The High Note

Ken Shiles and Cibon, two-thirds of the Atlantic City acoustic folk band Originaire join  The High Note podcast for this episode, recorded Saturday, Jan. 25 at Ventnor Coffee. We chat about the band's debut EP "Off the Ship," set for release Feb. 21, 2020, their songwriting process including stories of overcoming addiction which is a central theme of the album, the South Jersey music scene and the...

Talisk  is a Scottish Celtic band consisting of three incredible musicians, Mohsen Amini on concertina, fiddle player Hayley Keenan and guitarist Graeme Armstrong. They have accumulated multiple accolades across the United Kingdom.  We met for a chat Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019 at the 58th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival to talk about their music, the festival and Scotland, including our favorite foot...

Folk singer-songwriter Dave Gunning  has a lot of passion. The pride of Pictou County is passionate about both his music and his hometown, particularly dedicating a decade to trying to  clean up the Pictou County Pulp Mill , which is polluting the local beaches and waterways. We met after his "Wheel Decide" workshop Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019 at the 58th annual  Philadelphia Folk Festival . We talked a...

Singer-songwriter Steve Poltz is one very talented and interesting fella. From Halifax, Nova Scotia to San Diego, California, Poltz has blazed his own path toward the American dream. He was the frontman for the indie-rock band The Rugburns and co-wrote "You Were Meant For Me" with Jewel. His latest album, " Shine On " is available now and he is constantly touring around the world. We met at the 58...

Justyna and I review the Bush and Live with Our Lady Peace concert at the Etess Arena at Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City on the drive home. I 100 percent had a few New Belgium Voodoo Rangers, as you will hear, but this is a fun one. Gavin Rossdale ran past us and I'll drop the video on The High Note YouTube channel. Our Lady Peace stole the show, Live was loud! Watch the video from thi...

Dean Randazzo is a professional surfer, surfing instructor, surf shop owner, real estate agent and four-time cancer survivor. He is the first New Jersey competitor to qualify for the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour. In 2001, at the height of his career, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He won the Garden State Grudge Match in 2002, and again in 2007. In 2004 Ra...

Singer-songwriter Renée Wahl of Nashville, Tennessee joins me for this episode of The High Note podcast. We discuss her album "Cut to the Bone," released March 15, 2019 and our connections to Philadelphia and greater Pennsylvania. She's a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and went to school for physics before leading her current band Renée Wahl & The Sworn Secrets. Get "Cut to the Bone" at ReneeWahl.c...

Patsy is a singer-songwriter based in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York. He incorporates elements of The Great American Songbook, folk, rock 'n' roll and surf rock on his debut "The EP" released Friday, March 1 on Broad Channel Records. We talk about his roots in music and surfing, being a local in a beach town and "The Big Lebowski." In this episode, you will hear " Why Am I Waiting On You ," from...

Clive Carroll is a guitarist and composer who has toured across the world, including with John Renbourn and Tommy Emmanuel. Hailing from Chelmsford, Essex in England, Carroll graduated from Trinity College of Music in London. We discuss his composing process, alternate tunings and what he does to achieve the right sound and vibe in his music. In this episode, you will hear "The Adventures of Wilfr...

I sit down with the Barrett Brothers - Kevin and Dave Barrett for this special episode of The High Note podcast. We talk about our love of vinyl, our favorite music and the best concerts we've seen - including some we've seen together. We also chat about Dave's documentary project, which includes interviewing people like Lewis Black and Howie Mandel.  Follow Dave  @daveyd78  and Kevin  @htothepizz...

Hop in the car with me and my mum as we talk about Bob Dylan following his show Saturday, Nov. 17 at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Neither one of us are Dylanologists but we talk about his musical legacy and his various performances in New Jersey and Philadelphia including this most recent one - which we both agree was the best. Don't think twice - read my Dylan in Atlantic City rev...

My friend Nick Valinote and I review Dweezil Zappa 's Choice Cuts tour show Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 at Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City. Fresh from the concert, we talk about Frank Zappa and how Dweezil is carrying the family torch in the form of the guitar that Jimi Hendrix set ablaze at the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival. Excuse the background noise as we recorded while driving home fro...

For this swapcast episode of The High Note with Shaun Smith, I welcome Dan Udale, a counselor and the host of the podcast " Know Yourself " based in the United Kingdom. We talk about how he met Gary Vaynerchuk , who connected us, and the impact music has on mental health. We both created playlists on Spotify that we talked about in this episode. Dan's playlist Shaun's playlist Subscribe to The Hig...

David Myles is a singer-songwriter who hails from Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and was a featured performer at the 57th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival . We speak before his first performance Saturday, Aug. 17, 2018 in the hospitality tent on the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania. His tenth studio recording, " Real Love, " is available now and his upcoming album " Le gr...

Christopher Kent is a singer, songwriter and musician who has been writing and performing on stage since he was a teenager. He joins Shaun Smith on The High Note to talk about what he has learned during his long musical career, the creative process and he explains some of his most popular songs. His latest album is " Earthsongs ." His book is called " Staying Off The Wheel Of Misfortune ," which i...

Lisa Schaffer, photographer, DJ and overall Philadelphia-based badass joins host Shaun Smith for this episode of The High Note. We talk about the magic of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the journey of a working photographer, DJing, vinyl and music! Follow Lisa @LisaSchafferPhotography and @VinylChickie on Instagram and see her photos at SkylerBug.com . Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you socialize...

Kevin Barrett, also known as H-Pizzle , aka Blue Blur joins Shaun for this episode of The High Note podcast. We reminisce about playing in a punk band in high school, how he began playing drums, how he started creating video game music and his latest projects including recreating the music of "Sonic the Hedgehog" - Blue Blur and for the video game "Beyond Humanity." We also talk about some of the...

Alex and Elizabeth Sinari from _the_yearlong_revue_   join Shaun for this episode of The High Note podcast - recorded Saturday, April 21 at Ventnor Coffee . We go deep about the songwriting process and what it's like to make music using more than 700 effects pedals. The opening song is " only hurts me longer " and the closing song is " the weight of the word ," both by _the_yearlong_revue_ and bot...

Shaun talks to the members of Boycot and The Mountain Waves about the Ventnor Summer Concert Series. Recorded Saturday, April 7 at Ventnor Coffee with Boycot founders Tyler Gehringer and Ellie Dotson, and CJ Sooy, Kevin Velazquez and Sergio Ripa of The Mountain Waves. To donate to the concert series, see gofundme.com/mountain-waves-beach-concert-series. Follow The High Note anywhere you subscribe...

First, I talk about Mordecai's debut album "It's Never Enough." Read my blog for info and see Mordecai Wednesday, Aug. 30 at  Holocene in Portland. Next, I talk about the Philadelphia Folk Festival. I interview members of Baile An Salsa about their crowdfunding campaign for their second album expected by Christmas. Please consider donating at FundIt.ie . At the end of the podcast, you'll hear "Dan...

Shaun Smith sits down with Michael Einwechter, Director of Amazing Ventnor and Music Director of Ventnor Coffee. Recorded live Thursday, May 18 at Ventnor Coffee. For concerts in Ventnor see: http://amazingventnor.com/ Twitter: @AmazingVentnor Instagram for Mike: @VentnorMike Special thanks to Ventnor Coffee, Courtney, Christine and Mike.

The High Note Episode 3 - New Music Friday And Ben Folds Review Shaun Smith talks about new music releases from Friday, April 21 and Adam Hernandez joins the podcast for a discussion about the Ben Folds concert on Friday at Borgata in Atlantic City. Playlist: DREAMCAR - "Kill for Candy" JAZZ IS PHSH - "Foam" Robin Hitchcock - "I Prey When I'm Drunk" Sheryl Crow - "Be Myself" Damian "Jr Gong" & Ste...

Cousin Mike stops by the podcast to talk about the 55th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival! We talk about The Sheepdogs, The Quiet Life, Darlingside, Del & Dawg, Anderson East and The Stray Birds as well as 1998 Y100 FEZtival in Camden, New Jersey. #TheHighNote

The High Note blog hits the air with its first episode of The High Note podcast. Check out highnoteblog.com for more.