Stereo Embers: The Podcast

An Investigative Reporter Of The Darkness” Whether he was hanging out with Samoan gun runners or locked up in Cook County Jail in Chicago, when Michael McDermott was at his wildest he thought of himself as a kind of investigative journalist doing research on the dark roads that addiction can take a soul down. But McDermott grew weary of those roads and taking notes about the night and after getting married and having a daughter, he decided to get clean. In this interview the singer/songwriter talks to Alex about his experiences with unflinching truth, humor and circumspect philosophy. He chats about how he managed to be prolific during the throes of addiction, what it was like to get a huge record contract at 21 and receiving a seven page letter from Stephen King. He also talks about being married to a musician, how he takes criticism, and how he handles screen time for his daughter. Michael McDermott’s new album Orphans is out now and it's genius. Go get it!

“Marty Willson Piper Thinks Fleetwood Mac’s Heads Are In The Wrong Place” Marty Willson Piper doesn’t understand why musicians as talented as those in Fleetwood Mac haven’t put out new music in ages. “How can they not be doing whatever they want based on their history and their skills?” he wonders. The former Church guitarist is befuddled that Fleetwood Mac would opt for playing “Say You Love Me” for the eight billionth time instead of making new music. “Give us a record of good songs,” he says. “You know you can do it…It’s just a case of business ruling the art. Their heads are in the wrong place." In this entertaining, hilarious and discursive chat, Willson-Piper talks to Alex about how he envisions the concert experience, the Pledge Music debacle and the imagination behind superstition. He also tells Alex he’s mystified by Maroon 5’s success, why criticism shouldn’t be taken personally and why he buys every new U2 album. And speaking of new music, Noctorum’s new album The Afterlife is nothing short of stunning. A stirring song cycle that’s awash in mystery, jangling pop gems and swirling psychedelia, the album is further proof that Willson-Piper just keeps getting better and better.

"Taylor Jenkins Reid Loves Rock And Roll Couples" Author Taylor Jenkins Reid admits she’s transfixed by couples that play music together. Sonny and Cher, Lindsey Buckingham And Stevie Nicks, Johnny and June Carter Cash—you get the idea. There’s something about all that creative, emotional and, ultimately, combustible energy between them that really appeals to the Maryland-born novelist. A rabid fan of Fleetwood Mac, Jenkins Reid’s new book Daisy Jones And The Six tells the story of a Fleetwood Mac-like outfit who mysteriously quit at the height of their fame. Told in an oral history format, the book finds all of the members recounting the band’s rise to the top and sudden vanishing act. The catch? Nobody seems to remember things happening in the same way. It’s like Rumors meets Rashomon meets vH1-‘s Behind The Music. In this episode, which was recorded live in front of a packed house at Oakland’s A Great Good Place For Books, Jenkins Reid talks about her love of Fleetwood Mac, discovering The Kinks, and why she tries to write a book a year. She also talks about getting Benjamin Bratt and Judy Greer for the audio book, Reese Witherspoon buying the rights to the book before it was even released and what to expect in the upcoming HBO series and being nostalgic for a time she never experienced.

(Part Two)“If Bill Pritchard Is Such A Recluse, How Come We’re Chatting On The Phone?” In Part Two of this engaging and entertaining chat with Bill Pritchard, the British-born singer/songwriter talks to Alex about Mark E. Smith and The Fall, his daughters’ forays into music and Billy Joel. He also talks about why everyone thinks he’s so reclusive, having the same manager as Howard Jones and the elusive nature of writing the perfect song. Pritchard’s new album is called Midland Lullabies and it’s not only an album of poetic finesse and pop grace, it’s also one of the year’s very best.

“If Bill Pritchard Is Such A Recluse, How Come We’re Chatting On The Phone?” (Part One) Over the course of his career, Bill Pritchard has made some of the most stirringly lovely music you’ll ever hear. But, the British-born singer songwriter has, over the years, developed something of an elusive sheen and was even once dubbed the “JD Salinger of Pop” by Rolling Stone France. But, in Part One of this engaging and entertaining chat, Pritchard talks to Alex about why he’s perceived as being elusive (he’s really not!), what makes art last and the Buzzcocks. Pritchard’s new album is called Midland Lullabies and it’s not only one of the year’s very best, it’s an album of poetic finesse and pop grace. Pritchard also talks about his take on his older work, Paul Weller’s songwriting prowess and his love of John Otway.

"Jordan Wright Didn’t Sleep In A Bed Until He Was Married” When he arrived in Los Angeles from Indiana, City of Sound frontman Jordan Wright knew no one. But thanks to his gregarious nature and endless charisma, he made friends fast and crashed on couches and floors while pursuing his musical career. Of course when his wife moved to L.A. to be with him he had to get a bed immediately, but Wright’s commitment to his craft and his discipline for his art kept him for four years doing nothing but perfecting his art. The result is City Of Sound, an band whose sound can only be described as anthems in need of a stadium to soar across. In this entertaining chat Wright talks to Alex about marital arts, studying music in Australia and the rules his band follows to keep their standards high. He also talks about cornering for violinist Lucy Nova and his love of Coldplay and Alex teases him about not calling his parents in a month….

"Richie Sambora And The Absence Of Democracy” Hugh Harris didn’t have a ton of time to chat, but we made good use of what we had. In this interview with the guitarist for the Kooks, we talk about Richie Sambora, crying on airplanes and why Harris loves being on the road. He also addresses the absence of democracy when making a solo record, why new cities fill him with optimism and seeking out the horns of Havana on a recent sojourn to Cuba. It’s a fast conversation, but it’s a good one that also covers Johnny Marr, the limitations of the guitar and whether or not Kooks singer Luke Pritchard is in Harris’ head.

“Having No Enemies (That You Talk To)" When Alex had the chance to sit down with singer/songwriter Glenn Shorrock, he jumped at the opportunity. Not only is Shorrock a two-time inductee into the Australian Recording Industry Association’s Hall Of Fame, the former Little River Band frontman’s composition “Help Is On The Way” is regarded as one of the top 30 songs in Australian history. In this conversation Shorrock chats with Alex about a life in music that has spanned over 50 years. He recounts his biggest regret after leaving LRB, his friendship with Bon Scott, and his admiration of Bob Dylan. He also talks about his musical discipline, why he thought LRB over-rehearsed, his new album It's A Long Way There: Glenn Shorrock Sings Little River Band Live In Studio and how he has no enemies…that he talks to.

“Craig Elkins Has Nap Anxiety” Craig Elkins doesn’t have anxiety about taking naps, his anxiety comes after he’s taken one. In this interview he tells Alex that the anxiousness comes not from the actual nap, but rather why he’s napping in the first place. But naps aside, in this candid, entertaining chat, the Huffamoose frontman talks about being labelmates with No Doubt, the the break-up of his band and the reformation that led to their first new album in 14 years, …And That’s When The Golfball Hit Me In The Head. Craig also talks to Alex about playing the H.O.R.D.E. tour, overcoming hypochondria and his love of Michael Franks….

“Arriving With Not A Bit Of Scruff” While a lot of artists just starting out have to go through the scruffy apprentice phase, David Mead seems to have arrived fully formed. The singer/songwriter’s 1999 debut The Luxury Of Time didn’t have an ounce of scruff on it. A shimmering pop song-cycle, the album was as perfectly crafted as anything by pop veterans like Crowded House or Squeeze. Mead’s divine falsetto and smooth croon made every track brim with majestic pop gold. Now, twenty years later, Mead is back after a nearly ten year absence with the fabulous new album Cobra Pumps. A wicked platter of soulful pop, Cobra Pumps is a dazzling return to form. In this interview Mead chats with Alex about his on-stage persona, how much to reveal on social media and the writing of Cobra Pumps. They also share their mutual love of XTC’s Skylarking….