TAJMO - TAJ MAHAL & KEB MO
Taj Mahal and Keb Mo join Rhythms Editor Brian Wise to talk about their new album together Room On The Porch.
May 26, 2025•33 min•Ep. 75
Rhythms Magazine
Australia’s Roots Music Bible
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Episodes
ALLISON RUSSELL
Allison Russell, multi-award winning singer, songwriter, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist will be in Australia this month for concerts in Melbourne (April 15) and Sydney (April 17) as well as appearances at Bluesfest (April 19-20). Rhythms editor Brian Wise spoke to Allison about her recent work, which included an appearance in the Broadway musical Hadestown.
Apr 03, 2025•31 min•Ep. 74
Sly Lives! Brian Wise and Michael Mackenzie review the latest streaming doco on Sly and The Family Stone
Sly Lives! is a 2025 documentary about the life of Sly Stone and the band Sly and the Family Stone. The film is also known as The Burden of Black Genius. It was directed by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and premiered at Sundance in January 2025. It's the second documentary directed by Questlove, following his Oscar-winning documentary Summer of Soul. It was released on Hulu and Disney+ on February 13, 2025 and Michael Mackenzie and Brian Wise discuss the enormous influence this troubled genius has ...
Feb 24, 2025•13 min•Ep. 73
LEON BRIDGES IN CONVERSATION
Texas-born and bred singer Leon Bridges has just began his Australian tour in Bowral on Sunday January 19 and he has appearances in Sydney (January 21) and at at the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne on Thursday January 23. Brian Wise spoke to Leon about his career and his latest album, simply titled Leon. The interview also contains music from the latest album. Concert details and tickets at: leonbridges.com
Jan 19, 2025•35 min•Ep. 72
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN REVIEW - BRIAN WISE & MICHAEL MACKENZIE
Brian Wise and Michael Mackenzie discuss A Complete Unknown, James Mangold's biopic on Bob Dylan starring Timothy Chalamet as Bob, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo (Suze Rotolo), Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez and Edward Norton as Pete Seeger. Is this the best music biopic of all time?
Jan 18, 2025•20 min•Ep. 71
Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly joined Brian Wise in the studio at Triple R in Melbourne to talk about his recent American our, the film How To make Gravy based on his song of the same title and his latest album Fever Longing Still. He also performs two songs from the new album for us: 'All Those Smiling Faces' and 'Down To The River With Dad'.
Nov 30, 2024•33 min•Ep. 70
Michael Connelly Pt 2 : The Music of Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer
Michael Connelly is the American author of thirty-seven novels, including the Harry Bosch series, the Lincoln Lawyer series, and the Renée Ballard series. They alone have sold more than eighty million copies worldwide. Michael Connolley was in Australia for the Sydney and Brisbane Writers Festivals and spoke to Rhythms Editor Brian Wise about the use of music, especially jazz, in his Bosch series and other works. It was produced by Michael Mackenzie.
Jun 12, 2024•15 min•Ep. 69
Michael Connelly Pt 1: The Music of Bosch
Michael Connelly is the author of thirty-seven novels, including #1 New York Times bestsellers Desert Star, The Dark Hours, and The Law of Innocence. His books, which include the Harry Bosch series, the Lincoln Lawyer series, and the Renée Ballard series, have sold more than eighty million copies worldwide. Connelly is a former newspaper reporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels. He's the executive producer of three television series: Bosch, Bosch: Legacy, and The Li...
Jun 12, 2024•14 min•Ep. 68
BOO MITCHELL
Our guest in this Rhythms podcast is Boo Mitchell, the son of legendary Memphis producer Willie Mitchell, whose Royal Studios featured the incredible Hi Rhythm Section playing behind a myriad of hits from the likes of Al Green, Ann Peebles and many more. Boo has his own formidable career working with many high profile musicians at Royal and producing the acclaimed 2014 documentary Take Me to the River, celebrating the intergenerational and interracial musical influence of Memphis, in the face of...
May 16, 2024•28 min•Ep. 67
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
Martha Wainwright is touring Australia this month and Rhythms Editor Brian Wise caught up with her by Zoom to talk about the tour, her return to touring, writing new songs and a tribute to singer/songwriter Connie Converse. The podcast starts with music from Martha's lates studio album Love Is Reborn. Songs: Hole In My Heart/Getting Older/Love Will Be Reborn - Martha Wainwright (Love Will Be Reborn), Five Years Old - Loudon Wainwright III (Fame & Wealth), One By One - Martha Wainwright, Wild...
May 14, 2024•41 min•Ep. 65
JON CLEARY
Jon Cleary is currently touring Australia with his Absolute Monster Gentlemen. Rhythms Editor Brian Wise spoke to him just before he set off for the tour and just after he had played The Bitter End in New York, which is s story in itself. Jon is also appearing at Blues On Broadbeach this weekend, May 16-19, 2024. You can check out Jon's touring dates here: https://www.joncleary.com/tour
May 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 64
JEFF TWEEDY
Wilco are touring Australia in March and Rhythms Editor Brian Wise spoke to Jeff Tweedy about the band's latest album Cousin and Jeff's new book World Within A Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music. This edition of the Rhythms Podcast is sponsored by Love Police Tours. You can find full details of the Wilco tour at lovepolice.com.au/tours .
Jan 13, 2024•20 min•Ep. 63
Muireann Bradley
Muireann Bradley, 17 year-old singer/guitarist from County Donegal in Ireland, has just released her debut album I Kept These Old Blues (interpretations of blues classics) on the American label Tompkins Square which first spotted her at the age of 13 after seeing her play on YouTube! Brian Wise spoke to Muireann just a week or so prior to her 17th birthday and just as her debut was about to be released. Listen to her amazing story.
Dec 30, 2023•31 min•Ep. 62
Brennen Leigh captures the 1960s classicism of Country on her new album
Awash in full-throttle fiddle, weeping steel guitar, a sprinkling of heavenly backing vocals, and anchored by her warm, expressive vocals, Leigh’s latest album is an emotion-packed revelation. Rooted in vintage country, Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet is an unapologetically beer-and tear-soaked homage to an era when hard-country weepers burst forth from AM transistor radios. The album’s country roots run deep, with guests like Marty Stuart and Rodney Crowell and a lineup of top-flight musicians....
Sep 28, 2023•21 min•Ep. 61
Rhiannon Giddens stretches out across all American music on her latest album
Rhiannon Giddens has made a singular, iconic career out of stretching her brand of folk music, with its miles-deep historical roots and contemporary sensibilities, into just about every field imaginable. A two-time GRAMMY Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singer and instrumentalist, MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient, and composer of opera, ballet, and film, Giddens has centered her work around the mission of lifting up people whose contributions to American musical history have previously been o...
Sep 17, 2023•33 min•Ep. 60
MIFF FOCUS: KAREN O’CONNOR DIRECTOR OF JOAN BAEZ: I AM A NOISE
One of the music documentaries at the Melbourne International Film Festival is Joan Baez: I Am A Noise which digs deep into the life of the renowned folk singer/activist as she retires from touring and reflects on her life. Co-director Karen O'Connor has been a friend of Baez for many years and has managed to gain access to a treasure trove of archival material. The film also uncovers some surprising revelations about the life of one of the most famous voices of the '60s protest movement and the...
Aug 08, 2023•27 min•Ep. 59
Lucinda Williams On Her Memoir and Latest Album!
Lucinda Williams talks to Rhythms Editor Brian Wise about her recently published memoir Don't Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You and her album Stories From A Rock 'n' Roll Heart.
Jul 26, 2023•21 min•Ep. 58
Jody Stephens & Luther Russell (Those Pretty Wrongs)
JODY STEPHENS is the sole surviving member of iconic early '70s power pop legends Big Star, and the only man other than Alex Chilton to play on all three of their peerless original albums. He was also a member of pioneering alt-country supergroup Golden Smog, alongside members of Wilco and the Jayhawks. LUTHER RUSSELL is an acclaimed singer/songwriter and producer (Richmond Fontaine amongst others) who formed his first band as a teenager with Jacob Dylan (before the son of Bob formed The Wallflo...
Jun 27, 2023•35 min•Ep. 57
Jason Isbell on Weathervanes
Brian Wise's guest in this podcast is Jason Isbell. To call Isbell the King Of Americana is not an idle claim. Since 2009 he has won 9 Americana Awards and been nominated for another ten - to add to his four Grammy Awards! Born and raised in Alabama and got a publishing deal with Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals when he was just 21, joined Paterson Hood in the Drive By Truckers and after five years began his solo career which included forming the 400 Unit and releasing 8 albums, the latest of which...
Jun 11, 2023•51 min•Ep. 56
Willy Vlautin on The Delines
Willy Vlautin is an American author, musician and songwriter. He was the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of Portland, Oregon rock band Richmond Fontaine from 1994–2016 and is currently a member and main songwriter of The Delines who will be touring Australia from June 8 to June 18 (tour details at lovepolice.com.au) Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Vlautin released 12 studio albums with Richmond Fontaine and has released another four with The Delines. He has also written six novels: The Mo...
Jun 06, 2023•27 min•Ep. 55
Rodney Crowell on The Chicago Sessions
For his latest studio album, The Chicago Sessions, acclaimed singer-songwriter/producer Rodney Crowell journeyed to Chicago to record at Wilco's Loft with Jeff Tweedy as producer. Crowell brought three players with him - guitarist Jedd Hughes, pianist Catherine Marx, and bassist Zachariah Hickman — while Chicago natives John Perrine and Spencer Tweedy (Jeff’s son) split drumming duties. Jeff Tweedy appears on vocals, guitars, and banjo throughout and co-writes one of the songs. Most of The Chica...
Jun 06, 2023•35 min•Ep. 54
Rickie Lee Jones On Pieces of Treasure
Pieces of Treasure (BMG Modern Recordings), Rickie Lee Jones’ fifteenth studio album, not only explores her love of jazz but also reunites her with producer Russ Titelman who produced her 1979 debut album and its follow up Pirates in 1981. Of course, Jones has recorded jazz -oriented albums before – Girl at Her Volcano and Pop Pop - and in 1989 she was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Jazz Vocal Performance category for her rendition of “Autumn Leaves” from Rob Wasserman’s Duets album and a ye...
May 29, 2023•43 min•Ep. 53
Don Walker on Lightning In A Clear Blue Sky
Don Walker is one of Australia’s most revered, respected and most successful songwriters. He first established his reputation as the principal songwriter in Cold Chisel, the most played band on Australian radio and his career has extended through solo albums (under his own name or Catfish) and albums with Tex Perkins and Charlie Owens in Tex, Don and Charlie. Many others have recorded his songs and he is rightfully a member of the Australian songwriting Hall of Fame as well as a multiple ARIA an...
May 23, 2023•50 min•Ep. 52
Tommy McLain & CC Adcock
Swamp pop legend Tommy McLain began his career in the 1950s and enjoyed his biggest hit, 'Sweet Dreams', in 1966. CC Adcock was a founding member if Lil' Band O' Gold who toured Australia twice and he has also had his own acclaimed solo albums out. CC has produced Tommy's first album in 40 years, I Ran Down Every Dream which features guests Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and Augie Meyers amongst others. Tommy and CC are currently visiting Australia. You can check their tour dates here: love police.co...
May 23, 2023•57 min•Ep. 51
Robert Glasper talks Grammys, going to school with Beyonce, Nina Simone, jazz and Miles Davis
Five-time Grammy Award winning musician Robert Glasper was raised in Texas and went to school with Beyonce before heading off to New York to pursue his love of jazz music playing with some notables of the genre. However, Glasper's musical horizons extend way beyond jazz and while he won a Grammy for his work on the music for the Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead he has won another four for his R&B albums, mainly the Black Radio series. Robert Glasper will be appearing at Bluesfest Melbourne and...
Mar 02, 2023•23 min•Ep. 50
Steve Earle talks tribute albums, Justin, and Tender Mercies
This episode features Steve Earle, who's been a frequent visitor to Australia since the late 80s when he was riding high in the charts with his third album Copperhead Road. Earl didn't release his debut album Guitar Town until he was 27 years old, but he'd already established himself as a noted songwriter in Nashville. By the end of 2022, Steve Earle had released 21 studio albums, many with his long standing band The Dukes. He's also a published author, has appeared in the TV series The Wire, ha...
Jan 20, 2023•19 min•Ep. 49
Mary Coughlan - Headed For Port Fairy With A New Project Underway
Mary Coughlan began her recording career in 1985 with the acclaimed album Tired & Emotional. Since then Mary has released another fifteen studio and live albums and has become one of Ireland’s most celebrated vocalists. Mary’s life – turbulent at times - has been chronicled in the stage play Woman Undone and also in her latest studio album Life Stories, which she will no doubt showcase in her forthcoming appearance at the Port Fairy Folk Festival and other dates, But she is also working on a...
Jan 12, 2023•25 min•Ep. 48
Billy Bragg: The Million Little Things That Didn’t Happen
Billy Bragg, the Bard from Barking, is a singer-songwriter and activist renowned for his politically charged lyrics and social commentary. Billy began his career in the early 1980s with the release of his debut album, Life's A Riot with Spy Vs Spy, which featured the hit song "A New England" and established what was to become an abiding interest in politics. Over the years, Billy has released a dozen studio albums, several live albums, and has collaborated with other artists such as Wilco and Jo...
Dec 08, 2022•41 min•Ep. 47
Eric Bibb discusses his new album and forthcoming tour to Australia
Eric Bibb has the perfect background for a folk/blues musician. His father was the renowned singer Leon Bibb which enabled Eric to mix with some of music's greats - including Bob Dylan - in New York's Greenwich Village scene of the 1960s. Eric has been recording and touring since 1972 but for many years has lived in Sweden which gives him a different perspective on his homeland. His last studio album was Dear America, released in 2021. Eric will be appearing at the Port Fairy Folk Festival, Marc...
Nov 19, 2022•26 min•Ep. 46
Michael Goldberg On James Calvin Wilsey
Guitarist James Calvin Wilsey was responsible for one of the most memorable song intros of all time on 'Wicked Game' by Chris Isaak; yet Wilsey remains largely unknown. Michael Goldberg sets out to rectify that with his book Wicked Game: The True Story of Guitarist James Calvin Wilsey. In this Rhythms podcast, Goldberg talks to Brian Wise about the book.
Oct 30, 2022•35 min•Ep. 45
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