Sketched Sounds
86 – Elle Belle Round 2.5
Round 2.5 with Chris Pappas of Elle Belle! This might be the longest episode so far, clocked in at around 4hrs, so I cut it in half for everyone's sanity. We get deep into the state of the world, civilization in general, and of course the new record. The forthcoming album, How Do I Feel?, is out 9/1 via Little Record Company.
85 – Brendan Scholz of Mercy Music
Brendan Scholz is the frontman for Mercy Music, Las Vegas-based pop punks touring on their forthcoming album, What You Stand to Lose, out June 30th. The big day comes with a show at the Tower Bar in San Diego. Catch one!
84 – Jordan Keith brews beer and music
Jordan Keith is a musician, brewmaster and grinder from Rancho Cucamonga. We met years ago when he played with Mire and he now works under the name Chicken Fiasco. Check it!
83 – Noir Dalis bring fuzz from the Shadowlands
Carlos and Antonio are the Noir Dalis, a psych-garage duo from Riverside, CA. They're some of the busiest locals around, releasing single after single and playing shows in between across three counties. Catch them opening for Sun Colony's residency at Harvard & Stone beginning May 24th!
82 – Ivan Magdaleno thrives in Pomona
Ivan Magdaleno is a local Pomona artist whose work with The After Party spawned a self-titled album in 2022, leading to new ventures in the new year, under a new name. His latest project, Orenda, features a single entitled Fangs, and he's graciously offered a taste of his latest single, Needles, out soon on all platforms. Enjoy!
81 – Human Offline releases Dopamine EP
Andrew and Vinny return after too long! Andrew just released his Dopamine EP with Vinny behind the album cover. We talked AI, concert etiquette, and may have spoiled YOU, but that was early on. Just skip ahead if you're not caught up. Enjoy!
80 – Lisa Said finds Missed Connections from Portugal
Lisa Said is an Egyptian-American songwriter from Chatanooga, TN. Her latest record, Missed Connections, is out now on all platforms, notably the great artist-friendly Bandcamp.
Lisa and I met around 2016 in Washington, D.C. where she released her debut album, No Turn Left Behind, after gigging around the friendly haunts of the capital. She then fronted Piramid Scheme, a four-piece that also reimagined some of her earlier work with garage overtones. This episode was a lot of catching up and a reminder of why I do this – to get to know artists and let them speak. Enjoy!
79 – Watch for the Hazards
The Hazards are a four-piece rock outfit from Los Angeles, working in punk roots and a DIY drive. We met up at the great dba256, bathed in the ruckus of a quickly filling bar before a show. Mind the volume. Their latest album, Modern Medication, is out now on all platforms
78 – Austin and Ben are Part of Nothing
Austin returns with his musical partner Ben to talk about their latest electro-ambient project, Part of Nothing. Ben is a longtime music producer, musician and who formerly ran the electronic label Harrow Recordings. Austin is also working on American Diet, a revival of his former band Mire.
Photo: Sketched Sounds
77 – Reckless Voyage share debut album from San Bernardino
Reckless Voyage are a garage rock duo from San Bernardino whose debut album, The Odyssey, has been years in the making. I hung out with lead guitarist and vocalist Dean at the great dba256 to talk about the work in progress, living in San Bernardino and of course, music. Check it out.
76 – Good Bison sees a ghost on Mulholland Dr.
Good Bison is the project of Pablo Alvarez, who his the road from Miami to the west coast and hasn’t looked back. His latest album, Ghost on Mulholland Dr., is out now!
75 – Anastasia Elliot leads the Purple Cult
Anastasia Elliot is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and leader of the Purple Cult, a modern force of positivity. Her work in the industry is highlighted by her talks on trauma, healing, the importance of community and the creative spirit within us. She also hosts The Purple Sessions Podcast, featuring notable guests from across the board.
Pre-save “Bones”, out 2/24
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74 – Simon Kerr leads The Wans with a Magical Touch
First podcast of the year! And only a month and a half in. Nashville-based outfit The Wans are back in full force after an unofficial hiatus, reinforcing their crunchy alt licks with their latest single, “Magical Touch”. Cut from the band’s forthcoming record of the same name, it is also accompanied by Fear and Loathing-inspired narratives that remind us to take care and enjoy the ride.
Magical Touch is out July 26 a la self-release.
Photo: Roni Hoffman
73 – Michael Goldberg is Addicted To Noise
Music journalist and author Michael Goldberg returns to talk about Addicted To Noise, his latest collection of writing spanning 40 years. His work in the industry, from local papers to Rolling Stone, is an invaluable contribution to the art. Grab a copy at the link below:
http://backbeatbooks.com/books/9781493068111
72 – Hayley Cain returns to talk Modern Adult Kicks
Hayley Cain is the frontwoman for the now-Detroit-based band Hayley and the Crushers. Their latest record, Modern Adult Kicks, is a testament to the evolution of a band's sound, songwriting and production. New digs, new kicks, new riffs. Listen in!
71 – Artist Brian Jackson talks music, design and Earth's potential new neighbors
Brian Jackson is a graphic designer, graduate of the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena and has worked in Los Angeles for the past 35 years. His work includes branding for Universal Pictures, the City of Los Angeles, as well as countless recording artists including Fleetwood Mac and Counting Crows.
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69 – Penelope Houston talks Avengers, venues and the state of punk
Penelope Houston is the frontwoman of pivotal SF punk band The Avengers. We chatted for a bit before she took the stage at Alex's Bar to close out the night.
CREEM Don't Curdle
This spelling is an old thing that I could never remember. Did they play off the band’s name or did they come first? I know, but don’t ask me because I’ll never commit this fact to memory, no matter how hard I try. My introduction to this lovely rag was of course through Almost Famous, which played like footage of some religious sermon on an old tube TV in my living room. Remember those? They made a space age *pop* sound when you turned them on.
They don’t make ‘em like they used to.
We sat around this ancient box like curious and dedicated young hipsters, ironically recording references to weaponize against those who dared transgress against our band tees and pin-laden blazers. Ol’ Lester Bangs was the man. The unapologetic curmugeon snob we idolized. He had the life. Writing about music? Talking music on the radio? Proto-shitposting? Lester was already 30 years ahead of us, covering every pivotal band from rock and roll’s young adult years. At the time, say sophomore year of high school, I was just dabbling in writing – every other journalism assignment, improv poetry with my friend Trevor to be attempted at a local cafe with an open mic (Thank you Cucamonga Coffee for hosting cool shit to do, and those irreplaceable smoothies). I didn’t take writing as seriously as I took listening. It was an absorbing year and I took the greats of 2004 to heart. Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, Interpol – too many from today’s required listening list to mention.
Anyway, CREEM was there in the background and inspired me to grab my generation’s own iterations – Spin, FILTER, Guitar World, All Music Guide, leading to infecting the family computer with ungodly diseases from legally grey software. I was too late for CREEM’s first life, but am right on time for it’s digital reincarnation. They’re taking over the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles September 21st to screen their long-awaited documentary about the history of the magazine and Tickets. Are. Available!
Notable CREEM contributor and author Michael Goldberg, (whose latest collection of writings, Addicted To Noise: The Music Writings of Michael Goldberg, is out Nov. 1 a la Backbeat Books) was on the podcast recently to talk about his biography on the late James Calvin Wilsey of Avengers and Chris Isaak accolades. Stay tuned for a follow-up!
68 – Steven Wesley Guiles embraces Transitions
Steven Wesley Guiles is a San Dimas-based musician whose forthcoming album, Transitions, explores the pangs of leaving faith, rattling realities, and finding one's way out. We geeked out on music and reflected on the industry while he strummed in between. Listen in and be sure to subscribe to the Sketched Sounds Patreon!