Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“Two Terrible High School Class Presidents Come Clean” It doesn’t take long in this conversation with Modern Love Child’s Jonny Shane for he and Alex to realize they had a few things in common: they were both high school class president and they were both terrible at it. Motivated only by giving disruptive speeches, the two laugh about how they had no interest or capacity in their jobs beyond that. But poor student officer past aside, Shane is a remarkable songwriter, whose compositions are flecked with truth and soul. Falling somewhere between the heartbreaking precision of Evan Dando and the introspection of Rogue Wave, Modern Love Child’s music is a stirring blend of nervy indie rock and rootsy groove. In this entertaining chat, the Connecticut-born Shane talks to Alex about growing up back east, making a home in California and why he’s not a great boyfriend at the moment. They also chat about how Shane had to hide his musical proclivity from his football teammates, his newfound love of surfing and what to do with an English major….

Geoff Downes Always Knew He Wasn’t Going To Be A Concert Pianist” Although Geoff Downes is a staggering keyboard player who is truly one of modern music’s great composers and innovators, as a young man, he came to terms with the fact that he wasn’t going to be a concert pianist. Taking an alternative path through music, Downes formed The Buggles with Trevor Horn, then joined Yes for their Drama album. Teaming up with John Wetton of King Crimson, Steve Howe of Yes and Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Downes formed Asia and the band’s debut hit #1 in America for 9 straight weeks. In this conversation Downes talks to Alex about the rare gifts of John Wetton, his own discipline as a player and whether or not he ever felt intimidated playing alongside such powerful and gifted musicians. He also talks about the state of the keyboard in the current cultural landscape, his joy of playing live and whether or not The Buggles will be putting out new music.

“Chris Stamey Doesn’t Normally Do These Things” And by “things” we mean podcasts….It’s true: the Chapel Hill, North Carolina singer/songwriter doesn’t show up a lot on podcasts, but we got lucky by catching him at just the right time and he agreed to be on the show. Stamey may have cut his teeth with the db’s back in the early ‘80s, but since then he’s been a critically-acclaimed solo artist, a respected producer of bands like Le Tigre and Whiskeytown and the author of one of THE great rock and roll memoirs of all time—A Spy In The House Of Loud: New York Songs And Stories. In this interview Stamey talks to Alex about his new double album New Songs For The 20th Century, Elvis Costello and what he taught Ryan Adams. He also talks about artistic discipline, the power of Tom Verlaine and reuniting with his childhood piano.

“David Schelzel Used To Think 30 Was A Good Age To Stop Making Records” But that was before he was 30. Admittedly, when you’re an introverted kid growing up listening to The Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen, 30 probably seems pretty ancient. At least it did to the Ocean Blue’s David Schelzel He figured once he hit 30, he’d probably be done putting out records. Well, he was wrong. Although The Ocean Blue did stop putting out records for almost 15 years while the members of the band pursued other careers—Schelzel, for example, became a lawyer—they didn’t stop for good, and we’re grateful for that. Six years after their last album Ultramarine, comes the band’s sixth long player, the meditative and melodic Kings and Queens/Knaves And Thieves. In this conversation, Schelzel talks about what it was like to sign a record deal and head to London at 19, why he decided to pursue a career outside of music and his dizzying work ethic. He also talks about the evolution of the band’s sound, whether or not he keeps up with the work of his heroes and what emotional season The Ocean Blue are entering at this stage in their career.

“The Days Of White Men Shutting People Up Are Over” In this frank and unflinching interview Laces talks to Alex about her past as a young artist on a major label when she worked under the moniker Charlotte Sometimes. A truly exciting time, for sure, but she opens up about the dark side of the experience and the abuse she incurred in the most forthright of terms. The good news is that Laces is a survivor and not only has she shed the Charlotte Sometimes sobriquet, she’s rechristened herself as Laces and stormed back with some of the most powerful and soul-stirring music you’ll ever hear. Laces talks to Alex about vocal injuries, playing the Warped Tour and why working in advertising didn’t work for her. She also opens up about not feeling supported during a particularly harrowing time, why boundaries are important and why she’s never recorded under her actual name…..

“When Lou Reed Calls At 4:30 AM And Tells You To Get A Pen…You Get A Pen” There’s no other option. And that’s exactly what happened to Nils Lofgren years ago when the legendary singer/songwriter phoned him to tell him he’d written lyrics for some of Lofgren’s compositions. While the fruits of that early morning collaboration remained dormant for decades, Lofgren’s new album Blue With Lou brings five of them to light to sit alongside some of Lofgren’s newer compositions. In this conversation the Chicago-born musician talks to Alex about his fifty year career in rock and roll. They chat about punk rock, basketball, the Velvet Underground, Pink, gymnastics and the joys of on-stage improvisation.

“Matthew Edwards May Have Just Recorded His Last Album” Although he’s in an admitted state of grace about his band’s new album The Birmingham Poets, singer/songwriter Matthew Edwards isn’t sure he’s got it in him to do another. While recording the album Edwards’ parents passed away, a member of his band fought through a serious illness and another experienced a wrenching breakup. In other words, the experience was fraught with darkness and emotionally trying times. But tested as Matthew Edwards and the Unfortunates were, they came through it all with one of the most beautiful and moving albums of 2019. “If this is the last one,” he tells Alex, “I’m incredibly happy with it.” In this entertaining and probing chat, Edwards tells Alex about what it was like growing up in Birmingham, his perception of California and how he feels about the new Robert Forster record. He also talks about his love of Broadcast, the danger of sentimentality and why you should never trust a man who juggles…

“Meat Beat Manifesto Are Like The Beatles…Interpreted Through A Jackhammer” It turns out there’s some pop roots coursing through the creative veins of the legendary Industrial outfit Meat Beat Manifesto. Growing up, braintrust Jack Dangers may have been a huge fan of bands like Throbbing Gristle, but he was also a huge fan of The Beatles. In this interview, the Swindon-born Dangers talks to Alex about how his factory jobs coupled with his love of pop music informed the future sound of Meat Beat Manifesto. He also talks about becoming a vegan, his friendship with XTC and how he met his wife at an animal rights concert. Dangers gets into the making of MBM’s new album Opaque Couche’, why he’s more creative now than ever and whether or not he’d ever move back to Swindon…

“The Waterboys’ Mike Scott Always Has Something Cooking” One of the most prolific songwriters around—his band’s B-sides have B-sides—it’s no surprise to hear Mike Scott tell Alex that he’s always got a new music idea cooking. The Waterboys have released three albums in the last five years and their new effort Where The Action Is might very well be one of their best ever. A simmering platter of Celtic soul, rock and roll, hip-hop and classic poetry, the band’s 13th long player is an energizing blast of rootsy bliss. In this interview Scott talks to Alex about being a musical outsider growing up, how he missed a chance to work with George Harrison and his admiration of The Clash’s Mick Jones. They also chat about the poetry of Robert Burns, making the perfect set list and working with Jim Keltner.

“Be Gentle With Yourself” It can get pretty tough out there for any aspiring artist putting themselves and their work on public display. But singer/songwriter Rosie Carney has some advice: Be gentle with yourself. The British-born musician may only be 22, but she’s been through so much, she’s wise beyond her years. Carney was signed at 16 to Polydor and dropped by the label at 18. While that might have discouraged many (“I could have quit and become a florist,” she laughs), the experience only made Carney more resolved to become the artist she felt she was destined to be. Learning to ignore criticism and take praise with a grain of salt, Carney re-started her career and the result is Bare, a stark and stirring debut album that brings to mind the raw intensity of Patty Griffin’s Living With Ghosts and Beth Orton’s Trailer Park. A survivor of sexual assault, bullying, anxiety and depression, Carney is honest and upfront about what she’s been through, and her steadfast resolve has served as an inspiration for all her fans who have been through similar experiences. In this candid and thoughtful chat, Carney talks about being Irish but raised in England, her supportive parents, and her love of Joni Mitchell. She also talks about moving back to Ireland, giving impromptu piano concerts to her childhood friends and why she didn’t become a florist after all. Oh, and Alex reads her Morrissey lyrics…