Music In My Shoes

Behind the Strings of R.E.M.'s Out of Time: Violinist David Arenz E136

“Losing My Religion” has one of the most recognizable feels in modern rock, and a big part of that atmosphere lives in the strings. We’re joined by former Atlanta Symphony Orchestra violinist David Arenz, who played on R.E.M.’s Out of Time, to unpack what it’s like to walk into a studio, open the sheet music, listen to the track, and deliver takes that end up etched into music history. We get practical about the process: how pop string sections are recorded, why overdubbing matters, how a small group can sound massive, and what pros rely on when the clock is running. David also takes us through the real career path behind orchestral playing, from early training and relentless practice to high-pressure auditions, probation, and decades of rehearsals, concerts, and touring as a working musician. Then the stories open up. We talk Atlanta studios, TV theme work, and the strange truth that you often don’t know where your music will land until you hear it out in the world. And yes, David even ends up singing “My Girl” with The Temptations at Chastain Park in Atlanta, GA. If you love R.E.M., the Out of Time album, music production, or the orchestra, this one is for you. Subscribe, share the show with a music-obsessed friend, and leave us a review. What song do you hear differently once you know how it was made? Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]

Ferris Bueller's Day Off 40th Anniversary, Van Halen "Fair Warning", and The Smiths "The Queen is Dead" E135

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off hits 40 years, and somehow it still feels like the kind of perfect stolen day you can step into whenever you need it. We rewatch it with fresh ears, from Cameron’s quiet sadness to Jeanie’s rage at always being overlooked, plus the running joke of Rooney trying way too hard to catch a kid skipping school. And yes, we keep coming back to the line that never stopped being true: life moves pretty fast. We also dig into why the soundtrack is more than background noise. The art museum sequence lands differently when you catch the Dream Academy instrumental take on The Smiths’ “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want,” and the parade scene still feels unreal when Ferris turns “Danke Schoen” and “Twist and Shout” into a citywide singalong.  Then we take the long way through our own music timeline: Public Image Limited live in 1986, a ZZ Top Afterburner-era set packed with classics, and a current-day Echo and the Bunnymen show that sparks the tricky conversation about aging voices and crowd expectations. We look back at Van Halen's 1981 album Fair Warning and The Smiths The Queen is Dead from 1986. Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]

Silly Love Songs, Will Ferrell / Paul McCartney SNL, and The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers E134

Paul McCartney got dragged for writing “silly love songs” and then turned the criticism into a No. 1 anthem. We start with that 1976 chart run, the irony baked into the lyrics, and the way one summertime hit can glue itself to your memory, right down to the bicentennial vibe and what was playing everywhere you went.  From there we jump 50 years forward to McCartney closing out Saturday Night Live with Will Ferrell, and we get real about what it means to watch a living legend perform at 83. We talk vocals, stamina, song selection, and why it matters that Paul isn’t trying to “fix” aging with tech. Then the night gets even better: the Chad Smith confusion joke, the classic Ferrell deadpan, and the surprise after-show energy where cowbell and Beatles staples (“Help” and “Drive My Car”) light up the room.  We round things out with what we’re listening to now and what still holds up, including our new “What’s Mooving Me” pick from Drivin N Cryin, plus “Minute with Jimmy” on The Rolling Stones’ “In the Stars.” That opens the door to Sticky Fingers at Muscle Shoals, the legacy issues around “Brown Sugar,” the story behind “Wild Horses,” and a quick run through Heart, Yoko Ono, Pet Shop Boys, and Depeche Mode’s media critique in “New Dress.”  If you like classic rock history, pop culture moments, and music talk that’s equal parts funny and thoughtful, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. What song instantly takes you back to a specific summer? Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]

Conversation with The Stifftones: Rock 'n' Rollin’ in a Hearse E133

A band that lives in a hearse sounds like a gimmick until you hear the reasons it happened and the work it takes to keep it going. We’re joined in the studio by Shaun and Rachel from The Stifftones, a DIY touring duo that turned a full reset into a full-time musical life, complete with two dogs, a rolling home, and a schedule built around small venues, open mics, and the people they meet along the way. We talk through the origin story, from an open mic to a relationship they describe as “best frenemies,” and how that honesty becomes a creative advantage. They break down the practical side of life on the road: dividing roles, handling tension in tight spaces, and learning how to keep moving when the vehicle that carries your entire world decides to quit on you. If you care about independent music, touring logistics, and the emotional reality behind “chasing the dream,” this conversation gets specific fast. We also dig into the album Existentialism on Main Street and how The Stifftones captured tracks across multiple locations and collaborators while staying true to their sound. Along the way we hear about mentors like Johnny Hickman of Cracker, connections to Camper Van Beethoven, the story behind their cover of “Father Winter,” and a wild REM thread that includes a Peter Buck jacket. Listen through to the end for a live performance of “These Times,” then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push to go all in, and leave us a review. What part of their road life surprised you most? Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]

Billboard Hits of May 1981: All Those Years Ago E132

The fastest way to time-travel is to press play on a song you haven’t heard in years, then realize you still know every word. We pull up the Billboard Hot 100 from May 23, 1981 and take it for a spin, bouncing between classic rock, radio pop, and the kind of tracks that were simply unavoidable if you lived anywhere near a car stereo or a skating rink. Along the way, we dig into what’s actually happening inside these hits: Billy Squier’s “The Stroke” as a music business story, Santana’s “Winning” as a case of “this does not sound like Santana,” and the emotional weight of George Harrison’s “All Those Years Ago,” made even heavier by the Beatles connections around it. We also hit Tom Petty’s “The Waiting,” Hall and Oates’ “You Make My Dreams,” and the early MTV effect that turned songs into permanent memories, for better or worse. Then we get personal: a Jefferson Starship chorus becomes a full-on dinner-table bit, Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” comes with a wild songwriting backstory, and REO Speedwagon’s “Take It On The Run” gets a deep breakdown of why a vocal and a guitar solo can feel like one continuous emotional punch. We close out the chart with the weird brilliance of Stars on 45 and the long reign of Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes,” then jump to a modern live-music recap featuring Kevin Kinney, Peter Buck, and a surprise Mike Mills appearance, plus a quick Ramones spotlight and a final Van Halen 5150 tangent. If you love 1980s music, classic rock storytelling, and honest takes on music history, subscribe, and share this with a friend who lived through it. Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265604/fan_mail/new]