11 Things with Leigh Jones

11 Things with Leigh Jones is a free music interview podcast! Leigh interviews musicians from all over the country working in a wide array of genres, from the folk-singing troubadour to the aspiring Broadway composer. Questions/comments/suggestions? Write to [email protected]

Episode 60: John Gallagher, Jr. 08/22/2017

Episode 60: John Gallagher, Jr. John Gallagher, Jr. is a NYC-based musician and actor. He released his debut solo record, Six Day Hurricane, in 2016. He has numerous film and TV credits, including a lead role on HBO's The Newsroom, and has starred on Broadway in musicals and plays, having earned a Tony award for his performance in Spring Awakening at the age of 22. Listen in as John discusses his Delaware roots, his influences from Springsteen to Ryan Adams to Green Day, and the balancing act between his acting career and musical pursuits. /episode/index/show/11things/id/5667491

Episode 59: Frankie Boots 07/25/2017

Episode 59: Frankie Boots Frankie Boots is an Americana singer-songwriter from Northern California, currently residing in New Orleans. He has two full-length albums with his band, Frankie Boots and the County Line, and released his debut solo record, "Pagan Ranch," in December of 2016. Listen in as Frank reveals his real name, talks about being ready for inspiration when it strikes, and the rewards and challenges of relocating across the country. /episode/index/show/11things/id/5571653

Episode 58: Justin Levine 05/18/2017

Episode 58: Justin Levine Justin Levine is a NYC-based composer, writer, performer, music director, and arranger. His wide range of credits include serving as the music director for and performing in the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Love's Labour's Lost at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Listen in as Justin discusses growing up in a musical family on Long Island, his freshman year piano man gig, and some of the lessons he's learned in working closely with David Byrne. www.justinlevineonline.com /episode/index/show/11things/id/5367440

Episode 57: Sean O'Neill 03/28/2017

Episode 57: Sean O'Neill Sean O'Neill is a Portland, OR-based musician, songwriter, and cartoonist. His band, Otis Heat, has toured the U.S. extensively, and his cartoons have been featured in The New Yorker and The Harvard Business Review, among other publications. Listen in as Sean talks about growing up in suburban Maryland, the many forms and paths his creativity has taken, and how a bullying incident led to his best childhood friendship. /episode/index/show/11things/id/5210588

Episode 56: Jans Ingber 01/31/2017

Episode 56: Jans Ingber Jans Ingber is a Portland, OR-based singer, songwriter, and percussionist. Jans recently parted ways with his longtime band, The Motet, after 17 years of touring to spend more time at home and to focus on a new project, Jans Ingber's Funk Fellowship. Listen in as Jans recounts his momentous first encounter with Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions," talks about the wide variety of music his parents exposed him to, and how he now relates with his three school-aged children through music. /episode/index/show/11things/id/5042384

Episode 55: Annalisa Tornfelt 10/26/2016

Episode 55: Annalisa Tornfelt Annalisa Tornfelt is a songwriter and musician originally from Alaska and now based in Portland, OR. She is known for being the singer and fiddle player for Black Prairie (with members of The Decemberists). Her 2015 solo release, The Number 8, was recorded during the month of August, on an 8-track recorder, in the span of eight hours. She often performs with her musical siblings as Annalisa Tornfelt and the Tornfelt Sisters. /episode/index/show/11things/id/4775381

Episode 54: Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons 10/19/2016

Episode 54: Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons are an American roots duo based in Seattle. They won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in January 2016, coming in first place out of 94 acts from 16 different countries. Their two albums, The North Wind and the Sun and Take Yo Time, represent a broad range of pre-war American music, from pre-blues a cappella field hollers, fiddle and banjo breakdowns, and duet distillations of early jazz. /episode/index/show/11things/id/4756084

Episode 53: Kate Ferber 10/10/2016

Episode 53: Kate Ferber Kate Ferber is a NYC based musician and songwriter. Her one-woman original show One Child Born, The Music of Laura Nyro has been widely acclaimed in New York and beyond. She starred in Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, written by John Mellencamp and Stephen King, with musical direction by renowned producer T Bone Burnett. Her forthcoming solo album is entitled The Great Thaw, and singles from the record can be found on her website: /episode/index/show/11things/id/4731507

Episode 52: The Bengsons 09/28/2016

Episode 52: The Bengsons The Bengsons are a married duo based in NYC. They've written an indie folk opera, had their music featured on the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance, and just earlier this month they embarked upon a brand new project...parenthood! Listen in as Shaun and Abigail Bengson discuss their respective musical roots and influences, what it's like to be romantically involved with your music partner and musically involved with your romantic partner, working with renowned dancer/choreographer Sonya Tayeh, and so much more. /episode/index/show/11things/id/4701668

Episode 51: Tommy Alexander 03/22/2016

Episode 51: Tommy Alexander Tommy Alexander is a Portland, OR based indie folk singer-songwriter. His upcoming album, Old News, is scheduled for release on March 23, 2016. Listen in as Tommy discusses working with producer Mike Coykendall (of other notable acts such as M. Ward, She and Him, Blitzen Trapper, and Bright Eyes) on the new record, opening for Michael McDonald, his former life as a pro baseball hopeful, and founding an artist collective in Burlington, Vermont. /episode/index/show/11things/id/4239261

Episode 50: Oil Derek 03/16/2016

Episode 50: Oil Derek Derek Clatterbuck (who performs and releases music under the moniker Oil Derek) is a native of the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Listen in as Derek talks about his family's deep musical roots (his grandma was best buds with June Carter and his great-uncle wrote the "Tennessee Waltz"), his attraction to the cowboy lifestyle, becoming friends with Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and his involvement with the artists collective on wheels, Splendor All Around. /episode/index/show/11things/id/4224813

Episode 49: Kendl Winter (of The Lowest Pair) 03/09/2016

Episode 49: Kendl Winter (of The Lowest Pair) Making up one-half of the banjo-driven folk duo The Lowest Pair, Kendl Winter calls Olympia, Washington home, but spends most of her days on the road. Listen in as Kendl shares her thoughts on what it's like to be a perpetually traveling musician, her love of running, and the many pet turtles she had as an 11-year-old. /episode/index/show/11things/id/4207720

Episode 48: Lech Wierzynski (of The California Honeydrops) 01/12/2016

Episode 48: Lech Wierzynski (of The California Honeydrops) Lech Wierzynski is the Polish-born frontman and bandleader of The California Honeydrops. An internationally touring band, the Honeydrops draw upon elements of R&B, funk, Southern soul, Delta blues, and New Orleans second-line to create an infectious sound and an energetic, undeniable live show experience. Listen in as Lech discusses his personal musical journey, collaborating with bandmates and pulling from everyone's respective influences to form the Honeydrops' sound, and how he feels about his time at Burning Man last year. www.cahoneydrops.com /episode/index/show/11things/id/4071890

Episode 47: Chamber Band 10/08/2015

Episode 47: Chamber Band Chris, Ellen, Asarr, Sam, and Anthony are collectively, Chamber Band. Based in Brooklyn, they play music about love, heartbreak, and dragons. They recently released their second full-length album, Careers. Listen in as they discuss how the band came together, their wide array of backgrounds and influences, and their decision and process of using the worlds of Dungeons and Dragons and The Hunger Games to frame and examine real-world issues. /episode/index/show/11things/id/3850319

Episode 46: Brad Parsons 08/09/2015

Episode 46: Brad Parsons Brad Parsons is a Portland, OR based songwriter and purveyor of rock and roll music. You can catch him performing around town often, both solo and with his band Brad Parsons and the Local Talent. He is also part of the nationally touring Portland-based folk-rock band, Horse Feathers. Listen in as Brad discusses his Idaho upbringing, shares a few defining moments in his musical career, and tells us how he really feels about is 6th grade teacher. /episode/index/show/11things/id/3724933

Episode 45: Benjamin Scheuer 06/24/2015

Episode 45: Benjamin Scheuer Benjamin Scheuer is a New York City based songwriter and playwright. His award-winning one-man autobiographical musical play, The Lion, was originally mounted at Manhattan Theatre Club in the summer of 2014. Since then, Benjamin has been performing the show in various cities to wide acclaim. Listen in as he talks about his unique artistic path, the journey of creating and performing The Lion, and weathering some of life's more extreme hardships. /episode/index/show/11things/id/3635806

Episode 44: Moorea Masa 05/29/2015

Episode 44: Moorea Masa Moorea Masa is a Portland, OR based singer-songwriter, with distict soul/pop influences. Formerly of the Ruby Pines, and currently a singer with Ural Thomas and the Pain, Moorea has been cultivating her solo career in recent years and just released her debut EP, Oh Mother. /episode/index/show/11things/id/3583586

Episode 43: Ben Darwish 01/06/2015

Episode 43: Ben Darwish Ben Darwish is a Portland, OR-based pianist, composer and songwriter. His collaborative project with Shook Twins is called Morning Ritual, and he also plays keys in the soul band, Ural Thomas and the Pain. Listen in as Ben discusses his least important fingers, how being a weirdo actually helped him as an 11-year-old, and how 80s teen idol Tiffany is his cousin. www.bendarwish.com /episode/index/show/11things/id/3279722

Episode 42: Thanksgiving 2.0 11/28/2014

Episode 42: Thanksgiving 2.0 Thanksgiving is the best holiday! Some of my guests from the previous year share a musical artist for whom they are epecially thankful. /episode/index/show/11things/id/3207677

Episode 41: Sam Chase 11/18/2014

Episode 41: Sam Chase Sam Chase is the valiant leader of SF bay area band, The Sam Chase. With his band, Sam has released two studio albums, "The Sam Chase Will Never Die" and "The Sam Chase Will Lead Us To Victory". As albums, they are triumphant, and as statements, they are true. Listen in as Sam discusses his dream of being a ninja turtle, refraining from throwing his underwear at Bruce Springsteen, and playing at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival for the first time. www.thesamchase.com /episode/index/show/11things/id/3188335

Episode 40: Steve Poltz 08/20/2014

Episode 40: Steve Poltz Steve Poltz is the consummate folk singer, and then some. Having toured the globe for over 30 years, his collective stories, paired with his unparalleled energetic stage presence, make for live shows that are equal parts magnificent, hilarious, and heartwarming. Listen in as Steve discusses the origins of his wild spirit, his somewhat legendary liaison with Jewel, and how the first girl he ever kissed turned out to be a lesbian. www.poltz.com /episode/index/show/11things/id/3021228

Episode 39: Patrick Cooper 07/21/2014

Episode 39: Patrick Cooper Patrick Cooper is a blues and Americana musician based in New Orleans. Listen in as he chats about his geographical trajectory (Japan to Louisiana to California and back to Louisiana), his influences from John Prine to Allen Toussaint, and his former life as a lawyer. /episode/index/show/11things/id/2958546

Episode 38: The Hitzig Brothers 06/25/2014

Episode 38: The Hitzig Brothers Xander and Orion Hitzig (aka The Hitzig Brothers) hail from southern West Virginia, and have been touring the country over the last six years with Brown Chicken Brown Cow Stringband. Now the two are turning their focus on a duo project, a brotherly mix of folk, bluegrass, and celtic-influenced tunes. Listen in as the Hitzigs discuss things like: being attacked by a pigeon, how their first gig was at a civil war reenactment, and being just about as mature now as they were when they were eleven. /episode/index/show/11things/id/2908595

Episode 37: The Coffis Brothers and the Mountain Men 06/10/2014

Episode 37: The Coffis Brothers and the Mountain Men The Coffis Brothers and the Mountain Men are a rootsy rock n’ roll band born and raised in the Mountains of Santa Cruz, California. The band, fronted by brothers Jamie and Kellen Coffis, released their second full-length album, Wrong Side of the Road, earlier this year. Listen in as the 5-piece discusses growing up together, their common influences, and the pros and cons of being a Santa Cruz band. /episode/index/show/11things/id/2883406

Episode 36: Marty O'Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra 04/16/2014

Episode 36: Marty O'Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra Formed in Santa Cruz, California in 2012, Marty O'Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra throw a resonator guitar (O'Reilly), a double bass (Jeff Kissel), and a dirty fiddle (Chris Lynch) into a blender, and churn out a haunting, bluesy, and driving musical sound that is at once uniquely theirs, and also reminiscent of some of the delta greats with a generous spattering of Tom Waits. Listen in as the trio discuss their respective beginnings in music, how they work together to create songs, and the importance of audience connection. They talk about farting, too. www.martyoreilly.com /episode/index/show/11things/id/2786049

Episode 35: Liana Stampur 03/29/2014

Episode 35: Liana Stampur Liana Stampur is a New York City based musician and music educator, and a co-founder of the non-profit organization ArtStrides, which provides free early childhood arts education for New York families. Listen in as Liana discusses the path that led her to teaching, her love for and special connection to Pete Seeger, and her impending motherhood! /episode/index/show/11things/id/2754893

Episode 34: The Brothers Comatose 03/12/2014

Episode 34: The Brothers Comatose The Brothers Comatose are a 5-piece string band based out of San Francisco. Over the past few years, the oft-touring band has shared the stage with the likes of The Devil Makes Three and Yonder Mountain String Band, and have played prestigious festivals such as Outside Lands, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and High Sierra. Listen in as the fellows of BroCo discuss how they formed, who and what influences them, and where they dream of playing, with no small measure of humor. /episode/index/show/11things/id/2726411

Episode 33: KC Turner 03/04/2014

Episode 33: KC Turner KC Turner is a San Francisco Bay Area music promoter and musician. In 2013, his production company "KC Turner Presents" put on nearly 100 concerts. He's come a long way from growing up in small-town Missouri and impersonating Elvis for his family as a kid. Here, KC talks about taking the leap to pursue a full-time career in the music industry, the artists who inspire him most, and his experience putting together a last minute house concert for G. Love. /episode/index/show/11things/id/2712108

Episode 32: John Elliott 01/25/2014

Episode 32: John Elliott John Elliott is a San Francisco-based songwriter and musician, who recently released his eighth album, entitled Good Goodbyes. Listen in as we rap about our theater school backgrounds, John talks about growing up in Minnesota, and sheds a positive light on LA, where he lived for 12 years. /episode/index/show/11things/id/2647508

Episode 31: Randy Schwartz 01/14/2014

Episode 31: Randy Schwartz Randy Schwartz is a drummer based in the San Francisco bay-area. He played and toured with Brett Dennen for six years, and now performs with Oakland-based Ethiopian jazz band, Sun Hop Fat. Listen in as Randy discusses his influences and his interest in mixing different musical genres, what it means to approach music as a "sculptor" rather than a "painter," and shares a memorable encounter he had with Conan O'Brien. /episode/index/show/11things/id/2631424

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