Live, Uncut & Unscripted Conversations With
"Musicians You Should Know
MUSIC ON THE COUCH
Live, Uncut & Uncensored Conversations With
"Musicians You Should Know"
SHOW ARCHIVES
AUGUST 2013
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SHOW # 173 - 08/05/13
OLGA - COUCH KID NEWS
Olga first joined me back in July of 2011, and has also Sat On The Couch during last year's International Blues Challenge. She asked to come by and discuss her new project, a short film entitled Anam Cara. If you want more information on this project, you can check out their page at Indiegogo: OLGA: Anam Cara A Musical Film
DAYNA KURTZ - Segment Begins At The 6:38 Mark
Over the past decade, Dayna Kurtz, the Brooklyn-based vocalist/writer/musician/producer has built a formidable body of recordings, won an international reputation as a riveting live performer, amassed an extensive file of rapturous critical raves, and yet her success is mainly over in Europe. Her latest release, Secret Canon, Vol. 2, recorded live to tape in New Jersey and New Orleans, spotlights Kurtz's sublime interpretive abilities and showcases two original songs. Dayna and I sat and discussed her career and why she feels her style is more easily accepted over in Europe. We also talked about the changes here in the US allowing her to get more recognition.
WEB SITE FACEBOOK PAGE
BLUES411 REPORT - Segment Begins At The 49:30 Mark
This month Chefjimi's conversation centered around The Pennsylvania Blues fest and the new page on Facebook, Blues - Still Alive & Well
MUD MORGENFIELD - Segment Begins At The 1:02:05 Mark
During the BMAs, I met Mud Morganfield and told him since his younger brother had come on, it was time for him to join me on The Couch and he agreed immediately. His album Son Of The Seventh Son has catapulted Mud to the top of many Blues Charts and earned him three BMA nominations. We sat and discussed his growing up with his dad there very little...how he felt about growing up in the projects of Chicago, why he waited until after "Pops" had passed to give music a real go and what he hopes to accomplish with each day.We also talked about the album and his songwriting.
WEB SITE FACEBOOK PAGE
VINCENT HAYES - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment begins At The 1:39:30 Mark
Vincent Hayes first sat on The Couch in July of 2011after he and his band had been nominated for Best New Debut Artist at that year’s BMAs.Tonight, he came back with his brand new album The Grind We listened to a number of cuts from the album while Vincent discussed his journey getting this album done and the way he has been nervous since this is different than his first album Resurrection...Vincent has nothing to worry about!
SHOW # 174 - 08/12/13
TOO SLIM & THE TAILDRAGGERS
Too Slim & The Taildraggers formed in 1986 in Spokane Washington. Tim Langford is the founder and leader of the band and he joined me to talk about his journey from Washington State to Nashville where he relocated in 2012. We discussed how he has been influenced over the years and by whom and how he he has found that new home in Nashville with his wife/manager Nancy. We listened to cuts from his latest release, Blue Heart, which shows the influence of his new home and of producer (and 'Couch Kid') Tom Hambridge.
RANDY SCOTT - Segment begins At The 48:25 Mark
Randy Scott's first attempt at the music business went so poorly, he put down the guitar, cut his hair and turned off all music for over 10 years. Then a chance visit to a Guitar Center one afternoon became the starting point of a journey that named him the 4th Annual Guitar Center King Of The Blues. His debut album is called Out Of The Blue and was produced by multi-Grammy Award winning producer Pete Anderson. Randy joined me to discuss this incredible story. Going from the cubicle back to the stage so quickly and getting to perform with a wide array of musicians.
WEB SITE FACEBOOK PAGE
MIKE ZITO - Segment Begins At The 1:32:20 Mark
Mike Zito has been playing guitar since the age of 5 and had his debut on Eclecto Groove Records. Since then he has earned a 2010 Blues Music Award for Song Of The Year (Pearl River with Cyril Neville) and was nominated in 2011 for Best Rock Blues Album (Greyhound).
He is one of the founders of Royal Southern Brotherhood and has just released his latest Mike Zito & The Wheel album, Gone To Texas. Luckily, we were able to grab a hold of Mike during a short downtime home before hitting the road once again. He and I discussed his youth and how it almost all went away for him before he got on that Greyhound and moved to Texas where his life changed for the better.
WEB SITE FACEBOOK PAGE
JP BLUES - COUCH KID NEW MUSIC - Segment Begins At The 2:17:55 Mark
JP Blues (John Pagano), first joined me back in February of 2012 when his album I Will Not Go Quietly was released. Tonight he returned with his new album, Make Room At The Table, the first recorded at his relocated studio in Atlanta. We talked about the making of the album as we listened to some cuts.
WEB SITE FACEBOOK PAGE
SHOW # 175 - 08/19/13
DOUG DEMING, DENNIS GRUENLING & CO-HOST MARK THOMPSON
This show came about during Brandon Santini's Beale Street Mess Around. For the Silent Auction I offered the chance to co-host a show and select the guests. Mark Thompson bid and won the chance to do so and he selected Doug Deming & Dennis Gruenling. This was a little different as Doug and Dennis stayed with Mark and I the whole show. Traditional blues, West Coast and Texas Swing, early rock, country and roots music. Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones run the gamut and bring it all together. Doug’s latest recording, What’s it Gonna Take, exhibits the outstanding guitar work and remarkable singing and songwriting that have become Doug’s card and earned him a Blues Blast Nominations for their Sean Costello Rising Star Award this year. Dennis has been blowing harp for years. In addition he teaches the harp, has his own radio show and spends a lot of his time working with Doug Deming & The Jeweltones. His latest release, Rockin All Day on his new label, Vizztone, is a hit from start to finish. Mark and I spent two hours discussing the careers of Doug and Dennis as well as their musical philosophies and thoughts on the industry today.
DOUG'S WEB SITE DOUG'S FACEBOOK PAGE
SHOW # 176 - 08/23/13
CEE CEE JAMES BAND LIVE
There were issues with sound and the PA for the first 20 minutes of the show. There was never a sound check, so adjustments on my end were made on the fly as the show progressed.
Thanks to a friend of Cee Cee & Rob's "gypsydessert", who was in the chat room, I was able to get the sound to a point where it was enjoyable (I hope you think so also). Webcast LIVE from The Drop Zone in Leslie, AR and sponsored by The Buffalo River Blues Society
Other Cee Cee James Appearances August 2011 July 2012 November 2012
SHOW # 177 - 08/26/14
SOLOMON KING
From working the assembly lines in Detroit, to the grind of trying to make it as a guitar player in LA to finding success when he plugged in, Solomon King's story is the blues. His songs have been featured on HBO's True Blood and his debut album, Under The Sun won him a Grammy Nomination in 2009 for Contemporary Blues Album. His new album is entitled Train and it is more rock-blues than his last. Solomon and I discussed the way his journey has developed, why his three albums all sound different and what he is looking forward to in the future.
SPENCER BOHREN - Segment Begins At The 42:50 Mark
On his web site, Spencer Bohren want you to know his as a "Performer, Educator, Artist, Guitarist, Storyteller". Growing up in Wyoming in the 50's, Spencer's family traveled the state performing in churches, schools and nursing homes. Spencer says, “My mother didn’t have boys and girls. To her we were sopranos, altos and tenors.” Spencer continued to be influenced by all types of music and on the day he graduated high school he headed to Denver. Spencer's journey had begun and since then it has taken him across the country and world making music and celebrating life. Spencer and I discussed this wonderful life of a wanderer, traveling the country pulling an Airstream with his family all together. Spencer talked about the making of his latest album, Tempered Steel, an album with only the lap steel guitar as an instrument.
TODD WOLFE - Segment Begins At The 1:31:45 Mark
Todd Wolfe began playing in bands back in NYC in 1979. During the 80's, he met and began performing with Sheryl Crow. They both went to LA and tried to get a deal for their band, but it did not happen. A few years later, Todd was on the road with Sheryl as she toured behind Tuesday Night Music Club. Since then, Todd has been in a number of bands with some of the top players from both coasts. Todd and I discussed his travels from his youth in Forest hills, NY to playing the world with Sheryl Crow to his new trio and album Miles To Go.