Myth vs. Craft

Nash Edgerton tells me about how he and his brother Joel first fell in love with movies as kids and how he decided to become a stuntman. He shares how he started making his own mini-movie clips to help him get jobs as a stunt performer, and how this sparked an interest in filmmaking. This led to a handful of highly acclaimed short films and eventually, to his award winning feature film "The Square", music videos for Bob Dylan and Brandon Flowers and his second feature film "Gringo." We talk about meeting Scott Ryan after watching a screening of "The Magician" at a film festival and their subsequent collaboration on the phenomenal TV show "Mr Inbetween" (FX). Nash tells me about the importance of being fluid when directing, how he works with actors and how he prepares for each project.

The incredibly talented Mark Lettieri speaks about his musical career and learning how to find balance making a living as a musician. He explains why he doesn't regret taking even bad gigs early on in his career, which type of gig makes him nervous and which musicians he'd love to play with.

Guitarist and singer/songwriter Ben Poole tells us how listening to Voodoo Child changed his life and sparked his musical journey. He describes the ups and downs of life on the road and how audiences are different in each country. He shares stories, tells us what he looks for in musicians and recounts his recent participation in the Playing With Fire festival in Omaha, Nebraska.

Take a behind the scenes look at the methods, motivation and creative vision of the multi-talented photographer, director, producer & musician Sam Jones. Among other topics, he explains how working as a cartoonist for his college newspaper prepared him to become a portrait photographer. Sam shares the lessons he learned from film and how they benefit him in a digital era. We discuss the origins of his outstanding project Off Camera and the philosophy and approach that enable him to create such natural and intimate conversations.

Phil Hurley sits down with me to review his journey from upstate New York to Austin, Texas. He tells me how he started playing music, about his band Gigolo Aunts and his time in Boston, Seattle, Amsterdam and Los Angeles. He recounts his time playing with Tracy Bonham, recalls the power that MTV used to have, his time working at Westwood Music in LA and how he helped form the band Stonehoney. He describes how he views the role of a guitar player, how he’s learning to write happy songs and what sets Austin aside from all the other cities where he’s lived.

Music veteran and manager Mark Proct looks back on his career of over 40 years working with Texas music royalty, including Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Asleep at the Wheel, Delbert McClinton, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Arc Angels, Storyville and many more. We also discuss his book Home Today, Gone Tomorrow, which has over 40 years’ worth of behind-the-scene photographs that Mark took while touring the world.

Tone, taste, grit and groove. Ray Wylie Hubbard shares stories and insights and cracks me up along the way. He tells us about his friendship with Joe Walsh, his emotional bond with musical instruments and resurrecting his career at age 41. He reflects on his purpose in life and tells us what he thinks about “bro country."

Legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff looks back on his upbringing, education and accomplished career. He breaks down the keys to his success and we talk about his upcoming autobiography, which will come out this fall. Kenny also shares great stories, tells us how his classical training has helped his career, which drummers have influenced him and which guitar player changed his life.

I speak with Ben Clymer, the founder and executive editor of the online watch magazine HODINKEE. Ben discusses his appreciation of well made mechanical objects, ranging from his childhood admiration for analogue light meters and compasses to his passion for mechanical watches and vintage cars. He tells us about his experience at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, his views on the future of journalism and how he spends his time at Hodinkee. He describes his romantic notion of classic race cars being timed with mechanical watches and why he favors vintage watches from the middle of the twentieth century.

I speak with Dr. Art Markman (co-host of Two Guys on Your Head, Professor of Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin) about the psychology of losing a sibling. Prior to speaking with Dr. Markman I knew that he was eloquent and erudite about human nature and behavior. After speaking with him I learned that he is also a deeply empathetic and generous human being.

The legendary drummer and percussionist Alex Acuña looks back on his career and shares fascinating stories and insights. He tells us about growing up in a tiny town north of Lima, Peru in a family full of musicians. He describes his life as a top studio musician in Lima while still a teenager and leaving it all behind to join Perez Prado’s band at eighteen years old. Alex recounts how he stood in a back alley in New York and listened to a 17-year old Tony Williams playing with Miles Davis. He tells us why he decided to study classical percussion in Puerto Rico and how he ended up living in Las Vegas and eventually joining Weather Report. He shares anecdotes about his friendship with Jaco Pastorius, how he switched from playing percussion to playing drums in Weather Report and eventually leaving the band to focus on being a studio musician. He goes into detail about his experience studying martial arts and the parallels he sees between martial arts, music and dance. Lastly, he describes why he thinks he’s had the success he’s had and tells us why he’s writing his autobiography.

Studio legend Tim Pierce goes into detail about how he became one of the most sought after session guitarists in the world. He tells us why live performance just wasn’t for him and shares great insights into the role of the guitar in popular music. He talks about his views on digital vs. analog recording and shares great news about the guitar instruction website he is about to launch.

Guitarist Josh Smith looks back on his career and describes his approach to music. He tells us about choosing the guitar over baseball and why even as a kid his bandmates were always adults. He describes his move to Los Angeles and how he got his start as a session musician and sideman. He breaks down the qualities he looks for in a rhythm section and tells us about some of his favorite guitars. He shares his thoughts on live performance and how crowds behave differently across the globe. He also discusses his new recording studio (and a visit from Eddie Kramer!) and his plans to produce other artists.

Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer Henrik Freischlader takes a break from his hectic schedule to tell us about his career in music. He started playing drums at age four and went on to pick up the guitar, bass and (some) piano. He describes his songwriting process and his approach to recording albums. He shares why he founded his label Cable Car Records and how he selects and collaborates with his artists. Henrik tells us how being on the road often feels like vacation and why he formed the new Henrik Freischlader Trio.

Indigenous frontman & guitarist Mato Nanji shares stories about falling in love with music and the role it played in shaping his life. He describes how he formed Indigenous with his sister, brother and cousin, their experience playing on the B.B. King Blues Tour and why he carried on with the band after his family members left the band. He tells us how he first came to participate in the Experience Hendrix Tour and what it’s like to play with so many guitar greats. Toward the end of our conversation we discuss his Native American heritage and Mato deplores the conditions in Indian reservations.

Guitarist JD Simo tells us about growing up in Chicago and falling in love with music at a young age. He describes the experience of moving to Nashville, nearly falling flag, only to eventually pull through in spades. He shares the lessons he learned playing in Don Kelley’s band and laments the lack of opportunities for young musicians to play live nowadays. JD looks back on the trajectory of his band SIMO, describes how he approaches songwriting and explains how the gear he uses affects the way he plays.

Austin-based photographer Todd V. Wolfson recounts how attending an Alice Cooper concert as a 13-year old changed his life. He describes Austin, Texas in 1979 and why he moved there. He tells us why he thinks he’s had so much success working with musicians and shares his approach to photographing people. Lastly, he dives into the advent of digital photography and how it’s deeply affected him in both positive and negative ways.

Guitar great Pete Thorn tells us about growing up in Edmonton, Canada, moving to Los Angeles to attend Musicians Institute and what he values most from the year he spent there. He looks back at what he learned working with Frank Simes and how he felt after signing his first record deal. He describes the ingredients that he thinks have made his demo videos so successful, his experiences being on the road and his assessment of the music industry today. Lastly, he shares how he aspires to continue growing as an artist.

World renowned drummer Jimmy Chamberlin reviews his musical upbringing and career. He tells us about his siblings’ eclectic music collection, his first few bands—including a polka band—and how he worked as a carpenter for a few years. He shares stories about The Smashing Pumpkins, the role each member played in the band and why he and Billy Corgan continue to work together to this day. Jimmy also describes the creative outlet he finds in playing jazz and the overlaps he sees between music and technology.

The multi-talented G. Love shares great stories and insights into his musical career. He tells us about being a street musician in Philadelphia and Boston, how he met his drummer Jeff “The Houseman” Clemens and how he felt when he got his first record deal. He looks back on his career and how he might have done some things differently (or maybe not). He discusses his approach to songwriting and how he’s finally learning how to slow down. He shares his take on the impact of the Internet and technology on musicians and takes us through his daily routine when he’s on the road.