Music In My Shoes

11/02/2025

‘Monte A. Melnick - Ramones Tour Manager Interview - E103’ of the Music In My Shoes podcast is now available.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-in-my-shoes/id1713086366?i=1000734777648

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3JMfDneQL9fyMhWyn3ybht?si=oEtbVgzzRISrsl8u1jjC2w
A leather jacket, an iconic eagle logo, and a three-chord blur that changed everything—tour manager Monte A. Melnick joins us to reveal how the Ramones became an institution without ever chasing the charts. From booking chaos and van miles to Sire Records deals and night-after-night precision, Monty shares the systems and scrapes that kept the band loud, fast, and on time.

We go inside the job nobody sees: shows and hotels, wrangling crews, negotiating with agents, and surviving mismatched arena bills where batteries and ice picks rained from the crowd. Monte explains why the Ramones doubled down on headlining their own rooms, how CBGB’s gave them a lab to refine short, no-solo songs, and why minimalism was a deliberate design, not a limitation. He walks through Joey’s rise from drums to the mic, Dee Dee’s volcanic creativity and volatility, Tommy’s drum architecture to Marky’s transition, and Johnny’s iron will that protected the brand.

If you’ve ever wondered how a band with modest sales became a global touchstone, this conversation connects the dots: discipline over myth, craft over chaos, and a road team that made it all possible. Listen, share with a fellow Ramones fan, and leave a review to tell us your favorite track—and why it still hits.

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10/30/2025

E102 ‘Chatting with Johnny Hickman of 'Cracker' of the Music In My Shoes podcast is now available.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-in-my-shoes/id1713086366?i=1000733533469

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6pcw2wpifU4fgt6XcDEAYf?si=P1-FMOgvT7aZrMVxBAlqYw
A band doesn’t thrive for thirty plus years by accident. Guitarist/Singer and cofounder Johnny Hickman opens up about the simple pact that kept Cracker alive—stay the course, skip the drama, and serve the song. We dig into how he and David Lowery decide who sings what, which ideas belong to Cracker versus solo projects, and how rotating players and richer arrangements kept the sound evolving without losing its soul.

Johnny shares the heart of their identity as a conversation between his signature riffs and David’s singular voice, a push-pull that lets them morph styles while staying unmistakably Cracker. From the pressure to follow Kerosene Hat with more of the same to choosing strings, keys, and pedal steel instead, he explains how ignoring trends led to a fan favorite.

Community threads through everything: Camp In and Camp Out’s curated nights and those joyous, glitchy “Live from the Cave” streams that carried fans through lockdown. Johnny previews a Halloween return on his public page “Johnny from Cracker,” complete with costumes and sly covers alongside Cracker staples.

Hit play for candid stories behind I Hate My Generation, Loser, and the band’s onstage philosophy: play the hits proudly, let the deep cuts breathe, and keep the room connected. If Cracker ever sound like your favorite band, Johnny says, you’ll bring friends—and that’s exactly how this family keeps growing. Enjoy the conversation, share it, and subscribe so you don’t miss the celebration and more.

“Music In My Shoes" where music and memories intertwine.

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10/28/2025

E101 ‘A RUSH Presale Queue, a Plastic Surgeon, and a Backwards Guitar’ of the Music In My Shoes podcast is now available.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-in-my-shoes/id1713086366?i=1000732502379

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2p0r9K1FmEpf6bQ94pSsSY?si=U8ww1_6QTbCTlu3VIrWVTw
A rush of tour news collides with ticket chaos, memories from Nassau in ’82, and why certain songs outlast the charts. We dig into supergroups, The Jam’s perfect demo, UK vs US tastes, and the small human moments that keep music personal.

• Rush 2026 reunion dates and presale chaos
• First Rush show memories at Nassau Coliseum
• The Jam’s Sound Affects and demo vs studio
• UK vs US charts and what sticks
• Motorhead, Simple Minds, Arcadia highlights
• Thunderstruck’s long fuse and video camera angle
• Smashing Pumpkins tour stories and Garbage opener

“Music In My Shoes" where music and memories intertwine.

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10/28/2025

E100 ‘From Stones vs. The Who to Prince vs. Bowie: Our Ultimate Rock Face‑Off’ of the Music In My Shoes podcast is now available.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-in-my-shoes/id1713086366?i=1000731426842

https://open.spotify.com/episode/30iHYkr59kVOju2rlhWfBP?si=63zThgSTSXOHmC3_gKQQsA
A listener’s mailbag turns into a rapid-fire set of rock face-offs as we celebrate 100 episodes, relive moments from the show, and crack up at studio bloopers. We end with gratitude, a look at global listeners, and a simple truth: the music keeps us here.

• Stones over the Who for longevity and range
• Led Zeppelin’s blues power vs Aerosmith’s early punch
• Pink Floyd’s concept mastery vs Queen’s showmanship
• Eagles’ guitar craft vs Fleetwood Mac’s radio gold
• ACDC’s consistency vs Van Halen’s eras
• Tom Petty’s steady 80s line vs Springsteen’s stamina
• Def Leppard’s teen‑era imprint vs Scorpions’ singles
• Rush’s precision over Yes’s gloss
• Styx memories vs Kansas staples
• Nirvana’s cultural break vs Foo Fighters’ endurance
• Jagger archetype vs Tyler disciple
• Plant’s thunder vs Freddie’s crowd command
• Morrison’s magnetism vs Daltrey’s polish
• Billy Joel’s authorship vs Elton John’s catalog
• Prince’s virtuosity vs Bowie’s reinvention

Hit play, pick your winners, and tell us what we got wrong. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves a good music argument, and leave a review with your matchup—we might feature it next.
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“Music In My Shoes" where music and memories intertwine.

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10/25/2025

10/20/2025

Our own Jimmy Guthrie at Athens Porchfest!
A little bit of everything from Jimmy originals to The Ramones to The Velvet Underground and Ace Frehley.
Thank you to Athens Cooks for hosting!!!

10/13/2025

E99 ‘CBGB Festival, The Minus 5 and The Baseball Project Live, and My Friends’ of the Music In My Shoes podcast is now available.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-in-my-shoes/id1713086366?i=1000730196445

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5lJwtDjlepP7B8qjtXJmpx?si=794jtPURRy-zHjEIv6T1tw
We trace a loud, joyful route from under a bridge in Brooklyn to an Atlanta club, catching legends who still hit hard and a tight-knit indie circle that turns baseball into song. Small moments—an unexpected wave, a signed drumhead, a kind word—become the glue of a scene that endures.

• CBGB Festival under the K Bridge with Melvins, Lunachicks, Johnny Marr, The Damned, Jack White, and Iggy Pop
• the Damned’s stamina and goth-tinged White Rabbit standout
• Johnny Marr leading Smiths and Electronic songs with strong vocals
• Jack White spanning The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and solo cuts
• Iggy Pop at 78 delivering Stooges and solo classics
• festival logistics, pricing for young fans, and crowd culture observations
• Terminal West doubleheader: The Minus 5 and The Baseball Project lineup crossover
• Featuring Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon
• merch win: signed one of a kind drumhead
• music history notes on the Beatles, the Clash, and Red Hot Chili Peppers

“Music In My Shoes" where music and memories intertwine.

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10/09/2025

10/04/2025

E98 ‘Remembering Janis Joplin, and Top Female Vocalists of All-time’ of the Music In My Shoes podcast is now available.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/music-in-my-shoes/id1713086366?i=1000728864467

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1S21t91S1Ggct1frMCeJxs?si=rP0X_RGtSliVLPDkBwgAKQ
Janis Joplin's untimely death on October 4, 1970, marked a profound loss for rock music just sixteen days after Jimi Hendrix's passing. We explore her remarkable legacy, breakthrough at the Monterey Pop Festival, and participation in the legendary Festival Express train tour across Canada.

• Janis Joplin died at age 27 with only four albums released, yet her impact remains enormous
• "Mercedes-Benz" was the last song Joplin recorded before her death
• The Festival Express train tour featured impromptu jam sessions with Joplin, The Grateful Dead, and The Band
• Room 105 at the former Landmark Motor Hotel (now Highland Gardens Hotel) has become a shrine to Joplin
• We compare rankings of greatest female vocalists across genres, including Ann Wilson, Stevie Nicks, and Whitney Houston
• Notable discussion of other musical icons including David Bowie's "Scary Monsters" album, Genesis' "Turn It on Again" Split Enz "I Got You" and The Cure "Close to Me"

“Music In My Shoes" where music and memories intertwine.

Learn Something New or
Remember Something Old