Ben Nichols from Lucero is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. Ben just released an unplugged record which features him and Lucero piano player Rick Steff performing stripped-down versions of some Lucero classics and deep cuts. We talked about that as well as the first Violent Femmes record, The Nerves’ song “Hanging on the Telephone,” the Little Rock music scene, his brother Jeff’s movie The Bikeriders, and the time both our bands opened for the Replacements in 2014. I always have a great time with Ben and this was no exception. Listen and subscribe!

Stuart Murdoch is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. Stuart is the lead singer and songwriter of classic band Belle & Sebastian, who have consistently released amazing music since the mid '90s. He’s now also the author of a great new novel Nobody’s Empire, which mirrors his own personal experiences with chronic fatigue syndrome in the time leading up to the formation of B&S. We talked about that as well as Abba, Bay City Rollers, Come on Eileen, CS Lewis, writing letters to Quentin Crisp, Inland taipans, and so much more. It was a thrill for me to have Stuart on the show, I’m a huge fan, and I think we had a great talk. Listen and subscribe!

Patrick Radden Keefe is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. Patrick is an incredible non-fiction writer, he’s written a number of books including 2019’s amazing Say Nothing, about the troubles in Northern Ireland. The book was the basis for the successful TV series that was on FX last year. He’s also behind the Winds of Change podcast, which examined the potential of CIA involvement in the Scorpions hit song. We had a great talk here about falling in love with The New Yorker, counterfeit wine, Celebrity Apprentice, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum heist, unexamined rock and roll conspiracies, and so much more. It was a great talk, excited to share it. Listen and subscribe!

Matt Johnson from The The is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. The The started in 1979 and has released a number of classic alternative records. In 2024, they came back with their first studio album in 24 years, the excellent Ensoulment. We talked about that as well as Jamboree bags, penny chews, coal-tar soap, being open to love and using old colognes to trigger memories. Matt is an inspiring artist who continues to do so much cool stuff, and it was an honor to have him here. Listen and subscribe! 

Tamara Lindeman makes music as The Weather Station and she is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. Tamara just released a fantastic record called Humanhood, which comes follows 2021’s breakthrough Ignorance and its 2022 companion How Is It That I Should Look at the Stars. We talked about the making of Humanhood, climate grief, trusting musicians, winds vs. synths, and making music so you can go on tour. I thought this was a really great conversation, and I’m excited to be able to share it here. Listen and subscribe! 

Willy Vlautin is my guest on the first That’s How I Remember It episode of 2025. Willy is an amazing songwriter and novelist. He’s published seven incredible novels, most recently 2024’s The Horse. After leading the band Richmond Fontaine for years, he moved over to a pure songwriting role in The Delines, who are releasing a great record Mr. Luck & Ms. Doom next month. We talked about that as well as the effect of anxiety on memory, Steinbeck, William Kennedy, TV/Film adaptations of his work, and so much more. Willys is a friend and also a complete inspiration. I was so happy to go deep with him here. Listen and subscribe. 

Narrated by Luis Guzmán, Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico pairs stories from some of the Island’s most exciting musicians, including Los Rivera Destino, Pachyman, and Andrea Cruz, with major artists outside of music, such as Hollywood film director Miguel Arteta, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jose Rivera, author Jaquira Diaz, and legendary EGOT Rita Moreno. Listeners will get to know Puerto Rico’s incredible towns, cities, beaches, rainforests, mountains, bars, and dance clubs that not only shaped their work but ultimately influenced global culture. Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico is a production of Talkhouse and Atlas Obscura, presented by Discover Puerto Rico.

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Dave Pirner is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. I grew up a massive Soul Asylum fan so I was thrilled to have Dave here to talk about his excellent new record, playing trumpet in the Minnesota Youth Symphony, different roles producers play, honoring his deceased band member Karl Mueller, our mutual guitar teacher Chris Osgood, and whether he is the guy yelling at the police at the beginning of The Replacements’ Stink record. Was a great talk. Listen and subscribe. 

Pete Yorn is my guest on this episode of THIRI. He’s had an amazing career as a songwriter, starting with his huge debut record musicforthemorningafter in 2001. Since then he’s made a ton of good records, including this year’s The Hard Way. We talked about that as well as liking sad songs as a young person, learning covers, Moleskin notebooks, being wary of producers, seeing one of Tom Petty’s last shows, Shrek 2, and a whole lot more. Was an absolute pleasure to speak with Pete, I really enjoyed it. Listen and subscribe! 

Jesse Malin is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. A complete legend of NYC rock and roll, Jesse suffered a spinal stroke in 2023 and has been rehabilitating since. His songs are covered in a new tribute album with a star-studded lineup. Many of these artists will be playing the Beacon Theater in December when Malin and his band take the stage for the first time since the stroke. We talked about all of that as well as playing with the Misfits in 1981, seeing the Ramones for the first time, and so much more. Was a thrill to spend this time with Jesse.

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