Since 2008, the Austin, Texas collective known as MOTHER FALCON have been making rock, quite literally, the old fashioned way. With instrumentation that you’re more likely to see in a symphony orchestra or jazz quartet, the [currently] seventeen piece group turns out soaring, triumphant songs that challenge the notion of what “pop” can be as much as they fit comfortably into that tradition.

Recently the band staged a run of East coast shows and, several of the members stopped by the basement to talk about the history of the band, the challenges of touring with a small army of musicians, and the ambitious Summer Camp program launched in 2011 that teaches younger musicians the ins and outs of songwriting, arranging, and pretty much everything else you would want to know on how to “make it” in a band.

Continuing our unintentional extended coverage of the Richmond scene, Kevin sits down with Hoax Hunters front man and renowned concert photographer PJ SYKES to find out all there is to know about their upcoming debut, Comfort & Safety as well has his “side job” as a renowned concert photographer.

Recently tapped to be the official photographer for Merge Records 25th anniversary festival this week, PJ has built a career out of doing what he loves, and after listening to his stories, we’re betting you’ll be compelled to do the same. All that plus a Cheesy Western and a bowl with on this latest episode of ChunkyGlasses, The Podcast!

Last year when the members of the Richmond, Virginia six piece AVERS got together to jam, they had no expectations for anything except to have a good time and make some noise. All members of already well established bands, J.L. Hodges (Farm Vegas), Alexandra Spalding (Hypercolor), Tyler Williams (The Head And The Heart), Adrian Olson (Hypercolor), James Mason (The Mason Brothers), and Charlie Glenn (The Trillions quickly realized off-the-charts creative chemistry between them, and inside a month they had knocked out the material for what would become one of 2014’s best releases, Empty Light.

Before their recent show in Washington, DC at the Rock & Roll Hotel, Kevin and Quinn sat down with this “super group” to talk about the creation of that album, their accelerated creative process, what the future holds for this nascent powerhouse of a band and more. 

The idea of a house show is nothing new, but over the past few years, Washington, DC has seen a veritable explosion in the number of highly structured alternative venues popping up in every part of the nation’s capital. On a cozy street in Petworth lies the Paperhaus, the veritable epicenter of this movement, and in it resides one Alex Tebeleff. Not only does Tebeleff play in a band that shares it’s name with the house, but he has spearheaded a resurgence in DIY, or DIT (Do It Together), that has not only brought the varied DC scene closer together, but has paved the way for more and more musicians and music fans to try their hand at concert promotion right in the comfort of their very own living room. We sat down with Alex on the back porch of the Paperhaus recently to talk about how he got his start putting on these shows, how he sees this movement growing, and how the DC scene is continuing to amaze. 

Sylvan Esso started off as a side-ish project between Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, but has quickly blossomed into their full time gig, due in no small part of the success of their stunning debut album released earlier this year. In our latest podcast we sat down with Amelia and Nick the morning after they delivered a positively killer set opening for tUnE-yArDs at the 9:30 Club to discuss how the project came together, where they draw their formidable creative spark from, pop music, the internet, Moms and more. So tune in now to what is one of our favorite episodes to date of ChunkyGlasses: The Podcast with Amelia and Nick from Sylvan Esso!

After nearly two decades, space rock cult giants Failure have emerged from their catacombs and into the daylight to kick off 2014 with a big bang. Now touring as a power trio, Kelli Scott, Greg Edwards and Ken Andrews have been traversing the country to treat their devoted fans to textured sounds and fantastic sets with sides of fun filmic inspiration. Before taking us on that ride -- and what a ride it was! -- our own Roddy Rasti caught up backstage with Greg, who was kind enough to chat with us about cat allergies, the early days, fretless bass, head-space, and what's on the horizon.

Dean Fields, Andy Zipf, Jason Myles Goss and Eliot Bronson are all accomplished musicians on their own, but now they've joined forces and are hitting the road with a show they've dubbed The Parlor Sessions.

Over the next two weeks this newly formed band of brothers will be delivering a uniquely intimate night of music up and down the East coast. After their stop here in DC the guys stopped by to talk about the genesis of The Parlor Sessions, how the experience hasn't been quite what they expected in the best ways possible, and what they see the future holds for each of the guys individually and together as The Parlor Sessions. 

Straight out of the van to your ears, Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray finish up their “honeymoon” tour right here in DC at the Black Cat on Wednesday 6/4. Yesterday the band, comprised of Erin Frisby (Miss Shevaughn), Chris Stelloh (Yuma Wray), and DC music scene mainstays  Ben Tufts and Derek Evry, stopped by the studio to talk about the tour, their new album Lean Into The Wind and much, much more. Whether you’re a fan of their “cosmic Americana”, looking for some tales from the road, or just want to find out why it’s essential for musicians to insure their instruments, this one’s got it all.

If you live in the District (of Columbia) and have even barely waded into the burgeoning local music scene, then you probably already know the name Sean Barna. Best known for his work behind the drum kit for a multitude of bands, last year Barna packed up and moved to California to pursue other dreams. But, it’s always, always been about the music for him and so eventually he found himself pursuing a new role, that of singer songwriter, with everything he’s got...

BONUS EPISODE! Richmond, Virginia has always been a hotbed of music activity, and now a new crop of artists is starting to rise up to make their mark on the musical landscape. Leading that charge is My Darling Fury, a four piece whose sound is as much grounded in the vibrant punk and jazz scenes that have flourished there for years as it is in the dreamier sounds of modern indie giants going by names like Sigur Ros and Radiohead.

In this episode, Kevin sits down with Franz Nicolay, revered multi-instrumentalist / composer / performer who you might know from bands like the World/Inferno Friendship Society, The Hold Steady, Guignol, Anti Social Music and much, much more. Hard at work on his next solo record Nicolay talks a little about the past, a little about life as a solo artist, and even a little about singing like Meatloaf. Tune in to this one kids, because when you’re talking Franz Nicolay, well that’s about as good as it gets!

Casey Dienel, aka White Hinterland, has been making gorgeous, slightly off-kilter indie pop since 2006, but it was on 2010’s Kairos that the masses began to really take notice of her eclectic talent. Hitting the road armed with a new record, Baby, her tour stopped through Washington, DC a few weeks ago, and Andre sat down with her before the show to talk about her musical upbringing, the new album, and more. Settle in for a great conversation with one of 2014’s most innovative artists, White Hinterland on Episode 57 of ChunkyGlasses: THE PODCAST!

Washington Post Pop Critic Chris Richards has covered Bad Brains, Lady Gaga and everything in between. In this episode of the podcast he sits down with us to discuss his job as music critic for one of the most prestigious publications in the world, his “infamous” review of Arcade Fire’s Reflektor, the state of modern music criticism, and more. Music nerds, this one's a must!