The Bandwich Tapes

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with John Cowan , a musician whose voice has been part of my own musical memory since I first heard New Grass Revival as a kid at the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee, Georgia. John and I talk about his early influences, from Paul McCartney and Duck Dunn to Leon Russell, and how he developed as both a singer and a bass player. We also dig into t...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with singer, songwriter, producer, studio builder, and longtime Austin music figure Hank Alrich for a conversation about songs, sound, family, and the long arc of a creative life. Hank talks about his early years as a working folk singer, his time building a recording studio inside Armadillo World Headquarters, and eventually taking the helm of th...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with pianist, composer, producer, and sound designer Dave Mackay for a thoughtful conversation about musical identity, touring life, and the creative possibilities that live between composition, improvisation, and sound. Dave reflects on the strange rhythm of life on the road, especially after years of near-constant touring. We talk about the phys...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with drummer, collaborator, and educator Eric Doob for a wide-ranging conversation about sound, taste, collaboration, and what it really means to make music in today’s world. I first came across Eric’s playing through his work on Live From Here with Chris Thile, and I’ve been a fan ever since. From the very beginning of our conversation, it’s clea...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with bassist Tim Lefebvre for a conversation about groove, adaptability, tone, and what it really means to serve the music. Tim has built one of the most distinctive and wide-ranging careers in modern bass playing, with credits spanning jazz, rock, pop, experimental music, and singer-songwriter projects. From David Bowie’s Blackstar to Tedeschi Tr...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with the extraordinary Wendy Moten for a conversation about longevity, versatility, professionalism, and the many different ways a singer can build a meaningful life in music. Wendy has one of those careers that musicians know and revere: a major-label artist in the 1990s, a world-class touring vocalist, a sought-after session singer, a member of...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with legendary percussionist Luis Conte for a conversation that goes far beyond music, into life, freedom, faith, and the deep roots of rhythm.  Luis has played with just about everyone, from James Taylor to Pat Metheny , and has been a defining voice in modern percussion for decades. But what struck me most in this conversation is not just what h...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with conductor, composer, and longtime contemporary music advocate Brad Lubman for a wide-ranging conversation about interpretation, rehearsal, composition, and the deeper responsibilities of making music with other people. Brad first came onto my radar through his work conducting Steve Reich 's music, but this conversation quickly opened into som...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down in person with drummer Joe Dyson , the first in-person conversation I’ve recorded for the show, and it couldn’t have been with a better musician or person.  Joe is currently on the road with Pat Metheny, and we talk about the experience of being inside that music night after night, how the band continues to grow, how chemistry develops on the road,...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with Mark Kibble of Take 6 , a group whose music has been part of my life since the very beginning of my musical journey.   We start with a full-circle moment, me seeing Take 6 live as a teenager, and now getting to sit down and talk with Mark about his career, his process, and the music that continues to inspire him. We begin with his work on Pat...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with percussionist and educator Shawn Galvin for a wide-ranging conversation about orchestral life, teaching, and the deeper thinking behind great musicianship. I first learned about Shawn through my son Skyler, who studied with him at LSU , so this conversation felt especially meaningful for me. We begin by talking about Shawn’s approach to teach...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Michael Bacon for a conversation that moves naturally through songwriting, teaching, film scoring, orchestration, and the long arc of a creative life. Michael reflects on the musical education that shaped him, both formal and informal. He talks about returning to Lehman as an adult to fill in gaps in theory, harmony, counterpoint, and music hi...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with percussionist, composer, and educator Michael Burritt for a wide-ranging conversation about teaching, performing, composing, and the responsibility that comes with shaping generations of musicians. Michael reflects on his years at Eastman, the path that brought him there, and the deep sense of purpose he feels in helping students grow not just...

Episode Summary On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Liam Duncan , the Winnipeg singer-songwriter, producer, and bandleader better known as Boy Golden . Liam has been carving out a distinct lane in modern roots music through records like Church of Better Daze , For Jimmy , For Eden , and now Best of Our Possible Lives , his 2026 album released by Six Shooter Records. Along the wa...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with composer Adam Schoenberg for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about artistic identity, creative conviction, and the long arc of a life in music. Adam reflects on the early success of Finding Rothko , the orchestral work that helped put him on the map, and what it means to look back on a piece written in his twenties with both gratitu...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with composer, performer, and educator Casey Cangelosi for a conversation that moves comfortably between teaching, podcasting, composing, and the realities of building a life in the percussion world. Casey teaches at James Madison University , where he directs a busy percussion studio and constantly balances artistic ambition with the practical ch...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with singer and songwriter Lila Forde for a conversation that feels like it’s unfolding mid-song, equal parts instinct, craft, and heart. I actually discovered Lila in the most “Bandwich” way possible: while preparing for my episode with Larry Goldings , I heard her voice in a video and immediately texted a few musician friends saying, “You need t...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with Texas songwriter Amber Westerman for a conversation about new chapters, creative honesty, and the courage it takes to build a life that actually fits. Amber’s journey has taken her from farming in Hawaii to writing songs in Nashville , and now back to a place that feels more like home. We talk about that turning point—recognizing when a path...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with Billy Allen and Jay Burgess from Billy Allen + The Pollies for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like hanging out with musicians who care deeply about feel: the kind of musical quality you can’t really quantify. Still, you know immediately when you hear it. We start with a full-circle moment: the band was scheduled to...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with percussionist Jake Nissly , Principal Percussionist of the San Francisco Symphony , for a conversation about what it actually takes to build and sustain a career at the highest level of orchestral playing. Jake’s résumé is remarkable, but what stands out even more is the range of hats he wears: orchestral musician, soloist, educator, departme...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer-songwriter Ryan Dart for a conversation that goes far beyond music, into growth, healing, and what it really means to live honestly as an artist. We start with Ryan’s songwriting process, which is less of a routine and more of a way of life. Whether he’s hiking, sitting in a restaurant, or wrapping up the day, writing has become a daily...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Elizabeth Ziman of Elizabeth & the Catapult , and at the time of this conversation, she’s about to release her new album. Now that the record is officially out in the world, we get to talk about everything that went into bringing it to life. We begin right at that moment, standing on the edge of a release. Elizabeth describes the feeling o...

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with guitarist, composer, and producer Matthew Stevens for a conversation about identity, collaboration, and the kind of artistic clarity that only seems to come through real-life change. I’ve been a fan of Matthew’s playing for a long time, so getting to talk with him about his new self-titled record felt especially meaningful. We start with the...

About the Episode On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with singer and songwriter Aubrie Sellers for a conversation about her remarkable new album Attachment Theory , and the deeper creative world she built around it. I had already been listening to the record ahead of our talk, and what struck me immediately was how singular it feels: cinematic, emotionally sharp, and sonically time...

About the Episode On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes , I sit down with keyboardist, arranger, bandleader, and all-around musical Swiss Army knife Jeff Babko . Jeff is one of those musicians whose career quietly spans an incredible range of musical worlds, from television and touring to studio work and bandleading, and our conversation ends up feeling like a masterclass in how to build a life in...