Author Archives: Evan Toth

Artists need to be inspired to create their best works, and it’s not always easy to have the wherewithal to clearly see the inspiration around us. In fact, for a musician, the insight to this inspiration is often more important than musical or production ability. Listeners love sounds that touch them on an emotional level, but how do you search out that spark? How does the musician find the muse?

This is the journey that Charlie Bruber finds himself traversing on his latest album Finding the Muse, and as you’ll learn, Charlie is open to the idea that there are many sources of inspiration to explore. It may be a famous musician, a vintage keyboard, or something else. In any case, Charlie has created a far-reaching album that delves into all facets of his talents and skills as a multi-instrumentalist and composer. While you’re listening, you may wonder if you’re hearing the same performer, but you’re just seeing all the many different sides of Charlie Bruber.

Charlie joins us directly from his recording studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota and we end up digging through our respective record collections in real-time for a fun back-and-forth about albums we both appreciate. We also discuss Charlie’s other important musical projects, specifically, Black Market Brass on Colemine Records. It’s entirely possible, by joining in on our search for Charlie’s muse, you might be given some direction in finding your own.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

One of my old film professors used to say that one had never really seen a film unless they had watched it at least once with the sound off. Audio—be it music, or sound—adds so much detail to a moving picture that sometimes the viewer misses a few visual nuances because they’re also busy listening. While my professor’s approach might be an extreme way to evaluate a movie, there’s no denying that music and film have long had a strong cooperative association. Long before film even had sound, there was always an attempt to fill the auditory gap.

While the days of the chart-topping soundtrack albums are long gone, there are still some directors who lean heavily on the mixtape concept to source sound for their films, and Wes Anderson is one of them. Marty Isenberg is a bassist and composer based in New York City and on July 7th, he’ll release his newest collection of songs pulled from, and inspired by, the films of Wes Anderson. The album will be titled, The Way I Feel Inside and it will be released on the Truth Revolution Recording Collective label. The music is stellar, of course, but the icing on the cake is the album cover which was illustrated by Renan Campus who tapped into the wonder of Anderson’s aesthetic palette.

Marty and I delve not only into the music that Wes Anderson has employed in his films, but we talk a bit about the films themselves. We also discuss the players that Isenberg employed on his auditorily filmic adventure including the outstanding work of Sami Stevens who added vocals to many of the album’s tracks, adding a crucial layer of dynamism and lyrical context to Isenberg’s vision. So, the lights are going down, join me and Marty as we take our seats and listen to the movies of Wes Anderson. Maybe my old film professor should add another layer to his approach: perhaps one should listen to a film at least once without watching it.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Musical genre can be a very limiting place; it can put fences around the aspirations and creations of musicians, but it can also cause the listener to stay in their own little world without branching out to explore things that they might also enjoy. It takes a strong group of musicians to move beyond those confines and a loyal and dedicated horde of fans and followers who are ready, willing and able to go wherever their favorite artist chooses to lead them.

For all intents and purposes, Nickel Creek is a bluegrass band and features Chris Thile (mandolin), and siblings Sara Watkins (fiddle) and Sean Watkins (guitar), but they stretch the barriers of the genre and bring their fans along for the ride. Believe it or not, even though the band members are all in their early to mid-40s they have been performing together since the late ’80s and so they can read each other’s thoughts musically—and probably otherwise. They have a brand new album on the shelves this year (their first release since 2014) called Celebrants and while it may be a bluegrass record, it is unbound by the confines of any genre: it’s an exciting musical exploration by three excellent musicians with a potent mixture of artistic symmetry and collegiality.

One of those three excellent musicians, Chris Thile, joins me on this episode to discuss the new Nickel Creek album, of course, but to also engage me in a free-flowing conversation about sound, music, composition, working with others, creation, and his own personal musical restlessness and a lifetime of discovery. This talk is a chance to look into the mind of a musician who is always looking out.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Life is full of twists and turns; unexpected chapters. Sometimes, we recall certain times and experiences and they bear resemblance to vivid dreams, so much so, we might even ask ourselves, did that really happen? We evolve, we move on, but—no matter where we go—we carry those adventures with us, even if we’re not always aware of the influences.

The life of May Pang took an unexpected detour in her early twenties when she became romantically involved with one of the most famous people on planet Earth, John Lennon. While this period of Lennon’s life is often described as a debaucherous tangent, Pang—who was there at his side through it all—explains it with a bit more context in the new, recently released film she is involved in, The Lost Weekend: A Love Story.

The film tells the tale of how Pang and Lennon met and Yoko Ono’s unique role in their relationship. It also explores Pang’s association with many of the ancillary characters in Lennon’s life. Even though the Beatle’s biography has been exhaustively documented, Pang’s film offers a few surprises that only a true insider would be able to share. May Pang allows me the luxury of asking about some things I always wanted to know. Perhaps I ask a few questions that you’ve always wanted to know about this somewhat mysterious episode. Let’s learn about the ballad of John and May.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Longevity in the entertainment business is an attribute worth celebrating. While the industry is often focused on brand new, younger artists, it’s the performers who have been out there for decades that are really the cornerstone of the touring industry. Of course, it’s also helpful if the music that they’ve created has become popular standards.

Gene Cornish—along with Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, and Dino Danelli, created The Young Rascals in 1964 and became a smash-hit single recording and touring act. What Gene brought to the table was a unique spin and approach on the guitar and—of course—harmonica! Imagine “Groovin’” without a harmonica, it’s impossible. Thanks, Gene.

Gene joins me for a chat about the string of shows he is currently performing with Felix Cavaliere & Gene Cornish’s Rascals. We also discuss the recent loss of his good friend and musical compatriot, Dino Danelli, what fans can expect seeing when he and Felix perform together, and he shares some insight on the industry after 60 years in show business.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Modern music listeners enjoy creating personalized playlists containing their preferred musicians and genres, but there’s one thing lacking: the expertly guiding hand of a radio station’s program director—or, even better—a tasteful DJ behind the microphone who loves to share favorite tunes, but also introduces listeners to new music that is worthy of addition to your personal faves. But, current culture has sacrificed the serendipitous nature of the radio in favor of complete control over musical choices, or—even worse—the choices of a faceless corporate AI bot.

Bassist and composer, Esperanza Spalding understands the mystery and magic that a spin of your local radio dial can provide, and in 2012 she released an album paying homage to the spirit of radio. Produced by Esperanza and co-produced by A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, Radio Music Society showcased the breadth of Spalding’s musical aptitude and inhabited the rare musical landscape of being challenging, yet also a lot of fun to listen to.

It’s been 10 years and the Grammy award-winning album finds itself eligible for reissue by Craft Recordings and is given the full anniversary treatment featuring 2 LPs pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. The title will also be reissued in hi-res digital audio. Esperanza and I discuss the continuing role of radio in her current life and she offers a unique and descriptive behind-the-scenes peek into her production and composing process. We also explore her complimentary role as an educator and, of course, delve into what makes vinyl special to her. So, let’s turn the radio dial and search for some serendipity.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

The arrival of each season brings with it some balance. When one element is taken away, another quality takes its place. It’s the old adage of one door closing and another one opening. No matter how hard we want the long, warm days of sunny summer to last forever, the fall brings its own snug serenity (depending on where you live on planet Earth, of course).

Alexz Johnson is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress who first gained recognition in the early 2000s by playing the role of the lead character in the Canadian CTV series Instant Star, where she also contributed to the show’s soundtrack. She also appeared in the Disney Channel series So Weird, and in the 2006 horror film Final Destination 3. Throughout it all, Johnson has released several critically acclaimed albums and singles, showcasing her talent in various genres, including pop, rock, and folk. Johnson has built a loyal fan base and established herself as a promising and dynamic artist in the Canadian music scene. On her latest LP, Seasons, Alexz explores nature’s natural patterns.

Join Alexz and I as we discuss the ups and downs of the Gregorian Calendar to which we all subscribe. On this episode, you’ll hear Alexz describe her songwriting process, detail the challenges of simultaneously balancing a show business career with raising a family, and how she crafted her latest record which is contemporary and soulful. The skies outside might be warm and beautiful, or perhaps they are overcast and nefarious, nevertheless, Alexz takes it all in and details the highs and lows that each season brings.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

To surrender does not always mean to give up. Sometimes, it takes an incredibly strong person to recognize that the flow of life is trying to tell them something. Often, one’s real power can be found by letting go and allowing the natural direction of things to take their course.

Jann Klose’s new album, titled Surrender (Honey Rose Records), is an exploration of many things, but notably that concept as well. His seventh studio album finds this pop/rock singer-songwriter honing his already sharp songwriting chops. There are some notable guests on this album as well: singer, Alicia Madison duets on a song she co-wrote with Klose titled, “Love You the Most,” fellow songwriter and friend Alex Forbes also co-writes some songs, and you’ll hear some beautiful choral embellishments courtesy of a 15-member choir from PS 171 in New York City.

If you like a pop hook, an earworm that won’t escape your brain no matter how hard you try, you’re in the right place. Join Jann and I as we discuss his newest work, his upcoming world tour, and how it doesn’t always make sense to fight against the forces around you, about how sometimes real strength can be built from learning how to surrender.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

It’s a major concept for a short podcast, but when was the last time you thought about your place—not only in the universe—but within the multiverse? “What is a multiverse,” you may ask. We can thank the Ancient Greek Atomists, namely Leucippus and Democritus, for presenting us with the concept of multiple worlds or universes that construct everything in existence: space, time, matter, information, and all of the physical laws and constants that support them. However, where does music live in this multiverse?

About 25 years ago, multi-Grammy nominated Bobby Sanabria—a Nuyorican drummer, radio show host, educator, and band leader—decided to consider the interconnectedness of all things musical with the formulation of his Latin Jazz group, the Multiverse big band. On May 12th, Sanabria’s group will release their latest album titled, Vox Humana. That album, and much of Sanabria’s work, is an opportunity to not only explore the myriad possibilities within the musical realm, but to also explore the social significance that impacts any group of humans when they join forces to create music.

Musicians are fortunate to be able to communicate and develop works of beauty without speaking the same language, or even being in the same room. They are able to bring their own backgrounds and experiences to the performances and compositions in a way that complements one another, rather than focusing on ways that divide us. In this discussion, Sanabria and I examine this anthropological element in his music. Just when you were getting used to the idea of being a speck of dust in the universe, we go and throw the concept of multi-universality at you. Don’t be intimidated, especially since you have Bobby Sanabria serving as your tour guide. Even if the concepts are a bit daunting, the music is guaranteed to be out of this world!

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Music can have several purposes. Often, its job is to get the body moving, dancing, or working out. The right music at a suitable tempo has a drastic effect on one’s ability to work, exercise, or hone in on the task at hand. Sometimes, however, the goal is to relax, slow down, lower the heart rate, and slowly slip into the moment.

Emiliano Melis is a composer and visual artist originally from Turin, Italy. Several years ago he moved to Brooklyn to meet up with like-minded musicians and artists. His main interest is in electronic and ambient music and his latest album is titled, Outside the Box (Mother West). What’s unique about Emiliano’s approach is his use of the cassette tape as a tool used for composition and production which also includes digital and analog synths, droning tape loops, melodic piano, and downtempo lo-fi beats.

If you’re a fan of chillwave, ambient electronica, and cinematic soundscapes, then Emiliano’s latest release is for you. He also has a large following on social media where he creates imaginative posts illustrating the hardware he employs to create his sonic landscapes.

So, join Emiliano and me as we deconstruct his artistic process, discuss how sound affects space, and how effective music can be during many activities, including no activity at all.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Music releases can be fleeting. Artists work on projects with great skill and care. They might get the right players, use the best studios, and tirelessly craft their compositions. But when the project is released, sometimes it’s lost in the shuffle. Obviously, such an event is disappointing, but every so often, a deserving project gets a second chance.

Kendra Morris is a soul singer-songwriter who has had her music featured in an episode of Ray Donovan and her version of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was used in the trailer for the film, Dead Man Down (2013). However, in 2016, Kendra self-released an EP titled “Babble” and the response didn’t quite meet her expectations. However, the material on the EP was rich and the first 50 vinyl releases even featured handmade album jackets from Kendra as she is also a very talented visual artist.

Her last full-length album—Nine Lives, released in 2022—came out on the Karma Chief Record label (a division of Colemine Records). Kendra and the label have recently re-released “Babble”—including three new tracks—in an effort to give the material another chance to be heard by a wider audience.

Kendra and I have a fun conversation about songwriting, her inimitable style, what she’s watching, and how she is preparing for her upcoming tour. She also explains why “Babble” is so important to her and why you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to love it, the second time around.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Thank you for reading or watching or listening to our 100th episode of Radar! At the risk of sounding like an awards acceptee while the band begins to signal my necessary move from the stage, I’d like to thank all of the wonderful guests who have given generously of their time to share their insights about projects that they are involved in.

Thank you as well to the publicists behind the scenes who serve as liaisons and ensure that these interviews actually happen! And of course, thanks to The Vinyl District for providing a weekly platform to share my chats with you, dear readers and listeners. Of course, thank you—too—to WFDU, 89.1 FM for giving me the opportunity to transmit these interviews over the FM airwaves throughout the greater New York City metropolitan area. We hope you’ll stick around for the next 100 episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to tell your friends about it.

This week, our guest is Robin Taylor Zander, better known as RTZ. As you might have guessed by his unique moniker, RTZ is the son of Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander. Not only is Zander a fabulous musician who has filled in for each member of Cheap Trick at some point prompting Rolling Stone to refer to RTZ as, “Cheap Trick’s secret weapon.” However, he’s also a talented writer and producer who will be releasing his first album in April titled, The Distance. The album was also mixed by the rock and roll dream duo of Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith) and Jay Messina (Aerosmith, Kiss, Lou Reed) who have worked together for 40 years—that is another story all unto itself.

RTZ joins me—ezt—this week as we discuss his excellent new release, the production and composition which went into it, how he navigates inhabiting Cheap Trick’s world, and where he’s going next.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Thank you for reading or watching or listening to our 100th episode of Radar! At the risk of sounding like an awards acceptee while the band begins to signal my necessary move from the stage, I’d like to thank all of the wonderful guests who have given generously of their time to share their insights about projects that they are involved in.

Thank you as well to the publicists behind the scenes who serve as liaisons and ensure that these interviews actually happen! And of course, thanks to The Vinyl District for providing a weekly platform to share my chats with you, dear readers and listeners. Of course, thank you—too—to WFDU, 89.1 FM for giving me the opportunity to transmit these interviews over the FM airwaves throughout the greater New York City metropolitan area. We hope you’ll stick around for the next 100 episodes. If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to tell your friends about it.

This week, our guest is Robin Taylor Zander, better known as RTZ. As you might have guessed by his unique moniker, RTZ is the son of Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander. Not only is Zander a fabulous musician who has filled in for each member of Cheap Trick at some point prompting Rolling Stone to refer to RTZ as, “Cheap Trick’s secret weapon.” However, he’s also a talented writer and producer who will be releasing his first album in April titled, The Distance. The album was also mixed by the rock and roll dream duo of Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith) and Jay Messina (Aerosmith, Kiss, Lou Reed) who have worked together for 40 years—that is another story all unto itself.

RTZ joins me—ezt—this week as we discuss his excellent new release, the production and composition which went into it, how he navigates inhabiting Cheap Trick’s world, and where he’s going next.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

Think about the “what if” scenarios in your life. Not really regrets. Not things you wished had gone differently, but situations in which—because of circumstances beyond your control—you’ll never truly know what could have been or where the road might have led. However, every so often, we get lucky. We get the opportunity to remove the detour from the pathway and we are offered a second chance at taking the road that we didn’t take.

Nearly 30 years ago, way back in the mid-90s, Vanessa Downing was in a Pennsylvania based rock and roll band called Samuel. They were good, they played a lot of gigs, and then things started to get serious. The band was courted by A&R reps and were slated to record their debut with indie/punk engineer and musician Bob Weston (Mission of Burma, Volcano Suns, Shellac). However, as you’ll learn in this interview, decisions were made and the band’s momentum was halted.

While they released a few 7-inches and a EP during their day, recently, the thought was floated among the band members who had continued to keep in touch. What if we revisited some of those old songs? What if we added a few new ones? What if we engaged the flux capacitor and recorded the album that we would have recorded back then?

So, here they are—slightly rebranded as Samuel S.C. with a new album called, High Places (ORG/Art Monk Construction). Vanessa joins me on this episode to explain the rise—and fall—and rise again—of the band and point out some of the sights along the road not taken.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.

PHOTO: RALF LOUIS | Sometimes, in order to go forward, you must first take a look at your past. Graham Nash has a rich and undoubtedly storied history behind him and he has recently released a live album titled, Graham Nash: Live which features him performing his first two albums—Songs for Beginners (1971) and Wild Tales (1973)—in their entirety. 

Nash, however, has often focused on the future and shows no signs of slowing down. While he’s excited about this new live release, he’s also recently published A Life in Focus: The Photography of Graham Nash which showcases his longtime affair with photography. And, as we learn in this interview, he’s just completed a brand new solo album which is due to be released in early 2023. But in this chat, Graham and I talk about why he chose to revisit his first two solo albums and the experience of retracing the footsteps he made nearly a half-century ago.

Of course, we also discuss the Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, making long-term musical relationships work and how you can’t really envision where you’re going, unless you know where you’ve been.

Evan Toth is a songwriter, professional musician, educator, radio host, avid record collector, and hi-fi aficionado. Toth hosts and produces The Evan Toth Show and TVD Radar on WFDU, 89.1 FM. Follow him at the usual social media places and visit his website.