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Mike Bankhead

Viewing: Music - View all posts

Episode 88 - Jed Craddock & Joey Berrios 

 

 

That picture is Jed Craddock.

 

 

 

That other picture with the beautiful bass is Joey Berrios.

 

I met these gentlemen and their manager in Austin at the DIY Musician Conference.  I knew last year that I eventually wanted to invite them to be podcast guests, and we've finally gotten that done.  We talk about their latest release, Runnin' On Empty, which was released on February 14th.  We talk about how each of them started making music, and you'll hear some captivating stories in that part of the conversation…

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03/15/2023

in Music, bass, DIY Music Conference, music industry, Austin, guitar, Jed Craddock, Joey Berrios, San Antonio, Runnin' On Empty

Episode 87 - The Wag 

If you leave a Wag show and you're not smiling, it's probably you…

 

Here's how The Wag's official website introduces the band:  Got songs? Got harmonies? Got fun and unbridled enthusiasm? Then you’ve got The Wag! Hailing from the Bayshore area of New Jersey, this 4-piece unit has been entertaining and moving audiences for 20 years but still sounds as fresh as it did on day one! With 4 alternating lead vocalists, catchy melodies, and sophisticated harmonies, they will take you on a journey of pop rock…

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03/10/2023

in Music, songwriting, bass, singing, singers, music industry, drums, Accordion, guitar, New Jersey, The Wag, Blue Bottles and Copper Coins

Episode 85 - Maxime Cholley (en français) 

…la manière oú j'ai changé la manière de penser que j'avais, ça s'est fait en parallel avec… j'ai commencé à penser en anglais…

 

Ce fois, je parle avec Maxime Cholley en français.  Il est batteur professionel qui vient de Savoie, mais qui habite maintenant en New York.  Il se considère un citoyen du monde. Comment est-ce qu'il a pris la décision de venir aux Etats-Unis pour étudier la musique?  Qu'est-ce que c'était son défi avec la langue anglaise?  Qu'est-ce que c'est son but primodial dans la musique…

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02/17/2023

in Music, jazz, France, French, music industry, drums, music education, Berklee, Maxime Cholley, language, batteur, batterie

Episode 84 - Maxime Cholley (in English) 

The perfect first New York experience of looking at a place that doesn't make any sense…

 

Maxime Cholley is from Savoie, but his travels in music have taken him to Berklee in Boston, to New York, and now he plays all over the world. (In fact, today, as this episode gets released, Maxime is on tour in India.)

You'll learn how Maxime got started playing drums in this conversation, as well as what it's like being a professional musician in New York City. What was it like adjusting to the different pace of life…

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02/15/2023

in Music, jazz, France, French, music industry, drums, music education, New York, S.N.A.K., Berklee, Boston

Episode 82 - Simona Smirnova  

It fascinates me how people have such different backgrounds, but we still come together... and we make music together as one unit...

Simona Smirnova is from Lithuania, but currently based in New York City.  She's a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, teacher, generally interesting person, and true music professional. She specializes in the kanklés, which is a traditional Lithuanian instrument.  (I'd tell you more here, but I want you to listen to Simona talk about it.)

Simona has just…

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02/07/2023

in Music, songwriting, solfege, piano, art, singers, folk music, music industry, music education, Lithuania, kanklés, Simona Smirnova, New York, zither

Episode 81 - Yue Deng-Wu & Spacenotes 

It is a very hard thing to do the thing that you want to do.

 

There I am on Polywork, and I see a posted opportunity from a company looking for people who want to learn piano.  I took piano lessons a few years ago, but once I got enough knowledge to use it as a composition tool, I stopped.  I'd like to learn more.  I responded to the opportunity, which was posted by Vlad Georgescu.  Shortly thereafter, Yue Deng-Wu reached out to me.

Vlad and Yue are cofounders of Spacenotes, a startup company looking…

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02/03/2023

in Music, piano, music industry, Polywork, Yue Deng-Wu, Spacenotes, music education, startup, classical, Vlad, San Francisco, lawyer, Finding the Way Back, Chinese

Episode 80 - Josh & Liv Roush with the film Wrong Reasons 

It's about the right people seeing your product, it's not about the masses...

 

Josh grew up in Middletown, Ohio. Liv grew up in Australia.  They both live in Los Angeles now, and are both musicians and filmmakers. They are currently on the road promoting a new independent punk rock feature film called Wrong Reasons.  Josh wrote and directed the film.  Liv produced and starred in the film.  Kevin Smith is executive producer.  Cameron Mosavian composed the film's score.

Josh and Liv are on the road…

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01/31/2023

in Music, Dayton, Los Angeles, art, director, film, guitar, punk rock, Wrong Reasons, Josh Roush, Liv Roush, Kevin Smith, The Neon, Cameron Mosavian, The Overrides, Bi-Product, Tim Armstrong

Episode 79 - Jovi Espina 

All these songs really mean a lot to me and help me to kind of decipher my thoughts...

Jovi Espina is a songwriter from Virginia who is currently based in Los Angeles. She has been making music since she was ten years old. I got a chance to see her play at an open mic, and I can tell you from my first person observation that she is a very poised performer who plays with confidence.  In this conversation, you'll learn about her writing process, what her childhood smelled like, and all sorts of interesting…

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01/28/2023

in Music, songwriting, piano, singing, Richmond, guitar, Jovi Espina, Act Accordingly, Virginia, Dream Street, emo

Episode 78 - Nina Nepa 

Why am I being so secretive when it's just a song?

I met Nina Nepa in Los Angeles at an open mic event.  Both of us managed to overcome our nerves from being in a room full of strangers and play our songs.  Since listening to her play that day, I've wanted to chat with her about her music for this podcast.  Well here you are, Nina is the guest on today's episode.

Nina is from Pittsburgh, currently living in Los Angeles.  She plays piano and writes songs. She describes herself as a mechanical engineer…

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01/18/2023

in Music, songwriting, piano, Los Angeles, cantantes, keyboards, music video, singers, Pittsburgh, Nina Nepa

Episode 77 - Ben Monat 

Ben Monat is an amateur guitar player from Massachusetts.  You'll be able to feel the enthusiasm he has for the instrument in our conversation.  We talk about his wide-ranging influences, how he got started making music more than 20 years ago, and the value of collaboration.

Visit Ben's YouTube Channel

Ben on Polywork
 

01/13/2023

in Music, guitar, Ben Monat, Polywork, collaboration

Episode 76 - Brenda Carsey 

Let me tell you a tale of blunder, confusion, and woe. I procrastinated when it came to editing my conversation with Brenda Carsey, but it was going to get done in the early afternoon, and everything was ok.  I'd have this episode up and out, ready to tell folks to go listen to Brenda's new album Cognizance on January 9th anywhere you stream music. I'm in my DAW, working on the file, and I clicked the wrong thing... I couldn't see exactly what it was, but strange things were happening, so I tried to cancel…

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01/06/2023

in Music, songwriting, pop, piano, funk, jazz, Los Angeles, bass, singing, guitar, Cognizance, Brenda Carsey, alternative soul, neo soul

Episode 75 - Olivia Frances 

Photo by Libby Danforth

these three hundred songs, they're all assets... they're all pieces of magic that started on a blank piece of paper

 

A few years ago, I arrived at Yellow Cab Tavern to play a show at my favorite curated open mic, Showcase Thursday. I had been told that we had an artist from Nashville in town to play with us that night. It's not every week that we get someone on tour to stop by, so I was very much looking forward to meeting this intrepid individual. The intrepid individual…

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01/03/2023

in Music, songwriting, piano, Dayton, Nashville, Olivia Frances, Cincinnati, Hanukkah, guitar

Episode 74 - Juliet Fromholt & Taylor Ruckle with our favorite albums of 2022 

 

Exactly one year ago, on 30th December 2021, Juliet Fromholt joined me for a chat about our favorite albums of 2021.  I released that conversation the next day, 31st December, and it was Episode ½ of this podcast.  It was so much fun, I just HAD to have her back this year. Taylor Ruckle joins us for this conversation.  You might remember him from Episode 27 and Episode 43, where we talked about our favorite albums of the first and second quarters of 2022 respectively. 

All three of us are completely…

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12/29/2022

in Music, songwriting, Juliet Fromholt, WYSO, Arlo Parks, Lung, Dayton, art, Brandon Berry, music video, podcasting, Fountains Of Wayne, power pop, music journalism, Taylor Ruckle, Oceanator, Feeder, K. Carter, hip hop, Richmond, Billy Woods, music industry, Amanda Shires, Brittany Spencer, Heather Redman, Ty Sorrell, indie rock, bass clarinet, Björk, Booder, Dazy, Enumclaw, Cheekface, The Beths, Momma, Camae Ayewa, Moor Mother

Episode 72 - Cara Van Thorn 

Cara Van Thorn is an Austin, Texas based new swing jazz fusion sort of nineties alternative band that just plays whatever we like to hear...

 

I'm sure you're wondering why this lovely lady is in a room in this nice dress whilst being surrounded by musicians in their underwear.  Well, there's a lot to wonder about Cara Van Thorn, this eclectic band from Austin. This band was founded by active musicians in the metal and punk scenes, and they came together to create a style of music that has more in…

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12/22/2022

in Music, piano, jazz, music video, bass, Austin, Cara Van Thorn, The Way I Hear it in My Head

Episode 71 - Mary Beth Carty en français 

 

J'ai parlé avec Mary Beth Carty en anglais pour Episode 70.  Puisqu'elle parle aussi le français, voici une autre conversation avec elle. Mary Beth Carty joue plusieurs instruments, et chante en quatre (4!) langues sur son nouvel album, Crossing the Causeway. Comment est-ce qu'elle a appris le français?  D'oú vient les idées pour les chansons sur son album Les biens-nommés?  Qu'est-ce que c'est la première chanson qu'elle se souvient d'avoir écoutée dans la vie?  On peut découvrir les réponses à ces…

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12/19/2022

in Music, Canadians, France, French, Mary Beth Carty, Nova Scotia

Episode 70 - Mary Beth Carty 

At some point, you know, it's hard to carry a piano around...

 

Mary Beth Carty is a fascinating individual, a songwriter, an artist, and a multi-instrumental musician. She can be heard singing in four (4!) different languages on her new album, Crossing the Causeway. How did the diversity in the area she grew up contribute to her music?  How did she get started playing accordion?  What did her childhood smell like?  You'll get the answers to these questions - as well as hear me list some names of a musical…

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12/16/2022

in Music, Canadians, songwriting, piano, French, music video, singing, folk music, Accordion, Bones, Crossing the Causeway, Mary Beth Carty, Mi'kmaq, Nova Scotia, Antigonish

Episode 68 - Zac Pitts 

I like ear worms.  I like something that gets caught in your head.

Many people in Dayton know Zac Pitts as a television news anchor on WDTN.  I know him as an encouraging supporter of local music, a songwriter, and musician. Zac has finished his debut album Midwest Romance, and will officially present it to the public via a show at Yellow Cab Tavern on Saturday, 10th December.  In advance of the show, Zac agreed to talk to me about the album, his songwriting process, how he got started making music, and…

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12/05/2022

in Music, pop, Dayton, Reel Love Recording Company, Patrick Himes, home recording, audio engineering, community, singing, music industry, Yellow Cab Tavern, Sound Valley, Zac Pitts, Midwest Romance, marketing

Episode 67 - John Dubuc 

...I don't think lyrics have to be great or anything, they just have to be memorable enough and fit a bar...

 

John Dubuc is a Dayton musician known for witty lyrics and catchy songs.  We wade deep into the songwriting process in this episode.  What's the first tool that John reaches for when it's time to write a song?  What are some of his influences?  What part of a song does he think is the most important? You'll hear the answers to those questions and more in our recent conversation.

 

LINKS

Band…

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12/01/2022

in Music, songwriting, Tod Weidner, John Dubuc, Dayton

Episode 66 - Michelle Rhea Goddard 

If there was one thread I can find across all of my music, it is the deep love of storytelling...

 

Michelle Rhea Goddard is a Nashville-based songwriter who is originally from California.  Here album Breaking Bread: Songs of Reconciliation is arranged like a play, with an introduction, three acts, and an intermission. What is her writing process like? How did she come up with the idea to structure an album this way?  What did her childhood smell like?  You'll get the answers to all of these questions in…

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11/30/2022

in Music, songwriting, Americana, Nashville, folk music, music industry, Breaking Bread, Michelle Rhea Goddard

Episode 65 - Three At Home 

Three At Home is a band from the greater Boston area. I met two of them in Austin a few months ago while we were attending the CD Baby DIY Musician Conference. All three of them join me for this conversation.  They have an interesting dynamic, with two songwriters and two lead vocalists. Listen to this episode to learn what they remember as the first song they ever heard and what their childhoods smelled like.

 

LINKS

Three At Home official website

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

 

11/28/2022

in Music, songwriting, bass, singing, DIY Music Conference, Three At Home, Massachusetts

Episode 64 - TINO 

This is about to be you and I on an adventure that may sometimes appear to be a little bit more rough and unrefined than what you may be accustomed to, but it is genuine

 

You might remember talented Dayton-based rapper TINO from a previous appearance on my blog.  He's on the podcast today, because today is Bandcamp Friday when they waive their cut of artist payments, and he has a new album over there right now.  Midwest Sorrow covers different sonic and emotional ground than TINO's other work.

How did…

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10/27/2022

in Music, songwriting, Paige Beller, Dayton, France, art, TINO, Gem City Podcast, stand up comedy, singing, hip hop, rap, Sidekick Complex, MOIRA

Episode 61 - Marc Aiello 

I loved parker ben parker right from the first song the first time I heard them way back in the 1990s.  My guest on this episode, Marc Aiello, played guitar in that band. Those of you around the Dayton music scene will especially appreciate this episode. If you're any sort of music fan, you'll probably like this as well, as it's simply two music enthusiasts talking about the thing they love.

 

LINKS

five seven five music - Marc's publishing company

parker ben parker

The Durable Fiction

 

10/21/2022

in Music, songwriting, Tod Weidner, Dayton, jazz, parker ben parker, ... in order to speak to you, Marc Aiello

Episode 60 - Joe Anderl 

 writing songs, playing music, and I realized that was my joy in life... and so to be able to continue to do that from that point to now, I feel lucky...

 

That's Joe Anderl pictured above on the left in the foreground.  He's been making music for two and a half decades or so, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who brings as much passion as he does to the stage at a show.  Joe is the lead singer and songwriter for The 1984 Draft.  You'll hear some stories in our conversation about a past ska…

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10/18/2022

in Music, Tod Weidner, Dayton, Krusty Watch Guys, community, DMF, Dayton Music Fest, Joe Anderl, The 1984 Draft, Blind Bob's, Yellow Cab Tavern, Best Friends Forever

Episode 58 - Nathan Peters and Dayton Music Fest 

Whenever I see a friend of mine doing something cool, thriving in some way in music, it makes me nothing but happy...

 

My guest today is Nathan Peters, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, performer, and long-time supporter of local music.  He's with us to talk about Dayton Music Fest, an annual celebration of music.  We sure would love it if you'd accompany us to this event.  Why do we think you'll enjoy it?  You can find out the answer in this episode. 

Here are some highlights:

  1. The beginning of…
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10/06/2022

in Music, Dayton, Nathan Peters, DMF, Dayton Music Fest

Episode 56 - Matthew Kirk  

When you are a small community, coming together and having shared experiences is a big part of how that exists and how that persists over time...

Matthew Kirk has already shown love to his community by resurrecting a long time ice cream business that had closed.  He continues to show love to his community by being host to musicians at two different locations for Yellow Springs Porchfest this upcoming weekend.  I have the honor of playing at O and E's Corner Cone at 4:00 PM.  What other musicians is…

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09/13/2022

in Music, bass, community, O and E's Corner Cone, Matthew Kirk, Yellow Springs, Porchfest, ice cream

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