Podcast Episodes

Core Values and Family from The American Hotel System
Jeff Wood Jeff Wood

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.

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Spooky Intro… Music, Venue Names, and Steaks
Jeff Wood Jeff Wood

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.

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The American Hotel System
Jeff Wood Jeff Wood

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.

Read More
Sounds of the Zoo
Jeff Wood Jeff Wood

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.

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Another Music Chat!
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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.

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More Festivals and New Music!
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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.

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Mr Denton on Doomsday
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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!

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Music Festival Season
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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

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Nicholas James Thomasma
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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!!

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Cinco de Musica
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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!

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Tombstunner
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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).

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Album Review: Y-Not + Mustard Plug
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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!

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Album Review: In Motion by Chirp
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

Album Review: In Motion by Chirp

In Motion, Chirp’s 2nd studio album (4th available album) was released in 2022. We loved the warm and happy vibe In Motion gave us. We relate them to legendary jam band Phish, a little Jimmy Buffett, and even West Michigan locals, Domestic Problems!

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Entransient
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

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.

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Album Review: Detroit by Chris Canas
Ryan Malott Ryan Malott

Album Review: Detroit by Chris Canas

Chris Canas released a new album called “Detroit” last year and we talk about the album in it’s entirety. You can check it out on Spotify . In our discussions with Chris, he’d like to be on the show and possibly play us something in person! We’ll keep you beautiful Michiganders posted.

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