Daughn Gibson is a singer-songwriter from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was formerly the drummer for a band called Pearls and Brass. In between drumming and his solo work, Daughn has worked as a trucker and in a sex shop, among other things.

While on the road, Daughn was inspired by country singers on the radio and their ability to create vivid stories. Although you couldn’t really call what he does country, most of Daughn Gibson‘s songs are memorable tales from his journeys.

When I sat down with Daughn Gibson, I asked him just how he pronounces the name (with the thick Pennsylvanian accent); I also asked him to talk about those lonely nights on highways with only the radio to keep him company and what it was like to work in a sex shop. Listen to our chat. (This guy has a thick low voice. He could speak in complete gibberish and it would be very easy to listen to.)

Tracks played on the show...

1) Daughn Gibson Me Moan “The Pisgee Nest”

2) Daughn Gibson All Hell “Lookin Back on ‘99”

3) Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss Mud on the Tires “Whiskey Lullaby” (background/partial)

4) Daughn Gibson Me Moan “Kissin on the Blacktop”

5) Daughn Gibson Me Moan “Mad Ocean”

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Pick A Piper is an “organic dance project” helmed by Brad Weber. You might know Brad already as Caribou‘s touring drummer. Brad’s recruited two high school friends plus a grab bag of guest vocalists (ranging from members of New Zealand’s Ruby Suns to Montreal’s Braids) to make Pick A Piper an aural treat.

Onstage Pick A Piper is three guys each playing his own drum kit (and other instruments when required). This makes a Pick A Piper show interesting to watch.

Listen to my chat with the guys below. (And yes I ask them when was the last time they played in a drum circle.)

Tracks played on the show...

1) Pick A Piper Pick A Piper “Cinders and Dust”

2) Pick A Piper Pick A Piper “Zeneida”

3) Pick A Piper Pick A Piper EP “Rooms” (background/partial)

4) Pick A Piper Pick A Piper “All Her Colors”

5) Pick A Piper Pick A Piper EP “Rooms” (background/partial)

5) Pick A Piper Pick A Piper “Lucid in Fjords”

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LA’s FIDLAR is the latest hard-partying skate punk band everyone loves. The band’s name is an acronym for “Fuck It Dog, Life’s a Risk,” a skate mantra from the band’s skateboarding roots. While we all chilled in the tour van, I asked band members Max (the band’s ginger indie sex symbol/drummer) and Brandon (bassist/watersports enthusiast) a few questions.

The funniest part of our chat comes when I ask FIDLAR about Rolling Stone’s report that “a long night in D.C. ended in a hotel wrestling match and one member (Brandon) pissing all over the others’ stuff…” Listen to our chat to get the full story.

Tracks played on the show...

1) FIDLAR, FIDLAR (2013) “Cheap Beer”

2) FIDLAR, FIDLAR (2013) “No Waves”

3) FIDLAR, FIDLAR (2013) “Whore”

4) FIDLAR, FIDLAR (2013) “Max Can’t Surf”

5) FIDLAR, FIDLAR (2013) “Wake Bake Skate”

6) FIDLAR, FIDLAR (2013) “Gimmie Something”

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The 2013 Polaris Music Prize will be awarded September 23rd (the same day I post this). Peter Peter‘s record Une Version Améliorée de la Tristesse made the long list, so I’ll air this interview this week. You could call Peter Peter Montreal’s answer to M83. There’s saxophone and dreamy vocals, but this comparison is a bit too simple.

When I called up Peter Peter, he was frustrated after spending the whole day trying to write new songs. He insisted that he was on a “booze break” after trips to Austin and New York. If you listen to his album, with song titles like “MDMA,” it’s hard to believe this guy would ever take a booze break. Don’t worry, I get him to explain himself.

Tracks played on the show...

1) Peter Peter Une Version Amelioree de la Tristesse “Une Version Améliorée de la Tristesse”

2) Peter Peter Une Version Amelioree de la Tristesse “Les chemins étoilés”

3) Peter Peter Une Version Amelioree de la Tristesse “Carrousel”

4) Peter Peter Une Version Amelioree de la Tristesse “MDMA”

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Local “man about town” Jay Arner has been a supporting player in many Vancouver bands, Fine Mist, Gal Gracen, Cult Babies and Rec Centre to name a few. This year, he finally released his self-titled solo record.

Meeting this self-described “shy guy” for an interview had me nervous. Shyness is never good for interviews. Turns out, Jay is a really sweet guy. Instead I needed to be worried about another band pop act Hedley crashing our interview. Listen to our fun chat.

Tracks played on the show...

1) Jay Arner, Jay Arner “Midnight on South Granville”

2) Jay Arner, Jay Arner “Don’t Remind Me”

3) Jay Arner, Jay Arner “Surf Don’t Sink”

4) Jay Arner, Jay Arner “Emotional Whiteout”

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King Tuff makes garage-y pop music, perfect for a summer day. The band has recently re-released their hard-to-find first record, Was Dead, and are on tour this summer so you have a chance to see them live again.

I chatted with Kyle and his crazy crew while they ate their dinner. When you listen to our chat, you can see why I like to call this one, “My Dinner with Tuff” or “Scott Wood vs. King Tuff.” Enjoy!

Tracks played on the show...

1) King Tuff King Tuff “Alone and Stoned”

2) King Tuff King Tuff “Bad Thing”

3) King Tuff King Tuff “Keep On Movin”

4) King Tuff King Tuff “Swamp of Love”

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Vancouver rapper CityReal met local blues artist Wes Mackey while out with his girlfriend on NYE. Immediately CityReal knew Mackey and CityReal had to make a blues-hip hop fusion record together. The collabo record Good Morning Blues came out this year. It’s an interesting move for a new rapper, so I had to find out more.

CityReal wanted to meet up the night has was opening for Method Man from Wu-Tang. Somehow I tore CityReal away from backstage. Listen to how fast CityReal talks in this interview. You can tell he really wants to get back to the party backstage–and who can blame him? (I just wish he’d taken me back with him!)

Tracks played on the show...

1) CityReal & Wes Mackey Good Morning Blues “Passing Me By”

2) CityReal & Wes Mackey Good Morning Blues “Hell Hound” (featuring Mad Child)

3) CityReal & Wes Mackey Good Morning Blues “Nightlife”

4) CityReal & Wes Mackey Good Morning Blues “Angel” (featuring D-Sisive)

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra (sometimes known as UMO) is one of those mysterious bands who seem to burst out of nowhere. One track appears on a blog and suddenly everyone wants more music. This is the situation that UMO songwriter Ruban Nielson found himself in. Weird thing is… Ruban had given up making music.

I called Ruban one late night and he told me the incredible story of how he went from being an ex-punk rocker, turned film intern at an Oregon production company to the frontman for one of Portland’s most hyped bands.

Tracks played on the show...

1) Unknown Mortal Orchestra II “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)”

2) Unknown Mortal Orchestra II “So Good At Being in Trouble”

3) Unknown Mortal Orchestra Unknown Mortal Orchestra “FFunny FFrends”

4) Unknown Mortal Orchestra II “From the Sun”

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Toronto’s METZ make 90's grunge-influenced punk tunes and it should be no shock that this band is on the influential Sub Pop indie record label. Their first self-titled release has turned a lot of heads.

I met Alex from METZ outside the Biltmore. While we chatted in the tour van, METZ‘s tour manager was cooking burgers on a portable mini-BBQ. Can anyone say curbside BBQ party?

If you listen closely during our chat, you can hear poor Alex sniffling. He had a bit of a cold. If you also listen closely you can hear my stomach growling. Those burgers sure smelled good!

Tracks played on the show...

1) METZ, METZ “Wasted”

2) METZ, METZ “Headache”

3) METZ, METZ “Wet Blanket”

4) METZ, METZ “Nausea”

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Montreal’s SUUNS are often called an experimental band because they mix electronic music with guitar-heavy indie rock. I talked to Ben and Joe from the band about everything, including strange band backstage riders, what a SUUNS Barbie looks like, and the show in Syracuse NY that nearly destroyed the band. (It involved waffles.) Listen to our chat to hear all the grisly details.

Tracks played on the show...

1) SUUNS Images Du Futur “Sunspot”

2) SUUNS Images Du Futur “2020”

3) SUUNS Zeroes QC “Armed for Peace” (partial/background)

4) SUUNS Images Du Futur “Mirror Mirror”

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