including Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, which is how I became familiar with him. Danny discusses how they met and how important Rob has been to him and the band.

The sound of Night Beats is always evolving and that is evident in the album Rajan, and it is something special. I think part of that is because Danny is not a gearhead, but he’s a collector. He’s willing to experiment and seek out unusual sounds. Rajan is out on Suicide Squeeze and Fuzz Club Records. Go get it. I’m not asking! And follow Danny @thenightbeats on Instagram & Twitter. Night Beats should be hitting the road soon so keep an eye out for that. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. You can help us out with coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now let’s get mysterious with Danny Lee Blackwell of Night Beats on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest is Clay Melton and he makes me want to do a blues deep dive. We actually start off talking about the weather. After discussing the effects of bitterly cold, southern humid winters, we talk about Clay’s influences and the lasting importance of his father’s cassette collection. He started playing guitar on a classic Toy ‘R Us model with a built in speaker and two missing strings. But he got serious about music soon enough and started playing live at the age of twelve or thirteen. 

His love is the blues but when he got into high school, he started playing in a metal band, which comes up a few times here. By the time Clay finished high school (and truly, some time before that) he knew music was his future. So after he graduated, he studied jazz in college. But live music kept pulling on him. So he left to focus on playing live blues. And that’s what he’s been doing ever since!

His first album, Burn The Ships, is schizophrenic. And I mean that as a compliment. It is SO varied in style and sound. Clay discusses his approach to the LP and practicing his singing as much as his guitar playing. 

Clay has a great Covid lockdown story about recording in an Air B&B that had a strange connection to his session. Once things opened back up, Clay recorded a live album where his drummer brings back the drum solo! He has released two singles and is looking forward to a new full length in the near future. That’s the beauty of DIY recording! Follow CLay @claymeltonmusic on social media. Tour dates, music, & merch are available at claymelton.com. The podcast is supported by the amazing listeners by sending us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety and by merch purchases at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now sit back and enjoy a heap of blues with Clay Melton on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. 

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Today’s guest makes me wish I had written more letters. It’s Eyelids’ Chris Slusarenko. Not only is he the guitarist for the band, he’s also a sweater enthusiast. But before any of that, he was pen pals with Peter Buck. Kind of.That was in Chris’ Death Midget days. But once Death Midget ran its course, he and his brother Nate started the band Sprinkler. They signed to a pre-Nevermind Sub Pop and witnessed the explosion of grunge first-hand. Sprinkler was eventually disbanded when Chris and Nate decided they wanted a band where they had more control.

So the band Svelt was next. Then came Chris’ unusual solo project about Colonel Jeffery Pumpernickel. Around this time Chris started working with Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices. What a ride that has been! From The Takeovers and Boston Spaceship to actually joining Guided By Voices, Chris’ relationship with Bob has yielded much fruit! It also led to the accidental band, Eyelids. Eyelids is so much fun. The new album, A Colossal Waste Of Light, follows the previous albums in its humor and awesome musicianship. It also includes Chris’ longtime friend, Peter Buck. So if you like well crafted pop songs that are guitar-centric, pick up A Colossal Waste Of Light by Eyelids on Bandcamp or wherever you get music. Follow them on social media @musicofeyelids. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. Reach out there or [email protected]. You can help support the show through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. And now enjoy a colossal podcast with Chris Slusarenko of Eyelids on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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I’ve got a great episode of Side Projects here! Michael Gira of Swans returns to talk about their latest album, The Beggar. Swans never got to tour their last album, Leaving Meaning. So The Beggar, while not a continuation of Leaving Meaning, does have some connections to it. It also means that Swans, who are not known for looking back, reminiscing, and playing older songs from their back catalog, will be playing music from Leaving Meaning AND The Beggar, plus possibly a NEW song or two.

Michael has not only created another powerhouse of an album, but he also threw me for a loop when I read the credits and realized that there are a bunch of podcast guests on it, like Dana Schecter, Lucy Kruger, and Laura Carbone. Michael discusses how he met Lucy & Laura and how he visualizes new music and who he invites to participate on the albums. Speaking of writing, he also tells me why repetition is important to him and that while the isolation of Covid may have ruined his touring plans, it really didn’t change his writing style at all. What did influence the album, though, was the sequencing. Sequencing was the spark that caused him to write the epic track The Beggar Lover. And I wrap everything in a nice bow by messing up the questions I have about the album cover art. You’ll see what I mean. Order the album from https://younggodrecords.com/ or Bandcamp. Follow Swans @swans_official on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & Twitter. Reach out there or [email protected]. Coffee from ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety is appreciated. Merch is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. And now I present Michael Gira on Swans’ The Beggar on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest has unusual mentors. It’s Dan Montgomery and he’s got a new album out called Cast Iron Songs and Torch Ballads. We start off reminiscing about the great state of New Jersey and how local radio was a huge influence on him, back when stations would play a wide variety of genres and styles. He started playing in bands at the tender age of 14. And Dan gives a few wild stories from some fun and sometimes frightening gigs.

But after years of playing in bands and developing some unhealthy habits, he took time off from playing. That’s when he got into tour management. It actually helped him get clean. He talks about ill fated moves for marriages and jobs that didn’t work out but did help his writing, how a gig in a yarn store ended up in marriage, and how his biggest mentor started out as his meth dealer. I also find out who the Von Crack Family Singers are.

Dan’s sound has always straddled the line between country and roots rock, playing a lot of acoustic guitar. But buying a Danelectro guitar online on a whim gave him a ton of inspiration and solidified the electric sound on his new album. It’s definitely one to check out. And you can do that at danmontgomerymusic.com, on Bandcamp, or look him up on Facebook. Look us up @PerformanceAnx on Twitter and Instagram, Performance Anxiety on Facebook. Reach out at [email protected]. We like to get coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Merch is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now prepare to possibly meet YOUR new mentor in Dan Montgomery on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Today’s guest makes me want to read more dictionaries; but old, slang ones. He’s Joe Cannon from Resurrectionists. Joe comes from a family that isn’t exactly musically inclined, although his dad DID play a mean steering wheel. Joe didn’t start pursuing music seriously until he went to Notre Dame in South Bend. At that point he REALLY got into it. He not only played music, but also got national touring acts to come to South Bend to play with his band in their basement.

Music was such a force in him that it caused him to delay his work on a PhD at Northwestern. And what’s really weird is his reading of German writer Thomas Mann inspired pandemic themed lyrics that were written in 2019! It’s kinda spooky. 

He’s a self taught banjo player, a collector of slang dictionaries, tambourine enthusiast, and creator of his own, occasional film festival. That last part is because he decided that Resurrectionists would make a video for all 9 tracks on the new album, Now That We Are All Ghosts. Go to reurrectionistsMKE on YouTube to check out all the videos. Follow the band on Facebook and Instagram. Grab the album from Bandcamp.

Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. We accept money for coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. We humbly offer merch with our cute little logo at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now get out your Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue and check out Joe Cannon of Resurrectionists on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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Welcome to one of the friendliest episodes ever! Jonathan Colman of Muscle Tough joins me for a great discussion about his unique career. He’s really the only artist in his family. But what a supportive family! Jonathan’s gateway into music was Weird Al. He got into music more as a rapper and breakdancer than musician; that is until he heard his first electric bass. Then it was love at first listen. Jonathan studied jazz performance at Duquesne and on the day he graduated, he left the ceremony in Pittsburgh for a gig in Philly. That led to him crisscrossing the country and living the rock and roll life. At one point, just as things were really picking up, Jonathan decided it was too much and he needed a break. He went home, moved in with his parents and became Lunch Lady Man John. But the rest was exactly what he needed. He got into teaching music, which he still does, playing sessions, and meeting Ross Bellenoit and Joe Baldacci, his band mates in the improvisational jam trio, Muscle Tough. Jonathan talks to me about being a pedal nerd, a bouillabaisse of influence & theft, and the concept of the key centerless jam. And why is he signing inflatable pizza rafts? Follow Jonathan @friendshipwizard on Instagram. Follow the band @muscletoughband. Check them out on Bandcamp. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on social media. We accept coffee donations at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Buy merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. And please enjoy some improv with Jonathan Colman of Muscle Tough on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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My guest this episode is Simon Kerr of The Wans. We start the show discussing Guinness, Irish coffee and mead. Makes sense…Simon was born in Ireland and I’m mostly Irish. But he grew up in Northern Ireland whereas I did not. His parents were both very musical and imparted that on Simon. It took such deep root in him that his dad is actually his writing partner to this day! That started when Simon was sixteen. But before that he was reluctantly taking classical guitar lessons, learning a solid foundation whether he wanted it or not. During that time, his dad formed a very close connection to John Prine that was truly life changing for Simon.

Simon reveals what The Wans means and why he chose that name. We take a few detours in this conversation, almost like there weren’t microphones in front of us. We talk a little bit about cars and Simon’s solo album Doldrums. The Wans are releasing their latest album this summer and Simon talks about why they record albums so quickly and the connection between the first Wans release and the upcoming one. Follow The Wans @thewans on Instagram. Go to Bandcamp and preorder their upcoming album, Magical Touch and buy their other albums. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Twitter & Instagram. You can support us by buying a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety or merch with our logo at performanceanx.threadless.com. Now get ready to eavesdrop on my conversation with Simon Kerr of The Wans on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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