Checking In: Michael League

Rob and Seth get some time with Jason Carter - a man who has played fiddle with the Del McCoury Band yet with the 2022 release "Lowdown Hoedown" he is in the forefront. This podcast episode includes much conversation about "Lowdown Hoedown" whether about the many guests (Dierks Bentley, Marty Stuart, Jon Fishman, Sarah Jarosz, Sam Bush, Billy Strings and Jason's McCoury Band/Travelin' McCoury's band mates. We also hear how Jason selected the songs and about the featured songwriters like Danny Barnes, John Hartford, Bruce Hornsby, Vassar Clements, David Grier, Shawn Camp and Dave Evans. We also hear some stories from Jason's many years of touring and recording.....including the time Del McCoury Band played a Phish festival, riding shotgun with Del McCoury, creating with Charlie Daniels and gigging with Mac Wiseman, Earl Scruggs and others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grant Green Jr. sits down with Seth and Rob and walks them through aspects of his new release "Thank You Mr. Bacharach."  Grant talks about admiring Bert Bacharach since his childhood days, and Grant offers thoughts about specific tracks on this brand new tribute to the legendary songwriter/pianist/producer/performer. Grant also reveals why (and on which song) he was first motivated to sing, that he doesn't use Spotify and one specific example of how Johnny Cash inspired him. He also admits that his father first didn't want him to play guitar, then was very critical of his guitar playing at first, but ultimately things changed. Grant also reflects on living next door to Stevie Wonder, his years in Atlanta, and brings forth insight about Charlie "Bird" Parker, Max Roach, Col. Bruce Hampton, Eddie Roberts and others. He even tells a story about how he and Stevie Wonder ended up wrestling by a champagne fountain at a fancy after-show party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode focuses on The Infamous Stringdusters. Rob sat down with multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/vocalist Jeremy Garrett for an interview/performance session (he plays a bunch of songs!), and then shortly after the interview his band The Infamous Stringdusters announced the forthcoming release of “Toward The Fray.” Andy Falco kindly joined Seth and Rob for the intro, and talked about the record (set for early 2022 release) and offered some other current Stringdusters tidbits. Rob’s chat with Jeremy begins with a discussion of “Wanderer’s Compass,” Jeremy’s solo record for which Rob has a particular fondness, and about working as a solo artist in general. We learn the intriguing story of Jeremy’s fiddle and about how his father went from being a street musician to a touring professional. This interview was conducted on September 11, 2021, which leads to Jeremy remembering his September 11, 2001 experience when he was in the Grasshoppers with his father. He relates the time he felt the most pressure as a musician, speaks of the many great Nashville musicians with whom he has performed, talks of his “spiritual connection to Atlanta” and his approach to songwriting. The ever-effusive Garrett elaborates on plenty of other topics as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seth and Rob sit down for the first time since Rob was on the road seeing Bob Dylan, The Slip, Steve Kimock, and more. This is their first time talking to each other since saw Goose in Atlanta just a few weeks ago. Seth questions rob about his trip and Rob questions Seth about his beard. Music in episode features the up and coming Fireside Collective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aron Magner sat down with Rob and Seth in a suite at CoolRay Field in Lawrenceville, GA. The resulting conversation, and some recent Aron Magner music combine to make up the bulk of this episode. Aron talks about his experiences during lockdown, and how his wife convinced him to bring his captivating and soothing ambient music to the world. He also talks about what inspired him to put together a jazz'y band, how said band came together, why he named it after a Disco Biscuits song and how that classic Biscuits song (SPAGA) got its name in the first place. Mags also shares many Biscuits stories. We learn why he chose to go to UPenn, how he initially met the band, how he knew a certain synthesizer would change his life, and about his involvement in some of the most recent Biscuits originals. Aron also talks about the ebb and flow of the band's career, about his input in the most recent batch of tDB material, about how the band decides where to improvise and about playing in bands with founding members of The Grateful Dead.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nikki Glaspie kindly went out of her way so that Rob and Seth could conduct their first-ever interview at Stanwood Studios in the Kirkwood section of Atlanta. Nikki talks about her highest profile bands - Kamani, Punkadelic and (of course) Nth Power. She describes some of her lockdown experiences, talks about her somewhat hidden singing talent, shares some of her experiences with Col. Bruce Hampton, explains her attachment to basketball and the relaxed conversation traverses many other topics. Glaspie also talks about how she met Bruno Speight from the iconic Atlanta electro-funk S.O.S Band, and about some of the lesser-known funk music who inspired her, particularly an early 80s release from Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti. Nikki also happily leaps into the wayback machine and shares some of her earliest drumming memories, offers memories on touring with Beyonce and walks us through why her time with Dumpstaphunk was so pivotal. The episode also features some Nth Power music and concludes with an exclusive track from Nikki's band, Kamani. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Bruzza and Andrew Lincoln of Greensky Bluegrass huddled in a AAA-level minor league dugout to talk shop with Rob and Seth. Bruzza gets cozy talking about songwriting, the recently recorded next GsBg record, experiencing COVID in the wake of a divorce, how the COVID break will probably serve as a hiatus the band was looking to take anyway, and more. Bruzza’ inimitable low-key charisma comes through the entire time. Then, Andrew Lincoln takes us on his journey from having a powerful psychedelic moment while Candace Brightman was running Widespread Panic’s to becoming the lighting designer for Greensky Bluegrass during the band’s rise from clubs to…..well…..baseball stadiums. We learn how burning someone with a cigarette was his entry into the world of Greensky Bluegrass, how other LD’s impact his work (particularly Paul Hoffman of WsP), about his forthcoming side business and we just get the awesome essence of the enigma that is Lincoln. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob and Seth talk with four-time Grammy award-winning Michael League of Bokanté and Snarky Puppy about his GroundUP Music debut solo release, "So Many Me" in immediate advance of the release of its lead single, "Right Where I Fall." While the sound of this record differs greatly from Michael's other work, he explains how it also has a "bringing it all back home" feel for him personally.  We learn how being in quarantine in Spain and viewing his native US from afar during 2020 greatly impacted the music and lyrics of this record, how he ended up touring (and then recording) in duo format with Bill Laurance, why he has developed an affinity for trios and duos, how Atlanta's #1 Snarky Super Fan Jake Funkmayor ended up contributing to SP's "17" release and a good bit more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob and Seth complete their celebration of five years in podcasting with more segments they found most indicative of this podcast's spirit. This is the first of a two-part 5th Anniversary special with fresh commentary, above said segments, and some other choice moments of words and song. In this episode you will hear from Stanley Clarke, Billy Cobham, Sam Bush, Neal Casal, Brendan Bayliss, Peter Rowan and Michael League. Please download and listen to their insight, and to stories about Chick Corea, Lenny White, The Grateful Dead, Saturday Night Live, Emmylou Harris, Ryan Adams, Steve Miller, Ali Baba's Tahini, Bill Monroe, Eliades Ochoa (Buena Vista Social Club) and so much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seth and Rob tip their hats at five years of podcasting by each choosing five segments they found most indicative of this podcast's spirit. This is the first of a two-part 5th Anniversary special with fresh commentary, above said segments, and some other choice moments of words and song.  In this episode you will hear from Col. Bruce Hampton, Michael League, Karl Denson, Jeff Coffin, Jon Fishman and Billy Strings. Please download and listen to their insight, and stories about The Rolling Stones, Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Santana, Del McCoury, David Grisman and so much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.