Rock 'n' Roll Grad School

Carla Williams has heard once or twice in her life that she sounds like the great Karen Carpenter. Now, Carla is leaning into the comparison, recording a tribute to the band, in her own style and her own voice. A Tribute to the Carpenters is available right now. For more information, check out Carla on Twitter or on Facebook . You can also check out her website, where she just announced dates for...

Like a lot of bands, Love Crushed Velvet had other plans when the pandemic hit. But ALX had other plans and, they're coming to fruition with new music, new videos and a new album. We talk about all. For more information, check out their website , or you can follow them on Facebook .

Madeline Bocaro's new book, "In Your Mind- the Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono" is a brand new look at Ono's fascinating body of work in so many different art forms. We talk about the book, about the lessons Madeline has learned from Yoko and celebrate the woman and artist. To get a hardcover copy of the book, check out the website of publisher Conceptual Books . (You can get pap...

We don't need to tell you how amazing and talented John Doe is. From his work with the great LA punk band X, to his solo albums, to his acting career, when John Doe speaks, you listen. So we did. John has a new album out, called Fables in a Foreign Land. It probably won't surprise you when we say it's excellent. For more information on John and the record, check out his website . Yo...

You may know this week's guest from her work with the great band Redd Kross, but Gere Fennelly is a lot more. From Liberace fan girl, to teen pop star to accomplished teacher. We get into it all with Gere and have a great time doing it. For more information, or to schedule a piano lesson, check out Gere's website , or you can follow her on Facebook or Instagram .

Fritz Michel is new to performing music in public, but he's spent a lot of time on stage, having a conversation with audiences all over the world. He's just started releasing music on Spotify and it evokes the best in smart, intelligent pop music. His new single, On the Rocks, is available now. For more information, you can follow him on Instagram.

Carla Olson has played with an impressive list of musicians, and she's produced some great music on her own. She now has a new album that she put together,  Americana Railroad , a collection of train songs. (Out June 17th on Renew Records.) For more information, check out Carla's website .

Susie Suh has always followed her inner voice. And it has taken her to some fascinating places. First walking away from a record contract with a major label, to self-releasing her work, Susie has found the place, maybe a little off the center of the road, but one where she is most comfortable. Her new album, Invisible Love, is available right now and is coming out on vinyl May 27th. For more infor...

If you know anything at all about bootleg recordings, you know that of the earliest companies was Trade Mark of Quality. This week we talked with Ralph Sutherland and Harold Sherrick, the author's of a great, in-depth study of the label, A Pig's Tale . And if you enjoy the conversation, there's more over on our other podcast, Why? To order your copy of the book, check out Genius Boo...

No matter how well you think your spring is going, Maiah Wynne is having a better season than you. Her first album as part of the new group Envy of None is atop the charts around the world and she had a blast collaborating with her bandmates, one of whom is Alex Lifeson, formerly of Rush. The other two members of the group are Andy Curran and Alfio Annibalini. On top of that, Maiah is working on h...

Simon McBride is a talented singer and guitarist who is on stage with Deep Purple right now. Simon also has a new album coming out May 27th featuring new songs and Simon's great guitar playing. For more information, you can check out Simon's website , follow him on Twitter or Facebook . And we're making a movie! To support Love is the Message (all about Grad School guest #3 Nicky Si...

It's probably easier to list the artists that saxophonist Eddie Manion hasn't played with. From Diana Ross to Tom Petty to Little Steven to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (on tour and at the Super Bowl, no less), he's played with the greats. And Eddie has a new album out, "Coastin' In," one where he revisits some of the classic songs from the past and re-inte...

Rising from what remained of the great 'low rock' band Morphine, Vapors of Morphine not only continues the sound and music created by Mark Sandman & Co, but expands on it. We talked with Jeremy Lyons, the lead singer and 2 string bass player for the band about how the band has grown and changed in the years since Sandman's passing. For more information and to find out when Vapor...

This week is a fun discussion as we talk with author/editor SW Lauden about his new book, Forbidden Beat: Perspectives of Punk Rock Drumming . It's a great talk as we cover the history of the D-beat and all sort of other lists and insights from so many of the era's best drummers. For more information, you can visit publisher Rare Birds website . You can also check out SW Lauden's we...

His songs have been popular with generations of listeners. Now, for the first time, Felix Cavaliere tells the fascinating story of his life, both on and off the road with folks like Jimi Hendrix, Steve Cropper and, of course, The Rascals. "Memoir of a Rascal" is available right now wherever you get your books. For more information, check out Felix's website , or follow him on Facebo...

April March is known for music that evokes another time, and that's continued and deepened in her release  In Cinerama . The album first came out last year as part of Record Store Day and quickly sold out, so this new release is in all formats, so everyone can enjoy. For more information, check out her website , or follow her on Facebook and Instagram .

This week we talk with Jeremy Ivey, a songrwriter and singer who makes us all look lazy. His new album  Invisible Pictures , is available March 11th. It's his third record in two years. We had a great talk with Jeremy about song writing, Covid and famous quotes that may or may not be attributed to him. He's currently on tour with Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs. For more information, y...

When you're looking for a perfect combination of what Touring Rock Magazine called "grunge, hard rock, indie, classic metal and punk and creating the most memorable and fun alternative music we've heard in decades," you simply must turn to The Dead Deads. We talked with Daisy Dead right before the band headed out on the road with The Darkeness. For more information, check out t...

This week we're talking with Scott Sharrard, guitarist with the great Little Feat. Before joining the band, Scott served as the musical director for Gregg Allman, so you know he's got the chops. We talked about his history with the band, both as a fan first and then as a member, as well as difficult first shows to play. Little Feat starts a new tour celebrating the 45th anniversary of  W...

Sarah Borges wrote and recorded her new album, Together Alone during the pandemic, and without the backing of her usual band, the Broken Singles. While dealing with all of the things we all had to deal with during the pandemic, Sarah's album also has some bright spots.  (Seriously, this album is a good time and don't let us tell you otherwise.) Together Alone is available this Friday, Fe...

"Ghost Stories" by The Whitmore Sisters may be their first album, but Bonnie and Eleanor Whitmore have been making music together all their life. The new album is a celebration of some of the most influential people on their lives and a look at how those who have left us are still with us in some fashion. "Ghost Stories" is available right now, wherever you get your music. For...

Eric Gales is a guitar maestro, but on his new album,  Crown , he's also focusing on his singing. With a solo named the best guitar solo of 2021, Gales is thrilled with the response to the record. We talked with Eric, in the midst of preparing for his upcoming tour. For more information, you can check out his website , or you can follow him on Facebook .

Nash Kato and King Roeser are back with a new Urge Overkill album- the first in 10 years. Oui is classic UO... so much so, you'd be mistaken for thinking you'd returned to Guyville. Oui is available February 11th from Omnivore Recordings . For more information, check out the UO website.

If you came of age in the past 30(?) years, you're familiar with the drumming of our guest. As the founding drummer of Violent Femmes, Victor DeLorenzo is responsible for beats that still ring out around the world. And with his new band, The Night Crickets, DeLorenzo has a whole new set of rhythms to share. We talked with Victor about the creation of the new band, the excitement of collaborat...

We head to Nashville to talk with producer, musician and songwriter Leland Grant about his work. He's got music in a bunch of TV shows you've heard of, he's written and produced with Rachel Bradshaw AND he's created a music app to make reading and writing music easier. Leland was a blast to talk with and we'll definitely have him on again- probably next summer while we han...