Discologist

For over a decade, Chessa Rich has been a driving force in the vibrant North Carolina music scene, offering her unique voice and exceptional multi-instrumentalist skills to support fellow artists. Now, the anticipation builds as she steps into the spotlight with her highly awaited debut album, "Deeper Sleeper." This remarkable release seamlessly blends elements of pop and folk genres, creating an unforgettable musical fusion.Drawing from her personal battle with a sleep disorder and its profound impact on her connection to the waking world, Chessa delves into themes that resonate deeply with anyone striving to forge meaningful connections within themselves and with others.Tune in as we dive into Deeper Sleeper PLUS share music we love from Danish jazz titans Girls in Airports, the late Brazilian superstar Rita Lee, delve into the intriguing realm of AI in music, and much more.------We’re able to bring you great conversations like this and more because of your generous support. Please consider making a one time gift or a recurring donation today!SUPPORT

This week on Discologist, we're revisiting an episode from the before times wherein Eduardo, Kevin, and Andre (IYKYK) delved deep into the monumental box set by the Grateful Dead called 'Get Shown The Light'.This box set captures the band's legendary four-night run at New York's iconic venue, Fillmore East in 1977. It includes what many consider to be the finest performances of their career, particularly the Cornell show on May 9, 1977. Whether you're a dedicated Deadhead or simply curious about the band, this set is essential listening.Join us as we explore the standout moments from this treasure trove of music, including the soulful 'Sugaree', the epic 'Morning Dew', and more. We'll also delve into the Grateful Dead's innovative sound, their legendary live performances, and their enduring influence on the music world.Tune in now to embark on an unforgettable journey through the legendary box set, 'Get Shown The Light', by the Grateful Dead.------We’re able to bring you great conversations like this and more because of your generous support. Please consider making a one time gift or a recurring donation today!SUPPORT

Texas singer/songwriter Robert Ellis captivated audiences with his bombastic 2019 album, 'Texas Piano Man,' where he expanded his sound to stadium-level proportions without compromising his heartfelt introspections. However, in his latest release, Yesterday's News, Ellis takes a stripped-down approach, focusing on the bare essentials, often being accompanied by just a softly plucked nylon guitar. The result is a profound collection of songs that delve into various themes, including fatherhood (Ellis is a proud parent to two young children with his wife, Erica) and thought-provoking reflections on our place in the universe.On this all-new episode of Discologist, we catch up with the iconic Texas troubadour to chat about the allure of quiet songs, the importance of knowing when to call it a day and rest, and much more.We’re able to bring you great conversations like this and more because of your generous support. Please consider making a one time gift or a recurring donation today!SUPPORT

Seán Barna’s An Evening At Macri Park’ has been a long time coming both figuratively and literally. Completed just before the world shut down in 2020, the album was the culmination of a decade’s worth honing his craft, finding his truest voice through his collaboration with producer and friend Dave Drago, and finding himself in the process. And while technically the setting for Barna’s tales of triumph and tragedy in the queer community is one night at a very real place, the truths that are revealed over the album’s 42-minute runtime speak to everyone who’s ever struggled, regardless of the community you come from.  On a very special episode of Discologist, we catch up with our long-time friend to talk about his journey to becoming himself, famous friends, and why, above all you gotta be kind, baby, if any of us are ever gonna make it through.

The Steely Dan renaissance (aka the Danaissance) shows no sign of abating in 2023, with good reason: it is clear now that history is the slow process of discovering that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have always been several steps ahead of the rest of us. This is a band that gave us memes before memes were a thing; a band whose tracks are recognizable to hip hop heads, jazz bros, and eminent hipsters across all cohorts; a band whose music is still capable of taking center stage in what we know refer to as "discourse," just because someone of some consequence decided to vent. Not content to settle on letting Steely Dan be a mood, Joan LeMay and Alex Pappademas decided to plunge into the Daniverse through the fascinating characters that haunt the songs. Their new book, Quantum Criminals, is an entirely new way of looking at the band's catalog. Armed with curiosity, imagination, and a thick file of obscure facts and Dan trivia, Alex and Joan bring these characters to life in ways that will surprise and delight even the most hardened and jaded Dan fans. Join us as we talk about this thrilling new book, but first, mind if we make a pitstop on Sunset? Never you mind what it's for, I promise it'll just be a minute.

Despite having a career that spans 20 years, 10 iconic albums, and stints in some massive indie and folk bands (The Shins and Bonny Light Horseman, respectively) you might be amazed to discover that he still doesn’t quite feel like he’s “made it.” But one listen to A River Running To Your Heart, his latest album with Fruit Bats should dispel any doubt that Johnson has slowly but surely become one of the most important and unique figures in modern American music.  Join us as we talk to Johnson about the peaks and valleys of his career, breaking your heart with a song, his new album, and more! 

Sometimes it is best to let the music to the talking, and on this all-new episode of Discologist taking quick look at four new/upcoming releases that we think you’re gonna love.Whether you’re a fan of indie rock (Wednesday), banjo with a side of Beatles (Alison Brown), countrified ambient (Nashville Ambient Ensemble) or some wild electronic/guitar vibes (Rachika Nayar), we’ve got you covered.So kick back, tune in, and get ready to find some new music to love. You deserve it.Discussion Guide0:00 - Shop Talk6:50 - Tracks We Love57:45 - Wrap Up

Technology can be both isolating and empowering, but the gulf between the two gets wider every day. On their debut full-length Follow the Cyborg, Miss Grit (aka Margaret Sohn) is wading into the liminal space that separation has created to explore themes of identity, alienation, and acceptance through a future-pop lens. A heady, often unsettling ride that touches on everything from how Sohn relates to the world as a non-binary artist, to stardom, and to the “looming” threat of artificial intelligence, Follow The Cyborg is a must listen for anyone who loves their pop with a side of concept album. PLUS! Music we love from Baltimore’s Horse Lords and a classic track from country-soul legend Jim Ford!Discussion Guide0:00 - Shop Talk11:10 - Tracks We Love28:49 - Follow The Cyborg57:50 - Wrap Up

Lonnie Holley’s Oh Me, Oh My is a continuation of his exploration of the darker rooms of our history that were the centerpiece of his 2018 album Mith. On that release, Holley seemed content to simply illuminate for the sake of awareness. Oh Me, Oh My finds the lauded artist/poet/musician settling for nothing less than carrying the listener to a home in the light that everyone, Holley seems to argue, deserves no matter what hardship came before. It’s a message of hope that will thaw even the coldest of hearts, and an early (and easy) contender for the best album you are likely to hear in 2023.PLUS! Eduardo and Kevin are spinning tracks from percussionist Joe Westerlund’s new LP Elegies for the Drift and Los Angeles music collective Wild Up’s exploration of the work of Julius Eastman!Discussion Guide0:00 - Shop Talk5:15 - Tracks we love24:43 - Oh Me, Oh My1:01:15 - Apple Classical Music App / Wrap up