Category: Music

Entertainment, Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Moon Taxi’s Trevor Terndrup, Spencer Thomson and Tommy Putnam Discuss New Album, the Success of “Two High”
Moon Taxi – Photo by Harper Smith

Nashville’s alt-rock quintet Moon Taxi’s highly anticipated fifth studio album, Let The Record Play, marks the band’s first album for a major label. It’s an infectious, ten-track LP that includes their monster single, “Two High,” which to date has garnered more than 64 million streams on Spotify.

Produced and mixed by Spencer Thomson (who also happens to be the band’s guitarist), Let The Record Play lends itself as easily to home speakers as it does to the band’s dynamic live show.

We recently spoke with frontman Trevor Terndrup, Thomson and bassist Tommy Putnam about the band’s new album, and the incredible success of “Two High.”

To someone who may not be familiar with Moon Taxi, how would you describe Let The Record Play?

Terndrup: It’s a continuation of our story. For people discovering the band for the first time, it’s a great introduction, and hopefully, they’ll go through and check our back catalog. For fans who’ve been with us for more than a decade, they’ll appreciate that it’s a continuation of our songwriting and production skills. We’re always striving to become better songwriters, and we’re getting a more worldwide look with this record.

What was the songwriting process for this record like?

Thomson: One thing we tried to do a little more of on this album was to have a lyrical concept up front. So often, you end up having music that you like, but then you have the task of trying to put lyrics to it. It can slow down the process. What we’ve learned is that if you have an idea, lyrics or a title on the front end, it really helps the song move along and it makes it more of a cohesive concept to work with.

Terndrup: Spencer writes a lot of the lyrics, but everyone generally puts a stamp of approval on it. It’s all collaborative, so it has a pretty thick filter. Usually, it’s one person who comes in with the creative spark, and then the rest of us help push it to the finish line.

Let’s discuss a few tracks from Let The Record Play, starting with “Two High.”

Terndrup: The music and the lyrics both happened within a two-week time frame. The idea came from our keys player, Wes, who sent a text that was an auto-correct fail. He had meant to say, “too high” and it came across as “two high”. He told me about it and I immediately thought about the iconic peace symbol from the sixties. It was right around the same time the Women’s March happened and there was a lot of protesting going on. That’s really when the chorus started to shape up.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Moon Taxi by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Kristian Bush Discusses His New ‘Geeking Out’ Podcast and Sugarland Reunion

Kristian Bush, Wheelhouse Records’ recording artist and one half of the Grammy-winning duo, Sugarland with Jennifer Nettles, is celebrating the geek in all of us with his new 12-episode podcast appropriately called, “Geeking Out! With Kristian Bush”.

In each episode, Bush sits down with a guest to talk about something they’re obsessed about that has nothing to do with their job. Along the way, Bush also shares an artist, song, or album that’s got him “geeking out.”

The first episode features Bush’s friend and label-mate, Granger Smith, discussing his new favorite hobby: beekeeping. Future guests include Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Nashville creator Callie Khouri; actress, producer and songwriter Rita Wilson; “Jean-Claude Van Johnson” star Kat Foster and country music journalist, Hunter Kelly.

“Geeking Out! With Kristian Bush” is available for download on all podcast platforms.

AXS recently spoke with Kristian Bush about “Geeking Out”, the upcoming Sugarland reunion tour, new music and more in this exclusive interview.

AXS: Where did the idea to do a podcast originate?

Kristian Bush: My friend, Bobby Bones, was the one who originally asked me about doing it. He’s been passionate about podcasts and the things he was discovering with them. When Bobby approached me about doing one, I initially thought it would be about music, but he I could talk about whatever I wanted. So, I brought him back a few ideas and this was the one we both agreed was the most interesting and sustainable. What’s fun about “Geeking Out” is that it’s based on creating a good boundary, and that boundary is, tell me one thing that you’re obsessed with that has nothing to do with your job. It’s amazing to listen to people talk about the things they’re passionate about.

AXS: How much time goes into putting an episode together?

KB: It sounds like someone just hits record and we’re off [laughs], but there’s actually a lot of time and production that goes into it. The idea is to collect as much material as you can and then shrink it down, but always respecting your listener and making it the best story it can be.

AXS: What can fans expect from future episodes of “Geeking Out! With Kristian Bush”?

KB: One episode ended up being about rotating restaurants at the top of Hyatt Regency’s around America. Another is about Brazilian Jujitsu. A third ended up being about a person who’s obsessed with Billy Joel and becoming the biggest Billy Joel fan on the planet. It’s going to be exciting for people to discover what some of these guests are geeking out about.

AXS: Let’s switch gears and talk a little about Sugarland. What prompted the band’s recent reunion, new single and upcoming tour?

KB: The hiatus was always based on a question of timing and the things Jennifer wanted to do. She wanted to start a family, have a child and a solo career. When I got a call, the first thing for us to do was get back in the ring and see what we could do. We wound up walking into the room together and thirty-five minutes later, we wrote the song, “Still The Same”.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Kristian Bush by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: The Doobie Brothers’ Patrick Simmons Discusses 40th Anniversary of the band’s ‘What’s Happening!!” Appearance & New Tour With Steely Dan
The Doobie Brothers (photo by Andrew Macpherson)

If you ask The Doobie Brothers’ Patrick Simmons the one thing the band will most be remembered for, he won’t hesitate to tell you that it will probably be the time the band was featured on the black situation comedy, “What’s Happening!!” on January 28th, 1978.

Forty years ago, Simmons, along with the rest of his bandmates at the time, appeared as themselves in a two-part episode called, “Doobie or Not Doobie,” where they returned triumphantly to their former high school only to discover that one of the students, Rerun (played by Fred Berry), had been conned by a two-bit thug into tape recording the band’s concert.

It was an unusual situation and a bit of a risk for the band; whose hits include “Black Water,” & “Takin’ it to The Streets”, to appear on a television series. But in the end, it exposed The Doobies music to an entirely new demographic, and has since become one of televisions most beloved episodes.

AXS recently spoke with Simmons about the 40th anniversary of The Doobie Brothers appearance on “What’s Happening!!”,  their new tour with Steely Dan and much more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: How did the band’s appearance on “What’s Happening!!” come about?

PS: We had done the albums Takin’ It to the Streets and Livin’ on the Fault Line, and had just hired a new publicist named David Gest (who would later leave PR and go on to marry Liza Minelli). A few months into working with us, David came in and told us there was an opportunity to do this situation comedy.

I was already familiar with “What’s Happening!!”, because I’d watched the show a few times. I thought it was hilarious and really liked the character of Rerun (Fred Berry). I had actually met Fred one summer at a show we’d done where he was dancing with The Lockers. Because it was a black situation comedy, I thought it would be an adventurous thing for us to do because our music had always been laced with R&B and soul. Not only would our fans tune in, but it would also expose us to a new audience of people who watched the show regularly, and would begin to listen to our music. I had no idea how we would fit into the show but thought it was something fun and different to do. David had great ideas, and that was certainly one of them.

AXS: The storyline dealt with the subject of bootlegging concerts. Was that something the band was concerned about at the time?

PS: For sure. We had been ripped off more than once, so we were certainly aware of it. I remember at the time, there was a lot of stealing of intellectual property going on. People would record shows and then sell them to some label in some other country. Then the label would produce it and ship it back to America. It was a difficult process trying to get in and record a show without being seen, but there was a certain amount of money to be made. It’s silly looking back on it now because everyone is recording shows on their phones and giving it away on YouTube, but it was a different world in those days.

Read there rest of my
Interview with Pat Simmons by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Jenny March Discusses Her Infectious Debut Single, ‘California Daze’
Photo by: Dennis Leupold

Los Angeles-based songstress, Jenny March, has always been unafraid about challenging the status quo. That’s why her music is filled with metaphoric innuendos of real life scenarios. As is also the case with her infectious debut single, “California Daze.”

Produced by Tony Rodini (blackbear, Weezer, Terror Jr.), “California Daze” has an ethereal feel to it. With March’s sultry vocals set against a groovy vibe, the track instantly draws the listener in and doesn’t let go. The song is part of a larger EP that March plans to release later this year. A video for “California Daze” is also in the works.

In addition to her career in music, March has been predominant in the acting world as well. Having appeared alongside Marisa Tomei and Minnie Driver in the horror film, “Laboratory Conditions” as well as starring in the shorts, “The Stanford Letter” and “Meanamorphosis”.

AXS recently spoke with Jenny March about her new single and more in this new interview.

AXS: What can you tell us about your new single, “California Daze”?

Jenny March: “California Daze” is the first song that Tony Rodini and I worked on for my EP project. I had started dating a guy and the two of us were going through the honeymoon phase. Living in L.A., it was easy to get lost in the relationship, and I felt as if I was losing myself and having trouble getting on with my career. The daze is actually a metaphor about the world being full of distractions and the things that hold us back.

AXS: How would you describe your sound?

JM: It’s definitely edgy pop. I love ballads and upbeat pop songs. I grew up dancing, so I was into Madonna and Britney, but I also love artists like Usher and Outcast and the groovy vibes they have. It’s a mixture of all of that.

AXS: What was it like working with Tony Rodini on this track?

JM: It was great. Tony and I have great chemistry and have become really close friends. He’s a fun guy who totally understood what I was looking for. We worked really well together.

Read the ret of my
Interview with Jenny March by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Ron Keel Discusses Upcoming Albums, ‘Metal Cowboy Reloaded’ and ‘Fight Like A Band’


Having spent the last few years living in South Dakota, veteran artist Ron Keel is primed for one very busy 2018. Following his recent signing to Dave Ellefson’s EMP Label Group, the Metal Cowboy will re-issue his 2014 album, aptly titled, Metal Cowboy Reloaded. The release is a remixed/remastered compilation that draws from Keel’s country/southern rock playbook while still maintaining the monstrous riffs and powerhouse vocals he’s known for.

This summer, The Ron Keel Band will also release their highly-anticipated debut, Fight Like A Band. An album that sticks to earthy Southern charms and showcases a bold musical direction for Keel and his bandmates.

AXS recently talked to Ron Keel about his new projects and much more in this exclusive interview.

AXS: What made you decide to reissue your album, Metal Cowboy?

Ron Keel: After I’d signed with David Ellefson’ s EMP label group so many ideas were being thrown back and forth. I had mentioned the Metal Cowboy album to them because it’s a big part of who I am. By the end of the conversation, we all agreed to reissue it. Because my hardcore fans may already have the album, I thought it best to create a new listening experience for them by remastering the entire disc, remixing all the songs and adding a few bonus tracks. I’m also excited about priming a new audience who maybe hasn’t heard of me or just knows me from Keel. David’s allowed me to evolve as the musician and singer/songwriter I am while still letting me embrace my roots. This is a great way to introduce my music and persona to a whole new fan base.

AXS: What can you tell me about the upcoming Ron Keel Band album, Fight Like A Band?

RK: Right now, we’re right in the thick of the writing process. The title track reflects the story of what I’ve been through these last few years. The guys in the band have been with me for three years now, and they’ve been my support group while my wife has gone through breast cancer treatment. It’s been difficult and tough for she and I these last few years, but we’ve remained positive. The guys have had my back and have been there with me through the hard times, and that message is what the song is all about.

AXS: Has relocating to South Dakota influenced you as an artist?

RK: As an artist, I think you create your own environment no matter where you live. I’ve been a nomad all my life, going from one town to the next. I moved to Nashville when I seventeen and put together the band, Steeler. Then I went to L.A. to become part of that 80’s Hollywood/metal scene. My time spent in Las Vegas and Nashville has also been well documented. Today, I really love the hard working, hard partying and hard rocking mentality of the people in the Midwest. It’s the perfect spot for me to continue my journey of doing what I do.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Ron Keel by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Lee DeWyze gets personal with his new album, ‘Paranoia’

There’s something special about Lee DeWyze’s new album, Paranoia. It’s the singer/songwriter and American Idol winner’s seventh studio album, and his first full-length set since 2016’s Oil and Water, but it’s also a collection of reflective introspection.

In addition to emotionally-driven songs like “Let Go,” “Got It Right,” Carry Us Through,” and the title-track, the new album also includes “The Breakdown,” DeWyze’s hauntingly beautiful song of love realized.

There’s a lot of space on Paranoia, which DeWyze will tell you was left intentionally to leave the listener with even more room for thought.

AXS recently spoke with Lee DeWyze about Paranoia (which will be released on February 16) and more in this new interview.

AXS: What inspired this new album?

Lee DeWyze: I’ve always been a singer-songwriter who plays guitar. It’s what I do, but I never want to be bored with myself. I wanted to do something that was me, but me in a different place. It was one of those situations where it wasn’t an album from the get-go. It was more of a situation where I was writing, and as I continued, it felt more like a collection of music that belonged together. The inspiration behind the record actually kick-started with the song, “Paranoia.” I already had pieces for a few of the other songs, but once I started working on “Paranoia” and then “The Breakdown” all the other songs started to come together. Production; instrumentation; vibe. Everything started to feel connected. I wanted to go into the studio when I was inspired and capture those emotions to put in the songs. At the end of the day, I wanted it to feel like an album that you could listen to from beginning to end. Individual pieces that make up a much larger thing.

AXS: Did you find the process of writing an album this way to be more therapeutic for you creatively?

LD: “Therapeutic” is the right word because there were moments where it felt so good to get into the studio and work on the songs. There’s a feeling that comes when you play live on stage where you consciously say nothing else matters. When you’re up there, you’re in the moment, and all of the outside stuff goes away. It felt that way every time I went into the studio.

AXS: Let’s discuss a few more tracks from Paranoia, starting with “Let Go.”

LD: Some of the songs on this record were written in real time, and “Let Go” was one of them. I was sitting in the studio and started playing the riff that opens the song over and over for hours. Then I just started writing. Some of it was really in the moment, emotionally.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Lee DeWyze by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Chappell Roan discusses her new album, ‘School Nights’ and new tour
Photography by Catie Laffoon

From the moment Chappell Roan forced herself from her mid-western roots to showcase for labels in New York it’s been nothing but a steady trajectory of success. The singer/songwriter, whose hauntingly beautiful voice conjures images of Stevie Nicks and Carole King, shines brightly on her debut EP,  School Nights. The magical, five-song album is fueled with a rawness of teenage emotion, maturely crafted writing and Roan’s undeniably melancholic and infectious vocal prowess.

Roan will soon be touring alongside Declan McKenna for a  new tour that will get underway Jan. 31 and travel throughout the U.S. until the end of March.

AXS recently spoke with Chappell Roan about her School Nights and more in this new interview.

AXS: How would you describe your new EP, School Nights?

Chappell Roan: Sonically, I’d say that it’s very dark pop with some influences of the sixties and seventies. I really wanted to showcase a very moody vibe with his album.

AXS: What’s your songwriting process like?

CR: When I write, I usually think about what I’m feeling. The feeling is what inspires the song. Then, I’ll think of a melody and plug the lyrics in once I figure out what the song’s about. I also have a list on my phone filled with words and phrases that I hear people say, or with sentences from books that I think might be cool for a song. Sometimes, it may take three hours to write a song, and other times three months. It all depends on the feeling.

AXS: I want to get your thoughts on the songs from the EP. What can you tell me about “Die Young”?

CR: I wrote that song when I was sixteen, and it’s a song that’s really different from the rest. It’s not so much about love and being in a relationship as it is about a battle within myself. I was going through a hard time with my parents and with making friends when I wrote it. I really didn’t know what to but my outlet was writing.

AXS: “Good Hurt.”

CR:  I was very confused when I wrote that one. I was in a relationship, but I wanted my old relationship back. The old relationship was toxic, and I couldn’t figure out why I wanted it back. I wrote about wanting to be comfortable, but knowing that doing so meant that you were going to be treated badly. I think a lot of people can relate to it. It was about me knowing I shouldn’t do something that was wrong but doing it anyway. It hurts, but it was comfortable.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Chappell Roan by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music, Uncategorized

Interview: Maxine and Roxy Petrucci discuss new Madam X album, ‘Monstrocity’

Thirty years seems like a long time for a band to release sophomore album, but for the all-original line of Madam X: Bret Kaiser (vocals), Maxine Petrucci (guitars), Chris “Godzilla” Doliber (bass) and Roxy Petrucci (drums), the wait was certainly worth it. The band, who’s 1984 debut, We Reserve The Right was fueled by the infectious guitar/drum wizardry of sisters Maxine and Roxy Petrucci have released the long-awaited “follow-up” three decades later. The ferociously aggressive, Monstrocity.

Monstrocity captures the classic vibe of the veteran foursome while tastefully bringing the band into the 21st century with well-crafted songs, ubiquitous grooves and a production that includes the likes of veteran mixer, Michael Wagener (Metallica, Ozzy) and Mark Slaughter as well as a guest appearance by Janet Gardner (Vixen).

AXS recently spoke with Maxine and Roxy Petrucci about Monstrocity and more in this new interview.

AXS: It’s been more than thirty years since we last heard from Madam X. What sparked the reunion?

Roxy Petrucci: Madam X fans are so loyal. I’d been out touring in Europe with Vixen and noticed a lot of Madam X memorabilia coming through our meet and greet line. I thought it would be cool to maybe release one song with all the original Madam X members, just for the fans. I ran the idea past the band and everyone was on board.

Maxine Petrucci: We released a single in 2014 to get us started, “Another 80’s Rock Song.” That sparked interest from Sweden Rock. They contacted us and asked if we’d be interested in playing Sweden Rock 2014. When we played, there were close to 20,000 people there. We were in shock, but once we hit that first chord we realized the chemistry was still there. It felt very comfortable and like thirty years hadn’t even gone by. We picked up right where we left off. That was when we thought about doing an album for the fans. Madam X was back.

AXS: What were those early writing sessions like?

RP: Bret had a song with a cool riff that needed a little work. So, Maxine and I took it and started tweaking it. That song turned out to be, “Hello Cleveland,” and that’s what really inspired us to write some more. But we didn’t want to just throw something out there. We were passionate about releasing great stuff and worked really hard and took our time.

Read the rest of my
axs
Interview with Maxine & Roxy Petrucci Here.

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Jeff Angell discusses new Walking Papers album, ‘WP2’
Photo: Dean Karr and used with permission

Walking Papers, the Seattle-based band that features Jefferson Angell (The Missionary Position), Benjamin Anderson (The Missionary Position), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) and Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) will release their moody and carnal sophomore album, WP2 on Friday, January 19.

The new album is a culmination of groove-infused, songwriting maturity and the result of nearly three years of touring throughout Europe and North America. Although rooted in blues, soul, and classic rock, WP2 delivers deeper musical exploration to the band’s ever-increasing fan base.

AXS recently spoke with Angell about the new Walking Papers album and more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: How does WP2 compare to some of your previous work?

Jeff Angell: The one thing that’s exceptional about this album is the fact that we’ve toured and played so many shows together. It really captures the live and visceral energy of a band at the top of their game but at the same time, still has some gloss and ambiance of a studio recording. It’s a self-indulgent studio experience with the best of both worlds.

AXS: What’s your typical songwriting process like?

JA: I’m a lyric guy. Music to me is more spontaneous. Music is the body and lyrics are the head, but you need both to validate each other. I usually go with my gut on music, and the inspiration (the 1%), happens almost instantly. Then it becomes a matter of hammering down the lyrics, which is the other 99%.

AXS: Do you draw inspiration for your lyrics from life experience?

JA: I’ve known a lot of characters in my life, and some of them have certainly inspired me. At the same time, I have a filter on everything that’s happening. There’s a lot of characters in these songs, and maybe some of them are a reflection of myself. It’s all about sitting on the fence and looking at each side and being at the apex of making a decision. Sometimes, it’s what you want to do and other times it’s what the world allows you to do.

AXS: Let’s discuss a few tracks from the new album, beginning with “Death On The Lips”. What can you tell me about it?

JA: When this record was coming together (and that song in particular), I started to see a common thread: temptation and redemption. When you’re on the road, that lifestyle invites you to make bad decisions. I wasn’t struggling with it, but I was aware of it, and it got my head thinking about things I’ve done in my past and about being grateful for not being in that world anymore.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Jeff Angell by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Interview, Music

Interview: Dead Daisies bassist, Marco Mendoza discusses his new solo album, ‘Viva La Rock’

It’s been nearly eight years since The Dead Daisies bassist, Marco Mendoza released a solo album, but with the pending release of his monstrous ‘Viva La Rock’ [produced by Soren Anderson], Mendoza’s proves that the wait was worth it.

For Mendoza, whose resume also includes stints with such legendary bands as Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake as well as work with artists like Ted Nugentand Neal Schon, ‘Viva La Rock’ is a groove-fueled celebration of life and love as well as a tip of the hat to his musical past.

Songs like the album’s title track, a catchphrase Mendoza’s used for years, are rollercoaster rides of musical emotion, while songs like the power-ballad, “Leah” speak to the love he has for his wife and soul mate. Mendoza even includes his spin on a few cover songs, notably the Thin Lizzy classic, “Chinatown”, which features guest vocals from Mike Tramp [White Lion, Freak of Nature] and guitarist Richard Fortus [Guns N’ Roses].

AXS recently spoke with Marco Mendoza about ‘Viva La Rock’ [which will be released on March 2], The Dead Daisies and more in this exclusive new interview.

AXS: It’s been eight years since your last solo release. How did this new album, ‘Viva La Rock’ come about?

Marco Mendoza: My whole journey and career have been busy, but these last ten years have really been over the top, and I love it. But I’m always writing and there’s always a drawer full of ideas. I had just finished up with The Dead Daisies and found a window of about fourteen days. So, I flew to Denmark and got into the studio with my good friend, Soren Anderson. The time and energy was right. It was fast and a lot of fun.

AXS: How does this album compare to some of your previous work?

MM: I think this album is a little more focused. We really dug deep with the ideas and songs. It’s classic rock and roll. Catchy songs with good hooks and melodies and relevant lyrical content.

AXS: Let’s discuss a few songs from ‘Viva La Rock’ beginning with the title track. What can you tell me about it?

MM: The creative process is to follow the vibe, and “Viva La Rock” was the first song that we wrote. It’s a catchphrase that I’ve been using for years that’s become part of my vocabulary. I remember going in and grabbing the guitar. Soren followed along and within the hour we had the song. The lyrics also came quickly. When you do something for so long it’s all instinct. You just open the flood doors and it starts happening.

Read the rest of my
Interview with Marco Mendoza Here!