Middle Class Rock Star

This episode was done in front of an audience as a part of a panel at SWRFA (Southwest Regional Folk Alliance) conference in Austin, TX. This week, I sit down with legendary Texas singer-songwriter Bob Livingston —...

This episode stemmed from Andy’s viral video about the difference between a gig and a show, which sparked a wider conversation about how musicians define success and stand out in today’s music industry. In this engaging...

This week, I chat with Nashville’s own Zach Allen - a multi‑Grammy-winning recording engineer, producer, and mix engineer whose credits span Americana, blues, rock, country, and beyond. With nearly 20 years in the music...

This week, I’m joined by bluegrass virtuoso Martin Gilmore - a powerhouse songwriter and performer who’s had a banner year, taking home top honors at the Kerrville, Telluride Troubadour, and Folks Fest songwriting...

Music has a way of attaching itself to moments in our lives. A song can instantly transport us back to a place, a person, or a feeling — becoming part of our own personal soundtrack. In this special episode, I reflect...

On this weeks episode of Middle Class Rock Star, I sit down with Colorado-based bassist, songwriter, and producer Ace Engfer, who just released his new solo album, Time Drifts Away (June 6). Ace has spent years holding...

Travis McNamara was last week's guest as well. I split this conversation up into two episodes because most of the first half of the conversation was about Travis' new album and his career as a touring artist and...

My guest this week is singer-songwriter and performer, Travis McNamara. His music bridges on several different styles, but if you're looking for a common thread, start with bluegrass. McNamara, the longtime front-person...

My guest this week is Lauren Frihauf. "A rising star in the music industry whose talent was featured in NPR Music's 2022 Tiny Desk 'Top Shelf' and showcased her vocal prowess on Season 19 of NBC's "The Voice," where she...

I first met The Wildwoods at The Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE back when they were just getting started at 14 and 15 years old. I was roughly 21 and on one of my first (if not very first) tours. We've stayed in touch, played...

My guest this week is Shane Smith of Shane Smith & The Saints. This show is a rerun of episode 109, which was released on January 25, 2023. It was great getting to catch up with Shane just a few weeks after my band...

"Raised on Vancouver Island, Canada, Zachary is an internationally recognized award-winning actor, musician and writer. Best known for his performances as Buddy Holly, Zach was coined a “dead ringer for dead singers” by...

"With a quarter million miles under her belt and counting, North Carolina native Emily Scott Robinson travels the dusty highways of America's wild country, capturing the stories of the people she meets and expertly...

Susan Gibson has a wealth of knowledge in her decades-long songwriting career. She penned "Wide Open Spaces" which was recorded and made into a mega-hit by The Chicks in 1998. She now travels around in her cargo van...

Colorado based artist and label head Austin Ash Lemon joins me on this week's Middle Class Rock Star. In our conversation, we chat about the origin story of his indie label, Needlejuice Records, as well as Lemon's brand...