What Am I Making Podcast

David Lowery is a something of a renaissance man. He is a singer and songwriter known the world over for his work in Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker. Lowery is also an esteemed member of academia, teaching the ins and outs of the music business to students at The University of Georgia. In addition to wearing both of those hats, David has spent much of his time over the last fifteen years working as an advocate for musicians, helping to fight for fairer streaming rates for artists, and working to expose the inherent economic unfairnesses of the music industry.

Growing up the son of an Air Force father and a British mother, David spent his earliest years in England, and in Franco’s Spain before moving back to a series of locations in the states. Eventually, the family settled near Los Angeles and by the time he had finished high school, David was enrolled in the mathematics department at UC Santa Cruz, and had begun knocking around in bands. Lowery started Camper Van Beethoven in 1983 and the outfit were releasing albums and touring by 1985 building a loyal fanbase along the way.

Over those last forty years Lowery has been hard at work helming Camper Van and/or Cracker, touring relentlessly and releasing 18 studio albums between the two bands. Whether he’s playing songwriter, touring artist, professor, or advocate, David Lowery is seemingly always in motion. With his experience on the front lines of rock and roll and with the perspective of an academic, Lowery has a unique window into the challenging nature of the music business in the digital era. He is using his impressive arsenal of skills to help level the playing field for emerging and middle class artists.

During our chat, we touched a bit on David’s musical work, but spent the bulk of our time together diving into the cultural costs of digital streaming, and looking at the way that young people are engaging with culture. We discussed the double edge sword presented by the internet, and David even shares some stories on ways that he has reached out across political and cultural divides to affect positive change for musicians.

Cheers,

Matty C

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Thanks so much to David for joining me. You can find out all about his work in Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker and as a solo artist at https://300songs.com/

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C. 

Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin

You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it. 

Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show. 

You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking

Will Worden did his best to follow the well worn path. After high school in Texas, Worden enrolled in the College of Business at Baylor University in Waco. He committed himself to the sales program until he realized he was simply not cut out for office life. Worden abandoned business school and packed up some belongings seeking out a new adventure in Southern California.

Will was drawn to California by the skate and surf culture he had been excited about as a kid back in Texas. The laid back culture, coupled with the local musical history of Capitol Records, the Wrecking Crew, and Laurel Canyon all collided to feel like a beacon for Worden.

In 2022, on the eve of a family vacation to Alaska, Worden’s girlfriend informed him that she was leaving him and would not be going on the trip. Alone, and heartbroken, after years playing guitar and sheepishly attempting to write his own songs, Will wrote the bare bones for what would become his first twelve finished tunes. Upon returning home from the trip, Will set to work with a friend and co-producer Chris’ Dixie’ Darley, as well the musical whirlwind that is Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. to craft a gorgeous album filled with winsome heartbreak, and towering paeans to loss. The resulting album The Only One And All The Others, plays like a 21st century redux of an era filled with the sounds of Glen Campbell, Lee Hazelwood, and Kris Kristofferson. Rolling Stone even proclaimed, “his voice intersects Elvis Presley and Gordon Lightfoot”.

Will and I talk about how the record came to be and all that he has accomplished in the wake of completing it. His plans for 2026 include the release of another, already completed album of songs, as well touring with his terrific live band. We explore the conditions that make for a great recording, and even talk some inside baseball on making records that feel like the room in which they were recorded.

In discussing his rather foolhardy move to California, Will referenced a favorite poem of his which reads in part, “Nature loves courage”. Worden’s courage not only led him to the sunny confines of California but helped him to overcome his Alaskan heartbreak, and to allow him the chance to find a series of collaborators and supporters that have led to his terrific debut album, and so much more.

Let’s get into it.

Cheers,

Matty C

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End Credits

Thanks so much to Will for joining me. You can grab a vinyl copy of his debut LP at https://www.vrecordsusa.com/will-worden

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C. 

Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin

You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it. 

Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show. 

You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking

Club 603 has hosted hundreds of shows since it first began more than fifteen years ago. Known for its intimate and welcoming vibe, as well as its impressive and eclectic history of performers, Club 603 has become one of the premier places to play in all of Baltimore.

The stage, such as it is at 603, has hosted a slew of indie-rock luminaries including Luna, Alejandro Escovedo, Pedro The Lion, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Wussy, Jason Narducy, Emma Swift, Will Johnson, Mark Eitzel, and dozens more. Here’s the catch, Club 603 is not a music venue, a listening room, a bar or a restaurant. It’s a private home, owned by Scott and Jean Vieth.

The first show at Club 603 in 2010 was something of a surprise, even to Scott. He had contacted a house concert booking agency to inquire why a particular artist wasn’t planning to play in Baltimore. Within a matter of days, Scott found himself prepping to host his first house show. That first show with Anders Parker and Will Johnson was a great night, but Scott considered it to be something of a one-off until two years later when they hosted another trio of shows. Gradually, the Vieths began to host shows as many as 18 or 20 concerts a year. The names coming to play got bigger and the tickets began to sell out quicker for every show.

Scott and I geeked out on the glory of the house show. We tried to recreate a bit of the intimacy and camaraderie of these living room performances, and explain in a bit more detail just exactly what makes these happenings so very special.

With a capacity of 50, Club 603 is also a great financial opportunity for many smaller touring artists. Scott explains that all of the money generated at these shows goes back to the artists. In addition to artists keeping 100% of the ticket sales and merch revenue, Scott and Jean also feed the musicians, and offer them a spot to crash in their home. Club 603 isn’t just a great time, it’s a great deal for the artists that grace their stage as well.

In the midst of our conversation, Scott was sharing stories of his favorite moments from these shows, and he talked about some of the connections made over breakfast with these artists the morning after the shows. In discussing the connection with artists he loves and admires, as well as in covering the goodness of the people who attend these shows, Scott simply said, “These shows are a magical thing”.

While I have not had the chance to play at Scott and Jean’s yet, I can assure you that a well hosted house show is indeed a magical thing, and it appears that right now, no one is doing that better than the Scott and Jean Vieth at Club 603 in Baltimore.

Let’s get into it.

Cheers,

Matty C

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You can learn more about Scott and Jean’s house concert history and their upcoming slate of shows at http://www.club603.com/

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C. 

Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin

You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it. 

Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show. 

You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking

Jason Narducy never dreamed in a million years that he would be the one to get all four members of R.E.M. back on stage together. But somehow, it happened. For years Narducy and his friend and actor Michael Shannon have been playing R.E.M. tribute shows with a crew of Cracker Jack Chicago musicians. In late February of 2025, Narducy, Shannon and company were playing a sold out show in Athens, GA, as part of a tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of R.E.M. ‘s second album Reckoning. All four members of R.E.M. were in attendance for the gig and one by one they appeared on stage for an emotional and historic moment. It was pure magic.

Since forming a childhood punk outfit that he christened Verböten at the age of ten, Narducy has enjoyed a life that revolves around rock and roll. Aside from the R.E.M. band with Michael Shannon, Narducy is renowned for his work playing bass with the Bob Mould band and in Superchunk. He also has a terrific band of his own called Split Single driven by Jason’s great songs and voice. As if that were not enough, he also tours regularly playing guitar in Sunny Day Real Estate.

In addition to reuniting one of the greatest acts in rock history, and playing in rock clubs across the world, Narducy is now a published author. His new book, Mostly The Van, Volume 1 is a look at the beautiful absurdity of touring in a rock band. Narducy shares myriad stories of struggle, humor, and empathy in his terrific tome. In addition to being a tremendous series of tales, it is also an unvarnished look at the not so glamorous life of the touring musician.

In recent years, Jason has also become one of the artists most active on the house show circuit. Jason and I spend some time hitting upon the intimate beauty of these events, and talking about the reasons why they are such an economic boost for artists without enough of a following for a typical club show.

Thanks so much to one of the busiest dudes in show business for taking some time to sit down and talk about all of this and more.

Cheers,Matty C-----------

Credits

Thanks so much to Jason for joining me. Please grab a copy of his brand new book Mostly The Van from the link in our show notes. 

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C. 

Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin

You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it. 

Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show. 

You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking

When Bill Janovitz arrived in Massachusetts with his family, he was unimpressed. Halfway through high school, Bill’s family moved from a verdant suburb on Long Island to a rural community in Massachusetts that was a full half hour from a movie theater. With far less stimuli than he had found at his old home, Bill was initially bored with The Bay State, but would gradually change his mind after moving away to college at UMass Amherst.

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At university, Bill found a bustling community of writers, musicians, and budding intellectuals. He studied with renowned poets and crossed paths with a number of new friends that would eventually go on to define a swath of American indie-rock that would conquer the country in less than a decade.

While at UMass, Bill built his own band, Buffalo Tom, and began to immediately gain traction. The band made a name for themselves playing across New England and venturing further afield along the eastern seaboard building a fanbase and a sterling reputation along the way. Over the course of a forty year span, Buffalo Tom have released eleven full-length albums and toured around the world.

In addition to his work in Buffalo Tom, Janovitz is also a celebrated author. He has written for the famed 33 ⅓ Series as well as publishing an exhaustive biography of Leon Russell in 2023. His most recent written effort, The Cars: Let The Stories Be Told, is a definitive history of one of rock’s biggest acts. The book is a thrilling look at a marvelous band that is often not given their proper kudos.

Bill and I also spent a few minutes discussing some of his “day job”, as we geeked out on the glorious beauty of mid-century architecture and design. Outside of his writing and work in music, Janovitz has built a real estate firm focused on the mid-century treasures that abound throughout Massachusetts. Bill shared a bit of his love for MCM design, and why Massachusetts is rife with it.

Near the end of our interview, Bill describes himself as a rambler, and I am quite sure that I would qualify for that title as well. So, here are a pair of ramblers covering indie rock, The Cars, MCM, and a whole bunch more.

Cheers,

Matty C

Robbie Fulks first arrived in Chicago in 1983 with a pregnant girlfriend and not much of a plan. In fairly short order, he landed a job at the legendary Old Town School of Folk Music on the city’s north side. At the Old Town School, Fulks found a community of like-minded musicians and thinkers. He honed his chops, worked on his original songs, and soaked up the atmosphere.

By the time Fulks was ready to record his own material he began working with the now legendary Steve Albini at the controls. Their early efforts were recorded in the Albini basement before Steve had a proper studio of his own. Fulks paints a picture of Albini as a rabble-rouser with a firm moral code. It’s a fascinating look at a mercurial figure in the annals of indie-rock.

Fulks also shares his impressions of the shifting Chicago music scene of the early and mid-1980s. By the time that Robbie had arrived in the Windy City, the wave of singer/songwriters led by John Prine and Steve Goodman had run its course, and the city had not yet become a mecca for the guitar based indie rock that would shape the sound of the 1990s in Chicago.

Robbie shares the harrowing tale of making a record on a remote Scottish island with the band, The Mekons. Despite minimal planning, and haphazard conditions, the recording and subsequent tour were a remarkable and enlightening experience, mostly thanks to the Mekons leader, Jon Langford.

During our discussion, Robbie shares his approach to songwriting, and even touches on a song that he has stopped playing due to its lack of lyrical sensitivity. We run through some of Robbie’s catalog, and even chat about the nature of recording, and reinterpreting a cover song. This is a wide ranging conversation with a fascinating and funny dude who just happens to be one of the very best songwriters working today.

Cheers,

Matty C

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Thanks so much to Robbie for joining me. He is out on the road in the US throughout much of the late winter and spring. You can full dates at http://www.robbiefulks.com/

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C. 

Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin

You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it. 

Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show. 

You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking

David Gedge’s 40 year stint as the main man behind The Wedding Present comes down in great part, to luck. John Peel, the famously powerful DJ from BBC’s Radio One took a shine to the first Wedding Present single, and played the song a whopping ten times on a single show. The power of Peel’s nationwide show and his influence as a tastemaker helped to pave the way for the Wedding Present to get a real opportunity at stardom.

Gedge and his bandmates would not squander their opportunity. In 1986, The Wedding Present released their legendary debut album, George Best. The album was living proof that the band were far more than a one hit wonder. Fans and critics began flocking to the Weddoes in droves.

During their four decade run, The Wedding Present have maintained a strong following throughout Europe and in their native UK, and have even found regional successes in the vast expanses of the United States. David and I talked about the differences between touring in America versus life on the road in Europe and Great Britain. We also take a look at some of the cultural differences that exist between the Brits and their American cousins.

David also shares stories of working with legendary recording engineer Steve Albini in Chicago, and talks about the discoveries he and his bandmates made whilst reinterpreting much of the Wedding Present catalog during the Covid lockdowns. We cover transitioning from a singles mindset to an album outlook when making and releasing records, and David even shares the story of the time he took the Trans-Siberian Railway to a gig.

Cheers,

Matty C

Frank Turner is a man who largely made a name for himself by mixing pop and politics. Emerging from a youth immersed in the world of hardcore, Turner arrived on the scene as a solo act in 2005 and released his debut EP Campfire Punkrock the following year.

Over the course of ten albums, five EPs, and a rash of other recordings, Turner has built a massive international following. His ninth studio album, FTHC even managed to go number on the UK Album charts the week after its release. Throughout that impressive musical history, Turner has managed to evoke both the personal and the political to forge a collection of songs that speak to almost any listener.

Just before the holidays Turner and I had a brief, but fascinating discussion about how politics fit into pop music today, and we ponder whether or not a song can truly change the world. When I asked him about the lessons he’d learned from life on the road, Frank shared the story of his difficult years away at boarding school, and how it still affects his idea of home to this day.

We also talk about the positive habits and life lessons that Turner has learned from life on the road and crashing on couches. They are simple lessons, but they can make for foundations upon which to base a life at home or on the road. There is verdant talk of history and its neverending mysteries and lessons. Plus, we ponder the idea that the internet will have the same influence on our civilization that the printing press had. This one might be brief, but there is a lot to digest.

Cheers,

Matty C

Show Notes:

Frank will be on tour with his band The Sleeping Souls in February and March throughout the United States. You can find full details at www.frank-turner.com

The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C. 

Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin

You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it. 

Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show. You can email the show anytime at [email protected].

You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking

After finishing the bulk of recording on his first album, Zach Schwartz was on a flight bound for the west coast praying that the plane would stay in the air long enough to get him safely home. With this record in hand, for the first time in his life, Zach felt he’d made something worthwhile and meaningful. Sitting in his aisle seat on that plane headed for Oakland, he prayed that he might get the chance to share that something special with the world.

Eventually, those recordings would become the first Rogue Wave album, Out Of The Shadow. The album came about through the help of a friend and recording engineer who helped Zach make his album overnights when the studio where, his friend was working, was closed. The pair would begin work each night around midnight or one and work until the sun came up. Through a stroke of luck, the album made its way to the powers that be at the vaunted indie label, Sub Pop records. Not only would Zach survive to share his album, but he would have the help of a label with massive influence to help get the word out.

As Rogue Wave gained more and more traction in the circles of indie rock, Zach began finding himself wondering how he had wound up with his songs in major movie soundtracks and video games. The big tours with headline acts and massive festivals were exciting, but they also brought on a sense of imposter syndrome for Zach. We dive deeply into the head trip that is finding the success that you have been dreaming for your whole life.

Zach’s friend, collaborator, and longtime Rogue Wave bandmate, Pat Spurgeon has figured heavily into Zach’s career and into his life. The duo are the beating heart of Rogue Wave. Their story was chronicled, in part, in a documentary called D-Tour. The film follows Rogue Wave on tour while Pat is in the midst of kidney failure. As he awaited a new kidney, Pat performed self-administered dialysis on the road. The doc is a harrowing look at resiliency, friendship, tragedy, and the enduring power of music.

Sub Pop is now slated to reissue vinyl editions of Out Of The Shadow as well as Descended Like Vultures, the band’s follow up LP, to celebrate 20 years of Rogue Wave. Zach discusses the process of looking back on the beginning of his musical career, this pair of early albums, and how he feels that he has changed as an artist and as a human being in the interim. We talk about the pendular nature of life, and examine how parenthood and aging have changed Zach’s songwriting and overall perspective.

Cheers,

Matty C

Sunset Blvd. is a shining example of greatness in American cinema. The story revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of Hollywood’s silent era who has been reduced to living the life of a recluse. Norma’s world is shattered open one day when a budding young screen writer named Joe Gillis pulls his limping vehicle into her garage. Thus begins one of the most tragic, and terrific tales that Hollywood has ever conjured for the screen.

David Lubin’s new book, Ready For My Closeup, is a behind the scenes look at Sunset Blvd.. However, this tale is far more than just the machinations behind one classic film. When one tells the story of Sunset Blvd. they are digging into the darker corners of American culture. The book hits upon the mass pathology of modern fame, and shows us example after example of the disposable nature of our society. Whether we’re tossing away old cell phones or faded Hollywood stars, nothing is designed to last long in our modern life.

While our chat centers around David’s tremendous new book, and the making of Sunset Blvd., it is a window into the way that Hollywood worked 75 years ago, and in many cases how it still operates today. David and I talk deeply about the personal baggage each of the films stars brought to the set, with Gloria Swanson, William Holden, and Erich Von Stroheim all playing heightened versions of their own selves. Sunset Blvd. is a film fueled by the personal anxieties of its major players, and its creator.

In addition to a deep dive into one of my favorite films of all time, David and I discuss the massive power of cinema, and the sometimes troubling beliefs behind the people who helped to build the artform in its nascent years. We also explore the blurred lines of fiction and reality that permeate Sunset Blvd. and so much of what came out of Hollywood’s Golden Era.

David shares stories of his film students reactions to Sunset Blvd. and a host of other movies that he teaches at Wake Forest University. He explains that way that his younger female students react and empathize with Norma Desmond, Sunset Blvd’s ersatz heroine. We also discuss the brilliant and subtle ways in which this film talks about age in our modern culture, despite being made three quarters of a century ago.

This is a fascinating discussion about movies and art centered not just on our culture, but our own daily lives.

Cheers,

Matty C