11 Things With Leigh Jones

Nick Blaemire is a NYC-based actor and composer, and front man of Nick Blaemire and the Hustle, a band for which he invented the meme "nerdsoul" (more on that within the interview). Nick has worked extensively in theatre as well as film and TV, and at the age of 23, became one of the youngest composers ever to mount a show on Broadway, short lived though it was. Here, Nick talks about economically spreading his time between writing for his band and for the theatre, his wide array of influences, and being an ultra-idealistic 11-year-old.  www.nick-blaemire.com

The McCoy Tyler Band is a Santa Cruz, CA based alt-country trio consisting of McCoy Tyler on guitar and lead vocals, Chad Bowen on bass and vocals, and Clinton Brown on drums and vocals. Their tight three-part harmonies and impressive musical chops make for a rollicking live show. Here, they discuss their formation back in 2011 with the help of Craigslist, their collaborative process, and whether they'll ever play a show shirtless.  www.themccoytylerband.com

Singer-songwriter and Alaska native Michael Howard joins me for this week's episode. As sounds of passing floatplanes fill the air, Michael discusses the advantages and disadvantages of being an Alaska-based musician, his influences from Josh Ritter to Dr. Seuss, and turning a blip of emotion into a full-fledged song.  www.facebook.com/michaelhowardalaska

I am excited to have author and music journalist Robert Greenfield as my guest on this week's podcast. Bob has written books on the Rolling Stones, Jerry Garcia, famed rock promoter Bill Graham...the list goes on. His vast knowledge of rock and roll history comes from first hand experience, and he generously shares some of his fascinating stories here. This episode is co-hosted by John Craigie. Special thanks to Anna Greenfield.

Songwriters Daniel Steinbock, Ayla Nereo, and John Craigie join me in an RV in the middle of the Black Rock Desert to record an episode live from Burning Man. Listen in as they meditate on playa dust, awkward onstage moments, and the role that location and environment plays in their songwriting. Each guest plays a tune and also divulges details of the very first song they ever wrote, as the persistent womp-womp of Black Rock City swirls in the background.  www.danielsteinbock.com www.aylanereo.com www.johncraigiemusic.com

Anna Tivel is a Portland, OR based folk musician who performs under the moniker Anna and the Underbelly. Anna, who also plays fiddle with the Shook Twins, began writing her own original music only two years ago, and has already released her debut full-length album, entitled Brimstone Lullaby. Here, Anna talks about her many influences, her early days as a little kid "with a unibrow and a bowl cut" playing violin on the street for tips, and making mixtapes off the radio with contents ranging from Bach to Boyz II Men. www.annaandtheunderbelly.com

Cyber Camel is the electro-rock solo project of Portland, OR based musician Niko Daoussis, aka Niko Slice. Here, Niko (who's also a band member of Shook Twins) talks about his influences from Leadbelly to Katy Perry, his very first gig sitting in with a blues band at an LA club at the tender age of 13, and his fantasy of someday incorporating an epic pillow fight into a performance. www.cybercamelmusic.com

Ayla Nereo is a Northern California gal through-and-through. Born in Sonoma, learned at Stanford, and now based in Nevada City, the entrancing singer/songwriter talks about appreciating and making peace with the "ebbs" of the creative process, her enduring love of John Williams and ABBA, and getting a song out a traffic ticket. www.aylanereo.com

Buckman Coe is a singer/songwriter based in Vancouver, BC. Listen in as Buckman discusses his identification with the Hapa community, incorporating messages of social and ecological justice into his work as an artist, his struggles and successes tapping into the U.S. music scene as a Canadian, and his past as an impish 11-year-old. www.buckmancoe.com

The 11th episode of 11 Things!!! Over the past few years, Shook Twins (Katelyn and Laurie Shook) have been spreading their unique and infectious brand of quirky folk to steadily growing audiences. Originally from northern Idaho and now based in Portland, OR, Shook Twins have become regulars in the northwest festival circuit. Listen in as, over pedicures and burritos, they talk of their careers and being inspired by their musician "homies."  www.shooktwins.com

Diana Gameros is an alternative Latin singer/songwriter originally from Mexico and now based in Berkeley, CA. A captivating live performer and impressive guitarist, Diana is working on her debut full length album, "I Begin," due out later this year. Listen in as she talks about her influences from Feist to Philip Glass, the role that geography plays in her songwriting, and her dream of playing atop the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan.  www.dianagameros.com

Emma Koenig is an actor, writer, and singer currently living in Los Angeles. This Jill of many trades turned her post-grad anxieties and other insightful meanderings into success in the blogosphere and eventually on the page with "Fuck! I'm in My Twenties." Here, Emma discusses her love of verbose lyrics, getting specific with her goals while remaining open to pursuing all facets of the arts, and plotting out fantasy scenarios with paper dolls as a child.  www.fuckiminmy20s.tumblr.com

I have known Sarah Kinlaw and Bryan Keller since middle school. Sarah and Bryan have known each other since kindergarten. Their ambient art-rock collaboration, SoftSpot, seems to have been born naturally out of two decades of friendship. Here, the Brooklyn-based musicians discuss growing up in North Carolina and coveting punk music as teens, the importance of devoting time to one's creative process, and their (surprisingly hashed-out) dream of performing in outer space. Also, delicious artisan doughnuts are consumed (Dun-well, be my sponsor?!)  www.softspot.bandcamp.com

Melissa Lusk is a Brooklyn-based musician and frontwoman of indie pop/rock band, Boy Girl Party. Listen in as Melissa talks about church and feelings of guilt over the exploit of becoming a professional musician, and lets out a couple of very ladylike burps (I do too!). www.boygirlparty.bandcamp.com

Larry Heinemann is a NYC-area bassist, composer, and engineer (and co-producer of my 2012 album "Worth Wild"!). He has been involved with Blue Man Group on and off since its inception in the late 80s, and was also a member of the early 90s alternative rock trio, Springhouse. Here, Larry discusses why he loves catching a band during their transitional phase, performing at the Grammys, and navigating personal tragedy as an 11-year-old.   www.larryheinemann.com

Drew Citron is an amazing singer and songwriter, and a member of NYC bands AVAN LAVA and Beverly. Here, Drew discusses getting over the anxiety of sharing her feelings with an audience, her current foray into punk rock, and what heaven might be like.   www.avanlava.com  facebook.com/wearebeverly

Matt Berger is the band leader of NYC indie punk rock outfit Teen Girl Scientist Monthly, and, most importantly, the composer of the "11 Things" thingle (ie. theme song/jingle)! Listen in as Matt discusses the difference between writing for his band and writing for the theater, what it's like working creatively with one's romantic partner, and his concept of "Everyday Magic." Also, we briefly touch on our mutual love for the D (of the Tenacious variety).   www.teengirlscimo.com

Shaina Taub can't be tied down to one genre. A good song is a good song is a good song, she maintains, as she slips gracefully in and out of musical theatre, pop, and soul. Here, Shaina insightfully and intelligently discusses the importance of artistic process, being influenced by her peers, and her dream of one day having her own Ben & Jerry's flavor.  www.shainataub.com

Clinton Curtis is a NYC-based musician who specializes in getting people out of their seats and onto the dance floor.  A trafficker in mostly rock & roll and rhythm & blues, Clinton discusses growing up surrounded by music in Key West, Florida, and serenades us with a gorgeous rendition of Richie Havens' "Follow."  www.clintoncurtis.com

The inaugural episode of "11 Things w/ Leigh Jones"!!! One of NYC's most highly sought after drummer/percussionists, Hiroyuki Matsuura (Matsu) discusses his upbringing in Japan, making it as a freelance musician in NYC over the past 10 years, and his inability to gain weight. The interview culminates in an epic drum solo!  www.matsusound.com