![](/assets/artwork/1x1-42817eea7ade52607a760cbee00d1495.gif)
100 episodes
![](/assets/artwork/1x1-42817eea7ade52607a760cbee00d1495.gif)
The True Tunes Podcast John J. Thompson / True Tunes
-
- Music
-
-
4.9 • 129 Ratings
-
Music industry veteran, author, artist, and producer John J. Thompson hosts conversations with a diverse panel of artists, songwriters, producers, and industry innovators who seek the deeper resonances in music and culture. Classic and contemporary music is explored for signs of life, light, and beauty on the ”Jukebox” feature as well. Knowing that all music is spiritual, can we sing along with the good, the true, and the beautiful in ways that make us better neighbors, more compelling artists, and richer reflectors of the light by which we live and move and have our being? Let’s try.
-
@45RPM - Fred Armisen, Daniel Smith, Chris White & Mike Norman (on the set of the Come And Save Me film)
On this “Extended Play” 45RPM episode of the show, our good friend Chris White, writer and director of the romantic comedy/road picture Electric Jesus, takes us to the set where he recently directed a short film for the song “Come And Save Me” starring actor and musician Fred Armisen (SNL, Portlandia) and our favorite outsider folk-pop band, Danielson. The song started as an unpublished lyric originally composed by the late Jesus Rock icon Larry Norman. It was then set to music, with the blessing of Larry’s estate, by Daniel Smith (of Danielson.) The resulting song is a complete departure from the tongue-in-cheek hair-metal Smith composed for the fictional metal band 316 in Electric Jesus. While “Come and Save Me” was not used in the film, it did appear on the soundtrack. Now, however, White has written and directed a special short film for the song, with Fred Armisen as the starring actor.
So, come with us to a film studio in Greenville, South Carolina, and hear from Chris White, Daniel Smith, Fred Armisen, and Mike Norman (Larry Norman's son) about how this fantastic project came together and how each of them approaches and interprets the meaning of “Come And Save Me.”
If you missed these previous episodes, be sure to go back and find our conversation with Daniel Smith on the topic of outsider art, join us on the set of Electric Jesus (which includes our conversation with actor Brian Baumgartner of The Office), and find our conversation with Chris White and Andy Erwin about the different ways faith is approached in film. We also released a very special “From The Vault” episode that included a previously unheard conversation with Larry Norman and a then-recent conversation with Michael about their complicated relationship. And if you would like more info on the Electric Jesus story, seek out and devour BOTH seasons of their excellent podcast. (You’ll find us all over them.)
We could not have presented this episode to you without the help of Chris and Emily White. Electric Jesus is available to stream now. If you have not seen it – please do!
If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH! -
Microdose: The Prayer Chain
On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the pioneering LA-based alternative rock band The Prayer Chain back in 2018.
About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.
If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH! -
Microdose: Roemer
On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the Berlin-based American ex-pat indie artist Roemer.
About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.
If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH! -
Microdose: Bill Mallonee
On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the prolific and acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Bill Mallonee (of Vigilantes of Love.)
About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.
If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH! -
Microdose: Tonio K
On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with artist and songwriter Tonio K.
About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.
If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH! -
Microdose: Drew Holcomb
On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Drew Holcomb when he visited a class at Lipscomb University's School of Music.
About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out.
If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our NEW MERCH!
Customer Reviews
Worth your time!
In a world full of hundreds of thousands of podcasts, this one is certainly worth listening to if you’re a fan of good music (and this does not necessarily have to mean “Christian music”). Thanks JJT, for blessing us again with thoughtful conversation.
Thanks
Hey there! Just listened to the episode with Mike Roe and that was fun. Been a 77s fan for over 25 years. Hope to hear more and would love to hear from Bruce and Mark as well! Maybe an episode about Vector and Alloy Field too? Thank you!
Contraband in the Evangelical Church
True Tunes magazine (as well as The Door) we’re go-to’s as a young YP. JJT “got it” when it came to music. Trying to explain to others the “why” always left me frustrated. I’d just point to TT or The Door and say, “They get it.”
The podcasts are a great walk down memory lane as well as a peek into what’s going on today. The legends that came before with their struggles and imperfections to the new kids who’ve taken up the mantle, put their spin on things, and have run with it.
I’ve recommended this podcast to several of my friends; those on the fringe with me and those who wonder about us.