Opium Western Radio

Episode 11: Sins, Spirits, & The Stage Grab a cup of coffee (or something stronger) and join the crew as we dive deep down a very strange rabbit hole. In this episode, we kick things off with theatrical rock pioneers—from Alice Cooper's alter ego and surprising off-stage life to Billy Corgan and the unexpected spiritual paths of heavy metal legends. From there, things take a wild metaphysical...

Pumpkin Spice Debate: The crew kicks off with strong opinions on pumpkin spice, real vs. chemical flavorings, and whether it has any place in rock and roll. Childhood Memories & Weird Food: A humorous walk down memory lane covering wax candies, paste, candy cigarettes, and bizarre historical recipes like tuna Jell-O salad. Weather & Altitude Check: Bryan checks in from a hot and humid clim...

“We can all probably think of songs and bands that we’ve heard over the years where it just stopped us dead in our tracks, and life was never the same after it.” - Dane Before the stage lights, there were school pictures, hand-me-down pianos, borrowed records, Toughskins—and one very practical decision to switch from guitar to bass.  In Episode 9, Kimberly takes Dane, Steve and Bryan back to schoo...

What happens when two longtime classic rock radio guys start following the strangest stories on-screen? “If you can figure out a way to be who you are and get paid to do that thing, that makes you like one of the luckiest people in the world.” - Mike Homes aka Mike the Intern Mike the Intern and Jay Stevens of Dark Side of the Stream podcast and 104.7 The Cave join Dane, Steve and Kimberly for a l...

What happens when a musician has played long enough for the knowledge to leave the page and settle into the body? In Episode 7, “The Music Remembers,” Kimberly sits down with Dane and Steve for a conversation about musical longevity, instinct, family inheritance—and the things that stay with us long after we think they’re gone. The episode begins with legendary bluesman Buddy Guy celebrating 90 ye...

Who dies first in an Opium Western horror movie—and would the band accept a gig at a haunted hotel? Episode 6 goes completely off the rails. “Don’t you go trying to take control of this train. It wants to go off the rails.” - Dane A power outage. A whisper from the closet. A drummer who thinks talking to the ghost is probably the reasonable response.  Episode 6 of Opium Western Radio begins with a...

This week on Opium Western Radio, there isn't much of an agenda—and that's exactly the point. The conversation begins with Kirk Hammett's comments about modern music before wandering through everything from vintage glam rock makeup and Naked Zoo stories to songwriting, touring, political expression, musical freedom, and what "living the good life" really means. Along the way you'll hear: why music...

Oh, my gosh! Welcome! Welcome to Episode 4! Thank you so much for being here! You guys, today’s show is so big. It is so good. We have the entire band in the house! We’ve got Dane, we’ve got Steve, and drum roll please... we have Bryan! The new guy! The FNG!  He’s being thrown right into the fire! They’re talking about stage swag, handling the crazy heat, and how they arrange songs without complet...

Episode Summary: The crew is back for week three, and things are getting wonderfully off the rails. With Kimberly preparing to pilot her mobile command center across state lines, Dane and Steve hold down the fort to talk about the official streaming release of their new single, "Make Me Love You". But what starts as a discussion about blues-rock chemistry, pristine venue acoustics, and legendary c...

Welcome back to week two of Opium Western Radio! This week, the guys are back in the studio with Kimberly to unpack what it really takes to transition from a "bedroom warrior" to a professional gigging musician, the timeless magic of analog energy, and the wild backstory behind their track, "Make Me Love You".Whether you're a lifelong crate-digger or a digital native, grab a glass of wine, turn up...

Welcome to Opium Western Radio. In this first episode, Dane Mulligan and Steve Froese sit down with Kimberly Henrie to introduce themselves, the band, and the podcast. Two musicians with decades of stories between them — from USO tours in Korea to Bill Haley's original Comets to the night at Waxie O'Shea's that proved Opium Western was something real. This is where it starts.  TIMESTAMPS [00:00] W...

No script. No filter. No five-minute limit on trouble. Opium Western Radio is where classic rock, cold drinks, and conversation collide. The Opium Western bandmates sit down and let it roll. No agenda. No green room prep. Just the kind of conversation that used to happen after the show, before everyone forgot to hit record. Expect music, opinions, cigars, the occasional argument, and a lot of laug...