Cigar City Radio

On Part 2 of our Gasparilla Music Festival coverage, we set up live in the Replay Guitar Exchange  Tent for conversations with Eric Tessmer (1:11), Mountain Holler (12:27), Kolars (24:32), Shankh & Friends (32:56), Brother Cephus (42:48), The Underhill Family Orchestra (51:49), and Beartoe (1:08:40). Also, we meet Jessica O'Connor from Mic Drop Music and our intern Kasia tells us about the patienc...

On Part 1 of our Gasparilla Music Festival coverage, we set up live in the Replay Guitar Exchange Tent for conversations with Ella Jet & Future Soul (3:07), The Little Kintner Boys (10:42), Ries Brothers (25:19), Fr33dback (29:50), and King Complex (41:37). Also, Michelle Soto tells us the plot of Gasparilla Music Festival: The Film and we shame our intern, Chris. Fire It Up!

We talk to Tampa, FL duo Ries Brothers about performing at Gasparilla Music Festival , being in a band with your brother, and touring with G. Love & Special Sauce . They tell us about playing drums and keyboard bass at the same time, their Hamburg-phase at Crabby Bills in Indian Rocks Beach, the Tampa music scene, and their upcoming album. 

We talk to TWO-TIME guest Fr33dback about his upcoming performances at Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival and Gasparilla Music Festival , how his live set works, breaking down the Beatles' "Yesterday", buying Neon Indian's gear on Reverb.com, working in the studio with bands like Sun Signs, Bangarang, and Polyenso, and much more. Also, Randy begs for a Select Start reunion. For this episode, we're j...

We call native Philadelphian G. Love to talk about the Eagles winning the Super Bowl, 25 years of G. Love & Special Sauce , balancing family life with life on the road, surfing with Kelly Slater, and becoming friends with Jack Johnson. He also tells us about bringing Clearwater duo The Ries Brothers on tour, his first show at Jannus Landing, and working for a Blues Grammy on his next album.

Live from 30A Songwriter's Festival, Kasia sits down with Lilly Hiatt to talk about her new album, Trinity Lane, and its various themes, Nashville, Whole Foods, and her dad, John Hiatt. Then, Kasia talks to Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) about performing, the upcoming Jayhawks record, spending time at home and outdoors, working with other songwriters, and being an architect.

Kasia and Randy talk to John and John from They Might Be Giants about their new album I Like Fun, making children's music and working with Disney, Dial-A-Song, and being the "other" thing people like. We also talk about Tiny Toons, Malcom in the Middle, Gasparilla, performing The Daily Show with Jon Stewart theme song, and the birth of #Thuggalos

Kasia and Randy meet the legendary British rock band, The Zombies . We talk to original Zombies Chris White and Hugh Grundy about the 50th Anniversary of their album Odessey and Oracle, the growth of "Time of the Season" in the United States, keeping their "chops" up, Hugh's new band The Geckos, and the Zombies family. We also talk about the differences in touring now and then, seeing younger fans...

We catch up with TWO-TIME guest, Billy Mays III , to talk about his adventures in touring, crowdfunding his new album, Channel(s), telling his dad's story through an upcoming documentary, and wanting to talk to Trey Parker and Matt Stone from South Park. We also talk about his non-profit plans for BillyMays.org , working with Kat Von Greye, filming PitchMen, and being "quoted" by TMZ. For this epi...

We talk to former NFL player and radio personality Ian Beckles about what he'd do if he was the Buccaneers GM, the softness of current NFL players, the locker room, the way the media treats athletes, race and the media, student athletes and the collegiate system, Thursday Night Football, NFL players like Jameis Winston and Deshaun Watson, and "trophy culture". Lastly, Ian Beckles tell us about his...

On our most bloody episode ever, we talk to Jizmak Da Gusha and Sawborg Destructo from the legendary metal band, GWAR . They tell us about where GWAR came from, their new album The Blood of Gods, their graphic novel Orgasmageddon, fake news, and Gwar of Thrones. We also ask them about Kanye West, Donald Trump, Pee Wee Herman, Taylor Swift, and more. For obvious reasons, this is a VERY explicit epi...

Live from Et Cultura Film Festival, Michelle Soto chats with Director Ellen Goldfarb and DJ Bird about the film Dare to Be Different - a look back at WLIR 92.7, the Long Island-based radio station on the cutting edge of music throughout the 1980s. They talk about what WLIR meant, the growth of punk and new wave, Denis McNamara, and the reactions to the film. DJ Bird also tells us about his friends...

Live from Et Cultura St. Pete, Michelle & Chris chat with Simon Scott and Christian Savill from the UK's Slowdive. They talk about reuniting after 20 years, releasing their self-titled album this year, being surprised by the response from fans and music press, and younger fans discovering the band for the first time. They also talk about not wanting to be a "heritage band", their songwriting proce...

We talk to Lea Umberger from Et Cultura about the 5 day St. Petersburg Festival's interactive, art, and film programming, and we gush about this year's music lineup which includes artists like Slowdive, Talib Kweli, and Waxahatchee, alongside local acts like Infinite Third , Diealps , and Ari Chi . Lea also tells us the challenges of putting on a music festival, the inspiration for Et Cultura, and...

We talk to Tampa electronic producer, Hotwax , about his new album Communicator , searching "Hotwax" on tumblr, "organized, quantized sounds", the Chillwave genre, genre classifications, David Dean Burkhart, III Points Festival, and more. This Week's Fadeout: "Between the Rivers" by Hotwax

Guest Host Ray Roa (Creative Loafing) chats with James Alex from Beach Slang and his tour manager, Charlie Lowe, ahead of their performance at Pre-Fest in Little Ybor. They discuss the infamous Chicago Liquor, Malört, meeting at The Fest, Pabst-covered glasses, "Dad Mode", Quiet Slang, and more. Also, James talks about getting Paul Westerberg's guitar from Tommy Stinson and he makes a plea to work...

We talk to audio engineer George Harris about growing up, saving up for his first guitar, and learning to appreciate music. He tells us about meeting John Lamb, going on the road, falling in love with the studio, working at Record Plant in New York City, and so much more. We also talk about George recording our high school band and his studio Creative World Recording in Largo, FL. Finally, he give...

We talk to Joel Grind from Toxic Holocaust about touring, the music scene in Portland, his album Chemistry of Consciousness, recording solo in his home, the evolving "metal-punk" sound, the Toxic Holocaust logo, where he got the name "Joel Grind", and what's next for the band. For this interview, we're joined by Connor Head from the band Blood Bath & Beyond.

We talk to Nalani Rothrock and Josh Lamkin from Tampa band, Mama's Batch , about their new EP 'Til the Sunrise, their sold out release show at Ruth Eckerd Hall's Murray Theatre and opening for The Greg Billings Band. We also talk about Josh's guitar influences, Nalani's Hawaiian family, George Harris, their upcoming performance at Clearwater Jazz Holiday, and more. Also, we do all this while eatin...

We talk to TWO-TIME guest, Ben Falgoust from Goatwhore, about our first interview with him ( Episode 11 ), their new album Vengeful Ascension, touring with Venom Inc., Game of Thrones, Red Dead Redemption and Ben's love for Westerns, contemporary metal bands, and oh so much more. For this interview, we're joined by Connor Head from the band Blood Bath & Beyond.

On a milestone Episode 50, we talk to Tommy Stinson about the return of Bash & Pop and new album Anything Could Happen, collaborating with Nicole Atkins, being a member of Guns N' Roses, The Replacements reunion, and his upcoming TV Pilot. Also, for this interview we're joined by our old friend, Michael Mills, from the band Male Order Brides. 

We talk to Tampa singer/songwriter, Julia Powell , about breaking into the music scene, her inspirations, going from girl scout to musician, and what it's like to be a young woman leading a concert. She also performs a few original songs for us live.

We talk to The Rock'n'Roll HiFives - New Jersey's Post Punk Family Band. Joe and Gloree Centeno, and their children Eilee (age 15) and Evren (age 13), tell us about growing from a "family band" to an actual band, signing to Little Dickman Records, and their EP "The Beat, The Sound, The Dragon's Roar". We also talk about having band meetings at the dinner table, "Tourcation", missing their dog, the...

We talk to John Capouya (Professor, University of Tampa) about his new book "Florida Soul: From Ray Charles to KC and the Sunshine Band" . He tells us about what soul music is, how Ray Charles turned Gospel into R&B, how Florida fits into the Soul music landscape, Sam & Dave's roots in Miami, and contemporary soul. We also learn about junkanoo, horn arrangements, Henry Stone, and the Florida Chitl...

We talk to Easter Island about their sort of breakup, shooting their "Island Nation" music video in Japan, getting close at a Japanese Bathhouse, writing their new album and the "Island Nation"/"It's You" 7-inch single. We also talk about Atlanta and lemon pepper wings, Ryan's Radiohead B-Side obsession, the Payne Brothers' Encyclopedic Knowledge of the Canon of Pop Music, their Radiohead/Kanye We...