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Building King Tut: Leo Elliott on Oteil Burbridge’s Custom Six-String Bass

photos courtesy of Scarlet Fire Guitars A bass built to revisit a piece of Grateful Dead history led Leo Elliott of Scarlet Fire Guitars toward something entirely new. After playing Elliott’s Mission Control replica, Oteil Burbridge had a request: bring the sound he loved into a lightweight, short-scale six-string bass, with an original body design… Continue reading Building King Tut: Leo Elliott on Oteil Burbridge’s Custom Six-String Bass

Interviews

From the Dead Lot to the Printed Page: Mike Fowler on the Art of Tie-Dye

Las Vegas, NV | May 1993 – Images courtesy of Mike Fowler / Art of Tie-Dye. For Mike Fowler, tie-dye began with his sister, a few large pieces of fabric, and the parking lots outside Grateful Dead shows. In the early 1990s, their tapestries became both a creative outlet and a way to connect with… Continue reading From the Dead Lot to the Printed Page: Mike Fowler on the Art of Tie-Dye

Interviews

Andy Frasco and Kanika Moore Walk into a Saloon: An Interview with Andy Frasco

What if the things we love about each other are the things we’re so busy trying to hide? That’s the idea behind “Perfectly Yours,” Andy Frasco’s upcoming collaboration with Kanika Moore. He sees his imperfections, she sees something worth celebrating, and somewhere in that exchange, they found a song. As Andy puts it, “Maybe I’m not perfect, but I’m perfect for somebody.” Sometimes, that’s the whole damn thing.

Interviews

An Interview with Todd Rundgren: “I’ve Never Really Been A ‘Hits Artist’”

Photo(s) by Gabriel David Barkin Todd Rundgren’s career has now reached its seventh decade. Although he’s known primarily for a string of radio hits in the 70s and 80s (including “Hello It’s Me” and the Friday-at-five anthem “Bang the Drum All Day”), the Philadelphia-spawned Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has continued to write, record,… Continue reading An Interview with Todd Rundgren: “I’ve Never Really Been A ‘Hits Artist’”

Interviews

The PJ Bidwell Band Talks “Culebra,” Tucson and the Stories Behind the Song

photo by Kayla Von Der Heide For Tucson songwriter PJ Bidwell, the story behind “Culebra” began with accounts of lives caught in the violence and exploitation of the borderlands. Co-written with longtime friend Eric Cunningham and released October 16, the murder ballad brings that storytelling into an arrangement of nylon-string guitar, steel, electric guitar and… Continue reading The PJ Bidwell Band Talks “Culebra,” Tucson and the Stories Behind the Song

Interviews

Pat Simmons Jr.: The Long Strange Trip Home

There are worse ways to grow up than spending your childhood on a tour bus with the Doobie Brothers. There are also probably few ways to have a normal childhood that are less likely to succeed. While most kids were worrying about school, baseball practice and whether they could stay up late enough to watch… Continue reading Pat Simmons Jr.: The Long Strange Trip Home

Interviews

“I Don’t Ever Phone It In”: An Interview with Allison Russell

Allison Russell – photo by Gabriel David Barkin Allison Russell never stops moving. On stage with her band the Rainbow Coalition, she whirls with glee, dancing joyously between her turns at the mic and playing clarinet. When she’s not on tour, she’s likely to be writing new songs, working on a new record, writing a… Continue reading “I Don’t Ever Phone It In”: An Interview with Allison Russell

Interviews

Full Circle: An Interview with Sara Wasserman of Music Heals International

Sara Wasserman – photo by Liam Storrings Music Heals International (MHI) and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass will cohost a benefit concert at the venerable Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA, on Monday, September 28. Lukas Nelson will headline the sold-out fundraiser, with guest musicians including Grahame Lesh (Grahame Lesh & Friends; Midnight North), Dan “Lebo”… Continue reading Full Circle: An Interview with Sara Wasserman of Music Heals International

Interviews

The Heart of Dirty Souls: Wreckless Strangers Reflect on Their Latest EP

Wreckless Strangers 2026. Left to Right: Mick Hellman, Joshua Zucker (JZ), Amber Morris, David Noble, Rob Anderson, and Fletcher Nielsen. Credits: Bill Reitzel With the release of their latest EP, Dirty Souls, Wreckless Strangers continue to carve out a sound that transcends genre while remaining deeply rooted in raw songwriting, rich collaboration, and electrifying performances.… Continue reading The Heart of Dirty Souls: Wreckless Strangers Reflect on Their Latest EP

Interviews

Danny Luehring Should Be Your New Favorite Drummer

Danny Luehring – photo by Gabriel David Barkin For almost five years running, drummer Danny Luehring’s weekly Grateful Dead tribute Danny’s Live Dead (DLD) has been a mainstay of the Marin County music scene. On almost every Wednesday since late 2021, Luehring has assembled a unique collaboration of musicians to play two sets of music… Continue reading Danny Luehring Should Be Your New Favorite Drummer

Interviews