The Cut Live Podcast

We talk with Roger Clyne, lead singer and songwriter for The Peacemakers about growing up on a cattle ranch next to the Arizona/Mexico border, the mix of vintage country and new wave musical influences, the work that went into his new album, and running the annual Circus Mexicus music festival in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. MUSIC: Loco to Stay Sane Fireflies Mekong

The Fools are: Mike Gerard on lead vocals, Rich Bartlett on lead guitar and vocals, Stacey Hedrick on guitar and vocals, Leo Black on drums, and Eric Adamson unbars guitar and vocals. We sat down with Mike on the eve of their sold out album release party and talked about 50 years in rock and roll, their first albums, being signed with a big label, taking time off and working on the Guitar Hero gam...

Bringing another great night of comedy to The Cut, Boston's Jimmy Tingle performs with his unique style of politically influenced humor. We talk about getting into standup, what kind of politics works as humor, Jimmy's run for Lt. Governor, and how to make the world a better place. Performance excerpts from the film "Why Would a Comedian Run For Office?"

From early dreams of becoming a singing cowboy to opening for the J. Geils Band and big arena shows, Jon Butcher has built an international audience--but it's the New England fans who turned out in force for the Jon Butcher Axis' historic final show that took place at The Cut. Jon Shares some memories just before going on stage with Axis--but promises it's not his last time performing. @jonbutcher...

Boston Filmmaker Vinnie Straggas recently screened his film here at The Cut about the the 1970s and 1980s Boston music scene, “Life on The Other Planet.” After the screening, Vinnie joined in a Q and A with musicians Brad Halen and Steve Cataldo of the Nervous Eaters, along with Willie Alexander, Fred Pineau and Thomas Hauck—All live on stage at The Cut.

Sean Kelly tells us about going from high school drop out to playing at the White House. He talks about being controlled by a big label vs. the freedom of being an independent artist, his ten-minute songwriting technique, and The Samples touring as the headliners with the Dave Mathews Band as their opening act.   MUSIC: Feel UsShaking Little Silver Ring Could It Be Another Change

Life On the Other Planet is a film by director Vinnie Straggas about the Boston music club scene of the late 70s and 80s, and it's going to be screened on Sunday April 26th at The Cut in Gloucester, following a live performance by the Nervous Eaters, and then followed by a live Q&A with Straggas, Willie Alexander, members of the Nervous Eaters and others. In this preview episode, Vinnie talks...

Ryan Montbleau is one of the most original singer/songwriters to come out of the North Shore, and his twenty-year career is a portrait in changing tastes, interests--and his voice. In this episode, Ryan talks about building a band, his songwriting process, and how nothing beats playing live.

This episode spotlights one of the most creative musical minds in the music business--Dave Gutter is the founding frontman of Rustic Overtones. Since the Nineties these folks have been pushing the envelope of musical styles and some famous collaborators. We talk about getting started in Portland Maine, vocal chord injuries, flying high  with some music deals and embracing the DIY environment that...

Starting as a bluegrass band from Maine, 10-OC members Will and Reid Nichols learned guitar sitting around the campfire with their dad. In this episode they go on to tell about the lessons they learned from working and recording in Nashville, and how the band earned its name. MUSIC: Forever Bound Peace of My Hometown Hurtin on Whiskey

Danielle Miraglia is one prolific songwriter--she's been writing for most of her life. But she's also a fingerpicking, blues singing star, and she has been performing around Boston and her native North Shore long enough to have a big loyal following. In this episode she talks about her writing, why trying to duplicate a favorite performers style is not the point, and her favorite venues to play at...

One of current rock's unheralded acts, The Cold Stares brought a high-powered performance to The Cut. We talked with Chris and Brian about starting out as a guitar and bass duo, their surprise win at a talent show, bringing Bryce on as their bass player, their blues roots, and their coming up around the world tour. Catch these guys live if you ever get the chance!  MUSIC: Election Blues The Night...

The Irish band Altan has been bringing the music of Donegal to these shores for over 40 years, and the changing lineup of musicians always keep their shows fresh. We talked with founder, singer and fiddle player Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh about her growing up in a musical family. She speaks about Altan's mission to bring a fresh take on traditional Irish music to world audiences, and how some at the tim...

Quinn Sullivan's first visit to The Cut sent a packed house the high energy tunes he's been writing and playing since a very early age. We asked him about playing on stage with blues legend Buddy Guy when Quinn was 8 years old; touring with Buddy for the next 10 years; and  finding his songwriting voice by trying new creative techniques and collaborations. Oh, and the time BB King gave Lucile over...

In this episode we're talking with Tantric frontman Hugo Ferreira about founding the hugely popular grunge band in Louisville, his musical family, his fondness for Frank Sinatra, the power of yesteryear's recording industry, and putting together his first new album in over  decade.

Luciano Messenjah captures the roots reggae vibe in his Conscious Reggae Music. Here he tells us about learning guitar on one his father made for him, working to get a break in the Jamaican music industry, his early experiences with record producers, and his philosophy that music is not a competition.   MUSIC: Stay Away Messenger Sweep Over My Soul

Steve Sweeney has a new film that will be screening here at The Cut on January 16th. It's about his childhood growing up in Charlestown, and in this episode he talks about his voyage from there to his life now.

Johnny A has been establishing himself as one of the North Shore's outstanding guitar virtuosos, and his Jeff Beck tribute project, Beck-Ola, has been leaving crowds in heartfelt standing ovations. In this episode he talks about his beginnings, some of the stars he's played with, his recording technique, and his dedication to the art of groundbreaking rock musicianship.   MUSIC:  Ghost Morning Dew...

Performing since he was in his mid-teens, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Zane Christopher has his musical roots in Americana, The Beatles,  and classic rock. Along with his lead guitarist Nick Fawza, Zane talks about his recording process, the many hats musicians have to wear today to get heard, and how coming back to The Cut rates out of all the music venues in New England. MUSIC: Roa...

Founder and ex-Outlaw guitarist/vocalist Chris Anderson leads his new band Once an Outlaw and talks to us about his roots in the blues, playing with Stevie Ray Vaughn's Double Trouble as his backup band, rumors of the death of rock, AI in music today and the importance of the human element in all art, and songwriting vs. performing. MUSIC: Old Friend Born to Be Bad Once an Outlaw (The Outlaws)

Danielia talks about growing up in New Jersey in a "Small White Town," retreating into a room with a guitar as a child to teach herself how to play, the trap of social media for young people , country music's first black superstar, and advice she's received from the musicians she's shared a stage with. MUSIC:  It's Only Life Good Day So Afraid of Losing You

Talking with Mike Francis, lead vocal and guitar for Soul Rebel Project. Mike remembers some of the reggae legends SRP has shared the stage with, why reggae became his chosen path, the music industry's cycles and business advice for musicians. YOU CAN HELP: The island of Jamaica is reeling from the devastating damage caused by hurricane Melissa. There are several relief agencies actively helping J...

Austin guitarist/songwriter Jackie Venson tells us about: surviving the pandemic just as her promotional tour was supposed to start, reveals her songwriting process, why she switched from classical piano to blues guitar, and why she doesn't tour in the winter. MUSIC: Keep On Rollin on Destruct

Growing up in a blues-heavy neighborhood in Chicago, Toronzo Cannon started out playing reggae ("Jamaican Blues" he calls it,) but quickly moved into the inspirational music of his local blues heroes. His song writing topics are drawn from street life and his time driving a city bus, always putting the emphasis on the story and the lyrics and the true roots of the original "message music," the blu...

Black Uhuru founder Duckie Simpson has been in the pantheon of Reggae royalty since the 1970s, and he has seen a lot of life's joys and challenges. In this episode we hear about being brought up by Rastafarians as a child, finding his way in music, the brutal realities of the recording industry, and his positive way of seeing the future. MUSIC: Sinsemilla What Is Life New Day