Middle Class Rock Star

We made it!! Episode 100! A big thanks to all the support that's been given to this podcast over the last four years. My guest for this centennial episode is Michigan based singer-songwriter, Kyle Rasche of Chain of Lakes. Our paths first crossed last year when we were both finalists in the Kerrville New Folk Songwriters Competition. Neither of us were winners, but Kyle got a second shot this year...

This week, I caught up with my old friend, Jacob Larson. Though we've both been around the Denver music scene for quite some time, our history connects more through Little League baseball. Jacob is my little brothers age, and I was both an assistant coach on my brothers teams as well as an umpire in the league for several years. Egan (my brother) and Jacob were teammates at one point and I got to...

Shanna and I had much to catch up on during her second interview on Middle Class Rock Star. She and I first sat down over zoom and chatted back in June of 2020 (episode 44). At that time, Shanna was living in Boulder and was in the midst of winning nearly every notable songwriter competition, including the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Competition. Now, she's living in Nashville (she moved almost...

My guest this week is Nashville based tour manager, Joe Lentini. As of late, Joe has been touring the country working as the tour manager for Daniel Donato. Prior to joining Donato's team, he interned at Relix Magazine and the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville. This podcast episode was truly unique in the way it all came together. I was in Nashville playing a couple gigs in early March. On my off day, I...

My guest this week is Colorado based singer-songwriter and performer, Sweet Virginia. Leading up to her debut record (out April 29 on Gitcha Records), Sweet Virginia has two singles out, "Blue Skies" (Feb 18, 2022) and "Hallelujah, Michael" (March 18, 2022). During our conversation, we chat about the process of making a record, songwriting, promoting yourself, and hair. If you enjoy the podcast, p...

My guest this week is entertainment and copyright lawyer, Max Hass. After attending school at Tulane in New Orleans, Max did anything except for law to start his career in the music business. Instead, he worked in almost every other part of the industry as a performer, promoter, manager, and more. After settling in Colorado, Max joined Parlatore Law Group as a partner. His focus is intellectual pr...

I first met Marcus at The Blues Can in Calgary. I was traveling through town with my band after playing a week long residency at Blues On Whyte in Edmonton, AB. The next time through town, Marcus sat in with my band and played guitar for a set. At the time he was only about 19 or so! Fast forward a couple of years, and Marcus is calling me saying that he's on a "right of passage" road trip through...

My guest today is Nashville based singer-songwriter and performer, Erin Rae. She joins me on the show just days after releasing her latest album, "Lighten Up" (Feb 4, 2022). Produced by Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Billy Strings, Conor Oberst, Erin Rae) and distributed by Thirty Tigers, "Lighten Up" gives us a modern yet retro take on indie folk music. Erin has been making a name for hersel...

My guest this week is Nashville based singer-songwriter and performer, Sam Robbins. Sam and I first became acquainted through the 2021 Kerrville New Folk Songwriters Competition. We were both selected as finalists, and Sam was one of the six winners. We've had a steady back and forth conversation happening on Facebook for the past few months, so it was great to finally sit down and talk with him f...

I've known Tony Mason for quite some time. He was one of, if not the first person to put me in a real venue as a college student at CU Denver. A lot of local musicians can say that about Tony. He started off by putting together shows under his promotion company name, Tone Dynamix, then moved on to be the talent buyer at Herman's Hideaway, and eventually became the senior talent buyer for Lost Lake...

My guest today is Canadian based singer and songwriter Pura Fé. Pura Fé, whose name means "Pure Faith," was born in New York City and an heir to the Tuscarora Indian Nation. She is an artist, an activist, and much more. Her musical journey, running the gamut from folk to mainstream through an artful use of the blues, reflects the concerns of an artist who grew up in the Motown era, while citing Bu...

My guest today is Asheville, NC based DJ, Bruce Swan. Bruce went to college after of high school and earned his degree just a few short years later. Or at least that's what he thought. Nearly 25 years later, he was informed that he didn't quite finish and would need to go back to fulfill his final requirements. Upon his return to Hunter College in New York, NY, he discovered the college radio stat...

My guest today is award winning singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player, Ray Bonneville. When it comes to playing rack harmonica, Ray might just be as good as it gets. To accompany his truth telling lyrics, he's able to seamlessly pull off complicated finger picking patterns and play elaborate counter melodies on the harmonica between verses. Often called a “song and groove man,” Bonnev...

My guest today is Colorado based producer, Joe Michaels. Though residing in the town of Broomfield (northwest of Denver) Joe does a large portion of his work at Dockside Studio in Maurice, LA. (I was first put in contact with Joe because I was heading to Dockside to record a record in July of 2021 and had a couple of questions about the studio). He's been taking bands and various collaborations th...

My guest today is LA based singer-songwriter, performer, and composer, Abby Posner. As a solo artist, Posner considers herself to be "genre-fluid" mixing elements of folk, roots, pop, soul, and bluegrass into her music. She's also a successful composer, having scored four films: Across Land Across Sea, Through Their Eyes, Elizabeth Sees, and Lady Buds (2021). At the end of the episode, we get a li...

This episode of MCRS is a little bit different. Rather than an interview with an artist or industry professional about their career, this is a discussion about Randy Newman's somewhat controversial 1974 album, "Good Old Boys." This interview was recorded by Dan Cable for his podcast, Dan Cable Presents (I DIG RECORDS ep. 29). He invited me on his show to discuss one of my favorite records and this...

Welcome to season 4 of Middle Class Rock Star! It was nice having a break, but I'm excited to bring a bunch of new, wonderful guests to the show this season. This first episode of the new season (84th overall) features Crystal and Pete Damore (Duh-more)of Ordinary Elephant. The Louisiana based husband and wife folk duo is a melting pot of their favorite influences(such as Gillian Welch, Guy Clark,...

My guest today is singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica dude, Nic Clark. Nic is the "chairman" of the Middle Class Rock Star guests. He's been on the show more than anyone. Five times to be exact. Three times as a guest, and twice as a co-host (17. David Dondero and 68. Mickey Raphael). His accomplishments include playing harmonica with Big Head Todd & The Monsters at Red Rocks, being a fina...

My guest today is singer-songwriter and pianist, Pamela Machala. We first met through the dueling pianos company, Howl At The Moon in Denver. I trained there for about six months but decided to go a different direction. Pamela joined the team after I left, but since my roommate at the time was still playing there, I got to know her through him. She eventually left the gig as well to pursue a solo...

My guest today is saxophonist, clarinetist, and founding member of Brothers of Brass, Armando Lopez. Armando and I go back to our teenage years. I had just joined the acclaimed dixieland jazz ensemble at CU Denver, The Claim Jumpers, at the beginning of my sophomore year. Armando (just finishing high school at the time) joined us on reeds and blew everyone away. He was very comfortable with his in...

My guest today is bassist, Todd Smallie. After his family moved to Atlanta at the age of 14, Todd got very involved with the local scene and attended the Atlanta Institute of Music, where he got to learn from the likes of Jimmy Herring. Connections with Herring, Tinsley Ellis, Col. Bruce Hampton, and others led him to an audition with The Derek Trucks Band in his early 20s. He toured and recorded...

My guest today is Omaha based blues guitarist and singer, Hector Anchondo. Though he's been in the scene for two decades, Hector's name was finally heard around the globe when he took home first place in the 2020 International Blues Challenge (solo/duo). He also won the Memphis Cigar Box Award for best solo/duo guitarist. We had a great conversation about his upbringing, his love for blues, an 18...

My guest today is North Carolina based singer and songwriter, Chuck Brodsky. I first heard about Chuck through our mutual friend, Jeff Lionz. Jeff, who knows about my undying love for baseball, sent me a couple of Chuck's CD's (The Baseball Ballads and The Baseball Ballads 2) in the mail. I put them both in my car and listened on drives for the next two months. I was taken by the stories and the a...

My guest today is Brent Loveday of Reno Divorce and Brent Loveday and the Dirty Dollars. When Reno Divorce first formed in Florida in the mid-90s, no one would have guessed that they'd go on to become one of the best known punk rock bands that Colorado has ever seen. Over the last two decades, Reno Divorce has been voted "Best Punk Rock Band" in Denver Westword four times, and has toured all over...

My guest today is award winning singer-songwriter, veterinarian, and all around cool dude, Andy Baker. I only first met Andy a few weeks ago through the Kerrville New Folk Songwriters Competition. I was chosen as a finalist this year, and Andy (one of last year's winners) was put in a facebook group with all of this year's finalists as a mentor figure. I caught wind that he was headed to Colorado...