Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“Long Live King Kobe” Sherman Chambers’ 21 year old son Tyler Kobe Nichols was murdered in a random knife attack in Brooklyn two days before Christmas in 2020. Nichols, who was with his brother, had just gotten a haircut when the incident occurred. As author Paul Auster writes: “It was a weird and senseless crime…a sudden, unprovoked burst of violence, on a tranquil street in a tranquil Brooklyn neighborhood on the eve of Christmas Eve.” That incident not only disrupted the tranquility of the holiday of season, it permanently capsized the tranquility of a family who no longer had their son. But they had each other. And while the void Tyler left was a gaping absence that could never be filled, his family guarded that space by gathering together. And after they found strength in each other, they reached out to their community and anyone else who had suffered a similar loss. And the unvarnished realization that emerged was that we can’t heal without each other. Tyler’s mother Sherma’s chance meeting with photographer Spencer Ostrander who was working on a book with novelist Paul Auster, formed an instant connection and gave birth to the book Long Live King Kobe: Following the Murder Of Tyler Nichols. A powerful book whose connective narrative tissue is made up of interviews with Tyler’s family along with stirring photographic portraits and spartan prose from Auster, Long Live King Kobe is a compelling document of the geometry of loss and the calculus of healing. It’s a eulogy, it’s a celebration and it’s a testament to the fact that trauma can dissolve and turn into healing. I’ll let Sherma and Tyler’s cousin Kareem Eusebe and Spencer tell you about the book and the Long Live King Kobe Foundation and the peaceful initiatives that have been enacted through the foundation to help support families who have suffered losses. But let me just say this before we begin: this is a heavy conversation but it’s also a beautiful one. And if you’re a person on this planet you’re going to experience loss and nothing can prepare you for it—even if you think you are. And this is a very important reminder that all we have is each other and if we stick together we can get through anything. www.longlivekingkobe.org www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast

“New Jersey Rock and Roll” The New Jersey born Ben Vaughn has put out close to twenty albums, including personal favorites of mine like Beautiful Thing, Mood Swings and Ben Vaughn Blows Your Mind. Aside from his own records, Vaughn has produced records by Ween, Los Straitjackets, Nancy Sinatra, and Charlie Feathers, had his songs covered by everyone from Marshall Crenshaw to Deer Tick and collaborated with the likes of Alex Chilton, Alan Vega, and Rodney Crowell. Vaughn loves punk and surf and rockabilly and folk and country and the blues, which explains the versatility of his collaborations. And if that wasn’t an impressive enough resume, let’s add these two career highlights: he penned the themes for both Third Rock From The Sun and That 70's Show. Oh, and he hosts the radio show The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn. Let’s not forget that because it’s one of the best radio shows out there. His new album The World Of Ben Vaughn not only demonstrates his musical dexterity, it also showcases his brilliance as a songwriter—filled with humor, wisdom and grace, Vaughn’s work is always soulful, introspective and impossible to resist. Instagram: @benvaughnmusic www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers The Podcast: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Just One Voice” Michelle Willis has one of those voices that’s so stirring, it makes you feel things you didn’t know you felt. Actually, let’s take that one step further: her voice makes you feel things you didn't even know you could feel in the first place. Yes, she’s that good. The Canadian singer/songwriter and keyboardist decided to hit the 212 back in 2016, which really just means she moved to New York from Toronto and once she was there, it didn’t take long for her to make her mark. She secured a monthly residency at the Rockwood Music Hall and just two months later she was touring in two bands led by David Crosby and one by Becca Stevens. Shortly after that, the ball that got rolling started rolling faster: She opened for Snarky Puppy and toured and recorded with the Zac Brown Band, Iggy Pop and Michael McDonald. Her sophomore album Just One Voice, which is the follow up to her 2016 debut See Us Through, is one of our favorite albums of the year. Soulfully precise and filled with smooth grooves, lustrous melodies and luxurious pop hooks, Just One Voice is a straight up knockout. www.michellewillis.ca Instagram: @boutwillismusic www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com www.stereoembersmagazine.com

“The Circle” The singer/guitarist Jim Shepherd is probably best known for being a part of the legendary indie Scottish outfit the Jasmine Minks. One of the first bands signed to Alan McGee’s Creation Records, the ‘Minks put out a handful of albums, including classics like Another Age and 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 All Good Preachers Go To Heaven. They played with bands like the Violent Femmes, Jesus and Mary Chain and The Go-Betweens, recorded a Peel Session, got tons of critical acclaim and got airplay on college stations all across the U.S. The band went on hiatus in 2001, reformed in 2010, played sporadic gigs here and there since then, put out a handful of new singles and have a new album brewing as we speak. In the meantime, Shepherd’s first solo album has just hit shelves. Titled The Circle, Shepherd's band for the record includes members of The Loft, The Weather Prophets, June Brides and The Distractions. A ferocious and thoughtful collection filled with indie rock stomp, melodic mod hooks and introspective ballads, The Circle is stirring, satisfying and altogether thrilling work. www.jimjasmine.bandcamp.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers: The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine/com

“Mosaic” Matt Rollings is a musical monster, with a resume that would make anyone envious. He’s played with Clint Black, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Richie Sambora and Peter Wolf, he's produced records by Blues Traveler and Willie Nelson, won a Grammy for that very same Nelson album, played in Lyle Lovett's Large Band, did several torus with Mark Knopfler as his keyboardist, got nominated for two more Grammys and the list goes on. This one is just the abbreviated version. Long story short? 30 years later, Matt Rollings got around to following up his debut album Balconies. But forgive him—he’s been busy, A riveting and rootsy platter, Matt Rollings' Mosaic is fabulous work. Featuring Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, the album is filled with finesse and groove and is one of the most refreshing, enlivening and satisfying albums in recent memory. www.mattrollings.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Fazz: Now & Then” Noel Paul Stookey became a household name as the Paul part of the Peter Paul and Mary equation. The landmark folk trio formed in New York in the '60s and went on to lead the American folk music revival with massive hits like If I Had A Hammer, Puff The Magic Dragon, and Leaving On A Jet Plane. Hammer, of course was written by Pete Seeger and Jet Plane John Denver, but that was the thing about Peter Paul and Mary—they were incredible interpreters of American song. Their readings of Dylan tracks like Blowin' in the Wind, and the Times They Are A Changin’ are further evidence that they could not only interpret but in many ways make those songs their own in the process. Peter Paul and Mary put out nearly twenty albums in their career, including 2003’s In These Times and the band ceased to be when Mary Travers passed away in 2009. As for Stookey, he remains a pretty active guy both in and out of music. From founding the non-profit Music To Life with his daughter to producing artists like Dave Mallet and Gordon Bok to playing at Dartmouth in honor of Martin Luther King Day, Stookey is still out there, doing the work. And speaking of work, his new album has just hit shelves. Titled Fazz: Now & Then, the staggering 20-track collection mixes new compositions with folk, jazz, gospel, classical, and world music. It’s been germinating in Stookey’s head for almost 25 years and it was well worth the wait. Filled with folky precision, poetic finesse and clever wordplay, Fazz: Now & Then is a refreshing blast of musical fusion commandeered by one of the greatest songwriters in American Music. A singer, a father, a husband, an artist and and an activist, Stookey is the real deal. www.noelpaulstookey.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: Email: Editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Western Skies” Darden Smith's new project Western Skies is an ambitious and comprehensive multi-media affair that’s dedicated to the mythology and history of West Texas—it’s a new album, a book of essays, photography, spoken word pieces, song lyrics, a set of videos—this thing is a monster of a release. Influenced by Neil Young, Guy Clark and John Prine, the Texas-born Darden Smith’s body of work dates all the way back to 1986. Since then, he’s put out a series of albums that consistently demonstrate he’s one of the best songwriters out there. From Little Victories to Deep Fantastic Blue to Everything to Western Skies, there hasn’t ever been a dip in quality for Mr. Smith. In addition to being an artist, Smith also founded the Be An Artist Program in 2003. The program’s mission statement is to bring arts and creativity into educational settings. His collaborative songwriting work has found him working with homeless young adults, Botswana residents suffering from HIV and both Israeli and Palestinian groups. In 2012 he founded Songwriting With Soldiers along with Mary Judd. The group’s weekend retreats finds professional musicians paring with veterans and active duty service members sharing stories of both combat and re-entry into civilian life and turning those stories into songs. Speaking of songs, Western Skies is full of them and they shimmer and roll with melodic ease. Smith has never sounded better and the songs here are informed by memory, regret and the landscape of desire. Its beautiful work. www.dardensmith.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Feeling Of Emptiness” Katie Hannigan is a stand-up comic whose roots are in the theatre. But theatre and comedy aside, the Indiana-born Hannigan is a self-proclaimed introvert and in this chat she talks to Alex about the fact that introvert as she may be, she’s picked a life of performance for her career. An engaging chat about her appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the community aspect of life in the theatre and her new album Feeling Of Emptiness, Katie Hannigan is a delight to talk to. www.katiehannigan.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“This Life” Raised in Idaho and California, Curtis Stigers is likely comfortable in the snow and the sun--and musically, he’s equally as versatile. Trained in clarinet and saxophone, Stigers loved blues and punk rock as a kid, but found himself gravitating to jazz clubs as he came of age. He graduated from high school and high-tailed it to NY to pursue his rock and roll dream, but it was jazz that made that dream come true. His debut album went multi platinum, he appeared on the rather massive Bodyguard soundtrack and after putting out a few jazz records, he knocked out Let’s Go Out Tonight, which covered tracks by everyone from Steve Earle to Richard Thompson. Over the course of his career, Stigers has worked with Elton John, Prince, Joe Cocker and Julia Fordham. He’s put out nearly fifteen solo albums, including his brand new one, This Life, he’s had top ten hits on the Billboard charts and played shows all over the world. This Life revisits Stigers' hits over the years and his reinterpretations are refreshing and compelling. Stigers plays with finesse and soul and he’s not only unreasonably talented, he’s a blast to talk to. www.curtisstigers.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: Editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Limbs And Edgewalkers” Keely Forsyth’s new album Limbs is powerful and raw, dramatic and intense. It’s the sound of one woman shadowboxing the darkness and throwing each punch with the fluidity of a ballet dancer and the finesse of a poet. Alive with theatrical elegance, Limbs is both spare and lavish. It’s a compelling song-cycle that’s as crushing as it is inspiring. It’s a stunning stare-down with the darkness and I’m not going to tell you who blinks first. But what I am going to tell you is this album, which is the follow-up to her 2020 debut Debris, is tragic, gripping and transfixing. It’s an emotional workout for sure—and one that’s well worth doing. An accomplished actor who has appeared in Happy Valley, Coronation Street, and Luther, the British-born Forsyth is one of the most mesmerizing artists out there. www.keeleyforsyth.com www.beartreerecords.com www.bombshellardio.com www.stereoembersmagazine.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instragram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com