Kreative Kontrol

Mike Belitsky and Travis Good from the Sadies and Dave ‘Billy Ray’ Koster are here to discuss Live at 6 O’Clock by Gord Downie, The Sadies, and the Conquering Sun, Billy’s long and all-encompassing tenure in the working lives of Downie and the Tragically Hip as a technical director and confidante, how the Sadies and Downie connected and why he was so fond of playing with them, a look back at Downie’s first solo album Coke Machine Glow and him asking Travis to play on it, Downie’s deep love for artists like Fucked Up and Daniel Romano, insights about this collaboration and what the late Gord Downie and Dallas Good may have felt about it, when Downie planned to run the stage light show himself, poignant reasons for picking songs about ghosts and sadness for this live record primarily consisting of songs by other artists, further insights into how the Tragically Hip viewed Downie’s work outside of the band, Downie’s penchant for incorporating conversations and experiences he shared with Billy into his lyrics, the story behind “Introduce Yerself,” whether we may hear more unreleased music by Downie and the potential for Sadie to make a new album, upcoming tour dates, other future plans, and much more.EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. This one is fine, but if you haven’t already, please subscribe now on Patreon so you never miss full episodes. Thanks!Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:Win a Gord Downie Vinyl Bundle in April 2026!Ep. #1085: Richard Reed ParryEp. #1083: RheostaticsEp. #1082: Joe PerniceEp. #1071: Buck 65Ep. #971: Change of HeartEp. #892: Fucked UpEp. #889: Rick White and The SadiesEp. #880: Guided By VoicesEp. #842: Daniel Romano’s OutfitEp. #821: Kurt VileEp. #744: Don PyleEp. #590: Bob YoungEp. #496: Iggy Pop

Richard Reed Parry returns to discuss Were “The Watchtowers” by Dallas Good + Richard Reed Parry, his Skybarn recording studio, being a new dad and adjusting to life off the road, how he first got to know Dallas after they were randomly chosen to participate in a Dawson City Music Festival collaborative workshop, a shared love of the Everly Brothers and other key artists and records, instant friend crushes and a yearning to collaborate on music, how they wrote lyrics together in a shared, outdated daytimer, insights about how vocals and other recordings of Dallas were used posthumously, how the sessions for Colder Streams by the Sadies and the Watchtowers informed each other, a unique contribution by Neko Case and making an album with songs about the tragic loss of one of the creators of that same album, why it’s a Record Store Day exclusive, news about Richard’s other bands and pursuits, other future plans, and much more.EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. Enjoy this excerpt and please subscribe now via this link to hear this full episode. Thanks!Thanks to the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:Win a Gord Downie Vinyl Bundle in April 2026!Ep. #1082: Joe PerniceEp. #1049: Rebecca Foon and Aliayta Foon-DancoesEp. #889: Rick White and The SadiesEp. #857: Michael FeuerstackEp. #815: Geordie GordonEp. #805: La ForceEp. #703: The SadiesEp. #669: Dallas Good RememberedEp. #485: Richard Reed ParryEp. #191: Buffy Sainte-Marie

Janel Leppin returns to discuss her new solo album Slowly Melting and Pluto in Aquarius by Janel Leppin's Ensemble Volcanic Ash, her ability to compartmentalize her visual art impulses from her musical ones, why she frequently releases more than one album on the same day, how Susan Alcorn and David Lynch remain constant inspirations, an eye-opening Mdou Moctar tour, making protest jazz music in a politically volatile time, her compelling and dynamic use of the cello as a lead instrument in jazz expressions, her tribute to Deerhoof, why she employs fuzz and distortion, loving pedals and naming songs after different ones, upcoming shows, another new record, other future plans, and much more.EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. This one is fine, but if you haven’t already, please subscribe now on Patreon so you never miss full episodes. Thanks!Thanks to the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:Win a Gord Downie Vinyl Bundle in April 2026!Ep. #1069: The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisAll Things Konsidered: The Beatles AnthologyEp. #1003: Marissa NadlerEp. #975: DeerhoofEp. #919: Oren AmbarchiEp. #887: Janel and AnthonyEp. #874: Mdou Moctar

Dave Bidini and Dave Clark from Rheostatics are here to discuss The Great Lakes Suite, politics and tensions between the U.S.A. and Canada, contemporary protest music, what prompted this album’s concept and improvisational approach, featured contributions by Alex Lifeson from Rush, Kevin Hearn, Hugh Marsh, Tanya Tagaq, Laurie Anderson, Chief Stacey LaForme, Anne Carson, Liz Howard, Kendel Carson, Maiah Wynne, and Gord Downie, why Alex Lifeson was so blown away by Tanya Tagaq’s performance on this record, insights about Gord Downie’s posthumous appearance here telling a poetic story, Martin Tielli’s current status in Rheostatics, Alex Lifeson’s current status in Rheostatics, the excitingly unique way they plan to stage live shows to represent this album, other future plans, and much more.EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. Enjoy this excerpt and please subscribe now via this link to hear this full episode. Thanks!Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:Win a Gord Downie Vinyl Bundle in April 2026!Ep. #1031: Leanne Betasamosake SimpsonEp. #424: Dave BidiniEp. #332: Billy BraggEp. #294: Don Kerr of CommunismEp. #272: Gord Downie [Archival; May 2010]Ep. #65: Tanya Tagaq

Joe Pernice is here to discuss his excellent new album, Sunny, I Was Wrong, living in frigid Canada as a well-informed American, his obsession with bicycles and riding bikes, his close friendship with music writer Warren Zanes who penned lovely liner notes for this new record, being a dad and coaching baseball with some encouragement from Buck 65, writing music again after a substantial break and from a very honest, reflective perspective, why he chose to release a record under his own name, the killer studio band he assembled featuring Jim Creeggan, Mike Belitsky, and Mike Evin, bringing in very special guests like Aimee Mann, Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub, Rodney Crowell, and Jimmy Webb, what will become of the large number of unreleased songs he wrote and recorded towards this album, upcoming shows, other future plans, and much more.EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. This one is fine, but if you haven’t already, please subscribe now on Patreon so you never miss full episodes. Thanks!Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:Ep. #1071: Buck 65Buck 65 on Bike For Three! (2009)Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle (2012) – TeaserEp. #889: Rick White and The SadiesEp. #800: Buck 65Ep. #703: The SadiesEp. #335: The Sadies on Long Night

A.C. Newman returns to discuss The Former Site Of by the New Pornographers, life in New York State, playing more mandolin in his home recording studio, R.E.M. snobbery, not knowing about a nearby Dry Cleaning show, and understanding fans who come and go, songs about grieving and newfound flower expertise and songs people misunderstand, spirituality and social media, how the song “Calligraphy” references the 2025 arrest of the band’s former drummer on serious criminal charges, accepting loss, touring line-ups and upcoming shows, other future plans, and much more.EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. Enjoy this excerpt and please subscribe now via this link to hear this full episode. Thanks!Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:Ep. #1078: GeologistEp. #1072: Ani DiFrancoEp. #1026: TortoiseEp. #963: DestroyerEp. #954: Peter Ames Carlin on R.E.M.Ep. #928: VerbötenEp. #883: Steven HydenEp. #877: Gastr del SolEp. #763: The New PornographersEp. #740: Dry CleaningEp. #673: Sonic YouthEp. #609: Gang of FourEp. #159: Carl Newman of the New Pornographers

My first interview with Bill Callahan took place over the telephone on March 31, 2011, ahead of the April 19 release of his album, Apocalypse. The interview was conducted for and broadcast on the Mich Vish Interracial Morning Show! on May 4, 2011, and also for a print magazine profile. Bill and I bonded over our shared love of The Larry Sanders Show among other things, which you can hear now. As usual with archival interviews presented here, this is a raw, unedited recording that reflects the actual experience shared between the interview subject and I on the day we spoke. The latest album by Bill Callahan is called My Days of 58, and it’s available now via Drag City Records.To hear this entire conversation, subscribe to Kreative Kontrol on Patreon at the $6 U.S./month tier or higher (a reminder that an annual subscription includes a discount compared to a monthly one).Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:Ep. #1044: Steve Albini (2008)Ep. #957: The Burning HellEp. #944: Bonnie “Prince” BillyEp. #646: They Might Be GiantsEp. #562: Bill CallahanEp. #480: Bill CallahanEp. #273: Mary Lynn Rajskub

Charlotte Cornfield returns to discuss her new album Hurts Like Hell, living in Toronto after stints in Montreal and New York, how becoming a mother has altered her sense of self and her artistic perspective, notions of connection, teaching, and learning, how Lucinda Williams’ memoir impacted her relationship to narrative realities, talking about Neil Young, Zuma, and Tonight’s the Night, who the song “Lost Leader” might be about, recruiting special guest vocalists like Feist and Buck Meek, working with Merge Records, new songs, upcoming shows, and much more.EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. This one is fine, but if you haven’t already, please subscribe now on Patreon so you never miss full episodes. Thanks!Thanks to Blackbyrd Myoozik, the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:March Mergeness! Or Merge Madness? Prize Pack!Ep. #1070: Buck MeekEp. #1064: AquakultreEp. #645: Charlotte CornfieldEp. #600: The Weather StationEp. #93: Ought

Verity Susman and Matthew Simms from MEMORIALS are here to discuss their new album All Clouds Bring Not Rain, the confusing measurement units different countries use to track distances, the roles their respective fathers played in inspiring them to explore music, telling me what a boffin is, working on film scores and soundtracks, a helpful boost from Stereolab, the significance of the Susan Sontag Memorial Water Slide, touring with Holy Fuck, writing new music, other future plans, and much more.EVERY OTHER COMPLETE KREATIVE KONTROL EPISODE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO PATREON SUPPORTERS STARTING AT $6/MONTH. Enjoy this excerpt and please subscribe now via this link to hear this full episode. Thanks!Thanks to the Bookshelf, Planet Bean Coffee, and Grandad’s Donuts. Support Y.E.S.S., Pride Centre of Edmonton, and Letters Charity. Follow vish online.Related episodes/links:March Mergeness! Or Merge Madness? Prize Pack!Ep. #1026: TortoiseEp. #1001: Thanya IyerEp. #812: Michael Azerrad on ‘The Amplified Come As You Are – The Story of Nirvana’Ep. #673: Sonic YouthEp. #519: Holy FuckEp. #38: Krist NovoselicEp. #24: Steve Albini