Singer, songwriter and performing artist Ian Jones is releasing a new EP on October 22nd. Being a Pacific Northwest kinda guy, Ian calls his latest work, Evergreens. That’s fitting for fifty-one-year-old Ian Jones who you’ll hear in this interview is young and ever green, like his music. His EP drops October 22nd and in honor of that occasion, Ian and band will be playing at the Tractor in Ballard WA on October 20th...show starts at 8:30. You can pick up a physical copy of the EP and meet Ian at the show or check it out on your favorite streaming platform. Support this podcast

Better Each Day Podcast Radio Show with Bruce Hilliard

Ian Jones' "Evergreens" EP Release Part One with Bruce Hilliard

As drummer for Vanilla Fudge, Carmine Appice set the grooves for the groundbreaking band‘s 1967 psychedelic debut, inadvertently inventing Stoner Rock in the process. The Fudge had no precedent. The band was totally unique. No rock group, up until that point, had ever took poetic license with well known pop tunes like the Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” and “Ticket To Ride,” Curtis Mayfield‘s “People Get Ready,” Sonny & Cher‘s “Bang Bang” Rod Argent‘s song made famous by the Zombies, “She‘s Not There” and, most famously, the Supremes‘ Motown classic “You Keep Me Hangin‘ On” taking music to new and improved hippie heights. You wouldn’t know it but Carmine is the drummer on Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.”  And after authoring books, mentoring upcoming drummers, touring, recording and staying healthy at age 74, Carmine’s latest release “Energy Overload” is out of the oven. Carmine Appice and Fernando Perdomo (on  guitar and keyboards) collaborate to become the Appice Perdomo Project...and here’s what they sound like. Support this podcast

Carmine Appice--Drummer, Teacher, Vanilla Fudge and Rod Stewart with Bruce Hilliard

I have never worked up a full set with a female vocalist. And some of my original songs have never been played outside of the recording studio, and with me doing all the parts. So, why not mortally wound two Byrds with one stone and audition at least session singers based on how well they interpret and perform my songs. Then rehearse well, play live, rinse, repeat...record. So far, it’s been 95% my voice on my songs. It’s always great when an enthusiastic singer grabs the song and runs...and sometimes when the moment is right just flat kills it. At the risk of sounding arrogant, my songs are potentially great. I’m a good writer, arranger, team player and I’d rather hear someone else sing my songs sometimes.  People normally hear something and say it sounds like the Beatles, Pink Floyd or someone they associate the sound with. For me it’s Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. I always tell people I want to sound like Whitney Houston. Hell, and look like her too. I’d never leave myself alone. But if I was Whitney Houston, and had her magic, this is what I’d sing to myself. What an ending. And to the song too. Melissa Etheridge could really do justice to my melodies. She has a way of knocking some of the sugar off what normally would sound like a saccharin overdose.  I would dial the numbers Just to listen to your breath And I would stand inside my hell And hold the hand of death Pat Benatar. So bad she stole her husband’s last name. Ann Wilson. She’s great on and off stage. Maybe there's a young and ambitious Stevie Nicks clone waiting in the wings. And Linda Ronstadt. My latest crush impossible. She sings this, “Somewhere Out There” with James Ingram. It’s a song from the soundtrack from a 1986 Disney film called An American Tail. Joan Baez can make any song sound great. Written as a lullaby for his eldest son Jesse, born in 1966, Dylan's song relates a father's hopes that his child will remain strong and happy...Forever Young        I can hear an angelic female voice telling this story about a little girl's pretend world of little ponies. Support this podcast

JOB: Ability to Sing Like Whitney, Melissa, Pat, Ann, Stevie, Linda and Joan with Bruce Hilliard

Welcome to the Better Each Day podcast from me to you, episode 202. It took that many episodes to get around to doing this one. So tune in your transistor radio. A quick look back on the hit makers of the Pacific Northwest in random order beginning with a band I love so much I jammed with member Keith Lilly last night. Keith told me they used to practice in a space smaller than a one car garage...and for endless hours. Here are the Heats with I Don’t Like Your Face. She told me one time that if it wasn’t for Paul Revere and Raiders’ TV mojo getting her on TV she wouldn’t have been famous. Merrilee Rush with Angel Of The Morning. Don and the Goodtimes were an American https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garage_rock (garage rock) band, formed in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon (Portland, Oregon), United States, in 1964.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_and_the_Goodtimes#cite_note-LarkinGE-1 ([1]) Fronted by Don Gallucci, former keyboardist of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kingsmen (the Kingsmen), here’s a fun ditty called I Could Be So Good To You. The coolest outfits in rock’n’roll, Seattle’s Paul Revere and the Raiders. These guys used to play local dances, Fragile Lime. From Fragile Lime to the Lemon Pipers. They’ll both do in a squeeze. The pioneers of grunge/punk, the Sonics. The song voted the number one rock’n’roll party song every New Year’s Eve party list, recorded in Portland OR in the same studio used by Paul Revere and the Raiders a few years later to record Louie Louie. All rise. Jimi Hendrix. That’s all I got. I loved opening for this band shortly after the American release of Dream Boat Annie. This could be the only single by Heart that went to number one. Both super talented musicians, lead vocalist Ann Wilson didn’t sing lead on this one! Her younger sister Nancy with These Dreams...with lyrics by Elton John’s wordsmith, Bernie Taupin. Support this podcast

Pacific NW Bands You May Have Heard Of with Bruce Hilliard

For one night only – Saturday, September 18 - iconic 1960’s band The Zombies will be performing live from Abbey Road Studios in London!    Returning to the very studio where they recorded their seminal album, Odessey and Oracle in 1967, they will perform their timeless hits "Time of the Season," "She's Not There" and "Tell Her No" along with beloved deep cuts and B-sides...plus the debut of songs from their forthcoming new album. This “World Tour in One Night” live streaming event is the ONLY live performance The Zombies will be doing in 2021.   The 75-minute performance featuring the band’s current lineup – including founding members Rod Argent (keys/vocals) and Colin Blunstone (lead vocals) - will be streamed live on September 18 at noon PT, 1:00 pm MDT, 2:00 pm CDT and 3:00 PM EDT.   After a 15-minute break, a VIP Q&A broadcast from Abbey Road Studios, hosted by well-known rock journalist David Fricke, will be held with Rod and Colin, which will feature questions from guest celebrities.   **VIP ticket packages are available for purchase, which include the post-concert celebrity Q&A Session and a limited-edition (unsigned) poster**   Here’s a link to purchase tickets and merch:   http://veeps.events/TheZombies (http://veeps.events/TheZombies) Support this podcast

The Zombies' Live 9/18 Live Stream From Abbey Rd., Colin Blunstone with Bruce Hilliard

Welcome to the Better Each Day podcast from me to you, episode 200. I’ve had almost four years of podcast analytics to support an argument that the most popular Better Each Day episodes aren’t what you’d think. We’ve hosted some of the friendliest and compelling guests of all levels of notoriety. Surprising to me at first was that the episodes about artists closer to western Washington, especially shows where my lifelong friends from my hometown Aberdeen WA are featured, get the most attention. But the episodes that get the most hits are the ones about me. Me the singer/songwriter podcast dude that performs, teaches and sells paint. This episode is super special to me because it features a song apiece from Dean Backholm, Dick and Sandy Murchy and one from me. Our styles differ but would fit well as a concert somewhere that has trees and sea gulls. The songs I selected are very Aberdeen, Grays Harbor. Dean-o sings his song Lady of the Sea, followed by Murchy Brothers’ awesome vocals On the Water and do-re-me singing about driving to the beach. Support this podcast

Aberdeen Songs, Dean Backholm, Murchy Brothers and Home with Bruce Hilliard

Welcome to the Better Each Day podcast from me to you, episode 199.  I’m your host Bruce Hilliard and I hope your everything is ducky. I like to write. I’ve written for business, pleasure, grocery lists, short stories, incredibly informative texts, speeches, advertisements, and my favorite thing to write since I can remember, songs. Some of my songs are completely made up and some are based on experience. This next song is both. When I was in my early twenties I still had my high school sweetheart. My band was playing smokey taverns and I didn’t have a plan other than to buy lottery tickets...which I never did. My girl had her eye on bigger and better stallion so shortly after her return from a trip to California she announced to me that she had met a guy at Disneyland. A ride operator at the “Happiest Place on Earth” was waiting there to marry her.  So here’s the setup. And my apologies to those that have heard my stories. His name was Mickey. My logical but unfiltered response was “Mickey from Disneyland? Is his last name Mouse?” That ended my comedy career. You won’t hear Mickey mentioned in this song. Only a goofy dude telling her to make her dreams come true, move away, I’ll be okay...but please don’t go and leave me here in raintown. She did. That was me and my brother’s harmony acting out a hit from 1960 by Mark Dinning. I wrote this next song about a young woman, too young, in England. The perfect “if I only had a time machine” romance. Someone I’ll most likely never meet but her casual friendship and Facebook selfies inspired this one. Thank you Sam. Roses and Strawberry Rain is based on a conversation between me and my friend Annie, a mother of two and as a child she played with her My Little Ponies toys and that being endearing enough right there, I took the image of a little girl making up grandiose adventures for her horse Strawberry Rain that runs for the roses. Support this podcast

Where Lyric Ideas Hide with Bruce Hilliard

Welcome to the Better Each Day episode 198.   I’m your host Bruce Hilliard and I hope your world is a wonderful place. I spoke with a friend today that told me to play a bunch of my songs. Here they are. Something old, something new, something borrowed... Support this podcast

Bruce's Sunday Night Requests Only Originals With One Cover Set with Bruce Hilliard

Welcome to the Better Each Day episode 197 with 138 days until Christmas and 365 days until this time next year. I’m your host Bruce Hilliard and I hope your world is a wonderful place. My hand surgery went well--it’s been about three weeks--and I won’t be playing guitar worth a damn for a while but the time off doing the prescribed exercises and pretending I’m right-handed has inspired me to do things set aside for showing off my penguin flipper dexterity: mix and release a new single called California. We’ll get to that as soon as we talk and listen to the music of guest Chris James of the Burrito Brothers. California is a song I wrote a couple of years ago on Whidbey Island. I’ll save the details for a future show but for now, here's a teaser. I had the help of Saho Yamashita on backing vocals and rhythm guitar and some really tasty pedal steel guitar licks from Dakota Holden. I hope you enjoy my song California. Support this podcast

The California Sound, Burrito Brothers' Chris James with Bruce Hilliard

Bahadır Han Eryılmaz, better known as Barista, is an Istanbul-based musician whose genre-defying, soul-ascending strain of music compels people to truly listen. An introvert by nature, he attributes his body of eclectic studio work to helping him to better understand himself, and to be fully immersed in a world of expression and escapism. Making music inspires him to translate quietude, heart, mood, night and day, with lyrics abundant with purpose and emotion, Barista's music radiates a beautiful aura of authenticity, purpose, and pride throughout.  Having only begun his venture into music eight years ago, Barista's 'learn as he goes' mentality has been pivotal to the release of his two albums. His debut release, 'Daydream', premiered in 2014 and was quickly followed up by '57' in 2016. His third album, ‘Open Sesame’ is the continuation of these two earlier projects and is set for release on April 16, 2021. The tunes Han creates are heavily influenced by his own experiences, while also echoing musical inspiration from the likes of Toto, Journey, Supertramp, The Alan Parsons Project, and an array of Turkish folk tradition including Sufism.  Above all, he is dedicated to bringing vibe back to music -- it’s raw, liberating, authentic. In his words, Barista makes the music that he misses hearing. Fully focused on his creations, he possesses no drive for commercial success, allowing him to be fully free to create the type of music he loves. Support this podcast

Barista, aka Bahadır Han Eryılmaz, New Music and Thoughts with Bruce Hilliard

Friends-in-arms reveling at the intersection of classical virtuosity, existential poetics, and art-film surrealism, Seattle art-pop duo Glass Heart String Choir weaves golden lyrical threads of haute-art into their achingly beautiful orchestral tapestry. ​ Always ambitious in their quest to create unique compositions that stand out from other string-heavy chamber-pop, their latest release California is a beautiful art-song reminiscent of Damien Rice or Joanna Newsom. ​ The song begins in warm orchestral depths, with Williams delivering the song’s hook, “Do you remember?” in delicate yet sanguine tones, setting us up for the tug-of-war between fond recollection, consolation, and sorrow that permeates the compact 2:30 song, floating upon multi-instrumentalist and producer Katie Mosehauer’s elegant violin melodies and choral soundscapes suggestive of contemporary soundtrack composers Yann Tiersen and Jocelyn Pook.  ​ The 100+ string-sections and near-operatic highs of previous releases are replaced with an airy, Enya-esque choir that haunts the piano-driven bridge, and boldly carries the song forward in its latter half, bringing a soft new dimension to the traditional repertoire. ​ The video, conceived and directed by Mosehauer, finds Glass Heart String Choir unraveling the complexities of memories and dreams, where the borders of the real world and the mythical one of our recollections are intertwined, slipping between remembrance and history. Filmed with specialty lenses that accentuate light and refract and reflect the edges of our visual field, the video serves as a metaphor for myth, hallucination, mirage; a cognate of the heart imagined, speculated, remembered, both in stunning detail and hazy, alluring beauty. Support this podcast

Glass Heart String Choir, New Release "California" with Bruce Hilliard

How much of a copyrighted recording can I play without an internet algorithm detection system banning yours and my free non-profit production? Welcome to the Better Each Day free non-profit production podcast. I’m your host free non-profit production podcast Bruce Hilliard with three of my songs I hope you’ll enjoy.  If you play more than a few seconds of a copyrighted song, through some coding system and artificial intelligence, or AI for the acronym lovers, it gets eliminated from whatever platform, be it social media or a podcast. If it happens too often the compliance cops ban your account. It's intended to keep people from using artists’ work without paying them.  So one way around this is to write your own stuff. Then the question is: How many times does it take for me to play my own stuff, my songs, before it’s too many for my audience? One answer is: Until listeners past, present or future walk out and close the door. So far they’ve been 100% loyal. Today I’m talking about three of my songs. Even If I Wanted To, Doesn’t Anybody Fall In Love No More and Whenever I Hear the Rain. It took a 6:01 song to take this cruise on the subject of tenacity...to say what's needed to be said about never giving up in my song Even If I Wanted To. The never-give-up approach to life. But sometimes when your dreams and goals aren’t of value in your life anymore, and your time would be better spent on something else, it's a feeling of relief and liberation to quit something. It’s okay sometimes...and actually smart. Then move forward with a better plan of action. But as for the times when you could never give up? I have a genetic disorder with my hands that requires periodic surgeries. My hand is immobilized as I speak. The bandage comes off in three days. It won’t keep me from playing guitar in the future if I don’t allow it to happen. Don’t suffer. I couldn’t quit even if I wanted to. And people won’t let me. I’m finding out my truest of sisters and brothers have stepped up in ways they don’t realize...and it adds fuel to the fire that keeps us all together moving forward. And thank you guys! I think we all have friends and relatives that we could not quit on. I’m reaching an age where some of those friends and relatives are never seen again. They perform the greatest of all magic tricks and die. The ultimate vanishing trick. There are millions of theories as to where they went but they always leave you with eternal respect and for sure a sense of loss. We’re left with a memory and somehow the “I couldn’t walk away, I couldn’t give up even if I wanted to” commitment, or better yet “emotion” for them. It just lives on. So enough introduction. Here are three from me starting with six minutes of a heartfelt Even If I Wanted To. A song about not letting go no matter what. Even if I wanted to, even if the sun refused to shine I couldn’t walk away, I couldn’t give up even if I wanted to Even when the world is cruel, when I hide You’re a candle in the night in a window shining On a cold October night Just a lonely heart on a open road in a car with an old guitar  A song came on the radio and I didn’t get too far before I said Every day of my life, every breath that I breathe  I won’t give up, no I couldn’t give up even if I wanted to Every single day of the year, I’ll thank my lucky stars I won’t give up, no I couldn't give up even if I wanted to Even when you’re miles away from me, even in my solitude alone with myself I couldn’t hang it up, no I couldn’t give up even if I wanted to Even when the world is upside down and the voice in my head  Says it’s time to go, cash it in, give it up Ain’t no way we can save this ship has sailed away  But no matter what it takes me Every day of my life, every breath that I breathe I won’t give up, no I couldn’t give up even if I wanted to Every single day of the year, I thank my lucky stars I... Support this podcast

The Show Must Go On with Bruce Hilliard

Welcome to the Better Each Day podcast. I’m your host Bruce Hilliard with a very special guest. Well actually she’s not here to be interviewed because she left her guitar lesson and recording session to go to the Mariner’s game with her family today. So I’m leaving you hanging for a few minutes. 2021, what a year it’s been for many of us. And as for me, no exception. Since Valentine’s Day I’ve worked for three different major league paint shops, played 17 solo gigs, released three singles, published 20 podcast interviews, gave about 75 guitar lessons, worked out 100 times, replaced my tube television and washed my truck. It’s white again.  But the real big deal of 2021 is my hand surgery. I’ve been dealt a pretty good genetic hand. Healthy and happy. I’m just south of 5’6”...Not too big, not too small...I’m fun size. But I have a tendon disorder called Dupuytren’s contracture that sucks the dexterity out of both hands. It wants my hands to clench into fists. This time the my finger we for some reason call “pinky” even though it’s the same color as my other fingers. It’s the pinky on my left hand. And I’m left handed. Jerry Seinfeld’s first joke goes something like this...of course Jerry tells it like the legendary stand up he is.  "So, I am left handed. Left-handed people do not like that the word left is so often associated with negative things. Left feet. Left-handed compliment. 'What are we having for dinner? Leftovers.' You go to a party, there is nobody there. 'Where did everybody go?' 'They left!'" Aside from the new TV and washing my truck, the other items I listed, the live gigs, the day gig changes and lots of recording, were all examples of me concentrating on what I may not be able to do someday due to my hands turning into penguin flippers. But  I still write songs. Here’s one I wrote for my friends’ mom, Kerri. Kerri is the kindest, sweetest person you’ll ever meet. She has Alzheimer’s, she’s my age and makes my hand condition take on a whole different complexion.  So I’ll shut up and play her song. Kerri met her life-long friend and husband as a child and told everyone “someday we’ll be married.” Here’s Kerri’s song, Kerri.   This next song is instruments only, except for the back vocals done by my 15-year-old friend and guitar student, Saho Yamashita. She recorded an acoustic rhythm guitar track and sings the “oo’s and aah’s” on this instrumental (which will have a lead vocal soon) called California. Saho is the very best in what every teacher wants. Someone that is eager to learn. I suggested writing a song we could record together and within a couple days she sent me a recording of this song.  We recorded it and Saho put it out there on Spotify and the other platforms. It’s a song about the good ol’ days as a carefree child, the present and the unknown future...which I know for Saho will be awesome.  But for now, here’s Back In Time. One more for the road, I’m Going Home. Thanks so much for listening to my stuff. My music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and all the digital platforms. I’m looking forward to more live performances and meeting more people in person. Until then, honor your future, it comes with a lifetime guarantee. This is Bruce Hilliard...over and out! Support this podcast

Saho Yamashita, "Back In Time" and Her Guitar Teacher's Hand Surgery with Bruce Hilliard

The intro music you just heard The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen featured the guitar of Richie Blackmore, probably best known for his work with rock band Deep Purple and the vocals of today’s guest, from Scotland, the great pipes of Doogie White. Welcome to the Better Each Day podcast. I’m your host Bruce Hilliard with a very special guest. Sometimes there’s an interview where I could go on talking to the guest for hours. This is one of them. The dinner bell rang and Doogie had to run. His album, As Yet Untitled, the topics, everything else. Please welcome Doogie White. Thanks so much for listening to my stuff. My music can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and all the digital platforms. I’m looking forward to more live performances and meeting more people in person. Until then, honor your future, it comes with a lifetime guarantee. This is Bruce Hilliard...over and out! Support this podcast

Doogie II--The Rest of "As Yet Untitled", The Album and the Man with Bruce Hilliard

The intro music you just heard was the guitar of Richie Blackmore, probably best known for his work with rock band Deep Purple and the vocals of today’s guest, from Scotland, the great pipes of Doogie White. Welcome to the Better Each Day podcast. I’m your host Bruce Hilliard with a very special guest. Sometimes there’s an interview where I could go on talking to the guest for hours. This is one of them. The dinner bell rang and Doogie had to run. His album, As Yet Untitled, the topics, everything else. Doogie started his career in his native Scotland in 1984 by fronting the Scottish hard rock band La Paz, paying his dues, and making a couple of records that instantly showcased his big, powerful voice.   After auditioning for the lead vocalist slot in Iron Maiden and touring Japan in 1991 with Praying Mantis, White recorded a demo tape that eventually ended up in the hands of Ritchie Blackmore, who, in 1994, hired White to be Rainbow’s lead singer.   White remained in Rainbow until 1997 with the band releasing 1995’s Stranger in Us All album that featured Doogie as lead vocalist.  A live CD/DVD, entitled Black Masquerade, recorded in 1995, was released in 2013.   White went on to join Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force in 2001 and recorded two albums (Attack!! and Unleash the Fury) before leaving the band in 2008 and joining UK metal band Tank, with whom he recorded two albums.   Doogie joined up with another legendary guitarist, Michael Schenker, in 2011 and recorded two albums under the moniker Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock.   He is currently the lead vocalist in longtime UK hard rock band, Alcatrazz, when he took over from the band’s founding singer, Graham Bonnet, in 2020. Alcatrazz released its first single, Turn of the Wheel, with Doogie on vocals, in June 2021.   He’s performed and recorded with loads of other big names over the years, but rather than me listing them all here, let’s set up a call with Doogie and you can hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. Please welcome Doogie White. Support this podcast

Doogie White "As Yet Untitled", Cool Covers and More with Bruce Hilliard

This is a platform, a stage for singers, songwriters and the creative to share their work, backstories and positive words.

hubhopper

Better Each Day Podcast Radio Show with Bruce Hilliard

hubhopper