Rock 'n' Roll Grad School

Sarah Borges wrote and recorded her new album, Together Alone during the pandemic, and without the backing of her usual band, the Broken Singles. While dealing with all of the things we all had to deal with during the pandemic, Sarah's album also has some bright spots.  (Seriously, this album is a good time and don't let us tell you otherwise.)

Together Alone is available this Friday, February 18th wherever you get your music.

We talked about all of this and the dedication of Sarah's fans. For more information, check out her website, or follow her on Facebook or on Instagram.

"Ghost Stories" by The Whitmore Sisters may be their first album, but Bonnie and Eleanor Whitmore have been making music together all their life. The new album is a celebration of some of the most influential people on their lives and a look at how those who have left us are still with us in some fashion.

"Ghost Stories" is available right now, wherever you get your music. For more information and tour dates, check out their website. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Eric Gales is a guitar maestro, but on his new album, Crown, he's also focusing on his singing. With a solo named the best guitar solo of 2021, Gales is thrilled with the response to the record. We talked with Eric, in the midst of preparing for his upcoming tour.

For more information, you can check out his website, or you can follow him on Facebook.

Nash Kato and King Roeser are back with a new Urge Overkill album- the first in 10 years. Oui is classic UO... so much so, you'd be mistaken for thinking you'd returned to Guyville.

Oui is available February 11th from Omnivore Recordings. For more information, check out the UO website.

If you came of age in the past 30(?) years, you're familiar with the drumming of our guest. As the founding drummer of Violent Femmes, Victor DeLorenzo is responsible for beats that still ring out around the world. And with his new band, The Night Crickets, DeLorenzo has a whole new set of rhythms to share. We talked with Victor about the creation of the new band, the excitement of collaboration and friendship.

For more information, you can follow the Night Crickets on Facebook. 

We head to Nashville to talk with producer, musician and songwriter Leland Grant about his work. He's got music in a bunch of TV shows you've heard of, he's written and produced with Rachel Bradshaw AND he's created a music app to make reading and writing music easier.

Leland was a blast to talk with and we'll definitely have him on again- probably next summer while we hang out in onsies and write Christmas songs...

For more information on all his various projects, check out Leland's website.

This week we talk with one of the original E Street-ers, multi-instrumentalist David Sancious. On top of working with Bruce Springsteen over the past 40 years, David has also worked with folks like Seal, Peter Gabriel and Sting.

David's new album,  "Eyes Wide Open," is an exploration of sound and tackles many of the questions that have perplexed us all in the past few years. But the album is positive and upbeat. For more information, you can visit David's website. You can buy "Eyes Wide Open," wherever you get your music.

Tana Douglas wasn't looking to become the first female roadie in the world- there was a job to be done and she did it. Tana recounts her long way to the top in her new memoir "Loud" which takes you from the clubs with AC/DC to some of the biggest stages (and castles) in the world as Tana makes her way across the world.

"Loud" is available in paperback, digital and audio wherever you get your books. For more information, check out Tana's website.

This week we thought we'd try something a little different- we gathered together to play games, remember past episodes and share some Christmas music that we bet you haven't heard 1,000 times this holiday season.

Thank you for listening to our first 50 episode and we can't wait to share the next 50 with you!

Music in this episode:
Christmas Piggy (With the Apple in the Mouth) – The Hunt Sisters

Silent Night, Holy Night- Ronnie Kole Trio

Ol’ Fatso- The Four Aces

The Little Drummer Boy- Sy Mann

Reindeer Boogie- Hank Snow

(Merry Christmas) From Lisa Marie- Jana Sampson

Hang Your Balls on the Christmas Tree- Kay Martin and Her Bodyguards

Santa’s Rap- Treacherous Three

Sleigh Ride- Memphis Sound Orchestra

There's no other way to put it- Jennifer Batten shreds. From her work to Michael Jackson to writing songs & playing with Jeff Beck, Jennifer has blazed a trail all of her own through music. We talk about her early days and how she got to where she is now. For more information, you can check out Jennifer's website, and to learn more about her on-line lessons & classes, check out the Guitar Cloud Symposium.

And also, we talk about the Ramones ducks!