Roadcase Podcast

For this final episode from Lollapalooza, and to bring the festival series of in-person interviews to a close, I sat down on the last day with Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin of Cults, and also had an amazing conversation with Chance Emerson. 

Cults’ music is both surreal and ethereal, but also grounded in down-to-earth songwriting to is striking in its simplicity and authenticity. Brian and Maddie have been at this since they were college students and now 15 years later, they’ve release their fifth full length album, To The Ghosts. They’re embarking on giant US tour and their excitement is palpable and their love for what they do is truly infectious.  

Chance Emerson is an LA-based neo-folk artist who grew up in Hong Kong and went to school at Brown University, where he met his bandmates and formed his band in 2019. Chance is smart, dedicated, and truly devoted to his songwriting craft, and possesses a self-belief that is super admirable. His most recent release is entitled “Gingko.”

These are amazing conversations!!  

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

I’m back this week with this penultimate installment of in-person interviews from the couch at Lollapalooza where I spoke to four amazing bands and artists for this episode!  

First up is the amazing East Bay crew, Destroy Boys, who are now two-time Roadcase guests!  Vi and Alexia first formed the band at the ripe old age of 15, and haven’t looked back. Their latest album entitled Funeral Soundtrack #4, just came out August 9, and I’m happy to report that this hardworking band just keeps getting better!  We tackle all the things that drive the Destroy Boys ethos and it’s a great conversation.

Quarters of Change from NYC, met in high school, and have a super fun and familial vibe. Having grown up together and being close friends is all part of their unique story of playing clubs as teenagers in the Big Apple. Their new album, Portraits, is out now!

Tanner Usrey is a southern rocker with a heart of gold and a down-home, hard working ethos. Tanner is an absolute Road Dog, and once he quit his day job in late 2019, only Covid could stop him, albeit temporarily. Tanner likes to keep as real as his country roots and has a great story to tell.

Closing this episode is the one and only Godly the Ruler, a Chicago native, who is part performance artist, part chameleon, and part hip-hop EDM rocker while on stage. Their tale is one of finding the lane and then crossing all the lines while still staying true to oneself.

Tune in now to listen to these amazing conversations live from the couch at Lollapalooza!! 

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

Part 2 of the Lollapalooza Series is here and I’m excited to share my interviews with four first-time Lolla performers, artists and bands — all of whom have super-compelling stories to tell.

First up is 22 year-old Ava Maybee, who has seen the music world from a unique perspective — her Dad is drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. LA-based Ava is charming, engaging, wise beyond her years and well on her way to her own successful music career.  

Nico Vega, from LA, is back after a six year hiatus with a new album and a fresh perspective. While family and life things precipitated their extended break, they’re back with a new album on the horizon and a fresh perspective. You’ll recognize Mike Peña (bass and founding member), from his acting career (Ant Man, Narcos)!! 

Happy Landing is a wonderful set of musicians who started out playing backyards and basements at Ole Miss, and have since toured with The Head and The Heart and Judah & The Lion. Their latest album, Golden, is out now!!

Fifteen0eight is an electronica duo that truly pushes genre boundaries to create unique, heavy, and exciting soundscapes. Both talented Berklee College of Music graduates, they bring an excitement and enthusiasm to everything they do.

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

I'm back in Chicago for Lollapalooza!!  This gigantic music festival took place August 1-4 right out my front door in Chicago's Grant Park.  I'm totally psyched to bring you loads of interviews with some of the music industry's biggest talents. 

This first part of the four-part series of in-person interviews kicks off with the wonderful and talented Goldie Boutilier. Goldie is no stranger to success and has had several career incarnations along the way, giving her a unique perspective — and she wants to share that knowledge and excitement with younger artists!! Goldie is a believer in the power of manifestation — and I’m all about that!

Grant Perez, who performs under the name grentperez, began as a YouTube star as a kid… fast forward 5-6 years when Grant wins the 2024 ARIA award for Emerging Songwriter of the Year!! Grant’s energy and enthusiasm is super infectious and his humble vibe is super refreshing.

The National Parks has been following their bliss and using nature as a muse since they all first met in Provo, Utah over a decade ago. Their commitment to the outdoors is as evident in the music as it is in their chosen band name, and they have built a massive following with their Pop Folk/Americana vibe.

To round out this Part 1 episode is LA-based Cale Tyson, whose Pop Folk vibe is infused with humor and authenticity. Leaving Nashville and the Traditional Country route behind, Cale set out for the Wild West of Los Angeles to carve out a new chapter in his multi-varied career. Cale is a chill dude with a great sense of humor — he’s the perfect Roadcase guest!!      

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

And to conclude the Newport Folk Festival Series of in-person interviews from the 2024 edition of this amazing festival, I’m happy to present William Prince, Alisa Amador, and Solange Igoa and Andrea Walker of Glitterfox!!

William is the 2024 John Prine Songwriter Fellowship Award winner, and his latest album, Stand in the Joy, won William his second JUNO award as well as the nod for the Canadian Country Music Awards Alternative Country Album of the Year.  Alisa is a charming and witty human, with a new album, Multitudes, which includes tracks in both Spanish and English. Alisa, who won the 2022 Tiny Desk Contest, combines a level of vulnerability with the ability to connect with her audience in totally unique way. Solange and Andrea of Glitterfox bring a super positive and fun vibe to everything they do, and this interview was no exception. I love their combination of roots and indie rock with danceable garage vibes. This amazing couple have a compelling and sweet story of love, perseverance and high energy that is both engaging and heartwarming, and I’m all about it!!

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

I’m back with more interviews live from Newport Folk for this Part 2 of the 2024 Newport Folk Festival Series on Roadcase. This episode features some of my favorite interviews I’ve done for Roadcase. There was truly something special that occurred with each of these artists and the result is really spectacular!!  

First up is the iconic Donavon Frankenreiter, who is now into his third decade of music, having debuted his first album in 2004. Donavon is at Newport for the first time to celebrate his upcoming album, Get Outta Your Mind. The dude is a truly unique human, and we have a totally great vibe and it's a stellar conversation. Ocie Elliott is Jon Middleton and Sierra Lundy, and we all sit down on the couch for loads of laughs and great times talking about their music, overall vibe, origin story and simply everything and anything. Jobi Riccio rounds out this episode and it’s a blast. Jobi is the 2023 John Prine Fellowship recipient as well as the reigning 2024 Luck Reunion Artist on the Rise. She has had a simply amazing year since the last we sat down at last year’s Newport Folk, and this time we get into it all.

This collection of live interviews from Newport are truly epic and are not to be missed!!  Guaranteed you will learn to love all these amazing artists and come back for more!!

Index of Artists:
Donavon Frankenreiter @ 00:50
Ocie Elliot @ 48:31
Jobi Riccio @ 1:17:22

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

Roacase is back at Newport Folk Festival and I'm super excited for you to listen to all these amazing interviews and artist stories!! 

Today's episode, Part 1, features the legendary artist Taj Mahal, whose career spans seven decades and multiple genres; Billy Bragg, activist, folk artist, 80s hero, and Destroyer of Cynicism; Phil and Tim Hanseroth aka The Hanseroth Twins, who are Brandi Carlile’s closest collaborators and decades-long bandmates with a debut album out now, entitled Vera; Kelsey Wilson of the amazing Funk/Soul band Sir Woman who is also know for her solo work with Wild Child; and Briscoe -- Truett Heintzelman and Phillip Lupton -- who recently released their Folk Rock/Americana debut album, West of It All.

These are truly epic artists I had the privilege to sit down with at Newport Folk this year, and I'm proud to bring you all the interviews!! 

Index of Artists:
Taj Mahal @ 00:50
Billy Bragg @ 46:13
The Hanseroth Twins @ 1:08:11
Kelsey Wilson @ 1:36:09
Briscoe @ 2:00:28

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

Let’s keep the vibe rolling with this Part 2 of the Pitchfork Music Festival Series, and this fun episode features my conversations with Raleigh-Durham based artist Rosali, the eclectic duo Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug of Sweeping Promises, and the Chicago-based rap duo Angry Blackmen.   

Rosali’s latest album, Bite Down, is steeped in super cool folk rock vibes and equally stellar songwriting. Rosali have a great conversation, and we not only talk about dogs and N Carolina life, but we get into all kinds of rich terrain including how she strives be vulnerable in her songwriting and what the means for her in other areas of her life.

Lira and Caufield bring a super eclectic energy as they are both very much practitioners of the DIY ethos. This amazing couple have been friends now for over a decade and we talk about how they’ve structured their life in Lawrence, Kansas around their unique artform.  They truly walk the walk!

Brian and Quentin are Chicago natives who bring their amazing energy to the Pitchfork stage for the first time. Their new album, The Legend of ABM, is deep and dark, and we talk about the issues that we all face, and Brian tells me about his effort to help others know that they are not alone. These two big-hearted giants talk to me about their lives both on and off the stage in this super vibey and very candid conversation.

Make sure to give a listen to these amazing in-person interviews!!! 

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

Festival Season on Roadcase is finally upon us and we’re kicking it off from Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago!! For this Part 1 from Pitchfork, I talked to singer, rapper and multi-genre artist, Tkay Maizda and also had a fun convo with the amazing Riot Girrrrls themselves, Molly Neuman and Allison Wolfe of Bratmobile. 

Tkay has achieved global recognition already in her brief career, having won NME's Best Australian Solo Artist in 2022. She was also nominated for an ARIA award for Best Rap Song for her 2023 single "Silent Assassin."  But accolades alone do not do her justice; Tkay is a joyous human and a tireless artist, and she talked to me about striving to create and perform at the highest levels. We discussed what it was like growing up in Australia, moving frequently from city to city, how she stayed true to herself and her art.

Molly and Allison of Bratmobile are back playing live after a 20-year hiatus and are both super excited to be performing again. Having been at the hub of the Riot Girl movement in the early 90s, Bratmobile waved the flag for the DIY spirit and Girl Power. They both talked to me about their fierce advocacy for Women's Rights and for the inclusion of Women in the music industry both in performance and production roles, and talked to me about all the life they’ve lived since starting up the band over 30 years ago!

This is a great episode with these super compelling artists featuring tons of great stories and tales from the road.  Check it out now!!

For more information on Roadcase: 
https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com

Or contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected]

Roadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

Trousdale is here on Roadcase!!  This dynamic trio of Quinn D'Andrea, Georgia Greene and Lauren Jones is crushing it on the road this year, and I talk to them about this latest tour, the upcoming deluxe release of their 2023 album Out of My Mind, and how far they've come since their college days together at USC.  

Trousdale is out there spreading their vibe of love and self-acceptance, while playing to adoring audiences across the country.  They each talked to me about how important it is to be role models for young women; not only to be their best selves, but also to inspire and support women in all facets of the music industry -- especially on the production side.

With stellar vocal harmonies and a genuine vibe of authenticity and down-to-earth charm, Quinn, Georgia and Lauren really demonstrate what it means to be yourself and own who you are, no matter what, and I'm here for it!!