Afleveringen
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Today’s guest makes me feel old fashioned. Or maybe I want to drink an Old Fashioned. Either way I am fortunate enough to have Stella Cole on the podcast! She blew up TikTok with her faithful renditions of the Great American Songbook. She tells me about how she became obsessed with old music and musicals from an early age. But she was always cautious about pursuing music as a career. Like when she was attending Northwestern University; she double majored in theater and international relations as a way of hedging her bets. She also minored in German (and even she isn’t sure why)! But some bad experiences there really shook her confidence and she stopped singing for quite a while. Then the pandemic hit and she moved back home. That’s when her dad suggested she record some videos of herself singing the music she loved. She chose TikTok because it was a new platform and she figured none of her friends would be on it. Well she now has over a million followers all over social media. She talks about her meteoric rise and how she has rebuilt her confidence. She’s on tour supporting her debut album, P.S. I Love You and has recorded a Christmas album! Follow her @stellakcole on socials. Go to stellacole.net to buy her album P.S. I Love You, or her Christmas album, Snow. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Fuel us at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s step back in time with Stella Cole on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest makes me feel blessed. Her name is Miist. She’s a singer/songwriter with an incredible story. She grew up in China and had no ambitions of being a musician. She would sing songs with her father as a kid but that was really the extent of her musical experience. She moved to Canada where she was an accountant. But a startling cancer misdiagnosis completely changed her life. She bought a ukulele and began singing as a way of working through her cancer treatments. She would post them on Instagram, which is how she met her future husband! But she still didn’t consider herself a musician. It wasn’t until a friend encouraged her to give songwriting a try, that she realized her gift. She figured she’d do it just to get him off her back. She wrote three songs that day. Since then she’s worked with her friend and producer Narada Michael Walden, wrote with luminaries like Carlos Santana, and has released her first album, The Songs From The Living Room. It is truly one of the most incredible stories I’ve heard since starting this podcast. Please follow Miist @miistthesinger on social media. You can go to miistthesinger.com to get the links and to buy her debut album. Or stream it on your platform of choice. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our merch is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. And/Or fuel us with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now it’s time to let Miist tell her story on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest is Dave Trumfio and he makes me feel empathetic…towards robots. Dave and his brother Harry have been in bands together since Dave was 8 years old. Their first band started then and lasted through high school! In fact, at their high school talent show, they managed to snag the final spot so they could play the entire first side of Rush’s 2112 album! Dave also performs an a capella version of the first song he ever wrote. This is when he started getting into production, as well. He started on cassettes and started working in studios, learning how to mic and record.
He was still recording with his brother and they eventually formed the duo Pulsars. With Pulsars, they decided to do things their own way, which stirred up a lot of major label interest back in the 90’s. Things happened quickly. Their first gig set them on a path to open for some pretty heavy hitters. But then their label closed up shop and Harry decided to go back to school. So Pulsars fizzled out. They may have been gone but they weren’t forgotten. They’ve had a legion of loyal fans. And now they have re-released their debut, the self-titled Pulsars album. And that’s just the beginning. Dave discusses how much music they found and what the future plans are for it and the band. So check them out on socials @pulsarsband and go get the reissued debut.
Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Slide us coffee money @ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Grab our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. And I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dave Trumfio as much as I did on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest makes me happy. It’s legendary drummer, Chris Slade. From his humble beginnings, he became the go-to drummer for some of the biggest names in rock. He tells me about the entertainment gene that runs through his family, buying his way out of school so he could play drums, and how working in a show shop got him a gig with Tom Jones. And speaking of Tom Jones, Chris tells what really happened with the infamous Tom Jones panty story. Chris had the opportunity to record with Joe Meek, who fascinates me. After Tom Jones, Chris found himself in a band with Olivia Newton-John where he was payed and didn’t play a note. But some of Chris’ most well known work was yet to come. He played on the biggest hits by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (yes, including Blinded By The Light).He tells an amazing story about both David Gilmour and Jimmy Page. I discovered Chris during his time with Jimmy and the band The Firm. After that, he joined AC/DC for five years and played in the enormous Russian show for 1.5 million people!
He has a new album out with his own band, Chris Slade Timeline. It a double album with one disc being originals and the other covers of songs from his long and storied career; hence the name Timeline. Check out chrisslade.com for links and ways to buy the album. Check out @PerformanceAnx on socials and performanceanx.threadless.com for merch. And if you’re feeling generous, ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety to send coffee money. Now buckle up for a wild ride with Chris Slade on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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This episode of Side Projects honors the legacy of the late, great, legendary keyboardist Bernie Worrell. His friend and colleague Evan Taylor talks about the posthumous album he produced called Wave From The WOOniverse. It contains 12 previously unfinished Bernie Worrell compositions and 1 unreleased Funkadelic song. It’s been a two year labor of love for Evan and Bernie’s widow, Judie. And the amount of guests on this double album is staggering. There’s Will Calhoun from Living Colour, Mike Watt, Norwood Fisher from Fishbone, Marc Ribot, Fred Schneider, Sean Ono Lennon, Bootsy Collins, and a lot more.
Evan tells me how he met and began working with Bernie, initially, and how they hung out at Evan’s parent’s house in New Jersey. He talks about his history with Bernie and how he and his record label, Loantaka Records, were tapped to head this project. It wasn’t always easy to get the music together, but it gave some great stories, which he shares. So grab the album wherever you get music. Follow Evan @evantaylorthe artist or @loantakarecords. You can also check out @bernieworrellofficial. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our stuff is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now, let’s enter the WOOniverse with Evan Taylor on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest has done so many things that I would like to do. And he tells us all about it. Welcome bassist and founding member of A Monkey Shine, George Tolias. George joins us from Athens…Greece, not Georgia. He got a late start in music. He didn’t start playing until his wife bought him a bass about 20 years ago! But he’s a quick study. Once he got comfortable, he started playing in a cover band. But they had an unusual set list.
George describes what it’s like to play non-Greek rock music in Athens and how he wound up in New Orleans. After staying quite a bit longer than expected, he moved to France…to become a chef. But no matter where he goes, he’s joining bands. After moving back to Greece, George decided to get serious about his own band, A Monkey Shine. But then COVID hit so it essentially started as a solo project. But it has grown by leaps and bounds. George also gives up the origin of the band’s name, the difficulties of finding a singer who could sing well in English, and the secret origin of his bass. He also talks about the most special song on the album that he wrote for his mom, which also features Duke Garwood.
A Monkey Shine’s debut is out and there’s a vinyl version, too! Check it out on Bandcamp. He’s also working on some tour dates in the near future. So follow him @amonkeyshine_official on Instagram or look for them on Facebook. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Slide us some coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now it's time to get up to no good with my friend George from A Monkey Shine on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest makes me feel a little bit country AND a little bit rock and roll. Welcome singer/songwriter Pamela McNeill to the podcast. She has accomplished so much in her career. But it all started in Winona, MN. She talks to me about the music scene there and what event set her mind on being a musician. She talks about some unusual things about her like being a massive fan of Rush, working as a clown at the Ground Round restaurant and how that led to her first real musical job. Soon enough she was playing cover bands, which led to a gig with the legendary Lamont Cranston, where she got a real education in the music business. That led to a gig opening for the one and only Etta James! But a serious relationship led her to the UK where she entered the orbit of the man himself…Rick Astley, back in his first heyday. That led to a bit of karmic retribution for one particular member of Bananarama.
And all the while, she’s writing her own music. She wrote Yanni’s first lyrical song, wrote for Wynonna Judd, wrote with Pam Tillis, and many others. And when she finally made her own albums, she blew it out of the water. She has been releasing music steadily since 1998 and has a new EP out called Wave After Wave on Farm To Label records. Think Fleetwood Mac playing country music and you start to get a feel for it. Check it out wherever you get music. Go buy it and follow her on socials @pamelamcneillmusic. Check out pamelamcneill.com for tour and music info. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Pick up merch at performanceanx.threadless.com including our new Spinal Tap inspired logo. Pay for our coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. So get ready for a story with so many twists and turns with Pamela McNeill on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest should probably do his own podcast. Welcome John Ford Coley to the show. He’s a great storyteller with a lifetime of stories to share. He grew up outside of Dallas where he was classically trained on piano as a kid. He grew up on opera, show tunes, and church music. But rock and roll wormed its way into his soul and he struck a deal with his piano teacher to show him how to play popular songs. While John is most well known for his band England Dan and John Ford Coley and what is now known as yacht rock. But his early bands were a bit heavier. At one point, he even opened for Vanilla Fudge and Led Zeppelin. But that’s when John and Dan started creating their softer music.
John talks about how he met his musical partner, Dan Seals, and how they got their monikers, England Dan and John Ford Coley. He reveals the greatest mistake he’s ever made, the coincidence that got him in the studio to watch a Joni Mitchell session, and working with former podcast subject, Jim Gordon. After hits like I’d Really Love To See You Tonight, Sad To Belong, & We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again, the duo had run its course. John played in some other musical projects before getting into acting. His Godfather connections helped out there. He eventually left music all together. But he couldn’t stay away forever. The emergence of yacht rock revitalized his career (except in The Philippeans, where he’s basically royalty). He tours, playing his hits and telling stories. I’ve seen him live and it’s a treat. Check him out on Facebook at John F, Coley. His music is streaming and also on his website johnfordcoley.com where you can stay up to date with him. You can follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. We accept coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s party like it's 1979 with John Ford Coley on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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This is such a cool episode. We’re talking all things theremin with Nick Kizirnis and Pamelia Stickney. This episode has been a long time in the making and well worth the wait. There’s some theremin history and some rumors about the inventor. Nick and Pam discuss how the instrument works and what weird things affect the sound and performance. I learn how to tune a theremin, what a thereminist’s worst nightmare is and if anyone has ever done a theremin version of dueling banjos.
Nick has a new album out called Every Moment. Grab it wherever you buy music nowadays. Check out his website, nickkizirnis.com or @nickkizirnis on instagram for more news. Check out Pamelia’s music and all of her bands on Facebook or @blueblut_in_vienna on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send us coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s jump into the theremin on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. It isn’t just for sci-fi anymore.
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Today’s guest is literally progressive. Let’s welcome Corey Schenck of the band Pangaea to the podcast. Corey was a late-bloomer, musically speaking. He didn’t pick up an instrument until late into high school. But it was such a deep connection that he went to college and received several degrees in it. He talks about how his love of music pushed him through the more challenging college courses. He now teaches music on the college level. He formed the band that would eventually become Pangaea during his studies but the original name was Artica. He explains how they changed the band name to something in a lyric and how some band name considerations became song titles. But before the albums came their cover song period. They would play a huge mix of songs until they decided they needed to focus on their originals. That meant a new name and a focus on their original music, which was more progressive. And while Corey is the main songwriter in the group, everyone contributes to at least one song on each album.
Corey describes the prog scene in Tulsa, OK in the late 80’s and early 90’s. But the shows were impressive, especially with their refusal to this day, to use backing tracks. But after years of writing, recording, and gigging the band decided to take a hiatus. That lasted 18 years. Corey also reveals what ended the hiatus and how the idea for a new album happened. That album is now available and is called Beowulf. It has the complex epic tracks Pangaea is known for but it has much more than that. It does contain their most adventurous music to date, particularly the song Wasape, which inspired the album title. Find it wherever you get music now. Check out their website, pangaea.band, for more links to their music, merch, and socials. Check out our socials @PerformanceAnx. Our merch is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. Feed us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now get ready for an adventure with Corey Schenck of Pangaea on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest really brings back some memories. Please welcome Sheila Shukla from Magnolia Street String Band. Sheila and I go way back. Like WAAAAAY back, all the way to elementary school. There’s a little bit of catching up in this episode, sprinkled throughout Sheila’s story. She talks about how she used to force her sister, Rita, to help her figure out harmonies she was hearing before they could go out and play. And eventually, growing up in 80’s and 90’s New Jersey, she got into metal and alternative music pretty heavily.
But at one point, she became mesmerized by bluegrass. She tells exactly what happened and when it happened. She became so obsessed with the sound in college and had a great support system to help her learn guitar and figure out how to play what she was hearing in her head.
But life snuck in and put some of the musical ambitions on hold for a bit. But music has a tendency to make its way to the forefront. And so it did with Sheila. She met some like-minded folks and formed Magnolia Street String Band in 2013. The band has a very impressive pedigree and a beautiful classic bluegrass sound. After some false starts, they released their debut in 2019 and then had to wait with the rest of the world for things to open up post-COVID to play again.
Sheila and the band have a new album coming out and it’s unique in the bluegrass world. It’s called By The Light Of The Moon and it’s basically a children’s album that doesn’t sound childish. It’s written for kids, keeping in mind that parents have to listen to it at the same time. So why not make it enjoyable for both? Look for it starting on National Children’s Music Day, October 4th. Follow Magnolia Street String Band on Facebook, @mssbmusic on Instagram, or go to magnoliastreetstringband.com. Give us a follow @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & X. Merch is available at performanceanx.threeadless.com. Support our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And get ready for a very sweet episode with Sheila Shukla of Magnolia Street String Band on Performance Anxiety, part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest exemplifies perseverance; and not just with his music but with this podcast. There were a few technical issues which have, hopefully, been overcome with clever editing. Welcome the one and only Robyn Hitchcock. He’s written a memoir about his life in 1967. In fact, it’s called 1967, How I Got There And Why I Never Left. It’s a very unique take on a memoir that works so well. But before we hit on the book, Robyn helps me set things up by going over his life BEFORE 1967. He also talks about things that happened AFTER 1967, like forming The Soft Boys and why they broke up and then reunited at one of Matthew Seligman’s parties. Robyn talks about his solo career, why he went solo in the first place, and why he considers himself the reverse of an innovator. We also discuss some of the unique aspects of his solo work; like teaming up with Grant Lee Phillips, doing a film project with the late, great Jonathan Demme, and after decades of being a singer/songwriter, releasing an album that is entirely instrumental.Once we do get into the book, itself, there are even more amazing stories, like discovering Bob Dylan, learning a bit about guitar, and attending The Happening with Brian Eno. Did you know Eno was the app, developed in 1967? That’s a science fact. Another science fact is how good his memoir is. So go grab it from Akashic Books, Little Brown Books, or wherever you buy books these days. Follow Robyn @robynhitchcockofficial on Instagram & @robynhitchcock on X. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on both. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Contribute to our coffee fund at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Let’s take a trip back to 1967 with Robyn Hitchcock and maybe we won’t leave either on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Today’s guest has been through it. But he hasn’t let it stop him.Welcome T Bear to the show. Born Richard Gerstein, he grew up spending time in both New York City and the Caribbean. He was playing pretty early on. In fact, he was invited to his first studio session at the age of just 17…by Richie Havens! Soon after, he was discovered by the KISS camp and began writing with the band. That helped him secure his first record deal, which led to the name change and a disco smash hit called Sunshine Hotel. Yeah the 70’s were wild! Now rebranded as T Bear, he continued writing, recording, and playing with artists like Stephen Stills in Manassas and Crosby, Still, & Nash as well as his own solo albums. He has some great stories about recording the Daylight Again album. But after spending time writing with Stills and working with Greg Kihn and others, T Bear went on a 25 year hiatus. He talks about what happened, what he was doing instead of music, and what (and who) brought him back. He has recently released a new album that has some amazing cameos and a killer core band. It’s called The Way Of The World and if you like songs that tell stories, you’re going to love it. T Bear opened up and was very candid about some of the rough times he’s gone through and I’m grateful I can now call him a friend. Go grab the album, on Quarto Valley Records. Follow him on social media @richard_tbear on Instagram and T. Bear on Facebook. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Grab our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Feed us coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now it’s time for some stories with T. Bear on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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This episode of Side Projects sees the return of Steve Dawson and Mark Mallman. They join me to discuss song structure. We go over some basic terms and structures that are typical and atypical. We talk about songs like The Wreck Of The Edmunds Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot, Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin, and others.
Is a successful song necessarily a GOOD song? Are streaming services, algorithms, & metrics changing pop song structures? Does the music delivery system (records, CD’s, streaming) play a part in the song structure that’s popular within that system? Steve studies the structure of a Taylor Swift song and Steve and Mark discuss where song structure might be headed in the future. Wrap up talking about Steve’s new album, which was recorded live, and Mark’s book, new music he’s writing, and how this conversation has inspired him. Go to stevedawsonmusic.com or Pravda Records to grab his new album. Follow him @stevedawso on Instagram.Follow Mark Mallman @markmallman on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on Instagram and X. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send money for coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now get ready to know everything you wanted to know about song structures on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guests made me laugh. A lot. I’d like to welcome Jake Zavracky and Elizabeth LeBaron to the show. Together they make up The Dream Eaters. And this entire episode could have gone off the rails at any moment. From the very beginning things were different than just about any other show. For example, doing the actual podcast took Elizabeth by surprise. And once we got everything going, Jake and Elizabeth had different views on things like how they met and how they came up with the band’s name. There are a ton of hilarious stories in this one; like Jake’s contributions to The Sopranos, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, NCIS and the GamePlay Network. And Elizabeth discusses the legend of the stolen clarinet. I also learn what patent leather pants have to do with having a large vocabulary.The Dream Eaters is not your normal band. In fact, the idea was initially for a show, not a band. That explains things like why many songs are under 30 seconds in length. And speaking of the music, going back and listening to their catalog blew me away. Not only is the music good, they play in a lot of different styles. The reason for that could be because, as Elizabeth says, Jake is the songwriter and she is the director/sidekick.There has always been an element of humor to the music but there was a point at which it comes to the forefront and doesn’t leave. Jake and Elizabeth talk about how they come up with some of their most ridiculous songs. In fact, we kind of almost write a song during the podcast. That alone is worth the price of admission! So check out Jake & Elizabeth @wearethedreameaters on Instagram and @thedreameaters on everything else including TikTok, where they post a bunch of their videos. Pick up all their music on Bandcamp. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Our merch can be found at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can keep us awake with money for coffee at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prepare to expect the unexpected with Jake & Elizabeth of The Dream Eaters on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Today’s guest makes me feel so excited and I just can’t hide it. It’s The Pointer Sisters. No. No it’s not. Please welcome David Hakopyan of Antenna The End. And I have to thank Jamie Park and Teen Cancer America for connecting us.
David grew up in one of the biggest Armenian communities in the world outside of Armenia, itself. He was influenced equally by rock and Armenian folk music. But music wasn’t always his focus. For a while as a teen, he thought he might be an illustrator. He was the counterfeit Pushead guy in his school. And if that doesn’t make sense, it will after you listen. Or go look up Pushead.
He got serious about music when he started playing in an Armenian, revolutionary, folk, alternative rock band with Serj Tankian called Forever Young. After cheating on that band with another, he started Soil with Serj and Daron Malakian. David discusses the one and only live show they played and its biggest pitfall.
David and his bands, like Apex Theory & Mt. Helium, have always been hyper-focused on sounding original, to the point of making sure no one was listening to the big rock stations in LA. They’d do spot checks on each others’ radios.
David’s new band is Antenna The End. And you can absolutely tell that it’s David’s band. He started writing after the kinds of personal issues that get a guy writing music. He also tells me when he came up with the band’s unique name. The debut EP will be out soon, but David gives us a sneak peak at the music and stories behind the band’s formation and the music he’s created. Check them out @antennatheend on Instagram & Facebook. Keep an eye out for the EP release in early August. And give him a call at…you know what, don’t do that. BUT, follow us @PerformanceAnx on Instagram & Twitter. Reach out, we don’t bite. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or donate some coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now I hope you enjoy the awesome conversation I had with David Hakopyan of Antenna The End on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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The Side Projects series of this podcast gives me a lot of latitude regarding subject matter. Occasionally, I like to go down a rabbit hole on a specific band. But I think this is the first time I’ve been able to do that with band members, themselves. Please welcome Robert Poss and Karen Haglof of Band Of Susans. They’ve both been on the podcast. In fact they were very early episodes and we were past due for a catch up session. Both Robert and Karen have new albums out so it seemed like the perfect time to do a deep dive into Band Of Susans and talk about their new music, at the same time. We actually ended up doing it the other way around. Band Of Susans is one of the bands I can point to and say “They changed the music I listen to” without being hyperbolic. And it all stemmed from an album cover with my favorite car on it.Karen left the band after the Love Agenda album and went on to do a few minor things, like medical school, oncology, you know…not music stuff. Robert has kept his feet firmly in the business by doing all kinds of unique projects, including solo albums.As I mentioned, they both have new releases this year; Drones, Songs, & Fairy Dust by Robert and One Hand Up by Karen. Look them up wherever you get music. Both albums really touch on so many different styles of music. Get them both and you’ll definitely find something for you in there. Follow them both on social media; just look up their names, they’re easy to find. Look us up @PerformanceAnx on socials and grab our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Keep us awake at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prep yourself for my Love Agenda on Band Of Susans with Robert Poss & Karen Hagloff on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Today’s guest reminds me that there is some amazing talent out there that needs to be heard. Welcome Jackie Popovec from Youngstown, Ohio’s own The Vindys. She’s a powerhouse vocalist whose voice is a Venn Diagram of some heavy hitters like Amy Winehouse, Christina Aguilera, & Carrie Underwood. And the rest of the band ain’t so bad either. They rock with an early Chicago sound. Think Terry Kath meets Eddie Van Halen with killer horns. They’ve been around for over ten years now, but Jackie has been singing for a bit longer than that. She and the band started off doing covers and sneaking in an original here and there. Now they’re doing their own stuff and throwing in covers you wouldn’t think of!But this whole conversation starts off with horror movies. And Spinal Tap. And how Jackie started writing songs. She was in her teens and her dad knew some people in some venues who would let a teenage Jackie play her own music. She was always drawn to belters but hearing jazz greats like Etta James, Sarah Vaughan, & Ella Fitzgerald really changed her approach.The band was poised to record a new album this summer when they were asked to join Pat Benetar on tour. So they made the obvious choice to put the album on hold and explore some new markets opening for a legend. And their live show is amazing! They’ve written a song for the Pittsburgh Pirates that was picked up by ESPN, they’ve played with a symphony orchestra, and are on a steady upward trajectory. Check out their music wherever you check out your music. See them on tour this summer with Pat Benetar. Follow them @TheVindys on social media. Check out their YouTube channel for great unreleased stuff. Check us out @PerformanceAnx on social media. Our merch is available at performanceanx.threadless.com. Keep us up with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now brace yourself for the amazing Jackie Popovec of The Vindys on Performance Anxiety; part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Today’s guest proves that hard work and patience will pay off. Welcome Tom Kanach of KANAK to the podcast. Tom is from New Jersey, so naturally we start razzing each other almost from the start. Tom talks about manipulating his situation so his brother would get an unwanted plastic drum set in order to start his first band. But he would really get serious about being in a band after a chance meeting in a school bathroom. Relax…everyone is a kid in this story. He’s been writing music longer than he can remember. He even has recordings of some of these songs. Maybe we can get him to re-record Happy Tonk Town for the next KANAK album.
After doing what teenagers do (sneaking into clubs underage to see his favorite bands) he played in some bands with potential but could never seem to get the break they needed. But he made some great connections along the way. One of those connections had him playing with Doro on one of her albums. But after a while, life things happened. Tom started a family and got a job. But he never stopped writing. That’s why his first solo release is 30 songs long.
Tom has a new project and it’s the best work I’ve heard from him. It’s called KANAK and it’s obviously a palindromic simplification of his last name. But that ended up complicating things, instead. The band and new EP feature some great players like Pete Wood, Jow Rowley, Jonny Rao, & Ed Stasium. Pick it up at kanakmusic.com or wherever you find music now. Follow them at KANAK Music on Facebook or @TomKanach on Instagram. Follow us @Performance Anx. Our stuff is located at performanceanx.threadless.com. Keep us awake with coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s get down to some serious business with Tom Kanach of KANAK on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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Today’s guest makes me feel inspired. I welcome Lex Borrero to the program. He’s the very definition of rags-to-riches. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he emigrated with his mother to the US to start a new life from scratch. His first taste of success came after selling candy and burned CD’s to buy a pair of Jordans when he was a kid. But Lex wasn’t (and he’ll admit, still isn’t) a musician. Instead, he has an innate ability to know a good story and a talent for communication. He talks about his professional arc; how he started as a young producer trying to update the sound of Christian artists. That led to one of two times he was kicked out of church!But Lex always believed in himself, even when he moved to New York City for a music internship and wound up homeless for about a year.But his persistence and altruism has paid off tenfold. He has worked with artists like Tainy, Maroon 5, and Bad Bunny. His architectural approach to building up artists and companies coupled with his drive to create has led to the success of NEON16, AM16, and NTERTAIN. That’s why he has branched into TV and movies. He is the force behiind hit shows like La Firma on Netflix and The Montaners on Disney Plus. His drive is relentless!If you want to know what’s up & coming in music and TV, follow Lex and his companies @lexborrero, @neon16, @am16agency, & @ntertainstudios (w/o the N) on all the socials. You can follow us @PerformanceAnx on those same socials. You can check out merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can slide us some coffee money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now, you can be inspired by Lex Borrero on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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