Speak's Joey Delahoussaye and Nick Hurt join me for some witte beers in the front bar at Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg.  For their sophomore LP, Pedals, the band took every aspect of the album into their own hands, from the writing to the mixing to the artwork.  The guys discuss that lengthy process, their collaborations with RAC, and how they adapt their multi-layered sound to a live setting.

www.hearspeakhere.com

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All four members of Miniature Tigers sip on summer ales in Dumbo, Brooklyn, as they discuss their sunkissed fourth album, Cruel Runnings.  The Tigers explain how they intended to create a classic record reminscent of their teens, and how recording the LP in Jamaica actually helped them to focus.  With the quartet scattered across the country, they also offer advice on how to keep a long-distance band together.

www.miniaturetigers.com

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Jon Cleary left England long ago for New Orleans, and over the years, he has gained considerable acclaim as a sideman, solo artist, and bandleader of the Absolute Monster Gentlemen.  Over breakfast at White Oak in Brookyn, NY, Cleary discusses the history of NOLA funk, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the thrill of playing with a live band.

www.joncleary.com

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Minneapolis singer-songwriter Jeremy Messersmith has a beer with me at One Mile House before his show at Bowery Ballroom.  Messersmith explains how the phases of his life, from his Christian upbringing to majoring in computer science to becoming a college professor have all had a role in his craft.  Jeremy also describes his demoing process and how his fourth record, Heart Murmurs, ended up with a much larger sound than his earlier albums.

www.jeremymessersmith.com

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Paul Smith of Maxïmo Park sips a soda at The Globe prior to the band's gig at Gramercy Theatre. He tells the tale of why he doesn't drink before a show, and how the group collaborated with Mordue Brewery to create a beer called Maxïmo No. 5 in honor of their fifth LP, Too Much Information.  He discusses all aspects of the record, from self-production to mixing via Skype to the story behind the tongue-shaving artwork.  Smith also reveals how the band came to choose the cover songs included on the deluxe edition of the album.

Mad Caddies' trumpeter Keith Douglas drinks a few brews with me at the Whiskey Tavern in Chinatown to celebrate Dirty Rice, the band's first album in seven years. Keith reveals what they were doing on their break, and how recording in an old barn from their past helped to shape the sessions.  A self-declared food lover, Douglas also shares some of his favorite things to eat on tour, as well as an eel-filled drinking story from Germany.

www.madcaddies.com

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Terri Nunn of Berlin has her first-ever pre-show drink before a gig at NYC's Cutting Room.  She explains how punk music opened the door for the band's electronic pop sound in the late '70s.  Despite a few battles over some suggestive content, Nunn attests to the power of MTV in its early years.  Terri also reveals how a lucky encounter with Giorgio Moroder resulted in the international #1 hit "Take My Breath Away," and how a job as a radio host inspired her to incorporate EDM into the band's latest album, Animal.

www.berlinpage.com

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Hollis Brown is a current rock band that makes the kind of songs you would've heard at Woodstock. Singer/guitarist Mike Montali has a beer with me to celebrate the band's latest record, Hollis Brown Gets Loaded, a Velvet Underground tribute album released as part of Record Store Day. He discusses the recent changes in their lineup, a collaboration with rapper DMC, and how a Salvador Dali painting inspired him to write lyrics in Spanish.

www.hollisbrown.com

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Ed Williams, Michael Girardot, and Andrew Campanelli of the Revivalists throw back some brews in their (parked) van on Wythe Avenue before a concert at Brooklyn Bowl.  A renowned live act out of New Orleans, they just re-released their album City of Sound with a bonus disc of live cuts.  They share their rules for selecting a cover song, their favorite food on tour, and how a gig at a craft beer festival landed them a trip to India.

therevivalists.com

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Jake Smith a.k.a. The White Buffalo pounds a beer with me in a backstage hallway at Irving Plaza in NYC.  Known for his ferocious live shows, Smith could potentially tour for eternity on his latest LP, Shadows, Greys, & Evil Ways.  A timeless concept album about the trials and tribulations of a young couple, it's been praised by fans and critics alike.  Jake tells how the songs came together to fit the story, what it's like playing onstage with his son, and why alcohol often plays a role in his tunes.

thewhitebuffalo.com

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