Another Cool Rock Podcast

Episode 12: Should've Been Huge: The Churchills

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!

Episode 11: Brian Durbin - Ain't Nothing Wrong With Hair Metal!

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/
 

Episode 10.5: Leilani Kilgore, Redux

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. 

Episode 10: Greg Baldwin and Kris Hayes from Yours & Mine - Prime Power Pop (and Punk!)

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.
 

Episode 9: Leilani Kilgore - Blues-Rock Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter

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. 
 

Episode 8: Colin Gawel of Watershed - Stories of Rock n' Roll n' Resilience

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.  
 

Episode 7: Johan Bergqvist of The Genuine Fakes (incredible power pop from Sweden)

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. 
 

Episode 6: Tomi Julkunen, guitarist with Ginger Evil (a band you must hear!)

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
 

Episode 5: Teaser Sweet - Awesome Hard Rock Band from Sweden

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

Episode No. 4: Ross Warner, author of "American Standard: Cheap Trick from the Bars to the Budokan and Beyond"

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.