the decemberists

If This Is True would like to introduce you to singing sensation Nora O'Connor! Nora is a Chicago based singer/songwriter who has worked with everyone from the Decemberists to the New Pornographers to Mavis Staples. We discussed balancing work and family, what Americana is, and everything in between. Give it a listen!

When this week's guest, singer/songwriter Elizabeth McCullough (Alpha Cat), heard the song 'Hoover Dam' by the band Sugar, she broke her 3-song rule (making sure an album has at least 3 good songs before purchasing it) and ran out and bought their 1992 debut 'Copper Blue'. She was not disappointed. The record by Bob Mould's new band, released five years after the dissolution of his previous band - beloved punk titans Hüsker Dü - is an emotionally visceral, sonically fierce collection of songs that sound as fresh today as when they first appeared. Stone. Cold. Classic.

Songs featured in this episode: If I Can't Change Your Mind - Tre Dabney/The Salt Flats/The Decemberists; Venus Smile, Orbit - Alpha Cat; Friend, You've Got To Fall, Celebrated Summer - Hüsker Dü; See A Little Light - Bob Mould; Never Again - Zulus; The Act We Act, A Good Idea - Sugar; Debaser - Pixies; Changes, Helpless - Sugar; Hoover Dam - Bob Mould (Live, acoustic); Hoover Dam, The Slim - Sugar; Glad To Be Gay - Tom Robinson Band; If I Can't Change Your Mind, Fortune Teller - Sugar; Come In Alone - My Bloody Valentine; In Bloom - Nirvana; Slick, Man On The Moon - Sugar; Wichita - Alpha Cat; If I Can't Change Your Mind - The Decemberists (Live acoustic, A.V. Club)

This episode features a chat with Chris Funk, guitarist of The Decemberists, who has a new solo album out. We get into those things as well as Chris' history as a Deadhead, listening to some of his music along the way, before diving into a heavy slice of Grateful Dead music.

Chris Funk's new album, The Painted Porch, is available at Jealous Butcher Records and via Bandcamp. All profits from Bandcamp sales will be donated to the COVID-19 Oregon Musicians’ Relief Fund through the Jeremy Wilson Foundation. For more information please visit their website here: thejwf.org

I also spend a little time talking about Bandcamp's "Bandcamp Friday" campaign. They will once again be waiving all fees and passing 100% on sales directly to member artists and labels on June 5th. This is an effort to help musicians make it though these challenging times when shows simply aren't possible. You can learn more about that here at Bandcamp's Blog.

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