Cliftones W/ Jc Denison

Kevin Coultas played drums for legendary Louisville bands Rodan, Rachel's, The Sonora Pine, King G. and the J Crew, Metroschifter, and more. His sophisticated and unique approach to drumming has made an undeniable impact on Louisville music. He's also one hell of a radio DJ, has great taste in music, and is a damn fine history teacher. He sat down with JC to talk about musical technique, Jason Noble, cops, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Sara Callaway picked up her first violin at age 6, studied and practiced rigorously, earned a Master's Degree in music, and then still wasn't sure if she wanted to live the life of a professional musician. But whether she found herself in China, Berlin, or Appalachia, music always found its way back to her. Once she settled in Louisville, she started making waves, performing with the likes of Dane Waters, Jacob Duncan, & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. She also co-founded the SONIC Bernheim series and now co-directs the Louisville Academy of Music. She sat down with JC to talk about musical work ethic, connecting to nature, whale watching, and more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.    

Scott Ritcher lives in Stockholm, Sweden, but recently came back to Louisville to batch and promote his own Bedtime Bourbon. Before his exodus, he fronted influential bands Sunspring and Metroschifter and founded the legendary Louisville music label SLAMDEK. He also helped run Initial Records and published his own zine, K. Composite. Oh yeah, and he ran for mayor! He sat down with JC to talk about being an ex-pat, immersing himself in DIY culture, bourbon, and more... This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.

Jacob Duncan is an incredibly talented composer and reeds player. His avant garde project Liberation Prophecy has been destroying musical boundaries since its inception when he was in high school. As a driven and hyper focused musician, he's worked with the likes of Norah Jones, Will Oldham, and Rachel Grimes; as a passionate educator he works regularly with mentally disabled children. He sat down with JC to talk about compositional processes, cultural appropriation, the necessity of hope, and more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.

Rob Pennington is a pillar of Louisville hardcore and punk. Having fronted the bands Endpoint, By the Grace of God, and Black Cross, his musical imprint is heavy, loud, and fierce. He's been playing in bands since high school, but he's managed to build and maintain a successful career in education, working with students with severe mental disabilities. Before his move to North Carolina, he sat down with JC to talk about behavioral therapy, the evolution of Endpoint, playing Cahoot's, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Allison Cross is a unique contributor to Louisville music in that she approaches music from three different directions: she's a trombonist, a DJ, and a music therapist. A native of Murray, KY, she moved to Louisville for school and immersed herself in live performance and her studies. While therapy is her first love, she couldn't quite let go of performing, and now as DJ Alli, she lights up dance floors all over town. She sat down with JC to talk about therapeutic processes, playing in big bands, running a business, and more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.

Nick & Sam Wilkerson comprise the rhythm section of the world's best American band, White Reaper. Success hit them at an early age, but they've stayed grounded, composed, and (mostly) out of trouble. As twins growing up in Louisville, they immersed themselves in the music scene and quickly realized they wanted to spend their lives making rock & roll. They sat down with JC to talk about touring, getting a record deal, vaping, getting SCAMMED, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee, Emperor Tomato Ketchup, and Dauntless Distributing.

Jaxon Swain is an ambassador of Louisville music. Whether it's through his work with SonaBlast, his solo music, his involvement with Wanda Jackson, or his radio shows, he spreads sounds in countless places. A Hoosier transplant, he landed in Louisville and immediately began sharing his unique musical perspective. He sat down with JC to talk about growing up in Indiana, speed boats, being a romantic motherfucker, and more... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.

Andrew Sellers has lived in New York and Los Angeles, but keeps ending up back in Louisville. And no matter how far he distances himself from it, he keeps coming back to music. His creative mind has been the backbone of projects as diverse as Andrew Rinehart, Saredren Wells, and Flight 19. He sat down with JC to talk about navigating the struggles between a practical and artistic life, the profound effects of family, Fugazi & Refused, and more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Will Russell had a very public mental breakdown in 2015 and hit bottom at the top of Funtown Mountain. He suffered a prolonged and intense manic episode, very similar to one he experienced nearly 20 years before. But in between all that, he co-founded Lebowski Fest, opened the Why Louisville store, traveled the world spreading the gospel of the Dude, and gave this city some of its most vivid and memorable artistic moments. Will has come back into the creative world full force with two brand new ventures, the Everything Will Be OK Project and The Marvelous Mystery. He sat down with JC to discuss managing mental health, showing tribute to a cult classic, coming back into the public eye, and whathaveyou.... This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records and Dauntless Distributing.

MaryLiz Bender roams the cosmos regularly with astronauts & Bill Nye the Science Guy. But before that she co-founded Twin Limb, toured the US, & made several great records. A native of Missouri, she moved to Louisville in her late teens, lived a whirlwind life dabbling in photography, design, and pretty much everything else. She finally decided to settle down and start a rock band. Space was calling though; the universe required attention, and MaryLiz heeded its call. She sat down with JC to talk about growing up in a Baptist children's home, leading a nomadic life, coping with abandonment, and much more... This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros Coffee, The Sloth Story Hour, and Dauntless Distributing.

Dave Bird has been in more bands than he can keep track of, and all of them have had an indelible imprint on Louisville music. He played in bands like OUT., VRKTM, Rude Weirdo, & American Lesions, and has contributed to several Bonnie Prince Billy recordings, and now performs with Tricia Cooper as the duo Bird/Trooper. Dave is a humble and joyous person with a fiercely intense musical style, whether he's playing guitar, bass, or singing. A Louisville native, he started playing in bands in the late '80's and has never stopped creating memorable music. He sat down with JC to discuss growing up in St. Matthews, embracing musical challenges, dealing with heartache and loss, and...Tony Bailey...and Britt Walford. This episode is sponsored by Guestroom Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.

Kim Sorise is a world-class DJ, curator, and educator. She moved to Louisville from Detroit in 2000, found herself immediately surrounded by Louisville music icons, and hit the ground running as a news reporter and club DJ. Having worked for public radio for years, she covered topics as diverse as local politics, military training, and farming diversification. Her former radio shows 'The Independent Hit Parade' and 'Dirty Soul Party', as well as her regular club gigs around Louisville, have had undeniable influences on local dance and listening culture. And she continues to spread her musical wisdom as a founder of the female and gender non-specific DJ collective 'The Spinsters Union of Louisville'. Kim sat down with JC to talk about growing up in Detroit, honing her skills as a field reporter, using cockiness to her advantage, and more... This episode is sponsored by Kaiju and Dauntless Distributing

Jecorey '1200' Arthur has spent his life in Louisville bridging gaps between hip-hop, classical music, and community activism. From an early age, he started creating beats and recording music and quickly formed his own artistic voice and musical palette. Not content with the trappings of music school, he sought to fuse his hip-hop upbringing with his university education, and Louisville music has never been the same. Whether its through his work with the Louisville orchestra, Louisville Public Media, teaching children in the classroom, or community outreach with various organizations, Jecorey continues to push the boundaries of music and its relation to a vital and progressive city. He sat down with JC to talk about Muhammad Ali, growing up in the west end of Louisville, new approaches to music education, and more... This episode is brought to you by Zanzabar and Dauntless Distributing.

Meg Samples is a vital part of Louisville music. Whether it's through her drumming with Squeezebot, Maximon, or the Deloreans, or her musical education roles with Louisville Leopards and Girls Rock, she continues to have an expansive influence on the musical lives of adults and children. And her show on WFPK has become a crucial part of its nighttime programming. She makes all this seem effortless, though, and maintains a constantly creative and evolving musical lifestyle. Having grown up in a small town in a highly religious family, she was sheltered until she found jazz; after that she headed to Louisville, and, at least musically, never looked back. She sat down with JC to discuss growing up in a strict Christian church, finding the determination to study jazz in college, curating playlists, and more. This episode is sponsored by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.

Craig Pfunder is an instrumental figure in Louisville electronic music and DJ culture. An import to the city by way of Korea and then Oregon, he found a family of like-minded, dance-hungry individuals here who were determined to move their energy from the mosh pit to the dance floor. As a co-founder of VHS or Beta, he helped fuse the seemingly disparate worlds of indie rock and dance music. Through his work as a DJ and event curator, he continues to bridge musical divides and bring creative people together in consistently interesting ways. He spent nearly a decade living in New York; the fresh perspective and insights he brought back to Louisville could be felt immediately upon his return.  He sat down with JC to talk about culture clashes between rock & roll and dance music, the brutality of touring, harnessing honest creativity, and more... This episode is sponsored by Cobra Verde and Dauntless Distributing.  

Dominic Cipolla resides in New York, but part of him will always consider Louisville his home. Before his exodus, he helped shape Louisville's independent music sound, playing in Starkiller & Sapat, and founding the ever-evolving Phantom Family Halo. Once in New York, he re-established PFH, and began to work with artists like Martin Bisi and Torres. A highly sought after drummer, he recently reconnected with Louisville pals WATTER to join them on their newest record and tour, and was just invited to hit the skins for Japanese instrumental giants Mono. Oh, and he loves Can. He sat down with JC to talk about some legendary Louisville shows, recording with Tascam 388's, his creative process, and...Can. This episode is sponsored by Karate Body Records, Heine Bros. Coffee, and Dauntless Distributing.

Sarah Balliet started out as a classical cellist, but found her musical footing in Bloomington, Indiana's indie rock scene. After co-founding the band Murder by Death, she abandoned aspirations to be a biologist and dove headfirst into writing music, touring, and recording. She relocated back to Louisville several years ago to reestablish a home base for the band; shortly thereafter she and her husband and brother opened artisanal Italian restaurant Lupo, earning immediate acclaim in the Louisville food scene. Yeah, Sarah's busy! But she found the time to sit down with JC to talk about making the jump from school orchestras to rock bands, being an armchair biologist, how to navigate being in a band with your significant other, and more... This episode is sponsored by Crosley and Dauntless Distributing. 

Ryan Davis is essential to Louisville music. Whether it's through founding the Cropped Out festival, releasing excellent records on his Sophomore Lounge label, or playing shows in State Champion & Tropical Trash, Ryan's reach and influence are immeasurable. Perpetually touring and recording, he still finds time to set up shows for out of town bands and create stunning visual art that finds homes on flyers and record covers. He sat down with JC to discuss his former life as a track star, the pros and cons of Las Vegas, making a name for yourself in an increasingly saturated DIY scene, and more... This episode is sponsored by Zanzabar and Dauntless Distributing.

Rachel Grimes composes music for solo piano, large ensembles, and chamber groups.  A founding member of Rachel's, she was an integral part of a musical movement that helped marry the seemingly disparate worlds of neoclassical music and indie rock. She is a vital part of the Louisville arts scene and works tirelessly to preserve and present the rich culture and history of Louisville and Kentucky. Oh, and she knows her beer, too! She sat down with JC to talk about the evolution of her compositional processes, the challenging nature of collaboration, and how music can be used to teach historical lessons. This episode is brought to you by Heine Bros. Coffee and Dauntless Distributing.