The Check-In with Lily Wolter-Penelope Isles

The Check-In with Lily Wolter-Penelope Isles

Lily Wolter is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and along with her brother Jack, a founding member of Brighton based band, Penelope Isles. Their newest release, 3 is due out September 25th via Bella Union. Lily shares her experience growing up on the Ilse of Mann, how that shaped her relationship with music and what motivated her and her brother to start playing music together. She tells us why the band took a three-year break, what they did with that time, and why Penelope Isles feels stronger than ever. Joe and Lily discuss her story telling style, the songwriting connection that these siblings have, and how their collaboration has evolved. The two bond on video making and content creation, how breaking the fourth wall drove the concept for their newest video, and we hear some new tunes. Penelope Isles [https://penelopeisles.bandcamp.com/] Bella Union [https://bellaunion.com/pages/penelope-isles] Summer Slip On Sale at Kingston Union [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorIViNzH-i0wOAf8TDeWvyNBM7bjc8tU8Cd2AKFYfHbZA9y60Wn]. Add a little leisure and style to your summer vibrations with our classic Slip-On. Right now we're offering 25% Off on ALL Slip-On's. Pre beach, post beach, breezy nights on the deck or be your chillest self on your daily errands. Use code SUMMERSLIPS25 [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/discount/SUMMERSLIPS25] to get yours now. Episode supported by our friends Izotope [https://www.izotope.com/] This episode is produced with Ozone 12, the newest from Izotope. Head over to izotope.com now for savings on all their production software. Go check out Ozone 12 and RX 12 and master with the best and solve the unsolvable 20 plug-ins for mastering mastery. Use code FRET10 at checkout. Ep supported by @distrokid. Distrokid now offers Bandzoogle where you can build your bands website and store in minutes. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories [https://distrokid.com/?c=tourstories]. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH @distrokid Tour Stories would like to welcome our newest sponsor Kuma Coffee. Kuma Coffee is a 100% Independently owned roasting company right here in Seattle since 2008. Kuma is a 5-person team, roasting over 100,000lbs of exclusively high scoring coffee each year. They source their coffees direct from origin and pay well over fair trade pricing to farmers. This guarantees the highest quality, while supporting rural farming communities throughout the Global South They also just launched an instant coffee… (Joe’s favorite instant) Find everything Kuma at Kumacoffee.com [https://www.kumacoffee.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Izotope Distrokid Kingston Union Kingston Union, your home for the original Wino shoes Kingstonunionmfg.com Kuma Coffee

The Check-In with Dent May

Dent May is an LA based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His 7th full length record The Big One is due out August 14th via Carpark Records. Dent share’s his experience growing up in Mississippi and why his connection to music was so meaningful both as a child and in his formative years. He tells us how his production approach rides the line of maximalist and minimalist, why he chose to track live and how he wrangled his array of influences to create a unique sound for The Big One. Dent and Joe talk about the connection that artist Joe Brainard has to the single I Remember, and we hear about the efforts it took for the song to finally be make in on a record. We get a look into Dent’s mixing approach, and we hear a couple new songs. Dent May [https://www.dentmay.com/] Car Park Records [https://www.carparkrecords.com/] Summer Slip On Sale at Kingston Union [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorIViNzH-i0wOAf8TDeWvyNBM7bjc8tU8Cd2AKFYfHbZA9y60Wn]. Add a little leisure and style to your summer vibrations with our classic Slip-On. Right now we're offering 25% Off on ALL Slip-On's. Pre beach, post beach, breezy nights on the deck or be your chillest self on your daily errands. Use code SUMMERSLIPS25 [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/discount/SUMMERSLIPS25] to get yours now. Episode supported by our friends Izotope [https://www.izotope.com/] This episode is produced with Ozone 12, the newest from Izotope. Head over to izotope.com now for savings on all their production software. Go check out Ozone 12 and RX 12 and master with the best and solve the unsolvable 20 plug-ins for mastering mastery. Use code FRET10 at checkout. Ep supported by @distrokid. Distrokid now offers Bandzoogle where you can build your bands website and store in minutes. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories [https://distrokid.com/?c=tourstories]. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH @distrokid Tour Stories would like to welcome our newest sponsor Kuma Coffee. Kuma Coffee is a 100% Independently owned roasting company right here in Seattle since 2008. Kuma is a 5-person team, roasting over 100,000lbs of exclusively high scoring coffee each year. They source their coffees direct from origin and pay well over fair trade pricing to farmers. This guarantees the highest quality, while supporting rural farming communities throughout the Global South They also just launched an instant coffee… (Joe’s favorite instant) Find everything Kuma at Kumacoffee.com [https://www.kumacoffee.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Kuma Coffee Izotope Kingston Union Kingston Union, your home for the original Wino shoes Kingstonunionmfg.com Distrokid

The Check In with Evil Island- Cody Votolato-Johnny Whitney

Evil Island have announced their debut album, Terraform The Afterlife, arriving August 14 via Blowed Out Records. Born from the creative firestorm that followed The Blood Brothers' 2024 reunion tour, the record finds Johnny Whitney, Cody Votolato, Mark Gajadhar and Autry Fulbright pushing their collective chemistry into bold new territory. In this episode, Johnny and Cody explain the story behind Evil Island, how The Blood Brothers 2024 tour was the springboard for the new band and why it feels like they are operating at the height of their songwriting. The two share their views on the importance of a good producer/band relationship and why longtime friend Ross Robinson was not only a perfect fit for the record, but more like a 5th member. Johnny shares his experience of relearning to sing after a 9-year break, why he was motivated to become a singer again and why he feels like he’s reached his best singer and lyricist self. The two explain how creating uncomfortable space in the studio led to a deeper comradery, more reliance on instincts and yielded better performance. They discuss how their songwriting has developed from their younger selves, how that allows more freedom of expression, and we hear some new songs from Terraform The Afterlife. Evil Island [https://evilisland.bandcamp.com/album/terraform-the-afterlife] Blowed Out Records [https://store.blowedoutrecords.com/pages/artists] Tour Stories supported by Kingston Union who is having their Summer Slip On sale now. Use code SUMMERSLIPS25 [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/_t/c/v3/AABpEI09_jHtwt91Q3dUqoLYrFol-JiC81WnrwzI8WH8vNXnFqQqTE_WsDiSPOIE5O93wQz9OFdQrMF6BF4gqCJsiw5vL5wPapQpIK6rEYS2uX1vonvwU5OqJIFhZfXGuR0mAyQWQQG8ZcNm9Ttmwyf-o39DQrryGwtX4DVgmGEd7M5XALpZpehaKR-tNLOkH-fibJRXt809fbo4B2nsobyQWAbqXacCiCfW9zT-xXlyc-HNOe3AulNDffntNqEF1EPgWFDLKuSpemQbfboCABWezTv78lF9gQDAxWdRz4u-KDbomYiLx76q7lWtuW8hii7phW71iKdrinTX_ph0Nb5V0Aw-FEaTnTZlJkWj11UDhF2O4cLd039BCY1jU0ipPxFwdVRjddGIJx1b-Q0e2AQfgqy9IhwVGvnbQDMSSBwHRSrgbVm82xUWpJOhScEU19blMc9XugpL-IUSF86aF8ftpvNeBO6dJ5h1MLCrNh849ZUWUwA4n286j9s8UhJh] for 25% All Slip-On's. Go here Kingston Union [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqtakETSioLSnbvOrF0mK6C4LV2Yz2mycWhy6h4DHuolX2px7B7] Tour Stories would like to welcome our newest sponsor Kuma Coffee. Kuma Coffee is a 100% Independently owned roasting company right here in Seattle since 2008. Kuma is a 5-person team, roasting over 100,000lbs of exclusively high scoring coffee each year. They source their coffees direct from origin and pay well over fair trade pricing to farmers. This guarantees the highest quality, while supporting rural farming communities throughout the Global South They also just launched an instant coffee… (Joe’s favorite instant) Find everything Kuma at Kumacoffee.com [https://www.kumacoffee.com/] Episode supported by our friends Izotope [https://www.izotope.com/] This episode is produced with Ozone 12, the newest from Izotope. Head over to izotope.com now for savings on all their production software. Go check out Ozone 12 and RX 12 and master with the best and solve the unsolvable 20 plug-ins for mastering mastery. Use code FRET10 at checkout. Ep supported by @distrokid. Distrokid now offers Bandzoogle where you can build your bands website and store in minutes. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories [https://distrokid.com/?c=tourstories]. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH @distrokid Summer Slip On Sale at Kingston Union [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorIViNzH-i0wOAf8TDeWvyNBM7bjc8tU8Cd2AKFYfHbZA9y60Wn]. Add a little leisure and style to your summer vibrations with our classic Slip-On. Right now we're offering 25% Off on ALL Slip-On's. Pre beach, post beach, breezy nights on the deck or be your chillest self on your daily errands. Use code SUMMERSLIPS25 [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/discount/SUMMERSLIPS25] to get yours now. Mentioned in this episode: Distrokid Kingston Union Kingston Union, your home for the original Wino shoes Kingstonunionmfg.com Izotope Schecter Guitars

The Check-In with Dawson Daugherty-Almost Monday

Dawson Daugherty is a singer, songwriter and founding member of Almost Monday. Their second album Thank God It’s Almost Monday is due out September 9 via Hollywood Records and are on tour now with Young The Giant and Cold War Kids. This week Joe reports from the back of a tour bus where Dawson share’s the unique origin of Almost Monday, how surfing played a role in the formation of the band and why Dawson with inspired to delve into songwriting as a youngster. The two discuss the sophomoric pressure for the new record, how it came from extreme highs and lows for the band and why that lends to its diverse song to song sound. Dawson tells us why the lead single Leaving Is Easy is an important song for the band, he shares some insight into his writing process, and we get a sample of the newest single, Delicate. Almost Monday [https://almostmonday.com/] Tour Stories supported by Kingston Union who is having their Summer Slip On sale now. Use code SUMMERSLIPS25 [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/_t/c/v3/AABpEI09_jHtwt91Q3dUqoLYrFol-JiC81WnrwzI8WH8vNXnFqQqTE_WsDiSPOIE5O93wQz9OFdQrMF6BF4gqCJsiw5vL5wPapQpIK6rEYS2uX1vonvwU5OqJIFhZfXGuR0mAyQWQQG8ZcNm9Ttmwyf-o39DQrryGwtX4DVgmGEd7M5XALpZpehaKR-tNLOkH-fibJRXt809fbo4B2nsobyQWAbqXacCiCfW9zT-xXlyc-HNOe3AulNDffntNqEF1EPgWFDLKuSpemQbfboCABWezTv78lF9gQDAxWdRz4u-KDbomYiLx76q7lWtuW8hii7phW71iKdrinTX_ph0Nb5V0Aw-FEaTnTZlJkWj11UDhF2O4cLd039BCY1jU0ipPxFwdVRjddGIJx1b-Q0e2AQfgqy9IhwVGvnbQDMSSBwHRSrgbVm82xUWpJOhScEU19blMc9XugpL-IUSF86aF8ftpvNeBO6dJ5h1MLCrNh849ZUWUwA4n286j9s8UhJh] for 25% All Slip-On's. Go here Kingston Union [https://kingstonunionmfg.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqtakETSioLSnbvOrF0mK6C4LV2Yz2mycWhy6h4DHuolX2px7B7] Tour Stories would like to welcome our newest sponsor Kuma Coffee. Kuma Coffee is a 100% Independently owned roasting company right here in Seattle since 2008. Kuma is a 5-person team, roasting over 100,000lbs of exclusively high scoring coffee each year. They source their coffees direct from origin and pay well over fair trade pricing to farmers. This guarantees the highest quality, while supporting rural farming communities throughout the Global South They also just launched an instant coffee… (Joe’s favorite instant) Find everything Kuma at Kumacoffee.com [https://www.kumacoffee.com/] Episode supported by our friends Izotope [https://www.izotope.com/] This episode is produced with Ozone 12, the newest from Izotope. Head over to izotope.com now for savings on all their production software. Go check out Ozone 12 and RX 12 and master with the best and solve the unsolvable 20 plug-ins for mastering mastery. Use code FRET10 at checkout. Ep supported by @distrokid. Distrokid now offers Bandzoogle where you can build your bands website and store in minutes. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories [https://distrokid.com/?c=tourstories]. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH @distrokid Ep supported by Heil Sound. For 60 years, Heil Sound has provided innovative, professional quality sound for stage, studio, broadcast, and podcast. Grammy-winning artists and sound engineers worldwide trust Heil microphones for their legendary sound. To find out more about the full line of Heil microphones and products, visit heilsound.com [http://heilsound.com/]. Mentioned in this episode: Izotope Distrokid Kuma Coffee

Special Episode! As Many Weirdos As Possible with Steve Manning

This is a special episode. We would like to present As Many Weirdos As Possible, a documentary photography project honoring the Pacific Northwest music scene from 1985 to 1995. A team of photographers is capturing portraits of bartenders, musicians, engineers, journalists and others from the community, in places that tie them to their stories. Through portraits and handwritten memories, it spotlights the creators and unsung figures who shaped a movement that changed the world. In this episode we hear from Steve Manning at a Seattle Town Hall event on April 17th 2026. Steve Manning has lived everywhere cool in the PNW (Tacoma, Olympia, Seattle), is a 9+ year Sub Pop Records veteran and Joe's occasional pickleball pal. Introduction by John Roderick (Harvey Danger, Long Winters). As Many Weirdos As Possible [https://www.manyweirdos.com/stories] Poser Productions [https://www.manyweirdos.com/poser-productions] Video at Town Hall [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woSE61cOoL0] Tour Stories would like to welcome our newest sponsor Kuma Coffee. Kuma Coffee is a 100% Independently owned roasting company right here in Seattle since 2008. Kuma is a 5-person team, roasting over 100,000lbs of exclusively high scoring coffee each year. They source their coffees direct from origin and pay well over fair trade pricing to farmers. This guarantees the highest quality, while supporting rural farming communities throughout the Global South They also just launched an instant coffee… (Joe’s favorite instant) Find everything Kuma at Kumacoffee.com [https://www.kumacoffee.com/] Episode supported by our friends Izotope [https://www.izotope.com/] This episode is produced with Ozone 12, the newest from Izotope. Head over to izotope.com now for savings on all their production software. Go check out Ozone 12 and RX 12 and master with the best and solve the unsolvable 20 plug-ins for mastering mastery. Use code FRET10 at checkout. Ep supported by @distrokid. Distrokid now offers Bandzoogle where you can build your bands website and store in minutes. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories [https://distrokid.com/?c=tourstories]. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH @distrokid Ep supported by Heil Sound. For 60 years, Heil Sound has provided innovative, professional quality sound for stage, studio, broadcast, and podcast. Grammy-winning artists and sound engineers worldwide trust Heil microphones for their legendary sound. To find out more about the full line of Heil microphones and products, visit heilsound.com [http://heilsound.com/]. Mentioned in this episode: Heil sound "For 60 years, Heil Sound has provided innovative, professional quality sound for stage, studio, broadcast, and podcast. Grammy-winning artists and sound engineers worldwide trust Heil microphones for their legendary sound. To find out more about the full line of Heil microphones and products, visit heilsound.com. Izotope Distrokid Kuma Coffee