Episode 50: Jay Buchanan, Rival Sons The James McMahon Music Podcast

Bloody hell, we’re 50 episodes old. Which is quite amazing to me actually, so do allow me a moment or two to bask in the glory of the achievement. So much has gone on since this podcast began eleven months or so ago. A global pandemic. Several mental health meltdowns. Hospitalisation. And tonnes and tonnes of great conversations with musicians and bands. It’s been a blast and this podcast has mattered, and does matter, enormously to me. Charge your glasses ladies and gentlemen, and all that exist in-between. Here’s to another 50, at least.

This milestone episode features a conversation with one Jay Buchanan, the voice of Rival Sons and a lovely, deep, soulful dude to boot. In case you don’t know, Rival Sons are back in the UK any day now, to celebrate a decade of their 2011 album Pressure & Time, and so much of this conversation concerns Jay’s memory of the making of said record. We talk about the band signing to Earache Records – an alarming decision at the time, and yet one which makes a lot more sense with hindsight. Touring with Judas Priest. The art of Storm Thorgerson. And then, out of nowhere, Jay lays down some cosmic truths, which is very much the sort of thing I’m into. Apologies for the excessive whittering about the ongoing drama about who did or who didn’t eat curry and drink beer during the UK’s 2020 lockdown. The conversation takes a while to hit it’s stride. But we get there, so hang on in.

While I’m here, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you, from the bottom of my heart, for tuning into this podcast. For rating, reviewing and subscribing. For telling your friends about it. To the PRs for arranging access to everyone I’ve spoken to on the podcast. And to the musicians themselves for speaking to me. As of next month, I’ve been a music journalist for 20 years – I’ve done a lot, written for all sorts of places, been all over the world, interviewed so many people I could have only dreamt of as a music obsessed teenager. And yet this podcast, as much as anything, is one of the things I’ve done that I’m most proud of.

As I’ve said before, I’m gonna take a wee break from the podcast before I come back for the next shift. Once again, thank you. And do enjoy my interview with Rival Sons.

The James McMahon Music Podcast is a Spoook Media production. Spoook is also a record label, a promoter, a shop, a Substack - it's many things. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. And please do Like, Review and Subscribe - it actually really helps people find our podcasts!
 
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