Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer

John Atkins is the singer, guitarist and founding member of bands 764-Hero, Magic Magicians, The Can't See and currently, his collaboration with James Van Leuven, Sun Breaks. In this episode, Joe and John share some stories from their time together on the road and John rapid fires his tour anecdotes and tales to his own soundtrack. It's fun and funny! Music by John Atkins.  Episode sponsored by Iz...

Nick Waterhouse is a singer, songwriter and guitarist based in Los Angeles. Since 2010 he's recorded and produced several records, using largely vintage and analog equipment. In this episode Nick tells what embarrassing habits he's picked up during pandemic and how he's traded his home sickness for road sickness. Joe and Nick share stories about their experience recording at London's "Toe Rag" stu...

Yuuki Matthews is a mixer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. For the Last 20 years he has collaborated and toured with The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, David Bazan, Tomo Nakayama and his project with Richard Swift, Teardrops. In this episode Yuuki tells us two stories. The first one involves the most unlikely name befuddle rock n roll has ever heard. In the second he tells us how he survived a headlin...

Charlie Hall is a multi instrumentalist, a singer, and the drummer for The War On Drugs. In his involuntary break from touring with The War On Drugs in 2020, he's found himself working on his own music, listening to The Fleetwoods and missing getting together with his pals for a sing along around the piano. In this episode, Joe and Charlie talk improvising, the Great British Baking Show and what D...

This is a celebration of Sam Jayne. Sam's bands Lync and Love As Laughter were both contemporaries and influential to northwest bands Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, 764-Hero and Beck throughout the 90's and 2000's. In this episode we hear some favorite stories about Sam from his friends and family and what their favorite songs meant to them. Thank You Sam. Use Code Fret10 for a free month of Music...

Tour Stories presents Whittaker, a Special Ruinous Media Production  We all want to celebrate, restore, and responsibly manage our wilderness areas. When Bobby Whittaker got off the road with REM and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, he did too, and that’s exactly what happened. In this podcast, Bobby Whittaker combines his tour managing skills and his love for outdoor community to conquer the hearts and minds...

David Bazan is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Seattle Washington. For over 20 years he has recorded, toured and self-produced his bands Pedro The Lion , The Headphones and many variations of his solo efforts. In this episode, David and Joe discuss the possibility and culture of future touring with the news of a Covid-19 vaccine. David tells us about the adjustments to his life...

Gary Jarman is a founding member, singer and bass player for the Wakefield band The Cribs. Like most rock and rollers, Gary has been stuck at home for most of the pandemic, dealing with the bands legal issues and the frustration of not being able to support a new record and tour for over two years. Joe and Gary discuss how a boxing regiment has helped him cope, what it was like recording at The Fo...

After a year of Tour Stories and The Check-In. We've decided to celebrate with a re-play of our first episode with Brian Teasly. Brian Teasley of Man or Astroman? and The Polyphonic Spree sees the terror of traveling with a microphone. FBI, Taco Bell and Tevo. Enjoy. Music By Man or Astroman? and Joe Plummer Use Code Fret10 for a free month of Music Production Suite Pro and a 10% discount on all o...

Wax Tailor is a DJ and producer from Vernon, France. His upcoming record "In the Shadow Of Their Sons" was written and recorded over the spring and summer of 2020 in middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. The record touches on the political and economic effects of a pandemic when the economic inequality gap is ever widening. Releasing on January 8th 2021, "In the Shadow of Their Sons" features guests D...

Tim Kinsella has been a working musician for over 20 years. He is a founding member of Chicago bands Cap'n Jazz, Joan of Arc, and his newest effort, Good Fuck, which he started with his wife Jenny Pulse. He has written two novels,The Karaoke Singer's Guide to Self-Defense and Let Go and Go On and On, and also wrote and directed the film Orchard Vale. In this episode, Joe and Tim talk election fati...

Steve McDonald has covered the Rock n Roll gamut. It began when he and his brother started the influential hardcore band Red Cross when Steve was 11 years old. Since then he has toured the world, stopped touring to produce records, and started up again with not one, but three touring bands, The Melvins, Off! and Redd Kross. Steve tells Joe what he's doing to cope with being "grounded" during the p...

We bring you a special replay episode with Dale Crover of The Melvins. It has a surprise story from the punk legend Keith Morris of The Circle Jerks, Black Flag and OFF! Dale Crover of The Melvins meets Buford T Justice Take a break from vote counting and enjoy. Episode brought to you by The Red E Cafe, Portland, Oregon Music by Off!, Palm Fronds, Dale Crover and Joe Plummer. Use Code Fret10 for a...

Mark Guiliana is a drummer, composer and teacher. He's done extensive touring and recording in the jazz world both as a band leader and a sideman. He's also delved into the rock, recording with David Bowie on the record BlackStar and Matt Cameron on his solo record Cavedweller. Joe and Mark talk pandemic coping strategies and how Mark is trying to stay on top of his game when and if things get bac...

Patrick Carney is a producer, drummer and founding member of The Black Keys. He has been touring, engineering and producing records for the last 20 years. In this episode Patrick tells us how he encountered 26 men dressed in Santa Claus suits in the middle of July on the first Black Keys tour in 2002. Enjoy. Music by Patrick Carney and Joe Plummer   Register To Vote Use Code Fret10 for a free mont...

Joe talks with Vera Ellen and Libby Hsieh from Girl Friday during 6th month of the Covid-19 pandemic. They discuss the positive effects a pandemic may have on their community, what different versions of protesting mean and why making yourself put on cozy socks and reading a book may be better for not just you, but the rest of the world. We hear a song from their new record Androgynous Mary and the...

Fred Armisen is a writer, comedian and actor. He's written, created and acted in dozens of TV shows (Portlandia, Los Espooky's, Documentry Now!), was the band leader for Late Night with Seth Meyers and a cast member of Saturday Night Live for over 10 years. He's also seen his fair share of touring, either as a the drummer for the 90's band Trenchmouth or a comedian doing his one man show "Standup...

Densil Mcfarlane is a singer, songwriter and guitarist for the Toronto based band The OBGM's. In this episode we discuss his new view on protesting and how he believes it can advance change. He reminds us that none of us have experienced a pandemic, and we can all learn and support each other through our uncharted future. We also hear a couple tunes from the forthcoming OBGM's record, The Ends. En...

Dann Gallucci is a musician, engineer and producer from the Northwest. Over the last 20 years, he's toured and recorded with Modest Mouse, The Murder City Devils, and Cold War Kids. He's produced dozens of songs and released A Gun Called Tension, a dynamic collaboration with Sean Reveron and other NW musicians. Since relocating to Los Angeles, Dann has delved into the podcast world, producing Bull...

Jon Wurster is the drummer for Superchunk, The Mountain Goats and Bob Mould. He's also a comedy writer and has created many character "guests" on Tom Scharplings' "The Best Show". Joe and Jon get to catch up after not seeing each other on the road for a couple years. They discuss the North Carolina political climate, Jon's pandemic routine and the documentary's that Jon's been watching in his down...

Hutch Harris is a musician, songwriter and producer from Portland Oregon. He was also the singer and guitarist for The Thermals. On what winds up being The Thermals last tour, they find themselves running from a tornado en route to a show in Denver. Naturally, Hutch, who may have eaten a few too many "edibles", deals with it by writing an "epic, scary, tornado song" in the back of the van. Find ou...

Alicia Bagnanno is an audio engineer and the founding member of the Sub Pop band Bully. Like most rock bands in the world, her touring has been cancelled and she's unable to support her new record Sugaregg. When she's not doing press and promotion for the new release, she's running, meditating and listening to "Birthday" by the Sugarcubes. We also discuss the importance of Nashvilles ground level...

Joe talks with Chris Slorach of Metz during the pandemic. They discuss non-touring life, creating a memorable experiences for your children and why teaching anti-racism is more powerful than "non racism" for future generations. Chris also tells us why he thinks Scott Walker is the coolest person in the world and pays his respects to Vern Rumsey of Unwound. We hear two new Metz tunes. Enjoy. Music...

Kaelen Ohm is an actor, filmmaker and songwriter. Her multimedia project Amaara is releasing their second record "Heartspeak" in August 2020. During the quarantine, Kaelen has found the time to make a video for each song on the release which will ultimately tie together as a larger single piece film. In this episode, Kaelen tells us how the BLM movement has motivated her to further educate on hers...

Buzz Osborne co-founded The Melvins over 30 years ago. They have toured the world many times over and have released 30+ records. Since their first tour, his work ethic and dedication to rock and roll sustainability has kept them on the road and putting out great, thoughtful records almost annually. In this episode Buzz tells us about the first Melvins tour with southern California hardcore band RK...