Vinyl Emergency

Latest Episodes:

Episode 97: Photographer Andy Barron Jan 08, 2019

Show notes

Andy Barron has made a career of visually documenting life on the road for musicians, both on stage and off, over the last decade. He's currently Chris Stapleton's official tour photographer, and he's done similar work for groups like Foster The People and Switchfoot. His résumé also sports freelance photography for the likes of Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, Joy Williams and New Kids On The Block. A native Californian but now based in Nashville, Andy discusses how to keep things fresh while taking pictures of the same tour night after night, how that same schedule helps you from regretting not taking the perfect shot, how listening to vinyl compares to seeing a film in a movie theater versus at home, how those seeking out a full visual and audio experience with an album benefit due to his hard work, and he dusts off some rare gems in his vinyl collection from Beck, Sigur Rós and Starflyer 59. Check out andybarron.com as well as @chrisstapleton on Instagram to view Andy's photography, and follow him @andybarron on Instagram and Twitter.

Episode 96: Matt Lunsford of Polyvinyl Records Dec 18, 2018

Show notes

For over two decades, Polyvinyl Records -- which started in the small Midwestern town of Danville, IL -- has been releasing various offshoots of indie-rock with touches of folk, hardcore punk, chamber pop or new wave, including records from Braid, Japandroids, Of Montreal, Joan of Arc, Deerhoof, Alvvays, Beach Slang, Jeff Rosenstock, Matt Pond PA, Owen, Jay Som, Mates of State and countless others. On today's show, Polyvinyl co-founder Matt Lunsford remembers the hands-on DIY nature of the label's first releases, the early importance of documenting a scene (along with co-founder and wife Darcie), how long their lead time is at pressing plants for a label of their caliber and adapting quickly to how listeners consume music. Plus, we'll learn more about recent or upcoming Polyvinyl releases from American Football, Pedro the Lion and Rainer Maria. Shop for the label's music, merch and take advantage of their massive holiday sale at PolyvinylRecords.com, follow them on Facebook and Instagram @polyvinylrecords, or on Twitter @polyvinyl.

Episode 95: Aaron Hartley (Forever Analog / Country Music Association) Dec 11, 2018

Show notes

As director of business affairs at the Country Music Association, Aaron Hartley clears rights for online content, works with music publishers on payments for song placements and acts as a liaison between artists and the CMA for television properties. But before working in the world of country music, Aaron cut his teeth by launching Theory Eight Records, a small indie-rock label that has released material for the likes of Bully, Caitlin Rose and Copeland among others. Aside from finding and fixing classic audio gear, Aaron also currently runs Forever Analog, a mixture of a clothing brand and a community that extends beyond his passion for vinyl to celebrate anything tactile, including reel-to-reel players and classic photography equipment. On today's show, we examine how the CMA was born out out of radio's reaction to Elvis' fame, the importance of Weird Al, how we can prevent hobbies like collecting vinyl from becoming too overwhelming and more. Visit Aaron's websites -- aaronhartley.me and foreveranalog.net -- for updates on DIY projects, insightful blog pieces, his social media and more.

Episode 94: Making Vinyl Conference Recap / Record Store Day Black Friday Preview Nov 20, 2018

Show notes

Eric Astor — CEO and President of Furnace Record Pressing in Virginia — returns to the show to discuss last month's 2nd annual Making Vinyl conference in Detroit and Furnace's recent addition of several new record presses. Plus we go over this year's Record Store Day Black Friday releases with former podcast guest Nick Digilio from WGN Radio in Chicago.

Episode 93: Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit) Oct 30, 2018

Show notes

While it's commonplace for mentors and musical influences to get thanked in a Grammy-acceptance speech, Sadler Vaden made sure to pay homage to his father's physical record collection when, as lead guitarist for Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, the group took home this year's award for Best Americana Album. Since joining the group after the release of Isbell's 2013 breakthrough "Southeastern," Sadler has performed worldwide in one of the busiest and most critically-acclaimed bands working today, even playing side-by-side with some of the classic rock heroes that his dad first spun around the house. On top of his production techniques and overall approach as a solo artist, today Sadler discusses the band's new live album, his delicate balance between improvisation and structure as a guitarist, and the urge to release non-album singles as quickly as they come. We even examine some vinyl gems and first pressings from his dad's collections on-air! Find Sadler Vaden's 2016 self-titled debut album, as well as Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit's "The Nashville Sound" and "Live from the Ryman," however you get music. You can also download the band's recent live performance with David Crosby to benefit the voter registration non-profit HeadCount.org, and hear Sadler's recent digital singles on iTunes and Spotify. Go to SadlerVaden.com and JasonIsbell.com for tour dates and more.

Episode 92: Hozier, Courtney Marie Andrews, Dawes (LIVE FROM PILGRIMAGE FESTIVAL) Oct 16, 2018

Show notes

Though much of this year's Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival in Franklin, TN was sidelined due to weather-related safety concerns, we still managed to chat with Dawes lead vocalist/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith, soulful singer/songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews and Ireland's Grammy-nominated Hozier, who all shared their thoughts about the importance of vinyl in a digital world, and how the medium has influenced their own work. For details on Pilgrimage Festival, visit pilgrimagefestival.com.

Episode 91: Erin Rae, John Paul White, The Watson Twins, John Oates, Tommy Emmanuel, Austin Lucas, Cowtownchad (LIVE FROM AMERICANAFEST) Oct 02, 2018

Show notes

Our special guests this week are Grammy-winner John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars), acclaimed singer/songwriter Erin Rae, sibling vocal duo The Watson Twins, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Oates of Hall & Oates, Australian guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel, photographer "Cowtownchad" Cochran and former Vinyl Emergency guest Austin Lucas, all providing great stories about their appreciation and personal history with vinyl, recorded live at various locations during Americanafest 2018 in Nashville, TN! For details on Americanafest, including how to join the Americana Music Organization, visit AmericanaMusic.org.

Episode 90: Intervention Records Founder and CEO Shane Buettner Sep 14, 2018

Show notes

With a long history in journalism covering audio and home entertainment, Shane Buettner began boutique vinyl reissue label Intervention Records in 2015, with a focus on albums from the late 70's to early 2000's that he felt weren't getting the proper, or any, treatment on wax. Inspired by the Music Matters Jazz label and priding himself on overseeing every aspect -- from working with the original analog tapes to art restoration to sleeve printing and assembly -- Shane has released high-quality, in-demand reissues from Everclear, Joe Jackson, Erasure, Judee Sill and more over the last three years. Most recently, Intervention has partnered with 90's power-pop king and former Vinyl Emergency guest Matthew Sweet to reissue and remaster his catalog from 1991-1995, all of which were originally recorded entirely to analog: Girlfriend, Altered Beast, the never-before-on-vinyl Son of Altered Beast EP and 100% Fun. On today's show, Shane discusses what the music industry learned from Neil Young's Pono experiment, how farm-to-table restaurants relate to the vinyl world, and his new website -- vinylreviews.com -- which aims to create a community where listeners can share their thoughts on specific pressings and packaging. We also do a deep dive on how our ears and brains take in music, and why audio source transparency is so important to vinyl's resurgence. Visit interventionrecords.com to pick up Shane's quality reissues, and follow @intervention_records on Instagram for needle drops, pressing updates and more!

Episode 89: Great Peacock Aug 31, 2018

Show notes

In the footsteps of groups like The Band or The Flying Burrito Brothers, who still exude country rock coolness 50 years on, comes Nashville's Great Peacock. Since their 2015 debut, they've been hailed by publications like No Depression, American Songwriter and Paste for their powerful, poignant mixture of folk, rock, blues and Americana, while sharing stages with Margo Price, Dr. Dog, Colter Wall and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd -- guitarists and co-songwriters/vocalists for the quartet -- sit down backstage at hometown venue 3rd & Lindsley to discuss their connections to vinyl, their favorite music documentaries, whether an artist's name on the front of their records takes away from the album's visual art, how My Morning Jacket's Tom Blankenship and Carl Broemel ended up contributing to Great Peacock's terrific new album Gran Pavo Real and more! On September 13th, they'll perform at Musicians Corner at Centennial Park in Nashville as part of Americanafest 2018, and you can visit GreatPeacock.com for further tour dates, their social media, etc.

ANNOUNCEMENT: We're Moving! Jul 20, 2018

Show notes

Check out details on our brief upcoming hiatus, and what you can expect when we return.

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