The Unstarving Musician

If you're a regular listener of this podcast you know that I recently published milestone episode 25, featuring Mike Dawson of Modern Drummer Magazine and The Modern Drummer Podcast . Well this is another milestone episode. It's the first to feature a live guest performance. That performance and today's interview is by acclaimed music educator David Barrett . David has made a living as professiona...

In late October I was enjoying craft beer at one of my favorite watering holes with some of my favorite people. This was at Kool Keg in Arlington Texas , next door to the very place that I met my wife of 23 years . Recent podcast guests Chris Raspante (episode 2) and Neil Schnell (episode 8) would be joining me. Chris and Neil did indeed join the party, accompanied by singer songwriter Lannie Flow...

Terry LaPorta says her daughter's singing started out as a hobby, but that by age 11 she was performing in Nashville honky-tonks. Her now 16-year old daughter Samantha has since become a Disney Radio artist, and is showing little sign of slowing down. In fact, with the new release of It's a Girl Thing , Samantha LaPorta (featured in episode 24 ) appears poised for a rapid rise in popularity. In th...

Mike Dawson is one of the coolest people I've met in the last year.  He's also a great drummer, podcast host , and Managing Editor at Modern Drummer Magazine; but my favorite Mike Dawson qualities are generosity and humility.  I believe it's these two qualities that brought him back to the podcast to help me celebrate milestone episode 25.  Would you like to know a bit more about him?  Check out e...

Mike Dawson is one of the coolest people I've met in the last year.  He's also a great drummer, podcast host , and Managing Editor at Modern Drummer Magazine; but my favorite Mike Dawson qualities are generosity and humility.  I believe it's these two qualities that brought him back to the podcast to help me celebrate milestone episode 25.  Would you like to know a bit more about him?  Check out e...

At age 16, Samantha LaPorta is the youngest guest I've had on the podcast. Our conversation took place on the same day that her single " It's a Girl Thing " was released. She's a Disney Radio artist, something she always wanted to be, and she's has acquired a number of awards and accolades, including social site Sweety High's Best Holiday Songs of 2016,  NCMA 's 2015   New Teen Artist and Best Tee...

Aki Kumar fell in love with the blues and blues harmonica, but Bollywood pop is part of his music memory. This memory is creating what's likely to become a bonafide genre–Bollywood Blues. You can hear this on his latest album  Aki Goes to Bollywood . Although Aki is of Indian decent, his bold move to mix the blues and Bollywood pop from his childhood started with his love of the Chicago blues soun...

George Brandau is a super connector musician who regularly organizes benefit shows for his local community. He's also a longtime friend and fellow drummer, who's been mentioned on The Unstarving Musician's Podcast a few times. In this episode George and I discuss his superpower for connecting others, and how he goes about organizing and promoting benefit gigs. George and his band Chrome Deluxe hav...

In this episode I chat with rock photographer Neil Zlozower. Neil is considered by many to be one of the best rock photographers of all time, although he refers to himself as merely a "fairly successful photographer." He's photographed many of rock's icons including Zeppelin, The Stones, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Sheryl Crow, Guns & Roses, Eric Clapton, Pantera and many, many, many more. These days...

Michelle Lockey is a performing singer songwriter, composer for film & TV, and creator of Licensing Songs Academy, a community of songwriters & composers that are learning how to write & license music for Film & TV. She's also a three-time Washington Area Music Award Nominee and Grand Prize Winner in the folk category of the 2013 John Lennon Song Contest . My interest in connecting with Michelle w...

Robert Berry's resume includes work with The Greg Kihn Band, Ambrosia, Carl Palmer, Keith Emerson, Sammy Hagar, Jason Bonham, Steve Howe, members of Boston, and Night Ranger. He's passionate about his classic rock holiday band December People, which does community service through food bank donations. He owns and operates Sound Tek Studios in Campbell California, which dramatically expands his resu...

In this episode, I chat with Nashville based singer songwriter Alyssa Trahan . I must admit that I'm blown away by how much Alyssa has accomplished, and by the amount of expertise she's amassed at the young age of 22. She's driven, smart, and talented. I suspect she's going to do big things in country music, despite the droves of talented people with whom she's forced to compete. I got to some fir...

Bree Noble and I were introduced to one another by super-connector D Grant Smith of Appetizer Radio Show and episode 5 of this podcast. Man oh man am I thankful for the introduction. The overused phrase "value bombs" comes to mind when I reflect on this episode. Bree is a value bomber. I just made that one up (and it feels so right). Bree is an advocate for female music entrepreneurs. She founded...

His band's latest album The Defiant Machine was recently recognized by Guitar Player Magazine as one of the most noteworthy albums of the last 50 years. I'm talking about my new friend Bill Lonero. His band LoNero has become known for creating the genre Guitar Core, which is a special brand of instrumental music that has a metal edge. Bill is also the founder of Straptight, a company that has inno...

Born in Denmark, Lee Oskar found his way to New York at age 18 to pursue a career in music. He eventually found his way to LA where people quickly took notice of his unique skills as a harmonica player. This is about the time he met Eric Burdon who went on to be his bandmate in a little funk rock fusion ensemble called War. The ensuing string of hits include "Spill the Wine", "The World Is a Ghett...

I recently discovered Nottingham England's up and comer Lynz Crichton on Twitter, by way of mutual Facebook friends. Intrigued by her current social marketing campaign and her music, I jumped at the chance to bring her on the podcast.   Lynz has a great story. Once upon a time, she had a full time job, took time off to be a full time mum, and then reconnected with her love of music and songwriting...

This episode of The Unstarving Musician's Podcast features a conversation with drummer, vocalist, podcaster, Mac expert, tech dude and self-proclaimed nerd, Dave Hamilton. I first met Dave as a guest on one of his podcasts, GigGab The Working Musician's Podcast ( episode 88 ). Dave is a formally trained musician, which garners a lot of points with me. But he's a lot more… Dave cofounded The Mac Ob...

This episode of The Unstarving Musician's Podcast features a conversation with country singer songwriter and friend Mira Goto. We became acquainted in 2014 whilst gigging around the South San Francisco Bay Area, where I had the opportunity to drum for Mira in a couple of different bands comprised of mutual friends. I was highly impressed the first time I heard her guitar playing and voice; and tha...

This week's episode of The Unstarving Musician's Podcast features yours truly, in solo fashion. There are a couple of noteworthy themes that have emerged from interviews I've done for the podcast and my book, the importance of networking and helping other succeed. I share some personal experience and more importantly the experience of several guests of this podcast.   As mentioned during the episo...

This episode features a conversation with John "Kiko" Carney, a versatile Panama based guitarist and new friend. John has and continues to perform throughout Panama, the US and Europe as a full time original artist.   His resume is impressive. He's opened for the likes of Bo Diddley, Styx, Little Richard, and Clint Black; and he's backed such legendary artists as Joe Cocker and Percy Sledge.  He's...

This episode of The Unstarving Musician's Podcast features yet another one of my good friends, Paul Kent.    At the time of our conversation, Paul was on track to perform well over 100 gigs in 2017, which is his norm--and he gets paid well doing it.    Paul is cohost of the wildly popular Gig Gag Podcast, which is a podcast for working musicians. His eleven piece band, The Houserockers has been a...

This episode of The Unstarving Musician's Podcast features another former bandmate and friend Neil Schnell.   Neil is a gigging, touring machine, who performs solo shows, as well as shows with Dallas Fort Worth favorites Velvet Love Box and The Lannie Flowers Band.   We talk about his published work, his views selecting collaborators, how musical self-indulgence has been a good thing for his caree...

This episode of The Unstarving Musician's Podcast features my conversation with my good friend and former bandmate Jim Kisselburg. As a longtime weekend warrior musician/guitarist, Jim has done it all, from cover bands to originals. He's also a featured member of a band I loved back in the day, Daddy's Soul Donut. Check out their album Scarecrowes on iTunes, Spotify and/or CD Baby.    In addition...

This episode of The Unstarving Musician's Podcast features my conversation with John Wolff Director/Producer of The Bouquete Jazz and Blues Festival, which takes place annually in Boquete, Panama in Central America.    John is also President of The Bouquete Jazz and Blues Festival Foundation. Given that this festival is known as "The Biggest Little Music Festival" in the world, I ask John for advi...

This episode of The Unstarving Musician's Podcast features a conversation with host of indie radio station The Appetizer Radio Show, D Grant Smith.   D Grant is what he likes to call an audience growth farmer. His long-time mission is not only to curate quality music in album format, but also help musicians be better and growing their careers. He's also the author of a book that I highly recommend...