The Art Inside the Craft

Katie Callahan is not only a wife and mother, but a dynamic and fascinating singer songwriter. Her journey has taken her from growing up in Hawaii, being a worship leader in church, to finally expressing her creativity through her own songs as a singer songwriter. Extraordinary is a fitting title for her latest album and this conversation with Katie was a lot of fun getting to know more about her as an artist. Visit her website to grab an album or some great merchandise and keep up to date with her future projects. Check out my written work at Ink19 and Instagram for all my photos.

A.J. Croce may have grown up with a famous last name from his father, Jim Croce, but his talent and complete dedication to his craft laid aside any doubts of his ability. A.J., who first performed as a paid musician at the age of 12, has work with some true legends in the music game and established himself as a unique talent. Having stayed away from performing his fathers music live until the last few years, A.J. discovered many similarities in their influences and has turned that musical connection into a powerful live show. A.J's Croce plays Croce is an exploration into Jim Croce music, A.J. Croce music, and the artists and songs that they both draw inspiration from. It's an evening with powerfully personal stories, incredible music, and an insight into how a father and son can be completely connected through space and time. Follow his Instagram and website to stay up to date on where he's performing next. 2023/2024 Croce plays Croce dates are still on the books so get out asap to catch a show. Head over to Ink19 to check out music, film, show, and book reviews. My podcast is available HERE. Follow along with my photography and various other musical interests at Instagram.

Johnny Stachela is without a doubt one of the top slide players in the game today. He's spent his lifetime dedicated to the craft of guitar playing and landed himself not only among phenomenal band mates in his various bands, but also among some of the best of all time. His close friendship and partnership with Duane Betts has resulted in incredible music and every time I've seen them take the stage, I'm left with a musical experience that tops the previous one. We discussed his journey to slide guitar and the influences that helped shape his playing. Johnny tells a fun story about the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa, where I first caught him live and his connection to that place before ever having played there. We also discuss how he adds his subtle and distinctive sound to a band like the Allman Betts band and a few nerdy guitar things along the way. Check out his website to pick up some merch or get on his mailing list to know where he'll be next. His Instagram is also a great place to keep up to date and follow along. Subscribe to the podcast for new episodes and check out my Instagram to keep up to date with any other music related projects. Keep an eye on my sponsor Ink19 where I have a mix of album and event reviews.

Doug Levitt has had a fascinating couple of careers. He began as a London based foreign correspondent for CNN and ABC but decided that singing and song writing was the right path for him. He spent a number of years traveling via Greyhound bus which lead to a BBC World Service Documentary and an album titled Edge of Everywhere. Doug and I discuss his roots in music and how he ended up switching careers. He details a few of his experiences on the busses he took back and forth across the country as well as how some of those inspirations ended up as songs on the new album. Edge of Everywhere will drop on May 12th and I'm a really big fan of this album and Doug's songwriting. Check out his website to see more of the Doug Levitt story. Follow his Instagram and YouTube channel to stay up to date with what Doug has in the works. Please subscribe to get notified of new episodes and follow along with Instagram or my website to see what's next. Keep an eye on my sponsor, Ink19 as well for any new album/show reviews.

Omar Doom has spent his entire life, and career in pursuit of following his artistic passions and creating pieces of work that grab your attention.  Whether painting along the Seine in France, creating incredible, and interesting music, or plying his acting craft alongside actors like Brad Pit and Vanessa Ferlito in a Quentin Tarantino film, Omar is absolutely a master at his chosen discipline.  And his latest full length album, Straight Razor 2, again proves that mastery as a thematic and exciting collection of electronic music that is, as the title infers, sharp as a straight razor. Omar and I dig through some of his musical and artistic background growing up and how he's used that passion in each new area of his life that he tackles.  We talk through his creative process as it applies to his music and how he is also diving into remixing other artists songs as well.  He also tells me that he has many more songs to be put out and I look forward to how he takes on that John Carpenter, single minded focus, and begins creating a variety of artwork and completed projects. Follow Omar at his website, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify to stay up to date on what he's working on next, pick up album, or some of his very cool merch. Follow me at my Instagram account, Ink19.com, or hit my Linktree for any other projects coming up.

Jimmy Gnecco is as talented a musical artist that I've come across in my many years of searching out new music.  His dedication to following his artistic integrity, whether a solo project or in his band OURS, has resulted in opportunities like singing on the Spiderman 2 soundtrack with Brian May from Queen playing guitar,  Lana Del Rey writing a song called "Jimmy Gnecco", and the late Chester Bennington placing Gnecco in his top 3 vocalists along side the late Chris Cornell, and an artists that many people make comparisons to, Jeff Buckley.  The amount of effort and dedication he places on his music is inspiring and much of that comes through in our interview. Jimmy graciously let me ask some back ground about how he started and the kind of work he put into becoming a vocalist.  We discuss the OURS self titled album and the tour from 2022, which was their first in quite a while, partially due to covid.  He also talks about the next album that is scheduled for OURS and when it may be on the way. Follow Jimmy Gnecco and his various projects on his website, Facebook, Twitter, or his YouTube channel.  His newest solo project, The Heart, is available now and tour dates for OURS are available on his website. Check out my podcasts via your favorite streaming platform, Ink19.com, or my Instagram.  You can also follow along via my linktree for any other projects that you may want to follow along with.

Benjamin Dakota Rogers is a phenomenal singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist out of Canada that has been leveraging social media, especially TikTok, to help spread the word about his music.  He records and films a lot of his content out of his barn and has created a tremendous following of fans because of his efforts.  And for a guy that has to often times drive 8+ hours between Canadian shows, his efforts and innovative way of bringing what many consider traditional country or folk to the masses, it's working like a charm. We discuss how how he started making music, the barn studio, and how TikTok has opened up a lot of opportunities that a self funder artist might not have previously been able to cash in on.  His latest album that we discussed, Painthorse, is out on all streaming services and places like apple music or Amazon to purchase a download.  Follow along at his website, Tiktok, or any other social media to see what's next and where he'll be performing. Follow The Art Inside the Craft podcast on all streaming platforms and get over to Ink19 to read album reviews and listen to the podcast.  I will also have a Spotify playlist available on each Ink19 podcast post playlist for you to check out as well for each artist.  Follow along with Black Cat Bone Productions Instagram to see new episodes or concert photography.

Myron Elkins and his band just dropped their first full length album, Factories, Farms, & Amphetamines, which was recorded at the historic RCA Studio A in Nashville, TN with the Legendary Producer, Dave Cobb.  They are a young band with a sound that harkens back to every Detroit, MI legend that you can think of and they do it very well.  From the first time I saw them on stage opening or Black Berry Smoke, I know that these guys would be a band to watch. Myron and I talk about his road to music and how his grandpa helped shape that appreciation for music.  We have a fun conversation about how he rates his guitar skills and what it was like working with a legend like Dave Cobb.  The album we discuss, available now, is chock full of his inspirations and shows the wide range of sounds that the band has to offer and the influences that I have to attribute to the wide range of sounds that Detroit is responsible for creating. Check out their website , Instagram and Facebook  to grab some merch and the album or see where they will be touring next. Follow along with the podcast on any platform as well as Instagram to see when new things post.   Also check out Ink19 for not only my writing, but a ton of interesting music, book, and movie reviews.  There are lots of cool features by a variety of fun contributors that culminate into one site to get caught up on anything that may pique your interest.

Elizabeth Moen may have started her life with Iowa roots but her incredible talent as a singer, and songwriter has taken her from between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers that border Iowa, and onto the international stage.  She has created her own genre of music by blending r&b, rock, sentimental ballads, and a splash of edge punk from time to time.  And all that musical talent has not only allowed her to tour the world, but also saw Elizabeth asked a number of times to perform before several speeches of Representative Bernie Sanders. Her latest album, Wherever You Aren't, is available now and when we recorded the interview in late 2021, she was just wrapping up the initial stages of the recording.  We discuss everything from how she got started, to how she writes and compiles her songs for an album.  It you haven't experienced her brand of music yet, I can't suggest grabbing an album or two right away.  Visit her website to pick up an album or some merch and check out her incredible music videos. Also visit my Instagram to see some photos from her album release show at Gabes in Iowa City, Iowa and keep up to date with any of my projects. Please subscribe to the podcast on any platform you enjoy for more incredible interviews.

Andrew Combs is one of those singer songwriters that just blows me away each time he puts out a new album.  The interesting ways that he approaches the lyrics and music that accompanies his cinematic stories is a true gift.  You never know what to expect but you can always expect something incredible. Andrew explains the mental health issues leading up to the album and how his friend, producer, and fellow musician Jordan Lehning got him into the studio on Sundays to record what would become the songs of Sundays.  Each song is like a short story inside a larger theme and the musicians invited in beautifully compliment the stories that Andrew tells.  Andrew is the embodiment of a true artist and I can't get enough of the art he created. Visit his website and pick up some art in physical form or some of his music. Follow along with me at my website or via Instagram.  Also please subscribe on your favorite listening platform to stay up to date with what's coming up next.

Episode 21 is a fun conversation with the incredible musician, author, and artist, Andy Aledort.  His entire career seems to be an examination of how he can express himself through his guitar and that passion has lead him to play with, and count himself among the legends in the game.  Andy is as humble about his talents as he is giving with his knowledge and I consider it an honor to have had the opportunity to spend time with him and try to absorb any amount of knowledge that I can. Andy co authored, with the incredibly talented Alan Paul, the book Texas Flood, The inside story of Stevie Ray Vaughan, which dug deeper than any previous book about SRV.  Andy and Alan used their connections through out the Vaughan camp, and the music industry,  to get those closest to Stevie to open up about his life, his talent, and the ever lasting impact that SRV made during his too short journey here on earth.  To me it reads like a project of love and gratitude to those still carrying the flame for Stevie Ray Vaughan, and to the memory of the man himself. Visit Andy's website and check his social media to keep up to date with all his projects. Visit my website or Instagram page and please subscribe on your preferred platform to stay up to date with new episodes.

Alan Paul has spent years interviewing some of the most incredible musicians of all genres.  We deep dive into how he got started and how that passion lead him to some of the most incredible and insightful stories and interviews ever written.  Eventually, we get to his most recent book Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan which he co-wrote with legendary guitar player and an incredible writer/interviewer in his own right, Andy Aledort. I think this is one of Alan's best interviews and it really shows the drive behind it all, his truly humble and grateful nature, and how he worked hard to get himself where he is.  I'm glad to have been able to talk with him and understanding how and why he captures the interviews he does with legends is a huge motivator for me. Please subscribe wherever you listen to stay up to date and also follow along with my Instagram or my website to stay up to date on everything I'm working on.

Maggie McClure and Shane Henry are the singer-songwriters, husband and wife duo that joined forces under the band name, The Imaginaries.  I found them through the John Cuniberti OneMic Series and have been a fan ever since.  Their infectious harmonies and talented songwriting work perfectly together and their music is an extension of the powerhouse of creativity that they embody. This episode was recorded shortly around the time of their debut album in 2021 and we discuss the struggles leading up to that album's release.  We discuss why they wanted to go back to Muscle Shoals to record the album and many of the incredible players that are featured on it.  It's been a long road but I feel that they are on the way up and have tons of potential. They are also celebrating the release of the movie A Cowgirls Song, for which they wrote the soundtrack and also appear in a few scenes.  Get over to their website to follow along with what they are working on next or pick up an album or digital download.   Follow along with all my photography, podcasts, and writings on Instagram or my website.  Please also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow along with the many interesting interviews coming up.

Noah Lekas is an incredible poet, writer, and musician who draws on his mid-west roots as well as the literature and words of some of the greatest writers of this and the last century for his various inspirations.  His book Saturday Night Sage and vinyl album Sounds From the Shadow Factory were incredible works of art on their own and along with the films and music that were created based on his words, it all adds up to the pinnacle of artistic expression. Check out his website, Instagram, and twitter pages to stay up to date.  His band American Restless can be followed here as well. YouTube Videos Saturday Night Sage Out of the Storm Drains The Word We Got a Problem With Groundwater Keep up  to date with my photography and future podcasts on Instagram.

Dickie Prall may have small town Iowa roots, but his skills as a singer songwriter have taken him across the United States preforming for fans of his everywhere.  His last album, Minus Thieves, which was co produced by Pat Sansone of Wilco and Joshua Shapera, was incredible and we discussed the difficulties of have a new album available just as Covid hit.  Dickie is out touring now and luckily I'll be able to catch him live and hears those songs come to life. Catch up with Dickie at his website, Instagram, Facebook, or his YouTube channel.  His music is available though his website or on any of the streaming services. Follow my podcast updates and photography at Black Cat Bone Productions

While David Duchovny may be best known as a 2 time Golden Globe, multiple SAG nominations, and actor in more movies than I can list, his music and songwriting are what lead him to The Art Inside the Craft podcast.  We discuss the songwriting process, how the album had to be started, stopped, and restarted because of covid, and getting the band out on the road. Follow him on website, Instagram, twitter, or facebook pages to keep up with the music and his various projects.  His YouTube channel also has some great videos of the behind the scenes and studio videos of the Gestureland album that I would suggest checking out as well. Follow me at Instagram or check out my website 

Chris Roberts may have stumbled into a career as a musician but he’s quickly become a powerful force in the music world. His first EP, Red Feather, grabbed my attention from the very first song and his most recent, Lost and Found, did the same. His vibe is rock and roll, Cowboy Hippie and is a real call back to classic bands like Delaney and Bonnie, The Band, and Joe Cocker.   Check out his music at his website or his hat company Aspen Hatter. Follow me at Black Cat Bone Productions on Instagram to keep up with all my photography.

This episode of the Art Inside The Craft is with singer songwriter, Kaiti Jones.  In 2021 Kaiti released an incredible album titled Tossed and I had the opportunity to discuss it with her.  She writes from the heart and takes her time to craft the music the way that she wants it to appear on the album.  She throws in a lot of interesting elements and always surprises me from song to song with her creativity. The album and a number of her singles are available on her Bandcamp page and she does have vinyl as well. Kaiti Jones Facebook Kaiti Jones Instagram Kaiti Jones BandCamp You can follow along with my various passions at my Blackcatboneproductions Instagram page and feel free to message me with any interview requests, comments, or questions.

Episode 13 features Warren Haynes, who has contributed to some of the most incredible music ever made.  His ever inventive and unique touch has been felt with bands like The Allman Brothers Band, The Dead, and of course the music he's created with Gov't Mule.  I invited him on the show to discuss their new album Heavy Load Blues, which is more of a traditional blues album and features a number of interesting and magical elements.   They recorded closer to Warrens home which allowed for him to bring out a number of period correct instruments and amps for each song that they covered.  They recorded the album live, straight to tape, and all in one room to capture the magic that happens while playing with and along side your band mates.  They also tried to get the songs nailed in as few takes as possible and that live spirit shines through on each of the tracks. They will be kicking off spring, April 6th, 2022 to be precise, with a headlining tour across the United States and hopefully releasing the second Mule album that they recorded simultaneously as Heavy Load Blues.  Get to the website and check out the tour schedule and grab some of this fantastic music.

Colton Crawford is an incredible banjo player in one of the most exciting and ground breaking bands touring the roads today, and that's not even the most interesting thing about him.  Picking up the banjo relatively late, in his early 20's, he worked to master the instrument that guys like Steve Martin really brought into pop culture.  So what do you do once you've got that in hand, well, start practicing Jujitsu and follow a passion for video game development. Colton has a large online twitch following and live streams both gaming content, and music content. We dive into his beginnings in music, starting the band, jujitsu, new music that's on the way, and the video game development.  If you're interested in gaming or banjo content, check out his Instagram page for his twitch schedule and what he's working on.  If you want to follow along with The Dead South Instagram page, click here or head to their website. You can also find those photos on my Instagram page here.