Podcast Episodes
Core Values and Family from The American Hotel System
The American Hotel System is a rock band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that aims to provoke the mind
through heartfelt lyrics and intentional musicality. The band has opened for Bon Jovi on their 2022 tour
and their music has been featured in Relix Magazine, BuzzMusic, CLOUT, and LEVELUP. They are two
time Music Prize finalists and Grand Champions of Music Prize 2022.
Spooky Intro… Music, Venue Names, and Steaks
Ryan kicks off the Halloween season with a spooky intro. Jeff talks about his time at Sounds of the Zoo while Ryan talks about the upcoming Odd Space and Tess Clark show at Speciation Cellars.
We talk about new music by Pink Sky, Feeding Grizzlies, and Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish.
Our discussion about names for venues spills into names of ships. We find a little time to touch on the Sphere in Las Vegas and cooking up steaks.
Don't miss the shout out at the end for the Hudsonville Marching Band.
The American Hotel System
The American Hotel System is a rock band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that aims to provoke the mind
through heartfelt lyrics and intentional musicality. The band has opened for Bon Jovi on their 2022 tour
and their music has been featured in Relix Magazine, BuzzMusic, CLOUT, and LEVELUP. They are two
time Music Prize finalists and Grand Champions of Music Prize 2022.
Sounds of the Zoo
We had the pleasure of talking with Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert about the upcoming weeklong festival in Kalamazoo, Sounds of the Zoo.
She walks us through how this vision of "Creating Change Through Music" came to be and how she is putting it into action.
In only the second year, she has an exciting lineup of 52 diverse artists, across 8 venues packed into 7 days, all for free.
We hope her passion gets you excited to get down to the Zoo at the end of September.
Another Music Chat!
Two dads, just talkin’ music. Fall is approaching, festivals are winding down, but there’s still plenty of music to talk about in Michigan! We’ve had a pretty busy summer, but Jeff and Ryan find time to chat about Patty PerShayla, Pink Sky, The Jeff’s, Scuter + Chirp, some of the last festivals this summer, and what else we’ve done this summer.
Album Reviews: Derek Randall + Sponge
We have another new school/old school album review for ya! First up we chat about Derek Randall’s latest album “How We Get Down,” and then offer up Sponge’s 1994 debut album “Rotting Piñata.”
More Festivals and New Music!
All sorts of music news in this episode! Ryan reviews a trip to The Deck in Muskegon. Grand Rapids approves a new amphitheater downtown. Several bands have new songs out, including Old Mountain Acid Test, The Gasoline Gypsies, Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, Pink Sky, and Patty PerShayla.
We also chat about July and August's music festivals in Michigan.
Mr Denton on Doomsday
We finally got Lansing natives, Mr Denton on Doomsday, in the studio to talk, laugh, cry, and love. Just kidding, we didn't laugh at all. Sludge Pop? Maybe not, but that's what Ryan described them as.
We did learn about their struggles and how Brian and Evin found out they were cousins (luckily not the kissing kind) as well as the new music they are currently working on! This band has really experienced a lot in their time together and we are extremely excited to hear what the next album will sound like!
Check ‘em out August 5th at Mac’s Bar in Lansing to celebrate their 20 years of making music!
Album Reviews: Finality + Domestic Problems
Welcome to the Mitten Music!!! We found an awesome new album by the band Finality, titled Technocracy, to take a spin and review/explain what it sounds like. We also hark back to the 90's with Domestic Problem's album Play, which is one of Jeff's favorites! Good times were had by all!!
Music Festival Season
Let's talk Michigan music festivals! It's that time of year when all the summer music festivals are scattered across many Michigander's calendars. We bring up some of the lesser known festivals as well as some of the reoccurring staples. Some hightlight shout outs - Local Spins Fest - Big Ticket Festival - Fresh Water Music Festival - Jackson Blues Festival - Festival of the Arts - Nor-east’r Music & Art Festival - Hippie Fest - Electric Forest - Alpena Blues Festival - B93 Birthday Bash - Summerfest - Sol of the Lost Tamarack
Nicholas James Thomasma
Nicholas James Thomasma was our latest guest we had in the studio! This Michigan music aficionado told us about all the projects and businesses he's a part of, including being the Secretary of the Michigan Music Alliance, running the Songteller's at MidTown concert series, and a long time member of Earthwork Music collective! Special shout outs in this episode to Creston Brewery, Founder's Brewery, Sarena Rae, Seth Bernard, Deerfield Run and of course John Sinkevics at Local Spins! If we learned nothing from Nicholas, we learned that doing what you love isn't work and to always tip the band!!
Album Reviews: May Erlewine and The Verve Pipe
Another album review for a new one as well as another throwback! We talk about May Erlewine’s latest album titled “The Real Thing.” For our throwback album we choose The Verve Pipe’s “Villains.” We had a blast talking about both Michigan artist’s albums!
Cinco de Musica
We have a short and sweet little episode for ya! We had just interviewed a band for a future episode that Jeff was going to check out to see right after we recorded, Mr. Denton On Doomsday who played with Tombstunner and Dregs at Mulligan's Pub in Grand Rapids. Jeff also talks about some new interesting ear plugs he got to test out at the show. We also recap some shows we are looking forward to this summer, including a number of festivals. Ryan is signed up to volunteer at Local Spins Fest on May 20th and is very much looking forward to not only helping, but checking out all 6 bands/artists playing that day...including the one and only In The Valley Below!
Tombstunner
We have an awesome conversation with Grand Rapids natives, Tombstunner! This alternative metal band's album "Call to the Void" is currently available on streaming platforms. We talk about a lot things with the guys including old school WWF wrestling, basketball jerseys, and we'll find out who has a Captain Spaulding tattoo (and where it is).
Album Review: Y-Not + Mustard Plug
Is the phrase "a trussell of storms" something people say? I don't think so, but it gets said on this episode. We also talk about Grand Rapids natives, Y-Not's debut full length album titled; Rearranging The Psychic Furniture. This episode we also added a throwback album review from the 90's. Mustard Plug's 1997 album "Evildoers Beware!" This also throws us down a nostalgia hole. There is also a ton of condiment talk, so get ready and crank it up!
Two Men Talk Music
Another great episode where Jeff and Ryan talk about The Orbit room being demolished (after being closed for years), vacationing in Michigan, Local Spins Fest, Upheaval Fest, and a lot of other festivals in general! We even chat about the band Sponge! (did you know they were from Michigan?)
loocdf
We spend most of the time on this episode talking about the show we saw at The Intersection a couple of weeks ago. Levitator, Overdrive Orchestra, Carbon Decoy, and Ficus pleasantly surprised us with an evening of great music and a mullet.
Entransient
We had an awesome conversation with the Grand Rapids band Entransient! Nick (guitar/synths/recording), Matt (bass/writing), and Scott (vox/synths/writing) were able to join us and talk about two important topics: their band and the volcano menu that used to be at Taco Bell. We learned all about their latest release, Ghosts in the Halls and their music writing process. Entransient has played at Turnstiles and The Pyramid Scheme.

