Neworleansmusicians.com Podcast

Freshly signed to Pugnacious Records, singer/ songwriter and guitarist Sean Riley originally hails from Saratoga Springs, New York. He grew up listening to Roy Orbison, Beach Boys, Paul Simon, and Waylon Jennings. Though no one in his family played, he just loved the look of an SG hanging on the music shop wall and took it upon himself to learn. He was a bit of a shy kid but playing helped him out...

Bassist Dean Zucchero has a resume a mile long that starts in Manhattan and ends up in New Orleans, including a nine-year stint in Europe. He has played along-side such respected musicians as Popa Chubby, Ghalia Volt, Sweet Georgia Brown, Little Freddie King, and Johnny Sansone, to name a few. His projects have charted on Billboard while his acumen has landed him the position of program director a...

Born in Bunkie, Louisiana, Adam chose an instrument over a high school class ring and scored his first guitar from the famed Cajun Pawn Stars. A taste for the classics made him choose Led Zeppelin and Temple of the Dog when auditioning for national TV show The Voice. Making the cut landed him in Hollywood! Natural talent and hard work has kept his bookings plentiful. Experience the life of a music...

"Leave your ego at the door", is Kirk's opening discussion in part two. It's what empowers the creative process for his bands like Crowbar, Down, and EyeAm. He talks about how juggling multiple projects is a comfort zone of sorts for him. His solo project (2nd album complete now) is even a separate voice from the others. Creating is more meaningful to him than social engagements. Listen in as we d...

Born in Middlesex, England, Kirk Windstein came to settle in River Ridge, Louisiana as a young child. He has since come to establish himself as a keystone in the southern metal genres, signifying an unstoppable force in bands like Crowbar, Down, EyeAm, and Kingdom of Sorrow. We sit and talk about his experiences as a child that led him to music, his initial exploration in thrash playing with Mike...

Taylor Nauta of Baton Rouge, Louisiana is primarily a country Americana musician. Taking with him the knowledge of scale patterns, chord building, and basic theory, he cut his teeth in Nashville, chasing the dream like so many. He managed to pay the bills teaching karate and building guitars at Gibson Guitars. There were many moments of impact there. He married and divorced the daughter of a count...

Guzz Andrade of Silver Dose talks about growing up in Sao Paulo, Brazil and how a bootleg copy of a Nirvana album sparked something in him that will never die. Listen in as we discuss his South American roots, how he came to Louisiana, and what he has done to stay fluent and relevant in the world of rock and roll.  Shop Realmushrooms.com and support this show! Here’s 20% off just for our list...

Guitarist Steve Mignano of bands Drab and Garguts speaks on gaining a discipline in music, his moment of Zen touring with blues harmonica player Johnny Reed, his current heavy metal New Orleans bands, the 19 yr old novice within him that just won't die, and so much more. Join us and hear about how he walks the line between paying the bills and retaining his creative expression.  Shop Realmush...

David McBurnett is mainly known for being a producer in music television, but has also worked in the festival and production side of the music business for decades. Playing guitar alongside Duke Edwards, he toured nationally with a travelling musical commune called Papa Dukie and the Mud People, coming to settle in Wallace, Louisiana. Where the music at a black Baptist wake would cement his place...

I had the opportunity to sit down with Eric Fox and Mike Dawsey of Pious at Eric's shop, Turning Point Tattoos in Mandeville, Louisiana. We discussed how they met and how the band came to be, as well as what aspirations they share in the band's direction. We got to discuss the upcoming album and sorted through what works and what doesn't work for them. Join us for a laid back look at an enduring m...

Saxophonist Christopher Burton plays in so many bands these days. And they run the gamut from the New Orleans Concert Band to Purikura Panic, an anime cover band. As a child, he was exposed to much gospel, as well as the likes of Minnie Riperton, Etta James, and Sam Cooke. Submersing himself in everything extracurricular, he walks us through his life overcoming spinal meningitis and partial deafne...

Originally from Madison, Ohio, violinist Justin Curry has come to settle in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. Coming from an extremely musical family, he's played violin professionally since he was sixteen years old. From classical, to bossa nova, to traditional Asian music, he has played many genres on several continents. We discuss Vienna, Tokyo, and New Orleans musical atmospheres, citing the ch...

Steve Staples of The Iceman Special has travelled the country in pursuit of his passion for music; several times over. At one time even packing up into an RV and setting off with no destination other than music itself. Between his immeasurable talent, and his immense amount of experience, he has found that sweet music in the psychedelic tapestry that is The Iceman Special. And anyone who has seen...

Now living in Louisiana, Tylar Cash (a.k.a. Oktober Sky) grew up in Modesto, California. He brings with him a unique mixture of emo-rap/ rock with pop sensibilities and an aim to nurture a better version of self from everyone. Armed with a mic and a vision, and through hard work and constant refinement of his own talent, he has managed to release three professional music videos and four produced s...

Wayne Kahn was a radio DJ up in D.C. for a number of years. And at one time he owned a music label, Right On Rhythm, subsequently acquired by the Smithsonian Folkways. Not that long ago, he came into possession of a collection of Betamax tapes containing hours of footage of the Carriere family, a south Louisiana family steeped in the roots of zydeco music. Here, he tells the tale of Roy Carriere a...

Growing up in New Orleans, Mark went to school with and befriended some of the city's most iconic musicians. Through these personal bonds, and a lot of hard work, he started Basin Street Records. Twenty-five years later, he's still capturing the hearts and lives of bands and bringing them to the world. Join us as we learn what his life was like before this all begin, and what it has come to be thr...

We dive deeper into the life of Louisiana Music Hall of Fame musician Chris Leblanc, discussing how the birth of his son changed his life in music. We also discuss how some unfortunate events darken the mood of his new material and has had him submersing himself in his work. The topic of his new material surfaces again as we contemplate when the time will be right to release it, and what that stra...

Chris Leblanc was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and grew up in a musical family. From fourth grade until graduating high school he was in the school band, achieving the role of drum major. He can hold his own on trumpet, drums, bass, guitar and keys. We discuss his life as a child, on through his first album and concert, culminating in a successful career with his own band as well as i...

Travis Marc comes to New Orleans via England, and before that, Johannesburg, South Africa. He has been signed by several independent labels as well as major labels including Universal. He has been in bands that have charted on Billboard and is fluent on countless instruments. From strategic band breakups to new formations and life-altering offers, he's seen so much and is nowhere near finished. Jo...

Fluent on bass, guitar, and clarinet, Metairie, La. resident Jorge is an indubitable wealth of knowledge in the music world. His technical skill on the strings is something to be admired and appreciated. Currently playing in The Grooxs and MIMIC, you can hear his technique shine through in everything of which he is a part. And those whom have taken lessons from him surely carry on the torch. Sit w...

Having just returned from touring Thailand, The Will Wesley Band members Will Wesley and Phil Chandler sat down with Neworleansmusicians.com and told us all about it. We discussed Will's childhood and start in music, how the duo came to meet, their business practices while navigating Covid, and the star studded list of contributors to their latest album. They're on all major platforms as The Will...

For the first time since parting ways with Exhorder three years ago, founding guitarist Vinnie LaBella sits down and tells all. We discuss his childhood, the introduction into his first band Sabotage, his punk influence, time during and parting ways with Exhorder, and his current projects. This could be perhaps the most encompassing and revealing interview he's ever given. Join us and learn about...

A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Chris Beary began his foray into local music as a kid riding his bike to Jimmy's Music Club for the all ages shows. He has since become a CPA, an attorney, and a philanthropist. He has founded 6 non-profits and is currently managing 5 of them including Grace at the Green Light, The Fat Bankers Social Aid & Pleasure Club, The Funky Uncle Live, and Northshore...

Connor Graham began life in Ascension Parish and over time became an accomplished singer, guitar player, and trumpet player. For a long time, trumpet was his main instrument. At one point he was a trumpet player in a rap metal band while also taking side gigs at jazz performances. Through music lessons in and out of high school and countless hours on Guitar Hero, he made the transition to playing...

Petty Betty, a four piece band from Baton Rouge, Louisiana is fronted by singer Erica Calle. Currently a cover band with a new addition to their line-up, they soon hope to enact their combined 50 plus years of experience and begin the journey of laying down some original tracks. Erica sits down with Neworleansmusicians.com and talks about cultural diversity, her transition as a singer from choirs...