Frank Pané — guitarist and founder of Sainted Sinners — joins Steve from Germany to talk about the band’s brand‑new album High on Fire. With members spread across Europe, Sainted Sinners channel the spirit of classic 70's-era hard rock, drawing on influences like Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and UFO. High On Fire is their fifth album and their best yet. Its packed with soaring vocals, killer riffs, dynamic keyboards, and big harmonies, all wrapped into great songs. While their earlier albums laid a strong foundation, High on Fire raises the bar in both songwriting and production, showing a band that continues to evolve and push forward. In this conversation, Frank shares insights into why it was over three years between albums, the making of the record, the influences that inspire him, what’s next for the band, and much more. Be sure to check out High on Fire at Bandcamp, saintedsinners.com, or wherever you stream music, follow Sainted Sinners on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Eric Senich of the Booked on Rock Podcast joins ACRP to run down his top 10 music books of the year. Consider this your "holiday gift guide" featuring the best books that rock, from an expert! Booked On Rock is the podcast for those about to read & rock, featuring deep dive discussions of the greatest artists, albums, songs, and moments in rock history with the authors who've written about them.  Below is the list of Eric's picks featured in this episode; all are available via your favorite bookstore or online. 1. Mike Campbell: Heartbreaker Mike Campbell was the lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from the band’s inception in 1976 to Petty’s tragic death in 2017. This is his life story, focusing on his journey from a poor kid in Florida to becoming the legendary guitarist and co-writer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, detailing their rise, his iconic songwriting, the intense band dynamics, and a very emotional chapter on Petty’s passing including Campbell’s last moments with Petty. 2. Stephen Lewis: Richard Manual His Life & Music The first official biography of The Band's soulful multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Richard Manual. It explores his musical genius, pivotal role in rock history and tragic struggles with addiction, offering deep dives into his songs, performances, and his complex, influential legacy.   3. Gary Graff: 501 Essential Albums of the '80s: The Music Fan's Definitive Guide Gary Graff and fellow music journalists curates and explores 501 pivotal albums from the 1980s across genres like pop, rock, hip-hop, metal, and indie, offering year-by-year breakdowns with descriptions, album art, artist photos, release details, and commentary to capture the decade's massive cultural impact and musical innovation, featuring everything from blockbuster hits to influential niche records.  4. James Campion: REVOLUTION: Prince, the Band, the Era / John McKie: Prince Sign O’ The Times You can’t go wrong by owning both of these books if you are a Prince fan. Campion’s book explores the vital creative and cultural impact of Prince's backing band, The Revolution, detailing how this diverse, multi-racial, intergender group helped Prince create iconic music, defy norms, and achieve pop superstardom during his most prolific years (roughly 1982-1986). McKie’s book examines Prince's remarkable life and career through the prism of his 1987 masterpiece album, Sign o' the Times.   5. Greg Prato: Talk to Me: Conversations With Ace Frehley A deep dive into the life, career, and wild stories of KISS's legendary guitarist, Ace Frehley, compiled from Prato's extensive interviews with him, plus tribute interviews from other rock figures like Eddie Trunk and Joe Bonamassa, offering insights into Frehley's music, personal struggles, and enduring spirit after his passing.  6. Jason Schneider: That Gun In Your Hand - The Strange Saga of 'Hey Joe' and Popular Music's History of Violence Schneider uses Hendrix's iconic version of the murder ballad "Hey Joe" as a lens to explore the deep, often violent, connection between American popular music and crimes of passion, tracing the song's roots, exploring its various artists, and America's fascination with violence through its enduring story.   7. Dennis McNally: The Last Great Dream: How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created the Sixties A social history exploring the roots of the 1960s counterculture, tracing how post-WWII bohemian art scenes—from Beat poets in San Francisco to artists in Greenwich Village and London—evolved and merged to birth the hippie movement. McNally is a fantastic writer and was the publicist for the Grateful Dead.  8. Peter Aaron: Moving in Stereo: Ric Ocasek, the Driving Force of The Cars The book explores the life, career, creative process, and enigmatic personality of The Cars' frontman and songwriter, detailing his journey from early bands to global superstardom, his unique songwriting style, production work (like Weezer), and cult

Ft. Worth singer‑songwriter and guitarist Matt Gumley joins Steve on Another Cool Rock Podcast. Matt’s musical journey started early with piano lessons at age five, grew into Broadway and TV acting as a kid, and ultimately led him to his true passion: creating and performing his own music. A multi‑instrumentalist with serious guitar chops, his music straddles the line between country and rock but leans hard into the guitar‑driven side of things We cover his path from the debut EP Six Degrees of Separation to his latest release Concrete Cowboy, a five‑song EPthat leaves you wanting a full album. Matt talks about his songwriting process, recording all the instruments himself, the power and connection of playing live, and what’s ahead in 2026. You can find all of Matt's music including the EP Concrete Cowboy on all digital platforms, and connect with him at MattGumley.com on social media.

On this episode of Another Cool Rock Podcast, Steve welcomes Marc Hansen, lead singer and guitarist of Electric Mud - an award-winning San Diego band that blends classic rock, Americana, soul, and groove into a heartfelt, gritty and authentic sound. Their influences range from the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan to Otis Redding and Tom Petty.  Electric Mud have released three albums - Dangerous Promises, Highway Refugees, and Communication - and recently dropped two new tracks: “Moon Junkie” and “Heart Beats On,” the latter being a total earworm that will stick in your head after one listen. And they opened for the Rolling Stones last year.  Marc’s solo work is just as compelling. His new album Jack of Diamonds, released this past summer, leans into Americana and outlaw country with a soulful edge. It’s packed with personal, resonant songs like “Price to Pay,” which delivers a killer riff and a serious attitude. In this conversation, Marc shares the band’s origin story in Staten Island, their hiatus and rebirth while he and his brother Matty (Electric Mud’s drummer) served in the U.S. Navy, and how those experiences shaped their music. Fittingly, the interview was recorded on Veteran’s Day — the same day Marc released “Time for Leaving,” a powerful new song inspired by his time in the military and the journey many veterans face. It’s a rich, wide-ranging chat with a musician who’s lived the stories he sings. After you listen, head to ElectricMudOfficial.com, follow the band on Facebook and Instagram, and stream their music wherever you get your tunes.

This week on Another Cool Rock Podcast: Peter Argyropoulos and Adam Kury of Los Angeles-based rock band Sons of Silver. It's been a busy year for the band, January saw the release of their debut full-length album Runaway Emotions, followed by a lot of touring and channeling that momentum into a raw and resonant live album, 7 Cities, 7 Songs. Currently recording the next studio album Peter and Adam reflect on the origins of the band, being a self-contained, collaborative unit, the evolution of their songwriting and sound, going on the road with a toddler and recording the new album. Check out SonsofSilver.com  for news, music (including official bootlegs!), tour dates, and more; and at Instagram, @sonsofsilverband and Facebook: @sonsofsilver   Special thanks to Uptown Podcast

Its another "Should Have Been Huge" episode, with the spotlight on FREAK OF NATURE—a hard rock band that deserved far more attention than they got. Formed in the early ’90s by Mike Tramp, former frontman of White Lion, Freak of Nature marked a sharp turn from Tramp’s hair metal roots. While White Lion had big hits like “When the Children Cry,” Freak of Nature delivered a darker, heavier sound that reflected the shifting rock landscape of the era. Their 1993 self-titled debut was raw, melodic, and aggressive, earning praise from KERRANG and prompting me to buy it sight unseen. Despite the strength of tracks like “Turn the Other Way,” “What Am I,” and “Rescue Me,” the band struggled for traction in the U.S., releasing both albums through London’s Music for Nations label. Their second record, Gathering of Freaks (1994), was heavier than the debut, with standout songs like  like “Enemy” and “Candle,” and the epic title track.  In 1998, Freak of Nature released Outcasts, a compilation of B-sides and unreleased material. All three albums are now streaming, and if you’ve ever wondered what Mike Tramp did post–White Lion or just want to discover a killer early ’90s hard rock band that flew under the radar, Freak of Nature is well worth your time.

Author Tim Durling joins ACRP to talk about his two books about two favorite bands: SING ME AWAY: THE NIGHT RANGER ALBUM REVIEW and DOWN FOR THE COUNT: THE Y&T ALBUM REVIEW. Both books are terrific and must-reads for fans of both bands. Tim talks about how and why he became an author, how he wrote both books, and why both Y&T and Night Ranger are amazing - and deserve more attention paid to their consistently awesome music. His books do just that, each featuring a panel of fans/objective experts to talk about everything good - and not so good - about every album, each song, album covers, record labels and so much more. We also talk about why both bands are just so good! Tim is a life-long music enthusiast with an encyclopedic knowledge of his favorite bands and rock radio. He's also a podcaster, who's Tim's Vinyl Confessions is always interesting, and you'll find the show on every podcast platform. You can find all of Tim's books online at Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/4db6hnud) and everywhere you buy books online.

Welcome to a new feature at ACRP, "Should've Been Huge," where we'll showcase a band or artist that should have been a household name, or at least a mid-level success.  The Churchills were a NYC-based powerpop band active 1997-2005, releasing four albums, Magnifique 400 in 1997, You Are Here in 2000, Big Ideas in 2002, and their last album, The Odds of Winning in 2005. They toured U.S., Europe, and Japan, with OK Go, The National and They Might Be Giants and their music was used in the Michael J. Fox sitcom Spin City, as well Scrubs, ER, The O.C., Third Watch, and MTV’s Juvies. And their song “Sometimes Your Best Isn’t Good Enough featured actor and future Golden Glone winner Oscar Isaac in the music video. Plus, Meadow Soprano wore their T-shirt in episodes of The Sopranos in seasons 2 & 3. The Churchills should've been huge!

Brian Durbin hails from the Chicago area where he's making a name for himself as guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, both with the 80s hair metal tribute band Hairbangers Ball and his own solo music. With a nod to his influences - Aerosmith, KISS, Def Leppard, Van Halen - Brian's original songs are fused with beefy guitars, great riffs big hooks and sing-along choruses. Call it hair metal, call it hard rock, just call it rocking. Brian talks about how rock music is his life, 365 days a year; his first solo album, Only Jams, the importance of "boner jams" (not a typo!) and his newest single, the rocking "Roll Around With Me" which has a riff that won't quit. You can find more about Brian at BrianDurbin.com, and his tunes are at all the streaming services, and his cool You Tube channel. In addition, a few words about Ozzy Osbourne, the founding and definitive voice of heavy metal. R.I.P. \m/  

Note:  Episode 9 with the amazing and talented Leilani Kilgore did not originally feed correctly, and the last 15 minutes went missing! Despite re-uploading the episode the next day, some feeds didn’t automatically update with the revised version. Fast forward a couple weeks—our audience has grown, Leilani just landed a big feature in Spin.com, and I enjoyed this conversation so much I wanted to make sure the full episode got out there, everywhere.  The power of live music: sometimes you just need to see a performer once and you're hooked, you instantly become a fan...and such is the case with Leilani Kilgore.  Leilani is a Nashville-based blues-rock guitarist and vocalist whose sound fuses gritty riffs with soulful storytelling. Anchored in the blues, Leilani's got serious chops, she can shred and light up a fretboard, but there’s also real soul and emotion in her playing and singing, too. It's not hyperbole to say she’s a great guitar player and an amazing live performer. In this candid and fun conversation, Leilani tells how she first got into music and the guitar, and her journey with the instrument - first as a punk rock-loving teen to a true blues devotee. We also talked about the cathartic effects of creating and playing music, being adopted, and how it all set her on the path she's on now, releasing multiple singles the last few months (the latest, "High/Low" you have to hear), setting the stage for a new album coming this year.  In addition, we talked about her influences, her friendship/mentorship with Joe Bonamassa, plus the guys in her absolutely killer band - and the importance of liking the folks you play with. And did I mention you have to see Leilani and her band live?!? You can find all of Leilani's music at Amazon music, iTunes, and Spotify, and her You Tube channel and can keep up with all the great things happening via her Instagram page, @leilanikilgore. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Yours & Mine frontman Greg Baldwin and bassist Kris Hayes—two-thirds of the power pop trio who blend '90s alt-rock influences like The Posies and Oasis with punk urgency and melodic finesse. Their new album, The Shadow You Cast, is packed with 12 sharp, hook-laden tracks brimming with both sonic sparkle and lyrical depth. Greg’s Rickenbacker riffs, the taut rhythm section, and emotionally charged songwriting have earned them comparisons to Elvis Costello, early Oasis, and Fountains of Wayne—all filtered through a distinctly modern lens. Greg and Kris open up about the long road to finishing the record, from pandemic delays to cross-state relocations. They take us inside their songwriting process, the art of sequencing, and what it took to stay creatively connected while living apart. Plus, they share what’s next for the band, from new material in the works to upcoming fall shows—including their appearance at International Pop Overthrow. The Shadow You Cast is available on all your favorite digital stores, as well as on CD at indie record stores and via the band's label, KoolKatMusik.com. Find out more about Yours & Mine via their website.  

The power of live music: sometimes you just need to see a performer once and you're hooked, you instantly become a fan...and such is the case with Leilani Kilgore. That's what happened to me! Leilani is a Nashville-based blues-rock guitarist and vocalist whose sound fuses gritty riffs with soulful storytelling. Anchored in the blues, Leilani's got serious chops, she can shred and light up a fretboard, but there’s also real soul and emotion in her playing and singing, too. It's not hyperbole to say she’s a great guitar player and an amazing live performer. In this candid and fun conversation, Leilani tells how she first got into music and the guitar, and her journey with the instrument - first as a punk rock-loving teen to a true blues devotee. We also talked about the cathartic effects of creating and playing music, being adopted, and how it all set her on the path she's on now. And the music, there's details about releasing multiple singles the last few months (the latest, "High/Low" you have to hear), setting the stage for a new album coming this year.  In addition, we talked about her influences, her friendship/mentorship with Joe Bonamassa, plus the guys in her absolutely killer band - and the importance of liking the folks you play with. And did I mention you have to see Leilani and her band live?!? You can find all of Leilani's music at Amazon music, iTunes, and Spotify, and her You Tube channel and can keep up with all the great things happening via her Instagram page, @leilanikilgore.   

Colin Gawel, is the co-founder, guitarist, and co-lead singer of WATERSHED, one of my favorite bands of the past 30 years. Hailing from Columbus, OH, Watershed blends loud guitars with big hooks, delivering raw, rootsy power-pop and down-to-earth rock 'n' roll—think Cheap Trick, The Kinks, Georgia Satellites, and Bruce Springsteen to name a few influences. Powered by a battered Fender Telecaster, Marshall amps, and a driving rhythm section, you'll be singing along after just one chorus, with lyrics that hit close to home, that often will remind you of someone, someplace, or some familiar, relatable situation.  Colin shares Watershed's origin story—forming in elementary school (!), committing to the band in college, and their unwavering passion for making music together. He reflects on their journey through the major-label machine—signed to Epic Records, then dropped—yet always pressing forward, both on the road and in the studio, crafting standout records like their latest, Blow It Up Before It Breaks. Beyond Watershed, Colin tells the tales of opening up for Insane Clown Posse (!), forming a Cheap Trick tribute band, his solo music, and Watershed's upcoming dates in Columbus this summer. You'll find all of Watershed's music at all the digital music  providers and at WatershedCentral.com. In addition to all that, be sure also to check out PencilStorm.com, where Colin and a crew of passionate writers dive into music, movies, sports, and more.    

Johan Bergqvist is the founder, vocalist and guitarist of The Genuine Fakes, a fantastic  power pop band from Sweden. Their influences include Fountains of Wayne, Jellyfish, The Posies and Cheap Trick and naturally this really piqued my interest! Their long-awaited new album, 3, just came out at the end of April and is chock full o' crunchy guitars, bright melodies, amazing harmonies and hooks that stick in your head on first listen.  We discussed how the new album came to be, various songs (be sure to check out track 10, "The Receiver" and you'll instantly be in a better mood), the power of great music, their unique way of releasing the album, Johan's songwriting and much more.  You can get 3 on CD via their label's website, Kool Kat Music, and the individual Extended Play EPs that make up the album, at Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music and others.   

Tomi Julkunen is the guitarist and founding member of a band I can't stop listening to, Ginger Evil, and their debut album, The Way It Burns. We had a great conversation about the long path it took for Tomi and bassist Veli Palevaara to form the band, the good karma behind finding their incredible lead singer Ella Tepponen, the seven awesome videos leading up to the release of the album, and much more about their incredible music. Be sure to check out Ginger Evil at their official website, as well as Facebook and Instagram, and The Way It Burns is available at Spotify, Amazon Music, You Tube and iTunes  

Terrific new hard rock is global - hailing from Sweden is TEASER SWEET. Think massive riffs, memorable hooks, and dynamic vocals, and you'll hear all that and more on their new album, Night Stalker. It was a lot of fun talking with vocalist Therese Damberg and guitarist Marcus Damberg - brother and sister who founded Teaser Sweet in 2013. Night Stalker is the evolutionary follow-up to Monster, released in 2020 and we talked about how the new album came to be, how quick they are in the studio, upcoming shows, and much more. Ahead of that, some rock n' roll news: the 2025 Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame inductees - let's hear it for Chubby Checker! Plus, the Joe Perry Project hits the road, with members from Aerosmith (in addition to Joe), The Black Crowes and Stone Temple Pilots. And David Lee Roth plays his first (public) show in five years - with a U.S. tour just announced.    Be sure to check out Teaser Sweet at Spotify, iTunes, You Tube, Amazon, and follow them at Facebook.com/teasersweetband

There are few things I love talking about more than "my all-time favorite band of all-time," Cheap Trick, which is why I really loved having Ross Warner, author of "American Standard: Cheap Trick from the Bars to the Budokan and Beyond." Ross gives such a detailed account into the biggest, most exciting, and, and times, a very frustrating time in Cheap Trick’s career, when the out-of-left-field success of At Budokan – a live album that wasn’t supposed to be released in the U.S. – changed everything for the band, put them under the microscope in ways they hadn’t been before, and also delayed the release of the follow-up album, Dream Police. It was great talking to Ross about the book, his research, the band, and much more. You can find American Standard at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org and other fine book retailers. 

Richard Turgeon is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and a solo artist with 14 albums to his credit. His music can fit neatly under the power pop banner - its filled with crunchy guitars, terrific melodies, and hooks that stick in your head. Combine that with relatable and introspective lyrics and it’s all a perfect mix for me. Call it rock, call it power pop, call it really good! Richard talks about his influences, his songwriting process, being a DIY artist, his new music, plus we took a terrific sidebar talking about Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, as Richard has optioned his first screenplay, Holy Man, about Wilson's relationship with Charles Manson. Richard's new single is "Small Fry" and you can check it out at You Tube now. You can find more about him at RichardTurgeon.com and at his Bandcamp page.

Steve recaps the awesome Rock n' Pod podcast convention in Nashville, TN, which featured a slew of terrific podcasts panels and rockers. The weekend also included a killer rock show with Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts, Leilani Kilgore and the hilarious Punchlines and Backlines featuring comedians Courtney Cronin, Hal Sparks, Craig Gass and Don Jameison. Plus, tour announcements from The Darkness, Judas Priest with Alice Cooper and Corrosion of Conformity and The Who sacks Zak (Starkey, that is)!

Welcome to the debut episode of Another Cool Rock Podcast! Under the axiom of "you have to start somewhere" your host Steve chats briefly about what this podcast will be about: talking about rock music, with the people who make it, produce it, write about it and more. Basically, talking with people who love rock n' roll as much as I do and love to talk about it as much as I do. Above all, it's about awesome music, like the new album from Ricky Warwick, Blood Ties, and Steve gives a quick review of it (its killer, check it out in stores and online, now).