Brian brings in Phoenix musician Matt Thornton to discuss an awesome song. What makes an awesome song? Today is Smiths vs. The Cure. Welcome to the "Micro-pod."

Guitar player James Rudolph stops by for a chat. Originally from Portland, Maine, he spent most of his high school years living in Belgium, made his way to LA to study music and then decided to move to Phoenix right before the pandemic to really commit to being a full-time musician after a period of being a public school teacher. We dive into musical philosophies, approaches, inspirations... baseball, rainbows, and the pursuit of music. For more information on James check out https://www.instagram.com/jamesrudolphguitar/

Beth Lederman, first call piano player and native Phoenician , stops by for a chat. Beth comes from a long line of accomplished musicians and music enthusiasts. Her grandfather started Lederman Music which he moved to Phoenix from Virginia in the 1950s. His store was a major hub in the music scene. Beth, not surprisingly, was inspired to play the piano at a very early age. She continued pursuing her passion for music through college(s), until making her way back to Arizona where she played in rock bands, started a latin band called Nuvo Mundo, and various jazz ensembles. We share war stories about hosting jam sessions, we talk about life as a musician, and what's on the horizon for her. We also hear her perform "Both Sides Now" from a recent performance. For more information, please visit https://bethlederman.com/

Alex Miller zooms in from NYC for a chat. Our paths crossed in 2007ish in New York. Alex had just moved from his home state of Ohio to work as a sound guy at the Canal Room in Tribeca which is where my band The Sweet Remains would perform. Alex mixed us for several shows and a friendship was formed. He is a singer/songwriter, member of the band Saved By The 90s, bandleader for his new project Silver Tooth Cactus, and die hard Phish head. We talk about his work opening a live music venue, staying productive during the pandemic, and how he is navigating the music industry as an original artist. For more info, check out https://silvertoothcactus.com/.

On this episode, Brian is joined by Phoenix based drummers Erik Teichmann and Gannon Burleigh. We dig deep, real deep, talk grooves, players, influences... favorite comedies from the 80s. There were lightning rounds. This episode has it all! We basically nerd out on the drums for a while. Enjoy!

Curtis Grippe of Dead Hot Workshop and owner of Stem Recording in Paradise Valley, AZ stops by for a chat. From the early days in Prescott, AZ to answering an ad in the Phoenix New Times for a band looking for a drummer which leads not only to his move to Tempe, but to being a part of Dead Hot Workshop in the late 1980s and immediately being immersed in the burgeoning Tempe music scene. He shares early Dead Hot touring stories, getting signed, touring with the Gin Blossoms. He helps define the Tempe sound, shares a secret to keeping a band together for over 30 years, label pitfalls, and watching the thriving local music scene disappear. We listen to the song that Curtis feels best exemplifies the Dead Hot sound "Lead Thoughts" from their major label debut album "1001." We also chat about his recording studio Stem Recording. For more information, please visit https://www.stemrecording.com/

What's happening with this podcast?!

Marah and Luis, also known as Lumar, stop by the crib for a chat. Marah is from Phoenix and Luis was raised in Mexico City, but they came together at a fateful Music Theory class at GCC. They both had a metal phase, they both grew up around music, but they chose different instruments. We talk early music memories, inspirations, favorite artists, the beginning of their band Lumar, joining the Stakes and how that collaboration works, and everything on the horizon. For more information, please visit https://www.lumarmusic.com/home

If you love baseball or music, this is your podcast because Eric Nadel zooms by for a chat. Eric is the Texas Hall of Fame radio announcer for the 2023 World Series Champions, the Texas Rangers, and one of the biggest music fans I've ever met. He talks about growing up in Brooklyn, studying at Brown University, his first job calling hockey in Michigan, and moving to Dallas in 1976 to work for the Rangers, and seeing concerts all along the way. He talks about his involvement in the Dallas music scene, shares stories about Nolan Ryan and George W. Bush, and his favorite stadiums to work in.

Just listen....