Hailing from Longmeadow, MA, Peter Venti says hello. Having received proper exposure to music as a kid, after his three years of mandatory piano lessons, and exploring the bass guitar in college, this keys player/singer ends up in Arizona in the late 80s. He mucked it up in various bands such as Garage Mahal, The Unholy Alliance, The New Subterraineans, Black Sheep Choir, Suffering Bastards and eventually in 2004 we start a band called Ten Dollar Outfit. From it's creation at an open mic at Rula Bula in 2004, to making our first studio album "East Meets West," this trio still performs to this day. Many studio and live albums later, we still enjoy making that music. For more information and to listen to TDO, please visit: www.tdo.brianchartrand.com/music

Tempe, AZ native Singer/Songwriter Joey Gutos stops by for a chat; from the first time hearing Black Dog, to NSYNC dance routines, to finding his voice after a fateful performance of "Just What I Needed" by the Cars. We check out a tune by his old band Sunset Voodoo called "Sweet Release" and how he evolved into his new thing and his arrival as a full time performer in 2018. We also chat about how he got through the pandemic in one piece. Lastly, we dig into his latest tune "Sand to Snow." For more information, please visit www.joeygutos.com.

Tempe's own singer/songwriter Jake Greider stops by for a chat. From watching his pops play music in Irish pubs, to discovering hip hop in the early 90s, to "jumping in" the Little G mafia, to finding the drums. We connect on "Stairway to Heaven," Smashing Pumpkins, our common distaste for math, and our love of Jeff Buckley (he even busts out a little "Grace" on my acoustic guitar). We also check out his tune "Clean." Did we just become best friends? Find out for yourself. www.jakegreider.com

David Moroney, aka DJ Mitch Freedom, stops by for a chat. He hails from Grand Rapids, MI where in the early 90s, he was inspired by hip hop and techno but picked the Cello in 5th grade as his first instrument. We rap about ska music, grunge, and the Grateful Dead. After touring with his band Mission Orange after high school, he makes the decision to move to Phoenix in 2004 and finishes his degree at ASU. During that time, he starts What Laura, Says, Thinks and Feels, which becomes a staple in the local music scene. He shares some early stories of the downtown music scene and the early days of What Laura Says. From the ashes of that band, he joined Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra and started to cultivate his DJ work. David has a lot going on! www.instagram.com/mitchfreedom

Dennis Rowland, Detroit's own legendary jazz vocalist, calls me into the band room at Scottsdale Community College for a chat. He shares (and sings) his early musical memories, including his first 45, singing classical music in high school, shipping off to Kentucky State University for music, his first paid gig at Joe's Palm Room in Louisville, and landing the gig singing with the Count Basie Orchestra. It's not often you get a chance to rap with a legend, and I feel honored and humbled to have spent this time with him. He also speaks candidly about his stroke in 2012 and how he got back on his feet to sing again. Dennis is still gigging to this day and you owe it to yourself to listen to him perform.

Matthew Thornton, lead singer and songwriter in Vinyl Station and reluctant "artist," returns to the podcast. He was my first guest on this podcast in April 2021 and we reminisce about that time and space which was, let's say, challenging. We talk about the early days of the pandemic and how we got things over and stayed sane. For a minute or two, the conversation goes off the rails a touch, sorry, spoiler alert. Lastly, we dig into his latest work and we talk about some of the tunes including "Nothing Yet" and "That Man." For more information, please visit https://www.vinylstationband.com/

Singer/Songwriter, guitar player, and music critic Ed Masley stops by for a chat. Pittsburgh, PA born , son of a steel worker, Beatles influenced songwriter shares his early story; from getting in trouble in school, to convincing his folks to buy him a guitar, to getting inspired to study journalism at Temple University. He talks about his decision to move to AZ, his history with Bob Hoag at Flying Blanket making records with his band The Breakup Society and working as a journalist for the Arizona Republic and the complications of being a musician AND a music writer. We discuss his latest The Breakup Society album which was released in 2020 and we listen to a snippet of his tune "all the integrity money could buy." For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TheBreakupSociety

Ryan Cronin, singer/songwriter, guitar player, composer stops by for a chat. New Jersey born, egg roll lover, shares his story; from in utero exposure to the Grateful Dead, to watching Wizard of Oz synched to Dark Side of the Moon, to blasting Rage Against the Machine to get fired up in High School. We talk about our mutual love of Wes Anderson movies. He talks about his time at GCC and his decision to study music and start performing. We discuss his pandemic project called Croni and hear a clip of his tune Ukinumbo. Find out more at https://croni.space/

Singer/Songwriter, guitar player Austin Carthell stops by for a chat. He shares early memories singing harmonies with his family. What had been a hobby turned profession when in his late 20's he decides to ditch the corporate job and become a performer. He shares his musical journey, we talk tech, looping, gear, and why he uses backing tracks for some of his gigs. We connect on Amos Lee and then we listen to some of Austin's tunes and talk songwriting. For more information please visit http://www.austincarthell.com/

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Singer/songwriter Carrie Lynn Van Winkle stops by for a chat. She grew up in a deeply religious, yet highly musical family. She tried a number of instruments before getting a guitar from her dad with a cryptic post-it attached. She shares her first introduction to pop music (buckle up), her struggles as an unchallenged high school student, giving up her dream of attending Juilliard College, rebelling by NOT playing music, and her decision to go back to school including attending Glendale Community College focusing on music. We talk about how the Chicks With Picks organization made her the artist she is today and we listen to two of her tunes "Safe Bet, Sweet Plan" and "Crash." For more information, please visit : www.instagram.com/van.winkle.music