Back to the Light

Host J.D. Reager talks to musician, filmmaker and podcast host Christian Walker about his wide range of experience in the film industry, why death is a recurring theme in his work, how their tenures in Pezz were wildly different, and what it was like to tour with the legendary Wesley Willis.  J.D. also spins the recent Pezz single "We're Not Alone."   

Host J.D. Reager talks to one of his all-time favorite musicians and people: Craig Wedren.  They have a lengthy discussion about Craig's early forays into music, the rise and fall of his legendary post-punk band Shudder To Think, how friendships with members of the comedy troupe The State lead to a career in TV and film scoring, and Craig's future release plans. J.D. also spins two new single...

Host J.D. Reager talks to old friend and musician Janet Simpson about her newfound success as a solo artist, her work in the bands Teen Getaway, Delicate Cutters, Wooden Wand & the World War IV, and Timber, fighting through imposter syndrome, and more.  J.D. also spins three excellent tunes from Janet's latest album Safe Distance .  

Host J.D. Reager talks to gospel singer Elizabeth King about performing with The Gospel Souls in the early '70s, why her recording career took a nearly 50-year hiatus, and the making of her comeback album, Living In The Last Days . Then, singer-songwriter and session musician Mark Edgar Stuart calls in to talk about his experiences working with Ms. King on her new album. J.D. also spins cuts from...

Host J.D. Reager talks to professional wrestler, wrestling promoter and podcast host Dustin Starr about their shared love of Memphis wrestling in the '80s and '90s, Dustin's in-ring career, bringing wrestling back to Memphis television, the future of the Mid-South Coliseum, this year's Wrestlemania card and more.     

Host J.D. Reager has a soul-searching conversation with returning guest, PhD psychologist and practicing therapist Aaron Sayers about how being in therapy has positively affected both of their lives, the social and cultural stigmas attached to mental health treatment, and a few iconic portrayals of therapists from TV and film.  

Host J.D. Reager opens the show with a short plea for support for a Back to the Light fundraiser before talking with musician Matt Ciani about the latest Flesh of the Stars single, small batch candle production, the evolution of Arthhur from solo project to disco punk trio, working on the new J.D. Reager record, and why Matt ends up producing every band he's in. J.D. also plays a 5-minute excerpt...

Host J.D. Reager talks to his old friend and a wildly talented multi-instrumentalist musician, Scott Danbom, about his early days on the Oklahoma competitive piano circuit, moving to Denton, TX and joining Centro-matic, recording with acclaimed Memphis producer Jeff Powell, getting amicably kicked out of Slobberbone, collaborating with Patterson Hood and The Drive-By Truckers, and founding his sol...

Host J.D. Reager talks to Memphis musician Jeremy Scott about re-uniting with the original line-up of Reigning Sound on the road and in the studio, making the classic Reigning Sound album Too Much Guitar , the future of The Toy Trucks, and the solo album he's releasing on Back to the Light Records. J.D. also spins Reigning Sound's new single "A Little More Time," "Pulling Away" by The Toy Trucks,...

Host J.D. Reager talks to one of his favorite comedians in the world, Jon Daly, about his experience having COVID and other career setbacks due to the pandemic, his forthcoming comedy-music album, parody coming from a place of love, his Bill Murray impression, working with Larry David, and much more.  J.D. also spins one of Jon's recent singles, the equally infectious and hilarious "The Snowm...

Host J.D. Reager talks to musician Josh Shaw about the big snowstorm in Memphis, how the pandemic derailed his band Blvck Hippie's plans for 2020 and beyond, getting started as a musician, playing and coaching basketball, and their shared love of video games.  J.D. also spins the recent Blvck Hippie single "Bunkbed." 

Host J.D. Reager talks to musician Josh Stevens about the evolution of his band Glorious Abhor, how becoming a parent has affected his ambition and creativity, moonlighting with Back to the Light pals Tape Deck and Jack Alberson, moving from Illinois to Memphis, and more. J.D. also spins two new songs: Josh's "The King Is Dead," and his own "Stop Staring."   

Host J.D. Reager talks to musician Zachary Corsa (Nonconnah, Lost Trail) about relocating from North Carolina to Memphis, the burgeoning Memphis experimental music scene, his creative process in Nonconnah, making post-pandemic plans, and more.  Then J.D. plays an excerpt from the new Nonconnah album Songs For And About Ghosts .  

Host J.D. Reager talks to his old friend and Memphis musician Jeff Hulett about his recent hot streak of creativity during the pandemic, remote collaborations, his evolving role in Snowglobe, the highs and lows of the Rock for Love benefit project, and much more.  J.D. also spins "Money," a soon-to-be-released new song of Jeff's.   

Host J.D. Reager shares how his life has been affected by COVID-19 before talking to two former collaborators about their experiences. First, Kelly Orcutt of Glossary tells a frustrating story about being assaulted in a popular department store chain by an unmasked "patriot." Then, Imagination Head bandleader and ICU Nurse J.R. Wicker recounts tales from the front lines of the pandemic. J.D. also...

Host J.D. Reager kicks off the show by spinning "How Can You Walk Away," the first single off of Memphis musician John Paul Keith's new album The Rhythm of the City .  Then J.D. and J.P. have a lengthy conversation about the recent siege on the Capital, the legacy of Donald Trump, writing and recording his new album, mentoring fellow songwriter Mark Edgar Stuart and more.   

Host J.D. Reager speaks to Memphis musicians Joshua McLane and Brennan Whalen about their work together as HEELS, how the pandemic canceled "their year" in 2020, the inspiration behind the band's musical self-help albums Wake Up with HEELS and Sleep with HEELS , how they inspire each other creatively and their love of professional wrestling.  J.D. also plays the song "King Drunk" from HEELS'...

Host J.D. Reager and guest producer Brendan Danley present the second in a 2-part collection of favorite moments from the very first year of Back to the Light - and it's a super-sized doozy! Clips include Kate Crowder (Two Way Radio), John Forbes (Tijuana Hercules, Mount Shasta), Kelly English (Restaurant Iris), Ross Johnson (Panther Burns, Alex Chilton), Roger Manning Jr. and Eric Dover (The Lick...

Host J.D. Reager and guest producer Brendan Danley present the first in a 2-part collection of favorite moments from the very first year of Back to the Light! Clips include Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star), David Catching (Rancho de la Luna), The Modifiers, Joey Pegram (Shabbadoo, Two Way Radio), Joshua Cosby (Star & Micey), Steve Selvidge (The Hold Steady, Sons of Mudboy), Big Don Vale...

Host J.D. Reager kicks things off by playing two songs - one Christmas-y and familiar, one not - from the archives of his guest, longtime friend and former bandmate Tommy Bateman.  Then J.D. and Tommy have a deep conversation about their friendship and time together in The Hentrys, Rooms for Tourists and The Passport Again, Tommy's work with The Rockwells, Seven Sons of Otis, Snowglobe and mo...

Host J.D. Reager kicks things off by spinning "Snollygoster Goon," the new single off of The Lickerish Quartet's new E.P. Threesome Vol. 2 .  Then he talks to Roger Manning Jr., Tim Smith and Eric Dover about collaborating in The Lickerish Quartet and Jellyfish, their individual work with Ringo Starr, Beck, Noel Gallagher, Slash's Snakepit and Alice Cooper, and how the pandemic has affected t...

Host J.D. Reager celebrates the release of his old band Two Way Radio's long lost album Succinct Extinction by playing three of its key tracks, and by talking to fellow band members Andrew McColgan and Kate Crowder.  They discuss circumstances that lead to Succinct Extinction 's creation and ultimate demise, participating in the MTV series $5 Cover , winning the Memphis Pops Festival fan vote...

Host J.D. Reager kicks off the show by debuting two unreleased songs: one of his own featuring this week's guest Steve Selvidge on lead guitar, and one of of Steve's.  Then the two have a long conversation about how Steve's late father Sid influenced his path to becoming a musician, continuing his father's work in Sons of Mudboy, forming and re-forming Big Ass Truck, joining big-time rock ban...

Host J.D. Reager talks to his longtime friend and the founder of Knoxville's Market Square Farmers Market, Charlotte Tolley, about their days together in school, her work with the non-profit group Nourish Knoxville and her budding professional relationship with former WWE champion Kane.  Then Memphis musician Michael Graber joins the show to share some new music by his band Graber Gryass and...

Host J.D. Reager is joined by one of his all-time favorite songwriters, Matthew Caws of Nada Surf.  They talk about the election results and how Matthew found inspiration in America's deep political divide, meeting and recording with Ric Ocasek, the band's relationship to their breakthrough hit "Popular," how the album Let Go brought them back after a career setback and his solo collaboration...