Talkin‘ the Talk With Don

Poison, Mother Head's Family Reunion, Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, Smith/Kotzen, and highly regarded and iconic solo artist.  Exhausted yet?  Being in ONE band was enough to wear me down but for Richie Kotzen, wearing many different hats and staying busy is what he does.  Richie recently released a new song called "Cheap Shots" and it's classic Richie.  Soulful, gritty, and full of 'tude, "Cheap Shots" is a testament to the fact that he is nowhere near being done. 

This was my 2nd time talking to Richie and he's a great human being and a great conversationalist.  We bonded over our love for Dobermans and also talked about the new song and why it's just better to not know the story behind a song and to create you own narrative for it.   Once again, a great talk with Richie Kotzen and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Enjoy, y'all. 

One of the things I love the most about being a music journalist is that there is no end to the absolutely amazing music that I cross paths with from time to time.  While I do see and hear a lot of crap, every now and then an artist stands out from the pack and grabs my full attention.  This was the case with Dutch vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer Kati Ran. 

Kati Ran performs an eclectic genre of music that pulls from her ancient Nordic roots using instruments such as  Swedish nyckelharpa, moraharpa, hammered dulcimer, Norwegian Kraviklyra, bone flutes and overtone whistles, hurre, shells, primal percussive textures and skin-drums and vocalizes mystical ‘characters’ and powerful emotions.

Kati was gracious enough to take the time to talk with me about her forthcoming album SÁLA’ which is her first release since 2015's Lys.  We talked about the spiritual and emotional connection to this style of music as well as the sensual yet primal elements to the music used to evoke emotions of solace, discomfort, and tension (sometimes all at the same time.)  Kati was amazing and I hope you all will dig getting to know more about Kati Ran and her spectacular talents.

Enjoy, y'all.

As of 2024, folksinger/songwriter Dorian Sorriaux has been kicking it on his own as a solo act since parting ways with Swedish rockers Blues Pills (who hate me by the way, but that's a different story) in 2018.  Since then, he released his debut EP Hungry Ghost, toured all over Europe doing festivals and supporting Alter Bridge/Slash vocalist Myles Kennedy.   In 2023 he signed with The Sign Records and this year released his full-length album Children of the Moon. 

This was the 2nd time having Dorian on my podcast and he's a fantastic human being to talk with.  I hope you'll enjoy hearing us bond over our love of folk music, songwriting, and more folk music!

Enjoy, y'all!

The first time I heard Whitesnake in 1987 I became obsessed.  I loved everything about that band but after seeing them live in 1988, that's what pushed it over the top for me.  I was so captivated by guitarist Adrian Vandenberg that he quickly became one of my guitar heroes.  From there, I dove headfirst into the discography of his solo band Vandenberg and that just solidified his place as one of my favorite guitar players ever. 

In 2024, Adrian and his new Vandenberg lineup hit the road with former Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate for an extensive Spring tour of North America.  This was his first tour of North America since the 1990 Whitesnake tour so this was a truly exciting time for me.  Who would've thought that at the age of 50 I would be having a conversation with Adrian Vandenberg?  Adrian is an amazing guy and much like us music dorks could talk about music all day.  His passion for the Allman Brothers, classic blues, and soul music was such a great thing to hear him talk about. 

Adrian was such a joy to talk to and this was without a doubt one of my absolute favorite interviews.  I hope you dig it and then go check out the new Vandenberg album, Sin. 

Living in a city that has the highest number of shitty bands per capita than any other city in the US can be a real drag.  Atlanta is a city full of bands and musicians that have underwhelmed me to the point of no return but there are a few exceptions to that.  One of those exceptions is that outstanding band Rae and the Ragdolls. 

Rae and the Ragdolls are a band of young hippie misfits with old souls and a sound as classic yet fresh as the ‘60s and ‘70s bands that inspire them.  Rae and the Ragdolls pull from influences such as the Grateful Dead, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and Jefferson Airplane.  Just don’t go trying to compare lead vocalist  Natasha “Rae” Wermers to Stevie Nicks. 

Rae and the Ragdolls are something very new yet very familiar.  They are a band that I very much needed to hear and I’m so glad I stumbled upon them.  I had the pleasure of talking with vocalist Natasha “Rae” Wermers and guitarist Will Bennett and they were so much fun to chat with.  We talked about their love of the Grateful Dead and jam bands, why playing live is where it’s at for them, and just how a bunch of youngins got into playing the fantastic music that the make!

Enjoy, y’all!

In 1996, I heard a song by a band called Dog's Eye View called "Everything Falls Apart" and not only did it become a favorite song of mine, I connected to it on a very personal level (sadly).  Lead by singer/songwriter Peter Stuart, Dog's Eye View became a favorite band of mine that would be a huge part of the soundtrack of my life for 27 years and counting. 

After the release of their 1997 album Daisy, Peter Stuart and Dog's Eye View sadly were dropped from their label and after releasing a couple of independent releases, Peter Stuart dropped out of the Public Eye's View (see what I did there) and found a new a life outside of music, and lived a happy, fruitful life...  until I reached out to him and hounded him to do an interview!

I was so ecstatic that Peter actually agreed to do an interview with me and he was equally as into it as I was as we talked about the Dog's Eye View years, his feelings about the music industry, and life in general after Dog's Eye View.  This was a total bucket list interview for me and I am so grateful to Peter for taking so much time to talk, laugh, and reminisce on the good ol' days! 

Enjoy, y'all. 

Back in 2011, a good friend of mine who was working at the record label Nuclear Blast called me up.  I knew it was something super important if she was calling me.  When I picked up, without hesitation, she said, “Don!  I just heard your new favorite band.  They’re called Graveyard and their new album is called Hisingen Blues.”  After the first listen of the album, I knew she was right.  This was a band that was doing something unlike I’d ever heard and I loved it.  Twelve years later, here I am, still a massive Graveyard fan and geeking out over their latest (and best) album, 6.

It has been nothing less than surreal to watch Graveyard grow from a new band to a band that is now being considered influential and fathers of their movement.  I had the pleasure of once again speaking with guitarist Jonatan Larocca-Ramm and it was great to talk to as always.  We touched on the writing process during the Covid-19 pandemic, not taking things for granted, and the growing, strengthening bond between the members of the band. 

Enjoy, y’all!

I can honestly tell you that I don't think I have ever interviewed a "competitor" before!  Honestly, Keefy isn't a competitor at all.  He is a friend and a fellow music writer with the long running Ghost Cult Magazine.  For over a decade, Ghost Cult Magazine has been an incredible source for hard rock/metal reviews, interviews, and editorials.  These days, Ghost Cult Magazine's web and social media presence has earned them a reputation of being a great outlet and their weekly recap videos featuring Keefy himself is yet another way to connect and reach their audience.  

Keefy was really awesome to talk to and I can tell you now that this isn't the last time.  There was so much to talk about that even in an hour I barely touched on 1/3 of the things I wanted to talk about.  Hope you enjoy this interview talking with a fellow music writer and please head over to www.ghostcultmagazine.com to check them out!

After 22 years as the drummer for the Black Crowes, Steve Gorman's creative life is nowhere near over.  Since parting ways with the Black Crowes in 2015, Gorman has kept himself busy.   The Steve Gorman Sports podcast, Steve Gorman Rocks!, his talk show on Westwood One as well as his bands Trigger Hippy and his newest band, Bag Men featuring North Mississippi All-Stars' Luther Dickinson and long time friend and Trigger Hippy bassist/songwriter Nick Govrik.  

Being a fan of Gorman since 1990, it was a real treat to get to talk to one of my favorite drummers.  We talked a little about the Black Crowes and his style of drumming.  We talked out the outstanding post-Crowes bands Trigger Hippy and Bag Men, and life in general.  Steve was an outstanding guest and I had so much fun talking to this guy.  

Enjoy, y'all!

Styx has been a long time favorite of mine since I was a kid listening to my Dad play The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight on our living room stereo.  Even though he's been singing and playing keys for Styx for nearly half their career, Lawrence Gowan is totally fine being called the "new guy."  This was our fourth time talking and we never seem to run out of things to talk about.  The mouth of the south and the mouth of the Great White North join forces and talk about all kinds of awesome shit like the stellar new Styx album Crash of the Crown, touring life after Covid, and how the pandemic made Styx's bond with their fans and with each other stronger than ever. 

Enjoy, y'all!