The Hustle
Every artist has a story. Whether big or small, they‘ve all seen the ups and downs and worked hard to maintain careers in music. We chat with some of the most interesting legacy artists in pop music and go in depth on their careers, how they feel about them, what it‘s like being a ”rock star” and also hear their best stories. If you‘re a music junkie you will love these long form conversations with beloved figures from your life.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 85 minutes
- Episodes
- 757
- Years Active
- 2015 - 2025
Episode 219 - Robbie Grey of Modern English
Modern English will forever be known as the band that gave us "I Melt With You." Those guys achieved the miraculous feat of recording a song that has been embraced by every generation since it's rele…
Promo Mode - Robert LaRoche of the Sighs discusses his new solo EP.
Former guest Robert LaRoche has just released the best album of the year. In his brand new EP, A Thousand Shades, the former frontman for 90s power poppers The Sighs creates six songs reflecting a da…
Episode 218 - Randy Jacobs of Was (Not Was)/The Boneshakers
Guitarist Randy Jacobs has a list of credits a mile long. The Detroit native's career goes back over 40 years and includes just about every genre there is - including a few years with Bonnie Raitt he…
Recap 2019 v.2 with Paul Underwood and Andy Schaal
The boys are back and fielding a full team this time (sorta) as Jon and Jan welcome sometime producer Paul Underwood of Glory Days Radio and Chief Marketing Officer Andy Schaal. We discuss the last f…
Episode 217 - Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad
People often forget that one of the biggest bands of the 70s was Flint Michigan's own Grand Funk Railroad. They may forget this because the band isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they have a b…
Deep Dive - Marco Pirroni on Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980)
For June's episode of Deep Dive we welcome back legendary guitarist Marco Pirroni (ep 200) to educate us on the creation and recording of the breakout album by Adam and the Ants, 1980's Kings of the …
Episode 216 - Dave Schelzel of The Ocean Blue
Since their buzzworthy debut in 1989, Hershey Pennsylvania's Ocean Blue have never strayed from their perfect mix of the Smiths meets the Cocteau Twins to the delight of their rabid fanbase. Today th…
Episode 215 - William Wittman
William Wittman is another producer/engineer/mixer whose name may not sound familiar, but who no doubt has worked on scores of songs you know and love. His first major work was on Cyndi Lauper's monu…
Bonus - Mike Peters of The Alarm
Mike Peters has a lot going on. His band The Alarm have a brand new album called SIGMA dropping on June 28th and lead single "Blood Red Viral Black" is an indication that the band is as fiery and pow…
Episode 214 - Mark Deming, Staff Writer for Allmusic
This week we welcome another music academic, Allmusic.com critic Mark Deming. Mark has been a contributor to the platform for many years and in this conversation we discuss how he became a rock write…
Episode 213 - Laura Campbell and Alan Edmunds of Mulu
Remember in the 90s when electronic music was poised to take over the world? Groups like Portishead, Chemical Brothers, and Olive were doing something so innovative it seemed techno and trip-hop woul…
Promo Mode - Jack Hues discusses the new Wang Chung album Orchesography
Wang Chung are releasing a special new album today called Orchesography which re-imagines some of their biggest hits and deepest cuts in a classical setting. You may have already seen the video for "…
Episode 212 - Patrick Fitzgerald of Kitchens of Distinction/Solo
You might consider South London's Kitchens of Distinction forebears of the shoegazer genre that defined alternative rock in the UK in the early 90s. Fronted by bassist Patrick Fitzgerald, the Kitchen…
Deep Dive - Kevin Armstrong on Iggy Pop - Blah Blah Blah (1986)
In 1986 David Bowie did his buddy Iggy Pop a solid offering to help produce a new album and bring him the commercial success he so richly deserved. Bowie threw together a crack team including guitari…
Episode 211 - Ron Nevison
Whether you know the name or not, chances are you've rocked out to scores of songs produced by the legendary Ron Nevison. Can you believe he first got his feet wet engineering The Who's Quadrophenia?…
Episode 210 - Greg Kihn
If you looked up New Wave or Power Pop in the dictionary, one of the skinny-tied artists you'd see next to The Knack would be the great Greg Kihn. He's practically the poster boy for that unmistakabl…
Bonus - Tim Pierce
After breaking out as a member of Rick Springfield's band in the early 80s, guitarist Tim Pierce went on to become one of the most sought after session guys in the business. He has literally played o…
Episode 209 - HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TO US with Sandi Saraya of Saraya
We're turning four this week! And to celebrate we present this very rare interview with one of our most requested guests, Sandi Saraya! Saraya were an excellent, but short-lived hard rock band that o…
Episode 208 - Franke Previte of Franke and the Knockouts/Beloved 80s Movie Soundtrack Fame
Oscar-winner Franke Previte basically won the lottery in 1987. He first rose to mild fame fronting the early 80s melodic rock band Franke and the Knockouts where he recorded three great albums and sc…
Deep Dive - Ian Burden on the Human League - Dare (1981)
The release of Dare by the newly reconstituted Human League in 1981 changed everything. Suddenly, synthesizers weren't just these cold machines producing frosty sounds from the back of the room. Phil…