ClifTones w/ JC Denison: Recent Episodes
JC Denison
Brian Schreck is a saxophonist, music therapist, future funeral director, and damn fine human. His groundbreaking work recording the heartbeats of dying patients has helped open up conversations around expanding the connections between deceased people and the bereaved. Through music and audio, he strives to make dealing with loss and pain just a little easier. And maybe joyful. Brian sat down with JC to talk about fashion, funerals, hospitals, life, death, and the YUM Center.
Mandy Keathley screams and dances and flails and sings with style and fury as she commands the stage as the frontwoman for local punks DEADY. Which makes it all the harder to believe that this is her first gig in the driver's seat! A later bloomer than most band folks, she's wasted no time making up for lost time, and DEADY has become a Louisville music fixture. And before all that she made waves at none other than GUCCI, weaving her unique artistic and fashion tastes into the personal styles of all types of people. Oh yeah! And she and JC used to work together! Mandy sat down with JC to talk about personalizing everything, being privately cool, musical wormholes, Jamiroquai, and more...
Todd Hildreth is a lynchpin in the Louisville jazz and indie rock scenes, having helped fuse the two together by way of his long and legendary stints in bands like Java Men, King Kong, and Squeezebot. All of which are still performing! His instrumental prowess knows no bounds, and he's just as likely to play a steel drum or keytar as he is a keyboard or Hammond organ. And as an educator, he's teaching a variety of folks how to appreciate music just a little more. Todd sat down with JC to talk about dating, jazz, Twice Told Coffee House, tiny drums, pet peeves, and more...
Kathryn Brooks is a Louisville singer-songwriter whose lived experiences in places like California, Pennsylvania, and New York City have informed her lyrics and music. She inserted herself into the local music scene in 2020 after moving back here because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and very quickly surrounded herself with supportive friends and musicians. Since then, she's put a handful of recordings online and is currently working on a full length album. Kathryn sat down with JC to talk about melancholy, good books, folk music, Hamilton, food, fashion, regrets, and more...
Jon Cherry is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer with a gift of gab and a sense of adventure. He landed in Louisville after being brought up on various Air Force bases and experienced a rather atypical educational situation through his teenage and college years before diving into music and finally photojournalism. Oh and hey he and JC both worked at video game stores in high school! Jon sat down with JC to talk about pit bulls, Milton Metz, meditation, UPS, astronaut jobs, the perfect night out, and more...
Noam Blitzer is the chef/owner of Meesh Meesh Mediterranean restaurant in Louisville's NULU neighborhood. He's also contributed his culinary talents to local places like Red Hog and Wiltshire on Market as well as restaurants in Boston, South Carolina, and more. As far as we can tell, he's the first professional chef to ever appear on this very podcast! Noam sat down with JC to talk about being born (and conceived) in Israel, food life in Boston, culinary inspiration, ice cream, Florida, and more...
Mark Evans is the co-owner of Louisville music venue The Whirling Tiger and produces concerts around town with his promotional company Pretty Good Concerts. Originally from Owensboro, KY, Mark eventually landed in Louisville by way of Lexington's music scene, and he's been bringing top notch bands here ever since. His dog Bobby Sparkles came along for the podcast and frankly made JC a little nervous at first because he didn't think he could conduct a proper interview with a dog in the room. But all was fine! Mark and Bobby sat down with JC to talk about dog poop, WEEN, booking agents, bars, smoking crack, Salvador Dalí, and more...
Alex Rickel is a mad scientist and plays one on T.V. Or Some Thing like that. He currently fronts the psychedelic rock quartet Future Killer, and JC wonders if that was a good enough description of the band. A great bass player, song writer, visual artist, and forward thinker, Alex has had a huge impact on the Louisville arts and music scenes in his relatively short time here in town. He sat down with JC to talk about cigarettes, Roger Rabbit, Mr. Rogers, creativity, New Albany, New Albanian, Zanzabar, and more...
Jeff Komara is the proprietor of one of the coolest vintage shops in town, or really anywhere: Fat Rabbit! He also beats the hell out of the drums in the experimental noise rock ensemble Copiers. And he drums left-handed, which is a far bigger deal to JC than it really should be. He sat down with JC to talk about Shawn Kemp, Kurt Vonnegut, chairs, journalism, Battles, prog rock, Brad's basement, and more...
Kiana Del fronts the soulful septet Kiana & the Sun Kings, singing songs with a vocal style inspired by Erykah Badu, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and more, but one that is uniquely her own. A Carolton, KY, transplant, she found a path to music through college, and quickly inserted herself into the Louisville music scene. And hey! She's also an educator and radio host, and she co-hosts 'The Music Box' podcast, which we would say is definitely one of the top 2 podcasts in Louisville! She sat down with JC to talk about high school theatre, trying to make money playing music, cursing!, Beethoven, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Squarespace. Just kidding.
William Benton is one hell of a guitar player. But also wait! What's that?! Bass too?! YES. He has spent years honing his songwriting craft, which can be heard most recently with his project Cat Casual and the Final Word and on the soundtrack to the documentary 'Ghosts of the Chelsea Hotel'. He's also a tour guide at that legendary landmark. He sat down with JC to talk about Oklahoma, Lucky Pineapple, street smarts, hospitality, and more.
Jim Marlowe is a musical multi-hyphenate with a dry sense of humor and a cool accent. He's also an audio engineer and can paint a house damn near better than anyone around. And, truth be told, he loves a good hot dog. Jim has been a seminal member of the Louisville music scene for years, playing in bands like Tropical Trash, Equipment Pointed Ankh, Sapat, and Venus Trap, and he has recorded records for dozens more amazing local bands. He sat down with JC to talk about VibraSlaps, Robert Wyatt, Shakespeare, Phenomenology, Arby's, and more...
Eron stirs up a Scotch cocktail in the studio after his interview. He and JC tackle the hard questions too. Chewing gum or bubble gum?! Bolo ties?! Snack preferences?! It's all here.
Eron Plevan is an incredibly talented and seasoned bartender. He's been behind the stick at some of Louisville's most legendary cocktail bars, and he has often had a hand in menu creation and implementation. A Texas transplant, his path to pouring potent potables in the Derby city was anything but typical. You can currently find him mixing up the goods at the excellent Butchertown watering hole Tartan House. He sat down with JC to talk about cocktail creation, drinks education, corporate life, liquid nitrogen, and more...
Find a bonus episode above where Eron creates a new cocktail in the studio, and he and JC reach into the box for some bonus questions.
Reach out: cliftonespodcast@gmail.com
Shelley Anderson is an accomplished and highly skilled audio mastering engineer, and she's also a damn good bass player. She's performed on or mastered some of the coolest records to ever come out of Louisville. And what's that?! She also hosts weekly ShellShock Trivia at JC's bar?! Yes! She sat down with JC to talk about dogs, fashion, going to Catholic school, MTV, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Tears for Fears but also no one. Reach out to me about sponsorship opportunities at cliftonespodcast@gmail.com I'm cheap!
Stan Chase founded Louisville Vegan Jerky Company, makes up one half of the band Air Chrysalis, penned the infamous Germantown Times, and pretended to peddle 56K internet as Glen's. When he's not busy keeping Louisville more artistically interesting, he loves making pizza, repairing old TV's, and rating pickles. He sat down with JC to talk about pranks, nostalgia, baseball, and more...
This episode has no sponsor. Reach out to me at cliftonespodcast@gmail.com for sponsorship opportunities. I'm cheap!
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
JC Denison of ClifTones gets on the phone daily to check in with various members of the musical community to see how they are dealing with the economic and isolating effects of COVID-19.
David Pajo is a founding member of Slint, played on two Tortoise records, and has performed in a wide variety of bands, including Stereolab, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol, and Royal Trux, to name a few. He also has a vast solo output under the monikers Aerial M, Papa M, and Pajo. He sat down with JC to talk about learning to listen, being a father, coping with depression, and more...
This episode is sponsored by End of an Ear Recording and Dauntless Distributing.
Heather Fox helped found the legendary Louisville band Juanita, helps run the Louisville Underground Music Archive, and cohosted the radio show 'Fuzzbox' for five years. She has a unique skill set that is no doubt informed by her family's background in radio. She sat down with JC to talk about garage rock, learning guitar from Wink O'Bannon, archiving music, and more...
This episode is sponsored by End of an Ear Recording and Dauntless Distributing.
Dennis Stein has an encyclopedic knowledge of electronic music and gear. He performs as Introvert, keeping heads bobbing and feet tapping. He also uses his skills in electronics to make striking visuals for a vast array of Louisville musical artists. And he can tell you what's wrong with your car's engine. He sat down with JC to talk about Ministry, Pet Sounds, sampling, Porches, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.
Joe Manning is an immensely talented singer, songwriter, musician, and essayist. A Louisville native, he made sure to travel the world at a young age to ensure he had plenty of experience upon which to draw. He published a collection of essays called 'Certain Relevant Passages', and he's released solo recordings and performed with Kings, Daughters, & Sons. His newest project is called Giant Dunes. Joe sat down with JC to talk about writing from experience, driving a taxi, the Louisville Story Program, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.
Alex Koenig, AKA Nmesh, is a prolific and pioneering electronic music producer. His sample based landscapes exist solely within a computer but feel like field recordings from worlds both real and imagined. With a background in drumming, he's taken his natural rhythmic talents in many enticing musical directions including vaporware, techno, and drum & bass. He sat down with JC to talk about playing in a metal band, live performance in the digital age, sampling technique, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.
Tim Furnish is a seasoned veteran of the Louisville music scene. His band Crain made waves in the '90's when they released the seminal records 'Speed' & 'Heater'. He then created Parlour, which fuses indie rock, minimalism, and electronica into a wholly new kind of instrumental music. A tireless documentarian and graphic artist, he's spent over two decades creating and capturing some of the most important and visually striking images in the Louisville music scene. He sat down with JC to talk about maintaining a musical life, growing up in the Highlands, Tony Bailey, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.
Jerika Jones is a cellist, a muralist, an educator, a traveler, an advocate for social and cultural change, and so much more! Formerly of the classical music world, she's taken the skills and discipline she learned there into other arenas with fantastic results. And in January 2020 she took over as Executive Director of Girls Rock Louisville. She sat down with JC to talk about racial politics in classical music, music's relationship to language, her zest for learning, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.
Sean Cannon is a charismatic and skillful interviewer and podcaster. A former seminary student, he segued into concert promotion and later hosted his own radio show on WFPK. Sean has recently branched out from interview-style podcasts to host serialized podcasts which focus on specific musicians, such as Elliott Smith and The White Stripes. He sat down with JC to talk about existential crises, learning how to say 'no', Christian indie music, and what he had for breakfast.
This episode is sponsored by Dauntless Distributing.
Cheyenne Mize is a highly talented violinist, vocalist, guitar player, songwriter, music therapist, community organizer, and so much more. As a solo artist, she fuses the gap between more traditional folk music and in your face rock & roll. A consummate collaborator, she's performed with the likes of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Ben Sollee, Daniel Martin Moore, and many others. And she melts minds and hearts as one third of the vocal trio MaidenRadio. She sat down with JC to talk about the healing power of music, community engagement, discovering harmony, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Kogan Dumb is an MC, producer, visual artist, and electrician. Through his solo work, collaborations with local artists, and involvement in BirdZoo, he's had an enduring effect on Louisville hip-hop culture. While he may have been late to the game in regards to age, he's wasted no time breaking barriers and opening the doors to a prolific and exciting musical career. He sat down with JC to talk about bourbon, knuckleheads, East Coast production, Octopus Pirates, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Jackie Royce performs with and manages personnel for Orchestra Enigmatic, plays in Ut Gret, and is currently earning a degree in music performance at U of L. An accomplished bassoonist, she aims to blur the lines between the classical and avant garde worlds in Louisville. Fresh off the smash success of OE's 'Bjork Ball', she continues to work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure its success and sustainability. She sat down with JC to talk about touring, creating original programming, bassoons, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.
Phillip Olympia founded Louisville music blog Never Nervous, ran the Dunkenstein record label, and currently plays in The Prayer Line. Through relentless community involvement, he and his partners at Never Nervous covered countless musical stories and releases from all over the city and helped expose and bridge musical gaps here. Although NN has shut down, Phillip remains an active champion of local arts. He sat down with JC to talk about learning how to blog, growing up on military bases, collecting video games, and more.
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. and Dauntless Distributing.
Nathan Salsburg is an incredibly talented and accomplished guitar player and composer. He's also the curator of the Alan Lomax archive. As both archivist and musician, he brings a completely original perspective to writing, listening to, and sharing music. He records melodically gorgeous solo guitar records and accompanies Joan Shelley live and on record. And he used to be a straight edge punk! He sat down with JC to talk about podcasting, creating his style, getting a punk rock scholarship, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Teddy Abrams is the Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra. A passionate composer, conductor, and educator, his musical reach in Louisville, and around the world, knows no bounds. Through his inventive approaches to community musical outreach, he's helped reinvigorate a struggling orchestra and has inserted himself firmly into the broader Louisville music fold. Fearless and focused, Teddy's proving daily that music truly does make a city. He sat down with JC to talk about developing musical personas, breaking classical boundaries, Handel, Bach, Mozart, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Crosley and Dauntless Distributing.
Sydney Chadwick sings and plays bass for the incredible WOMBO. Previously, she and WOMBO's Cameron Lowe made waves with the Debauchees. While both bands are markedly dissimilar, they nevertheless showcase the duo's tendency toward writing accessible post punk songs with peculiar rhythmic changes and jarring vocal jabs. With drummer Joel Taylor, the trio have been melting faces all over town. Sydney sat down with JC to talk about acid trips, the perils of divorce, visualizing music, and more...And Jake Reber stops by to talk about the Kent Carney Awards for Comedic Excellence.
This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.
Axel Cooper is the creative force behind the band New Mother Nature and has performed with Phantom Family Halo, Sapat, Tyrone, and more. He's also a farmer and a father. For his latest project, he composed and arranged music to be performed alongside a live-action puppet play based on Frankenstein called 'Creature'. He's also recently started playing bass in Louisville instrumental all-star band Copiers. Axel sat down with JC to talk about home-schooling, 4-track recorders, food, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Nextflix.
Dane Waters has belted out beautiful tunes in Softcheque, Sapat, The Louisville Opera, A7A, and so many other musical projects. She serenades our city in several languages and helps bridge the musical gaps between the classical, operatic, and underground worlds. A visual artist as well, she's recently started fusing that with movement and music, creating performance art that is breathtakingly compelling. And she loves to laugh! She sat down with JC to talk about improvising, building musical muscles, John Cage, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Zanzabar and Dauntless Distributing.
John King is a musician and artist, but perhaps he's best known in the Louisville music scene for his curatorial skills. He created the Louisville is for Lovers compilation to highlight Louisville bands and explore the depths of love, and he co-founded the Louisville Zombie Attack. Never one to be content with his output, he's also started teaching about glass art and consulting about pop culture. He sat down with JC to talk about the history of local glass, haircuts, losing his vision, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Will Oldham has had a celebrated musical career performing as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Palace Music, and several other monikers. An adventurous collaborator, he's worked with legendary artists like Tortoise, The Cairo Gang, and Matt Sweeney. Will's creativity knows no bounds which is evident in his extensive catalogue and constant challenges he presents to himself and his audience. Oh yeah, and he's a damn fine actor! Will sat down with JC to talk about beer, recontexualizing music, the beauty of spontaneity, and more.
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Cobra Verde, and Dauntless Distributing.
Jonathan Glen Wood hails from West Virginia and has spent significant time in Chicago, but Louisville serves as his true musical home. A skillful guitar player with a one-of-a-kind voice and a penchant for poetic lyrics, his songwriting stands alone and keeps evolving. He's released several beautiful solo records and done stints with Old Baby, Jaye Jayle, Catherine Irwin, and others. He sat down with JC to talk about screaming, discovering synthesizers, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.
Karen Ledford plays drums for the painstakingly persistent punk pop band GRLwood. With her unique visual aesthetic and multifaceted approach to drumming, she has made her self known locally and nationally as a musical force to be reckoned with. Having grown up in Elizabethtown, she slowly migrated from small town to small town, finally settling in Louisville to study philosophy. Ultimately, though, she discovered music to be her true calling. She sat down with JC to talk about being queer in a small town high school, applying for the Navy, playing constantly, the worst movie ever made, and more...
This episode is sponsored by sonaBLAST! Records & The Zanzabar
Lacey Guthrie co-founded the band Twin Limb, plays synths in Pleasure Boys, and is also in some new unnamed band. Since having honed her smoky voice and applying her piano skills to the accordion, she's been setting stages on fire all over the country. Oh yeah, and she's a Hoosier! She sat down with JC to talk about growing up in Indiana, harnessing creative confidence, the benefits of saying YES, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Scott Carney is the predominant creative force behind Louisville heavyweights Wax Fang. An accomplished songwriter, guitarist, and drummer, his musical adventurousness knows no bounds. His stage presence and penchant for polished production techniques have garnered his music international attention and legendary local status. He sat down with JC to talk about walking away from Catholicism, medical maladies, showing up on time, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.
Thalia Zedek & Chris Brokaw helped found the band Come in the early '90's in Boston. Before that Zedek had played in the bands Uzi and Live Skull, and Brokaw drummed for Codeine. Since Come disbanded in the early 2000's, both have gone on to maintain successful solo careers. They stopped by Louisville on a recent living room tour, and guest host Carrie Neumayer sat down to catch up with them. They talked about songwriting processes, the charm of intimate venues, politics in music, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, & Zanzabar.
Van Campbell is a damn fine drummer who also sells cheese, owns part of an energy drink company, and just became a father! Whether he's drumming with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Black Diamond Heavies, or King Mud, he brings a uniquely energetic type of propulsive energy to the kit, and has become one of the most versatile drummers around. He sat down with JC to talk about musical mentorship, trying to soak up fatherhood, cheese, chewing gum, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.
Chris Maggio is an out of this world drummer who's played for the bands Sleigh Bells, Trap Them, Coliseum, and Wear Your Wounds. His style fuses together a combination of jazz discipline and punk rock ethos, which makes him capable of playing with just about anyone. A native of New Jersey, he moved to Louisville from Florida, and made his mark on the music scene immediately. He sat down with JC to talk about drumming technique, putting up with guitar players, navigating disaster, and (a lot) more...
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, featuring a live in-store with Tomberlin on October 12, Zanzabar, and Dauntless Distributing.
Anne Gauthier recently took over as lead engineer at Louisville's LaLaLand studio. She moved here from Montreal only 3 years ago but has already made a lasting impact on the music scene here and its recorded output. A former graphic designer and drummer, she seamlessly wove those skills together to become one of the only female recording engineers around. Anne sat down with JC to talk about growing up in Canada, women in sound, Kroger, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.
Ethan Buckler is the mastermind behind Louisville band King Kong. His music and songwriting is a superb blend of funk, storytelling, humor, and sexuality. He desires to make you dance. Ethan was also a founding member of Slint and appears on their album TWEEZ. He sat down with JC to talk about writing catchy hooks, dancing as rebellion, Lakeside Swim Club, and more...
And Will Russell stops by with a few updates.
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee & Dauntless Distributing.
John Timmons founded legendary Louisville record store Ear X-tacy. As owner and operator, he turned legions of local listeners onto all sorts of independent and alternative music; tourists came from all over to dig, too! A critical part of the Louisville music scene for over 25 years, Ear X-tacy played host to mainstream and local bands and served as a communal stomping ground for punks and indie kids. John sat down with JC to talk about starting the store from scratch, 'selling out', getting over letting go, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.
Kevin Coultas played drums for legendary Louisville bands Rodan, Rachel's, The Sonora Pine, King G. and the J Crew, Metroschifter, and more. His sophisticated and unique approach to drumming has made an undeniable impact on Louisville music. He's also one hell of a radio DJ, has great taste in music, and is a damn fine history teacher. He sat down with JC to talk about musical technique, Jason Noble, cops, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Sara Callaway picked up her first violin at age 6, studied and practiced rigorously, earned a Master's Degree in music, and then still wasn't sure if she wanted to live the life of a professional musician. But whether she found herself in China, Berlin, or Appalachia, music always found its way back to her. Once she settled in Louisville, she started making waves, performing with the likes of Dane Waters, Jacob Duncan, & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. She also co-founded the SONIC Bernheim series and now co-directs the Louisville Academy of Music. She sat down with JC to talk about musical work ethic, connecting to nature, whale watching, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.
Scott Ritcher lives in Stockholm, Sweden, but recently came back to Louisville to batch and promote his own Bedtime Bourbon. Before his exodus, he fronted influential bands Sunspring and Metroschifter and founded the legendary Louisville music label SLAMDEK. He also helped run Initial Records and published his own zine, K. Composite. Oh yeah, and he ran for mayor! He sat down with JC to talk about being an ex-pat, immersing himself in DIY culture, bourbon, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.
Jacob Duncan is an incredibly talented composer and reeds player. His avant garde project Liberation Prophecy has been destroying musical boundaries since its inception when he was in high school. As a driven and hyper focused musician, he's worked with the likes of Norah Jones, Will Oldham, and Rachel Grimes; as a passionate educator he works regularly with mentally disabled children. He sat down with JC to talk about compositional processes, cultural appropriation, the necessity of hope, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.
Rob Pennington is a pillar of Louisville hardcore and punk. Having fronted the bands Endpoint, By the Grace of God, and Black Cross, his musical imprint is heavy, loud, and fierce. He's been playing in bands since high school, but he's managed to build and maintain a successful career in education, working with students with severe mental disabilities. Before his move to North Carolina, he sat down with JC to talk about behavioral therapy, the evolution of Endpoint, playing Cahoot's, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Allison Cross is a unique contributor to Louisville music in that she approaches music from three different directions: she's a trombonist, a DJ, and a music therapist. A native of Murray, KY, she moved to Louisville for school and immersed herself in live performance and her studies. While therapy is her first love, she couldn't quite let go of performing, and now as DJ Alli, she lights up dance floors all over town. She sat down with JC to talk about therapeutic processes, playing in big bands, running a business, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.
Nick & Sam Wilkerson comprise the rhythm section of the world's best American band, White Reaper. Success hit them at an early age, but they've stayed grounded, composed, and (mostly) out of trouble. As twins growing up in Louisville, they immersed themselves in the music scene and quickly realized they wanted to spend their lives making rock & roll. They sat down with JC to talk about touring, getting a record deal, vaping, getting SCAMMED, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, and Dauntless Distributing.
Jaxon Swain is an ambassador of Louisville music. Whether it's through his work with SonaBlast, his solo music, his involvement with Wanda Jackson, or his radio shows, he spreads sounds in countless places. A Hoosier transplant, he landed in Louisville and immediately began sharing his unique musical perspective. He sat down with JC to talk about growing up in Indiana, speed boats, being a romantic motherfucker, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.
Andrew Sellers has lived in New York and Los Angeles, but keeps ending up back in Louisville. And no matter how far he distances himself from it, he keeps coming back to music. His creative mind has been the backbone of projects as diverse as Andrew Rinehart, Saredren Wells, and Flight 19. He sat down with JC to talk about navigating the struggles between a practical and artistic life, the profound effects of family, Fugazi & Refused, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Will Russell had a very public mental breakdown in 2015 and hit bottom at the top of Funtown Mountain. He suffered a prolonged and intense manic episode, very similar to one he experienced nearly 20 years before. But in between all that, he co-founded Lebowski Fest, opened the Why Louisville store, traveled the world spreading the gospel of the Dude, and gave this city some of its most vivid and memorable artistic moments. Will has come back into the creative world full force with two brand new ventures, the Everything Will Be OK Project and The Marvelous Mystery. He sat down with JC to discuss managing mental health, showing tribute to a cult classic, coming back into the public eye, and whathaveyou....
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.
MaryLiz Bender roams the cosmos regularly with astronauts & Bill Nye the Science Guy. But before that she co-founded Twin Limb, toured the US, & made several great records. A native of Missouri, she moved to Louisville in her late teens, lived a whirlwind life dabbling in photography, design, and pretty much everything else. She finally decided to settle down and start a rock band. Space was calling though; the universe required attention, and MaryLiz heeded its call. She sat down with JC to talk about growing up in a Baptist children's home, leading a nomadic life, coping with abandonment, and much more...
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros Coffee, The Sloth Story Hour, and Dauntless Distributing.
Dave Bird has been in more bands than he can keep track of, and all of them have had an indelible imprint on Louisville music. He played in bands like OUT., VRKTM, Rude Weirdo, & American Lesions, and has contributed to several Bonnie Prince Billy recordings, and now performs with Tricia Cooper as the duo Bird/Trooper. Dave is a humble and joyous person with a fiercely intense musical style, whether he's playing guitar, bass, or singing. A Louisville native, he started playing in bands in the late '80's and has never stopped creating memorable music. He sat down with JC to discuss growing up in St. Matthews, embracing musical challenges, dealing with heartache and loss, and...Tony Bailey...and Britt Walford.
This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.
Kim Sorise is a world-class DJ, curator, and educator. She moved to Louisville from Detroit in 2000, found herself immediately surrounded by Louisville music icons, and hit the ground running as a news reporter and club DJ. Having worked for public radio for years, she covered topics as diverse as local politics, military training, and farming diversification. Her former radio shows 'The Independent Hit Parade' and 'Dirty Soul Party', as well as her regular club gigs around Louisville, have had undeniable influences on local dance and listening culture. And she continues to spread her musical wisdom as a founder of the female and gender non-specific DJ collective 'The Spinsters Union of Louisville'. Kim sat down with JC to talk about growing up in Detroit, honing her skills as a field reporter, using cockiness to her advantage, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Kaiju and Dauntless Distributing
Jecorey '1200' Arthur has spent his life in Louisville bridging gaps between hip-hop, classical music, and community activism. From an early age, he started creating beats and recording music and quickly formed his own artistic voice and musical palette. Not content with the trappings of music school, he sought to fuse his hip-hop upbringing with his university education, and Louisville music has never been the same. Whether its through his work with the Louisville orchestra, Louisville Public Media, teaching children in the classroom, or community outreach with various organizations, Jecorey continues to push the boundaries of music and its relation to a vital and progressive city. He sat down with JC to talk about Muhammad Ali, growing up in the west end of Louisville, new approaches to music education, and more...
This episode is brought to you by Zanzabar and Dauntless Distributing.
Meg Samples is a vital part of Louisville music. Whether it's through her drumming with Squeezebot, Maximon, or the Deloreans, or her musical education roles with Louisville Leopards and Girls Rock, she continues to have an expansive influence on the musical lives of adults and children. And her show on WFPK has become a crucial part of its nighttime programming. She makes all this seem effortless, though, and maintains a constantly creative and evolving musical lifestyle. Having grown up in a small town in a highly religious family, she was sheltered until she found jazz; after that she headed to Louisville, and, at least musically, never looked back. She sat down with JC to discuss growing up in a strict Christian church, finding the determination to study jazz in college, curating playlists, and more.
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Craig Pfunder is an instrumental figure in Louisville electronic music and DJ culture. An import to the city by way of Korea and then Oregon, he found a family of like-minded, dance-hungry individuals here who were determined to move their energy from the mosh pit to the dance floor. As a co-founder of VHS or Beta, he helped fuse the seemingly disparate worlds of indie rock and dance music. Through his work as a DJ and event curator, he continues to bridge musical divides and bring creative people together in consistently interesting ways. He spent nearly a decade living in New York; the fresh perspective and insights he brought back to Louisville could be felt immediately upon his return. He sat down with JC to talk about culture clashes between rock & roll and dance music, the brutality of touring, harnessing honest creativity, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.
Dominic Cipolla resides in New York, but part of him will always consider Louisville his home. Before his exodus, he helped shape Louisville's independent music sound, playing in Starkiller & Sapat, and founding the ever-evolving Phantom Family Halo. Once in New York, he re-established PFH, and began to work with artists like Martin Bisi and Torres. A highly sought after drummer, he recently reconnected with Louisville pals WATTER to join them on their newest record and tour, and was just invited to hit the skins for Japanese instrumental giants Mono. Oh, and he loves Can. He sat down with JC to talk about some legendary Louisville shows, recording with Tascam 388's, his creative process, and...Can.
This episode is sponsored by Karate Body Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.
Sarah Balliet started out as a classical cellist, but found her musical footing in Bloomington, Indiana's indie rock scene. After co-founding the band Murder by Death, she abandoned aspirations to be a biologist and dove headfirst into writing music, touring, and recording. She relocated back to Louisville several years ago to reestablish a home base for the band; shortly thereafter she and her husband and brother opened artisanal Italian restaurant Lupo, earning immediate acclaim in the Louisville food scene. Yeah, Sarah's busy! But she found the time to sit down with JC to talk about making the jump from school orchestras to rock bands, being an armchair biologist, how to navigate being in a band with your significant other, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Crosley and Dauntless Distributing.
Ryan Davis is essential to Louisville music. Whether it's through founding the Cropped Out festival, releasing excellent records on his Sophomore Lounge label, or playing shows in State Champion & Tropical Trash, Ryan's reach and influence are immeasurable. Perpetually touring and recording, he still finds time to set up shows for out of town bands and create stunning visual art that finds homes on flyers and record covers. He sat down with JC to discuss his former life as a track star, the pros and cons of Las Vegas, making a name for yourself in an increasingly saturated DIY scene, and more...
This episode is sponsored by Zanzabar and Dauntless Distributing.
Rachel Grimes composes music for solo piano, large ensembles, and chamber groups. A founding member of Rachel's, she was an integral part of a musical movement that helped marry the seemingly disparate worlds of neoclassical music and indie rock. She is a vital part of the Louisville arts scene and works tirelessly to preserve and present the rich culture and history of Louisville and Kentucky. Oh, and she knows her beer, too! She sat down with JC to talk about the evolution of her compositional processes, the challenging nature of collaboration, and how music can be used to teach historical lessons.
This episode is brought to you by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Bundy K. Brown was a seminal figure in the Chicago music scene in the '80's and 90's. As a member of bands like Tortoise, Bastro, & Gastr del Sol, he helped change the DIRECTIONS of many future musicians and musics. Though he considers himself a 'hack' musician, his sound is unmistakable and his musical footprint is wide and reaching. With origins as a DJ and producer, he possesses a unique and vast knowledge of hip-hop, jazz, and post punk. Now a resident of Louisville, he works through wine and food to influence and elevate culture. He sat down with JC to discuss growing up DJing on a military base, carving out a musical space for himself in Chicago, and how he came to define his own sound as a recording engineer and producer.
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Bundy K. Brown was a seminal figure in the Chicago music scene in the '80's and 90's. As a member of bands like Tortoise, Bastro, & Gastr del Sol, he helped change the DIRECTIONS of many future musicians and musics. Though he considers himself a 'hack' musician, his sound is unmistakable and his musical footprint is wide and reaching. With origins as a DJ and producer, he possesses a unique and vast knowledge of hip-hop, jazz, and post punk. Now a resident of Louisville, he works through wine and food to influence and elevate culture. He sat down with JC to discuss growing up DJing on a military base, carving out a musical space for himself in Chicago, and how he came to define his own sound as a recording engineer and producer.
This episode is sponsored by Karate Body Records and Dauntless Distributing.
Tim Barnes is a fixture in Louisville's experimental music scene both as a performer and curator. He's played on records by Jim O'Rourke and Silver Jews, performed with Faust and Lee Ranaldo, and even negotiated musical moments for MTV and Nike. All this, and he's stayed level-headed and dedicated enough to help raise a family and tirelessly run one of Louisville's most important music venues, Dreamland. He sat down with JC to talk fusing rock drumming with artistic music, pushing artistic boundaries at all times, running an avant garde non-profit, and more...
This episode sponsored by Zanzabar and Dauntless Distributing.
Evan Patterson has carved a dedicated following shredding guitar and screaming in technically innovative bands like Young Widows and Breather Resist and, more recently, singing and writing conceptual mood music in Jaye Jayle. He's toured the world and the U.S. extensively since his late teens, and has become an expert screen printer and uniquely-minded visual artist in his off time. He sat down with JC to talk tour friends, growing up in rural Kentucky, recreating his creative self, and more...
This episode brought to you by Heine Bros. Coffee, Monnik Beer Co., and Dauntless Distributing.
Johnny Siegel is a talented guitarist who's played with such diverse artists as Wanda Jackson, Junk Yard Dogs, and Scott Carney. He's moved around the world, having spent quality musical time in Louisville, New York, New Orleans, and Australia. His father resurrected the Palace Theatre in Louisville in the 80's, and during a stint later in life he had the honor of taking guitar lessons from Television's Richard Lloyd. He sat down with JC to talk 60's guitar influences, post-Hurricane Katrina life, and raising a family on opposite ends of the world.
This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.
Britt Walford is a highly revered drummer in indie-rock circles and beyond. His work behind the kit in bands like Slint, the Breeders, and Squirrel Bait is immensely influential and often imitated. He's toured the world, headlined the All Tomorrow's Parties festival, and recorded with legendary engineer Steve Albini. He Sat down with JC to talk about classical music's influences on his musicianship, his early drumming, touring in a van as a teenager, and what made the Slint reunion (finally) happen. Listen as JC geeks out a little too much about 'Spiderland', and notice Britt's patience with the entire process.
This episode brought to you by Monnik Brewing Co. and Dauntless Distributing.
Kevin Ratterman is a highly skilled producer and engineer known for working with artists as varied as My Morning Jacket, White Reaper, The Flaming Lips, Shannon Wright, and Andrew Bird. He's also a powerful drummer and multi-instrumentalist, having performed in studio and on stage with Twin Limb, Jim James, Wax Fang, Elliott, and many others. Somehow he finds the time to run a world-class recording studio in Louisville, KY. He sat down with JC to talk music making, production, life on the road, his drumming origins, and more.
This episode sponsored by Zanzabar and Dauntless Distributing.
Carrie Neumayer co-founded the legendary Louisville indie rock band Second Story Man in 1998 and has helped front the band ever since. She's also performed in the bands Itch House, Minnow, and Julie of the Wolves. Her unique brand of visual art can be both darkly comedic and severely poignant, sometimes political. As the executive director of Girls Rock Louisville, she works tirelessly to help educate and empower young girls and gender non-conforming youth through music. She sat down with JC to talk about making a band last 20 years, finding creative solace in an increasingly distracting digital world, and how important it is for women to have a voice in the underground music community.
This episode sponsored by Karate Body Records, Dauntless Distributing, Against the Grain Brewery, and Fat Rabbit Thrift.
Ray Rizzo has been acting as an invaluable musical conduit between Louisville and New York City since the early 2000's. He is an accomplished jazz and rock drummer, hitting the skins for such varied artists as King Kong, the Java Men, Days of the New, and Dawn Landes. A champion of the performing arts, he's organized musical happenings and even acted on stage in plays. He sat down with JC to talk drumming, aging gracefully in the arts, becoming a record producer, and more...