Bay area songwriter Jay Howlett discusses his new release "Carnival Lights", the songwriting collective BlahBlahWoofWoof, and the alternate-tuning sounds he gets by using multiple capos.

Jay Howlett plays "Long Black Dress" and "King of the Parking Lot" off his upcoming release, "Carnival Lights".

Singer/songwriter Annie Moscow discusses her musical journey from being a classically-trained pianist who eventually found herself in L.A. writing for such varied clients as Sister Sledge and Disney. These days, she's based in Arizona and tours frequently.

Annie Moscow plays "11 Blocks from the Beach" and "Buy the Bitch a Cadillac" off "Wolves At My Door" (2001) and "Make Believe" off "Visible" (2007).

Martin Giles and Strings (of the former British band "Stryngs") perform (and tell the stories behind) "Frank's Song" from The Thrill of Maintaining Momentum (2003) and "Run My Pen Dry" from Love and Other Vices (2006).

"Strings" and Martin Giles (of the former British band "Strings") discuss their musical influences, their tour of the western U.S. last fall, and some of the logistics of keep a band together back home.

Songwriter Arthur Godfrey plays the title track and "Richard's Song" off his new release, "Broken Wings". Want to win a copy of "Broken Wings"? Listen to this episode for details.

Songwriter Arthur Godfrey recalls the Wooden Nickel Open Mic (which I took over in 2004), talks about his new record "Broken Wing", and provides some songwriting tips.

Songwriter Chuck Brodsky Chuck explains the freedom that a narrative story gives him when writing and tells some of the stories behind songs on his new live record, "Two Sets".

(Part two of two) Ansty McClain of the Trailer Park Troubadors plays "Right Side of the Dirt" and "New Good Old Days" off his new record and explains the "laughing in the face of death" idea that runs through the CD.