Episode #7 - Special Guest Tom Luce: Four-Tracks, Fame & Family - A Musician's Arc

In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories & Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend time with Army combat engineer Mike “Doc Straw” Swart. Mike served from 2004-2013 and deployed twice to the Middle East, first near Fallujah in Iraq and later to Asadabad in the Kunar Province in Afghanistan, conducting road clearance for IEDs and other explosives.  Following Mike’s separation from the Army, he went back to school and became a doctor of physical therapy focusing on how the body and brain changes when we are subjected to stressful experiences/environments.  Mike currently lives in Virginia and fronts an alternative rock band called “Doc Straw and the Scarecrows”.  During this podcast, Mike presents three of his original songs, including:

“Get On By”

“For The Broken”

“Situational Awareness”

You can follow “Doc Straw and the Scarecrows” on any of your favorite streaming platforms or at:

https://www.facebook.com/docstrawandthescarecrows/ 

In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories & Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend time with retired Army helicopter pilot Kate Anderson and military spouse Secily Anderson.  Together, they blend compelling lyrics, smooth harmonies and tasty guitar leads as a duet called “Winter Grain”.  Learn about how Kate grew up around the Reno Rodeo, almost became a nun, then pivoted to 22 years of service in the Army, and how Secily grew up with music since she was 8 years old and has played in bands covering about every genre on the planet.  During this podcast, they highlight three of their original songs, including:

“Passenger Seat”

“Fists”

“A Better You”

You can learn more about Winter Grain and follow Kate and Secily on your favorite streaming platforms or at:

https://Wintergrain.com

In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories and Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend time with retired Army veteran and Green Beret Derek Stoner.  After spending a childhood hunting, fishing and working as a farm laborer in small town Craig, Missouri (population 200), Derek joined the National Guard while still in High School and served in the Army after September 11th.  Derek spent 20 years serving his country as an elite Green Beret, with over 16 deployments to the Middle East, including missions within Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Qatar. Following his retirement as a Master Sergeant, Derek moved near Nashville to pursue his music career.  You can now find him regularly around Lower Broadway, playing the Honky-Tonk scene.  During this podcast, Derek, Guy and Adam highlight three of his original songs:

“Bad Decisions”

“Break the Chain”

“Bad Man Finder”

You can learn more and  follow Derek on all the streaming platforms or at derekstonermusic.com.

In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories and Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend some time with Stephen Wayne talking about his humble roots in rural Arkansas and his year long “adventure” at age 14, sneaking on Greyhound buses, living on the streets and playing his old Fender Squire guitar.  Yes-Age 14!  Of course, he later met an Army recruiter and signed up as a mechanic a few months before 9/11.  He retired 21 years later, after a total of 5 years of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan-and getting his vehicle blown out from under him 6 times.  Stephen’s music career consists of both solo acoustic projects and the new album with his band “Souls Worn Thin”.

During this episode, Stephen highlights three of his songs, including:

“Sideways”
“Start A Band”
“Treason”

You can follow Stephen and “Souls Worn Thin” on all the streaming platforms or via their website:

https://soulswornthin.com (https://soulswornthin.com) 

In this episode of "Soldiers, Stories, and Songs", Guy [Jaquier] and Adam [Rossi] catch up with Operation Encore artist Mike Ponder, a veteran of both the Navy and Marine Corps. Mike was introduced to music at an early age: He started touring at age three and was playing drums at age 6 on stage with his parents and their band "JL and the Country Squires".
Mike deployed in support of the Gulf War in 1991, Kosovo in 1999, and Iraq in 2002. He was medically retired from the Navy in 2008 due to complications from a gunshot wound after 20 years of service.
Mike currently tours with his band "The Steel Rail Express" and is the founder and CEO of SRE Jams, a full service music e-commerce store. He also operates a program for servicemen and women , teaching music and offering free guitars for graduates.

During this episode, Mike highlights three of his original songs:

"When the Stars Align"
"Better Days"
"Hard Road"

You can find more information about Mike and his music on the Operation Encore website or by searching for "Mike Ponder Music" on your favorite social media or streaming platform.

Support the show (http://www.operationencore.org) 

In this episode of “Stories, Soldiers and Songs”, Guy [Jaquier] and Adam [Rossi] catch up with Operation Encore artist and Army veteran Schaefer Mueller after his recent OE recording session at AR Audio in San Francisco. During the podcast, they discuss Schaefer’s early music influences including his grandfather who played bass guitar for Funk and Jazz bands, and his parents who drove him to Jimmy Buffett concerts in a minivan decorated with shark fins.  Following a period sleeping in his car parked outside a bar living off dry ramen noodles and Monster Energy drinks, he joined the Army as a combat engineer and deployed to Afghanistan.  While there, he was stationed with the Green Berets at a forward outpost in Mohmand Valley, Nangarhar Province.  Also included -- a bonus description of his wife’s roller derby career!

Throughout the episode, Schaefer highlights three of his original songs:

“Blocked”
“Happy”
“One Last Rodeo”

You can find more information about Schaefer and his music on the Operation Encore website or by searching for “Schaefer Mueller Music” on your favorite social media or streaming platform.

Support the show (http://www.operationencore.org) 

During this episode of “Stories, Soldiers and Songs”, Guy and Adam talk with USMC veteran Brandon Mills about growing up in Kentucky and his service as a Recon Marine and Scout Sniper during multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.  Brandon also describes his  post-military life, which includes three years working with a non-profit in a Palestinian refugee camp, his appearance on the TV series “The Bachelor”, his work in the field of “executive and celebrity security” and, of course, the pursuit of his music career in Nashville.

During the Podcast Brandon performs three of his original songs:

“Understand My Love”
“Front Lines”
“My Hero Too”

You can learn more about Brandon and follow him at:

Brandonmillsmusic.com 

Meet JB Brown -- an up-and-coming  artist and Marine with a humble background and a smooth county-rock sound.  In this episode of “Stories, Soldiers and Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi)  discuss JB's journey from a young drummer at a county fair to the streets of Iraq and back again.  During the podcast, they discuss JB’s service in a Marine recon unit and his close encounter with a roadside bomb that led to his retirement after 12 years of service. As JB opens up about that day and the impacts it had on his life and his music, listen to three of his most impactful songs:

Church Pew 
You're Gone - A Song for Cleve
Way Back

You can find more information about JB and his website or by searching for “"JB Brown Music" on your favorite social media or streaming platform.

https://www.jbbrownofficial.com/music

In this episode of “Stories, Soldiers and Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) catch up with Operation Encore artist and Navy veteran Morgan Warneke in Nashville, TN. During the podcast, they discuss Morgan’s journey from a cross country runner in an Arkansas high school to his time as a Naval Academy cadet, his service as a Surface Warfare Office on a mine sweeper in the Persian Gulf, and finally to his adventures as a singer/songwriter living in Nashville going by the stage name “Fogg Warner”.

Throughout the episode, they play Morgan’s new recordings of three of his original songs:

“Porch Boogie”

“Malady”

“Hookers and Blow”

You can find more information about Morgan’s and his music on the Operation Encore website or by searching for “Fogg Warner Music” on your favorite social media or streaming platform.

Support the show (http://www.operationencore.org)

In this episode of “Stories, Soldiers and Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) catch up with Operation Encore artist and Navy veteran Adam Gaffney while he is recording his new EP (!) at AR Audio in San Francisco. During the podcast, they discuss Adam’s humble Midwest roots his adventures while shopping at Walmart, his military service loading weapons as a Navy Aviation Ordnanceman on aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf (including one particular moment almost having his arm torn off while casually leaning against an F-18), and his style of music that combines Neil Young and The Band with a touch of Tom Petty.

Throughout the episode, they play Adam’s new recordings of his original songs:

“My Dear Friend”
“For Being Someone”
“White Lines”

You can find more information about Adam and his music on the Operation Encore website or by searching for “Adam Gaffney Music” on your favorite social media or streaming platform.

Support the show (http://www.operationencore.org)