The Bret Saunders Podcast

Adam Granduciel fronts the Grammy-Award winning band The War On Drugs, and they've just released a concert album, "Live Drugs". Adam discusses raising a newborn during COVID and how technology has made it easier to record a show (and eliminate a soundcheck.) He also talks about how classic live albums by The Band and The Allman Brothers influenced their new record, and what it’s like a singing a Warren Zevon song while sounding like Bob Dylan.

Sheryl Crow is a longtime friend of KBCO. Listen in to this passionate conversation about her new song, helping each other, the challenges of being a mother these days, and Burt Reynolds. Yes, Burt Reynolds.

Wesley Schultz from the Lumineers has just released "Vignettes", a collection of 10 intimately recorded covers ranging from Tom Waits and Bob Dylan to Sheryl Crow and Coldplay. Wesley talks about how the songs and artists inspired him, the influence of James Taylor, and what he hopes people will take away from the album.

Lots of laughs here. In 2003, David Bowie rang us up to talk about his new album, Reality. Listen in as Bret and David talk about hurricanes, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Jonathon Richman, Talking Heads, and aftershave.

Folk singer Loudon Wainwright III is best known for his humorous and nakedly honest autobiographical songs. On his latest, "I'd Rather Lead A Band", he reaches back to the 20' and 30's and covers jazz standards written by some of the great composers like Hoagy Carmichael, Fats Waller, Irving Berlin and others. Loudon tells Bret why he chose to interpret these classics and why they have stood the test of time. Plus, Loudon remembers his friends and contemporaries, John Prine and Leon Redbone.

Stone Gossard is a founding member and guitarist in Pearl Jam. While the pandemic put Pearl Jam's tour plans on hold, Stone went back to a project he started 6 years ago, Painted Shield. It includes singer-songwriter Mason Jennings, former Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain, and keyboardist/singer Brittany Davis. Stone describes the sound of the band ('messy American rock'), the impact of John Lennon, whether artists should speak up politically and who he says started the Seattle scene. You might be surprised by the answer.

Sometimes a conversation a few years ago is still relevant today, even more so. Such is the case with Randy Newman. The occasion for this interview from 2017 was the release of his album Dark Matter, a collection of songs that dealt with Vladamir Putin, the role of science and faith, climate change, global politics...subjects that are still very front and center today. Randy also looks back on his amazing work composing music for films and you'll find out what he thinks his best rock album is.

With the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we wanted to reach out to Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser, who clerked for her. Phil shares his memories of the "Notorious RBG" and why there will never be another one like her. He also discusses what's at stake with her replacement and what his office is doing for Colorado in the fight for racial, economic, and climate justice.

Jon Anderson possesses one of the most unique and recognizable voices in music. He was a co-founder of Yes, singing lead on all but a handful of the band's 6 decades of music. There were also collaborations with Vangelis, John Paul Jones, Jean Luc-Ponty, plus numerous solo albums. Jon's new release, '1000 Hands: Chapter One', a record 30 years in the making, features past and present members of Yes, along with Billy Cobham, Ian Anderson, and Chick Corea. Jon tells Bret how he's keeping busy during COVID, remembering his bandmate Chris Squire, and why these days are like the 60's.

William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 60 years as an award-winning actor, (most notably in the role of “Captain James T. Kirk” in the TV series Star Trek), director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. His new album is 'The Blues', a collection of blues classics with a little help from some famous friends, like Richie Blackmore from Deep Purple, Stax Records guitarist Steve Cropper, Elvis sideman James Burton, and many more. He and Bret talk about how he immersed himself in the genre as he prepped for the album, the music he grew up listening to in Montreal, and the highs and lows of touring with a band.