Talkin' the Talk with The Great Southern Brainfart

Episode 68: Fran Tobolsky (Wucan)

2020 was an awesome year for my podcast.  As shitty as this year was, I am lucky to have had some really cool guests on my show.  I couldn’t think of a better way to end the year than with an interview with Fran Tobolsky of Wucan.  I have been a huge fan of this German krautrock band since hearing their 2015 full-length debut Sow the Wind.  Fran and I have been in contact for years and due to Wucan’s hectic touring schedule and her personal life we were unable to ever make this conversation happen.  Well, the stars FINALLY aligned and Fran and I had a really fun (and funny) conversation that lasted for over an hour. Fran is one of the hardest working people I know.  Wucan is her child and she puts 110% into this band.  With the Covid-19 pandemic and people worldwide pretty much forced into isolation, Fran and I had a “glass half empty” vibe and her laugh is contagious and will definitely bring a smile to your face.  We talked about Wucan, we talked about mental health which she is very open about, and we talked about getting Wucan to the states to rip some faces off.  This was a really fun one and, again, a great way to close out 2020. Enjoy, y’all!

Episode 67: Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan of Venom Inc

I have had the pleasure of not just interviewing the legendary Venom/Venom Inc bassist/vocalist Demolition Man a handful of times but we have become very close friends over the past five years or so.  Tony is one of the hardest working people in music and his positive, welcoming, and joyful presence on social media is just what fans need in these weird times.  Tony puts on regular Facebook Live chats where he takes questions from fans and even picks up his bass to bust out some bass lines from requested songs.  It’s hard to imagine that someone with a name like Demolition Man can be such a cupcake of a person but it’s true. It was an absolute blast having Tony on the podcast again.  If you ever thought that you would be hard-pressed to find someone that talks as much as me, sit back and listen to this podcast.  Tony and I bonded once again and laughed like there’s no tomorrow.  We talked about his connection with the fans, his upbringing as a young person, and his current raffle contest where he will give away a tour used bass guitar of is in addition to other Venom Inc goodies.  All the proceeds will go to Families in Need in his surrounding area in the UK so it’s all for a good cause.  This was a really fun one as always and I hope you’ll dig this one with my brother Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan.

Episode 66: Martin Östlund – Lykantropi

Since earlier this year, Lykantropi has quickly become one of my new favorite bands.  I don’t mean just a “band of the month” thing but Lykantropi has literally secured themselves a spot in the top tier of favorite bands.  Everything about this band is what I love about music.  Dark lyrical undertones, melodically dark music, and vocals that send chills up my spine with every listen.  Every time I listen to Lykantropi it’s like hearing them for the first time.  There are so many hidden musical and lyrical gems throughout the songs that every time I take notice of something that I may have missed in previous listens. Lead vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Martin Östlund was awesome enough to take the time to talk to me about the band’s latest album Tales to Be Told, the influences behind the lyrics and music, and the bond that the band has that surpasses that of an average band.  I am also very honored to have been Lykantropi‘s first North American interview.  I hope you dig this interview and once you have listened, go check out Lykantropi and you can thank me later. If you like what you hear, pick up some Lykantropi music here: https://www.merchbar.com/rock-alternative/lykantropi [https://www.merchbar.com/rock-alternative/lykantropi]

Episode 65: Rob Hammersmith of Skid Row

For the last ten years, Rob Hammersmith has been laying the rhythmic foundation for hard rock legends Skid Row.  Rob has traveled the world and back playing everywhere from small rock clubs to massive European festivals proving that no matter who is at the drums or behind the mic, Skid Row’s reputation of being a truly great band stands tall.  During the Covid pandemic, Rob was awesome enough to take the time to talk with me at the rock star time of 10am.  Rob and I talked about the visual aspect of drums, the cancelled summer tour that was to feature Skid Row along with RATT, Tom Keifer, and Slaughter, as well as picking up the sticks to pound out a legacy of hard rock/metal that spans over two generations now. Hope y’all enjoy this one!

Episode 64: Rachel Bolan of Skid Row

For those that know me, I have been a HUGE Skid Row fan for over 30 years and counting.  I recently had the chance to have bassist Rachel Bolan as a guest on the podcast.  It was a blast talking to Rachel as we discussed the future of music in the Covid-19 times, 1989’s Moscow Music Festival, and Skid Row’s new found energy with the addition of new vocalist ZP Theart.  Hope y’all enjoy this one as much as I did.