Thomversations Thom Kokenge

Mark Pickerel
You never know where your skills will take you, even if you grow up in a small town that has no real outlet for your creativity. You could start a band that is part of the founding of a movement called Grunge. Mark Pickerel talks about starting The Screaming Trees, drumming with Nirvana, and how life and wisdom has changed him from trying to force the direction of life, to producing his own music and being okay with where his creativity lands, but still doing his best to get the word out about it. Give a listen to one of the founders of Grunge Rock to now a maker of Americana Music. It's a great talk. 
 

This is part 2 of the conversation with Wanz. He'll tell you bout what happened after someone screamed, "We're all gonna die!", to his life after college and the bands he played in, and yes he'll talk about the truly fun and awesome experiences he had singing the hook to the song Thrift Shop all over the world.Great stories, great conversation. 

If you missed part one, check it out here: https://www.thomversations.com/e/the-story-of-wanz-part-1/

This Thomversation is the Wanz, Michael Wansley, of Thrift Shop fame and his hook of popping tags and only having $20. This is part 1 of 2.

Art, and specifically street art is a way of life for Jason Clifton. He's also been in the Hip-Hop and skateboarding scene for decades and is making his living as an artist in Ellensburg, WA. His art varies, but portraits are his specialty. Take a listen to this wide ranging Thomversation that goes from Banksy to Black Lives Matter. 

How do you go from learning to play music, to becoming a master of an instrument? Today you will hear from Ben Price. He is/was a graduate student at the University of Idaho getting his masters degree in Orchestral Tuba Performance. I put the is/was in there because when we recorded this he was still a student and was supposed to graduate this May, 2020, but he is waiting to give his recital for the final check to earn his degree. Now, when you think of important parts of an orchestra the tuba may be down your list, but you'll hear how if the tubist is off time, or off key, the rest of the orchestra is off. It's not just the oompahs in the background, it's the foundation. Come along and enjoy Ben's story from how a joke of being a little kid playing a huge instrument, became a life's passion.

Back in March of 2019 Zack Dekker came in to talk about growing and selling marijuana in Washington State. He returns to give us an update on how his marijuana farm and operation is doing and we talk about the state of the legal pot business. Plus we get into other topics like waking up early and the importance of a good Bud Tender. Give it a listen. Be well.