Happy Halloween! This isn't a regular episode of Witchpolice Radio. It's not even an episode of Witchpolice Radio at all. At various points over the past couple of years, I've been recording episodes for a potential second podcast called 'Incognito Johnson' with my pal Alex Seville , who now lives out in San Francisco. Here's a sample episode, about a 16th Century composer known for murder, witchcraft, and other spooooky stuff. It's not an interview, but more of a "listen to this crazy shit" sto...
Oct 31, 2021•38 min
I’ve been loving Alex Maher ’s recent social media experiments with loop pedals, so I had him on the podcast for a conversation about moving to Winnipeg from B.C. (during a pandemic), sax, seeking out the ‘fatness’ in funk, and so much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can also th...
Oct 29, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 634
I interviewed the brothers behind mysterious experimental love-pop outfit A Topiary ! Here's a fun conversation with Joshua and Jacob Letkeman about stage costumes, blood harmony, Billy Bob Thornton, and so much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can also throw a one-time tip via B...
Oct 25, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 633
On this episode, I talked sound art, field recordings, tapes and more tonight with experimental artist Cole Peters , who released a couple of limited-edition cassettes over the past few months. As you'll note in the intro, the podcast gods were out to get me on this one, but even technical difficulties aplenty couldn't stop me from getting this conversation into your earholes, so bear with some less-than-ideal audio -- the interview is worth it. Thanks. This episode brought to you by our pals at...
Oct 22, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 632
I was really excited about interviewing Brandon (by way of Montreal) country troubadour Bobby Dove , whose outstanding ‘ Hopeless Romantic ’ LP is easily one of my favourites of the year so far. We talked about the transition from big-city Quebec to small-town Manitoba, releasing an album while the world was locked down, bummer songs, THAT VOICE, and much more. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can h...
Oct 18, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 631
I had a great chat with Winnipeg jazz drummer/composer Tetyana Haraschuk , on the line from her current home in Spain. We talked about what drew her to drums and their expressiveness as an instrument, exploring new sounds, the beauty of instrumental music, and her fantastic, just-released suite ! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want ...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 630
Brendon Ehinger (formerly of Bucko, the Vagiants , et al) is on the show to talk about his current obsession with modular synthesizers and his work running the Prairie Wires Modular festival, which just wrapped up in his current home base of Brandon, Manitoba! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar ca...
Oct 11, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 629
This episode features a quick conversation with a stone cold Canadian legend: singer, actor, activist, and former Manitoban (but his heart is still here), Tom Jackson . We talked about his powerful new single and the public conversation around residential schools, taking the high road when it comes to dealing with tragedy, Tom’s philosophy behind his activism and charity work, and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the...
Oct 07, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 628
The inimitable Manitoba original known as the Smoky Tiger sat down for a chat, in which we discussed his three-album pandemic output, the joys of being “weird”, being a big fan of the work of the mysterious Bad Gardening Advice , and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can also...
Oct 04, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 627
Here's an interview with acclaimed jazz saxophonist (and U of M prof, by way of Staten Island, New York) Jon Gordon ! We talked about his excellent new album, ‘ Stranger Than Fiction ’, Winnipeg as a jazz hub, punk rock and free improvisation, embracing crowdfunding, and so much more. Jon will be perfoming Oct. 1 at the Rachel Browne Theatre as part of Jazz Winnipeg's Fall Fest . This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on ...
Oct 01, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 626
A fantastic conversation with Bazooka Joe 204 (formerly John Smith) about his upcoming ‘Prairie Nilsson’ release, the resurgence of interest in (and activity from) Peanuts and Corn Records , respecting hip-hop’s roots, and so much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can also throw a...
Sep 27, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 625
Todd Kowalski (bass/vocals) of Propagandhi is on the show! We talked about compassion — rather than politics — being the driving force behind the band’s music, his work as a visual artist , the upcoming remixed/remastered version of a classic Propagandhi record, and much more. (Note: this was recorded before some changes to their fall tour, so we only mention the one Winnipeg show at the Park Theatre , but now there are three.) This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company and ...
Sep 22, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 624
This is the seventh “Quick Hits” episode – a compilation of micro-interviews with four artists. It’s a fun way for the podcast to expand its scope a bit and talk to a wider range of guests. This episode features: - Heavy folk outfit The Dirty Beat - Jazz improvisers Freddy and the Fire Nation - Indie pop singer-songwriter Rein - Pop singer Carlo Capobianco This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help ...
Sep 19, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 623
Bonus election episode, in which local musicians-turned-political candidates Robert Crooks and Cam Scott talk about their experiences campaigning and an upcoming event that will include a live, improvised soundtrack. Whatever party/candidate you support, get out there and vote! This interview is not intended to influence your choice one way or another. Just vote! As always, if you like the podcast, please tell a friend or 20! Rate and review on your podcast player of choice! Word of mouth is sti...
Sep 16, 2021•22 min
On this episode, Winnipeg musician/comedian J. Williamez talks about straddling both worlds (and why he’s more comfortable playing shows with bands than comics), hecklers, ridiculously ambitious projects, his “muse” — Brian Pallister — and so much more. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! Yo...
Sep 13, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 622
Winnipeg trumpet/piano/guitar player-vocalist-composer-multi hyphenate Candice Tugby is on the show, and she's premiering some brand new tunes! We talked about her transition from classical piano to learning how to improvise on trumpet from some of the city’s finest jazz players, about her gig as a music consultant on an upcoming TV series, getting hooked on Sinatra, and much more. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast ...
Sep 09, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 621
Here's a “Winnipeg-adjacent” episode with Greg Soden, one of the hosts of U.S.-based Unscripted Moments: A Podcast About Propagandhi , a thoroughly-researched song-by-song deep dive into Winnipeg’s own Propagandhi! We got a bit nerdy about the podcast biz, talked about the impact the band has had on Greg and his listeners, the amount of research that goes into each episode, and much more! NOTE: I recorded this in a different spot than my usual office/studio location, so my end of the conversatio...
Sep 06, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 620
Live and direct from the sweaty confines of my pantry, it's a staple of Winnipeg’s music scene for decades, Greg MacPherson ! We talked about his roots performing solo at hardcore shows, went deep on Winnipeg’s dark/light duality and how that’s reflected in the city’s art, getting loud with Figure Walking , and so much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon (like Cody, our latest patron). You can help ou...
Sep 02, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 619
Great chat with Brendan McLean about the ambitious new record by local punks The Uglies , releasing CDs in the Red Lobster parking lot, growing up on the Fat Wreck Chords discography, and so much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can also throw a one-time tip via Buymeacoffee . A...
Aug 30, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 618
"MySpace revival" is a thing, apparently, and awesome new Winnipeg mathcore band Hopscotchbattlescars are on the podcast to explain it. We talked about their experience as an Internet band — one that has spent most of its existence recording music by sending files to each other online (and how that’s finally changing), writing politically-charged content without beating listeners over the head with their message, and much more. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Hu...
Aug 27, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 617
Folk singer-songwriter Onna Lou is on the podcast for a conversation about how she ended up in Winnipeg after growing up in Argentina and going to college in the US. We also talked about the audience for Spanish-language music, finding a place with the city’s Latin music community, and so much more. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and w...
Aug 23, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 616
I stepped way outside of my musical comfort zone for this interview with mezzo-soprano Rhonda Head , from Opaskwayak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. We talked about her journey from taking vocal lessons to becoming an internationally-known opera and classical singer, about her Indigenous Superstars interview series that highlights Indigenous artists from around the world, translating classical music into the Cree language, and so much more. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shi...
Aug 19, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 615
Here's my conversation with franco-Manitoban artist/producer Rayannah ! Great conversation about the francophone music community, combining visual and audio elements, some upcoming shows (finally, eh?) and much more. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can also throw a one-time tip via B...
Aug 16, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 614
Very sad to hear about the passing of Justice Chester from Daphne Bleue . He was on an episode of the podcast with his bandmate Brandon in early 2020, just before the pandemic. You can hear it here in its entirety. I didn't know him beyond this conversation and a small handful of social media interactions, but my heart goes out to his family, friends and bandmates. I've re-released this episode so it's at the top of the feed and people can get another opportunity to hear him and his band without...
Aug 12, 2021•46 min
It's a wide-ranging conversation with singer-songwriter Del Barber — his third appearance on the podcast in as many years. Del is getting set to release a new record of b-sides, so we talked about revisiting old songs, the prairies, humility in creativity… and went on some interesting tangents that you’ll have to tune in to hear for yourself. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as lit...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 613
Folk-soul singer-songwriter Ila Barker sat down for an interview on the podcast! We talked about the new music she’s creating for an upcoming album — her first in a number of years — as well as her work mentoring Indigenous youth, and so much more. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can...
Aug 05, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 612
It's an interview with Andriy and Nicholas from Winnipeg’s premier Eastern European folk-punk-fusion outfit, Zrada ! We talked about the band’s long history, roots in the city’s Ukrainian community, blending traditional themes with heavier western sounds, and more! We also discussed the impact on the pandemic and the light at the end of the tunnel with a show finally on the horizon. This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast...
Aug 02, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 611
Rusty Matyas is one of those musicians you’ve heard many times, even if you don’t realize it. As a multi-instrumentalist who has played with the likes of the Weakerthans, The Sheepdogs, Imaginary Cities and countless others, as well as a prolific producer, he appears in the credits of SO many records. He’s now reintroducing himself to local music fans as Rusty Robot , a new project that has already received attention for its star-studded debut single/video, and is poised for bigger and better th...
Jul 28, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 610
Singer-songwriter Tyler Del Pino is on the show! It's a conversation about his background in classical trumpet (of all things), his journey through country music, his current Americana/roots-pop sound, the new EP , and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can also throw a one-t...
Jul 26, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 609
A great conversation (as always) with local MC Kairo about his new EP with musical partner Hoopaloop , the emotional impact of tackling heavy lyrical subjects, looking forward to getting back onstage, reggae (of course), and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company . Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on Patreon . You can help out for as little as $1 a month if you like the show and want to throw some change in the guitar case! You can also throw a...
Jul 22, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 608
