Talkin‘ the Talk With Don

Hellsingland Underground is a band out of Sweden that is one of the most UN-SWEDISH bands I have ever heard.  Sounding more like they could've come straight out of the Southeastern part of the US, their sound is a hodgepodge of influences such as Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers Band, and Dr. Hook just to name a few. 

I would've never heard one bit about had it not been for my good friend Jacob Hellrud from Children of the Sun.  Jacob sent me a press release for Hellsingland Underground that was written by lead singer Charlie Granberg's 16 year old daughter and it was so amazing, I had to listen to them.  Here's just a portion of said press release:

My dad and his gang of smelly bearded geezers release another “record.”  Good for them.

And once again he’s forced me to do a job that he obviously is too lazy or incompetent to do himself. He apparently things child labour is perfectly fine in 2022.

I didn’t’ even know what a press release was. But after a lot of nagging and bribery of various kinds, I finally put forward my terms: I will write it if it presented in my version, without censorship. And he agreed with it. So, blame yourself.

First of all, I don’t understand why anyone would want to buy a piece of plastic that is just insanely difficult to play. Feels damn 20th century if you ask me. He says, that I don’t “get the point” but in truth, it’s he himself who’s old and lagging behind. 

I have no idea how to get anyone interested in this. But sometimes I can  feel a little sad for them for still trying.

Charlie is not just a great singer and songwriter but he is an amazing human being and was so much fun to talk to.  We discussed the band's American southern rock influences, his love for Bob Dylan, the band's new album "Endless Optimism", and other random bullshit that made each of us laugh and become good friends! 

Check out these badasses at https://hellsinglandunderground.com/

I happened to be on the app TikTok one night and to my delight, I stumbled upon a band that really blew me away.  TikTok ya don't stop.  Ok, that was lame but you know what isn't lame?  PROPER PET. 

Proper Pet is a duo based out of Tempe, Arizona and they the breath of fresh air that I (and probably you) need.  With a vast array of influences which include, EDM, folk, indie pop, synth pop, and new wave (just to name a few), Proper Pet leaves no stone unturned.  There is a bit of everything for everyone but the best part is that all of their songs are so accessible, catchy, and easy to love. 

I had the privilege of being Proper Pet's first interview.  Lead vocalist/keyboardist Abigail Corrine and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Zach Christian were so much fun to talk to as we discussed the concept behind Proper Pet, playing live, being a musician in the Social Mediasphere of TikTok, and dreaming big. We even bonded over my TikTok user name (jesusisonmyspace) and introduced our dogs virtually.  I loved talking to them and I hope you will enjoy checking out their music. 

Find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProperPetMusic

It's hard to believe that I have been doing interviews for over 12 years.  My very first big interview too place on July 15, 2010 and it was with former Quiet Riot and current (at the time) Ratt guitarist Carlos Cavazo.  It was after Ratt's opening set with the Scorpions at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Alpharetta, GA. 

After waiting about 20 minutes backstage, Carlos made his way to the corner of the room and took a seat.  I didn’t approach him right away because I really didn’t know what the etiquette for doing this was.  I was totally flying blind here.  Carlos managed to lock eyes with me, he smiled, and then motioned for me to come over to him.  I walked over and he says, “Hey man.  You must be Don.”  I asked him how he knew and he said, “Well, the printed out interview questions and the recorder in your hand kinda gave it away.”  We both laughed and all of a sudden he wasn’t a rock god to me.  He was a really nice, funny, and humble guy. 

This is the interview that started it all and here it is, unedited in all it's glory.  I hope you'll enjoy this blast from the past!

Anne K. O'Neill (Serpentent) emerged from the void and delivered one of the most disturbingly, dark, yet beautiful collection of music that I have heard in a long time.  Based out of Seattle, WA, Anne is a multi-instrumentalist, artist, and musician who's influences range from Kate Bush to the legendary dark folk sounds of Buffy Sainte Marie and Joan Baez.  Under the Serpentent umbrella, Anne has released Ancient Tomes I: The Mother of Light which is the first of a three part concept album.  

It was so exciting to have the opportunity to speak with Anne since it seems pretty rare these days that I get to speak to a brand new emerging artist that I don't know a whole lot about.  It was so interesting to talk to her about her influences, the concept behind the Ancient Tomes trilogy, and how it's just not bad to love the dark.  

Based out of Sweden, Hallas plays what they refer to as "Adventure Rock."  With an ongoing theme of sci-fi adventure and pure escapism, one listen to songs like "Carry On", "Star Rider," and "Ellusion's Gate" and you will have an "A-HA!" moment for sure.  

Hallas just put out their second album Isle of Wisdom and has garnered critical acclaim from writers and music fans worldwide.  With only two albums under their belt, it's already clear that Hallas is going to be on a long journey and thankfully so.  

I had the chance to talk to Hallas vocalist/bassist Tommy Alexandersson and it was a great time.  We talked about the new album, the return to live music in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and what a pain in the ass it was for them to make their epic b-rate movie-like video for "Ellusion's Gate."  

Hallas is one of the most important bands of the century that you don't know about... YET. 

TikTok for the longest time, to me, was a young person's game.  I just didn't get it.  My wife convinced me to at least lurk and check things out and I was blown away by how many cool music related things were all over the place.  One of the people who really stood out to me was a Canadian by the name of Vanessa Hughes.  Vanessa is much like me in that she's a music dork who loves sharing random facts about artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Alice In Chains.  

Vanessa is a really cool person and I had a blast talking with her and getting to know more about her and what she does.  

If you wanna connect with Vanessa on TikTok, her handle is raised_by_hippies and is on Instagram under the same handle.  

Matt Kozar is a guitarist that I have loved for quite a while now.  As the guitarist for one of my favorite bands, Brave, Matt's style of guitar playing is a unique blend of various influences including post-rock, ambient, and straight up Heavy Metal.  Last year Matt and co-guitarist in Brave, Scott Loose, released Scott's Stellar Death project and now, with Matt at the captain's helm, we have been presented with Day of Departure, a Sci-Fi, thought provoking collection of songs that hit me in the hardest but best of ways.

Matt's an old friend so talking to him was just us having a regular conversation.  As always, prepare for me to derail shit and go off into other territories but it was a blast talking about everything from the music he is passionate about to his love of the Star Wars Holiday Special.  Yeah, we went there.

Wilma Nea is a super talented pop singer/songwriter from Sweden who has just released her debut album This Too Shall Pass.  Wilma is also a member of the psychedelic roots/rock group Children of the Sun.  Wilma was such a gracious, funny, and charming person to talk to and I really enjoyed our conversation from her home in Sweden.  We talked about her work producing, writing, and performing nearly all of the instruments on her album, growing up in Sweden, and our love of singing along with "Bohemian Rhapsody."  

This interview was conducted shortly before her album release concert which took place on March 18th to a receptive crowd and she is currently booking more shows in support of her solo album.  She will also be doing shows with Children of the Sun so 2022 is going to be a busy year for my friend!  

Slik Toxik was a band that blew my mind when I first saw them blow Faster Pussycat off the Masquerade stage here in Atlanta in 1992.  Even though the band was short lived, Slik Toxik's debut Doin' the Nasty is a favorite of mine 30 years later. 

What happens when you put a Canadian and New Orleans native on a podcast together?  You get a shit ton of talking but that's ok because you know what?  We had a lot to talk about.  I have been good friends with former Slik Toxik guitarist Kevin Gale for a few years and it was a great time talking to him as always.  

We talked about the 30th anniversary of Doin' the Nasty, the state of the world, and other cool shit so just settle in and enjoy!  Thanks for a great talk, as always, KG.  

For anyone who knows me at all, it will come as no surprise just how absolutely giddy I was to finally have the opportunity to speak with the legendary metal vocalist/songwriter Tony Martin.  Tony is nothing less than a humble gentleman with stories to tell and while proud of his past, Tony is very much about where he is and where he will be going from here. We talked about the his work with Sabbath of course, his thoughts on the Sabbath album Forbidden, his post Sabbath solo work, and his fantastic latest solo release, Thorns.  

Tony was so much fun to talk to and this was a bucket list experience of the highest level. Ok, I'm going to shut up, now.  Enjoy this one!