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© Copyright Tony Peters
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Veteran broadcaster & Musicologist Tony Peters hosts Icon Fetch, a long-running, music interview podcast, delving into a variety of genres to find the commonality among all people who create music.
437 Episodes
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New England singer/songwriter Dar Williams has been putting out music for 35 years. She’s also written several books, including What I Found in a Thousand Towns: A Traveling Musician's Guide to Rebuilding America's Communities – One Coffee Shop, Dog Run, & Open-Mic Night at a Time. Her latest album, Hummingbird Highway, is a true, tour de force, covering everything from jangly folk, to breezy jazz, and bluegrass, and it’s out now on Righteous Babe Records.She talks about the wild diversity of inspiration that influenced the songs on the new record, including everything from olive trees of democracy to, of all things, drunken Santas!
The Cowsills, an entire family of talented musicians, first hit the charts in 1967 with “The Rain, the Park & Other Things.” Then came “We Can Fly,” “Indian Lake” and “Hair.” The group was the inspiration for the hit TV series, The Partridge Family, then many years later, was the subject of their own documentary called Family Band. Omnivore Recordings issued the groups excellent reunion album, Rhythm of the World in 2022, then dug back into the archives, issuing Global, an album that was originally supposed to come out in the mid 90’s. But wait, there’s more. The “Cocaine Drain” Album, a long-bootlegged series of recordings done in the late 1970’s under the tutelage of famed producer Chuck Plotkin, but never officially released, until now. The newly restored album also contains five additional bonus tracks. The album is further proof that, although their hits dried up, the Cowsills continued to grow and create excellent music.We chat again with leader Bob Cowsill about the circumstances leading up to these recordings, working with Plotkin, who was pulled away from the sessions by Bruce Springsteen, and why, ultimately, these songs were never issued - until now.
California native and Nashville transplant Maia Sharp has written songs for Cher and Tricia Yearwood and produced Art Garfunkel. She’s held songwriting workshops as well.She’s also released a string of fantastic solo albums, and she seems to get better with every release. Her 10th album, Tomboy, might be her most relaxed record to date.
North Carolina singer & harmonica player Tad Robinson has been nominated 10 times for the Blues Music Awards, especially in the category of Soul Blues. He’s been a frequent guest on this show, and he’s back with his first new record in six years called Soul in Blue on the famed Delmark Records out of Chicago.Among the ten songs on the new record are two obscure numbers, one by Wilson Pickett, and another by Arthur Adams.
North Carolina native Chris Stamey has spent his life in music, which includes playing in the seminal band the Sneakers with famed producer, Mitch Easter, before forming the critically-acclaimed power pop quartet, the dB’s. He’s issued several solo albums and duo projects with bandmate Peter Holsapple. Starting in 2010, he was the musical director for a series of concerts honoring the music of Big Star’s Third, More recently, he’s teamed up with the Fellow Travelers to focus on mid-century music and the alternative supergroup, the Salt Collective. Chris Stamey’s latest album, Anything is Possible is an homage to the music of his childhood, out now from Label 51 Recordings. The album contains ten originals, and one timely cover, Brian Wilson’s “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder). the album is full of guests, including members of the Lemon Twigs, Marshall Crenshaw and the aforementioned Mitch Easter.
Davina & the Vagabonds take early 20th century jazz and blues as the foundation - then add soulful vocals, pop sensibilities and a touch of sassiness to come up with a sound uniquely their own. Led by powerhouse Davina Sowers, the band has been wowing audiences with their fantastic live shows for two decades now. They’ve also issued some fine studio albums - most recently, Shoot For the Moon, which came out in 2024. The album stretches the boundaries of what the group had previously done - adding layered vocals, interesting percussion, and some clever covers to the mix. The band is currently on the road, with stops in the Midwest, and even overseas.
Firefall formed in 1974 in Boulder, Colorado - scoring hit songs with “You Are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You,” and “Strange Way.” The band paid tribute to some of their favorite artists with the release of Friends & Family in 2023. Now, Firefall is back with Friends & Family 2, using the same blueprint - grabbing songs that some of the Firefall members played on, including the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Dan Fogelberg. In addition, they pick songs from bands that they toured with back in the day, including Fleetwood Mac, Pure Prairie League, America, Eddie Money, and others. The group is joined by some very special guests, including Wynonna Judd and Richie Furay of Poco and Buffalo Springfield. What we get is a dozen classic tunes done with a Firefall twist - with great guitar solos and harmonies. We welcome back founding member, Jock Bartley.
Peter Holsapple was a founding member of the influential power pop band, the dB’s, whose quirky, hook-laden songs garnered critical acclaim, but little commercial success. Yet, now the band’s albums are considered classics. Holsapple also spent time in the alternative supergroup, the Continental Drifters, and was a touring musician for both R.E.M. and Hootie & the Blowfish during their 90’s heydays. Lately, he’s been playing lead guitar in The Paranoid Style - and perhaps as a result, his latest solo album is the most rockin’ thing he’s ever done - The Face of 68 sees Holsapple fronting a power trio, with Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five on bass, and Rob Ladd of the Connells on drums. He’s also joined by old friend Don Dixon, who produced the album.
Why the Worry, the 12th album from Seth Walker, arrives at a time rife with political and economic uncertainty - it seems like daily all we do IS worry. Add to it the fact that Walker’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina was recently devastated by Hurricane Helene. What gave him hope was a quote from Willie Nelson - “I’ve never seen worry accomplish anything… so I decided not to do it.” Hanging on to that, Walker has crafted an album that’s a mix of originals and reinterpreted covers, all wrapped in that signature, Seth Walker groove. He’s heading on the road to support the new record as well.We chat the stories behind his originals, and the reason he chose songs by Bill Withers, JJ Cale, and Al Green.
The Josh Joplin Group, fronted by its namesake, had a #1 hit on Triple A radio with “Camera One” in 2001. Another one of Joplin’s songs, “Blue Skies Again,” was recorded by Jessica Lea Mayfield on her critically-acclaimed album, Tell Me. Joplin has released several solo albums and films as well. His new record, GpYr (pronounced Gap Year), is his first under his own moniker since 2013. Among the many highlights is "Before the Light Takes Us," which features Joplin's daughter on guitar and vocals.We also talk about his time away from touring as a stay at home dad, and how that pausing his career helped give a new perspective for this next chapter.
Resilient is the best word that describes the Cowsills. The six sibling band hit in 1967 with "The Rain, the Park and Other Things," then with "Hair" in 1969. But, their career quickly derailed (chronciled in the excellent documentary Family Band). The group triumphantly returned with the excellent Rhythm of the World album in 2022. But, there's more to the story. The group recorded an album in 1992 that never saw a proper release. Part of the reason....involves the FBI!Now, over 30 years later, Omnivore Recordings has issued the album, Global, and it's fantastic. A power pop masterpiece. If you're a fan of artists like Matthew Sweet or the Gin Blossoms, you will definitely dig it.We chat once again with Susan Cowsill, who talks about the crazy circumstances surrounding Global. Plus, she reveals plans for new Cowsill projects, and the annual Happy Together tour, coming to a city near you in the summer of 2025.
Iain Matthews fronted the influential British band, Fairport Convention for their first three albums before embarking on a solo career that’s lasted almost 60 years. With Matthews Southern Comfort he scored a hit cover version of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” in 1970, had a solo hit in 1979 with “Shake It,” and the Eagles’ borrowed his arrangement of the Steve Young song, “Seven Bridges Road” for their live album. After saying he was done making solo albums, here he is with How Much is Enough, on Sunset Boulevard Records. Whether this is his last, who knows? But it’s damn good to hear him again.
The dB’s, originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, issued a pair of albums in the early Eighties that were at times both jangly and melodic, and quirky and inventive. Unfortunately, neither album saw a release in America at the time - instead getting issued by the UK label Albion. Now, over 40 years later, they’re issuing the dB’s debut record, Stands for Decibels, on Propeller Sound Recordings, streaming, CD, and for the first time ever in the US, vinyl. From the band, we chat with singer/guitarist Peter Holsapple, who talks about what went into reissuing this lost classic, recorded on a shoe-string budget over 4 decades ago, and the clever packaging of the CD. He also reveals plans for their second album, Repercussion, to get reissued as well.Holsapple toured with R.E.M. as a multi instrumentalist in the 1990's. He talks about watching the band's interview on CBS Sunday Morning, commemorating their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American treasure, formed in Austin, Texas in 1974, the band developed an infectious blend of blues and rock that hit pay dirt with songs like “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap it Up” from 1986. The group is celebrating their 50th anniversary with the release of Struck Down, their first new material in eight years. The record features contributions from big name artists like Billy Gibbons, Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal and Elvin Bishop. The one constant over the 50 years has been powerhouse vocalist Kim Wilson. He tells us why he thinks this is the band's best album to date, plus how he hooked up with the famous guests on the album.
Tommy James has sold over 100 million records, and his impressive string of hits continue to live on in movies, TV shows and commercials - "Hanky Panky," "Mony, Mony," "I Think We're Alone Now," "Crimson & Clover," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," and many more. His excellent autobiography, "Me, the Mob and the Music" is one of the greatest music books ever written, and is in preproduction to be turned into a major Hollywood movie and Broadway musical.James was our very first guest on Icon Fetch back in April of 2010. In our new conversation, he gives us updates on the movie, book and musical. Plus, he talks about unearthing his very first recording, "Long Pony Tail," that even predates "Hanky Panky" by two years. He also discusses recently recording songs by the Beatles and Supremes.He also discusses his weekly radio show, "Gettin' Together with Tommy James" on Sirius/XM.Tommy James is currently on the road - tour dates and more information can be found at tommyjames.com
Marshall Chess has a long history in the blues. His father, Leonard, was one of the co-founders of Chess Records, the influential record label responsible for exposing the music of artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson to larger audience. Marshall produced the trailblazing Electric Mud from Muddy Waters, and the Howlin’ Wolf Album, both were attempts to reinterpret the blues to then current psychedelic rock era. He was the first president of Rolling Stones Records, and worked on several films, including Cadillac Records, which was based on his family’s record label. Now comes New Moves - The Chess Project, several decades in the making. Once again, Marshall is reinterpreting the music his family helped nurture, this time for the modern age. With Keith LeBlanc producing, they’ve assembled a top-notch collection of musicians, reimagining songs by Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and more. Marshall also has a YouTube Channel celebrating the Chess history, and a podcast, where he tells many of the great stories of his life.
Tom Rush pretty much pioneered the folk movement of the early Sixties, issuing his debut album in 1962. He’s also credited with putting compositions by Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor on album for the first time, with his LP The Circle Game in 1968. We talked with Tom back in 2018 when he issued his album Voices. Well, he’s back with his first new record in five years out called Gardens Old, Flowers New. He talks about how he unearthed one of the songs on the new album from a live recording from 50 years ago. Also, how he wrote a song for his daughter when she was young (now she's grown up), and how he never intended that one to be on an album. He also talks about Rockport Sundays, a program he started during Covid, where he invites many of his musical friends to play and tell stories.
Memphis musician Van Duren was the subject of a recent documentary called Waiting: the Van Duren Story, available to rent at most streaming services. Omnivore Recordings released an excellent summation of Duren’s career in the form of the documentary soundtrack, then issued his first two solo albums in 2020. Next up is Cartwheeling: Live in Memphis, showcasing Duren and his underrated band, Good Question, recorded in an intimate setting amongst friends and family back in 1992.Duren talks about events leading to the concert and why the tapes lay dormant for over 30 years. There's a lot of humor in many of the songs. He also reveals why they chose to cover "Got To Get You Into My Life."Duren also tells a great story about having Ringo Starr show up at one of his gigs.
The Cowsills are the original family band - formed in 1965, they hit pay dirt with their smash, “The Rain, the Park and Other Things” in 1967. Other hits followed, including “Indian Lake,” “We Can Fly” and “Hair.” They even were the basis for the hit TV show The Partridge Family. After some time apart, the group reformed in the early 90’s and has been playing and recording ever since. They’ve been a fixture on the Happy Together tour for almost a decade, and they just released a brand new album called Rhythm of the World last year. Now, comes A Christmas Offering from the Cowsills. Two of the songs date back to 1992, “Christmastime (Song For Marissa)” and “Some Good Years.” These two songs are joined with a brand-new, acapella version of “Winter Wonderland” - and the EP is now available digitally from Omnivore Recordings. We chat with Susan Cowsill about how Christmas is the favorite holiday of the Cowsill family, the origins of these "lost" holiday tunes, and the prospects of new Cowsill material in 2024.
In her early twenties, Canadian-born Sue Foley trekked down to Austin, Texas and quickly immersed herself in the fertile blues scene there. Since then, she’s released 15 albums, garnered tons of awards, including Traditional Blues Female Artist from the Blues Foundation - an award she’s taken home three years now.Her latest record is a homecoming of sorts - Live in Austin Volume One takes her back to her roots, recorded at the legendary Continental Club, now out on Guitar Woman Records.We talk about how she went high quality for the recording of this live album, digging back into her roots for some of the songs she chose, and the prospects of a Volume Two coming soon.
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no Robert Pollard???