Analog Smile

On this episode of Analog Smile, Sherry speaks with Christy Alexander Hallberg. She is the author of the award-winning novel Searching For Jimmy Page, from Livingston Press. She teaches literature and writing online at East Carolina University, where she earned her BS and MA in English. She received her MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) from Goddard College. In addition to teaching, Christy serves as Senior Associate Editor of North Carolina Literary Review. She is a former editor of #FridayFlash USA at Litro magazine. A native of eastern North Carolina, she now lives in the western part of the state on the outskirts of Asheville, near the Great Smoky Mountains. Find her on Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, as well as Indiebound, Amazon, Poets & Writers, and North Carolina Writers Network. We chat about her book Searching For Jimmy Page, The Outsiders, and much more! Visit christyalexanderhallberg.com for more information.

On this episode of Analog Smile, Sherry speaks with Adamo Fiscella (Vocals, Guitar) and Gavin Kerr (Bass, Vocals) of the band Ghostatic. Ghostatic is an industrial/electronic rock band from Cleveland, OH. We chat about the band,the paranormal, and much more! Visit their Facebook page facebook.com/ghostatic for more information.

On this episode of Analog Smile, Sherry speaks with Michael Millard, the director of 35000 Watts: The Story of College Radio. 35000 Watts is the untold story of college radio brought to life by the students behind the mic and the bands they made famous. It’s the story of the youth and music culture that originated, and later flourished, on the airwaves of American colleges and universities, establishing a new generational voice and a new path to success for many alumni and artists. Highlighting an era where college radio’s influence was at its peak, 35000 Watts: The Story of College Radio also examines its humble beginnings and how it evolved to create hugely impactful experiences for local and regional communities, students finding their voice, and the musicians seeking their shot at hitting it big. The film dives deep into the music that was the heart of college radio programming, exploring the symbiotic relationship between artists creating music that did not fit into commercial radio formats and the student-run radio stations that were more than happy to play it. The film features interviews with iconic big-name acts and smaller regional bands who lived their rock-and-roll dream for a short while, as well as discussions with former college radio alumni who spin on about their role in college radio and why college radio is still relevant in today’s media-saturated landscape. Despite this positive impact, college radio stations seem to be forever locked in a battle to justify their existence and stay on the air in an increasingly crowded landscape. Threats can come from any direction and every station has a handful of heroes who have fought to keep their stations from shutting down. The stories they can tell about their efforts are sometimes worthy of entire films on their own. Without the efforts of those who started college radio stations and kept them alive, we might never have seen the talents of David Letterman, Billy Crystal, Howard Stern or Bob Odenkirk. We might never have heard the music of R.E.M., The B-52s, U2, Pixies or The Cure. These artists and entertainers, plus many more, all found their audience first on college radio. This film is a celebration of the independent spirit that created so many culture-defining stations and kept them on the air for generations. 35000 Watts: The Story of College Radio delves into the ongoing impact and legacy of those who were at the epicenter of this radio revolution. They chat about the documentary, the college radio experience, and much more! Please visit Kickstarter to donate or 35000watts.com for more information.

On this episode of Analog Smile, Sherry speaks with Elliot Kendall. He has been on the periphery of the LA pop scene for several years as a music journalist, archivist, and musician. Kendall worked in A&R for Del-Fi Records (1995-1997), a film composer for Showtime Networks (1997-1998), worked as an adviser on the film The Beach Boys: An American Family. He went on to work for the Universal Music Group (2000-2013), in 2013 he founded EK Media & Marketing. They chat about his career in the music industry, what job everyone should have to make it, and much more! Please visit his LinkedIn page for more information.

On this episode of Analog Smile, Sherry speaks with Jim McCarty. Jim is best known for his musical career in the Yardbirds, Renaissance, and Box of Frogs. He has a poignant new book titled “She Walks In Beauty: My Quest For The Bigger Picture”. She Walks In Beauty is the tale of Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty’s lifelong quest to unravel the mysteries of the world that exist beyond the world in which we live. Beginning with a childhood fascination with the paranormal that only gathered strength as he grew older, this book explores the world hidden just out of reach, the shadows that are just out of sight and the certainty that there is an enduring connection between the living and the dead. Woven in and around his career as a musician, McCarty reflects upon the books and films that signposted his course, and the myriad places to which his curiosity led him, from war-time bomb-sites to public seances, from suburban English healing centers to pilgrimages to India, China and the Himalayas. He looks back at the songs he has written that chart that journey, beginning with the Yardbirds’ “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago,” through to his recent solo work. He recalls the friends and musicians who have joined him on his quest, including Yardbirds vocalist Keith Relf, and Renaissance/Stairway bassist Louis Cennamo. He tells stories... so many stories... of his years in and out of music, forever searching for answers to the questions he had - and, ultimately, finding them. She Walks in Beauty is not the typical rock’n’roll autobiography. There again, Jim McCarty is not the typical rock’n’roller. They have a short and sweet chat about his book and more! Please visit jamesmccarty.com or theyardbirds.com for details.