The Hustle

One could argue that the sound of American indie rock and power pop was shaped by Mitch Easter. Of course, he produced those early REM albums that are practically canon now, but his own music with Let's Active and his partnership with the likes of Scott Miller (Game Theory, Loud Family) and the db's have further cemented his legendary status. Recently, he's lent his talents to the Salt Collective, a fascinating project by French artist Stephane Schuck that has gathered a bunch of all-stars (Mitch, Matthew Caws, Andy Partridge, Peter Holsapple, Ken Stringfellow, Juliana Hatfield, Richard Lloyd, Susan Cowsill etc) to release a couple albums, the most recent being A Brief History of Blindness. Mitch and I get into how he signed on to this project and everything else he's done. Enjoy! www.thesaltcollective.propellersoundrecordings.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod

We love the Tubes around here so we're breaking one of our rules of not dipping into bands we've already covered on the show. There's a very good reason for this. Drummer Prairie Prince is a lot more than the Tubes' drummer. His long and storied career includes Todd Rundgren, Chris Isaak, Brian Eno, Jefferson Starship, Journey, David Foster and tons more. Prairie just released his first solo album, Colors and Passions, which is more of an ambitious art project than a collection of songs. Inspired by a 1966 album by jazz/spoken word artist Ken Nordine, the album is poetry and spoken word pieces about colors put to music as only an artist like Prairie can do. He joins us this week to discuss the creation of the album and to share stories from his long and diverse career. He's one of a kind. Enjoy! www.prairieprince.com www.label51recordings.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod

Helix front man Brian Vollmer has been bringing the rock for over 50 years. From humble Canadian beginnings, Helix have managed to keep the metal moving through trends, periods of indifference, super highs ("Rock You") and low lows (deaths). His commitment to rock has never wavered. Recently, the band released the aptly named Scrap Metal, a collection of new songs and reimagined classics that fans old and new will enjoy. What's great about this conversation with Brian is his openness to discussing the societal and financial challenges of keeping the band viable. He's been forced to learn the business side and it's helped immensely. Enjoy! www.planethelix.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod

There have been few creative bursts of the modern era more epic than George Clinton's in the 70s. He had so many songs in his brain he had to keep creating bands or producing artists to get them all out. One of his key players during this furtive time was guitarist Michael Hampton. "The Kidd" joined George's team while still a teenager when Eddie Hazel started to do his own thing. From there, George used him in Parliament, Funkadelic, the Brides of Funkenstein, Parlay, and with artists like Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell and Fred Wesley. Michael still plays with the P-Funk All-Stars to this day and has recently released a free EP called Into the Public Domain that shows he hasn't lost anything in terms of guitar playing. It was a heady time and Michael and I try to wrap our brains around it all, but it was a challenge. However, there's no mistaking that some of the greatest funk music ever made has Michael's stamp on it and we're grateful he's here this week to discuss it with us. Enjoy! www.michaelwhampton.com www.patreon.com/thehustlepod

Former Boston Globe Music Critic and rock and roll lifer Jim Sullivan joins us this week to discuss his highly entertaining new books Backstage and Beyond. There are two volumes (or one "Complete" version that includes both and some extra chapters) that share his conversations with most of the major movers and shakers over the last 45 years in rock. There's everyone from Jerry Lee Lewis to David Bowie to Ginger Baker to Enya to George Clinton. Jim and I discuss his long career with the Globe and what he does now, why most music critics all like the same music, his thoughts on rock stardom in general and a lot more. Enjoy, it's a blast! Backstage & Beyond Complete (eBook) — Trouser Press Books The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

It was going so well. Detroit's Von Bondies exploded out of the same garage rock scene that birthed the White Stripes and many others. In fact, Jack White produced their first album, Lack of Communication, in 2002. Things really took off with their Jerry Harrison-produced follow up Pawn Shoppe Heart from 2004 and "C'mon C'mon" became the theme song to the show Rescue Me. But then an unfortunate confrontation with Jack in a bar (and the brutal sucker punch seen 'round the world), and momentum for the band slowed with front man Jason Stollsteimer deciding he'd said everything he had to say. They managed one more album (and a few false starts with other bands), but Jason decided he was happier stepping away from music. Jason does his first interview in about 10 years to give us the history of the band, what he's up to now, why he gave up music, and the facts of that fight and that famous photo. The band had so much promise, it's a shame there isn't more, but we're so honored to hear from Jason this week. Enjoy! The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

Jon is joined by former guest Jackie Clary and our great friend Ryan Rauzon to discuss the recently released memoir by Cameron Crowe, The Uncool. We get into our history of fandom with Cameron, our thoughts on the book, on his career, the meaning of his "happysad" theory, rock journalism, and how he and the book have affected our lives. This was recorded live with no edits. If you've read the book, tell us what you think. Enjoy! The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

Britain's Cast are enjoying quite the second chapter. The last few years have seen a creative burst that rivals, if not exceeds, their early work. The result of this is some of their best music including their latest album, Yeah Yeah Yeah produced by former guest Youth. This technicolor masterpiece sees the lads expanding their sound in ways only Youth could inspire. Plus, you might have noticed them opening many shows for the little band Oasis on their monstrous reunion tour last year. Frontman John Power shares stories about releasing one of the biggest debuts in UK rock history, the lean solo years, as well as his time in the La's and why he thinks that band's frontman Lee Mavers has stayed put all this time. Great band - great guy! Cast – Cast Band Tour 2025 The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

The return of the great 90s power pop band Sugar has music lovers on the edge of their seats. So far there have been a couple new songs and some announced live dates, but where this could go remains to be seen. Bassist David Barbe joins us this week to discuss how this even came to be and what could be in store. Prior to Sugar, Barbe was in a fantastic punk band called Mercyland and Propeller Sound Recordings have been getting their albums remastered and rereleased so there's that to discuss as well. In addition, he's worked with the Drive-By Truckers for decades as well as Deerhunter, including producing albums by both. David's also an educator at the University of Georgia in Athens and has strong ties to the great music that came out of that area. As you can see, there's a lot to unpack here. Not to mention, David's just about the coolest and most inspiring guy you'll ever hear. Enjoy! Propeller Sound Recordings Sugar Return with First New Music and Live Dates in Over Three Decades - Bob Mould The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

Geoff Downes has lent his keyboard wizardry to many of the biggest and best bands of the last 50 years. He was a trendsetting new-waver with the Buggles popularizing synth pop alongside Trevor Horn. Then they were famously recruited to join Yes, changing that band's sound for a decade. And, while with Asia, he showed how good "corporate" AOR rock (not to mention supergroups) could be. There have been several other side-projects (DBA), one-offs (Trapeze), and production jobs (GTR, Thompson Twins) along the way as well that has kept him active and in demand. Yes's 2011 comeback album, Fly from Here, which reunited that 1980 version of the band that created the much-loved Drama album, has recently been reimagined and released on vinyl for the first time as Fly from Here: Return Trip. Geoff gives us the scoop on everything and more. Enjoy! Official website for the progressive rock band YES The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

Our buddy John Cafferty returns to the pod to discuss the new Beaver Brown Band album, Sound of Waves. You might remember John was on here a year or two ago when some new songs were finally released. Well, now there's a whole new album. We only had to wait about 36 years for this! John and I discuss these new tracks, finally making it happen, and the passing of saxophonist Michael "Tunes" Antunes, a key ingredient to the JCBBB sound. Enjoy!

The Porcaro family is rock royalty. They made everything they touched better from their incredible session work to the many Toto hits and Grammys. Steve Porcaro has recently released a new solo album called The Very Day that shows him cleaning house. Most of these songs have been sitting around unfinished for decades so he finally committed to perfecting them (with help from friends like Michael McDonald and Jason Scheff) and getting them out in the world. Steve joins us this week to discuss the process of completing this album, as well as stories from his long session career. There's working with Quincy Jones and David Foster, there's working with Earth Wind and Fire and the Brothers Johnson, and there's his feelings on the many afterlives of "Human Nature" which he wrote and appeared on Thriller. I wish we could have talked for hours! Steve Porcaro The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

Author Bill Kopp returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums. The great thing about Bill's writing is that he often shines a light on music that is underappreciated. These 30 albums aren't the obvious ones, but completely worthy creations that deserve a spot in your collection. We also get into why artists choose to make them, whether they're fun or work, why they're often long, and what went into him selecting these particular options. Bill was on a couple years ago to discuss his book on San Francisco's 415 record label. We love him around here. Enjoy and prepare to take notes! What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums - new book by BILL KOPP - from HoZac Books The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

Percussionist Lenny Castro has made a career out of being an ingredient that makes everything he touches better. He's been one of the most in-demand musicians of the last 50 years and was even an official member of Toto for many decades. Would classics like "Africa" and "Rosanna" be what they are without him? Doubtful. He's also the best thing about Christopher Cross's "Ride Like the Wind" and ONJ's "Physical". We also discuss a bunch of his session work with people like Stevie Wonder, Robert Palmer, and Fleetwood Mac. He's "mostly" retired now but keeps getting pulled in because he's so good and even just completed a tour with John Mayer. He's the best and we're lucky to hear from him. Enjoy! The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

The musical mind of Barry Adamson was so cinematic he created soundtracks for movies that didn't exist. Until they did. He starts out with the essential post-punk band Magazine, who released some of the best albums the genre had to offer. He was restless though and after time in Visage and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, he committed the music in his head to tape with the solo album, Moss Side Story and never stopped. Barry's music has always had a heavy cinematic quality which lead to him eventually scoring films, of course. Last week he released his new album, SCALA!, which is the soundtrack to the new documentary on the legendary art-house cinema in London which was a gathering place for him and artsy people like him for decades. We get to hear stories about all the stops along the way in his musical journey, working with people like Nick Cave and Midge Ure, growing up bi-racial, and more. Enjoy! Barry Adamson The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

By running Boston's Fort Apache studio with partner Sean Slade, Paul positioned himself at the forefront of the underground, indie sound that was suddenly above ground. His resume includes all time classics like Radiohead's Pablo Honey (featuring "Creep") and Hole's Live Through This, but also well-respected benchmarks by Buffalo Tom, Morphine, Pixies, Uncle Tupelo, Dinosaur Jr., and the Lemonheads. There are even fascinating outliers like Joe Jackson and Warren Zevon. We get into all of this and a ton more. He's still at it today too. Paul helped shape the sound of that pivotal time in rock history. We're lucky to hear from him! Paul Q. Kolderie | Music Producer, Engineer and Mixer The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon

Britta Phillips has maintained two very different careers for decades - one is all kitsch and the other has a ton of street cred. She starred in that kinda fun, but mostly bad 1988 Justine Bateman movie Satisfaction and was the singing voice for Jem in the Jem and the Holograms cartoon. She also maintained a career in indie rock bands that got a big leg up when she joined Luna in the early 2000s. She and front man Dean Wareham eventually married and the two have been releasing excellent Dean & Britta music while also scoring films and reuniting with Luna occasionally. She joins us this week to discuss all of it. We get pretty deep on her success with cover songs and her approach. She's wonderful! Dean & Britta - brittaphillips.com The Hustle Podcast | creating podcasts | Patreon