Frets with DJ Fey

Latest Episodes:

Don Dixon – Singer-Songwriter, Producer, and Marti Jones, Singer, Musician, Visual Artist. A Marriage Made in Music. May 28, 2025

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Over the years, Don Dixon has produced some of the greatest albums of all time. Records by R.E.M., Marshall Crenshaw, The Smithereens, Guadalcanal Diary and Let’s Active. He’s also produced albums by his wife, Marti Jones. Marti is a wonderful singer songwriter as well as a fine artist whose work graced the cover of White Noise & Lightning: The Continental Drifters Story. Don and Marti are great musicians and I’ve been a fan for years.

Hope you’ll enjoy my interview with two of my favorite musicians and definitely one of my favorite couples, Don Dixon and Marti Jones.

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Thanks for listening to Frets with DJ Fey. You can follow or subscribe for FREE at most podcast platforms.And now, Frets is available on YouTube. There are a lot of fun extras like videos and shorts and audio of all episodes. Subscribing for FREE at YouTube helps support the show tremendously, so hit that subscribe button! https://www.youtube.com/@DJFey39 You can also find information about guitarists, bands and more at the Frets with DJ Fey Facebook page. Give it a like! And – stay tuned…

Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

Tense Music Plays – Murray Attaway Returns May 07, 2025

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I was a big fan of Guadalcanal Diary, so when Murray Attaway appeared on Frets back in 2022, I could hardly believe I was talking with their lead singer and main songwriter. The band released four major label albums throughout the 1980s and Murray went on to record In Thrall, a solo album that features Jackson Browne, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner, Aimee Mann, Steve Nieve, Sid Page and Benmont Tench among others. Murray has also composed music for independent film scores and his songs have been featured in many films and television shows. This week sees the release of Murray’s new solo album, Tense Music Plays, and returns this week on Frets to tell us all about the new record.

Hope you’ll enjoy my interview with Murray Attaway.

Photo by Layla Attaway

You can order Tense Music Plays through Bandcamp here or through murrayattaway.com

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Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

Peter Holsapple Returns – The Face of 68 and The Paranoid Style Apr 15, 2025

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In June of 2024, I talked with Peter Holsapple about the reissues of two classic albums by the dB’s – “Stands for Decibels” and “Repercussion”. I had the pleasure of talking to Peter again recently, this time about his soon to be released solo album, The Face of 68. The song you’re hearing, “Larger than Life” , is the first single from that album. It was great to catch up with Peter to hear about his very busy 2024, the recording of the album, touring, his continued work as a member of The Paranoid Style, and some candid, honest talk reflecting on his lifestyle in the past and his outlook on life and love these days.

Hope you’ll enjoy my second interview with the one and only Peter Holsapple.

Photo by Bill Reeves.

My first talk with Peter from June 2024 is also available here.

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Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

Paul Rappaport – Airships, Airplay & the Art of Rock Promotion Apr 09, 2025

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Paul Rappaport is an accomplished guitarist who first heard guitar when he was a kid in California, watching a live local TV show featuring country guitar players…a show that was broadcast from a huge L.A. car lot. He learned to play, fell in love with the instrument and by high school was playing in bands. While attending college at UCLA, Paul got a job offer. A very appealing offer from Columbia Records. The position sounded good, but what really sweetened the deal was when he learned he could have all the records he wanted…for free. During his 33 years at Columbia, Paul Rappaport proved to be gifted at promotion and marketing and at forming close relationships with artist and bands, who knew him as Rapp. He gave Elvis Costello the red Rickenbacker used on Armed Forces. Pink Floyd asked Rapp to join them onstage at the London Arena. And he created some of the most memorable and visually stunning event promotions in rock history. All of this is told in Rapp’s fascinating new book – Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay, and The Art Of Rock Promotion.

You can order Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay and The Art of Rock Promotion from Barnes & Noble here.
You can also order the book from Amazon here.

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Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

Steve Wynn – He Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True Dec 11, 2024

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Steve Wynn has released well over 30 albums during the last 25 years, with his bands The Dream Syndicate, Danny & Dusty, Gutterball, The Miracle 3, The Baseball Project and more with quite a few solo records in the mix.
He’s played over 2,000 shows in more than 25 countries and his songs have been recorded and/or performed by R.E.M., Luna, Concrete Blonde, The Black Crowes, Yo La Tengo and Eleventh Dream Day, among others. Steve has been featured in Rolling Stone, Mojo, Uncut, Entertainment Weekly, People, The Los Angeles Times, New York Times and many publications worldwide.
His new book, I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True: A Memoir Of Life, Music, And The Dream Syndicate covers a lot of Steve’s life. From his childhood in California to forming bands and opening for bands like R.E.M. and U2, to recent times, playing solo and also with his band The Baseball Project. It was a great experience to talk with the very prolific Steve Wynn.
Photo by Guy Kokken. Check out Guy’s work here.
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Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

Chuck Mead – from Homestead Grays and BR5-49 to The Stalwarts Nov 13, 2024

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When Chuck Mead was a young boy, he and his sister moved with their parents to Lawrence, Kansas. He got a drum kit as a gift when he was 12, and soon after started playing in the family’s band. It was made up of his mom, his dad, his grandparents and uncles who played country and western, and Chuck would also sing songs by Carl Perkins and Elvis.
An uncle taught Chuck how to play guitar and by high school, he was playing in bands with friends. He continued to play while attending The University of Kansas, still having a fondness for rockabilly and country, but was also listening to Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Springsteen and even the Ramones. His band, The Homestead Grays, recorded a couple of records and after college, Chuck moved to Nashville. He played in the window of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and before long, he and Gary Bennett formed BR549. Crowds packed in to see them play Robert’s on Lower Broadway. They were an enormous hit, and soon became famous worldwide. A few weeks after seeing him with his current band, The Stalwarts, I had the pleasure of talking with him.

Hope you’ll enjoy my interview with the extremely talented, and very very funny, Chuck Mead.
Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins. Follow him here on Instagram.
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Save on Certified Pre-Owned Electronics
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Find or Sell Guitars and Gear at Reverb
Find great deals on guitars, amps, audio and recording gear. Or sell yours! Check out Reverb.com
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

Syd Straw – Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist and a Wonderful Person Aug 12, 2024

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It was a wonderful experience talking with someone I've admired for so long. I love her songs, I love her voice. And she’s just incredibly cool. In additional to her solo work, there’s such a long list of great bands and artists she’s performed with.

A list that includes – Pat Benatar, The dB’s, The Del-Lords, Dave Alvin, The Golden Palominos, Marshall Crenshaw, Van Dyke Parks, Vic Chesnutt, Wilco, Richard Thompson and many more. Syd’s debut solo album Surprise featured a lot of her pals from that list and her second album, War and Peace was backed by none other than that fantastic and much-loved band from Springfield, The Skeletons. I hope you’ll enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed talking with the one and only…Syd Straw.
Photo by Regan Kelly. @reganbrooklyn
Find wonderful songs and albums by Syd here at Bandcamp.
Save on certified Pre-Owned iPhones, Androids, AirPods, Macs, Smartwatches, accessories, and more at Plug Tech. – http://plug.tech/DJFEY

Find or Sell Guitars and Gear at Reverb
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Save on Certified Pre-Owned Electronics
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

Beth Bombara – a Wonderful Songwriter, Guitarist and Musician Jun 20, 2024

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While growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a young Beth Bombara took piano lessons in grade school. By the time she was entering high school, she had become interested in another instrument: her Mom’s electric guitar. She formed a punk band, Green Means Go, wrote some songs with her bandmates, and before long was playing for local audiences and gaining a loyal following. After attending college in both Michigan and Illinois, Beth moved to St. Louis, where she lives today. And, that following she had in high school…has now grown into a very large fan base. She stopped by the Frets studio today and I really hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed talking with this very talented singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Hope you’ll enjoy my interview with Beth Bombara.
Photo by Virginia Harold.
More information about Beth Bombara can be found here.
Save on certified Pre-Owned iPhones, Androids, AirPods, Macs, Smartwatches, accessories, and more at Plug Tech. – http://plug.tech/DJFEY

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
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Find or Sell Guitars and Gear at Reverb
Find great deals on guitars, amps, audio and recording gear. Or sell yours! Check out Reverb.com
Save on Certified Pre-Owned Electronics
Plug has great prices on refurbished electronics. Up to 70% off with a 30-day money back guarantee!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

Peter Holsapple – The dB’s Then and Now Jun 12, 2024

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The dB’s debut album Stands for Decibels was released in 1981, the album was praised by critics and over time, came to be loved by many fans who consider it a landmark power pop jangle classic. Stands for Decibels has now been reissued through Propeller Sound Recordings digitally and on CD, but also for the first time in the US on vinyl. My guest today on Frets is singer-songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist – the one and only Peter Holsapple.
You can purchase the reissue of the dB’s Stands for Decibels from Propeller Sound here.
This episode was fueled by Stringbean Coffee. Find out more here.
Save on certified Pre-Owned iPhones, Androids, AirPods, Macs, Smartwatches, accessories, and more at Plug Tech. – http://plug.tech/DJFEY

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Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

From Kippington Lodge to The Rumour - an Interview with Brinsley Schwarz May 14, 2024

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Brinsley Schwarz met Nick Lowe at school in the 1960s. They played in various bands with different group names and different members. In 1969, the band took the name of their lead guitarist, Brinsley Schwarz. On their studio albums, all from the 1970s, the band was made up of Brinsley along with Bob Andrews, Nick Lowe and Billy Rankin, with the addition of Ian Gomm on guitar and vocals, starting with their third LP, Silver Pistol. After releasing their final studio album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz, Brinsley and Bob would become part of Graham Parker & The Rumour. Brinsley is not only a fine guitar player and vocalist, he also plays saxophone, keyboards and percussion, and…is also a luthier, working on guitars and amplifiers. These days he’s still writing and recording wonderful songs. It was a pleasure…and an honor, to talk with a guitar hero since I was in my teens.

Hope you’ll enjoy my interview with Brinsley Schwarz.
Save on certified Pre-Owned iPhones, Androids, AirPods, Macs, Smartwatches, accessories, and more at Plug Tech – http://plug.tech/DJFEY

Support the show

Contact Dave Fey at davefey@me.com or call 314-229-8033

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