Talkin‘ the Talk With Don

I have been a huge fan of the songwriting husband/wife duo Mat and Maria Fowler since first hearing their previous band Galley Beggar back in 2015.  After the release of their 2017 album Heathen Hymns, I finally stalked Mat and Maria out and managed to get Maria to be a guest on my podcast.  Since then, we have become very good friends and watching them grow as humans and as artists has been an ho...

Poison, Mother Head's Family Reunion, Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, Smith/Kotzen, and highly regarded and iconic solo artist.  Exhausted yet?  Being in ONE band was enough to wear me down but for Richie Kotzen, wearing many different hats and staying busy is what he does.  Richie recently released a new song called "Cheap Shots" and it's classic Richie.  Soulful, gritty, and full of 'tude, "Cheap Shots" i...

One of the things I love the most about being a music journalist is that there is no end to the absolutely amazing music that I cross paths with from time to time.  While I do see and hear a lot of crap, every now and then an artist stands out from the pack and grabs my full attention.  This was the case with Dutch vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer Kati Ran.  Kati Ran performs an eclect...

As of 2024, folksinger/songwriter Dorian Sorriaux has been kicking it on his own as a solo act since parting ways with Swedish rockers Blues Pills (who hate me by the way, but that's a different story) in 2018.  Since then, he released his debut EP Hungry Ghost, toured all over Europe doing festivals and supporting Alter Bridge/Slash vocalist Myles Kennedy.   In 2023 he signed with The Sign Record...

The first time I heard Whitesnake in 1987 I became obsessed.  I loved everything about that band but after seeing them live in 1988, that's what pushed it over the top for me.  I was so captivated by guitarist Adrian Vandenberg that he quickly became one of my guitar heroes.  From there, I dove headfirst into the discography of his solo band Vandenberg and that just solidified his place as one of...

Living in a city that has the highest number of shitty bands per capita than any other city in the US can be a real drag.  Atlanta is a city full of bands and musicians that have underwhelmed me to the point of no return but there are a few exceptions to that.  One of those exceptions is that outstanding band Rae and the Ragdolls.  Rae and the Ragdolls are a band of young hippie misfits with old s...

In 1996, I heard a song by a band called Dog's Eye View called "Everything Falls Apart" and not only did it become a favorite song of mine, I connected to it on a very personal level (sadly).  Lead by singer/songwriter Peter Stuart, Dog's Eye View became a favorite band of mine that would be a huge part of the soundtrack of my life for 27 years and counting.  After the release of their 1997 album...

Back in 2011, a good friend of mine who was working at the record label Nuclear Blast called me up.  I knew it was something super important if she was calling me.  When I picked up, without hesitation, she said, “Don!  I just heard your new favorite band.  They’re called Graveyard and their new album is called Hisingen Blues .”  After the first listen of the album, I knew she was right.  This was...

I can honestly tell you that I don't think I have ever interviewed a "competitor" before!  Honestly, Keefy isn't a competitor at all.  He is a friend and a fellow music writer with the long running Ghost Cult Magazine.  For over a decade, Ghost Cult Magazine has been an incredible source for hard rock/metal reviews, interviews, and editorials.  These days, Ghost Cult Magazine's web and social medi...

After 22 years as the drummer for the Black Crowes, Steve Gorman's creative life is nowhere near over.  Since parting ways with the Black Crowes in 2015, Gorman has kept himself busy.   The Steve Gorman Sports podcast, Steve Gorman Rocks!, his talk show on Westwood One as well as his bands Trigger Hippy and his newest band, Bag Men featuring North Mississippi All-Stars' Luther Dickinson and long t...

Styx has been a long time favorite of mine since I was a kid listening to my Dad play The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight on our living room stereo.  Even though he's been singing and playing keys for Styx for nearly half their career, Lawrence Gowan is totally fine being called the "new guy."  This was our fourth time talking and we never seem to run out of things to talk about.  The mouth of...

Back in 2001 or so, I was in shitty club in Charlotte, NC to see a little band that was about to break huge called Train.  Their opening act that night was a brand new act called Five For Fighting.  I had never heard one chord from them but after their powerful 45 minute set, I had the shirt, the CD, and a new band that I loved.  Like many fans of music, sometime after their 2006 release Two Light...

At 34 years of age, guitarist/songwriter Nili Brosh has lived the life of 10 guitarists.  Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2009, Nili has performed with legends in the truest since of the word.  Shrapnel guitar legend Tony MacAlpine, former Nevermore and current Arch Enemy guitarist Jeff Loomis, drummer Marco Minneman, and bassist Stu Hamm just to name a few. Nili has also been a...

Since I first heard them in 1992, Ugly Kid Joe has been a favorite band of mine.  Regardless of the shit I got from friends and others about my fandom for UKJ, much like them, I lived unapologetically as a lifelong fan from beginning until, well, now.  2022 saw Ugly Kid Joe releasing their stellar seventh album, Rad Wings of Destiny and just when I thought shit couldn’t get any better, Ugly Kid Jo...

One of the many reasons I love doing interviews is the sheer unpredictability of it all.  When I got asked to interview Amber Doig-Thorne, all I said was "Sign me up."  I mean, how could I possibly pass on the opportunity to talk to my first actor ever who also is the star of "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey."  ... and yes.  It really is a truly awesome as the title would make you think so.  Ambe...

Billy Sheehan is a living legend when it comes to hard rock music.  He broke into the mainstream as the bassist for David Lee Roth, experienced huge commercial success with the band Mr. Big and now he is letting it all loose with the progressive hard rock supergroup, Winery Dogs.  I had a great time talking to Billy about what he hates about interviews (luckily not this one), his excitement about...

I didn't discover Hanoi Rocks until around 1986-87 or so but once I did, they became a huge favorite of mine.  It's hard to believe that it has already been 40 years since the release of Hanoi Rocks' sophomore album, Oriental Beat.  2023 doesn't just see Oriental Beat turning 40, we will see a much anticipated re-mix (or re(al)-mix as the band calls it) and for the first time nearly 30 years will...

In 2011, I was immersing myself in a whole new world of music.  The Swedish psychedelic rock movement was something that I became obsessed with.  After hearing their 2011 live album, Root Jam, Siena Root quickly became one of favorite bands.  I recently had the pleasure of speaking with lead vocalist/keyboardist Zubaida Solid and drummer Love Forsberg.  We talked about the solidified lineup of the...

In 1993 while at a friends house getting high as the moon, he turned to me and said, "Dude, your hippie ass is going to love this."  He then put on the song "Superman Song" by Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies.  I was so blown away by how insanely deep his voice was accompanied by this incredible folky sounding stuff.  Shortly after, he put on the album God Shuffled His Feet and to say that I...

Troy Marks is a living legend when it comes to being a part of the New Orleans Heavy Metal music scene as the vocalist for Razor White.  To me, nobody did it better than Razor White.  I know some will say Lillian Axe did but honestly, I LOVE them but it was the Razor that pumped me up like no other.  In 1988, Razor White released a 5 song demo that became known as "The Black Tape" that featured fi...

Every now and then a band will come along and completely capture my heart.  It always seems that this happens when I'm at a certain point in my life when I need something to lift me up that band just happened to be an Atlanta band called Lunar Vacation. Not too many can say that they discovered a new favorite band by serving jury duty with a band member's mom.  Well, that's exactly what happened. ...

Hellsingland Underground is a band out of Sweden that is one of the most UN-SWEDISH bands I have ever heard.  Sounding more like they could've come straight out of the Southeastern part of the US, their sound is a hodgepodge of influences such as Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers Band, and Dr. Hook just to name a few.  I would've never heard one bit about had it not been for my good friend Jacob Hell...

I happened to be on the app TikTok one night and to my delight, I stumbled upon a band that really blew me away.  TikTok ya don't stop.  Ok, that was lame but you know what isn't lame?  PROPER PET.  Proper Pet is a duo based out of Tempe, Arizona and they the breath of fresh air that I (and probably you) need.  With a vast array of influences which include, EDM, folk, indie pop, synth pop, and new...

It's hard to believe that I have been doing interviews for over 12 years.  My very first big interview too place on July 15, 2010 and it was with former Quiet Riot and current (at the time) Ratt guitarist Carlos Cavazo.  It was after Ratt's opening set with the Scorpions at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Alpharetta, GA.  After waiting about 20 minutes backstage, Carlos made his way to the co...

Anne K. O'Neill (Serpentent) emerged from the void and delivered one of the most disturbingly, dark, yet beautiful collection of music that I have heard in a long time.  Based out of Seattle, WA, Anne is a multi-instrumentalist, artist, and musician who's influences range from Kate Bush to the legendary dark folk sounds of Buffy Sainte Marie and Joan Baez.  Under the Serpentent umbrella, Anne has...