Tour Stories/The Check-In with Joe Plummer

Latest Episodes:

Tour of Appreciation. 25 years of Joe's bands Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

This week's episode is a playlist of the bands Joe has recorded and toured with over the past 25 years. This chronological compilation is a celebration and an appreciation of the people he's had the fortune to work with throughout his career as a musician. Take the journey and enjoy.

Tracklist

Positive Greed: Retribution, Bob's Song

Bare Minimum: Fox Channel 9, "6"

Replikants: Xxenogenesis, Jazz Horse

Caustic Resin: Unlucky

Magic Magicians :Cascade Express, Wet Pills Pt. 2

A Gun Called Tension: 10 PM Letter

The Black Heart Procession: Did You Wonder, Sympathy Crime

The John and Spencer Booze Explosion: Lady Bird

20 Miles: Life Doesn't Rhyme

Modest Mouse: We've Got Everything, The Whale Song

The Shins: Bait and Switch, Heartworms

Mister Heavenly: Blue Lines, Georges Garden

Ugly Casanova: Corcova

Hew Time: 2020 Is Yours, Camp Kurtz

The Coromadelles: Good Guy, Maglite

Lieutenant: The Place You Wanna Go

Cold Ward Kids: Flower Drum Song, You Already Know

This episode is supported by Izotope. For a limited time, use code FRET10 to for a discount on all software.

Check it all out at Izotope

A Celebration of Rick Froberg: Pitchfork: Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, Obits Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

This episode is dedicated to the life, music and art of Rick Froberg, singer and guitarist for the bands Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, and Obits. I can remember the first time I heard Pitchfork at Fallout records in Seattle. From the moment I heard his cracking voice, the hooky jangle of his riffs, I was hooked on everything Rick. His stage presence, his vinegary and potent version of Fuck The Man messaging and of course his visual art that delivered the same message in such a beautifully sarcastic fashion. I had that chance to spend time with Rick here and there over the years, and I feel so fortunate to know him on and off the stage . I’ll always remember that constant half smirk that somehow both intimidated me and brought me in to his warmth at the same time. If you are unfamiliar with Rick's body of work both visually and musically, seek it out and enjoy.

Rick inspired my ears, my eyes and my heart. RIP

TRACKLIST

Pitchfork: Burn pigs burn

Pitchfork: Placebo

Dive Like Jehu: Caress

Drive Like Jehu: Do you compute

Drive Like Jehu: Luau

Drive Like Jehu: Bullet Train To Vegas

Hot Snakes: LAX

Hot Snakes: If Credit’s What Matters I’ll Take Credit

Hot Snakes: Checkmate

Obits: I Blame You

Obits: I Want Results

Obits: No Fly List

Drive Like Jehu: Hand Over Fist

The Check In with Heather Larimer and Brian Naubert- Corvair Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

Heather Larimer and Brian Naubert are the husband/wife duo that make up Portland based power-pop band Corvair. Their potent sophomore effort Bound to Be is out now via Paper Walls and Where It's At Is Where You Are. In this episode we discuss how their relationship plays into their writing process and how that has changed. They share their long game of record output and the process of making Bound To Be in Seattle, Portland and Oakland. Brian tells us why he's in happy song sad song limbo, Heather breaks down the idea behind new song Shady Town and the two tell us what it's like to write a love letter to your band member. We do some heavy Scirocco talk and hear a couple new tunes.

This episode supported by Native Instruments, iZotope, and Plugin Alliance. Check out "Summer of Sound", the best ever savings on ALL software, with 50% off products, updates, and upgrades, plus special hardware and software bundle deals . Visit all 3 online shops to capture these insane deals!

https://www.corvairband.com/

The Check-In with Night Beats...... Danny "Lee Blackwell" Rajan Billingsley Jun 23, 2023

Show notes

Danny "Lee Blackwell" Rajan Billingsley is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and founding member of Night Beats. His is, alongside Carolina Faruolo, one half of the Tropicalia infused psych rock band Abraxas and also a co-collaborator in the UFO Club with Christian Bland from The Black Angels. Rajan, thenewest release from Night Beats, is a rhythmically humid psychedelic odyssey that touches on R&B, Anatolian funk, 60's pop and celebrates hypnosis of dub. In this episode we talk about Danny's parameter less approach to songwriting and the role of "rule breaking". Danny shares his point of view of "world rock" as a kid growing up in Dallas and why the young Danny found himself as a failed gatekeeper of cultural traditions. We learn how he uses rhythm to build his various projects and we hear a couple tunes from Rajan.

Mentioned in this episode:

Schecter Guitars

Izotope

Distrokid

The Check-In with D.A. Stern Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

D.A. Stern (aka David Stern) is an LA based, New Jersey raised songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. His newest record, Don't Take Your Heartache Out On The World (Sept 13 via Symphonic) is a richly produced hook party that both globally and specifically addresses the trappings of love loss, infidelity and even "punkness", all in one sincere and at times humorous package. In this episode, David shares the journey of going from songwriter/protools tinkerer to landing as an engineer at the late Adam Yauch's Oscilloscope Laboratories and finally becoming a prolific self producing artist. David also tells us why collaboration is valuable to him and how it functions as a vehicle for him to loosen the rains on his production. We hear how Matt Sweeney wound up doing a guitar solo on the new record, why comedy is at his Davids expressive core and Joe plays a couple new tunes.

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/

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https://www.plugin-alliance.com/

The Check-In with Kate Stables-This Is The Kit Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

Kate Stables is a singer, song-writer, multi instrumentalist and founding member of This Is The Kit. British born Paris based Stables will be releasing her 7th full length record, Careful Of Your Keepers on June 9th via Rough Trade Records. The new effort is a complex, soothing and magnetic collection of songs produced and "toneset" by Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals, Neon Neon). In this episode Joe and Kate discuss the lyrical origin and tone of the new record and Kate shares some insight into her general writing process and how that connects to the listener. Kate tells us why she's likely a "changer" vs. and "stay the samer" and how that may manifest in both her life and art. She also shares the experience of making Careful Of Your Keepers with a super furry animal, explains the meaning behind This Is The Kit and champions Joes excitement for the video for the single More Change. https://youtu.be/v25evwdaf8o

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https://titk.cargo.site/

https://www.roughtrade.com/us/product/this-is-the-kit/careful-of-your-keepers-2

Mentioned in this episode:

Izotope

Distrokid

Schecter Guitars

The Check-In with PONY-Sam Bielanski and Matty Morand Jun 02, 2023

Show notes

PONY is a guitar power pop duo from Windsor, Ontario by way of Toronto. Currently comprised of singer/songwriter/founding member Sam Bielanski and multi-instrumentalist/co-collaborator Matty Morand, the band has releasedVelveteen (Take This To Heart Records), a irresistible hook laden hyper catchy effort that dabbles with The Velveteen Rabbit as a vehicle for expressing the power of giving love and acceptance. In this episode, we learn why the duo are drawn to the more sugary side of guitar rock but at the same time don't feel confined to the genre. Matty and Sam also share their collaborative process, the role The Velveteen Rabbit plays on the new record and their approach to live performance. Matty hips Joe to the Windsor touring scene, we learn about their podcast 2 Much TV and we hear a couple new tunes.

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/

https://www.izotope.com/

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/

https://ponytheband.ca/album/velveteen

https://www.takethistoheartrecords.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Izotope

Distrokid

Schecter Guitars

John Goff: Funerals, Weddings and Vincent Gallo. The Pipes and Synth Story. May 26, 2023

Show notes

John Goff, also known as Cascadia Bagpiper, has been a professional bagpiper since 1984. Originally from San Diego, he currently resides in the Pacific Northwest and plays memorials, funerals, weddings, and various celebrations. John is also an experimental musician, playing guitar, synthesizer and bagpipes with a wide range of musicians including Crash Worship, Neurosis, Merzbow, Steve Von Till, and NØISE, a collaboration with artist Shepard Fairey. In this episode, John shares a few of his many anecdotes, experiences and insights as an experimental musician turned professional bagpiper. We also get a brief history of the instrument, the outfit and the journey that landed him in this vocation. Long time pals Joe and John get a chance to catch up, hear some fruits of their collaborations and they revisit the time Vincent Gallo visited John at his Portland home.

This ep is supported Native Instruments. Use code "podcast" to get 50% off Komplete 14 Select, visit https://www.native-instruments.com/en/

This ep is also supported by Izotope. Use code "fret10" to receive your software discount at https://www.izotope.com/

https://www.cascadiabagpiper.com/

http://www.noiseproject.com/

The Check with Lira and Caufield -Sweeping Promises May 19, 2023

Show notes

Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug are collectively Sweeping Promises. Together, they have written, performed and recorded the last two records entirely as a duo, both efforts celebrating their unique and dynamic chemistry. Their newest record, Good Living Is Coming For You will be released on June 30th on Feel It (North America) and Sup Pop (ROW) with extensive touring to follow. In this episode, Lira and Caufield share their long journey between the records that landed them in their new studio in Lawrence, KS by way of Boston, Austin and Marfa. They discuss the intention behind their production, how meticulousness can result in simplicity and their path to collaborative songwriting. The three discuss why music criticism has likely run out of steam, why Caulfield feels like a spy on tour and we hear a few tunes new tunes.

Episode supported by Native Instruments. visit https://www.native-instruments.com/en/ for 50% off Komplete 14 Select using code "podcast"

Episode supported by Izotope. Go to https://www.izotope.com/ for 10% off all software using code "FRET10"

https://www.feelitrecordshop.com/

https://www.subpop.com/artists/sweeping_promises

https://sweepingpromises.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Distrokid

Izotope

Schecter Guitars

The Check-In with Aviv Rubinstien, In Sync Podcast, Jacob the Horse May 12, 2023

Show notes

Aviv Rubinstien is a Philly native, musician, filmmaker and podcaster living and working in Los Angeles. He has written and directed several feature films both in the United States and Southeast Asia. A true hyphenate, Aviv is the singer for the rock n roll band Jacob The Horse, he teaches screenwriting and filmmaking at Emerson College and Hussian College Los Angeles and, along side Rachel Brodsky, he co-host of*IN SYNC, the podcast celebrating the perfect on-screen needle drop. In this episode, Aviv and Joe share their favorite needle drops and Aviv not only gives us a definition, but also the distinction between needle drop and score. We hear about the sit-com-esc origin of *IN SYNC, and how it may quell the battle of the two loves in his life, music and cinema. Last, Aviv shares a truly outrageous tour story that changed his perspective on his life at the time, all through the lens of a band created for a film project.

Episode supported by Native Instruments. visit https://www.native-instruments.com/en/ for 50% off Komplete 14 Select using code "podcast"

Episode supported by Izotope. Go to https://www.izotope.com/ for 10% off all software using code "FRET10"

https://redcircle.com/shows/insync

https://jacobthehorse.bandcamp.com/album/jacob-the-horse

Mentioned in this episode:

Izotope

Distrokid

Schecter Guitars