The Musician's Guide To Everything

Head slammin.  Feet shakin.  That's how you do it.  Meliza Jackson plays guitar for the Darts (US) and is having a blast doing it.  Their new album is on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label and is on the verge of release into the wild.  Come on in for a lively discussion about life on the road and making shit happen in the music biz.

The more you look, the more you love.  There is a mountain to discover where this man is involved.  An influential writer, creative director of Hello Merch, overseer of the world of WASTOIDS, neck deep in Aquarium Drunkard and Transmissions, and pushing great music on Range and Basin.  Look them all up.  You'll like them.  He's also a musician under the moniker JPW with a recent solo release called Something Happening/Always Happening on Fort Lowell Records.  And he's in the band Kitimoto taboot.  Damn.  Drop in for a wide ranging chat with this stalwart of the desert cultural experience.

Instruments to drool over.  Fantasize about.  Lust after.  Stephen Stratton has been building stringed instruments since graduating from the Roberto-Venn School of Lutherie in Phoenix in 1998.  He now creates playable works of art from his shop in the Sacremento Mountains of New Mexico.  Stephen stopped by the Goldwater Building to chat about, you guessed it, guitars, as well as the life and times of this remarkable craftsman.

Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew came through town again with their band The Boxmasters.  And being the generous chaps that they are, gave us an invite to come hang out on their tour bus for a bit and get the lowdown on their current adventures.  

He's a busy man, but we finally got him! Jim Bachmann is a wizard of words and an Americana master with his signature "good timing Stonerbilly"  sound and a presence of wisdom and authenticity.  He's been making music solo and and along with his band The Day Drinkers for over a decade now and is still making the rounds.  From playing "professional busker" gigs on a sidewalk downtown to  opening  for Billy Joe Shaver, Whitey Morgan and the 78's, Dallas Moore, Shinyribs, Reckless Kelly, The SteelDrivers, Ramsay Midwood, Mike and the Moonpies, Jeremy Pinnell, Paul Cauthen and more he's been grinding it out with the best of 'em.  Settle in and enjoy this warm conversation with a lovely man and a great hang!

He’s a prolific songwriter, an alt-country pioneer, a damn good talker and a fountain of thoughtful insight about music, touring, and keeping a band together for over 30 years.  He’s the primary songwriter for the Old 97’s with 12 studio albums and a long list of song placements in movies and TV shows.  He has also released 7 solo albums in his spare time.  On top of all that, he’s got a damn good podcast of his own called “Wheels Off” about the messy reality of living a creative life.  And the list of guests is indeed impressive.  We caught up with Rhett on the tour bus after the Old 97’s sound check for their Phoenix show as they tour the US and later head over to Europe.  Come on in and enjoy this thoughtful conversation with an artist that has truly stood the test of time and is still going strong.  

He’s a writer of songs. He’s a player of guitars.  He’s the winner of a multitude of songwriting competitions and is a regular performer at a long list of venues all over the southwest and beyond.  From the bars, to the coffee shops to the theaters and festival stages he’s been pouring out his special blend of bluesy folk for the last 20 some odd years. To know him is to love him and he’s right here laying out his warm, thoughtful, hilarious insights into songwriting, touring, family and making it all work.  Come on in a share some laughs and some great experiences with one of the valley’s musical treasures.  

Brace yourself!  Pastor Carl Wiman is about to preach!  He’s the head of a little church out in Whitman, AZ and is always bringing music to the people and giving whole heartedly to his community both locally and abroad.  He started playing in bands when he was 12 years old at the Moose Lodge in Ajo, Arizona which started him on a path of musical pursuit which took him to making records, producing radio shows, and combining church services with pro wrestling matches!  He’s a barrel of laughs and a geyser of great stories so grab a download and prepare yourself for a great time with this lovely, talented, big-hearted man!

Magnificent solo artist and, of course, front man for The Wallflowers, Jacob Dylan is one of the greats.  Grammy’s, mega-hits, quadruple-platinum, all of that.  But it didn’t come easy.  Jacob had to grind it out in the clubs and had frustrating record label problems like so many other musicians.  But the greatness of his songwriting prevailed and the body of work speaks for itself. We snuck onto the tour bus while The Wallflowers were playing in Tempe, AZ and grabbed a quick but intense conversation with this hard-touring, hard-working songwriter and musician thriving in his element.  You gotta hear this. 

At 15 he was playing in bars.  By 25 he was writing huge hits as a member of the Gin Blossoms.  And 30 plus years later he's still writing great songs and conjuring great sounds as a solo artist, collaborator, session player, producer and composer for TV and film.  He's pretty much done it all and he was nice enough to stop by and tell us all about it.  This is a lovely, warm, wide ranging conversation about life and the love of music so come immerse yourself in this magic.