What Am I Making Podcast

Matt Kadane and his brother Bubba knew they were destined to make music together by the time they had reached Middle School. Growing up in the small city of Wichita Falls, Texas, the brothers were raised in a musical family. Their grandmother was a terrific ragtime piano player. Their father was obsessed with jazz, pop, and the burgeoning outlaw country movement emanating from Austin, Texas. Music was a constant in their home, and as soon as they were old enough, the boys began music lessons.

Eventually, the brothers would go on to form the great indie outfit Bedhead in the late 1980s. The band was slow, laconic, deliberate, and minimal. It was the perfect antidote to grunge, when that movement stormed the musical gates in 1991. Undaunted by the new sounds of that era, Bedhead doubled down on their commitment to slower songs and stripped back arrangements.

During our discussion, Matt shares the story of building Bedhead from a band of brotherly love into a fully functional four piece that would garner critical acclaim, and allow the band to tour the world extensively. We talk about the ephemeral nature of shows that happened in an era before smart phones and social media. Those were nights that existed in a moment, and then were gone forever, making them seem all the more sacred.

Bedhead were unfortunately lumped into a 1990s subgenre dubbed “slowcore” that also featured bands like Codeine and Low. Matt and I talk about the reductive nature of lazily lumping subcultures together based on nothing more than the most obvious parts of the music. That train of thought then leads us to a fulsome discussion of why we remember what we remember from a given era, often leading to just one or two artists from a movement being canonized, while the rest of the movement just fades away in time.

We learn the lessons behind the ending of Bedhead as Matt began to pursue a Ph.D and a career in academia. Still, the songs kept calling, and Matt and Bubba soon mounted a new band they dubbed, The New Year. That outfit featured a new rhythm section, but carried on many of the same auditory hallmarks of Bedhead.

Eventually, Matt secured his doctorate and began a teaching career as a history professor, leaving music on the backburner. Still, even when talking with Matt Kadane, Ph.D today, you can still feel the fires of indie rock burning bright within him.

Come join me and Matt Kadane for a great chat about brotherly love, slowing things down, and a whole bunch more.

Cheers,

Matty C

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.

Please consider a contribution to our crowdfunding campaign for the live record with me and The Wild Honey Collective.

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

In 2016, Sarah Kendzior’s family began a series of vacations across the American continent. Sarah, her husband, and their two children embarked on a series of lengthy road trips over several years in an attempt to fully experience the beauty of America; its landscapes, and its people. Kendzior hoped that she could show her children the most beautiful and bizarre places that this nation has to offer before America is irrevocably changed by this current wave of fascism and oligarchy.

This year, Kendzior published, The Last Great American Road Trip, a memoir of these family journeys and her family’s exploration of America. While these were joyous family vacations they were often tinged with darkness and a sense of the terror yet to come. In the book Kendzior “contemplates a love for country in a broken heartland”.

During our discussion, Sarah and I dive into our fragile relationship with the beautiful place we call home. Sarah shares the feeling that she had when she discovered the American west with its open skies, snowy peaks, and craggy deserts. Upon discovering that I am a Michigander, Sarah espouses her affection for the Pictured Rocks lakeshore, and we ponder whether a National Park along the Lake Michigan lakeshore would have a net positive impact on the region.

Sarah and I work to dispel the myth of the “Two Americas” idea, by sharing our own experiences of crisscrossing the country and interacting with folks who hold myriad viewpoints and beliefs, all while being mostly decent people. We talk about the cultural heft of the American south and the ridiculous notion of “letting the south go”. We also remember the heady days when oligarchs at least built libraries and opera houses instead of rockets.

I extol the virtues of the $75 annual national park pass that I made the most of last year, while Sarah and I worry deeply about the future of the National Park system in the hands of the Trump administration. There is extensive talk of the verdant subcultures that populate every region of our enormous country. We discuss being in God’s train set at Glacier, feeling ourselves gasp at the Grand Canyon, and learning how to tell the truth about America, warts and all.

Come travel the country, and maybe find the real America with me and Sarah Kendzior.

Cheers,

Matty C

This week, we are turning the tables at the WAIM podcast as I cede the captain’s chair to become the guest on my own show. My longtime friends and frequent collaborators, Barry and Abigail Hummel of the great Pops on Hops podcast will be de facto hosts this week as they quiz me and my bandmate/dear friend Jeffery Gower about the classic Stick Arounds album Ways To Hang On, about our upcoming tour to the South later this Fall.

For those not familiar, Pops on Hops is a father/daughter podcast that centers around music and beer. The hosts, Barry and Abigail Hummel share an album and a selection of beers in each episode to bridge musical generations and expand their collective palettes. In addition to being big music fans and hosts of a great podcast, the Hummels have long been big fans and supporters of my creative work. In 2023 and 2024, I made treks south to Gainesville, where Abigail lives, to play at gigs generously arranged by the Hummels.

This November, Barry and Abigail are having me back down for another visit, this time with my bandmate and dear friend, Jeffery Gower along for the ride. To help get the word out about the tour and to give us an excuse to share a beer together via Zoom, Jeff and I convened in the Sheddio and spent a wonderful couple of hours with the Hummels.

During the discussion, we sample a trio of craft beers and cider from the Sunshine state, including breweries located in the cities we’ll be playing on the tour. Barry and Abigail also put the 2018 Stick Arounds album, Ways To Hang On under the Pops On Hops microscope. They each share their three favorite songs from the record, and invite me and Jeff to open up about where the songs came from, what they mean, and how they came to form our best recorded work as a band.

Come and learn a bit more about a Stick Arounds classic, a few new alcoholic offerings, and a whole load of musical love.

Cheers,

Matty C

Thanks so much to Barry and Abigail for captaining this week’s episode. Thanks also to my dear friend and bandmate Jeffery Gower for joining us as well.

You can learn more about Pops on Hops at https://popsonhopspod.com/ and be sure to go to https://www.phonophorerecords.com/sheddiointhesouth to learn all of the details about my upcoming tour with Jeff to Florida and back.

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. 

Please consider a contribution to our crowdfunding campaign for the live record with me and The Wild Honey Collective. Link in the show notes. 

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

Terra Lopez has been making music and touring for the last fifteen years. She began her career as a founding member of the duo Sister Crayon which later adopted the moniker, Rituals of Mine. Over her career, which included a stop at a major record label, Terra has built an impressive loyal following. Until the Covid outbreak that audience was a viable outlet for her to earn a nice profit regularly touring the country with a small band and crew.

In 2023, when Lopez toured with the same structure she had been using for more than a decade, she ended up losing money on the entire endeavor. It was yet another sign of the changing landscape for independent artists.

Terra brings all of this experience and more to her day job at Backline, a non profit that connects music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources. Working with more than 1,500 mental health professionals, Backline has already helped more than 77,000 music industry professionals gain access to crucial mental health services, all for free..

During our chat, Terra and I cover the host of unique mental health needs of the music community; from the financial stress of a creative lifestyle to the unrelenting workload required to simply stay relevant and financially stable in a world dominated by social media content. We talk intensely about how all art is political, despite its subject matter. We also discuss the separated lives of touring musicians, and the stop/start nature of the artist’s existence.

I get some amazing advice from Terra about how to handle toxic positivity and how to help manage my own trauma and grief, or at least my own perception of it. We chat about creating the spaces that you need to be your truest self, and Terra shares a poem that is the best antidote for imposter syndrome that I have ever heard.

This is a remarkable talk with a woman who is making great music and changing lives with her advocacy work. In essence Terra Lopez is doing double duty while she works to make the music industry a safer, kinder, and more equitable space for everyone.

Cheers,

Matty C

Support the Matty C & Wild Honey Collective Live Album Project

Sheddio In The South Tour

Rob Janicke grew up in a house where music was always present. To his young ears, music was entertainment, excitement, and enlightenment all wrapped into one big, beautiful sound. He was first drawn to theatrical artists like David Bowie and Ozzy Osbourne, but also quickly began to realize that lyrical content and emotional heft were just as vital as the costumes and shape-shifting personas that had first drawn him in. 

Growing up with a single mom, Rob tackled a hefty amount of adult responsibility at a relatively young age as he helped to care for his younger sibling after school. MTV and the radio provided the daily soundtrack each afternoon after school was over. This early attachment to music eventually led to a lifelong obsession with songs. 

Channeling his love for music and a passion for writing, Rob built a following with his blog, Generation Riff. Eventually, those writings led to the publication of Slacker - 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created.  In that book, Rob discusses the societal changes that came with the ascendance of grunge, and the shifting cultural world that followed in its wake. Rob also infuses the book with his own personal stories that cover his journey through the music business, as well as some of the personal battles he’s faced including a series of mental health struggles.

During our chat, Rob and I cover his personal path through the music industry, and unlock some of the things that made him fall so hard for music as a young person. We talk intensely about the cultural landscape of the late 80’s and early 90’s, and the myriad of talent and sonic quality that was readily available in a host of genres all happening at the same moment. It was an era where talent was fostered for the long term, and not just capitalized on in the short term. Sadly, those days have essentially disappeared. 

Rob and I discussed what has happened in the last three decades to change that industry so dramatically. We cover the massive selloffs happening as power conglomerates in the music industry between just three major companies. These massive companies are no longer in the business of developing artists, they are solely interested in moving product. The music is a widget, nothing more. 

The conversation is not all doom and gloom, of course. Rob and I discuss the ways that the greatest artists are always chasing themselves, seemingly three steps ahead of their own audience at times. An icon like David Bowie, with his myriad personas is a great example. We also talk about some of the signs of a cultural revolution amongst younger fans and artists alike that is heaping right now.

This is a great chat with a dude who has always just been chasing that same raw emotion and pure power that he first heard in music as a child. Come chase the dragon with us. 

Cheers,

Matty C

Support the Matty C & Wild Honey Collective Live Album Project

Sheddio In The South Tour

“The Brands My Daddy Drank”, the new song from Lansing country duo Deer & Elk, is ostensibly a tune of faded beer brands and childhood memories. While songwriter and singer Jeffery Gower never mentions any specific beer names, those of us in a certain age bracket might visualize a montage of vintage ads from Lowenbrau, Schlitz, Stroh’s and more.

The song evokes flickering moments of years long past, stacked like so many empty bottles on the table. Over the course of the tune, we’re transported back through the gauze of time, to a moment and a place that we’re not completely sure even really existed. 

“The Brands My Daddy Drank” pretty well encapsulates the ethos of Deer & Elk, the country duo composed of Jeffery Gower and guitarist and singer Jason Lantrip. The band is built on a strong sense of memory, and even pangs of nostalgia. Using the template of classic country, Deer & Elk combine Jeff’s tremendous penchant for compact storytelling interlaced with Jason’s slap-echo electric guitar slinking around the corners of the room. The duo then layer sweet, AM Gold vocal harmonies over the top for a new brand of cowboy-country-cool.

In combining a host of great original songs and a carefully curated set of cover tunes, Deer & Elk have already found a sound, and an audience in their home state of Michigan. Their first single, ‘Big Penny’, a tune that tells the story of Lansing’s famed truck eating bridge, was something of a regional hit. The band’s live schedule is also packed with several shows every month throughout the state. 

The bulk of this week’s pod will feature Deer & Elk playing live from the Sheddio. I’ll pop in during the middle of their performance for some conversation with our guests, but this week will be music heavy. So, grab a beverage, find a comfy chair, and settle in for this very special, somewhat unusual, episode of the show - live with my friends in Deer & Elk.

Cheers,

Matty C

Deer & Elk Website

Deer & Elk Bandcamp

Matty C & Wild Honey Album Project

Sheddio In The South Tour

On Friday morning, I went live on Substack with my pal Seth Werkheiser over at Social Media Escape Club to talk about my massive live album project with The Wild Honey Collective, and oh so much more. What began as a simple chat about the details of my project quickly evolved into a dialogue on the overarching importance of storytelling, and the power of permission.

In our conversation, I walk Seth through the machinations of the Wild Honey project, including the details of how we’re planning to record, mix, master, promote, and release a record on a shoestring budget, while also compiling footage for a documentary and concert film. It is a wildly ambitious project, and feels like a Sisyphean task.

Seth and I tackle the issue of raising real dollars through a crowdfunding campaign for a project like this in a world where consumers are so used to getting their music and film for something close to free. We cover the high and lows of steering your own creative ship for a living, and the loneliness that can come with the artistic pursuit.

There is some frank discussion about Substack’s ongoing Nazi problem, and what our obligations as creators on the platform might be to help reform Substack before we begin jumping ship. This leads us straight into a deep discussion about the power of permission and representation.

This is a wide ranging chat with a fun and curious dude. It was also kind of fun to be “on the other side of the mic”. Thanks so much to Seth for the invite and to all of you who joined us live.

Cheers,Matty C

Chuck Marshall got a Yashica 35m film camera as a gift from his parents and began to tinker with it through his teenage years. Slowly, he developed an eye and a budding talent for photography, until he was 17 and the guitar came calling. Ditching the camera, Chuck dove headlong into learning the guitar inside and out. He longed to play with technical proficiency, speed, and style. He drove his siblings nuts as he painstakingly learned the intricate riffs layered within his favorite records by bands like Rush. 

For the next 15 years, Chuck and his band Battalion, workshopped songs, honed their chops, and played the Midwestern metal circuit. Sadly, many of Chuck’s bandmates were not as committed to the project as he was. As he threw himself into taking the band to the next level, his bandmates prioritized more time for jobs and families. Eventually, tendonitis caught up with Chuck’s maniacal practice schedule and he was forced to put the guitar down for the next several years. 

It was at this moment that Chuck picked up his old camera and immersed himself back into the visual arts. He began travelling around the state and eventually the country, taking his camera to capture the action along the way. A few years after shelving his guitar, Chuck met his wife Brenda Marshall who helped Chuck incorporate his travel work and photography into her existing blog. The resulting project, Life In Michigan features the couple sharing their adventures in Michigan and beyond. 

Chuck and I discuss the prospect of working creatively with your partner. He and Brenda seem to work together seamlessly, which comes from their shared passion for travel and a deep respect in each other’s work. The couple even recently completed a massive 23 day tour of Ireland together and chronicled all of their adventures on their Substack. 

We talk about bringing the buzz of travel back home, the unheralded architecture of the Motor City, and Chuck even divulges the best places to get a pint in the great state of Michigan. Let’s take a trip across the world and back with Chuck Marshall. 

Cheers,

Matty C

The idea for Chris Dalla Riva’s brand new book began as something of a lark. Chris and a friend simply wondered what they would learn if they listened to every number one hit starting with the very first Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1958. The resulting book, Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us About The Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves is a data driven look at the history of pop music as we know it. It’s also a remarkable window into America’s musical and cultural history. 

Chris and I talked deeply about the ways in which technology is constantly shaping the way that our music sounds, the ways in which we experience it, and that technology forever changes what it actually means to “release a record”. Still, with all of that change, as listeners we have solidified in our minds the ways in which we think music ought to operate. There are codified ideas about albums, side lengths, and song sequencing that were based on the limitations of vinyl albums that have defined what we think of as a record, long after vinyl has stopped being the dominant musical format. 

Another terrific example of the ways that technology pushes our creative output is to study the early recordings of Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra who were some of the first singers to benefit from new developments in microphone amplification technology. As great as those singers were, the availability of this new technology made their talent more captureable. Chris also shares the story of how Gregorian chants were written to be sung within massive Cathedrals with intense amounts of reverb. With these sonic limitations to work with, Gregorian monks came up with simple songs and chants that allowed the space and the reverb to enhance the music.

Over the course of researching the book, Chris found himself noticing unusual, and unpredictable trends in pop music. In many respects, the myriad novelty hits and one-hit wonders that top the charts on a given week are a direct reflection of America’s scattered cultural attention. This project has proven out that every era of popular music has had its share of true greatness and an occasional smattering of dreck. 

In finishing the book, Chris admits he isn’t worried about the future of music, but he is worried about finding a new way for artists to get paid. Chris is correct that the music will remain, but he and I are both concerned deeply about the economic future of the industry and we're both fearful of the tech overlords who seem to be leading the charge. Still, the music remains. 

So come along with me and author Chris Dalla Riva for a stroll through the history of American culture one number one tune at a time. 

Cheers,Matty C

Larry Crane shares a piece of wisdom in our conversation that has stuck with me since the moment we recorded it. As we were talking about the process of making and releasing records and the idea of how musicians should be compensated for their work, Larry simply said, “Music is not merit based.”

It sounds like a harsh statement, but it is completely and totally true. Each of us can likely rattle off a handful of bands that we believe should have been huge. While most of us also have a huge band or artist that we find unctuous and irredeemable. It’s not enough to just write a great song and turn it into a great record. It takes ability, dedication, consistency, discipline, and a shitload of luck.

While much of the music business is a crapshoot, Larry and I talk about a few of the tools artists can employ to stack the odds in their favor. Larry shares how much bands still struggle with basic arrangement ideas like tying the kick drum to the bass guitar, or even making sure that the band is functioning as a unit. Despite the fact that it is easier than ever for a band to record their own tracks at home, these nascent artists are often still struggling with the basic concepts of writing and arrangement. 

Larry and I talk deeply about his relationship with the great singer/songwriter Elliott Smith. In Elliott, Larry found a kindred musical spirit who embodied all of the great things about songwriting, arrangement, and recording that brought Larry to music to begin with. The pair even found a way to work together as Larry was first building his studio, Jackpot Recordings in Portland, OR. Larry offered severely discounted studio time to Elliott for his help in getting the studio into working condition. 

As the line between DIY consumer gear and professional level equipment continues to blur, Larry is quick to remind folks that great records can be made on the most basic of equipment. We use the Nebraska record by Bruce Springsteen as a prime example.

We chat about Larry’s opportunity to work with the terrific Australian rock band, The Go Betweens who made one of their last, and probably best sounding albums at Jackpot with Larry behind the controls. There are tales of M. Ward, She and Him, The Decemberists, Sleater Kinney, and even R.E.M. that pop up in our talk. 

This is a fascinating chat with a guy who has been learning on the job since the first day he sat down in his high school electronics class and slowly immersed himself into a world of recording and capturing music. As he says, he has been paid to learn almost everything he knows, and the proof is in the terrific work he continues to churn out every day. 

Cheers,Matty C