Dad Rocks!

On this episode of Josh talks with Dave Dederer, founding member and the original guitarist for The Presidents of the United States of America. The two talk about Dave's life as a father, how he started playing music, how he and Chris Ballew first met, his journey to becoming a professional musician, and why he decided to leave that profession for a "regular" job. A Spotify playlist of all of the music you heard on the podcast can be found at http://bit.ly/4fZKksk. (Interview recorded on June 30, 2025)

On this episode, Josh talks with Austin-based musician and producer Daniel Barrett. The two talk about Daniel's sons interest in music, how he has bonded with them through music, his journey to becoming a professional musician, why he stopped playing music for a time, and what got him playing and producing again, among other things. A Spotify playlist of all of the music you heard on the podcast can be found at https://bit.ly/4lILBpF. (Interview recorded on June 19, 2025.)

On this episode Josh talks with Tucker Rule. Tucker is a founding member and the drummer for the bands Thursday and L.S. Dunes, and a father of one young daughter. During their conversation, Josh and Tucker discuss touring, parenting while being a touring musician, how Tucker got into drumming, and how both of his bands got started. A Spotify playlist of all of the music you heard on the podcast can be found at https://spoti.fi/44muZhG. (Interview recorded on April 17, 2025.)

On this episode Josh talks with Larry France. Larry was a founding member of the band Drumfish, who had a large regional following in the Baltimore-DC area during the 1990s, and currently hosts a University of Maryland sports podcast called IMS Radio. Josh and Larry talk about the podcast, the history of Drumfish and their attempt to be signed, Larry's son's journey to become a professional actor in musical theater, and how that has influenced Larry to start writing music again, specifically musical theater, with his Drumfish bandmates. For those that want to skip the conversation about Maryland sports and Larry's podcast, feel free to skip to the 27 minute mark. A Spotify playlist of all of the music you heard on the podcast can be found at https://bit.ly/4iF4FTC. (Interview recorded on February 19, 2025.)

On this episode, Josh talks with Luther Dickinson. Luther is most well known for being the lead singer and guitarist of North Mississippi Allstars, which he founded with his brother Cody (a former guest of the show) back in the late 1990s, but is also part of the gospel-jam band The Word, was the lead guitarist for The Black Crowes from 2007-2011, and has put out several solo albums. The two talk about how Luther is able to balance being a father and husband while having a full touring schedule, his children's album, how his father influenced him, and his career in music. A Spotify playlist of all of the music you heard on the show can be found at https://bit.ly/42h5rBy. (Interview recorded on December 10, 2024.)

On this episode Josh talks with Abby Dart, who is mother of Vulfpeck bassist Joe Dart and the daughter of legendary studio violinist Israel Baker. They talk about how Abby grew up with a professional musician as a father, how she was able to be a working mother with five kids at home, her husband's death and the how she and her kids were impacted by it, and being a fan of Vulfpeck, despite her son being part of the band. A Spotify playlist of most of the music you heard on the show can be found at https://spoti.fi/3P4qdMQ. (Interview recorded on November 18, 2024)

On this episode, Josh talks with Chris Bolger. Chris is a multi-talented musician who has been a staple of the Northern New Jersey music scene for decades, having played with the likes of R. Stevie Moore, The Smithereens, and a number of others. Josh and Chris talk about Chris becoming a grandfather, what life was like when his kids were growing up, and his life as a part-time musician. A Spotify playlist of all of the music you heard on the show can be found at https://spoti.fi/47XcOir. (Interview recorded September 18, 2024)

On this episode, Josh welcomes back Joe and Steve to the show. The three guys catch up on what has been going on in all of their lives in the past two years, covering parenting, changes in their careers, and bands they've been listening to and have seen live. A Spotify playlist of all of the music heard on the show can be found at https://spoti.fi/3T9WjJz. (Conversation recorded on August 8, 2024)

On this episode Josh talks with Mark Moran, one of the co-creators of Weird NJ. The two talk about Mark's experience in the north New Jersey music scene, the history of Weird NJ and how it became a cultural icon, and his experience parenting two daughters while also growing the magazine, writing books, and creating a television series. A Spotify playlist of all the music you heard on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/4fpYIcI. (Interview recorded July 2, 2024)

On this episode Josh talks with Sal Mercuri, who, for many years, was one of the preeminent collectors of The Velvet Underground memorabilia, until he sold his entire collection to the New York Public Library a few years ago. During the conversation the two discuss how Sal got into music, the evolution of his fandom of The Velvet Underground, how he ultimately became friends with the members of the band and a "manager" for some of them, and how music influenced his two sons, one of whom is now a professional musician. A Spotify playlist of all the music you heard on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/3RCK0oc. (Interview recorded May 22, 2024)

On this episode Josh talks with Ian O'Malley. Ian has been a rock radio DJ in New York City for almost 35 years, mainly at Q104.3 where he has been for the last 25 years. The two talk about Ian's career in radio, the change in landscape of terrestrial rock radio stations in New York City, his sons, and music that he's been enjoying lately. A Spotify playlist of all the music you heard on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/4bvAiMp. (Interview recorded on May 21, 2024.)

On this episode Josh talks with Jeff Beck (no not that one). Jeff is the owner of East Side Mags, a comic book store in Montclair, NJ, and he was also part of the North Jersey punk scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The two talk about Jeff's store, his kids' interest in comics and media, his kids' interest in music, how he started playing music, and the North Jersey punk scene of the 90s/00s. A Spotify playlist of all the music you heard on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/4douvd2. (Interview recorded on April 15, 2024.)

On this episode Josh talks with musician Alan Evans. Alan is most well known for being the drummer of the band Soulive, but he is also a recording producer and engineer, as well as the founder of the record label Vintage League Music. The two talk about Alan's recent recording projects, living in Western Massachusetts, being a touring musician with a family, how he got into music, and the beginnings of Soulive. A Spotify playlist of all the music you heard on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/4cAh9Ke. (Interview recorded on February 23, 2024.)

On this episode, Josh welcomes back his college buddy and former guest Ricky Johnson. Ricky was the guest on the episode "What Does It Means To Be A Father?" which was released back in February 2021, where he discussed being a father to a child that was not biologically his, as well as how he, as a black parent, dealt with the events of the summer and fall of 2020. In that episode Ricky brought up how he and his wife, at the time, were trying to have a child together. While they ultimately were blessed with a daughter in late 2023, the journey they took to get to that point was a rollercoaster of emotions. On this episode, Ricky and Josh discuss what Ricky and his wife went through during the last few years, and what his experience has been as a first time father to a newborn. A Spotify playlist of all of the music on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/49vqQrs. The YouTube series Ricky produced about he and his wife's journey to conceive a child can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@LovingRnBRickKrisJohnson.

In this episode Josh talks with musician Marco Benevento, who is best known for being the keyboardist in Benevento/Russo Duo and Joe Russo's Almost Dead, along with his solo work. The two talk about living in Woodstock, NY, raising kids in the Catskills instead of the city or the suburbs, touring while being a parent, his career as a professional musician, and how he started a record label and music festival. Spotify playlist of all the music you heard on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/3Sz7NpY. (Interview recorded on January 4, 2024)

On this episode Josh talks with Bobby Hackney. Bobby is most well known for being the bassist and lead singer of the proto-punk band Death, but is also the bassist and lead singer of the reggae band Lambsbread and the author of the new book Vermont Reggae Fest: The Power of Music. He's also the father of 3 sons, all of whom are in the band Rough Francis. Josh and Bobby talk about being a father to three musicians, being in a band with your siblings, past and current events of Death, Lambsbread and the Vermont Reggae Festival, and how parents and kids influence each other's taste in music. The Spotify playlist of most of the music on on the podcast can be found at https://spoti.fi/3TIrxZ9. (Interview recorded on November 30, 2023)

On the episode Josh talks with Cody Dickinson, the drummer and founding member of the band North Mississippi Allstars. The two discuss Cody's experience being a parent while touring, his kids' interest in music at a young age, the influence of his father (producer Jim Dickinson), what music influenced him growing up, and how he and his brother Luther started playing music together as kids. (Interview recorded on November 12, 2023) Spotify playlist of music from the episode: https://spoti.fi/3GiHkWT YouTube video for Cody's latest single "All Night Long": https://youtu.be/h12S83HJ330

On this episode Josh talks with Tom Monaghan, one of the cohosts of the podcast 1001 Album Complaints and a member of the musical collective The Chop Unlimited. The two discuss the success of Tom's podcast, how he's able to juggle all of his parental and work duties and still have time for music and the podcast, and what life was like growing up in Delaware. The Spotify playlist of all of the songs heard on the episode can be found at https://bit.ly/3QD7dXn. (Interview recorded on October 12, 2023).

On this episode Josh talks with Norwood Pearson, a professional guitarist and public school music teacher from the Boston area. They discuss Norwood's career, his family, and how the two have affected each other, as well as how Norwood approaches working with young musicians. Click here to watch the video of Norwood and Josh mentioned in the podcast. (Interview recorded August 15, 2023.)

On this episode, Josh welcomes back producer Steve, and they talk to Alfred Schulz, co-host of the Pizza Pod Party podcast. The guys talk about podcasting, pizza, parenting, and music, before diving into a discussion about a favorite band of all three, The Black Crowes. The Spotify playlist of all of the songs on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/3YOwYGJ. (Interview recorded August 1, 2023.)