Chris and I sat down in early March to talk about his first CD, Exit Pesce (pronounced pesh), his new CD, Patterns and his goals for the future. He played some fine new songs off of Patterns as well.

I thought of it more as a necessity rather than something I hope that happens. I just have to do it.

–Chris Koza talking about recording Exit Pesce in his apartment.

Chris’ Patterns CD release party will be April 1 @ the Turf Club with Coach Said Not To and Fitzgerald.

 

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After experiencing technical and scheduling difficulties, Mike Nicolai and I finally connected on the last day of February. We talked about his time in Minneapolis, Austin, TX and elsewhere. Mike was recently on tour with Arlo Guthrie and friends on an Amtrak tour to raise money for musicians in New Orleans who lost their gear in the disaster following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The first thing that happens to you if you’re from here and you move to Texas is you get terrified because people start coming up to you and being really nice. And being really like, “How ya doin’? What’s up?” And talking to you and actually displaying emotion which is something that if you grew up here your whole life you’re not really accustomed to.

–Mike Nicolai talking about moving to Austin, TX

 

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There are still echoes of the Golden Age of country to be found here and there. Loretta Lynn’s been making some noise with Jack White recently, for one thing, and Merle Haggard will occasionally put out an album on a punk label. Closer to home, Minneapolis’ Dana Thompson has released a new album, Ox, that revisits the old-timey sensibilities in a way that’s both refreshing and reassuring.

–Keith Pille , Pulse

Dana Thompson stopped by earlier this month. We talked about music, writing, parenthood and that tricky question of defining success.

There are just so many creative people in the world that do music or paint or write books or whatever–produce. And I really learned when I was in Austin, TX–because there are so many artists down there–that you either are or you aren’t.

And if you are, you’re a lifer. And if you’re able to do it at all, that’s a success.

–Dana Thompson on the issue of success.

 

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Martin and I sat down to talk about songwriting, touring and his record label, Eclectone Records, defining success and more. Martin played some new songs he’s currently working on in studio.

There will be an Eclectone Records showcase at the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown, near the University campus in Minneapolis on January 28, 2006.

 

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For the December 2005 edition of Minneapolist cast, I was happy to have Dan Israel over to play and talk about music, recording and his new record. For those who don’t know Dan was recipient of the Minnesota Music Academy’s awards for American Roots Recording and Song of the Year in 2005. He’s just released his seventh CD appropriately titled Dan Israel.

Dan and I spoke over beers and he was kind enough to play some songs for the podcast. His CD release party will be December 3 at The Turf Club with Mike Nicolai opening and Big Ditch Road closing the night.

 

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