Our guest this week is multi-Grammy winning producer Russ Titelman. Russ has been deeply rooted in the music business since the 60s as a producer, an engineer, a songwriter, and even a session guitarist. His midas touch has benefitted legendary artists like Paul Simon, Chaka Khan, James Taylor, Cyndi Lauper, Brian Wilson, Rickie Lee Jones, and won Grammys for Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton. In this conversation we hit on all of that and more including how songs like "Higher Love", "Tears in Heav...
Mar 20, 2024•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 572
In 1989 when Australian rock bands like Midnight Oil and INXS were screaming up the charts in the US, you'd think the easiest thing in the world would be to present one more and let them continue the streak. Such was not the story of Boom Crash Opera. Despite getting some airplay for "Onion Skin" off their second album, These Here Are Crazy Times, and despite having material just as strong as their peers, it didn't happen and BCO never got their just due (except back home where they remain a dra...
Mar 14, 2024•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 571
The Dandy Warhols have been around for 30 years. That can't be right! In the 90s they seemed like hedonistic little hippies and now, they still are, but the rest of the world has caught up with them. On the 15th, the band releases ROCKMAKER, their first fully guitar-driven album in a while (maybe ever) and they embark on a US tour this week. Zia McCabe joins us to talk about the new album, how the band writes songs (fans know their albums are gloriously all over the place), what it's like having...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 570
These days, guitarist Nigel Bennett is as much an entrepreneur as he is a punk rocker. I'll explain. Nigel's career began in the 70s when he was hired to join The Members who were mixing punk, pop and reggae in unique ways. They're probably best remembered by their 1982 hit "Working Girl". The band didn't last long and Nigel bummed around until he was hired by the Vibrators in 1990, where he remains today. During the pandemic, the rest of the Vibrators called it quits, leaving Nigel to carry on ...
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 569
Author Joel Selvin returns to the show to discuss his new book on one of the greatest and most complicated drummers in rock history, Jim Gordon. The list of songs made better by Jim's talent is endless - "Good Vibrations", "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", "Wichita Lineman", "Apache" and hundreds of others. He was also the drummer in Derek and the Dominoes and co-wrote "Layla". Unfortunately, Jim was overwhelmed by demons from schizophrenia most of his life and murdered his mother in 1983 confinin...
Feb 27, 2024•52 min•Ep. 568
The amazing Mike Scott returns to the podcast to go deep on the Waterboys' 1985 masterpiece This is the Sea. This benchmark album has been released in a massive 6-disc deluxe edition that includes almost 100 tracks, many of which have never been heard before, and a hardback book all of which tells the story of the album's creation. Mike takes us track by track through the original album, the contributions from other band members and where his head was at back then. If any classic album deserves ...
Feb 24, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 567
Cult icon Josie Cotton joins us this week! Of course, her career exploded in the early 80s with the help of Valley Girl and the immortal "Johnny, Are You Queer?" but her time on major labels was short-lived. For almost 40 years she's built a career thriving as an indie artist and doing her own thing. Last year she released a strong new album called Day of the Gun which, like everything she does, is a complete artistic package from the music to the fashion to the videos and beyond. She discusses ...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 566
Rich Travali is one of the most successful guests we've ever featured on the show. He began his career in the 80s at the Hit Factory in New York working with legends like Patti Smith, Sting and Paul Simon, who he was especially close to during the recording of The Rhythm of the Saints. In the 90s he formed a bond with Puff Daddy which led to a couple decades of gigantic hits - 11 #1 singles and over 140 million in total record sales. We're talking generational hits like "Hot in Herre", "Big Popp...
Feb 14, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 565
Ian Lloyd has been at this longer than many of us have been alive. He first took off fronting Stories in the early 70s for three albums. The second one, About Us, featured the surprising #1 smash "Brother Louie". From there he went solo and released some excellent (and sadly out of print) power pop albums including the wonderful Goosebumps from 1979. He also made a nice living singing backing vocals for Foreigner, Billy Joel and many others including several ads and jingles. He's still out there...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 564
For this Book Club we welcome noted Australian author Jeff Apter to discuss his new book on Neil Finn, Don't Dream It's Over. Jeff has been a successful music writer for decades, contributing to Rolling Stone as penning books on AC/DC, Keith Urban, and the Bee Gees. Nick and I nerd out on our love for Neil, what he's like, how the band and his family works (they're often similar), his relationship with his brother Tim and the late Paul Hester and much more. The book is essential for any Neil fan...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 563
This week we welcome one of the greatest musicians alive, bassist Jah Wobble! Jah first rose to prominence in PIL alongside John Lydon on their first two groundbreaking albums. After he left he struggled for a few years before picking it back up with the Invaders of the Heart and playing with almost everyone. In this conversation we discuss artists as diverse as Sinead O'Connor, Ginger Baker and Suggs. In 2023 alone he released several new projects, the main one being his new solo album, A Brief...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 562
Animotion's Bill Wadhams returns to the show to deep dive their excellent comeback album from 2017, Raise. I see this album as a perfect example of what legacy artists, especially ones from the 80s, are capable of doing in this day and age. It's an incredibly strong set of tunes that not enough people know about. Bill explains how the album came to be and the stories behind the songs. Please seek out this fantastic piece of pop. www.animotion-obsession.com www.patreon.com/thehustlepod...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 561
We go deep on excellent 90s British alternative rock with this week's twofer. First up is the iconic Saffron of Republica! The band is best known for (and still make a nice living from) "Ready To Go", which is saying a lot for a band that only managed a couple albums. They have recently come back together to make some new music including their latest single "New York". Saffron discusses all of it, including her second life as a nurse. After that we talk with Sneaker Pimp lyricist Ian Pickering. ...
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 560
We're honored to welcome one of music's greatest living musicians, Budgie! In this sprawling conversation we cover all the bases - coming up in Liverpool with Big in Japan, joining The Slits for their revolutionary album Cut, and joining Siouxsie and the Banshees where he would stay until the bitter end in the mid-90s. He also married Siouxsie and did their side project The Creatures for many years as well. Last year he teamed up with podcasting partner (and fellow legend), former Cure drummer L...
Jan 17, 2024•2 hr 18 min•Ep. 559
We're kicking off 2024 the way we often do by hearing from a legendary producer. This year we get to hear from the great Chris Kimsey! Chris was closely tied to the Stones for many years, producing albums like Some Girls, Undercover and Steel Wheels but his genius has impacted many other greats as well. In this conversation we cover artists big and small like Killing Joke, INXS, Duran Duran, Marillion, Led Zeppelin, Escape Club, Diesel Park West, Psychedelic Furs, Billy Squier, Bad Co., Curt Smi...
Jan 10, 2024•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 558
It's a classic rock twofer this week! First up is Don Barnes of 38 Special. Next year the band will be celebrating 50 years and they're still as strong as ever. Their peak 80s period rivals anyone's with a bunch of hits that are still beloved. Don discusses the stories behind the songs, touring today, his lost solo album and much more. Then we get to hear from original Foghat drummer Roger Earl. Roger's the last man standing, but is also performing a bunch of shows every year. The band also has ...
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 557
The pioneering story of the Veldt is a one of one. Twin black brothers from North Carolina in the 80s embrace the alternative rock coming from the UK and record their debut album in 1989 with Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins producing! The album was shelved, but they did get a couple great albums out in the 90s (Afrodisiac is especially excellent) but it never really takes off mainly because labels don't know what to do with black guys making alternative rock. They've soldiered on over the yea...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 556
This week we welcome back two of our favorites - Maia Sharp and Garrison Starr. The girls (who are also friends) return to catch us up on what they're doing these days. Maia is producing Sarah & Shannon while Garrison has paired up again with Sean McConnell for their second release as My Sister, My Brother. They also get into the music industry's handling of lesbian artists, writing lyrics, and how they approach their career in the modern era. They're so great at what they do and we're big f...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 555
Isn't the race for best alternative rock bass player in history neck and neck between Derek Forbes and Peter Hook? Those two showed what making great music with a bass as practically the lead instrument could do. Anyone who has listened to those early Simple Minds albums knows that what makes them so special is Derek's incredible bass work. Unfortunately, he was sacked from the band in '84 and has never returned for any real length of time. Many believe the band hasn't been the same since then. ...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 554
We welcome back for a rarefied air third time, the excellent author, Martin Popoff, to discuss his Kiss at 50 book. Kiss are a perfect band to discuss, and we enjoyed Martin's insights, and hope you do too! www.patreon.com/thehustlepod
Dec 11, 2023•46 min•Ep. 553
Manchester is known for all kinds of legendary bands emerging from the area. The Smiths, New Order, The Stone Roses, Oasis, Buzzcocks and tons more. The best of the 2000s has to be Doves. Beginning as the dance group Sub Sub, Doves went on to be one of the biggest and best bands the UK has brought the world, as five consistently great albums prove. They've been less busy the last decade or so (although 2020's Universal Want is a creative peak), as Jimi Goodwin works on his mental health, but the...
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 552
This week we welcome back our friend Kevin Armstrong to discuss his new memoir, Absolute Beginner. This wonderful book details how his unique career took flight, from forming great bands that never go anywhere, to joining forces with David Bowie and performing with him at Live Aid, and rocking alongside Iggy Pop for a decade. There are also stops with Thomas Dolby and Propaganda as well as amazing McCartney and Eno stories. The book is a blast and we love Kevin around here so be sure to add this...
Dec 04, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 551
The real story of Sly & the Family Stone needs to be told. Sly himself recently released a reportedly underwhelming memoir and there have been others over the years, but the true story of this revolutionary group is eroding too quickly. This week we welcome their legendary drummer (and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) Greg Errico. Greg recounts just how special those early days were and how sad it was when it all ended. Greg has had tons of success elsewhere including with Santana, Weather Repor...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 550
This week we give thanks for another twofer with a couple of legends. First up is my brief chat with jazz icon Les McCann. This weekend Les is releasing a special box set for Record Store Day, Never a Dull Moment - Live From Coast to Coast 66-67. This gorgeous collection showcases his mastery of the piano in the Trio setting and is an incredible piece of history. We're SO lucky to get a few minutes of his time. Then we hear from original Guess Who drummer Garry Peterson. The band has been withou...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 549
Jon and Jan review our 3rd quarter episodes, gigs, life and more.
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 548
The Darling Buds were another one of those excellent British alternative bands of the late 80s/early 90s that was sadly short lived. Three strong albums in four years and then nothing for a long time. People listening to college radio or scouring records stores around that time would know them well. Thankfully, the band is back with an incredible box set, Killing For Love, Albums, Singles, Rarities, Unreleased 1987-2017, just released by Cherry Red Records (they're so good at this stuff). Andrea...
Nov 15, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 547
Former guests Robert LaRoche of the Sighs and John Douglas of the Trashcan Sinatras return to discuss their brand new solo albums. Robert's new one Forevermore continues his perfect brand of "country-tinged power pop". And John's self-titled release shows his take on acoustic stripped-down versions of original songs as well as some Trashcan covers. They're both great at what they do and we like supporting artists we believe in. Enjoy! wwww.robertlarochemusic.com www.johndouglas.bandcamp.com/albu...
Nov 09, 2023•56 min•Ep. 546
We have another excellent twofer up this week with two decorated artists. First is Andrew Roachford! In the US, he's primarily remembered for his 1989 hit "Cuddly Toy" which still slaps today, but did you know he's an MBE back in England and one of their biggest selling artists? Over the years, whether fronting his band Roachford, or singing with Mike + the Mechanics, or doing his own solo work, he's gone from strength to strength. Next month he goes on a UK Tour celebrating his entire body of w...
Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 545
It's another great twofer for you this week! First is Glen Mercer of the Feelies. If there's an American version of post-punk, the Feelies are the best example. They released one of the greatest debuts ever, 1980's Crazy Rhythms, but have only recorded sporadically as a unit over 45 years. The band's been quiet since 2017, and original member Anton Fier died in 2022, but they have a new live album of Velvet Underground songs called Some Kinda Love out now. Then we hear from the ever-charming And...
Nov 01, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 544
It's a Jam Band adjacent twofer this week! First up is Blues Traveler guitarist and founding member Chan Kinchla. BT just released an excellent covers album called Traveler's Soul that includes their versions of songs by Dee-Lite, Stevie Wonder, TLC and more. It's a great companion to their last album Traveler's Blues. Chan discusses the making of the album, picking the songs, their live shows and much more. He's just about the nicest guy there is! Then we do something different. We talk to Dolp...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 543
