Ryan Montbleau joins me for milkshakes on the sidewalk at Jimmy's Diner in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  Ryan tells his story, from coming up as a musician in Boston to recording his most recent solo record in New Orleans with greats like George Porter, Jr. and Ivan Neville.  In 2013, after a decade of performing with the Ryan Montbleau Band, two of his bandmates announced they would be leaving to focus on their families.  Before they parted ways, everyone traveled to NOLA to record Growing Light, the band's fifth album (and Ryan's ninth).  Montbleau also discusses his recent move to Brooklyn and the pros and cons of playing with ever-changing lineups.

While sipping a cocktail at the Richardson in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Christina Cone tells me that she always knew she would move to New York City post-graduation.  Since she made that decision, she's been able to make the city into her own little world, teaching piano lessons by day, and performing with her indie pop group, Frances Cone, at night.  Cone explains how boredom can fuel creativity, what it's like to date a band member, and why their self-titled EP was all about death.

francesconelovesyou.com

drypaintsigns.com

Howard Feibusch was supposed to go to medical school.  Over a beer at Greenpoint's Brouwerij Lane, Howard divulges why he chose a career in music instead, fronting a Brooklyn alternative rock trio that shares his first name.  The band recently released their debut LP, Religion, which touches upon Howard's Orthodox Jewish upbringing.  He explains why he's grateful to have something to rebel against and what it was like hearing rock music for the first time.

listentohoward.com

drypaintsigns.com

Jack Cleverly of the UK band Cymbals sits down with me in the bustling backyard of Crown Victoria in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Jack tells why he sings some songs in French, despite the fact that none of his bandmates speak the language.  He also talks about recording their EP, Sideways Sometimes, on a boat, and how his wife has influenced his music.

www.cymbalsmusic.com

www.drypaintsigns.com

Ben Sterling of New York pop band, Cookies, joins me for a drink beside the pinball machines of Park Slope's Owl Farm.  Having started recording in 2009, the final year of his time in Mobius Band, Sterling tells why it took until this year for Cookies' debut LP, Music for Touching, to come out, amidst a changing music industry and a changing New York City.

www.cookiesltd.com

www.drypaintsigns.com

Zac Colwell and Dave Heilman of Fancy Colors meet me in the Lower East Side at Whynot Coffee & Wine for some glasses of the latter.  The duo formed while both members were in indie rock outfit Jupiter One, when it became apparent that Zac was writing too many songs for one band to keep up with.  Since 2012, Fancy Colors have released an EP and two albums, including this summer's Island of the Dead.  Colwell and Heilman often perform with artists as diverse as Of Montreal, Sondre Lerche, and Nicole Atkins, and they reflect on how playing with different musicians influences them.

fancycolorsmusic.com

drypaintsigns.com

The Majorleans' Nicky Francis and Chris Buckle knock back some bottles with me at Mission Sound in Brooklyn, NY during the making of their album, Black Belt.  Mission is actually the fourth studio they've cut the tracks in, with the recording process ranging from a dangerous Chinese church basement to Nicky's living room.  While the guys both play guitar in the band, they explain why they wrote most of the LP's songs on drums and bass.  Their Grammy-winning engineer and co-producer, "Bassy" Bob Brockmann, has worked with everyone from Bob Dylan to the Notorious B.I.G.  He reveals what attracted him to the Majorleans, why he prefers tape to ProTools, and the story behind his nickname.

themajorleans.com

bassybob.com

drypaintsigns.com

Kenny Vasoli has a beer with me in the backyard of Brouwerij Lane in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. While you may know him from The Starting Line, Vasoli has been making "nu-hula" tunes with his band Vacationer since 2010.  He describes how the group used audience reactions to their live set to inform the mood of their more-realized follow-up LP, Relief. He also explains how he got into Polynesian music, what it's like singing about a former love, and why he wouldn't mind being the new Jimmy Buffett.

vacationermusic.com

drypaintsigns.com

Dave Wakeling of the English Beat invites me onto the tour bus before a show at Brooklyn Bowl.  With songs in films like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Kingpin, and Clueless, Wakeling has seen his fanbase continue to grow long after the breakups of the Beat and General Public.  Now those fans are even able to sing on For Crying Out Loud, the first English Beat album in over 30 years.  Dave shares the stories behind a few of the new tunes and tries his hand at standup comedy.

www.englishbeat.net

www.drypaintsigns.com