WTTS In Conversation

Cotter Ellis talks about how Indy is quickly becoming one of his favorite midwestern cities, and details on recording material for their latest album Everything Must Go ; plus he gets candid on the band’s pre-show ritual. Goose plays Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park on June 12

The founding keyboardist talks about how quickly the band fell back into the groove after a 6-year gap between albums, and elaborates on the band’s connection to each other and how their initial bond as friends has kept the band strong and healthy. He also elaborated on specific songs, and how the place called Rushmere became a focal point for not only this album, but this point in the band’s care...

The founding bassist joins Matt Pelsor for a chat about his playing, his hobbies, his latest musical rabbit holes, and one particular song on the latest album Lend Me A Hand that the host loved and was delighted to learn more about. String Cheese Incident will play Brown County Music Center on May 23rd, 2025.

Morning host (and Barenaked Ladies superfan) Matt Pelsor sat down with frontman Ed Robertson for a chat spanning topics such as career turning points, the surprise focus on "One Week" as the single for the highly-successful Stunt album, their foray into children's music, and reflection on the band's quirky style, as well as Ed's personal mental health journey. Barenaked Ladies bring their Last Sum...

Lucy Dacus joined Matt Pelsor for a zoom call shortly after the release of her latest album, Forever is a Feeling. They talked about the new album, her experience with the success of boygenius, and the 2022 Indy show she played laying on a couch despite having thrown her back out just days before. Lucy Dacus plays a WTTS Rock To Read concert September 16th at Old National Centre! Become a 92-3 VIP...

Charity and Matty spoke with Matt Pelsor about the new song "Arrow," and the forthcoming album Aperture, which comes out May 9th. They also discussed the band's charitable arm, the Rivers and Roads Foundation. See The Head and The Heart August 6th at Everwise Amphtheater at White River State Park

In this bite-sized chat, Keb' Mo' talks to morning host Matt Pelsor ahead of his upcoming Brown County Music Center show with Shawn Colvin (3/20). They discuss his last album Good to Be, and touch on his forthcoming collaboration with blues legend Taj Mahal. Show info & tickets...

In the latest episode, Matt Pelsor sits down with Bear Rinehart, the man behind the solo project known as Wilder Woods. They do a deep dive on his latest album Curioso (out 2/7), unpacking specific songs, as well as working with special guests like Maggie Rose and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James.  Wilder Woods plays the WTTS Rock To Read concert series on Friday, February 21st.

Indiana's own Connor McLaren joins Crystal for a conversation about the music industry and how to break into it through street performances.  Connor would busk at all of his favorite artist's shows.  They talk about his first album, Innocence, and his song "Cliche'," which became a regional favorite. 

The frontman joins Matt Pelsor for a second time to talk about the band’s latest album, Her Way Out, as well as his guitar collection, Big Head Todd’s history at Red Rocks, and his newfound fitness journey.

On the latest episode of the podcast, Toto guitarist and session legend Steve Lukather talked with Matt Pelsor about the outrageous value of his 1959 Les Paul, playing Jeff Beck's white Strat at the Hollywood Bowl (pictured), the legacy of Toto's music, playing with THREE Beatles throughout his career, and so much more.  Toto will play Ruoff Music Center with Men at Work and Christopher Cross on A...

Original member Lonnie Jordan, and longtime producer/manager Jerry Goldstein talk to Matt Pelsor about the new Christmas song “(Yes, It’s) Christmas,” which is based on their hit song “Summer” from 1976. They also discuss being invited to perform “Why Can’t We Be Friends” for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the use of “Low Rider” in Cheech & Chong’s Up In Smoke.

Fiddler Ryan Young talks with Matt Pelsor about Trampled By Turtles’ new EP Always Here and how it parallels another release from frontman Dave Simonett’s other band Dead Man Winter. He also talks about recording at Pachyderm Studio, where Nirvana famously recorded In Utero.

Warren Haynes talks with morning host Matt Pelsor about his new solo album Million Voices Whisper. He also talks about the Soulshine Madison Square Garden benefit show, which just took place on Sunday, 11/24; but you can still donate at the link below: https://www.soulshinemsg.com/

The Kansas keyboardist and musical director spoke with Matt Pelsor about working with a band with a 50-year history like Kansas, and about his previous experience working with artists like Debbie Harry and Meat Loaf. Kansas is playing Brown County Music Center on Saturday, November 23rd.

Mike Campbell shared a phone call with Crystal McKenzie to talk about how his surprise appearance with Bob Dylan came together for Farm Aid 2023. He also touched on playing with Fleetwood Mac, and asking Dave Grohl to play with the Heartbreakers after the demise of Nirvana. They also discussed the new tribute entitled A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty, on which he worked with Margo Price, C...

My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James shares thoughts on the band’s history of charitable giving, and offers perspective on his personal struggles with mental health while recalling a legendary performance at Bonnaroo 2004 in an interview with Matt Pelsor from June 2023. Listen for the new song “Aren’t We One” from My Morning Jacket on 92.3 WTTS.

Upon the news of Sting and Billy Joel playing Lucas Oil Stadium in February, Matt Pelsor dug up an interview from last year with Police drummer Stewart Copeland. They talked about his orchestral performances, showcasing the arrangements done for the album Police: Deranged for Orchestra; as well as his film score work, and the jam band project Oysterhead with Trey Anastasio and Les Claypool.

The co-frontman and IU alumnus talked with Matt Pelsor about tour mates REO Speedwagon's recent breakup announcement, the band's history, and the double album of originals dropping in late November ahead of their September 27th date at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park. For tickets, click here...

Crystal McKenzie recently spoke with Amos Lee, who dropped his latest album  Transmissions  on August 9th, and also put out  Honeysuckle Switches: The Songs of Lucinda Williams  last year. He got into the struggles he has with connecting to folks in a digital world. He also talked about Solomon Dorsey, his stand up bassist using a bow at times to create richer tones in the music. Plus the first ti...

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band will play their first Indianapolis show in two years on August 31st at the HI-FI Annex. Rev talked with Matt about his unique guitar collection, a tour mishap last September, and his thoughts on songwriting. Find tickets at the HI-FI website

Two short interviews this time around with bands coming to town in September. Matt Pelsor talked with Brad Roberts of the Canadian band Crash Test Dummies about the way Canadian media seemed to abandon the group after their breakthrough record God Shuffled His Feet . Crash Test Dummies play Hendricks Live in Plainfield September 18th. Crystal McKenzie then talks with Chris Difford of Squeeze, who...

Crystal McKenzie sat down with Doobie Brothers founding member Pat Simmons to talk about, among other things, his best known song; as well as the song he wrote to benefit the recovery effort from last year's fires in Hawaii. The Doobie Brothers play Ruoff Music Center with special guest Steve Winwood on August 17th.

The founding frontman of Old Crow Medicine Show sits down with Matt Pelsor for a talk about their latest album Jubilee, including the collaborations with Sierra Ferrell, Mavis Staples, and former Old Crow member Willie Watson. He also talks about his songwriting partnership with two-time Bluegrass Grammy winner Molly Tuttle, and what it's like to write a Christmas song in July. Old Crow Medici...

Crystal McKenzie began the chat with a huge compliment to Bridget from Amos Lee that his band has been listening to her new solo album on the bus!!  It's her 4th solo album and is called Comeback Kid.  We also talked about her being a midwestern Iowa girl and a huge Caitlin Clark fan like us here in Indy, plus her love of strange potato chips. Lake Street Dive plays Everwise Amphitheater at Wh...