Chip Chats

Always great to chat with Aaron Perrino (The Sheila Divine, Dear Leader) about what he's working on. Aaron teamed up with Steven Lord (The Dirty Bangs) on a new project called Aaron and the Lord. The duo, with help from Tanya Donelly (Belly), Mike Bethmann, and Paul Kolderie, released their debut, self-titled, album in October and it's available on all the streaming services. 

In this chat, we talk about how the duo got together, what the guys listened to during the pandemic, what it was like working with Tanya and much, much more.

https://aaronthelord.bandcamp.com/

My 17-year-old daughter, Liv, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from an AVM on June 4, 2018. I had never heard of AVM and was left with so many questions. A year later, People magazine ran a feature on the country/southern rock singer Drake White who had revealed that he has AVM after nearly collapsing on a Roanoke, Virginia stage. I knew from the minute I read that article that Drake was somebody I wanted to interview, to ask questions about his condition and learn how he's dealing with it and trying to turn it into a positive in his life and in his music. Drake was kind enough to be an open book and, in some ways, helped me in my grieving process. He says he never takes things for granted anymore and feels like his purpose is to be out there sharing his message and helping people get through difficult times in their lives.

Read the People article about Drake White: https://people.com/country/drake-white-arteriovenous-malformation-diagnosis/

Learn more about AVM: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-avm/symptoms-causes/syc-20350260

Check out Drake's website for music, tour information, merch and more: https://www.drakewhite.com/

It's easy to write off LURK as a punk band but there's so much more to the Chicago band's music. Lead singer Kevin Kiley says in a press release that they were hoping for a Ramones-meets-Devo-meets-B52s-meets-Cramps sound and you can hear a little bit of all that on LURK's debut album, Around the Sun, out on September 17 (Pure Noise Records). Kevin shares what it was like to play a show just before the world shut down, what it's like getting back on stage now, venues in Chicago where he's seen cool shows, the hustle bands have to do around album releases and memories of Ohio.

Intro song: "Crack a Smile" from LURK's Around the Sun

For merch, music, tour dates and more, visit: https://lurkusa.com/

You may know Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate, Gutterball, The Baseball Project or his solo career. Having been a professional musician for four decades, Wynn's released a wealth of material that I've only just started digging deeply into. His latest release, 2020's Decade, is an 11-CD box set featuring the albums Wynn recorded between 1995 and 2005 and includes 50+ previously unreleased songs. That's 11 hours worth of music just in this box set! Steve's doing a backyard and living room house show tour from September 3 - September 19 and that was the reason for this phone call. But, of course, we talked about things other than the tour including songwriting, the Fantasy Baseball league he's in, the 1977 New York Yankees, the amazing new Los Lobos album, Wynn's friendship with Bob Forrest and his favorite Ohio memory.

Catch Wynn on his intimate solo tour - https://www.stevewynn.net/tour.php

This morning, August 23, 2021, I learned that ex-Trouble singer Eric Wagner had passed away from Covid Pneumonia. While I had been considering share older interviews on CHIP CHATS, I was planning on waiting but with Eric's passing, I wanted to share an interview I did with him in October 2017 for ColumbusCalling.com. After Eric left Trouble, he started a band named The Skull and the band was making their first Columbus, Ohio stop at Ace of Cups. I interviewed some of the guys in Trouble back in the mid-90s but Eric did not take part so this was my first chance to speak with him. As you'll hear, while Eric fronted some heavy doom metal bands, he was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, including the Beatles, The Doors and Pink Floyd. I was fortunate to catch up with Eric after The Skull's show and he told me that he enjoyed our conversation. RIP Eric Wagner (1959-2021). Please get vaccinated.

Kix put out their first album in 1981. With influences ranging from AC/DC to Aerosmith to Hanoi Rocks, Kix hit the scene about 6 years before their peers in bands like Poison and Warrant starting getting noticed. Guitarist Brian "Damage" Forsythe talked about playing festivals in the 'burbs, Kix's longevity, some of the surprising bands that have cited Kix as an influence and what it's like living in Nashville. For more info on Kix, check out www.kixband.com

This interview was conducted on July 10, 2021 for a feature on ColumbusCalling.com to preview a Styx concert at the Fraze Pavilion in Huber Heights, Ohio.