LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Wailing City Spotlight: Interview With Toby Fatzinger of A Former Friend
Interview by Meghan Killimade
Tell us about A Former Friend – what’s the history of the band, who are the members and how did you all come together?
A Former Friend was really born in the wake of the first Trump election.
The songwriting and sound had been changing since we left Phoenix. I became heavily influenced by the time we spent in the South during a wildly morphing political zeitgeist and the tunes that were emerging leaned heavily on a rich history of American songwriting. Having grown up on punk rock and hip hop when I was young, I was finding a new inspiration at a pivotal time in the elements that combined to form rock and roll almost 100 years ago. I wanted to travel back to a time before genre distinctions where Hank Williams and Cole Porter did not seem so diametrically opposed. Finding artistic intersections became the motivation for my musical pursuit and A Former Friend seemed like a great vehicle to forward that pursuit through a modern lens.
Wailing City Spotlight: Interview With Stuart Fensom of My Druthers
That’s right! Good to hear from you again. Yeah that duo didn’t work out unfortunately, but it paved the way for what we’re doin now so no regrets. My Druthers was forged from those ashes, and we’re more of a collective now - It’s myself and any combination of like one to five other dudes…keeps it fluid and fresh I really dig it. Plus I’ve known all these guys forever and love each & every one of ‘em: Dan Spurr: banjo, vocals; Logan: guitar, vocals; John Grimaldi: guitar, vocals; Jeff Butler: fiddle, mandolin; Charlie McShane: vocals, maybe bouzouki someday.
Wailing City Spotlight: Revisit With Michael Slyne
Published August 28, 2025
Interview by Meghan Killimade Thanks for chatting with us again Michael! We last did an interview in November of 2021 when you had just released ‘Montauk Mohawk’. You’ve released a number of recordings since then and have played a slew of shows solo and with the band -- catch us up with what you’ve been up to since we last spoke?
Wailing City Spotlight: Interview With Brian Gore
I’ve managed to piece together an exceptionally talented group around me. I met Jaime at the Dutch Tavern and he said he’d play bass for my album Wrecking Balls & Ballerinas (2022). He’s been a staple ever since. Garrett helped me on that same album. Early on, I wrote the trumpet parts for him, but he’s come around to writing his own, including harmony parts, and keeps getting better. Toby came into town and has made a name for himself in his own right as A Former Friend. One night he told me he liked our sound and wanted to contribute. Now he does on keys. Eric joins us on drums from time to time. I appreciate his subtlety and nuance.
Wailing City Spotlight: Interview With Thirst Trap
Published July 24, 2025
Interview by Meghan Killimade Tell us about Thirst Trap! Who are the members and how did you all come together?
How would you describe your music to someone that hasn’t seen you guys play yet?
Sophie: We are like rock...
Liz: Also "Brat Metal" or garage/prog/metal
Wailing City Spotlight: Interview With Nat Peterson of The Handsome Dudes
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Photo by A. Vincent Scarano |