BPM Pod
Giving a voice to unsung musical talent. Join musicians and music lovers Ashley Scrace Wendel and Chris Weinhardt as they discover the lessons, inspirations and tips behind great musicianship. Plus, you‘ll hear some of the latest music reviews, of music both famed and not, plus you‘ll have a few laughs along the way down various deep rabbit holes (which, quite frankly, don‘t always relate to music).
Episodes
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Ep.49 - FragFrank (reupload)
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Reupload due to previous issue with the podcast.
So I usually like to script my own intros here, but today I cannot do this better than the band have themselves. So here goes:
Straightforward blues punk.
Not mainstream, German lyrics, danceable, and loud.
FragFrank distills the essence of rock music and appeals to hedonistic instincts. Like an engine, the band is best appreciated revved hot and live. The essentials are the energy of the fast riffs, crisp drum beats, and independent bass rhythms.
FragFrank has a number of suggestions for improving the world, is bursting with political statements, but mostly blasts heavy music straight to the brain. No more and no less.”
FragFrank have just released their album – titled number 1 (stylised as # 1) – and are currently in the process of promoting that. Joining me on this episode is Martin (guitarist/songwriter), Andre (bassist/singer) and Keith (drummer).
We talk musical beginnings, how to make the world a better place in the post-covid world and what's next after number one for FragFrank.
To listen to FragFrank, go to Soundcloud or wherever you listen to your music. For more information on the band, go to FragFrank's website or Facebook.
Also on this episode, we review the debut EP from singer-songwriter Noir Yon. Worth a listen for sure. Check it out.
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Ep.50 - A quick announcement on the fate of bpmpod.com
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Quick update on bpmpod.com which is no more.
Why?
A combination of cost, time, return on investment, energy levels and anxiety. Listen to the podcast for mroe information.
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Ep.49 - FragFrank
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
So I usually like to script my own intros here, but today I cannot do this better than the band have themselves. So here goes:
Straightforward blues punk.
Not mainstream, German lyrics, danceable, and loud.
FragFrank distills the essence of rock music and appeals to hedonistic instincts. Like an engine, the band is best appreciated revved hot and live. The essentials are the energy of the fast riffs, crisp drum beats, and independent bass rhythms.
FragFrank has a number of suggestions for improving the world, is bursting with political statements, but mostly blasts heavy music straight to the brain. No more and no less.”
FragFrank have just released their album – titled number 1 (stylised as # 1) – and are currently in the process of promoting that. Joining me on this episode is Martin (guitarist/songwriter), Andre (bassist/singer) and Keith (drummer).
We talk musical beginnings, how to make the world a better place in the post-covid world and what's next after number one for FragFrank.
To listen to FragFrank, go to Soundcloud or wherever you listen to your music. For more information on the band, go to FragFrank's website or Facebook.
Also on this episode, we review the debut EP from singer-songwriter Noir Yon. Worth a listen for sure. Check it out below.
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
Ep.48 - Tarzan Grip (Dom Jones)
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
Tarzan Grip: pretty original band name there. Not one I would have thought of quickly. What's behind the name though? Is the music something that Tarzan would like? Perhaps the band members love swinging on vines?
Who knows. But certainly one person who has a grip on me is guitarist and singer Dom Jones. Dom and I go back a couple of years, thanks to a shared love for the (currently on hold) Laksmi Bar open mic night. I hosted it a few times, introduced Dom, shared a few drinks and caught coronavirus. (Just kidding, though certainly nowadays it seems like our previous social habits would lead to this unpleasant fate.)
We hung out a fair bit at Laksmi, chatting absolute musical nonsense and congratulating one another for our acoustic musical performances. Yet despite our circles overlapping from time to time, we never found the time to sit down and properly talk music in this podcast format. Until now.
Dom and I had a lovely, long chat that covered a bunch of topics, some of which have been edited out here due to length. However the primary reason for a lot of the editing was the poor sound quality on the episode this week. I am not sure why it was so poor -- it certainly did not sound like this on the call -- but it unfortunately means a lot of our conversation had to be deleted. A shame as you'll never hear the story about Dom, the donkey, the hosepipe and the LSD. Good story, that.
What you will hear a lot about though is how Tarzan Grip are kicking your punk ass, albeit at a leisurely pace, from their 2016 EP Members of the Bored up to their upcoming EP release. Also Dom and I talk about musical beginnings, the past, present and future of Tarzan Grip, how the coronavirus pandemic has affected creativity and what's missing from the life of musicians right now in this weird, fucked up world we're in.
For more Tarzan Grip go to:
Facebook
Bandcamp
Also on this episode
I've been feeling quite down and pissed off recently around the pandemic and, unfortunately, a lot of my rage is towards my musician friends.
There are so many people I cherish and respect seemingly going about life as if everything is normal - organising large gigs, packing out small rooms for their vanity projects, travelling to some exotic country and uploading bullshit Instagram pictures. It's driving me insane.
Partly jealous? Maybe, I don't know. But partly annoyed because, in an ongoing pandemic, it's wholly irresponsible and indefensible? Yes.
There's a long, long way to go in fighting this coronavirus fuckery and if we cannot even now stick to what are pretty simple rules, we are fucked. There won't be any kind of normal, let alone a new one.
So please, please, please: wear a mask, wash your hands, keep your distance, avoid unnecessary contact and stay the fuck at home unless you need to go out for something. It's tough on us all - I for one have missed gatherings, weddings, parties, vacations, introducing our newborn daughter to our family - but it is necessary. Your actions affect everyone, not just your little bubble.
For anyone still in doubt, the Startalk Radio podcast on covid (though US focused) puts it pretty bluntly.
Finally, to start the episode, I want to quickly mention the sad passing of Eddie Van Halen, who died at the age of 65 after a battle with throat cancer. Rest in peace, guitar god.
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Ep.47 - Rookling (Jem Bosatta)
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Usually I've got a good description of the people on the podcast. I can scribble something witty, poetic, elegant and the guest (typically) won't do a better job.
Not in the case of Jem, who goes by the moniker of Rookling. Jem is such a poet, such a storyteller, his way written expression goes beyond anything this aging 31-year-old writer can muster.
Having moved to Berlin in 2018, Jem has already gained quite the popularity and following in the local music scene. With a wonderful Joni Mitchel, Fleet Foxes, Leonard Cohen inspired blend of folk-rock tales, Jem is becoming quite the sought after talent. And despite the heavy lyrics, mature reflections and somewhat old-timer tales, he's only 23. (Age is only a number of course, but christ.)
In this episode, Jem and I talk folk inspiration, keeping in touch with fans through tender letters, and what we won't miss about the music industry once things establish some kind of normal.
(And to prove a point about storytelling and how good Jem is at it, I'm going to post his bio below as he wrote it. You'll agree it's much, much better than mine.)
In the autumn of ’18, Rookling swapped the spires and hills of England for the Berlin underground.He stepped off the plane with a guitar, a suitcase, and a dream: to share his music with the world.The city sent him reeling. He escaped into his songbook and the solace of storytelling, evoking love, death, and landscapes strange and dear. All the while, the hearth-fire warmth of Fleet Foxes and Nick Drake were helping mould his harmonies.Each Rookling song blends the solemnity of an altar with the urgency of a church bell. The influence of the greats is unmistakeable: he channels the uncommon poetry of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, adding a more archaic thrill of his own. At a tender twenty-three, Rookling is a folk-prophet in the making.
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Ep.46 - Hans Annellsson
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Hans and I first met back in 2014, in Malmö in Sweden. I was nervous ahead of an acoustic gig at a club I had never played - a gig attended by a bunch of my colleagues who did not even know I sang my own music.
Right before I was due on stage, coming ahead of the band Shuvit, this guy bounded up to me and asked if I could join him in the studio sometime. "It'll be fun," he said, and gave me his card.
I called him the next day. Now, years later, we've exchanged a bunch of musical stories, helped each other write, record and release songs, and become friends. (Though we don't see each other as much as we should these days, what with one thing and another.)
There's no easier way to say it: Hans is somewhat of a musical genius. Unbound by genre, musically knowledgeable like no one I have met before, and incredibly humble to go with it, Hans perhaps hasn't found the fame or fortune he wants or deserves, but by god he has a legacy for sure.
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, drummer, producer, mixer, teacher, and one of the biggest Frank Zappa fans you'll find, we talk all that and more in this episode. It's a long journey but a great one.
For more of Hans' music, go to: http://www.annellssongs.com/
Friday Aug 14, 2020
Friday Aug 14, 2020
While I spend a little more time editing the upcoming episode with Hans Annellsson, here's a quick mention of some of the newest music out there currently from some people you might not have heard of before.
We kick things off with Molly's Peck and their album Hope You Don't Mind. Smooth, soulful, sensitive yet playful, it's certainly worth your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwDIG-c3rxA
Weinhardt, who are friends of BPM Pod, also released a new track titled Sunset Rails. Summery, indie-rock anthem which will stick in your head, for sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpBDPQV-LEA
Thanks to Weinhardt, I was made aware of something called Strock.tv and their series of concerts from Huxley's in Berlin. Weinhardt did a great set there, which led me down the rabbit hole to discover more artists, notably Nader Rahy and Birgit Jones.
Nader Rahy has some kind of cool quality about him which I cannot quite put my finger on. His acoustic stuff in the performance I saw is somewhat like Cat Stevens, albeit modernized. Really quite pleasant stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU5uJ6Fms_0
And what to say about Birgit Jones except: THEY ARE KICKASS. Heavy gloom-doom-jam-stoner-alternative-heavy-rock from a group of amazing female badasses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LhHm1eYAiY
Finally, I turn my attention to the wonderful Phoebe Bridgers, who released a track not too long ago from her brilliant album Punisher. The track - I Know The End - is not only one of my faves this year, but of the past decade. It's simultaneously haunting, inspiring, melancholic and hopeful. And the ending is absolutely superb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ9-xN6dCW4
Sunday Jul 19, 2020
Ep.44 - Alex Spencer interview + Haim and My Morning Jacket reviewed
Sunday Jul 19, 2020
Sunday Jul 19, 2020
Balancing music at any time in life is tough, let alone with a family, job and (currently) a pandemic to keep in mind. Yet somehow, superheroic singer-songwriter Alex Spencer does it all - forms bands, plays shows, looks after the kids, and remains positive and optimistic through it all. It's pretty inspiring.
Recorded back in March 2020, before the world all went a little crazy, Alex and I sat down to talk about keeping the musical spark alive, harnessing the energy of live music gatherings to form bands, and how one defines oneself in a field of singer-songwriters.
Alex is currently working on an EP, which has been delayed with the coronavirus pandemic. Until then though, I completely recommend checking out her work on Spotify, Bandcamp and more, beginning with her most recent jazz-influenced release Shine.
Also on this episode: Haim and My Morning Jacket
So the reviews aren't exactly random these days; they tend to be of artists I appreciate. This time it's no different.
Haim's latest effort, Women in Music Pt.3, is great and well worth checking out if you need a breezy soundtrack to your summer. Also out now is The Waterfall II from My Morning Jacket - a sort of collection of b-sides to their previous album, The Waterfall, which is just as stunning as the origin.
Plus a word from our correspondents
A new feature on BPM Pod is our lockdown/home correspondents. (Thanks to the Kermode and Mayo Film Review for the idea.)
It's pretty simple: if you're got something to say on anything you've listened to recently, and you can keep your opinions to around 30 seconds or so, send a clip in.
The very first home correspondent is a friend of the show: the fabulous, sassy Chance Bair of the band Heavy Heavy. (Check out their episode here.) He reviews War With the Newts track Refugee. Get ready for a smack in the chops indeed (listen below).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HsMfS6ByqE
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Episode 43: Chris Weinhardt (pt. 3 and 4)
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Monday Jul 13, 2020
And so the time has come - we are into the final two parts of the Chris Weinhardt marathon. (Except it has four parts, not 26 miles of audio, so that doesn't really work as a description, but you get what I mean.)
It's been a long journey from lip-syncing, to autotune, to Led Zeppelin, to The Smurfs. Yup, The Smurfs. In the final two parts of the interview - combined here into one 30-minute episode - the Weinhardt weirdness does not let up.
Dishing the Durst
For whatever reason, Limp Bizkit (specifically the antics of Fred Durst) turn up a lot on BPM Pod. But so far the stories have been urban legend, with no one really knowing the guy personally.
Until Chris Weinhardt comes along - the damn hero has met the guy. Yes, the actual Fred Durst. It's quite a claim to fame.
In this episode, we talk about that meeting backstage (which sounds like a terrible family reunion, quite frankly) and what it meant for the music of Weinhardt.
Is the album format dead?
The first topic we tackle in this episode is the album format. There are a bunch of artists still putting out wonderful albums which take you on a journey, but it's an exception rather than a rule.
Today the single is king (the Kingle? Bad joke.) Albums usually flow, but not in an adventurous, journey sense. Instead, they represent a compilation of previous bi-monthly released three-minute singles. Gone are the long cuts, the middle-album jams, and the little secret tracks.
But is this really a bad thing? Has the album died at all? We discuss.
What a country
Final topic we talk about is country music - because we were a few beers down at this point, so why the hell not?
Country music isn't necessarily reflected in the music of Weinhardt, but Chris loves it all the same. We exchange views on the topic and discuss some of the country artists we like today. (Not Ryan Adams, though he does get a mention, albeit in a disdainful way. Prick.)
Revisit the previous parts
Listen below if you missed the previous parts of the interview with Chris Weinhardt. And, of course, don't forget to check him out. There's a new single out too called 'Sunset Rails' which is also below.
Sunset Rails - Weinhardt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpBDPQV-LEA
Parts 1 and 2
Saturday Jun 13, 2020
Episode 42: Chris Weinhardt pt.2
Saturday Jun 13, 2020
Saturday Jun 13, 2020
A while back, before the whole coronavirus thing, I went drinking with long-time podcast regular, Chris Weinhardt. As expected, we talked for quite a while about a long list of random topics.
Was it all good? No. Not at all. But some of it was, in between pizza, regular toilet breaks, beer resupplies, and a hell of a lot of podcast mistakes.
Still our wide ranging conversation was fun and enlightening, as I am sure you will agree.
So here's part two of our chat. In this part, we discuss the use of autotune in live performances and if it makes you less of a singer. Plus, we discuss what our first music purchase was, the first music videos that we fell in love with, and the first album we bought.
Check out part 1 here.
Coming up on BPM Pod
We'll be looking at parts 3 and 4 with Chris Weinhardt, plus we'll be hearing from one of my favourite music producers in the entire world, Hans Annellsson. Also Berlin-based singer-songwriter Alex Spencer swings by.
About Ashley & Chris
Ashley is a communications professional, voiceover artist, and (sometimes) a musician, based these days in Malmö, Sweden.
Chris is the founder, songwriter, vocalist and guitarist with the band Weinhardt. Chris is also a guitar tutor and video maker, baased just outside of Berlin, Germany.