Max Wareham visits NineVoltHeart to chat about”Daggomit!” and Whately Town Hall show 4/6.

Max Wareham has just released an amazingly self assured “debut” full length, “Doggomit!” and will feature this material at Whately Town Hall on 4/5. Max sat down with me to chat about the recording which highlights an all-star band including Peter Rowan, Chris Eldridge, David Grier, Chris Henry, Laura Orshaw, Mike Bub, and Larry Atamanuik.! Pretty heady company for a debut album! Our conversation touches on Wareham’s beginnings as a jazz guitarist, his discovery of the banjo and his “bluegrass sabbatical” with family member Peter Rowan in California.

We talk about the writing of this batch of songs, Max’s love of bluegrass history, and the book he’s currently working on with Banjo legend Butch Robins. Max talks about bluegrass almost like a team sport and incorporates this theme into his tribute to the Boston Bruins called “The Black & Gold” which is included in the segment. The album includes several bluegrass classics but features mostly Wareham’s original songs and tunes. Peter Rowan sings a few and cowrites as well on “Daggomit!”. We finish our segment with Max’s intro to “Gone, Baby, Gone” which Peter Rowan sings and improvises in the studio. It’s an instant classic in the vein of “Ruben” meets “500 Miles”. First take magic! We finish with “Bar Blues” an instrumental which features all the wonderful players on this most refreshing disc.

Find out about the artist at MaxWareham.com as well as the show at WatermelonWednesdays.com

Nine Volt Heart showcases Louise Coombe’s incredible new work. A conversation about Creativity and “Paris”.

Louise Coombe’s visit to NineVoltHeart was a revelation. Such amazing songs along with really insightful commentary. It is one of my favorite segments. Louise previews four new songs from her not yet released album, “Paris”. We hear “October”, “Maybe California”, “Nameless Lady” and the title cut in our segment. Along the way, Louise talks extensively and insightfully about the nature of creativity, the role of song contests, the value of co-writing (Ray Kennedy to Tom Paxton) and the historical narrative style song.

The “magic” of song-writing is evident in Louise’s art but so is the “work”; some songs having dozens of versions over as long as a decade! It’s clear that she values and respects the craft of songwriting and the songs shine in their stripped-down versions here on the radio. I’m so honored to present them to my listeners in advance of the album’s release. Details of upcoming shows and releases can be found at LouiseCoombe.com

Daring Coyotes visits NineVoltHeart!

David Clark Carroll’s musical project is known as Daring Coyotes. David is a well known and respected mandolin player in our area. A regular at jam sessions as well as open mics in the Valley, this in-studio session explains why. He is a well spoken advocate for bluegrass music as well as great guitarist too.

Our session includes four live songs; two on mandolin and two on guitar. We begin with a live mando tune called “Cider Donuts’ originally released on his “Apple Cider Sessions” album. Our conversation follows chronologically from his early days in the Boston area playing in punk bands through his discovery of the masters of acoustic music; Doc Watson, David Grisman and Sam Bush. David moved to California for his early formative years in acoustic and bluegrass. He eventually was the center of a major jam session scene in Nevada County, CA. He became the regional director of the well respected California Bluegrass Association. While a variety of concerns brought him back East, we’re lucky he’s continued to play and write music. We hear two cuts from his Cider LP called “Manham Mesmerizer” and “Nice Day”. Live cuts included two new songs “All We Can Do” and “Fading Memories” which include David on his Martin guitar and singing. We finish with a fabulous mando original “Sanderson Breakdown”.

All throughout David advocates for playing this music live among peers. We discuss the various jam sessions happening in the area including one he leads himself; CitySide Bluegrass Jam held the first Saturday of the month in Easthampton. Info on Daring Coyotes can be found at DaringCoyotes.com

Heather Maloney releases “Exploding Star” and sells out three local shows! NineVoltHeart interview.

Heather Maloney joined me for an in-depth discussion of her carreer and her latest album, “Exploding Star”; the local writer’s ninth release. She has two sold out shows at the Iron Horse on Feb 7&8th to begin a full tour featuring her most personal album yet. We begin and end the interview with the capstones of her album; “Labyrinth in the Weeds” and “Leave It To Them”. In between, our conversation touches on many topics including making Western Massachusetts her home base, her song writing approach to this new material as well as her visual artistry (creating linocuts for each song). We chat about the incredibly difficult chapter of losing her Dad to Parkinsons in 2021. She went to her childhood home to find it vacant of residents but not of ghosts and nostalgia among many emotions. Two of her new songs ended up being recorded at the home; literally using the walls and floors percussively! We chatted about the intensity of this formative experience to the process. The results are astoundingly touching, emotionally complicated and starkly beautiful! Heather talks about lessons she learned about grief and loss among these songs which weren’t originally scheduled for an album release at all. They were simply a creative artist working through issues. We are collectively glad that she reconsidered that decision.

Check out more about the album, the tour and all things Heather at HeatherMaloney.com

High Tea and Wallace Field preview their Iron Horse show 1/31; In studio on NineVoltHeart

I had the pleasure to host two fine young bands on the show in advance of their Iron Horse Music Hall show on January 31. High Tea (Isabella DeHerdt and Isaac Eliot) along with Wallace Field entertained us with conversation and song for the hour. We heard four live in-studio songs (most of which were new and unreleased) from the pair of indy-folk Valley favorites. High Tea performed “Whole Lotta Lovin'” and “Paper Mache” while Wallace performed “The Common” and “Lighthouse Man’. We also played “The Tale of Billy and the Void” and “Tender Heart Attack” from High Tea’s recordings. We also heard “Stranger” from Wallace Field’s latest record.

Both bands are clearly excited about their Iron Horse premieres having both sold-out Parlor Room gigs in the past. They will be welcoming full band versions of these songs at the Iron Horse. We chatted about each of their musical journeys and their song-writing styles. We also discussed our Connecticut Valley music scene and it’s viability along with it’s emphasis on collaboration and community building. Both bands have new material they’re working on with upcoming recording sessions scheduled. High Tea is also touring this month with Heather Maloney as part of her band (also playing the Iron Horse Feb 7&8)

Info on the bands can be found at WallaceField Music.com and HighTeaBand.com

Info on the venue and tickets can be found at IronHorse.org

The Secret Chord channels Leonard Cohen on NineVoltHeart.

Three members of The Secret Chord joined me in-studio in advance of their local show in Amherst Massachusetts on Feb 7. Gordon Kramer, Ruth Critcher and Jody Spitz performed four Leonard Cohen songs and discussed his music and influence during our lively discussion. In concert, the trio are usually joined by Ray Gregonis (bass), Jess Sproule (keys), and Patrick Kelley (drums). Their local show will be help at the Cherry Hill Cohousing Commons at 120 Pilpit Hill Road in North Amherst. Doors at 6:30 for their 7:00 concert.

Leonard Cohen had a long and interesting musical career from poet/songwriter to the leader of a large choir/ensemble. He wrote three novels, thirteen books of poetry and released fifteen albums of his own original music during a fifty year span. He started later than some at age thirty-two (debuting at Newport!) and had his career derailed by difficult producer Phil Spector, a stint on a Greek island, five years in a zen monastery in California, as well as having his manager embezzle all his earnings and his sell copywritten songs! Despite these setbacks, Cohen perservered and became a beloved artist to many culminating in a Canadian Hall of Fame honor and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction.

The Secret Chord has learned dozens of Cohen’s songs and performed “The Window”, “First We Take Manhattan”,”If It Be Your Will” and “Tower Of Song”. Along the way we heard Cohen recite Joni Mitchell’s “The Jungle Line” with Herbie Hancock on piano.

Our discussion entails several other musical projects from our members beyond Cohen’s music as well as a discussion of Leonard’s spiritual messages and musical impact. Give the segment a listen and head to Amherst on February 7 to hear the full band treatment of this amazing catalog of songs. More info on the band can be found at The Secret Chord.band

Eric Phelps talks songwriting and upcoming show; Luthiers on 1/25.

Eric Phelps works hard at his craft. He visited NineVoltHeart to play a handful of new songs that will be premiered at Luthiers in Easthampton on 1/25. We start with one of the fifty-five “new’ songs he’s written this year called “Never Had a Doubt in You”. We talk about the song writing process, his sources of inspiration as well as the impact workshops have had on his craft. Eric released an exceptional batch of songs in 2022 called “Let It Rain”. Since then he’s released a batch of singles and we heard both “Glad That I’m with You” and “Letter To Myself”. We also got another premiere live in-studio with “That’s Why They Call it a Crush”. We talk about his stellar band which performed on “Let It Rain” most of whom will join him on January 25. That show is free to the public! We finish our segment with “Unchanged” a rocking song from “Rain” to finish an excellent discussion on songwriting with the songs to prove that Eric is a real master craftsman.

Stephen Kellogg previews his Shea Theater all-request show on Nine Volt Heart.

Stephen Kellogg appears for the first time at Turners Fall’s Shea Theater on December 19. He was kind enough to join me on NineVoltHeart to talk about his career and this unique show. We began with his song, “If Anyone is Listening”, from his most recent release “Keep It Up, Kid”. Our conversation touched on a wide variety of topics including his early start in our Valley at both U Mass and as an intern at the Iron Horse Music Hall. We talked about his ability to learn from these early experiences and see the ecosystem of music as a possible career. We also touched on the importance of his family life (he has four daughters!) and how he’s been able to create a better work/life balance over the years.

We also talked about some of his most recent albums which lean towards “concept” albums such as his “South West North East” which was recorded in four different studios across the US with different producers, different bands and different musical vibes! His newest work, “To You, Old Friend”, not yet released features the concept of friendship from different angles.

Stephen Kellogg is not afraid to take calculated risks. He explored Job satisfaction in a TEDX talk, he wrote a book on his perspectives on life and family based on his album, “Objects in The Mirror”. He’s been a stand up comedian, a storyteller in addition to being a musical troubadour. His latest approach will be debuted at the Shea, Stephen is doing an all-request show! Fans write down their favorites and he picks from a hat to determine the setlist. That’s a considerable challenge considering his 17 album catalog plus random requests for covers? Should make for a fun night for his fans (and Kellogg, I hope).

We finish the segment with the song Kellogg had finished his shows with….”See You Later, See You Soon”.

Tickets and information at Sheatheater.com or Stephen Kellogg.com

December 19th, Shea Theater, Turners Falls, MA

Peter Newland, legendary leader of FAT, joins me in-studio. Iron Horse show on December 22.

Peter Newland brings his band, FAT, to the Iron Horse on December 22. He was generous to come by the studio and sing a few favorites and talk about what is now a 56 year career. We began with a cut from their RCA Records debut, which started this amazing run, called “Black Sunday”. Our discussion gives an overview of the band’s extensive history of “the next big thing” and “near misses” over the decades. Peter gives us background to the ups and downs of the music business over the years. Peter played a pair of FAT songs live in-studio starting with “Livin’ Like an Outlaw” and “When Will I Meet You?” alongside the title cut of the 1976 independent release “Footloose”. We finish with another signature tune from their debut, “House on the Corner”. Great stories along the way. Give it a listen and better yet, get your tickets to December 22 show at IronHorse.org

Maggie Shar brings her Clawhammer skills to the Solstice Show, Parlor Room 12/12.

Maggie Shar, Winston Salem NC native, brought their banjo in-studio to play a few tunes on NineVoltHeart. Maggie will be part of the Winter Solstice concert along with the Low Lily on December 12 at the Parlor Room in Northampton, Massachusetts. We chatted about her early influences in NC finding her way to the banjo. We discussed why she enjoyed playing in this style as well as her teaching style and philosophy. Maggie teaches private lessons in person or online at MaggieShar.com

She started off with a tune called “Half Irish” and followed that with some of her important influences and teachers. Maggie Shar is in a number of creative projects such as The Ephemeral Stringband, The Moon Shells, and Little Roots; a music education program for young players. Little Roots has appeared locally many times at Luthiers, The Parlor Room, The Academy of Music, the Iron Horse. The Little Roots program has been featured many years at both Arcadia Folf Festival and the Green River Festival.

We talked about the upcoming Parlor Room show that Maggie will be playing, along with fellow-“MoonShell”-er, Brian Slattery on fiddle. We played a version of “Sally Ann in C” that Brian and her recorded as well as a song from the Moon Shells called “Fireworks”. Maggie played a spirited tune called “Goldrush” solo banjo style and we finished the segment with a Moon Shell tune appropriate for the Solstice show called “Let Out the Light”.

The remainder of the hour featured songs from We Banjo 3, Mark Erelli, Mark O’Connor and Tony Trischka; all in the wintery spirit.

Tickets for the Winter Solstice show on December 12 can be found at ParlorRoom.org