Acoustic Alternatives

Goldpine is a Nashville based duo who I first heard this year at a festival. It was a cold day in June, but they performed their hearts out. Once you hear Kassie's voice, you'll instantly hear what brings me in. It's hers, but it's familiar. The songs are strong and the stories are really good. She and Ben have been married 14 years and live a good part of the year in their home on wheels. Like al...

A extraordinary duo from the south comes north for the Acoustic Alternatives Podcast to preview songs from their forthcoming album and talk about their lives and career. Pete and Crystal Demore are Ordinary Elephant. Crowded around two condenser microphones at 9 p.m. at night is nothing new from this duo. It was a great experience for me and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. All songs written...

The Young Fables are a duo from Nashville recommended to me by their manger. Their manager happens to be the husband of one of my favorite artists (Liz Longley), so thank you Patryk Larney! He sent me their catalog for review and I felt like I had been missing out for years. All three records are super strong efforts. When Patryk gave me a sneak peak at a film about the writing of one of the songs...

My first podcast guest from "across the pond" is the 25 year old Scottish singer Iona Fyfe. Drawing from the Celtic identity of her homeland, her beautiful voice helps paint imagery in your mind's eye of far off lands. She's quite an accomplished, intelligent and talented performer who is absolutely delightful to talk to. In 2021, she became the first singer to win the coveted title of Musician of...

Annie Bacon is a current resident of Ann Arbor, MI, but she's lived on both side of the country before landing there. With 3 albums, 3 EPs and a single released since 2009, Annie is ready to take big leaps forward with two new albums and a book in the works as well as a musical that she cowrote with Kyle Rasche that could make its debut on stages next year if she's lucky. Hear her new single, a tr...

Michigan's Joanna (Ransdell) Sterling is in her third incarnation as a performer. Previously using her surname as well as fronting a band called Joanna and the Jaywalkers, Sterling has arrived with her strongest work to date. A new album called Queen of Wands. Working with Ypsilanti, MI's Chris DuPont on the recording and production side, this release is a collection of open and honest songs that...

This episode of Acoustic Alternatives features the "distance band" Frances Luke Accord. Though when they formed they both lived in Indiana, the currently live in different states. The harmonies are as beautiful as a Simon and Garfunkel record and the songwriting of Nicholas Gunty and Brian Powers matches that beauty. Learn more about this duo and hear songs from their latest album Safe In Sound. A...

Based in Ypsilanti, MI Drew De Four has been putting out original music since 2006 and playing in clubs and piano bars for a long time too. Recently Drew decided to pursue a new adventure and try his hand at producing a movie...about a group of piano bar singers. Shot in a vacant former piano bar in Pontiac, MI the film brings to life what it's like to work in a piano bar while following the stori...

"Eclectic indie singer/songwriter/producer Leah Marlene has been making music since she was big enough to hold a guitar. Taking third place on last year’s season of American Idol gave her career a boost, but she’s been working intently on her music, singing and songwriting for as long as she can remember. " Get to know Leah and hear a couple of as-of-yet unreleased songs during this visit to Acous...

A fixture in the Michigan music scene, Adam Labeaux has been making music for over three decades. After living in Midland, MI and San Francisco, CA (to name a couple), Adam is based these days in Ann Arbor, MI and has called on other members of the Michigan music scene to help out on his fourth solo album, "Brave Face." The new album is due out June 3rd and in its fully produced form is equal part...

Mike Ward is the Detroit based singer songwriter who differentiates himself from the other musically inclined Mike Ward's of the world by modifying his hockey nickname "psycho ward" into Mike Ward Psychosongs. Since retiring from the advertising world, he has concentrated heavily on his love of singing and songwriting. With four albums, a single and and EP in five short years, this Detroit Music A...

Sam Robbins grew up in New Hampshire, but, like many aspiring musicians, calls Nashville home these days. Influenced by the likes of James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Neil Young, Sam writes thought provoking lyrics with very skilled guitar playing. Not bad for a former drummer. You can learn more about Sam including his brief experiences with The Voice and American Idol by listening to this chat. T...

Misty Lyn Bergeron has been a staple of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti music scene since she released her first album, For the Dead, in 2009. She has since gone on to become an in demand photographer and even done a women-centric podcast. We discuss all of those things and more including the new album, Narrows, in this discussion. She even performs an as of yet unreleased song. All songs by Misty Lyn Ber...

Another mighty fine up and coming artist based in Michigan is my guest on this episode of Acoustic Alternatives. Jackie Pappas grew up on 28 acres and played in the woods of Ortonville, MI and her tunes reflect her outdoorsy personality. There's a lovely voice to accompany her charm. I see this as the beginning of a wonderful journey for a talented artist who is gigging pretty regularly. All songs...

My relationship with Stephen Kellogg's music goes back to 2005 and my first commercial radio job at a station in Ann Arbor that, at the time, was the most supportive station in the country of his band Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. He's released record after record of high quality songwriting with great, passionate singing. You can learn a lot about Stephen though his lyrics, or his book, or his...

Steve Taylor from Lake Orion, MI is an accomplished singer songwriter who is currently up for a batch of Detroit Music Awards in the Americana and Country categories (though I debate with him about the country tag in the discussion). Dawson's Creek comes up as does his admiration for a previous guest on the program, Glen Phillips. This Berklee School of Music and Wayne State University grad is out...

Annie Capps has long been part of a duo with her talented husband Rod, but for her latest album, it needed to be all about the women in her life. Learn more about her newest project, How Can I Say?, and a bit of background on this internationally known singer songwriter from Chelsea, MI. Songs include: How Can I Say Dirty Little Secret Only Sometimes Written by Annie Capps. https://www.anniecapps....

Recorded on location at Jess's home in Ann Arbor on the piano she learned to play on as a child, this session will sound a bit different than the others because of how it was recorded (see the video if you want to understand). I must note, it only sounds as good as it does because of the incredible Chris DuPont (do yourself a favor and listen the other two podcasts I did with him) because he took...

Two of my favorite people, singers and musicians combine for one session featuring two songs by both artists. Return visitors to the podcast, Chris DuPont and Kylee Phillips recorded in the home of Chris DuPont to talk about the collaborations and show sharing they've been doing lately. Songs by Chris DuPont: Setting Fires Fragile Things written by Chris DuPont Songs by Kylee Phillips Somedays Flo...

Julianne Ankley is a gem of the Michigan music scene who is more than ready for national attention. From the Port Huron area, Julianne is making some of the best modern country music these ears have heard. Myself not being a fan of modern country music, that says a lot! The voice, the songs, the stories, the charm. It's all there. All songs written by Julianne Ankley There's Still Time The Gospel...

Rachael Davis returns to Michigan from Nashville for her second visit with John Bommarito. This time she only brought her banjo. The focus of this conversation is her participation in the event at The Ark in Ann Arbor on Jan 27th, 2023. Banjofest (https://theark.org/event/friday-night-folk-banjofest-230127/)! Songs include Sweetwater Sea Angeline the Baker The Wind Featherbed https://www.rachaelda...

Heywood Banks - Musician - Poet - Comedian - Cult Icon - just as it says on his web site. A performing musician (under his birth name Stuart Mitchell) since the 70's. A comedian since the 80's and a cult icon since he added a toaster to his act, Heywood has been making us laugh with good, clean comedy songs for a long time. A staple on the syndicated Bob & Tom radio show and a regular on morni...

Jill Jack has won 50 Detroit Music Awards since starting her music career 30 years ago. On the eve of her 60th birthday, she has planned a special celebration of her career in music at The Ark in Ann Arbor (January 14th, 2023). Since our last visit nearly two years ago, Jill has faced a serious health issue. We talk about that and other things that Jill has planned. You'll also hear music includin...

Glen Phillips has had two excellent careers. One as the lead singer in one of the most successful bands of the 90's, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and one as a solo artist (who happens to have many side projects like Mutual Admiration Society, Works Progress Administration, etc.). He's written and sang some of my all time favorites and it was my pleasure to visit with Glen and talk about his new album, "...

Chuck Brodsky is one of the best storytellers around. Though not a household name like Bob Dylan, he's every bit as good at embodying the characters in the songs he sings - and he often sings about real people. Probably best known for his two complete albums of baseball songs (and a third one on the way), Brodsky has released a new album in 2022 and, in my opinion, the most solid record of his len...