WTTS In Conversation

For this episode, prog rock solo artist and former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett talks with Matt Pelsor ahead of his March 21st show at Brown County Music Center. In an insightful conversation, they talked about his latest album The Circus and the Nightwhale (released Feb 16), plus a lost project with Queen’s Brian May, and the real reason his mid-80s supergroup GTR didn’t work out.

Concert info:

https://www.browncountymusiccenter.com/events/detail/steve-hackett-genesis-revisited

Three-time Producer of The Year Grammy winner Jack Antonoff spoke with Matt Pelsor about the forthcoming self-titled album from his own band Bleachers (due out March 8). They touched on the creative value of limitations, and covered what a typical day looks like in the life of one of music’s busiest producers.

Jeff Tweedy talked with Matt Pelsor about his two latest books: How to Write One Song: Loving the Things We Create and How They Love Us Back, and World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life, and Life That Changed My Music. They also touched on his recent productivity, releasing two Wilco albums in as many years (2022's Cruel Country, and 2023's Cousin).

The Heavy Heavy are slated to release a full-length album this year, and indeed already have a busy schedule this coming Spring. We caught up last year before their particularly well-attended set at WonderRoad Festival and talked about how things have changed since they found success in the US.

Kenny Aronoff spent almost two decades as John Mellencamp’s drummer, and has also worked with Melissa Etheridge, Willie Nelson, the Smashing Pumpkins, John Fogerty, and many more. He talked with morning host Matt Pelsor about his time with John Mellencamp, and playing in the Jim Irsay Band.

Portugal. The Man guitarist Eric Howk talked with Matt Pelsor about life in the band now versus before “Feel It Still” became the international mega-hit that it is. They also discuss the song “Who’s Gonna Stop Me,” featuring Weird Al Yankovic, as well as Eric’s perspective of being a wheelchair-bound professional musician in a world that doesn't always accommodate him.

Singer-songwriter Noah Cyrus spoke with morning host Matt Pelsor ahead of her show at Old National Centre this past September. She talked about her past struggles with addiction and how they inspired many of the songs on her debut album The Hardest Part, as well as her collaboration with Vance Joy on the song “Every Beginning Ends,” and how it was a full-circle moment for her career.

Bear Rinehart talks about Needtobreathe’s latest album Caves, and its intentional “bigness.” He also recalls the evolution of Indy shows and the fervent fanbase they’ve enjoyed here over the course of their now 20+ year career as a band.

Needtobreathe performs May 22, 2024 at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park

More info & Tickets: https://www.wttsfm.com/events/wtts-presents-needtobreathe/

Ketch Secor wrote “Wagon Wheel” from a song fragment that Bob Dylan had written decades before. He and morning host Matt Pelsor explored the song’s origins and ubiquity, as well as their new album, Jubilee, ahead of Old Crow Medicine Show’s Brown County Music Center appearance on Friday, November 17th.

Jason Mraz kicked off this past Summer with a new album called Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, and a tour with what he calls his “Superband.” Morning host Matt Pelsor talks with him about both, plus details about an Indiana show from 20 years ago this month. They also discuss his best-known hit “I’m Yours” and what it was like as it was taking off in the mid-to-late 2000s.