WTTS In Conversation

The Kansas keyboardist and musical director spoke with Matt Pelsor about working with a band with a 50-year history like Kansas, and about his previous experience working with artists like Debbie Harry and Meat Loaf.

Kansas is playing Brown County Music Center on Saturday, November 23rd.

Mike Campbell shared a phone call with Crystal McKenzie to talk about how his surprise appearance with Bob Dylan came together for Farm Aid 2023. He also touched on playing with Fleetwood Mac, and asking Dave Grohl to play with the Heartbreakers after the demise of Nirvana. They also discussed the new tribute entitled A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty, on which he worked with Margo Price, Chris Stapleton, and others.  

My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James shares thoughts on the band’s history of charitable giving, and offers perspective on his personal struggles with mental health while recalling a legendary performance at Bonnaroo 2004 in an interview with Matt Pelsor from June 2023.

Listen for the new song “Aren’t We One” from My Morning Jacket on 92.3 WTTS.

Upon the news of Sting and Billy Joel playing Lucas Oil Stadium in February, Matt Pelsor dug up an interview from last year with Police drummer Stewart Copeland.

They talked about his orchestral performances, showcasing the arrangements done for the album Police: Deranged for Orchestra; as well as his film score work, and the jam band project Oysterhead with Trey Anastasio and Les Claypool.

The co-frontman and IU alumnus talked with Matt Pelsor about tour mates REO Speedwagon's recent breakup announcement, the band's history, and the double album of originals dropping in late November ahead of their September 27th date at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park.

For tickets, click here...

Dave Navarro talks about the re-formed classic lineup of Jane's Addiction who were scheduled to play Indy's Everwise Amphitheater on September 26th--a show that has since been canceled as of Monday, September 16th. He remarks on the band's volatile history and present (this talk was taped just before the on-stage fight in Boston on the 13th); as well as grappling with his own personal fame.

Crystal McKenzie recently spoke with Amos Lee, who dropped his latest album Transmissions on August 9th, and also put out Honeysuckle Switches: The Songs of Lucinda Williams last year.

He got into the struggles he has with connecting to folks in a digital world. He also talked about Solomon Dorsey, his stand up bassist using a bow at times to create richer tones in the music. Plus the first time he ever met Jimmy Buffet, who absolutely loved Amos Lee's music.

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band will play their first Indianapolis show in two years on August 31st at the HI-FI Annex. Rev talked with Matt about his unique guitar collection, a tour mishap last September, and his thoughts on songwriting.

Find tickets at the HI-FI website

Two short interviews this time around with bands coming to town in September.

Matt Pelsor talked with Brad Roberts of the Canadian band Crash Test Dummies about the way Canadian media seemed to abandon the group after their breakthrough record God Shuffled His Feet. Crash Test Dummies play Hendricks Live in Plainfield September 18th.

Crystal McKenzie then talks with Chris Difford of Squeeze, who play Old National Centre on September 3rd. They talk about his famous next door neighbor, and recalls the 1981 English Mugs tour with Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

Crystal McKenzie sat down with Doobie Brothers founding member Pat Simmons to talk about, among other things, his best known song; as well as the song he wrote to benefit the recovery effort from last year's fires in Hawaii.

The Doobie Brothers play Ruoff Music Center with special guest Steve Winwood on August 17th.