"It's better to let money be the servant of love and love's goals...that's a beautiful mystery." My review of Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers' song from the album "The Last DJ." Reflecting on aging, money, love, nostalgia, and solastalgia.
"When a song is a friend" episodes feature songs that have staying power over the years. Britt's setting of the traditional hymn is a favorite for our church camp family in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana. She recently released it on an EP "Echoes of Creation." The 5 songs are from our EDNIN camps at Camp Mack in Milford, IN. Britt wrote two of the songs on it. Brian Grantz and I wrote one each. My song is called "Step Right Up." You can hear and support it here.
https://brittkusserow.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-of-creation
It can also be streamed on major platforms.
Visit the website for Camp Mack and support their centennial year with a donation to foster more miracles like this song. https://www.campmack.org/donate/
Kyle "K. Edward" Smith has written an album with themes of reaching, of searching, and just as important - memorable melodies and great collaborators. I was fortunate to play violin on several tracks including this one. I am super excited for this album to be my debut on a vinyl record release. Visit kedwardsmith.com to learn more!
"When a song is a friend" episode featuring a review of the song "Blue Canoe" by Blue Mountain. Guest: Jason Monroe (Bottle Rocket Blue, The Texarkana Two)
"I recovered out loud so others wouldn't suffer in silence." Russ Taff. A review of his song 1987 song "Believe in Love," and appreciation for his upcoming album "Cover Story."
A new episode option for me - reviewing songs that have been friends to me over the years; companions for life's journey. Sometimes I'll have guests, sometimes it will be just me.
Stream Believe in Love https://youtu.be/yIxIOpAssHM?si=TY4SB7XnjNKBfonR
I had a vision of my Great Grandparents one night when I first heard Daniel perform this song. It was a gift I've never forgotten. Learn more about Daniel ML at danielml.com
There are two ways to enjoy a song: you can feel it as a whole, or you can be aware of all the parts that make it. For the first time on the pod, we have two guests; and both are adept at both ways to encounter music. Brannon Hancock played on and produced the session for today’s song and my Uncle Steve Peck is an enthusiastic fan of it from its release to today.
https://www.tomadamsonmusic.com
The name of Steve’s Facebook music blog is Hickory Notes.
My sister Sarah is three years younger than me. We saw and experienced many of the same things growing up. In making this episode, it occurred to me this fact is an underused resource when reflecting on the past. Consider this, you have your memories, but your sibling, who was also there, is like another camera angle, if you will. In talking to them, you can learn so much more than you remember. Sarah and I began our conversation around a 2002 demo of mine called “How Come?” and go on to reminisce a little about 1980s charity singles.
“More than a songwriter, I’m an artist, “declares Troy Yeager, lead singer of Bottle Rocket Blue, “I have a need to create in whatever I’m doing.” Troy and I unpack the influences and the crafting of “Baby One More Shot” a staple of the Bottle Rocket Blue shows. Troy and I wrote the song together in September of 2003, on the day Johnny Cash died. Towards the end of the interview you’ll hear rare, live clips from BRB shows in the ‘00s. Stream [Bottle Rocket Blue](https://open.spotify.com/artist/23RYqtavqg1rK2XAVivzRf?si=8jFmpBaNQy-Om4jGKo9--Ab). Check out Troy’s podcast https://theflipsidepodcast.weebly.com/ more on Tom https://www.tomadamsonmusic.com
When inspired by real life events, an artist has to place their work somewhere between two extremes: journalism on one end or poetic license on the other. When something difficult happened in my life, it reminded me of other real people deeper in my past. Writing about their difficulties felt cathartic. But the first draft of “God Only Knows” was too close to the truth, almost tabloid; “tell all” in a way. But with the help of friends, I decided to revise in the direction of poetic license - changing details and introducing fiction - for the final version. But when performing it, I can still feel the identification and catharsis. Our conversation with Mike continues as we unpack the song “God Only Knows,” by Tom Adamson and the Automatic Rhythm Section. https://www.tomadamsonmusic.com
Taking criticism, whether constructive or demeaning, and using it to motivate improvement is the mark of a real musician; one who retains self-worth every step of their career. You’ll hear drummer Michael Bruneau describe how he was confronted with a less than flattering review when our band was just beginning in 1998. Mike used that feedback to fuel a journey of honing his skills - and he has been reaping the dividend of his hard work ever since. Part 1 of 2; next Episode covers "God Only Knows." https://www.tomadamsonmusic.com
“I want to share things with people that bring them joy,” explains Sarah Ginolfi. In this episode, we feature Sarah’s hymn/pop song mash-up of a Christmas carol with Justin Beiber hit. Sarah’s access TV show “I Can Rutland (And You Can Too)” uses humor to open doors for discovering more about the Vermont city that Sarah is proud of and serves as a priest in the Episcopal parish. https://www.facebook.com/icanrutland/ Explore Tom's website https://www.tomadamsonmusic.com
Have you ever looked at something that used to belong to a friend and time stood still? Did the object evoke memories or even cause you to talk aloud to an absent friend? That kind of thing happened to Manny McGuffin, the stage name for Dan Hawthorne, and three different guitars that used to belong to friends of his. This episode features many of his works gathered both from mannymcguffin.bandcamp.com and newolddistillery.bandcamp.com
Support Tom at linktr.ee/tomadamsonmusic
Our second short-form episode. I was fresh out of college, year 2000, 23 years old, I met Greg in the hall on my first day of teaching at Kankakee Valley Schools. I was holding a viola case, which caused him to strike up a conversation. Greg was, I remember him telling me, a huge music fan and music maker. While showing me to my classroom, he said “We should jam sometime,” as musicians do. Later that year, we did, and I was blown away! He played in circles around me and his writing was both informed by our rural, farm country region, while transcending it with great imaginative license. I learned so much from Greg about how to be a Dad/Teacher/Citizen/Hoosier/Songwriter/Rock Star- all rolled into one. Before anyone was impressed with how I pulled that off back in the day, Greg modeled it for me. For over 20 years now we have had a fruitful musical friendship and I can’t recommend his catalog enough. Check it out! The song in the bed of the 2nd half is Greg’s song “Say It Again.”
https://gregjamesandthepeaches.bandcamp.com/album/greg-james-and-the-peaches
Support Tom at linktr.ee/tomadamsonmusic
Great songs often emerge when a song writer has a set of confines to work within and push against. Erik Styles describes a time when he was in a small cabin in rural, southern Indiana, surrounded by friends, a few guitars, no cell phone service, and steady rain. This retreat produced “Indiana Skies,” a song which has followed him to the otherside of the world. Listeners can find the song at erikstyles.bandcamp.com/track/indiana-skies
Erik’s song “Sand Creek” is played under the introduction. Other projects mentioned in the episode: The Odyssey Favor, Rick Dodd and the Dick Rodds, and The Cornersmiths can be found on Spotify. “Glor” is found on The New Old Distillery songwriters collective page newolddistillery.bandcamp.com
Support Tom at linktr.ee/tomadamsonmusic
Our first short-form, special episode. Before Walmarts and Meijers and Best Buys, discount retail outlets were humbler in nature. In the 2nd half of the previous century, G.L. Perry was a “Michiana” chain of variety stores with a catchy radio jingle that played on South Bend and Mishawaka, Indiana, stations. The song “G.L. Perry” is the new single from Sanchez Agency. It is a “both/and.” It is both a recollection of a bygone era that delights fans of a certain age and it is also a catchy groove that ignites the imaginations of younger listeners who did not grow up in Northern Indiana in the 1980s. (This episode also features an early mix of “Looking For A Guy Named Jeff” by Sanchez Agency in the 2nd half.) Find the whole EP online now.
[sanchezagency.bandcamp.com ]
Support Tom at linktr.ee/tomadamsonmusic
Our bodies’ DNA has a double-helix shape. The weaving of two strands, plus the elements they share in common create life. Barton Price helped me write and arrange the song “For Christ Sake.” We talk about the way our life’s trajectories over the last 20 years have moved in a helix-like complimentary way - making it a joy to have Barton as a member of my musical “faculty.” Barton, along with John Drury, who played drums on the session, and Brannon Hancock, who played bass on the session and produced it - all three of these guys- teach at the university level. The perfect team for a heady song that weaves sacred and secular themes in a helix as well. Barton Price teaches popular/rock music history at Purdue Fort Wayne as well as having a PhD in American Religious history, making him the perfect conversation partner for the episode on this song.
Stream or Download Today’s song: tomadamson.bandcamp.com/track/for-christs-sake
Support Tom at linktr.ee/tomadamsonmusic
Is there a perfect time in one’s life to start a band? A perfect age? 17? 25? 30? 40? The Sanchez Agency’s motto “Never Too Late!” has many applications to life in general, but it also touches on the biography of frontman/ songwriter B. Jacob Sandock, who wrote songs for 20 years before connecting with veterans of the Indiana indie rock scene forming a formidable band unlike any other.
sanchezagency.bandcamp.com
Support Tom at linktr.ee/tomadamsonmusic
Let’s say you hadn’t had a real conversation with an old friend for 15 years. Then you and your friend agree on a time to talk, pick a topic: a song you crafted together; and press record. What you’ll hear today matches that very scenario. Shawn Stonesifer is an entrepreneur living with his wife and children in North Carolina. He has a YouTube channel dedicated to his Accordion covers called “Great Honk.”
Support Tom at linktr.ee/tomadamsonmusic
