That's How I Remember It Talkhouse Podcast Network

Welcome to a bonus episode of That’s How I Remember It. This episode was recorded live at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn the first night of the Hold Steady’s annual Massive Nights celebration in November 2023. The first guest is Peter Shapiro, stellar music promoter, owner of the Brooklyn Bowls, former owner of The Wetlands music club, the list goes on. We talked about his philosophies about multi-night events, leaving early, playing zone defense and his first show at Wetlands. After Pete, we visited with Michael Hann, a music writer based in the UK who authored The Gospel of The Hold Steady book that came out in 2023. Michael is a longtime friend and fan of the band and we spoke of surprises in the book, favorite THS shows, first meetings, etc. Throughout it all I check in with my bandmates in THS to hear their recollections of 2023, our 20th year as a band. This was a great event, and it’s a lot of fun to revisit it on the eve of the THS Weekender 2024 shows in London this weekend.

Jason Isbell is my guest on the final episode of Season 3 of That’s How I Remember It. Jason is, of course, one of the great songwriters of our time. His newest record with his band The 400 Unit is 2023’s Weathervanes. It continues an incredible and probably unrivaled streak of great records in this past decade. We talked about that as well as Patterson Hood’s songs, Pentecostal band chaos, sequencing for vinyl, David Gilmour and Paul Kossoff, great backstage graffiti, whether Tool was influenced by The Grifters and, of course, Ybor City. Big thanks to Jason for joining us. Thanks to you for listening to Season 3. We will be back for more, stay tuned!

Alynda Segarra makes music as Hurray For The Riff Raff and they are my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. I’ve been really loving Alynda’s new record The Past is Still Alive so we talked about that as well as the surprising nature of grief, ABC NO RIO, songs as monuments, taking lessons from nature, and Blood on the Tracks weather. This was such a great talk with a fantastic artist. Listen and subscribe! 

Josh Ritter is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. Josh is an immensely talented and prolific songwriter and author. I really dug his most recent record, 2023’s Spectral Lines. We talked about that as well as Lutheran hymns, looking back on old records, the night we met at a Springsteen tribute at Carnagie Hall, and Bob Dylan covering a song that he wrote. Josh is a fascinating guest and I enjoyed it immensely. Listen and subscribe!

Jay Sweet is my guest on this episode of That’s How I Remember It. Jay has done a lot of things but is best known as the force behind the Newport Folk Festival. I have been at Newport for the past two years and have been blown away by the music and the community. Jay and his staff are in the business of making memories at Newport. We talked about that special vibe as well as Lewis Carrol, his first Grateful Dead show, REM at Radio City Music Hall as a youth, Lana Del Rey, and THS at Newport 23. Great talk. Listen and subscribe! 

Duff McKagan is my guest on the newest That’s How I Remember It. Duff is, of course, a founding member of Guns & Roses, one of the biggest rock bands of all time. He also is a million other things: old-school punk, martial arts enthusiast, history buff, etc. In 2023, Duff toured with Guns & Roses and found the time to release his own record Lighthouse. We talked about all of that as well as the influence of seeing The Clash in 1979, losing memory to excess, telling the truth, going through a Crusades phase, and so much more. Duff was an amazing guest. Please listen and subscribe!