Performance Anxiety

Today’s guest is just a badass. I’m so excited about this one that I don’t even want to do too long of an intro. I just want her to tell her story. Welcome Wendy Rae Fowler to the show. She’s got such an interesting story. She plays bass for Humanist in addition to her own music. But her first love was dance. She talks about all her creative endeavors from dance, to acting, to bass, and more.She collaborated with Queens of the Stone Age, Earthlings?, Mark Lanegan (that collaboration included a wedding), and more. She reveals the one project she’ll never get over, who Katie Cruel is, and how she wrote an ambient film soundtrack. She tells the story of how she started playing with Rob Marshall and Humanist and how the music transformed once it was played live.  Honestly, I could listen to her for hours. She’s wonderful and I want to take a second and thank Rob Marshall of Humanist for the introduction. Go to wendyraefowlerofficial.com for more information. She’s active on Instagram @wendyraefowler. Her music is also available on Bandcamp. Keep an eye open for some new releases. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Just send money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And let’s get right into the story with Wendy Rae Fowler on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It took me about 7 years to get today’s guest. That’s because he was too busy helping other artists with their public relations. Welcome one of my oldest podcasting friends, Howard Wuelfing. Howard was instrumental in kicking off the DC punk scene early on. But he wasn’t originally from the area. Howard talks about growing up just outside of NYC and how that influenced his entire life. He was getting into the nascent NYC punk scene when an opportunity arose in DC that he could not pass up. But instead of wondering what was going on in New York, he decided to help build a scene in Washington DC. He tells some great stories about some of the dingier venues he’s played, some of the iconic people he’s played with, and how they all came together to help each other out in true DIY fashion.  Howard founded two seminal DC zines back in the early 80’s called Descenes and Discords and has compiled them all in a limited release. He tells the story of how they started, who was involved, and what happened to them. It’s a crazy story. Go to www.diwulf.com to pick up a signed copy. Check out performanceanx.threadless.com for podcast merch or ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety to send us coffee money. And, on a personal note; thank you for everything you’ve done for this podcast, Howard. It truly would not be the same without you. Please enjoy Howard Wuelfing on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome photographer and musician Josh Hight to the show. Josh’s story is near and dear to me because it centers around two of my passions: music and photography. And Josh’s story is not a straightforward one, either. Although his parents were both creative (his dad was in advertising and his mom was an interior designer) visual art came later. His first love was music. He’s from Detroit and so its natural that he’s into garage and punk rock. He joined up with another friend of the podcast, Toddrick Spalding, and played with The Detachment Kit. But, in true punk rock fashion, he heard London calling and moved to the U.K., where he attended school for graphic design. But his love for music was always there, working with Glen Johnson and Piano Magic, Tullia Benedicta, and others musically and visually. Once he met Richard Norris, the seeds of a new band, Pines, were sown. And that’s where we find Josh now. He has released an EP with collaborations from artists like Andy Bell and more. The album is light and heavy, dreamy and scary. It’s a must-hear collection of music. Find it on a multitude of streamers, on Bandcamp at www.richardnorris.bandcamp.com. Follow the Instagram accounts @p.i.n.e.s (underscores at the beginning and end) and @josh._.hight for more information. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Grab some merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or just throw cash at us at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now let’s get into it with Josh Hight of Pines on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is a true family man. Or is it family band? You know what? It’s both. Please welcome Lucas Ward of The Silver Snails to the show. He take a moment from traveling with his family to talk to me about his unusual musical path. It definitely hasn’t been straightforward. But it’s been incredibly fruitful. He discusses growing up and being friends with Elliot Smith, back when he was known and Steven. He talks about the album that flipped the musical switch in his mind. We also talk about mistaken credits, the vulnerability of singing, and starting The Silver Snails after moving to Italy with his family. After writing, recording, and releasing a “kitchen sink” debut album, there was a gap of over ten years until the sophomore release. He Lucas also talks about the unusual way the band got their name. Go check out Speed of Light, the sophomore release by The Silver Snails. Stream it or check out thesilversnails.com for ways to buy physical copies. Follow them on Instagram & Facebook for show dates and more. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And I hope you enjoy Lucas Ward as much as I did on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This isn’t exactly a Christmas episode, although it certainly leans heavily into the season. That’s because my guest today is an 80’s icon who has released a Christmas song. Welcome Limahl to the podcast. You may remember him from the 80’s band Kajagoogoo, and the track playing underneath all this intro stuff. Or you might remember him from the international #1 hit The Neverending Story from the movie of the same name. Limahl’s story is fascinating. He got into music as a kid and even released a Christmas single in 1980! He tells me how he and the band Art Nouveau found each other and became Kajagoogoo. We even learn how the band name came about. Limahl tells the story of meeting Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran and how he got involved in the band’s debut and how he (Limahl, not Nick) was fired at the height of their popularity. He didn’t let that keep him down. He tells the story of The Neverending Story and how it was #1 in 17 countries! We’re in a time crunch with this episode, but we do manage to discuss his recent cover of America’s A Horse With No Name and his holiday single, One Wish For Christmas, which has it’s own great, possibly neverending, story. Go to limahl.com for more information and links to his socials (try limahloffcial on your favorite platforms). Go listen to, stream, and buy One Wish For Christmas. It’ll definitely get you in the holiday spirit. Check us out @PerformanceAnx. Merch is at performanceanx.threadless.com (great holiday gifts). Or just send money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. I’ll leave the Too Shy jokes to the man, himself…Limahl on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices