Jonny’s Secret Stash

Jonny’s Secret Stash - Ep 70 with Jillian Speece and Nathanial Hoff of The Bergamot

Jillian Speece and Nathanial Hoff are living their best lives.  They tour around the country playing their heartfelt music with their band, "The Bergamot" and have the secondary effect of bringing people together.  6.5 years ago, they began filming a documentary called "State of the Unity".  They finished the movie earlier this year and began their tour of the movie at various film festivals.  It turns out that just getting accepted to present your film at a film festival is a huge achievement; they keep winning prizes.  Check out our conversation and don't miss your opportunity to see their movie.

Jonny’s Secret Stash - Ep. 69 with John Ragusa from Mulebone

John Ragusa is a multi-instrumentalist who plays various wind instruments (flute, mini trumpet, mouth harp) with singer, songwriter and guitarist, Hugh Pool.  Together, they are the blue duo known as Mulebone.  Check them out on July 9 at the Livery in Benton Harbor.

Jonny’s Secret Stash- Ep 68 with Adam Conley, Dan Moore, and Marcus Safirt

Dan Moore from the Dan Moore Band started out as a drummer (and even travelled with a drum corps group after high school); Marcus Safirt from Stealin the Farm also joined Adam Conley and I.  The Three of them had the chance to back up Jim Belushi a few weeks ago when Jim came to town to play some blues to some investors in a venture Jim is starting in Harbor Country.  I was lucky enough to get to sit down with them to talk about their experience, their music, and the local music scene.

Jonny’s Secret Stash - Ep 67 with Adam Conley and Howie Wiesjahn

Great to have Adam back on the show.  Howie is a drummer who has played with Tree and the Beer Hippies.  Most recently, both of them provided back up to Jim Belushi for a blues set at a private gig in Buchanan.  

Jonny’s Secret Stash - Ep 66 with Brian Barber

Brian Barber is a musician and sound engineer.  He's a little unusual in that he avoids live performances, but his music is no less creative.  He has incorporated his love of sound engineering into his love of music composition and is creating music using advanced mixing tools.  Check out the show and look out for his new creations coming your way.

Jonny’s Secret Stash - Ep 65 with Rob Lemon and Randy Rogers

Rob Lemon has been playing the drums for more than 40 years.  This is Randy's 5th time on the show.  They are back with Bone Naked and this is their debut.  Glad to get a chance to talk with them and looking forward to their upcoming shows.

Jonny’s Secret Stash - Ep 64 with Kait Rose

Kait Rose is a singer/songwriter from Kalamazoo, Michigan.  She has been singing, playing guitar, and recording music since high school.  She is releasing her next album, "Balance", in August at an album release party at Bell's Brewery, but before that she is coming to the Acorn Theater and The Livery during the second week of July.  Check out her music on Band Camp and don't miss her Harbor Country shows.

Jonny’s Secret Stash - Ep 63 with Johnny Iguana from The Claudettes

Johnny Iguana began playing classic piano at a young age.  He gravitated to Punk Rock and then an uncle introduced him to the blues. He set an intention and suddenly found himself playing with Junior Wells and his band and then Otis Rush.  Johnny's piano playing has been described as Punk/Blues; regardless of the genre, it is completely authentic and original.  In 2013, he and drummer Michael Caskey released their first Claudettes Album, which was entirely instrumental.  A few years later they welcomed Zach Verdoorn on bass six and Berit Ulseth on vocals and that is the magical combination they are sticking with.  Check them out at the Acorn Theater on May 7!

Jonny’s Secret Stash -Ep 62 with Abe Partridge

Abe Partridge is a singer songwriter from Mobile, Alabama who has taken a different path to the music world.  He was a fundamentalist preacher in Kentucky for 9 years and was inspired by Son House to find a new way to express himself.  He began writing songs and painting pictures to release the negative feelings he had.  After returning from the Air Force in the middle east, he entered a singer songwriting contest where, despite it being his first time performing in front of people, he made it to the finals.  That led to a collaboration with a producer that resulted in his debut album in 2018 and a visual art career.  He has since toured Europe, released another album, and is putting the final touches on his third album.  Check him out at the Acorn Theater on Friday April 29, where he will also be displaying his visual art work.

Jonny’s Secret Stash - Ep 61 with Joe George

Joe George is a singer songwriter from Chicago, but that does not even begin to tell the story.  A graduate of the Berklee Colege of Music in Boston, he has played in punk bands, written scores for movies, toured all over the world, started the Red Room in Bucktown with his cousin, produces and writes with other musicians, and creates video content for Reverb's You tube channel.  He is coming to the Acorn Theater on April 30 to release his newest album!  Don't miss it!